Kayak Attack

Earlier this week Russ and I took an afternoon to kayak 5 miles down the San Marcos River- From Sewell Park to Old Bastrop Highway. I love this river! I love the serenity of being on this river. I can't wait to do it again! Here are the highlights:

• I saw a snake. First one I've seen on the river. I was sort of scared, but it was just sunbathing and didn't really move. So I didn't freak out... to bad.
• Russ only tipped once. But it was a legit tip- he was going about 1,000 mph around a bend in the river and smacked into the embankment. It was a understandable flip. (PS: I have yet to flip my kayak on the river...)
• Mostly it was just a nice peaceful ride with my sweetheart.

Now here are the pictures (Just to satisfy C's policy of not reading any blogpost unless there's pictures involved):

The Kayaks in the Honda Fit headed to the river

Russ and I ready to take off!

And there we go!

This is what the river looks like- so relaxing

Things that happened today at church that I loved:

• Being "waived at" from little kids while conducting the opening hymn.
• Singing the wrong words while singing the closing hymn (thy strength shall I be? Are you sure it's not thy comfort I be??)
• Sunday School teacher to an old man who just said some joke about Hilary Clinton becoming Mother Teresa, "Thanks for killing the Spirit..." (He said it so well, it was so out of the blue...)
• Relief Society: 

     "Sister Chow will teach our lesson... Hey where is she?" 

"Right here," I peeped from the back row. 

• Talking after church: 

"Rueben... I'd like to name a kid Rueben." 

"That's a sandwich."

"Mmm... that's a good sandwich."

Can I just say that I LOVE my ward? I do. I love the quirks and the weirdness. I love the familial feel and the friendship. I love that we have a giant bulletin board and this is the only thing on it:

That's right, a baby sock. Tacked up on the board. Like some baby will come along and say, "Oh yeah, I'm missing that. Thank you for pinning that up."

I love you, San Marcos Ward.

Thoughts from last night...

I went to RS last night and had a great time. I've had a crappy week that extends to apt. problems, school problems, and car problems. So it was amazing to have some good ole fun. It got me thinking about things as I drove home from dropping off some friends from the activity. I thought about my little San Marcos Ward. The quirks, the struggles, and the strengths.

Then I remembered my mission. I remembered that one of the great things about serving a mission is that you get to see how many wards function and work... and how some don't. I remembered that one thing that makes a ward work is when everyone knows everyone. And what doesn't work is when people are clueless about each other. "Thomas? Who's that? I'm in X auxiliary organization so I don't know (or care) about them."

I took a moment to be sure that I try to know and care about the people I go to church with.

After this thought.... I thought about my little town. I thought about San Marcos. As I crossed over the San Marcos River, on the Old Bastrop Highway Bridge, all I could think is that "This is where my heart is."

Sorry to be such a cheese. But I really do love where I live. I love my life. I can't wait to be finished with law school and be back here for good.

Anyway. Just thoughts that I had last night. Things that I want to remember.

If you come and visit San Marcos....

I will greet you at the airport with a giant sign! (This is me patiently waiting for my mom to arrive. Airport Security only yelled at me one time ☺).

But you can also shop a TON at the San Marcos Outlet Store. Here we see my mother, who just bought about 5 sweaters, a purse, and some shirts for about $100 from Liz Claiborne. Yup, it was a STEAL!!!

So, what are you waiting for? Come and visit!

We three kings...

Camels want to eat iPhones. I didn't let him, and then felt bad about
it later. On a side note how did the 3 wise men get to town on one
stinking camel?

Election night

It was long. I covered 5 races and watched history on tv.

What won't baking soda do?

San Marcos has a fancy new tool that cleans off graffiti with baking
soda. Well baking soda and a lot of pressure. I think I'm going to do
some tagging at the local vinegar factory.

Watermelon

Yep that's our city's seal carved into a melon. The swanky new
conference center opened and Chow and I went to partake of the fancy
food. I think the pasta station with cappers was my favorite, or
perhaps the baked Brie. It was free and I think that made everything
better.

What a week

With our last full day with the moms we kept things a little closer to
home. We started the day at the San Marcos Spings. The picture is all
of us looking down into the water. We had classic Texas burgers at the
Center Point Station and watched glass get blow in Wimberley. It been
a great week, we can't wait to do it again.

Roads

The County finally came through with a road bond package. 207 million
dollars. This is from the third floor of the courthouse looking down.

The man who would be 100

LBJ's big birthday is this week. The former President went to college
here in San Marcos (it's the only university in Texas to graduate a
President). They had a shin-dig at the museum, I ate shrimp and steak
fingers.

Dear deer

I spent a good part of my Saturday deer hunting. It was late in the
game when I thought to snap this picture so it's not the best. You'll
have to go to news8austin.com and watch my story if you want to see
heards of deer running amuck in San Marcos.