Wholesome Weekend

I have been wanting to start a blog to record some of my feelings and thoughts for awhile now. With everything going on with H and needed somewhere to record my thought I think this will be a good place. I will go through the ugly, bad, hurtful truth at some point but right now I just want to record what a fabulous weekend I had! Utah Coalition Against Pornography held a conference on Saturday and the Salt Palace in Salt Lake. I have been planning on going for months. unfortunately, Aaron ended up waiting until the last minute to ask for it off and was denied. I decided to still go and be brave by myself. I booked a hotel for myself (Little America, since it is the best!) I went up on Friday night after dropping the kids off with my parents. Later I found out Aaron had got the day off but I was already in Salt Lake and would have had to drive back down to pick him up since his car is non-functional at the moment. When I got to the hotel I enjoyed some time settling in and getting comfortable. I then went up to the hot tub and read my book while enjoying the bubbling goodness for an hour or so. It was heavenly!! I haven't had me time like that in forever and it was just what I needed. After going back to the hotel room I did a face mask, hair condition, and painted my fingernails while watching TV. I then showered and got my hair dried for the next day. I even ordered room service...20 dollars for fries and a turkey sandwich...but I was enjoying myself. The pillows were so fluffy and nice, my bed was so comfy with one occupant for the night...it was perfect! The next day I got up and went to the conference. I was a little late because lets face it, I'm always late. By the time I checked in and got to the meeting room I had missed some of Ed Smarts presentation. What I saw of it was fantastic though, at the end his daughter, Elizabeth Smart, came out to speak. Wow, what an inspiration she is!! We then split up and went to our desired classes. There were four blocks in the day so we could pick 4 different classes to attend...There were probably 14 classes to choose from so thankfully the classes will be posted online so I can watch the rest at some point. I went to a class first called "the good, the bad, and the funny of recovery" It was by Jake and Polly. Jake is a recovering sex addict and Polly has stood by his side. I got so much insight and advice from this meeting. Next I went to a class on "what's a spouse to do" it talked about recovery and what to do after disclosure. It was great! Then we had lunch and were able to walk around the booths. The secret group that I follow on Facebook had a booth there and it was fun to put a face to the names that I converse with on there! There were all kinds of booths such as LDS Family Services, Fight the New Drug, Lifestar, counselor booths, monitoring technology booths, teaching our children the wrongs of porn, and many more. It was so fun to walk around and buy some books and swag from the supporters. We then went to two more classes. I went to one about "Let it go, not just a catchy song but how to find true surrender" and one on "Setting boundaries with recovery" I cant even describe the feelings that I had and the insight I received at this conference. I am so thankful that support like this is out there and I didn't chicken out from going. Its amazing to see how much our community is affected and our world is affected by Pornography and how much it affects our nation as a whole down to the family unit. All sexual exploitation starts with porn and we must fight to dissipate it. I know that it will never be gone all the way because that's the world we live in but even if one family is saved then it is better than none. Dawn Hawkins spoke during lunch. She is a big advocate for ending sexual exploitation and works in Washington D.C. She told us some statistics and things that are going on nationally such as the dirty dozen list and the fight to have dirty magazines removed from stores, or airlines, and getting hotels and business' to change their ways to join in the fight of reducing porn and sexual exploitation. it was empowering to know that there are so many people fighting for this cause and we aren't alone. This conference was one that I will definitely be going to every year from now on. I hope Aaron can join me on the next one. After the conference I was able to attend a session at the Timpanogas temple on my way home. It was the perfect ending to my weekend. That temple is beautiful, I felt such peace and comfort there! I needed the spiritual and emotional uplift since I have been lacking and not doing very good in those areas this last week. I need to remember the feelings that I had this weekend and invite those in to my daily life every day! I feel refreshed and whole now and feel so much more loving and patient with my kids and family. Its nice to have some insight and advice to follow Aaron with his recovery and help me with mine as well! Help is out there, we just need to be willing to search and get it!