Friday: Listened to my gorgeous sister sing the National Anthem at the last LAX game of the season, went to the wedding of some good friends, had movie night with some other good friends. A very spectacular evening all together.

Saturday: Randy studied, Maddy worked and cleaned. We went to the store to pick up a few things and then to another wedding, then to dinner with some awesome friends. Then Matt and Liv stopped by for a fun night.

Sunday: Church, teaching, and then some great friends over for dinner.

Monday: Randy KILLS his first final and then does all the studying, then we have movie night for FHE.

And this is the only picture I took. But how cute is he?!?

I've been going back and listening to conference talks, and today I listened to Elder Hallstrom's talk. There was a part of it that stuck out to me and made my heart ponder and ask myself some serious questions. Here's what he said:

When difficult things occur in our lives, what is our immediate response? Is it confusion or doubt or spiritual withdrawal? Is it a blow to our faith? Do we blame God or others for our circumstances? Or is our first response to remember who we are—that we are children of a loving God? Is that coupled with an absolute trust that He allows some earthly suffering because He knows it will bless us, like a refiner’s fire, to become like Him and to gain our eternal inheritance?

I have had hard things happen to me. I have had things happen in my life and in the world around me that I don't understand. Some things I have a hard time agreeing with. Some things I have a hard time understanding. Some things I question and doubt.

I am now recognizing that these hard things don't need to be an utter blow to my faith. That if I understand WHO I am, and who my Heavenly Father is, I don't need to doubt.

I am a child of God.

There are some things we tell children to do or not do that they don't, and can't understand. There are rules we enforce that may not make sense to them. There are hard things that they have to go through so they can be stronger. It may include making their bed, doing their own homework, having a curfew, not being allowed to touch a hot stove, and other things.

God is our father and His rules are the same for us, as the rules we give to little children. We don't understand them all now, but as we learn and grow we will understand them. We trust our parents to help us make good decisions. We can absolutely trust our Heavenly Father as well.

I am a child of God.

And so are you.