Caramel Apple & Consolation

 I forgot to include these pictures on Friday, but that is okay. A caramel apple this good deserves to have its own post. 

I have finally figured out which caramel apple from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory I like best. Through the years, I think I've tried them all. Next time you go to the RMCF, you've got to try the apple pie apple. The toffee one, the M&M one, the ones with tons of toppings...those ones are too rich and sweet, they are hard to eat. The apple pie one is simpler and just perfect.

I'm at the airport....guess what I'm eating??

 Pretty much the only time we get to eat caramel apples is when we are at airports. There is always that to look forward to when arriving in the good ole USofA. Or a great comfort when leaving friends after West Coast Conference - that was the case in these pictures.

~Bethany~

West Coast Conference (Last Days)

Now for the second part of my West Coast Conference post.

I forgot to include this picture in yesterday's post. This is at the minister's banquet on Thursday night. 

Avonlee was houngryyyy :P

Friday morning we went to Starbucks. Some went for the actual coffee and others just went for a chat in the sunshine. It was pretty chilly in the mornings.

It's too bright, can you shield the sun?? ...Yes!! Perfect!

Friday afternoon lunch - Yaki Somethin'. One of those places where they cook in front of you. 

In my experience, the cooks usually try to entertain the group, and this guy did attempt to do so. I am sure he realized, after having to repeat himself a few times, that in reality, we only wanted to talk to each other. So he cooked in silence and we continued with our vehement visiting.

For advertisement purposes, I carried around a pen my dad had made. It was a beautiful pen! Made of buckeye burl, it was green and the smoothest pen I'd ever written with. I didn't intend on keeping it for myself because it was heavier duty and manly looking. I didn't plan on selling it either because of a small factory defect in how the lid popped on and off. There were several people that saw the pen and fell swiftly and covetously in love. I'd just smile and say something like, "Well actually, this one isn't for sale, but my dad has similar ones - go talk to him!" 

Friday afternoon, however, these two fellas showed up at my door.

Bad cop and good cop, I think that was their angle.

They were determined to leave with my treasure. I could see the admiration in their eyes though, so I knew I could milk the situation for all it was worth.

Yeahhhh, hand over the dough!

Coco tried to haggle, but I knew that there was another guy really wanting the pen so I wasn't in a corner, heh heh. I have to say though....they got a reeeeeally a good deal HAHA.

West Coast Conference choir

Elder Morton preached the last night about the heart. It was so good - I love hearing from this man of God!

Me and Cherie

Steph, me and Cara

We went to the minister's dinner afterwards. This is one very grateful group - we do not take for granted that we are permitted to eat here. One word from a higher-up and we'd be OUT. 

Thank you to the people that let us in!! :D

Keith, John, Andrew, Morgan, me, Coco, Stephanie, Cara, Denae, Cherie, and somebody's child - no idea.

The beloved youth lock-in stamp...I forgot to never wash my hand again - whoops.

Lindsey and I

Me and Austin - I love this picture because he looks little and so innocent. In reality he is a big brute of a boy.

We left early Saturday morning. We had a layover in Denver and when we were getting close to landing, I opened my window to see this -

It made me nervous - last year after West Coast I got stuck in Denver because of a snow storm...
Thankfully, there was no snow to be seen when we landed! Just a little bit of ice here and there. We got home safe and sound, no flight delays, no problems! Flying into Mexico City is always a sight to behold. The city is so huge and the lights just go on and on, as far as the eye can see.  

We had a great trip, a great time. I am so thankful we got to go to West Coast! The preaching was awesome and it was good to see friends.
I am really looking forward to blogging the beginning of this entire US trip. We went up to Oregon and Washington and had a really awesome time! I'll start on that next week... :)

~Bethany~

West Coast Conference 2015 (Days 1 and 2)

Here it goes - my West Coast post! I usually like to post things in order, which would mean starting at the beginning of my trip and working my way forward. However, I know everyone is going to be blogging their view on West Coast Conference and I want to get mine up so I can read theirs without worrying about mixing memories! My memory is fresh and it is time to write.

Nicole and I had a discussion on the drive up about whether or not the first night is the most distracting. Nicole said it would be because it always is - there are so many faces in the crowd, you can't keep your eyes from scanning around. I said it wouldn't be distracting because everyone that I wanted to see was going to be there and I already knew that so I wouldn't need to look for them. (Something like that.) Boy, was I wrong!!! I was forgetting just how the first night of WCC is. So many people, so many friends, so much energy. I was so distracted and hyperrr.

