San Antonio

A week ago, Todd and I had the opportunity to travel to San Antonio and spend some time where he had served his mission, and also with his mission president who is now the San Antonio Temple president. They had invited us three years ago to visit when he first got the call to be temple president.  But we weren't able to do it until this year, and just in time because he'll be released in a little over a month.

We flew in on a Wednesday and went to dinner on the river walk.  The next day, we walked the river walk again and explored the shops there.  That afternoon we did an endowment session with President, his wife, and their son who had flown in that day.  They gave us a really neat tour of the temple.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  And a very cool experience to be shown around by someone who knew so much about it.  We all went to dinner afterwards.

Todd and I outside the temple with President Marion Woods and Sister Anne Woods

Their son, Bob Woods joining us in this one.  Todd met him on his mission and has since gotten to know him well.  Such a neat guy. He's actually kept in really good touch with a couple other elders from that mission as well. And such an amazing couple, President and Anne.  The win you over instantly.

On Friday we saw the movie, The Alamo, in the Imax theater.

Then we toured the Alamo grounds.  You can't fully appreciate Texas and their Texas pride without understanding the event that made them that way.  It was awesome.

This is the line that all the soldiers crossed to show their loyalty and commitment to give their lives for freedom that day.  In Todd's mission, it was a spiritual commitment they each made when crossing that exact line upon entering the mission.

 The plaque above the line.

Eating along the River Walk again.  It's a state park there, so no diving in the water or there's a $400 fine.  And you can't even feed the hungry little ducks that wade around along the path and next to the tables or it's also a $400 fine!

We started our Saturday with a workout at Stone Oak CrossFit.  This is a pic of the group there taken off their web site since I always feel too cheesy to take pictures when we visit CrossFit gyms.  It was a good workout, but HARD in Texas heat.  And they left Todd and I the heaviest weights too.  I was using the same dumb bells the guys used, not that I "can".  I really shouldn't have.  I was pretty sore for days. 

We spent the day at Shlitterbalin's Water Park.  Supposedly a low traffic day there with school having started, but it still had LOooooong lines.  We only got through a couple of rides, though they were really long tube-floating water slides.  Like riding down a long canal with a few fun falls.  It was relaxing and fun.  Supposedly it's the largest water park in the country.  We should have given ourselves more time because we had to be in Austin that evening for the Cougars/Longhorns game.

The big game.

Though the game didn't turn out how we'd have liked, it was an awesome experience being IN that place amongst Texans.  They are so patriotic, so animated about their sport, so convicted about everything they stand for, unabashed to speak of God.  I loved it.  I loved singing America the Beautiful with all 101,000 of them.  Even the verses a lot of other places around the country avoid.  What a very very special place and people.

Todd's president invited us to church in their ward on Sunday and over for Sunday dinner.  On our way to their house they drove us around some of the neighborhoods that had seen fires lately.  They haven't had rain since February.  It was crazy how close some homes were to fire.  It would burn up their dead laws right up to their stucco/rock base of their house and go no further.  Some people have lost homes, sadly.  Dinner with the Woods family was so nice.  I love being around them.  Such great people yet they never make you feel any less important.

It was a thrill to be alone on a trip with Todd.  We enjoyed the time away immensely.  Thanks, Babe for planning the whole thing. And for spoiling me all along the way.  I love you!