Wow, what a weekend!

HUGE Warning!!! This will be a LONG post, but it is worth it!!
So, I have been wanting to go to conference for over a year. (Conference is a time when the church leaders from our church come together in Utah to give direct guidance and counsel to all of the members. It is broadcast on TV, the Internet, radios and satellite transmissions all over the world. It is both Saturday and Sunday and only 2 times a year. See HERE for more info. It only has audio available right now, but will have written out forms of the talks within the week.) Well, I wanted to go last April, then President Hinckley passed away so I knew I would never get tickets (they are free, but they only have limited space) because it would be packed. I wanted to go in October, but we had found out about Jake and were taking our last family trip before Jake was born. Then, I knew I wasn't going to be able to go this April, because I would either be in the hospital still, with Jake, or at home with a baby that needed 24/7 care. Then a week after Jake passed away, I decided I wanted to go. No one was able to go with me, so I started to dismiss the idea, when I really felt strongly that I should go, so I booked myself a ticket to go alone! Then, my great friend, Heidi (Angel Jersey's mom) found a way to come too!! I was so excited for us to be there together!

I flew in early Thursday morning and hung out with some cousins and Tyler's aunt and Uncle, then I went to a new friends house, Mindi, that has a heart baby (baby Libbi). She is a beautiful baby and doing really well!! YEAH!!!!

Heidi came in later Thursday evening and we went out to dinner with some other new friends, Leah (Angel Avery's mom) and Michele (Angel Gracie's mom).

These women are amazing! We chatted for 4 1/2 hours at Macaroni Grill! Our poor waiter could hardly get us to order because we were chatting so much! :) Thanks girls, it was SO great to meet you and talk to you! You are amazing!

Friday morning we went to the Salt Lake temple with my parents and had a very sweet time. That afternoon we went around the temple and saw the Joseph Smith movie. The Mesa Temple visitors center is showing it, so if you want see it, go there (it's free too)! It was a great movie.

(My mom, me, and Heidi in front of the Salt Lake Temple)

Friday Evening we went back to Mindi's house to deliver some oranges for my little brother, Nathan. He is on a mission for our church in Ogden and is in Mindi's area. While I was there, she surprised me and invited him over! He is the CUTEST ever! It was so fun to talk and chat with him. He comes home in November and we can hardly wait! Missionaries are gone for 2 years and don't normally get to see family members, only get to talk to them on the phone 2 times a year.

Afterwards we went to dinner with Mindi's mom, cousins, sister-in-law and aunt. We had SOOOO much fun chatting and laughing with them.

Thanks for the GREAT time, gals! I feel like we are all family!

Also, a HUGE shout out to Netso for letting us borrow her car! WE LOVED it! Thank you, thank you! Check out this car!

We even got mistaken for some high schoolers driving her car! Haha!!

We had tickets to the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions, thanks to my dad. It was amazing to be in the conference center and feel of the spirit. The Saturday afternoon session was AMAZING!! We got tickets down in front about 15 rows back. See:

It was amazing to be so close and see the expressions on the President Monson's face and the other apostles. The second to last speaker, Elder Richard G. Scott gave an amazing talk that should be titled "To Liz and Heidi, and any other Heart baby's moms." Go listen to it. He told about how he has lost his wife, and how they also lost a daughter and 6 weeks later they lost a son to a heart defect! WOW!! Heidi and I just stared in awe that we could be so close and in the session that he spoke about that. WOW, WOW, WOW!!

After that session Heidi and I desperately wanted to meet Elder Scott and thank him for his amazing talk. As people began to leave the conference center, Elder Scott stayed around and began mingling with people! We tried to get close, but some ropes and security guards prevented us. As people left we would get closer and closer. Eventually, we were 5 feet from him, but they were beginning to tell everyone to leave. One sweet sister that we had told our story to knew that we had to meet Elder Scott too. She spoke with some man that was waiting, and when Elder Scott started to walk away, this man that had been waiting said, "No, Dad, you can't leave yet. You have to meet these girls." WOW WOW WOW!! IT had been Elder Scott's son! He came over to use and talked for a few minutes. We told him about our babies and he shed a few tears with us. We also thanked him for his amazing talk. Then he let us take a photo with him. Our eyes were all red from crying, but it was amazing to be able to meet him!

Even if you aren't a member of my church, read or listen to his talk. It is amazing and so sweet and sincere. He is such an amazing guy!!

Saturday evening was spent shopping, eating and visiting until waaaaaay too late! :)

We didn't have tickets to the Sunday morning session, but we really wanted to get in, so we came prepared! Here is our PINK sign.

It says, "Totally Need Tickets" and even has silver glitter all over it! We figured it had to work, and it DID!! We got tickets for us and my parents! GO HEIDI!! That was another amazing session with a great talk about the atonement from Elder Holland. You can listen to that one too. It can't hurt! :)

Here we are after the Sunday morning session. You can see the Salt Lake Temple behind us. Then we had to say goodbye to each other and Salt Lake. I flew out during the Sunday afternoon session and Heidi flew home Monday. Thanks for going with me, Heidi! I had an amazing time.

I am so grateful to belong to the church that I do. I KNOW I will see my baby again, and be able to raise him and be with him and my husband and my other children FOREVER!! I love that! I am grateful for my testimony in Jesus Christ and the example He was to all of us. I'm grateful for the power of prayer and a loving Heavenly Father that always listens to me and comforts me. It is what keeps me going.

Well, you made it to the end! Sorry, I didn't mean to get "Churchy" on you all, but I had to let you all know about my amazing experience and my testimony!! Thanks for reading!!