This weekend is General Conference weekend, which is a semi-annual conference led by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, broadcast from Salt Lake City, Utah in something like 94 languages.  I love General Conference because I get to hear from the Prophet, someone that I know speaks with God on a regular basis.

In between the sessions of conference, BYU TV broadcasts all sorts of programming of interest to LDS folk.  Today they broadcast, “On the Lord’s Errand,” the biography of Thomas S. Monson, current Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  If you have an hour, it’s well worth your time (link).  He has an amazing story, that has brought me to tears.

For information on how to see/hear conference on Sunday, October 4, 2009, click here.   Written, audio and video archives are generally available afterwards.  For the schedule of release, see here.   For past archives of conference, see here.

For more information about the beliefs of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), see here.

For a tribute to the designer of this logo, please click here.

It was 8 years ago, yet it feels like yesterday.  I do not generally get teary eyed over much, and I’m almost there.  Thank you to Mr. Glaser for bringing a little bit of love to this otherwise sad day.

For my account of 9/11, see here, here or here.

I’m in a meeting, and I get this text from Dan. . . He was in a taxi with Ava when this conversation ensued.

Ava (looks at the TV in the taxi): Do you like the TV?
Dan: It’s alright
Ava: We have two TVs. One TV for Mama, one TV for Dada and one TV for Ava.
Dan: But wait, you said we have one TV for Mama, one TV for Dada and one TV for Ava. How many TVs are those?
Ava: (pausing to count) Three
Dan: But you said we had two.
Ava: (thinks hard) Then we have to get a TV for Ava.

She’s 3, and I’m doomed.

For the past year I have sat on the edge of my seat and down on my knees, praying for the well-being of a family of random, blogging strangers– people I don’t think I’ve ever met, but I have lived in their town (Provo) and probably share many friends with them.

You can read their story here– I can’t recount it or it will bring me to tears.  This weekend was a milestone in their lives, and I would like to celebrate life with them.

“It’s refreshing.  So good we should make it when company comes over.”–Dan

“This sauce is good,” says the 2 year old.

And dear lucky family and friends, I’ll share the recipe with you.  Pofta Buna! (Bon appetit in Romanian)

I’ll apologize in advance that I’m a lot like Rachel Ray– I don’t use measuring cups or any form of standard measurement. . . Also know this recipe is enough to feed an army.  We’re getting at least 12 servings out of it.  I had to make it in the 2nd largest pot that I own.

Dan & I with Jessica & Bella at Outback in Wilkes Barre, June 2004

Such a gorgeous area of the city.  I think the pictures speak for themselves.

PS–I like the ease of the WordPress Gallery (shown above)–what do you think?  Do you prefer the YouTube slide show (which will be better once we put music to it) or do you like the gallery?

That was the sign on their apartment door, and as I saw them together, I couldn’t help but realize their love for each other.  To protect their identities from random searches, details are omitted, but know I think the world of this couple and I am so happy to see them together.

Mom–don’t cry too much.

Jardin du Luxembourg (map)

Being used to American style playgrounds, we needed to seek them out in France.  We found a few last week, and then we found more.  Yes, I know this is sounding like a playground blog.  If you aren’t interested, just click next for the next post.  :)

In the child’s playground just near the Senate building, there are 4 sandboxes and 2 pools of water.  It is free to enter, but

How do I love thee? Let me count the whys:

§ Gorgeous flowers at every bend

§ Everyone bikes–forget cars, it’s a biking or canal town