YSA Conference: "Lift Where You Stand"

Last weekend there was a Young Single Adult Conference in Beaumont, Texas. Turns out that Beaumont has the closest Singles' Ward to DeRidder (1.5 hours away...while Baton Rouge is 3 hours away). My plan was to attend their ward/branch. But as soon as I moved back home I had a call waiting on me (which I've enjoyed every minute of because I love our girls and Polly is so fun to work with!)

Anyhow, the YSA Conference was the first opportunity that I had to get over to Texas and meet more southern Mormons my own age. I love all my friends at home. But there's just something about being around people that have a similar belief system that you have. President Hayes said that it's because Mormons are gathering people. They like to gather together.

So at first I was super nervous about going to the YSA Conference because I'm the only YSA in my ward...which meant that I would be going alone to the Conference and wouldn't know anyone there. Then Jordan found out about the Conference. I didn't even think about tellin' her because she's in Young Women's. But she did just graduate high school and is moving off to college next week. *Sob* So we car pooled together (which was a great idea since Reba doesn't have A/C and the south is blazin' hot this time of year). Two other girls came from the Alexandria area--Laura and Shawna. They are basically crazy. They made a pact on the drive up there (I did not participate in this weird bonding ritual...I was solely the driver) that they would all find a boy to kiss. Apparently that's why the girls of the Alexandria Stake have a more negative reputation.

Anywho, we arrive at the Institute Building on Friday evening ready to watch a movie and have good times. After the initial stage of awkwardness, I had a blast. We even introduced the game "Ninja" to the crowd--as always, my take charge personality came out. Sometimes I can succeed in suppressing it. But it's just so dominate. ;D We played a few rounds of pool, ate some pizza. Got hit on by a few....guys....not really my type. But what do ya do? Then the ice breakers and fun began. We played "Do You Love Your Neighbor?" bahaha. As soon as it was annouced I could only contain myself. This was an Angliiskii Klub favorite with Viktor and his love for Miss Hill! Ah hahahaha!

After the Friday night shin-dig, we headed over to Emily's house. [Disclaimer: I am extremely biased. However, I speak nothing but facts concerning this girl and her family.] Emily was the organizer-extraordinaire for the Conference. I heart, HEART, H-E-A-R-T her. She is such a sweetie pie! She and her boyfriend, Calvin are the most adorable people ever. And it turns out that I met her brother, David at BYU. As the SSA President I made several announcements in all of the sociology classes. David was in one of Ben's classes. Small world. David sacrificed his bed for me the entire weekend. What a champ! And he has the most amazing room EVER! There were shelves and shelves of social theory and philosophy that just made me want to sit down and read forever. *sigh* Turns out most of those books belong to their older brother, Edward who is just as cool as the rest of the Jeters. Yeah, their whole family is so stinkin' awesome! I recommend them to all. People can't get any better than the Jeters.

Saturday rocked my world. We had a service project that entailed taking pictures of headstones in a cemetery for the purpose of digitizing to the entire genealogy world. Pretty amazing.

Calvin, Emily, Jordan, and Yours Truly about to head out for the service project (the only picture I took the WHOLE Conference...except the headstones which = 135 pictures).

After the service project (it was deliciously gorgeous outside! The weather was superb!) we went to the Hayes' for lunch and a pool party. Their house is a mansion. No joke. I walked in and immediately tucked my hands towards my chest so as not to touch anything valuable and break it. The whole while I was thinkin' that we could feed all of Africa for ten years if we sold this place. It was incredible. The kind of stuff you imagine in Hollywood. Antiques and paintings gallore. An outdoor, underground pool. Pool house that is air conditioned. Outside bathrooms. An area that services as a basketball court, a volleyball court, and a tennis court. HUGE. Turns out that President Hayes is Doctor Hayes. So if you want that lifestyle, medicine is where it's at, friends.

And they have a trampoline. Love.

After all this excitement, we headed to the Church to set up tables and chairs. I keep tryin' to convince Jordan to marry David because I think he's such an awesome kid. Actually, someone should marry all of the Jeters because they are that magnanimous. Just sayin'. After set up, we went home. I took a short nap while the girls fought over hot water in the shower. (Turns out I stayed out past my bedtime several nights in a row. That taxes a body, FYI). My short nap gave me the energy to withstand the rest of the evening. We didn't get home 'til almost 1 a.m. Dang Gina. I'm a rockstar! Stayin' out all night and not even gettin' grouchy once. What a trooper! ;D

When we arrived back at the Church, dinner was being served (thanks to all of the families that helped feed us all weekend long!). [P.S. We were all sitting at the table eating and conversing when Nicolas proclaims that he isn't eating his garlic bread and asks for a piece of gum. I then turn to inquire why he needs the gum when he promptly replies that garlic bread is a marriage killer. Ba hahahaha. Maybe that's why I'm still single?! I ate the garlic bread. ...Or it could be that I sat at the corner of tables while on my mission in Russia...? Who knows.]

After dinner, there was an awesome fireside where the Mission President and his wife spoke to us. I appreciate that it wasn't the traditional YSA topic of "Get Married Right Now!" The theme was "Lift Where You Stand". I felt like I was on my mission again. Almost. I was so overwhelmed with the Spirit that after the meeting I scurried off to a closet and prayed. I really loved being a missionary. The plan is to serve my second mission come April. I'm not married. So it's totally in the works. I'm stoked.

Then there was a dance. I'm a geek. Through and through. Dances aren't my thing. I enjoyed being at the dance at Youth Conference in New Orleans because I could dance when and if I wanted to. But it was so much more fun to stand out and 'supervise'...which entailed a lot of analysis of the kids' interactions. Poor dears. Since I had three young ones with me, it was convenient to stand out and ensure that they were dancing appropriately. I did, however, get asked to dance on several occasions which was both nice and flattering. Through the course of events I also learned a valuable lesson as a sociologists: first impressions are not necessarily accurate indicators of personality types. I've always known this. It was just reconfirmed to me. I guess I got a little too cocky in my sociology skills.

Sunday was an awesome day! Church was incredible. Linger longer was excellent. Turns out there was food there...and I like to eat. Everyone was so nice. Several of the ward/branch leaders came up to me and were like, "So, I hear that you're moving into our area!" Yeah, I wish! I guess I have one of those loud, outspoken personalities that stands out. I don't know what would give me that impression or anything. But it bothers me when people that I don't know already know who I am and come up to me and call me by name. That's why we should all wear name tags. It would make life so much more simpler. It's funny how that happens at a YSA Conference. But then at work I can memorize the names and faces of 115 kids and they always call me either "Teacher" or "Ms. Marina"....haha. Oh the irony!

So the weekend rocked my socks. The Jeters are an awesome oppossum family that I adore. And I did not want to come home after three days of fun filled adventure.