A Memorable Weekend

This weekend has been a memorable one in many ways. On Saturday I had originally planned to run a half marathon, but due to clumsiness during a volleyball game I pulled a muscle and spent the week with ice and ibuprofen instead. I was disappointed, but it did give us the opportunity to go to the Philadelphia Art Museum as a family instead. It was actually our first time. (Bank of America has a great new “Museums On Us” program that allows you to go to a variety of museums for free on the first weekend of each month) It was fun, and the boys did surprisingly well- I was grateful we came out without any ‘touching’ or ‘bumping’ incidents. Jacob and Caleb loved looking at the amazing art- some more than others. Their favorite was the armory, that was full of knights, armor, swords, guns, and other things that are amazing to little boys & Daddy’s alike. We spent a good deal of time there before heading over to the European Art section- which was also amazing, but not quite as entertaining for children under 5. We could have spent a lot longer, but we needed to head back for General Conference and sweet Matthew had fallen asleep on Jeff’s shoulder because he was so tired-so it was good we were heading home.

Unfortunately we were a little late getting back & completely missed the announcement that: PHILADELPHIA IS GETTING A TEMPLE!!!! After 6 years of waiting for this moment, the one conference that we’re not listening is the one they make the announcement at! I got a phone call from Kimberly congratulating us soon after. Thanks to technology, we were able to go back and watch the announcement almost immediately. It’s amazing, even listening to President Thomas S. Monson make the announcement afterwards, the emotions we felt, and the feelings of gratitude and joy were overwhelming. This area has waited a long time, and this announcement of a temple is seen as nothing less than a miracle. I am so grateful and so excited, even though the temple will probably be completed after we leave the area. We will definitely think of the Philadelphia Temple as ours. We cannot help but feel so incredibly grateful.

This General Conference was memorable in ways even beyond the wonderful announcement of a temple. (…thankfully it wouldn’t be memorable just from having sick kids…poor boys, and lots of laundry) Usually during the four sessions of General Conference I get to watch, there are a few talks that really stand out and seem to hit close to home. This conference was the same except that it really seemed to be almost every talk. Every single talk given was absolutely amazing and so inspired. Once again, I’m grateful for the blessing of technology because I would like to just replay the sessions over and over again to listen to the wonderful words of counsel and advice given from our leaders. I can’t help but feel blessed to live at such a wonderful time here upon the earth.