Yesterday Adam was able to come home to eat his lunch before having to head to a different work site. It was clear he was having a stressful day. So after he left I decided it was about time I made "Cookie Monster's Famous Cookies." It's a recipe for sugar cookies from "The Shumate Family Cookbook." He'd been wanting sugar cookies for some time...but there are so many easier cookies to make so they had remained un-made. But I wanted to do something to cheer him up and sugar cookies seemed like just the thing.

Here's the thing you need to know about "The Shumate Family Cookbook:" the recipes are designed to feed a family with 8 kids. Adam and I do not have 8 kids. But did I halve the recipe? No.

By the time I finished the first 3 DOZEN sugar cookies (in Halloween shapes) I was completely wiped out (granted...that isn't just because sugar cookies can be hard work, there's the fact that I'm 7 months pregnant to take into consideration). So there's a bowl of sugar cookie dough in my fridge right now, waiting to be dealt with (we'll probably just freeze it for later); because I was just too tired, and too achy (back and feet) to finish making the cookies.

Adam was thrilled though. So it was worth it. Now I'm just trying to make sure the cookies don't disappear too quickly. "Good luck," Adam says.

Girla snores when she naps. She's such a small creature (though large compared to others of her species). But you can hear her snores from across the room. And it's funny. Really. Truly. Funny.

Adam and I managed to register to vote in the nick of time. The state in which our votes will be counted is so red as to render our votes moot. But darn it we're going to do it anyways!

Loree (my doula) came by for a visit last week. She brought a couple of books with her for me to borrow. I'm going to have to declare "Ina May's Guide To Childbirth" THE BEST pregnancy/labor book EVER. I mean it. There is no better book on the topic. If you are pregnant, think you may someday become pregnant, know someone who is pregnant, or just want some really fascinating material to read then go find a copy at your library, bookstore, paperback swap, or where-ever.

And now I'm too tired to remember what else I was going to write about.

It's later than I meant to be doing my final conference post. The problem is I didn't really have much else to say (and still don't). Suffice it to say Adam and I thoroughly enjoyed conference. We felt the Spirit, and we are (trying to be) better people because of it. I'm grateful for modern-day revelation. And I'm grateful conference coincided so nicely with the happenings in our life right now. Things are kind of stressful (problems at work). It would be easy to be overwhelmed by worry. But conference gave us the faith boost we needed to just keep moving forward even when things are uncertain. But most of all I'm grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He lives and loves me and through His grace I am redeemed.

Well, we didn't make it to the meetinghouse. But we did indeed watch the Sunday session. Part of my feels like I should have gotten dressed in my Sunday best and gone out. But then I remember why I wanted to stay at home (besides being tired, my hips/pelvis are hurting again (as do my ribs off and on) and I really didn't want to spend the whole time fidgeting on the pews at Church and distracting other people).

I hate to say it, but I think I enjoyed yesterday's sessions more than this morning's. Though I did really enjoy President Monson's talk. I'm also having mixed feelings about the afternoon session. I'm looking forward to it, but also feeling a little disappointed that Conference will have ended so quickly.

The MoTab sounded perfect (as always). And here's a question for you Kamis (or anyone else as thoroughly geeky as us): did you notice the women in the choir were wearing "Deanna Troi dresses?"

I enjoyed the Saturday afternoon session. It's good to hear things that *you* personally need to hear...like Elder Oaks' talk on proper Sunday worship. I need to get my butt in gear on Sundays and get to Church early (lately I've been getting there late). Pregnant or not I should be on time.

The Primary choir was adorable. They sounded quite nice (especially for an all-children choir). I have to admit I was a little distracted by the variety of dresses the girls were wearing. The boys were all wearing essentially the exact same outfit (white shirt and tie). But the girls dresses varied from quite casual to quite formal. Maybe it shouldn't have, but they distracted me nonetheless, especially the dresses made from shiny, formal fabrics. I mentioned something to Adam about it. He seemed like he could care less. Maybe it comes from all those years spent in chorus and glee club (which in the latter we were required to buy the exact same dresses, and jewelry). My ability to enjoy the music has been hindered by my indoctrination into the "everyone in the chorus must look exactly the same" mindset.

Speaking of clothing (because that's so important...and by "so" I mean "not"): in the activity booklet I mentioned in my last post they have a section to make notes on each member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve's talks. It has a picture of the General Authority as well as the outline of a tie. You're supposed to color in the tie to match the tie the speaker wore. I've never paid so close attention to ties before. Red seems to be the most popular color. But I gotta say, Elder Holland's blue and purple plaid tie was AWESOME! Best tie so far! And his talk was nothing to scoff at either!

Looking forward to tomorrow.

It's General Conference Weekend!

I first want to say that I love the Church's new media player! Even my slow internet and slow computer can handle the streaming live video with almost no hiccups!

The MoTab sounded wonderful this morning. It'll be interesting to see what choirs sing at the other sessions of conference (though I'd be quite content to have the MoTab do them all). Lovey seemed to like the music as well.

Did you catch the exciting news? One of the five (FIVE!) new temples is going to be built in Calgary, Alberta! Not that Calgary is any closer to Medicine Hat than Cardston* is...but it's still exciting for us! I was telling Adam, just before it was announced, that I'd like to go to a Temple dedication some day. Maybe now I'll get my chance! And how exciting is it that there is going to be a Temple in ROME? That's very cool.

I stumbled upon this General Conference activity packet last night. It's meant for children. But I went ahead and printed off a copy each for Adam and I. Even grown ups need help paying attention (especially the ADHD ones with pregnancy brain). It has places for notes, Conference bingo, word searches, etc. etc. Well, one of the activities is a "Follow the Prophet" maze. Cute idea. Too bad you cannot succesfully complete the maze. That's right...the paths from "Start" all dead end. Working backwards from the end all the paths also dead end. I can just imagine all the frustrated children...

And I just have to add: I love Elder Uchtdorf! I'm still mulling over the things he said in last weekend's General Relief Society Broadcast (a most excellent talk! - read it or watch it!). And I really enjoyed his remarks today as well. Plus I just LURVE listening to his German accent. And I love the stories he tells. I probably shouldn't have a "favorite" apostle. But *if* I did it would probably be Elder Uchtdorf.

The afternoon session will be starting in about 20 minutes. I'm sure I'll have more to share when it's over. Then tomorrow Adam and I plan on watching the broadcast of the morning and afternoon sessions via satellite at the Church meetinghouse. I hope those of you watching Conference are enjoying it!

*Cardston is the oldest Temple outside the USA. Neat, huh?