Since Alan Quit Law School. . .

*We've taken 2 day trips, 2 ice cream outings, and 2 dinners out.


*I've joined the Ward Choir again!


*We've had dinner TOGETHER consecutively for I think 9 days in a row (which has been quite the adjustment since I'm used to making dino-bites and vegetables with ranch every night for the girls. Note to self: Alan does NOT do meatless lasagna, at least not with a smile on his face.)


*Alan has been playing the piano again *happy sigh* while the girls dance around the room and he and I sing (which is something I need).


*The girls have been enjoying the stories Alan makes up at bed time on Tuesday nights called "The Adventures of Princess Saphire." They giggle the whole way through and Brooke is constantly saying, "What's going to happen?! Tell us!" She can hardly stand the suspense. The characters are Prince Henry and of course Princess Saphire. And there's Dr. Pickle, Baby Princess Hailey, and the Evil Wizard Rufus. There's the Duke of Smacky Smacky who smacks too much when he eats. The girls' favorite character is Prince Waa Waa who has a giant portable crib that he lives in. And he whines when he speaks. I smile a big smile inside when I listen to them all laughing together. . . And when I realize I haven't put them to bed by myself in a month! *jumps for joy!*


*We also watched General Conference this weekend. :) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk "Of Things That Matter Most" was a confirmation to us that we made the right choice in quitting law school. Here are my favorite parts of it. I bawled the whole way through, by the way. 


If life and it's rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, the perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most. 
One of the characteristics of modern life seems to be that we are moving at an ever-increasing rate, regardless of the turbulence or obstacles. . . Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives. It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice.


There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks. 


Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in a recent general conference, taught, "We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen families."
There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions. 
Yet amidst the multitude of voices and choices, the humble Man of Galilee stand with hands outstretched, waiting. His is a simple message: "Come, follow me." 
My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. . . They will teach us to do "all these things. . . in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby. . . win the prize. 
Our key relationship is with our families. Since "no other success can compensate for failure" here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. 


In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home.  


Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship- the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace.