April 2010 General Conference

I love conference weekend. Especially this past one. I don't know why, I just feel like conference was better than ever before. It may be because I listened this weekend more than usual, but either way, I really loved it. My grandparents used to come to Utah every year to watch conference with all of my cousins who lived here. We would all go up to SLC and sleep there for the weekend. A few years ago, my Grandmother became too ill to make the trip, and since then, the tradition has died. I really miss those days. Conference always makes me think of her, and though she's not gone yet, I miss her already. I sometimes wish I was older so I could have more memories of her. But what I do have, I'm grateful for. I'm grateful she's my Grandmother and my Mom's mom. What my Mom has taught me, was taught to her many years ago, and I'm so blessed by those things. I felt like every talk given this past weekend was on the family. While I couldn't help but think of the family and kids I'll have for my own someday, I also thought of the family that I've come from. - And that makes me love my Grandmother more than ever. She is the source of goodness that comes from my family and extended family. She is what has kept us so close to each other and to the Lord. The family I hope to have someday is just like the family she created for us. I am so grateful to her and will never forget the example she has given me to live by.

Since the tradition of which I spoke of has died, my parents have come out every year and spent conference weekend with us to make up for it. However, at last minute, they decided not to come this year. I was sad at first, but when I realized that I was going to get to watch conference in our little home as our little Peña family for the first time in my life. It was really exciting and special. Our family of 2 became so real to me and it really hit that some day soon, that family of 2 will grow and we will have our own traditions and mottos and stories and principles to live by. Listening to the prophets words and feeling them fill our home with the spirit really touched me and made me so grateful to be a member of our church. I feel grateful to have the Gospel to teach to my children and know that they will come to a home filled with it. No, I'm not pregnant, and not planning on it yet, but when I am, I'm sure all of these things will mean even more to me than they do right now.