Just a warning - most of my pictures are of the fellowship before and after church. Hardly any of the actual services. I did not feel inspired to take pictures during church; I was happy to just sit there and soak things up. I have no regrets! Bro. Nathan Morton preached the first night. Imagine his picture here: =) 

Now for the after-pics...

I have several memories of past years where Olivia shows us what all is in her purse. This year was no different. These girls are cuties!

We stuck to the old paths and went to the Cheesecake Factory after church the first night.

Bekah Bullock wasn't able to go to WCC this year, but sent a disposable camera in her stead. It was like a new friend that added another dimension to our group. I don't know how many times we heard, "WHAT is that??" Ha!

Lindsey and I

Me, Stephanie, Nicole and Cara

After dinner we got back to the hotel only to sit in the hallway talking some more.

I finally, finally got to meet Cassia Wilson's baby - Avonlee.
I am in love!! What a cutie! I tried to get a picture with her each service because her outfits were so cute...I think I made up for lost time :)

Bro and Sis Mena and Elder Swearingen - I love capturing these moments.

Doesn't Sis. Mena look like my Gramma?! I saw her out of the corner of my eye at first and it caught me off guard!

The minister's dinner on Thursday night - as usual it was almost constant laughter. 

Good times!!!

Me and Lindsey, again. I love this girl!!

Me and baby Avonlee...again :)

Visiting in the lobby

Me, Cassia and Avonlee, Cara, Cherie, Keith, somebody, Stephanie, Caleb and Lindsey

*Wink!* Litte Red Riding Hood with her adorable cape. 

Starting at Justin, since he is the prominent face in this picture, haha...Justin, Kent, John, Andrew, Keith, myself, Nicole, Stephanie, Cherie, Cara's hairdo, Jonathan, Austin, Josh, unnamed guy, and Michael. This was a fun and relaxing afternoon.

After lunch we all came back to the hotel. Cassia asked me to do her hair, and after warning her that I didn't really know what I was doing, I agreed. Kassia has very long hair and our room was already crowded with suitcases, thus the decision to sit out in the nice, fresh, open hallway. It turned out to be an interesting event...get Kassia, Cara, and Jacob together and there are going to be a lot of laughs.

Nicole and Cherie

This was days one and two. Days 3 and 4 are coming right up.

~Bethany~

Sunday Back Home

Hello everybody :) Long time, no see!

For those of you that are not from the west coast or were not at West Coast Conference, that is where we've been for the past couple of weeks. I was determined to get the first installment of the conference post up today. I downloaded all of my pictures and started writing, but it was really difficult! I am wondering if I'm the only one to have ever had this feeling... When you've had such a good time, great services and a wonderful time with friends, it is a little hard to relay it all with adequate feeling, all while sleepy and missing your friends. It is like a treasure I want to keep to myself a little while longer, to ponder and reflect on. I know I won't be able to relate each story, each message preached with the same amount of feeling as I actually have no matter how much time passes, but I'd like to give it a little more. I need the inspiration to hit me just right. I have full confidence that it will, but in the meantime --

Yesterday was Sunday!! It was a great Sunday! I hadn't seen these little kiddos for two weeks. We made little gingerbread houses for snack time in Sunday school. Everyone was thrilled for that. 

 The last Sunday I was in Mexico, Jael, (one of our Sunday school boys) stopped me during Sunday school to ask, "What is the name of that thing that you do when you go under the water and come up and worship God?" When I replied that it was called baptism he asked, "That is done so that we can praise God, right?" I explained that we are actually baptized to have all of our sins washed away! He took this all in, considering it carefully with a pensive look on his face. He informed me that he'd been baptized into the Catholic church when he was a baby, but that he had a desire to be baptized right, and had his parent's permission. (This kid is about 8 years old - he was killing me!) We discussed the normal procedure for children being baptized - that we normally don't baptize them until they receive the Holy Ghost so he really needed to be in the altars seeking! At the end I told him the final decision was up to Pastor and he could talk to him about it when he got back from the U.S. He was happy with this answer and seemed pretty confident and brave about the prospect. 

