New Conclusion

I've been learning a lot since February, when I was called to be the Relief Society President.

This past week confirmed to me yet a whole new realization:

When I have kids, I definitely don't want any girls.

I fear that if I raise any girls, they won't make it out of their teenage years alive because I will not have equipped them for what they need to survive junior high and high school (and apparently the 20s because the 20s are a repeat of high school... at least in my ward!)

Girls can be so petty sometimes and mean and immature.

And I got to be on the receiving end of such pettiness, meanness, and immaturity.¹

 Boys are so much easier. They actually say what they mean (most of the time).

I'm glad I have a lot of brothers. It makes things easier.

But with my luck, I'll probably have all daughters and no sons.

Perhaps I should start praying for them now!

¹Don't worry about me. I've had time to get over the personal attack. It just came as a surprise, that's all. Pretty much out of the blue.

Taking Time

So, it's been 5 days since I returned from my exciting first-time real life vacation--where I went to a destination and got a hotel and felt very grown up. 
Puerto Rico. I ate lots of good food--mango chicken with fried plantains YUM!!!--and tried speaking Spanish. I arrived on Wednesday night, and by Saturday, I was dreaming in Spanish and speaking more fluently. I wished I'd had a couple more days. I might have come back with an accent!

The view from our hotel room.

Two days were spent at the beach. Relaxing. Reading. And snorkeling.

One day we went to Old San Juan and saw fortresses.

Puerto Rico was influenced by the Spaniards and you could totally see it!

We hiked through the rainforest. This picture was taken after I tried to climb some rocks and slipped and fell, hurting my arm and soaking my shoes. Basically--I'm a klutz!

Yes... those are sweat stains. It was humid. And hot. And I was hiking.

We rented a car on a last day to drive through the rain forest. A blue mustang was all they had available.

My friend, Laura and me. 

Laura has more pictures of me. I'll eventually get them. But I guess the only people that will see them is my family on our year-end DVD. Sorry, friends. 

But now I'm back to reality. Work. Lots of work. And being Relief Society president. 

Oh, yes. And boys. 

There's not a specific one, but I'm certainly having a lot of fun being confused and confusing them. If only we could all be on the same page. 

Retreat! RETREAT!!!

RETREAT (noun): 
1. The act of withdrawing; retirement, seclusion.
2. A place of refuge
3. An asylum, as for the insane.
That's pretty much the best way to describe our Relief Society retreat. 

The stake president has a cabin in the Canyons resort. It's 4 stories with an elevator. 

We came, we partied, we crashed, and then we headed home. 
But we also had the Stake Relief Society Presidency come and speak to us. 
I count it as a huge success.
I also was concerned by the amount of leftovers we had. I won't need to go grocery shopping when I get back from Puerto Rico.

And yes, it does concern me that almost every picture taken of me has me playing with cards. It wasn't poker, I swear!

Saturday morning... I felt so tired!

After breakfast and the elders quorum (or the 10 guys who came) arrived, we headed to the Alpine Slide.

So you're all caught up. 

I'm currently in Dallas. 

I'll be back within range of internet on Sunday. 

My cell phone is supposed to work there. 

Give me a call--you might catch me while I'm in the rain forest. 

Sweet Summertime: Concerts!

You might be wondering why I'm posting today. 
I'm avoiding finishing my final project for school. 
So, in the mean time...
I finally went through and got my pictures off of my cameras. 

A few weeks ago, I went to the Lady Antebellum/Tim McGraw concert with my friend, B and her sister J came along. 

So, much fun.

Lady Antebellum was so good.

And they are coming back in the fall. 

You better believe I'll be there. 

In fact, I want really good seats. 

Oh, yes. Tomorrow I'll post about our Relief Society retreat. (I have a four hour layover in Texas on my way to Puerto Rico. That's right--I'm heading on a vacation that includes a destination without family. Does that finally make me an adult?) 

But a preview: Food, fun, MASH (with cards), and lots of talking

photo courtesy of [a little sussy]

Wondering

[courtesy of art pixie]

You've been wondering where I've been, haven't you?

Have no fear. I'm around. Just busy. And having fun.

Because at 27, that's what I should be doing, right?

Going on dates. Going to concerts. Making friends to last a lifetime.

It's a glorious time. I hope it doesn't end any time soon.