Done, Done & Done

Youth conference is officially done. {insert huge tired sigh here} Yeah, Phil and I were co-chairs in planning this year's Renton Stake Youth Conference with our new and very dear friends, Laura and Ben Jex (head-chairs). I haven't mentioned any of this on my blog before because there would be just WAY too much to talk about that I didn't find the point in even starting. It's also the reason I've dropped off the blogging world for the last little while. I almost feel like I've been on a different planet for that last week eating, sleeping, drinking youth conference and only talking to people involved in it. If you didn't know the answer to who was doing what, how many fliers we needed or who was going to speak when, I'm sorry, but you were of no use to me (kidding, KIDDING). I seriously think this is the most work I've ever put into any particular project in my entire life. Even more so than my capstone project in college. It's funny though, because I just kept telling myself by this time (Saturday evening) it will be all be over, as if the actual conference was tossed in the same category as the preparation, but I must say the last couple of days have been a rewarding and joyful experience and totally worth the hours of hard work that went into this. I know this probably doesn't interest many, but since so much of me and people I've grown very fond of have thrown everything they've had into this in the last few days, weeks, months I have to share some of my thoughts...

• Holy cow!!! Have I learned A LOT! A lot about leading, a lot about following, a lot about doing, a lot about delagating, a lot about working with others and team work, a lot about teenagers, a lot about making a gajillion hand outs and a whole lot about how Heavenly Father has his hand in these types of activities organized for the youth of the Church.
• Our stake has amazing youth. I'm sad we only got to work with them for such a short amount of time.
• I have had the opportunity to learn from and watch our wonderful stake leaders who were there the whole time helping us the whole time.
• I loved learning from the youth.
• I loved meeting so many youth from our stake.
• Our service project was such a success and I couldn't be more relieved that it was (and that it's over) I'm very grateful for a very on-the-ball service project specialist, who made my job easy.
• I'm so excited to pay more attention to my baby boy (he feels like he's been just an accessory for the last couple of days)
• I am so grateful for LauraJex :) I really feel blessed to have worked so easily with someone on something like this. We jived...and that's all I can say and I'm grateful for a new friend. We're not quite sure what we're going to do with ourselves now that we don't have to talk to each other a dozen times a day.
• And last but not least, I'm so grateful for Heavenly Father making this youth conference a smashing success. I'd be here all night if I got into all the ways we saw His hand in everything (teachers, schedule, location). I feel bad because I never had the opportunity to bear my testimony to the youth. I think they just thought I was that sister running around all the time telling them what to do and where to go. But if I had, had the opportunity I would have told them that I love my Savior and I know this Church is true. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know it's true. They are a light to the world and that it doesn't stop at finding their testimony and sharing it. It is when you do that you really start growing and becoming that person Heavenly Father wants you to be and you will never know the affect that will have on those searching for truth. That's what I would've said. There is a strong force and power within the youth of this church in these latter-days.

I DID IT!!!

I ran my first race! And not just any race, a 12k (as in a 7.5 mile 12k). No, I wasn't the fastest one, in fact, I wasn't very fast at all, but besides a quick potty break, I ran the whole way. Again, I believe running up some of those wicked hills I saw people walking faster than me, but I did it. As for my final time it was 1:26:12. Now, you may look at that and think. Huh, that's kinda slow. But I look at that and think "Wow, I can run for an hour and a half? How cool is that?" Here are a couple of pictures of Elizabeth and me (my dear friend who I would have never been able to do this without). Oh and a photo of my free shirt, that I've been proudly wearing for the last five days. Ha, just kidding (...kind of :)

BEFORE

AFTER

(Sorry for the edit. My pesky midriff snuck its way into the photo)

THE SHIRT

A Little Poem...

So I've never been into poetry much. I wish I were, because I think people who can recite poems from memory are cool. However, there are a few that have a profound effect on me. So when I like a poem, its usually because I love the poem. Well, I heard one today that I think has fallen into this category. I heard it while I was folding clothes and watching the movie "In Her Shoes", of all places. You know those moments where you look at or think of someone you love and you feel like you heart is going to burst because you're so overwhelmed by your love for that person? Sorry, I keep using the word love, but that's kind of my point. There are no synonyms for love and therefore that tiny little word is rarely enough to describe its monumental meaning. Well, I thought this poem came very close to describing those moments of love that you thought you'd never find the words for. And that's why I like it.

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate,my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

--e. e. cummings

Lazy Day

I'm having a lazy day. I don't want to do anything productive today. Well...it depends on your definition of productive. Because something fun like reading, trying a new recipe or rearranging the furniture in my bedroom (again) sound like something I want to do today. Getting ready, cleaning my house, making signs for Youth Conference and figuring out drivers for our primary activity on Saturday does not sound so fun to me right now. (I'm sure it will in a couple of hours, but just not right now). So right now, Ryder and I are still in our pajamas discovering the glorious world of Seasame Street and Elmo (apparently, he LOVES Elmo, I've never seen him so interested in the TV until Elmo was on it). Anyhow, I really am in the mood for something creative, so if you have any great ideas, let me know. I did plant a tree this morning. So I'm not THAT lazy. We named it Ryder.

The Last of the Lamanites

Totally kidding, but isn't this fascinating? A friend of ours sent us this news story regarding an ancient Amazon Indian tribe that still exist, untouched by our modern world, in the jungles of Brazil due to their crazy confined geographic locations. Did you know that? I didn't know that.

The photos of them and their village were taken with a super awesome lens from an airplane by a group called Survival International who are trying to create an awareness of these tribes who (according to SI) are in danger of being destroyed by illegal loggers.

I think it's kinda weird no one has managed to drop in there for a chat in an effort to find out more about these people and their culture, but kinda cool too. I'm sure (according to the picture) they'd prefer to be left alone. But seriously, doesn't this look like something from the set of Apocalypto? Apparently, they looked scared to death (hence the massive bows) because they've never seen an airplane that close.

I was thinking if I could show them just one modern convenience, what would it be? It was a toss up between a toilet, a gun (for food, although I'm sure they're archery pros) and a car. Hard call. What do you think?

Here is the link to the article and more pictures: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24880941/