Youth Conference 2010

Youth Conference was AMAZING. Words can't even describe how much fun, and how awesome it was. I seriously love the youth.

We were planning on leaving on Thursday night, but Bishop decided it would be a good idea to not go until Friday Morning since there was Flash flood warnings. Which, I completely agree. Flash flooding=SCARY! Luckily, we found out later there was no flooding. But, it's better to be safe then sorry.

So, we woke up bright an early and met up at the Fisher's house for breakfast at 7am. We also made our carpool arrangements.

Our carpool consisted of Steve and I, Tara, Kelsey and Amber. We all had a fun time talking, laughing, making inside jokes, and listening to Brian Regan on our way there. SO MUCH FUN! I seriously love these girls. And of course I love Steve! :)

"Peace out to Wingers" (inside joke)

We finally arrived to Castledale 2 1/2 hours later. Castledale is a super small, quaint town. It's really cute though and everyone knows everyone. We eventually found our park and set up camp. After we set up everything we all loaded up in the cars and made our way to go on a hike.

The hike was fun. SUPER, SUPER hot. There was NOTHING out there. Nothing. Okay, a cactus or two. So, I was sweating like mad, as well as the rest of the group. But, we made it to be fun. We all sang songs and joked around as we walked.

Once we reached the top we had lunch and enjoyed the pretty view. The hike was well worth it.

Once we made it back to our campground, everyone got into their swimsuits and went swimming at the Castledale pool. All the leaders just watched while all the kids had fun. Steve and I wanted to go swimming, but we forgot our suits! dang.

We were probably at the pool a little over an hour, and than it was time to go to the Emory County Fair.

On the way to the fair we saw lots of old cars, and than the guys played a game.

The fair had games, and all the regular fair stuff that you normally see.

There was this one guy though, his name is Freddie Perez who was seriously so funny. He had a whole set up dedicated to guitar hero. Steve calls him the guitar hero guru.. Everything about him was funny stuff. Steve and I got a kick out of it....

We all had dinner at the fair. You could choose between chicken or lamb. I'll take CHICKEN any day. I had a pet lamb, there is NO WAY I"m ever going to eat lamb. YOU just don't eat pets...

Anyway, after dinner we all went back to camp and changed into warmer clothes for the Castledale Pageant. The Pageant didn't start until 9pm, so we played some games while we waited to go. Unfortunately, on our ride to the pageant it started to down pour with rain! bummer. And bummer is right. We all got SOAKED.

But, we still stayed for the pageant, and by the time the pageant started it stopped raining and there was a double rainbow that went right over the pageant stage. It was really pretty.

The pageant was beyond amazing. The spirit was super strong, and it only strengthened my testimony even more. I want to go to the pageant again. I think I would get even more out of it the second time (especially if I'm not shivering! Luckily, Steve and I were able to keep each other warm- a little.)

The pageant didn't get over until a little past 11pm and so I was getting super tired. But once I got out of the wetness I had my second wind. We all played card games and then Tammy and I shared a tent. Tammy is the YW president and I seriously love her to pieces. I've been able to get to know her through our 4 years of being in this ward. I taught Tammy's twin girls when they were 5 and now I'm teaching her other daughter, Katie in Beehives. I seriously love Tammy though. We stayed up until 1:20ish waiting for the kids to go to sleep so we could T.P the tents, but they were NEVER going to sleep. We finally decided we needed our rest and we hit the sack. (I found out the next day they went to bed at 1:30. 10 minutes too late dang it!)

We woke up at 5:30 hearing someone blaring a car horn repeatedly. ARE YOU KIDDING ME CASTLEDALE PEOPLE? Waking us up. Then I went back to sleep because we didn't need to make breakfast until 7. Then I heard the most annoying bird sound of my life. I'm not for shooting animals, or birds or killing anything. But at that moment, my first thought was "where's a gun?" I was soo extremely tired, and the first wake up by the car was not pleasant. By 7 Tammy's alarm went off, and we got up. We found out the boys put a zip tie on our tent zipper so we were locked in. That wasn't the last prank that they pulled either. Tammy and I were finally free from the tent and we went to the bathroom to find shaving cream all over the toilet seats. I swear, next time i do this, I'm bringing tons of things to pull pranks with! They scared poor Marla (1st counselor) with CREEPY, HORRIFIC masks, that look like someone died. Pulled the tent stakes from the girls tent, so they woke up with a tent on top of them. It was all pretty funny, and I thought it was awesome. It was all in good fun.

I so wish me and Tammy would of stayed up a little later....

Notice the shaving cream on the ground by the tent..they put shaving cream by the tents too, so when we walked out we would step in it!

