Just being TOGETHER! I LOVE that part!
The best part of that part is that we were very much spread out, not only was our oldest son, Isaac, in Argentina, and our twin daughters, Emily and Anna, in Utah, but our extended families were far away as well. We were far apart in miles but TOGETHER in heart as we celebrated Easter and listened to General Conference this weekend! (lds.org, click on General Conference or click here to view little video segments)
As sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandchildren and grandparents we traded fun pictures by text and email of Easter morning and of everyone watching conference in their separate homes, we saw scones for breakfast, coloring and conference packets, new Easter clothes, my brother and sister-in-law watching in their new, still couch-less house, overall it was just happiness to know we were all together in heart at this super happy time!
My Mom wrote briefly to her whole family at the close of the weekend: “I take a few moments, with my heart just filled to the brim so that tears are flowing from my eyes, to thank each precious one of you for being the beautiful people you are!! As my thoughts have turned to each of you I have felt so blessed to know that each one of you are celebrating this morning that “Christ Lives” but more than that, that we know we are one big eternal family, and that we feel so blessed and thankful that you are gathered with all your beautiful children, our grandchildren, around your tv’s today listening to the word of the Lord through His prophets and apostles!! That is the greatest blessing a parent could ever receive!!”
Isaac and his companion viewing Conference at a church building in Argentina! You can see more pics of Isaac lately on elderhoffman.com
My heart rejoices with my mother’s!- and my son and daughters are following suit. Isaac wrote this morning: “I was extremely grateful for the beautiful blessing to hear a living prophet, the apostles of the Lord and the other servants of Him in the conference this weekend…I loved all the speeches, but especially was grateful for Elder Bednar’s speech, in which he spoke of looking to God and living. I was deeply touched and I feel it was a personal answer to prayer…P.S. – Happy Pascua! It´s the best season of the year!”
Here are a few pics from our Easter/General Conference weekend, just to share:
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- My experience has taught me little ones take in more than expected as they busy themselves in quiet (or even not so quiet) activities during Conference.
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- Rest hymn!
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- The little girls work on quiet books and coloring together.
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- Mikela and Kate diligently taking notes.
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- Esther and Gracie hug and say hi!
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- We traditionally set up a tent with the door facing the direction of the Word.
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- Sarah concentrating on conference
As the weekend came to a close and it would be back to school, work, and daily living, we gave each of the children a chance to share the thing that had impressed upon their minds and hearts most during conference, what they wanted to change because of it. I was amazed by what they had absorbed, young as they all are, and found that from 20 to 2, each of my children had been guided into a better way by listening to Conference. Before retiring to bed Sunday night I also carefully wrote down the things I would DO because of what I had heard and learned for good this weekend. There’s no way to articulate how grateful I am for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. It makes me REJOICE!
Rejoice with your Family in Truth and Light today!!
Love,
The Whole Hoffman Family
General Conference is my absolute favorite time of year! I love the spiritual boost it gives me and I am SO grateful it is twice a year – how lucky we are! ♥ I love your family CaMarie! I feel so blessed to be a part of it 🙂 My nieces & nephew are so incredibly spiritually mature, I couldn’t be more proud of them!
Thank you for feeling the happiness with us Becky!! AND for loving these children as your own! Happiness!!