Richardson Report

So this is what has been going through my head lately.  Saying no to all those things that creep into our lives. Elder Oaks   gave a superb talk, which our Sunday speakers referenced this past week, about choosing only the most important things. It reminded me of why I almost never sign my younger kids up for extracurricular activities.  Sure they are fun and they learn good things.  But a lot of kids in our big family doing activities - even if it's just one for each kid - means a lot of time away from the home.  And honestly, my family is happier in the long run when we spend more time at home.  I feel better.  I have time to get things done that make our family life run more smoothly.  The kids enjoy time to unwind, decompress, be creative, read good books, and spend time together.  Dinner is more likely to be one time, and to be made (imagine that!) by me. Bedtime happens.  Scriptures and prayers and toothbrushing aren't for...

Education Week is something I've been hoping to attend for y.e.a.r.s.  Just could never get away.  So this year Josh kindly suggested I go and I hurriedly took him up on that offer before the calendar got too full.  I think it was a real sacrifice for him when it came right down to it - more than he anticipated, because the kids had a busy week and it's difficult enough for the two of us to manage sometimes.  He experienced single-parenthood and has even more respect for working single parents. But me?  I had a delightful week.  It was exhausting on every level but wonderful at the same time.  I spent two nights on the way down at Jenny's house and got to experience my first taste of Arizona.  It was surprisingly humid.  Not surprisingly, very warm.  Full of orange trees and stucco buildings. Then I few to Provo.  I had the entire Sabbath to myself once I got there, so I hiked all the way from my hotel to the Temple and then mad...