Second Adventure.

So, I guess Adventure Numero Dos would be the YSA trip to Kirtland, Ohio.  Here's the thing: I am not the biggest fan of Young Single Adult activities that involve dances and talking to people I don't know, which is the reason why I don't go to activities, ever. Also, I'm usually at work.  However, I'd never been to Kirtland and, knowing the amount of Church history that happened here, the pros definitely outweighed the cons on this one.

Our arrival was perfectly timed; we didn't have to mingle at all on Friday night.  We got there a few minutes before John Bytheway spoke.  He is hilarious, by the way, and a cute boy with really good posture sat in front of me, so, all in all, it was a good night.

On Saturday, we had a devotional-type meeting with John Bytheway and workshops in the morning, a service project in the afternoon (my group sorted donations for a local organization), and the dreaded dance that night.  I went, I danced, I two-stepped (badly), I almost had fun.  I was a little disappointed that I didn't get the last-slow-song-of-the-night pity-dance with the cute boy, but I'm afraid I would've had to ask him, and heaven knows that won't ever happen.  I am so over dances.  

Sunday's activities are the real reasons why I went on the trip to begin with.  We were able to have our sacrament meeting in the Kirtland Temple and then we had the afternoon to visit the Church History sites in the area.  The temple is absolutely beautiful and I appreciate the Community of Christ Church for taking such good care of it.  However, I felt so much more when we visited the Church-owned sites, such as the Whitney Store.  We didn't have time to go to the Johnson or Morley farms and we didn't stay for the closing fireside, but it was a really good experience, a spiritual weekend adventure that provided a much-needed reprieve from the rest of my life. 

I love this house; I think it's just darling.  I would totally live here...with the addition of indoor plumbing.

I think I'm mildly obsessed with benches and barrels.  I take a lot of pictures of these types of things.

I absolutely love these dishes.  I took, like, three pictures of this table-setting.  I really, really love them.

I love the way the Church restores things.  You can just see how much care goes into the restoration process. It's refreshing and reassuring to see something that is cared for so deeply.