General Conference: Tickets Anyone?

This year Connor and I decided to take a road trip to SLC for Conference.  Connor needed driving time for his upcoming driving test. I was missing the majority of my family who have all "left me!" 

 What a great adventure it was.  Connor drove through most of Nevada even though it made him really sleepy. He kept me company with his great sense of humor and interesting topics of conversations.  We also had 48 hours of book on tape to get through so there was never a dull or quiet moment. 

Sadly we had no conference ticket, but we weren't going to let that stop us from seeing conference in person.  Petitioning for them, made it all the more exciting.  

With our homemade sign in hand, Riley got two ticket within the first 10 minutes.  Amazingly enough he caught the eye of a girl in the Singles Branch here in Turlock who recognized him and mentioned that amazingly, she had two extra tickets from our stake and didn't know what to do with them. Score Riley! 

Jarrett and Connor were strategically placed in the Stand By Line just in case we weren't lucky with the tickets.  The line was massive and both were excited to leave and head to our seats in the Conference Center to hear in person the Saturday morning opening session 

              It can't get better than this.  Center Front Plaza Floor with my three handsome sons!

My Favorite People.

 Food For Thought.

There is beauty all around when you are temple square.  The refection pool is to the side of us and the Temple is majestically rising in front of us.  The music is drifting over the loudspeakers and the scent and color of flowers is everywhere.  Riley even has a bed to stretch out on while we eat our tasty lunch in between sessions. 

Back to work for afternoon session seats.  This time we put Connor to work.  The competition is heavy and there are people with fingers up and signs all around.  Connor's height and charm win out as an elderly lady comes up and tells Connor was a wonderful young man he is and that she'd like him to have her husbands ticket who couldn't make it.  

One down, three more tickets to go. 

 Riley was chosen amid all the other finger holders for ticket number two. Sadly we didn't get any more tickets and with time running out found two young kids from Guatemala that needed tickets for their family and they enthusiastically accepted our two.   

 After waiting in a long line, we made it into the Joseph Smith Auditorium where we listened to the conference message in soft seats, total darkness and the speakers larger than life!  

 The rest of our time Connor stayed with his brothers, in what I am sure was a three day party. We meet for a number of hot dogs, pizza slices and Gelato at Costco our favorite place to eat and shop.

 Sadly we had to head back home and were surprised to find ourselves in a blizzard just out of Salt Lake City.  Luckily it cleared up and Connor again took the wheel and expertly drove me back home.

Connor really enjoyed driving the fast and twisty roads through the Sierra's.  He said that is was like Grand Tourismo real life.  My knuckles were white at first and my eye alert while my heart beat a little faster than usual as he speed down those winding roads.  Connor did such a fine job that after a while I closed my eyes, listened to our book on tape and even fell asleep.  He'll pass that test easily.  

 What a great road trip!