Finals Week & Kennywood

What a whirlwind week. I finished up another block of classes and immediately started back up the next one. My favorite part of this program is how fast it moves. The second favorite thing I love about it is that it is virtual so there is nothing wrong with me wearing a blazer with sweatpants to get on video calls and record project presentations! 

Between wrapping up school I also was able to attend a Stake Training for Young Women's where I took some good notes and thought about how different the needs of the girls in this ward are compared to other wards I have been in and also the other wards in the stake are. It has been fun to get to know them a little more each week and although they all need rides to and from the church and to any activities it has been cool to see how that time spent in the car has helped me get to know them. Both my mom and Amy have talked about how valuable time in the car was with their kids. Amy absolutely loves road trips because she says you have a captive audience. I remember my mom always asking me to spell signs and point out things to her as we would ride in the car as a kid and then as I grew up so many good conversations took place there. I'm seeing the same thing in the car with the young women. It is a key time to have conversations and get to know them as we drive 20-30 minutes to and from the church. 

And speaking of car time and activities this week the youth activity was going to Kennywood which is basically Pittsburgh's Lagoon Amusement park. It was decked out for Halloween and I realized that I really don't love haunted houses. But the youth do and we had a good time and even caught a couple of rides that were still open. As I mentioned before I have been slowly getting to know the girls more and more but this night was fun to be in a new place and have fun together and I think they enjoyed that I kept my head down and my eyes half open through most of the haunted houses. I am super jumpy and just really don't love gory Halloween and I think it gave them all a good laugh. 

Peaches

• Got a list of good restaurants to try from the other leaders that were at the activity

• Fall treat of the week was caramel apple brittle. It ended up being more watery than I had liked but the concept is really yummy.

• Our Young Women's president Alli had her new baby boy Cliff who is so sweet

• My mom has always helped me memorize things for test and Accounting is no exception. Was able to crush my final with the help of a very long acronym. 

Pits

• Trying to get to the finish line with school and also attend and participate in my church callings