the one where i get to babysit and rant

so every four years the youth gets to spend Youth Conference at Martin's Cove. This is always a very spiritual experience for everyone and is definitely a memory never forgotten. I had the chance to attend my second year of Youth Conference and I know for a certain that my testimony was strengthened because of the 4 days dressed as a pioneer and walking in their footprints. We not only had challenges such as losing our spouses and babies, we also were asked to walk many miles pulling handcarts, sometimes barefoot, up rocky hills and through rivers. The sacredness in the Cove is something that I'll never be able to explain. I absolutely loved it and I'm so happy for my two younger siblings to have the chance to be there this week as well.

So as I was saying, this week the youth returned to Martin's Cove for Youth Conference. My mother is a counselor in the Stake Young Women's, my father chooses to be a cook and is able to attend Girls Camp and Youth Conference each year, my oldest sister was asked to attend to as a photojournalist, and two of my younger siblings attended as youth. Which left me, and my youngest sister not joining the trek. Another couple in the Stake was able to go as well and asked me to nanny this week for them while everyone was away. 

The last 2 days (2 to go)  I've been able to watch over 3 kids, 4 including my sister. Aging between 7-13. Its been a hectic yet exciting week playing mom. Cleaning, cooking, taking kids to swimming lessons, preparing scripture studying, and putting kids to bed. The last couple of days our adventures have included; going to the pool, playing many, many games, water balloon fights, watching movies, and setting up a sheet and projector up as an outdoor movie theater, and I'm sure many new experiences before the week ends.

As I've babysat I've come to learn how truly important a mother's role is. I've never once thought in my life that, as a women, I was treated unequally. That I was looked upon as just a homemaker. But even if I was, I don't think I would mind. I would love being able to stay home with my kids each day and watch them as they grew. What a wonderful life it would be to have to watch your kids smile, read, run, play, and live as a job. Some, don't think women and men are equal, especially in the Church since men are able to hold the priesthood. But honestly, a women's duty as carrying a child and watching he/she grow is such an amazing and life changing experience, thinking of it, is....mind-blowing. As humans, we are able to create life. Its an amazing process. And as women, we have a life, a person, growing inside of us. I'm so excited to someday to have the opportunity to be a mom and to raise a family of my own. But until that time, I'm grateful to have the chance to practice and babysit these wonderful kids.
If you're still interested in this topic, give Elder Ballard's talk a read/listen/watch.
"This Is My Work and Glory"