You'd think I could come up with some great topic to blog about--but my thinker's sore. I seem to run constantly but am I making any progress? Here are a few things I have been filling up my hours with lately:
1. I watched 8 hours of General Conference on Saturday and Sunday....does that count for anything? Probably not, since many others did exactly that
2. I got out the crystal, china, linens and silver to feed four Priests and Laurels a nice dinner this evening. I purposely made the menu to consist of things a little difficult to eat (Chicken Parmesan over angel hair, and cream puffs) and set the table with multiple forks and spoons. We had a great time taking some dating/etiquette quizzes during the main course. The YM president wore a towel over his arm and was the waiter while I put food onto the plates. It turned out fabulously!
3. I have made it to the Temple AS A PATRON 14 times already this year, as well as spending each Saturday from 5:45 am until 2:30 pm there as a worker. Add to that the time spent making the schedule and you will know that my heart is full to the brim with Temple Feelings. Our youth have a baptism trip next Wednesday, and I love seeing them in the Temple as well.
4. I drove a vanful of young women to a basketball tournament in Macomb, an hour east of Nauvoo. They took second place in the tourney, which meant we stayed until the bitter end--then I faced a near mutiny as the girls disagreed over where they wanted to eat dinner. Some pleaded for a Chinese Buffet. Others wanted Pizza Hut, but I hated the thought of waiting 45 minutes to get our dinner. Finally I ordered the girls into the two vans and told the other driver to follow me: wherever I turned in, that was my decision. I headed into town and saw a Taco Bell. I squealed into the parking lot and the girls trooped in behind Tina and Me--only to see two of the referees from the basketball games there at a table, still dressed in their black & white shirts. The girls all found something they could live with for dinner and I was proud of them: I did not hear a single complaint from the entire bunch
5. I realized I was out of balance and needed to read. So besides Aisling of Eire, I have read a half dozen other books in the past couple of weeks. I really had fun with The Bishop's Bride, and loved the volume 4 Fablehaven--though I read it so fast I am sure I couldn't tell you many details (my sister had it checked out from the library and I felt guilty short-stopping it before it was turned back in). I would like to re-read all four of them just before volume five comes out. Good Job, Brandon Mull!
Nothing earthshattering, right? Just life running a full tilt, and loving it.
At the entrance to the dance, our Beauties pose under the balloon arch.
Eventually we met up with the three "guys" from our ward: Josh, Rick & Joseph. They truly are not as serious as this pose would suggest!
The back view of Bryce's beautiful dress--she looked MARVELOUS (though she really wasn't feeling very well!)
And the back view of Amber's lovely gown. Aren't they all the picture of modesty and virtue?
Close-ups of the four girls from Nauvoo 1st Ward: Ande
Amber and Bryce
Amber and Amanda (catching them "normal" is difficult--silly is always fun!)
And one shot of the driver taken from the back seat as we pulled away from the gas station. The ride home was much more mellow, with about an hour spent joining Inside Out in many successive renditions of "I'm Peanut Butter and You Are Jelly" and "Once There Was a Snowman." The girls may decide to choose one of those for our upcoming Lip Sync night!
I'd go again. Loss of sleep and 24 hours away from home is more than made up by the closeness developed with "my" girls. Working in Young Women is THE BEST!!!
