Musings on YC

This weekend I went to Youth Conference in Hickory for the Hickory, Winston, and Asheville Stakes. There were a lot of similarites from YC's in years past that I have attended, and a lot of differences. I think the previous ones that I went to were so much better than this one was. Each stake started Thursday morning in their own area and did a service project, then everyone got to the old stake center in Hickory around 5:00. Winston's project was writing letters to missionaries, writing testimonies in BoM's and highlighting the scriptures for the missionaries to give out. Then we had lunch, then we had a talent show. Then we left about 3:00 to go to Hickory. We got there first and some of us played basketball (knockout) waiting on the rest. Then everyone got there. We all met and separated into four groups to "practice our cheer". Then we ate pizza. Then, and the highlight of the day, we heard from Curtis Jacobs, who is a great speaker. He spoke from 8-9:30. Then we left for the night. Winston and Asheville went to the Park Inn (roach motel), while I think Hickory stayed at host families'. So the next day we ate our continental breakfast at the hotel and packed up. At 9:00 a.m. we walked down the hall to the convention center and had four seminars, which were okay. Then lunch. Then Brother Jacobs spoke again and was again really good. Then testimoney meeting, then supper, then a dance, then home.

Now, the thing is, most of the time was just sitting around waiting for the next thing to do. There was nowhere to go, like on a college campus. And it was always an hour or two between these activities, if you can call them that. It was so tiring. And the kids didn't really have a chance to meet each other. No name tags, no "mixer activities", and no address booklets were given out. The dance, however, was really good. Keith Ball from N. Wilkesboro did a great job DJing. Most all the kids got involved in that. I even danced the Electric Slide. And they did the limbo.

But, all in all, I missed the old youth conferences from years back. I know that these kids didn't realize what they were missing and probably for the most part enjoyed this one. I wasn't raised in the church and never went except as a chaperone. So I was remembering some things that happened at other YC's:

One year someone put shampoo in the fountain at Catawba College, and the next morning there were suds all in it.

A young lady, who shall be nameless, flashed the boys one night from her third floor window (one of my girls - we had to talk to the stake president about that one the next day).

One night after a rain several guys were running, diving, and then sliding through a huge mud puddle. Everyone was watching from our windows and cheering them on.

I remember Josh playing a song he wrote on the piano and Shelby Wall singing it. It was beautiful.

Anyway, I know this is really long, and if you are still reading, maybe you could comment on some of your YC experiences, if you have gone.

I Was So Much Older Then - I'm Younger Than That Now

This weekend we took the YW from our branch to Boone for an overnighter. We had a great time. We rented a house way up on a mountain with five bedrooms that slept 12. There were 12 of us. Some of the adults had smaller children that they brought. On Friday we ate Japanese and toured downtown Blowing Rock. At the house we played several games - the favorite was Sardines. It was a big house with lots of hiding places. The kids really liked it. Then today we packed up, left our cabin in the sky, and went to Tweetsie. Some of the kids had never been. I love Tweetsie. I have gone there a lot in my lifetime. Today I was remembering back how it used to be. So much has changed. There was a show on TV years ago with Fess Parker who played Daniel Boone. His son was Israel. Anyway, the kid who played Israel was at Tweetsie one time when my family went up there. I was probably around 8 or so. This boy was so cute on TV, but so arrogant in person. I remember him yelling at his mother, and she didn't even spank him! I had never seen anyone act up like that to their parent. Also I remember Fred Kirby. It seemed like he was always at Tweetsie when we would go. He had a show on TV every Sunday. He would play his guitar and sing songs, then they would show a segment of "The Little Rascals". Fred Kirby was a big deal back then. I remember being too little to drive the cars around. I remember the "Sleeping Giant" in his castle at the top of the mountain. There was no fudge store, but there was this one store that had all the usual Tweetsie junk they sell, and they had big jars of caramel squares. These squares were about 3x2x1 inches. There were just caramel covered in chocolate. Kind of like a really thick Sugar Daddy. That was a big treat back then. Anyway, we had a good time today. Bennie took a lot of pictures. Maybe he'll put some of them on his site.

As much fun as the whole weekend was, the highlight was seeing Isabella - and Josh and Megan. Here lately Isabella has not wanted me to hold her very much, but she goes to Bennie all the time. So today in the restaurant she let me hold her a pretty good while. She was sleepy and was cuddly. It's hard to describe what it's like being a grandmother. She is the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen. I love her dearly, and I look forward to her brothers, sisters, and cousins.

Is it Tomorrow, or Just the End of Time?

Someone stole my umbrella. I went into Wal-Mart with it because it was raining. I hooked it onto the cart, and when I came out I left it on the cart. As soon as I got home I realized what I had done. I called right away, but of course no one had turned it in. Why would someone steal my $10 umbrella? And right there at the store where they could buy their own. So anyway, today I went and bought another one. I have never seen these before, but it can fit in your pocket. It's cool. It is a full size umbrella when you pop it up. There are so many great inventions out today. I'm going to list some of my favorites in no particular order:

1 - Sunscreen
2 - Good tasting low fat food, like sour cream and mayonnaise
3 - Self-stick envelopes and stamps
4 - VCR's
5 - Cell phones
6 - Brookstone Thera Spas and Jacuzzi tubs
7 - Highlighter pens

If you can imagine, when I was young we didn't have any of these things. If anyone wants to add their favorites, feel free.