As YW pres, I’m over the Laurels, my second counselor is over the MiaMaids and my second counselor is over the Beehives – in addition to the advisors that teach their respective classes every week. The Laurel group is the smallest one and the Bishop wanted to take the girls on a road trip with him and his wife, WD , me and the girls. There were 4 girls at the time and HS graduation was just weeks away for 2 of them; a perfect time for one last fling!
The original plan was to rent a van but we discovered there were EXACTLY enough seats for everyone in our Excursion so we filled up our gas tank and went. We adults took turns sitting up front, in the “good” middle seats and the dreaded third row - I sure missed that rental van when I was stuck in the back! We took one lunch break on the way and as soon as we made it to San Antonio headed straight for the river walk.
Actually, I took seven steps after getting out of the car and immediately rolled my ankle off of the darn, rolled curb. Oh-my-goodness it hurt so much and I was SO angry at myself; I didn’t want to ruin the trip 3 minutes after arriving! So, everyone walked to the River Walk and I hobbled and leaned on WD. I really wanted to take pictures. REALLY. But, did you know that those quaint little cobblestone pavings around the River Walk are sheer hell-on-earth when one is hobbling around with an angry ankle? I had to grit my teeth and keep a constant eye on the path in front of me while trusting WD to keep me from knocking into people/tables/walls. I also don’t remember there being so many stinkin’ steps – ugh!
I did manage a quick bad pic of the girls on the steps though. Poor girls – the bishop was taking this picture but then I just whipped my camera out and hollered “smile” so they’re looking every which way!
And as we headed towards the Alamo I snagged this one. That’s the bishop on the left trying to get the girls picture too 
My ankle was swelling as we got to the Alamo so I sat down and stuck my camera out and snapped this real quick – just to say I was there!
We hit an ice-cream shop before we made it to the hotel and called it a night. WD then drove around, getting acquainted with San Antonio, looking for a pharmacy stocked with ace bandages and pain killers for me 
.
The next morning we drove to the gorgeous San Antonio Temple. They were booked that weekend so we simply walked the grounds and found a quiet little corner surrounded by flowers to sit. We had a beautiful lesson by the bishop followed by our individual testimonies. It was truely beautiful and spirit-filled memory that I cherish.
Next – the missions! They are amazing – so-so-so neat to think of their age, their history and the lives that were lived inside those walls. I took an INSANE number of pictures. Truely ridiculous but, I couldn’t stop myself! The carvings were amazing, the woodwork was amazing. The stone was amazing! The trees were amazing! I loved the windows, I loved the doors, I loved the little gun windows (basically tiny holes just big enough to put a gun rifle through to shoot intruders). Seriously, it was ridiculous how many pictures I took of these darn things. The BEST part was the wedding that was being held. OH MY GOODNESS! I actually stuck my camera in through.the.door of the chapel to take the most blurry, horrid wedding shot ever but I just couldn’t stop myself! And yes. You have to look at all most of them!
Look at that bell tower!
Look at those stone windows!
Look at the girls thinking I’m a nut!
Look at that window! That door!
LOVE this – I don’t know what it is but I wanted to pick her up and take her home!
Services are still held in this chapel – isn’t it amazing?
Look at how the stone is falling in this arch and it’s being supported by steel!
So beautiful and simple and quaint…
And this just cracked me up – to look through this ancient doorway and see the soda machine!
The girls were SO over my picture taking…
SERIOUSLY over it!
This is – without a doubt – my absolute favorite. Oh how I wish I was a photography guru to know how to use PS to make this even better. Or even take a better photo. But I still love it. LOVE it!
Through this most, amazingly gorgeous door? Is a wedding. IN. PROGRESS!
I’m an official wedding crasher now…
It was SO quiet there. I know a picture can’t show that but it was SO quiet; so peaceful. And the architecture, the sun, the song in my heart… somehow it just all combined and brought a tear to my eye peeking at this wedding and I wanted a little piece of it to keep. So I stole a picture of a total.random.stranger’s wedding. Does that make me a weirdo?
Isn’t this ladder and window amazing?
The front doors – the AMAZING front doors to that chapel and wedding inside. And oh yeah. The beautiful ladies in front of them!
I want those doors. Really. And that balcony. And those carvings.
Another wedding – yay!
One of those gun-window things. I kinda want to install one in my house now… What? It’s Texas!
Another favorite…
Oh my goodness, I have to wrap this up it’s turned into a novel. We ate, we laughed, we window shopped…
and then we drove home. It was an amazing experience to bond with the girls in a small group setting in a way that we don’t normally get to. The entire 3+ hour trip there and back, as well as any down time, was spent in thoughtful, spiritual and revealing conversation with these sweet, sweet daughters of God. I’m truly blessed to work in my calling.
And on another note – could I have used any more exclamation marks? I need help.
. Her appointment is set for this coming Friday the 16th.