After Sunday school yesterday, I saw Jael outside waiting for his dad to come and pick him up. I asked him if he'd gotten a chance to talk to Pastor and he said no. I said, "Well, would you like to do it now?" He hesitated for a moment and barely shook his head, then changed his mind and said, "Okay". He marched right up to the platform where Dad was getting ready for the main service.

Pastor decided that he is going to talk to Jael's parents and try to get a Bible study going. If his parents see their need to be baptized, then Jael will be baptized with them! Pray for this family! Jael has been coming to Sunday school for a while now and his parents have actually come to several Sunday services. They were here a couple months ago when Bro. Mario preached for us - he went down the line talking about the terrible things that happen in the public schools among young people. He told of his own personal experiences as a young person. He was very straight forward about what a life dedicated to the Lord looks like. He hit on child-rearing, holiness, integrity, homosexuality, and it was right on! At dinner after church Nicole and I both said, "If they come back after this, it will be a very good sign!!" (You know how it is! It is truth being preached, but it's like - please don't be offended!)

After Sunday school, I took the kids home. On our way there, Ana started squealing about how she wanted to drive past her school. I drove a couple streets up and we drove past it all while she is hollering, "Bye, teacher! Bye school!" It was adorable. 

I think Paulina has finally overcome her deal with opening the door while driving down the road. She started this after establishing the seatbelt rule, thankfully so no one fell out or anything. There was just one instance of coming to a screeching halt, and after that she was banned from the front seat for a while. (Something is wrong with the door and it opens from the inside even if it is locked.)

She is still mischievous nonetheless, and managed to open the umbrella she found in the side of the door.

The drive to their house is only about five minutes long. I don't know how much stuff happens each ride. But there is one more thing. They asked me if they could call me mommy. Oh.my.word. I could've just melted right there in the driver's seat. I said sure so they started in with all kinds of questions. "Mami, can I carry your purse? Mamita, where's your cellphone? Ma...Ma...Ma! Mami, do you love us? We're going home, right, Ma?" I started recording about halfway through and it is something I will keep forever.

After church we went and visited our beloved taco place. We missed these :) 

~Bethany~

School Work

These kids keep us on our toes. They write some of the wildest stuff! It is obvious which student's work it is when it is in English. Austin gets to be put on blast since he is a member of the Wakefield family, thereby granting me immunity. However, since none of our church kids signed up for being publicly humiliated on this blog, we will let them remain anonymous! Austin was pretty proud of his work anyways.

 Austin is learning about cells, obviously an entirely new subject matter -

Ahh, how creative. Very tiny, indeed. 

Click to enlarge!

"Write your thoughts" apparently gives free reign for one's true opinion to be known!

Instructions were to read Psalm 139:14-18

I am including this one mainly for our Spanish-speaking readers. 

Nicole and I are still laughing over it. Whenever someone does something dumb, we know where they are from!  

(MeNspotamia...Mesopotamia. Menso in Spanish means dumb or stupid.)

"Mensopotamia"

One guy did not follow directions or answer the questions he was supposed to. I am too embarrassed to include a picture of his work due to the terrible handwriting and lack of punctuation. He was supposed to write about his personal history, when and where he was born, when his parents got in church, and the things God has done in his life. This was his response: 

"I was born in the church. I've been going to this church for ten years. God has blessed us in these years. God has blessed me. It is a good thing my parents got in church - if they wouldn't have, we would be in the streets stealing and doing terrible things, cussing and having bad friends. I would already be in problems and disobeying my parents."

Little gangstas! If not for the Lord! 

(Well, I guess it IS a possibility...)

~Bethany~

Foods

It's been a while since we've done a food post. I've been accumulating pictures over the past couple of months. We've ate some pretty delicious stuff!

Red enchiladas

Tortilla soup

Green enchiladas

Wonton soup

Ahi tuna...raw tuna. Nicole's idea.

A closer look, ugh!

chicken in pipian verde - this is usually one of my favorite meals, but honestly this pictures looks kind of gross.

Mole poblano!

Milanesa de pollo - chicken filet. Here in Mexico they love hotdog. They will put hotdog in everything if you let them! On pizza, in soup, in sandwiches, beans, and so on. We were at a more "humble" restaurant in this picture and the cook placed a couple slices on top my chicken. Augh!! Get.them.off! (I covertly wrapped them in my napkin and took them home for Beau.)

Anybody hungry yet? Or did I make you lose your appetite! Haha!

~Bethany~