Project Life Polynesian Luau Party & The General Women’s Broadcast

It’s starting to get a little challenging to get a weekly picture of the temple from a different angle.  This is a picture of the west entrance.  I like going to the 7:30 session b/c it’s usually not crowded at all.  I started crying & feeling the Spirit really strongly just on the ride to the temple, so the temple session was just like icing on the cake.

The superb Spring flowers around the temple grounds just make my soul so happy!

Instead of going home, I went straight to Mom & Dad’s to borrow a few things I needed for the party I was hosting at 11:00.  In my bustling around to make it home in time to prep for the party, I had to pause & snap this pic of Mom’s favorite pink magnolia tree that is in full bloom.  So pretty, especially against the bright blue sky.

I had a Project Life Polynesian Luau party (PL w/ PL) and we had Hawaiian haystacks for lunch.  I love making these b/c it’s easy, it feeds a lot of people, and each person can customize theirs anyway they want.  I forgot to get a picture of the other side of the counter that was FULL of drinks & all sorts of sweet treats.

When I was on creativeLIVE w/ Becky Higgins back in November, I had promised her I would host a Project Life party at my house to get to know other Project Lifers in my area.  Back in February I sent out an invite to a few ladies on Facebook that do Project Life that live in the DFW area.  As of Monday, only one had responded, so I posted on my Facebook wall to invite anyone that wanted to come & just have a craft day to stop by.  Only 2 ladies ended up coming, but I still consider it a success b/c we had fun talking & crafting & eating.  It was so great to meet Mary (on the right) in person b/c I love the layouts she posts on Facebook.  We crafted from 11:00 – 3:00!!!

After they left, I texted Liz & Liberty to come over since we had so much food left over.  Jacob & Autumn had a great time doing karaoke together.  I’m so thankful for friends that are like family & feel comfortable coming over at a moment’s notice.  I’m blessed to have a lot of those type of friends/family.

After they left, Autumn & I hurried & got ready to go to the church for the General Women’s Conference.  On one of the flyers that went around in the Relief Society binder, it said that the broadcast started at 7:30, and I thought we were going to be really early to get good seats, but we got there 4 minutes late b/c it actually started at 7:00!  So, it pays to be “early.”  Autumn & I could have gone to Mom & Dad’s and just watched it on TV or online, but I wanted it to be a special experience so that’s why we got dressed up and went to the church to watch it.  Plus, it was great to feel the camaraderie of the other women & girls there in the chapel.

I know Autumn’s not 8 years old yet, but I am SO GLAD I took her with me.  The Spirit was so strong & I cried or was teary eyed the whole broadcast.  When Sis. Wixom had all the girls 8 – 11 stand up and sing, I lost it.  THEN, when she had the rest of us join in on vs. 2, I was a complete blubbering mess.  I’m emotional just typing this up.  I had brought a new little notebook for Autumn w/ some fun colored pens so she could take notes if she wanted to.  At first she just copied what I wrote, but she messed up one word & got mad & ripped the page out of her book.  I’m glad I didn’t react to that & get mad, b/c this is the tender & touching result of her deciding to be brave & take her own notes.  This just completely melts my heart.

I know that Autumn & I have our rough patches, just like every mother & daughter do.  But at the end of the day, it’s all completely worth it & I wouldn’t trade our relationship for anything.  Being a mother to my Autumn girl is my highest honor.

We are so excited for “Jennifer Conference” (that’s what Autumn used to call it when she was little) this coming weekend!!!  I hope everyone will watch it (you don’t have to be a member of the church to watch it).  It’s on Saturday & Sunday, and you can click HERE to watch it online & get the details of what times it will be on.