Finding Joy In The Journey - NOW!

I know it's a little late for a Conference report, but I wanted to record an experience I had while watching the President Thomas S. Monson give his talk, Finding Joy in the Journey during the Sunday morning Session.

Bryan was working at the hospital, so I was watching General Conference on the computer with the kids. It was the end of the session, so the kids' attention spans were really wearing thin. Hannah was cranky and fussy, Logan was impatient and crying for me to help him build his Mr. Potato Head, and Andrew was laying upside-down, spinning in the computer chair and hitting Logan every time he came around. I was loosing my patience quickly and said angrily, "Man, it would be so nice to watch Conference alone! Then maybe I'd be able to get something out of it!" I could barely hear Pres. Monson's talk, but at that very moment, I clearly heard him say,

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

I immediately burst into tears, realizing that I wasn't appreciating this time in my life as much as I should. My kids are growing so fast, and I know I will miss them terribly when they are gone!

I was sure to read President Monson's talk again when it was published in the Ensign. Here are a few other quotes from the same talk that really touched me:

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

And,

"I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

Logan Likes Roast Beef

So I presented a case at an anesthesiology conference in Indianapolis last weekend, and since I was planning on driving and had already reserved a hotel, we figured "hey, why not make a family trip out of it!?" So we rented a car, packed up the kids, loaded it full of clothes, the stroller, diapers, etc and hit the road for a five-hour drive.

The kids watched movies on the portable DVD player most of the way, but we did stop for an occasional meal at a few fast food joints. Somewhere east of Columbus, we stopped at an Arby's to get some food, use their bathrooms, and feed the baby. The kids ran around the place like lunatics until we were afraid the employees were going to kick us out, and then it was back in the car for the rest of the drive.

When we arrived in Indianapolis, I went to the conference while Summer took the kids to the Indiapolis Children's Museum, which I hear was incredible. It had a dinosaur skeleton, a hands on science center, digging in the sand, tunnels to climb through with wildlife encounters, and numerous other exibits. Afterward, we went out to eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory, went shopping through the mall, and later hit the pool. We stayed in a nice five-star hotel (thanks Priceline!) and the kids had a blast terrorizing the place.

Finally, after all was said and done, we made the five-hour trip home. At bed time, we asked Logan if he had fun in Indianapolis. His response: "Yeah... and ARBY'S TOO!!!!" Apparently, the kid is an Arby's fan, and next year, instead of planning a trip to Disneyworld, we'll just hit the local Arby's instead!