General Conference Thoughts

I always look forward to General Conference for several reasons, but especially the one in the spring.  It is my excuse to just enjoy a weekend, not feel the necessity to go at my standard pace and take some time to relax and reflect.  I love the spring session because it is after all three birthdays in 16 days (birthday recap coming soon....) and March is mid-term when I'm going to school, the end of third quarter, the realization that everything I hoped to teach isn't going to be taught and stressing over what to cut, and Enoch usually has work pick up, which is FANTASTIC but he isn't around quite as much to help pick up the slack.  I look forward to the first weekend in April probably more than any other particular weekend.  

This year I was looking forward to this weekend more than usual.  There have been many things happening around me that just continue to shake my previous notion of normal and secure.  My dad, because of budget cuts, won't be teaching at CHS next year, which just breaks my heart.  There is hope that he will be able to come back the year after, but just hope.  There have been several that I know of in the last six months who have had what I thought to be rock solid marriages crumble, kids affected that I teach, community members shocked over who and why and many really re-evaluating what it takes to maintain a strong relationship.   Then, two weeks ago, I was ridiculously sick.  More than I have been in over a decade.  

I needed this weekend.  I needed to hear some uplifting messages, words of encouragement, a call to continue working hard at what is important because it is worth it.  

I am feeling remarkably refreshed, physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally.  I haven't felt this good in a long time.  I don't feel like I'm carrying the weight of everyone's worlds on my shoulders and feel like I can really finish out what I started in January (which I will NEVER do again - geez what was I thinking!!!)

The thing that is interesting is there wasn't just one talk.  It was all of them.  Everything was just what I needed to hear, added to each part of me that felt like it was atrophying, building me up.  I thought it was interesting how many of the talks referenced the strength of the Lord or his arms.  These stood out to me because I have had How Firm a Foundation in my head for weeks - specifically "I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."  I have been, and was again, and that is how I've been able to do what I've been able to do.  

It was perfect.