Youth Temple Trip

Yesterday we spent the day at the Memphis Temple. It was an all day event...all day! Started when we met at church at 6am (got a phone call from a YW at 5:30am wondering if she could wear her pj's...these girls certainly keep me on my toes...they are AWESOME!) Got on the road about 6:30am with rain and wind soon to envelop us on and off in the 2 1/2 hour drive, although it took a little bit longer with the weather. We took a total of 9 YW and 5 YM to do baptisms and they did just under 400. A giant thank you to Matt Ross, our ward Executive Secretary, who did all of the baptizing...checked this morning...his arms are still attached but sore, but he said it's worth the effort. Also to my counselors and secretary and their husbands. As youth leaders we have many activites to attend, but attending the temple is my favorite! This might have been the smallest group we have taken in the last 2 years I have been with the YW...but it's summer time and we had some on vacations.

Then we always have lunch at a local pizza place where it's an all you can eat buffet. The YM try to out do their number of pieces they ate last time (YW do this, but not in the presence of the boys, only at Girls Camp). I had joked that I didn't care as long as they are not riding back with me. The ride home had some hiccups...we had gone about 20 miles when there was a huge stall of vehicles on the freeway. There had been an accident and it took us 1 1/2 hours to travel the 5 miles to pass it. Needless to say, this was added to our already 2 1/2 hour ride home...and there were no "accidents" inside the vehicles after all the pop we drank...we did have to make a pit stop soon after passing the wreck, though. According to Christian, the vehicle all the YM were riding in had a YM laugh so hard that he lost his lunch outside (and on) the vehicle while stuck in the traffic jam.

So by the time we got back to church and then picked up Ashley from Nana & Papa's we got home at 7pm. Ashley cannot wait to be in YW...she feels left out and wants to do what big brother and sister are doing...but she will have to wait until March. She is so excited and is working on her Faith in God section of Preparing for Young Women's.

Quite a day...but a great way to end our week...at the Temple!

Because of the bad weather, I was unable to take pictures, so I am posting a picture of me, Christian, Kaitlyn, and Robert at the temple Mother's Day weekend 2007.