Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

First of all I am back. My plate is so full, I really shouldn't be blogging right now but I have missed you, and I'm hoping you have missed me too.
So I went to Utah last week. I go every year to go to the LDS General Women's Broadcast with my friend Kerry. This is the best picture of us that I got this year...

Aric is very supportive of this outing of mine. He says that I come home a much better wife and mom. I wasn't going to go this year because our budget is tight, thanks to the adoption that never ends...but Aric insisted that I go. I decided that if I went I would try to meet with buyers at BYU and UVU to see if they would be interested in my book. That was the only way I could go and not feel guilty about it.
In the weeks leading up to my trip I had sent out a few books and made some phone calls. By the time I left for my trip I only had one meeting set up with the buyer at UVU. I was feeling a little insecure and I was thinking about canceling that appointment.
On Wednesday I hung out with my dear friend Jen. I spent the night with her and her cute family. She fed me and entertained me. It was a great time. It kept my mind off of the meeting that was hanging over my head.
On Thursday I was starting to feel really anxious and really wanting to cancel my 11am meeting with UVU. At around 4pm I got a call from the buyer at BYU. She apologized for not getting in touch with me sooner and we made an appointment for 9:30am.  I was so excited and sick all at the same time.
That night I stayed in Sandy with my fabulous friends Alisynn and Jason. They filled my nervous belly with Cafe Rio...YUM! We had a great time catching up and stayed up way too late. The next morning I headed down to my old stomping grounds.

Aric left me sweet, supportive messages and I prayed all the way down there. By the time I pulled into the visitor parking at BYU, the peace had finally set in. I decided that no matter what happened, I had a great life, with an amazing support system. This book was written for Leah and it didn't matter who liked it. I just kept thinking of my own kids and how someday I could share this experience with them. I could tell them how scared I was and that it took all the courage I had to walk through the Wilkenson Center and find my way to the bookstore.
I met the buyer, Maureen, and she was so AMAZING! She was so easy to talk to. I couldn't believe how fast an hour and a half went by. It felt like I was talking to an old friend. I was completely calm and I totally enjoyed myself. By the end of our meeting, she had showed me how I can print it right there at BYU for almost HALF the cost! She was so encouraging and best of all she wants my book.....BYU is g0ing to not only carry my book but help me print it!!!!!!
I walked out with tears stinging my eyes. Every girl I passed I wanted to hug and give a copy of my book. I wanted to call Aric but my darn phone was dead. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude for his love and support. I offered a prayer of gratitude to Heavenly Father who gave me the desire to write, the words to say, and the courage to see it through.
After that meeting I headed over to UVU.

(It was called UVSC when I transferred there from BYU) It had been many years since I'd walk those concrete paths. My meeting there was quick and easy. They want my book too. As soon as that meeting was over I went to Walmart and bought a car charger for my car. I called Aric. He was in the check out line at Fred Meyer with Camden. It wasn't how I pictured that moment, but it was still sweet nonetheless.

To say that I am excited is a complete understatement. I am still in shock. I have to put my book into a PDF file for BYU, not as easy as I thought. But unfortunately I came home to more adoption drama so that has taken up lots of my time and energy. My goal is to have it sent over to BYU and ready to print by this time next week.
This is the point where you think this post might end...but nope. I still have two and a half days to tell you about!
The rest of the weekend was fun, and anything but restful. After my meetings I headed up to Salt Lake to pick up my mom and meet up with Kerry and Lara. We went to the LDS humanitarian center for a tour.

It is really amazing what is done there. Touring that facility made me so grateful to be a part of something that huge and far reaching.
After dinner, my mom and I headed over to IKEA. I brought the biggest suitcase we own and only packed it 1/3 full. I knew that I was going to IKEA, so I made sure I had plenty of room for the treasures I would find.
That night we stayed with Kerry's parents. Saturday my mom and I went for a walk/hike, then off to do some more shopping.

We actually spent more time driving around than shopping but that was probably best.
We met up with Leah and Monica for the broadcast.

We had the best seats ever! We sat on the main floor, in the middle section and only about 20 rows up. It was so neat. The meeting was wonderful, from the music to the speakers.

It really hit me how blessed I was to being sitting there, in the same room as a prophet of God.

The spirit once again bore witness to me that Thomas S Monson is truly a prophet, chosen by God to lead us. I left that meeting a better person. I left with a stronger testimony of God's love for me and even more committed to living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
After the meeting we had dinner at Tocano's, the best food ever!

 

It was another late night, but so much fun.
Sunday morning it is our tradition to go to Music and the Spoken Word. As always it was incredible.

Then it was off to the airport. The flight was fast and before I knew it I was home.
I was greeted by my precious people and this amazing surprise...

We have been working on our bonus room and making it more functional for my tutoring student and my girls. We had looked at desks and couldn't find anything that I liked. So I designed this one and Aric built it while I was gone. All I had to do was caulk it, fill in the nail holes,  and paint it.
I LOVE IT! I would take this desk over diamonds any day!

Then later that day, Jess stopped by with yummy trifle to celebrate my book.

So there you have it. I think this is the longest post EVER...but I had a whole lot to catch up on. I promise the next one won't be so long.