So, that was our morning. Steve said he didn't get any sleep. The first counselor in the bishopric was "sawing logs" Okay am I the ONLY one who has never heard that phrase? I had to ask him what it meant. He said it means he was snoring like crazy.

I had to add this picture, look how cute and funny this is! Steve is chasing Conner around the camp with tent ties.

What a fun morning. After we ate breakfast we went back to the pageant amphitheater and cleaned it (for our service project)

We than had testimony meeting.

It's so amazing that we can go from having such a fun time to having a spiritual high. I love the youth so much, and I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father has given me this opportunity to be with them. The are building me up all the time, and I know it's strengthening my testimony.

Love this girl.

She seriously makes my day every time I see her.

She calls me and asks if she can come over.

She gives me lessons from the "Friend" magazine.

Brings treats.

One for me and one for Steve.

She's my "mini' visiting teacher-so she says.

She literally runs to my house to greet me.

She laughs at everything I say, even if it's not funny.

She loves to do crafts with me.

If I don't like something, she doesn't.

I'm really so grateful for her.

She's one of my Beehives.

She says I always give her the best lessons. But really, she's giving me mine.

She makes me want to be better.

Love this girl.

Weekend to Remember.

I taught the lesson today on the Easter story. I think it went really well. I seriously love this calling. I taught the story with the Easter Eggs with the bible story in each and then with an object which is symbolic to each part of the story. For instance, egg #1 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying "O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." And then I had an unused sacrament cup inside of the egg...and than I had each girl pick an egg and read the story 1-12. Then we watched 10 minutes of the movie "Finding Faith in Christ." I think the girls really enjoyed it. Thanks to my cute mamasita for the Egg idea. I seriously can't wait for when Steve and I have kiddos to tell them the Easter story this way too. I've always learned better visually, and this shows the story perfectly.

Some Beehives in my class told me that they wanted to come and visit with me. That seriously made my day. I'm happy to know that they love me just as much as I love them. So, Later today two of the girls came over and brought the "Friend" magazine with brownies and a note. They told me they are going to by my "mini" visiting teachers. So cute! Keep in mind these girls are only 12 years old. So, We sat down and they gave Steve and I a lesson with questions too!! They said that this would help them pass off some of their personal progress. I thought it was so cute! The story was so cute, and the questions they asked were really good questions too. After they gave me their lesson I asked if they wanted to play a game. So, the three of us (minus Steve, he has/had homework) played Phase 10 dice. :) As I drove the girls home they asked when I get off work tomorrow, so they can come play again with me. Ha ha. I told them they need to talk with their parents first. I would love to have these two over again anytime! They bring such a sweet spirit, and they are so funny!

Brownies and note to Steve & I

Steve and I also had the opportunity of going to the temple on Thursday night with some friends in our ward. It's amazing how the world can be so busy, and then when you step in the temple everything else just goes away by the peace of the temple. I'm so happy that the temple is so close to us and that we can go together.

What else? Yesterday Steve, my dad and I went to a car auction for fun. Oh my, can I just say I don't think I EVER want to go to one of those again. So chaotic. I had knots in my stomach the entire time.. and my stomach really hurt when Steve bid on an '05 Honda Civic and YES, we won/bought the car. Luckily though because we bid the car for so low the auction-er had to call the owner of the car to see if that would be fine if he sold it to us for so low. Well, the owner said No, it wasn't fine and that he wanted us to pay more. We said NO, (thank goodness..I get so stressed when we buy big things..) So, we left the auction and on our way we went. 15 minutes later we get a call from the owner of the car, saying you guys can have the car for the price you bid it on. So, we said we will think about it and get back to him on Monday. I'm thinking it's a no go, but it's a hard decision. Steve's Honda right now has been nothing but trouble for us for the last couple weeks, so yes, we do need a reliable car. But, if we get the other car tomorrow we will have 3 cars. So unnecessary. I should be ecstatic about getting a new car for us, I just think way too much into the situation dang it.

On the happier side, Steve and I watched Carson yesterday for just a couple hours while Kody and Jade went on a date. Carson is so super cute! I can't get over his chubby cheeks! He helped me make rice krispies treats w/sprinkles on top, we danced around, and watched some of "Little Einsteins." I sure love Cars, I'm so happy that he's my nephew.

I had to do this goofy/non attractive face MULTIPLE times....

To finally get this! So cute! Poor baby though, he wasn't feeling the best.

A couple weeks ago I put all the dried flowers that Steve gave me into a basket and made a decoration out of it! I think it turned out pretty cute! :)

Now to go to my parent's house for some dinner!! So excited that I don't have to cook tonight.