Dream of Cali-chastity

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sometimes your friends invite you to go to California and you say yes (P.S. who would say no to that? I wouldn't.)

Luckily, 8 of us said yes... and we had a blast. This is our story:

1. Day 1(ish) Highlights:
-8 hour car drive. A bit scrunched, but not too shabby. Scary stories were told, chocolate raisins were spilled, and gangsta music was played.

-Woke up at our leisure... DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES courtesy of Stephanie Morgan (lovely, really).

-Home videos. Some people say it's boring to watch other people's home videos... but that was sooo not the case this time. For one, Alexander Morgan and cousin dancing to "You're the One That I Want"=CLASSIC. Oh so fun. I even watched it twice and was just as amused the second time. Also, Alex's amazing gymnastic skillz don't get old... and let's just say I wouldn't want to meet Connor Morgan in a dark alley. Or a wrestling ring.

-MISSIONARIES!!!!!!!!! So, we found out that one of our group went to High School with one of the Elders who was teaching Shane who is the guy who is friends with Connor who was the one getting baptized this weekend which is the reason we went to California (did you get that?!). We all got to sit in on an AMAZING missionary lesson, given by Shane, and enjoy the Spirit of the Lord in great abundance. Seriously, I can't think of any other way to put it. Shane=amazing, and we were all very blessed to get to meet him and participate in his covenant-making this weekend.

-Carson (age: 2 years) learning how to edit Black Eyed Peas from his mama (BEEEP!)

-Getting to know you games with the fam. I'm sticking with "the fam" because that's how it felt. Also, I didn't participate, but some of our group had near death experience with a train tunnel. Let's just say... if you're in a tunnel shooting fireworks and a train comes, you might not be forgetting that experience soon.

2. Day 2 Highlights:
-BAPTISM!!!!! Baptisms are so fun. And this one was seriously PACKED!!! Connor did a great job baptizing (didn't even have to dunk more than once) and Shane shared an awesome testimony. And by shared I mean he volunteered to get up and share his testimony. That's right. He's that cool.

-Gymnastics lessons with Coach Alex

-BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. Connor turned the big 1-9 and we celebrated with style. And pizza. And cake. And good company. And adverbs. And he may or may not have been wearing a blue bow tie at some point.

3. Day 3 Highlights:
-Shane got his gift!!! That is, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Man, that boy was ready for it and he is going to do amazing things with it. Also, bore his testimony again. Did I say he was amazing yet?

-Okay, does HIGHLIGHT have to mean good? Because from this point on it may start going a little downhill... with a 16 hour car drive. Oh man. Still recovering (I should actually probably be sleeping right now instead of writing, but ya know...) Best part of the car ride? When Megan REALLY REALLY REALLY had to go to the bathroom and we gave her two options (we were stuck in snowy traffic... not just cruel): A bottle, or the side of the road. We convinced her the side of the road would be the best... and I will admit that those of us in the car watching Crystal and Jillann hold up the modesty blankets were cracking up. I didn't feel too bad about it however when Megan asked us to take a picture. We did make it home safe, though we were pretty tired of that car by the time we got to Provo.

P.S. Let's just say... the trip was HECKA amazing!!! (And yes, that will be the last time I use that word, so enjoy it.)