Temple Trip 2008

The BELOVED BUS!


CHERYL and NING! I would not even have this picture if Ning didn't ask for it!
I should have taken more people's pictures/

It rained the entire time we were there that I did not pull my camera out for any temple pics! Major bummed!

Check out the amount of onions on this salad!! THIS lady clearly does not care who she is sleeping with tonight! NO matter how many times you brush your teeth, you can't get rid of the onion breath on this one! I was going to post the picture of who owned this salad but decided against it! It was too funny!

I was a little bummed about the temple trip because my sil was not going to be able to be my roomy. Wednesday night I haphazardly through my clothes together but I also shopped the entire day for new clothes and toiletries and food for the room and to share. I thought about bringing my karaoke but left it. Next year I will bring it. People were bummed that I left my blog book. I am so surprised how it has gotten around the stake that I have a blog book. I showed up bright and early to the stake center Thursday morning. I am usually one of the last to arrive and running and throwing my things on the bus. I usually have someone saving me a spot. New room assignments had been made. I did not know who I was rooming with. I roomed with JulieAnna Bishop, way kewl! I am so glad! She had me a seat next to her. I was there in time to hear the opening prayer. In 10 years I have not been there in time to hear the opening prayer. ::note to self:: miss opening prayer for next year. (just kidding) ;)

I am sad that I did not take more pictures of us having fun or in front of the temple or the bus or with all of our shopping bags! I intended on getting a massage at the hotel but that service was not offered! I was major bummed out!

THE BUS RIDE makes the entire trip for me!!! THE BUS RIDE MAKES THE ENTIRE TRIP! THE BUS RIDE MAKES THE ENTIRE TRIP!! Ok, if you couldn't tell. The bus ride is so awesome and fun for me. I talked, laughed and talked the entire 4 hours on the bus, going and coming back. It is my perfect stage. People trapped on a bus that can go nowhere except listen to me or watch me! I was truly on one. We laughed so hard and always share more than probably should be shared. But, this is where you are able to truly know each other than the smiles and well wishes that you see on Sunday. An enormous amount of food and desserts are passed up and down the bus for the entire 4 hours. I learned from last year to pass on everything and accept only 2 times. I was so sick from eating a piece of everything that I felt on a sugar high and was sick, last year. I also learned to pack water, juice and healthy things like carrot sticks, celery sticks and apple wedges because these are welcomed snacks from all the chocolate, homemade fudge, and bake goods.

We arrived to the temple and everyone changed and did sessions and then we all went to the mall afterwards for dinner. We ate at Garrison's. My dinner was to die for. I got the same thing last year. Southern style shrimp and grits. I am still trying to perfect my recipe before I can post it. This restaurant was not the sort of restaurant you would pull out a camera. Well, I might have but I chose not to. My dinner and dessert was $40. and definitely worth it.

WE then retired back to the Marriott where everyone received their room keys. Ladies then went to the pool, jacuzzi, weight room, sauna's etc. The first night I always bounce around from room to room to see what I can scarf and to listen in and get to know others even more. If I did not know who you were on the bus. I would sit in front of you, introduce myself and then ask you 20 questions about yourself. I met 8 new sisters this way! I am a bit on the crazy side and a little funny weird, when I am out of my element. I figure there should be no reason why I don't know you and why you shouldn't fall hopelessly in love with me.

We woke around 7 and caught the 8 bus. Saturday was my big day for the temple. I did 3 endowments, and sealings. Not in a row. and then we went back to our traditional place for dinner FUDRUCKERS! The table for us was huge. So, I ate my meal chatted with 8 people around me whose conversations I could hear and then made my way to 3 different areas of the tables so I could catch up on their conversations. Yeah, I love flitting around from table to table. We shopped and went to the bookstore and then to the mall.

The weekend was spent eating and shopping and doing some service. It was awesome. WE also ate a cheesecake factory and I bought a sandwich for the trip home. The Atlanta temple is so stinking hot! it was crazy. Also, while we were in a session the fire alarm went off. WE were not quite sure what to do. All was well though, a sister had burned popcorn in the microwave. Really really badly. They had to throw the top microwave Away! My hair is so porous that the stench was so bad it was in my hair and I didn't enter the cafeteria until much later.

I love the beds at the hotel! I suffer from insomnia but that night had never slept so well. I had a bed all to myself and when I awoke my mind was so clear. I need a bed like that. I was wide awake and refreshed. That is until they start the session. I was awake! I decided to slump in my seat and close my eyes and tilt my head back on the chair and repeat in my mind the words that were being said in the movie. ALL of a sudden, I hear this short snort! INSTANTLY, I sit straight up in my chair and lean over to JulieAnna and say, Was that me snoring? My body temp. raised 20 degrees, I was so hot, I was so embarrassed. Heads from the front row turned and eyes seared right into my soul! I could have died and you can bet that kept me wide awake and alert. I felt like my DOG, KEKOA!! He can lay down on the floor be wide awake and snore!! That was me, I was awake! I really wasn't asleep. I was repeating the words in my head and BOOM!

It was hot in there. It was hot for the initiatory and for the sealings. I thought I was going to pass out. Many of the women complained about being hot. The temple workers were little old sweet women who were wearing shaws in an 78 degree room!

The bus had the same issue. The front of the bus was FREEZING the middle of the bus decent and the back of the bus a sauna. I felt like I was experiencing menopause just walking from one end of the bus to the other. WE watched a movie and one of the TV screens was directly over my head. I decided to cover the screen, midway through the movie and request for money to be sent forward to be able to watch the rest of the show. 4 out of the 8 new sisters said they were glad I went and they got to know me. One said, I made her entire trip. OK, how come I can be friends and like other people in my ward but I struggle with the women in my own ward???? Would I not like those ladies if they were in my ward? I have to say that there were women from my ward that went on the temple trip and I really got to know them better and LOVED it! I have so many stories to share both funny and embarrassing but unfortunately those are only stories to be shared in real life or real time.