Youth Conference in the heart of Texas...well El Paso anyway.

A lot of the younger couples in our stake got asked to volunteer at the Youth Conference activities last weekend.


Growing up, I LOVED Youth Conference, so I was way excited to help out.


On the TX Themed Friday night, we led 250 kids teenagers in get-to know-you games, had a BBQ dinner and a 3-hr. dance with yes, surprise bull riding! I'd never done it before, but I tried it and actually stayed on for a good amount of time. Jeff was the first to try it out while the kids were on the opposite side of the gym for a fireside. Timing being perfect as it was, Jeff was riding the bull really fast when the wall separators opened up, the youth came through, and screamed with excitement to see Jeff on the bull.


It was great fun to be a chaperon for the first time at a church dance and to remember what it was like at that age, standing in a circle with all your girlfriends when a slow song came on, wondering who'd ask you to dance, doing the electric slide and the Cotton-Eye-Joe, and being the first few people to start a train and then have the entire group join in. And Jeff and I did all of this...except for the wondering who would ask you to dance part ;)
;

Yee Haw!

Thirsty Anyone?

Jeff and I finally decided to get going on our food/water storage. We've have realized that it's kind of a trial and error thing. For instance, we recycled a lot of Gatorade bottles and filled them up with water first. Then we figured that wasn't the best approach because our entire fridge was full of 1/2 liter bottles and there was no room left for other fridge necessities...(you know, like food). Plus we only had about 3 gallons of water in total. So we got THIS...


...HUGE 55 Gallon Monster-sized water drum from the Pepsi Company. When we got it, there was still about 4 cups of pepsi rolling around in the bottom of the barrel, so we rinsed it out in the bathtub (I wish we'd gotten pictures of that) and started filling it. We finally got into a groove where we would each bring one pitcher to the barrel and dump it in while the other pitcher was filling with water. Jeff had the bathroom sink and I had the kitchen sink. After an hour and a half of walking back and forth, the barrel was filled, weighing over 400 lbs. And of course, a huge water fight broke out between the two of us close to the end. So, if you ever are without water, come on over! Petty sure we have enough for you and your posterity down to the 3rd generation.

Tribute to Friends

I once got a decorative sign for my birthday that said, "In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips." Lately, I have been thinking about how much my friends mean to me. They truly are one of my greatest blessings. From memories that make you laugh, cry, or just smile... to the anticipation of the future and the memories waiting to be made, my friends really make life sweeter. Thank you friends. Love, Jill :)