I need another day after Sunday to be part of the weekend

Abigail pleading for her family

Our weekend was busy, busy.  Saturday morning I had stake auxiliary training.  It was really good.  We had a great discussion about the new curriculum and teaching the youth in today's world.  Shannen and I were able to go and we both felt like we got a lot out of it.

After I went to the grocery store. Then I had to go back to the stake center for our first stake youth activity of the year.  The youth committee planned the whole thing and it was great.  The first hour was choir practice, which the kids mostly didn't enjoy. They are singing at stake conference though and need to practice. Then they had break out classes, followed by free choice activities.  They had a lot of options for the youth: kickball, frisbee, art, board games, volleyball, four square, cards and hanging out.  Then they had chick fil a for dinner.  All the kids I talked to said it was fun.

After the activity Rob and I drove to Sanford to meet Tom and Diana and Jess and Isaiah for dinner.  They choose Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe.  It's their favorite.  It is a German food restaurant.  When ever I am asked what my favorite food is I say I don't know, that I'm not picky, except I don't like German food.  We once went to a horrible restaurant in Fort Worth called Edelweiss and that was my one and only try for German food, but that was enough.  Anyway, Sanford is a super cute little town, it has  booming night life with lots of festivals and restaurants.  Last night there was a lot going on, which was fun.  We had to wait a little while but eventually got seated on the patio.  The food was really good and we had a fun visit.  They play German music and the waitstaff all wear lederhosen or German dresses at the restaurant, people dance and drink and they atmosphere is festive. I would eat there again and am rethinking my no German food stance that I have previously held.

some beautiful Sabbath day art

Today we slept in! Then I lay in bed and did my studying.  The dogs both "helped" me.  Rob was next to me studying too, they didn't bug him though.

We had BYC before church, then a baptism after church, then a presidency meeting. I was gone from 11-5:30.  I haven't had such a long church meeting line up in a while.  The baptism was very sweet.  Today was a day when the spirit was so strong throughout the meetings.  Luke, who I fasted for last week, was able to get baptized today.  He was very nervous and cried a little before he actually did it. Then it took 3 tries to get him under.  There was not a dry eye in the room during the whole ordinance. I think everyone had a prayer in their heart as we watched this brave boy (who needs to be baptized much less than the rest of us) fight his fears and let his great desire to follow Jesus Christ win out over his anxieties. I felt privileged to be there. 

It was a good day.