Our Ebay Listing

We had an interesting experience at the store yesterday. You can read more about it by checking out our ebay listing at the following link-

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kids-Silver-Spinning-Rim-Necklace-Grocery-store-style_W0QQitemZ120288708125QQihZ002QQcategoryZ84607QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Steadfast and Immovable- Youth Conference 2008

I just returned tonight from our two day Youth Conference in San Antonio. We had the pleasure of combining with the San Antonio Stake this year and had over 150 people there! All the Young Women had a great time and met lots of cool new people (boys!). Yesterday we left the church at 8am and arrived on time at 11am. They started off with mixer games in three big groups. Then we had an amazing Key Note speaker addressing the conference theme from Moroni 5:15. Then we had 3 rotating classes, one on Education, one on Etiquette, and one on 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Dinner and Dance lessons followed- then the event they had all been waiting for- the Dance! All the youth seemed to have a fun time and a few of us leaders joined in the fun! We were blessed to sleep in members homes up there and my group of 15 stayed in a home without the family there (They were gone on vacation- very kind and trusting of them to volunteer their home to a group of strangers). The leaders were all able to sleep on a bed and all the girls found a couch or piece of floor- not that many of them actually slept! (Kathy~MJ)

This morning we volunteered at the San Antonio State school painting a large room and moving and sorting items for their fundraising Rummage sale. The youth all worked hard and only got a little bit of paint on themselves! (Kathy~MJ) We then had a carnival back at a church building, which turned out to be a large water fight in the end. A testimony meeting followed and I am always amazed at the strength of these youth. It's so cool to watch the relationships develop and I'm always impressed how EVERYONE is accepted! Thank you to all my ward YW- you inspire me! A HUGE thank you to all my ward leaders who helped me make it through- Taryn, Maxine, and Julieta- you rock!

Happy Birthday to QUEEN EMMA

Have you ever met one of those children who came to earth with the personality of 4 or 5 children wrapped up into one little body? Have you ever met a little girl who doesn't just want to dress up like a princess, but truly lives the princess mantra? A little girl who identifies with Tasha (the bossy hippo, who must always get her way) from Backyardagins or with Muffy (the snooty girl, who is super rich and uses her money to get what she wants) from Arthur? How about the child who insists she wear her "princess hair" down so she can whip it around as she sings Hannah Montana's famed song, "Nobody's Perfect"? What about the child who everyone refers to as "Miss" so and so? Who makes that little clicking sound each time she opens her mouth to say something sassy or puts her hands on her hips with teenage flair?
Have you ever met one of those children who will let you sit and cuddle them for long periods of time and then look up lovingly and kiss you so hard because "she just loves you so much!"? How about the child who addresses you as sweetheart or honey or my newest (with South Texas charm) Mama-Mamacita!
Well- if you have never had that pleasure, let me introduce you to Emma Vee Jarnagin. Born July 23, 2004 in Minot, North Dakota. She was born weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces and 21 inches long. From the moment she joined our family, we felt complete! She has grown so much in her 4 years time and we are so happy she is OURS! Happy fourth Birthday, Silly Girl!

There's a Hurricane a Comin!

It's a little nerve racking to live on the Gulf Coast during hurricane season. The first waves of wind and rain began around 5am here and we have had non-stop rain since about 7am. It's very dark with occasional thunder. Luckily, we have everything we need inside our home and took all the proper precautions yesterday. So we're just hunkered down and waiting it out!

Youth Temple Trip

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to travel with about 23 youth from our ward to the San Antonio Temple for youth baptisms. I was blessed to have Taryn Christensen, Patti Smith, and Mandy Cox travel with me as chaperones. It's always fun to get to know each other as we serve together. We met at the church at 1pm and left on time. It takes about 3 hours to drive up there, so we ate at CiCi's pizza for dinner before the temple. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful experience and a fun time being together! We have such a strong group of youth who love each other and are working hard to live the gospel. I am so inspired by them and their dilligence!

A big Thank You to Shirley Barnes, Jennifer Osborne, and Stephanie Barkdull who all pitched in to take care of my kiddos while I went. Adam was in Austin on business all week, so these three ladies worked together to care for our kids from 1-11pm!

Summertime Fun

It's been a fun and busy summer- since I can't go back to explain it all, I've included some pictures of the highlights- Bekah and her friend Jamie, with their prize winning egg, Yolkie, at the Ward Picnic; the kids and Mini Coop at the San Antonio Zoo; Emma and her "boyfriend" Mini Coop at the beach; Cooper having a little nap, after eating a smore, at the beach on the 4th; Stephanie Barkdull and I helping out with the environmental project at Girls Camp in June.

We're new at this

So after two weeks of spending WAY too much time reading other people's blogs, I've finally decided to jump on the blogging bandwagon! Now I'll probably spend even more time doing this than I should, but it appears that the positives out weigh the negatives, so here goes.....