Laurels Camp...

Bitter Sweet... this week our Stake had a camp for the "laurels" 16-18 year old girls in the youth group.  This is the group I am currently working with and I was invited to go with them.  It is a little different than "girls camp", more mature, more spiritual, more devotionals, more girl talk, time with the Stake Presidency and their wife's, and learning about things specific to that age group.  It's a really special camp.  Plus this year they were going horse back riding, and zip lining, and there was a babbling creek (well it all sounded inticing to me)... I was really bummed not to get to be with them.  But the job needed to come first this time.  The good news, they will come home all pumped up and ready to run our girls camp in July! 

I can't wait to hear all about their week!

Nervous Nellie...

Last night we went to a birthday BBQ and there were lots of kids there, so they had the trampoline set up for them to play on.

I hate this about myself, but immediately after arriving... I scoped out the trampoline and see directly next to it a cement pad, with re bar sticking up out of it... only about a foot away.  Parents on one side of the yard, all these kids playing on the other... Oh dear, I was "Nervous Nellie" for a while.  

I have never seen a kid impaled by re bar, but I certainly didn't want to any time soon either.

So I tried to do picture games with them... and have them jump on one leg.  Or do silly faces.  It seemed to slow down the wild and crazy jumping with the mix of Big and Little kids on at the same time.

Then someone had a bright idea to take turns, Big kids, then Little kids.  It was torture for them, but sure did make it where I could settle down some and have fun.

I did learn at some point in the parent game that it was okay for the kids to get hurt, they learn their limitations and develop skills etc.

But I am still very protective and don't like to see accidents or injuries all for the sake of a lesson learned.  But that's just me.

.

Then my camera died... I brought it back to life for one quick photo and then it really died.

As soon as the candles on the cake were blown out... Aiden was honed in on the chocolate cake.  He followed him around as he turned and walked away with the cake.  Then he finally sat down with it, and Aiden was right by his side, not saying a thing, just watching to see where that chocolate cake would end up?

We finally coaxed "Uncle Gary" into letting him lick the bottom of the candles.  Ummmm.  He knew he would love them.

It was just so funny, you can see the sure but timid look on his face and how he is holding his hands...waiting and waiting for that chocolate cake!

Good instinct Aiden... I love chocolate cake too!

The Bounty...

This week I ordered from Bountiful Baskets again... here is the haul. 

Pineapple, lettuce, spinach, apples, bananas, celery (oops it didn't make the photo), orange and yellow peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, canteloupe, plums, and blackberries!!

This is the place..,.

Girls Camp.... always a summer highlight for me.

Each year I think I might not get to be involved, and will be home knitting and canning for the summer... but not this year!

I am submersed in it again, and I love every minute of it.

I was able to plea with my new boss over the time off, and it worked out well for me.  He could either give me the time off, or he could "do" girls camp.  It wasn't really an ultimatum, since he is my Bishop... just reality, so I didn't have to do much arm twisting at all.

So last Saturday, I went with some friends up to see the spot we picked last September when I didn't have any idea what girls camp would look like this year.

 When we arrived there were lots of nice improvements to the campsite.   Gravel in camp to cut down on the dust.

And dutch oven tables.

 I big huge grill.

 Benches and tables, and a nice fire pit area.

 I was so grateful for these guys to take me along... we could have winged it, but I like to have a plan in my head and visualize the spot when I am planning.

 Horseshoes anyone?

 The pit stop area...

 I think it will fit really nice.

 While we were in the area, he went to check on a job at Lake McCall before we came home.  It was so pretty!  I just wanted to stay.

But I needed to rush back home and see how my boys did... they were in charge of going to buy the missionaries white clothing.  I wanted to go with him to do this, but decided with all we had going on, it would be okay for his Dad to be with him and experience it and bond and all that.  He was excited to show me what he got, and they had a great time doing it together... I am going to have to cut the umbilical chord soon anyway, might as well start letting go a little at a time now.  He is a really smart kid, and I know we have taught him well, and he can find his way in the world just fine.   It's just hard not to watch him from under my feet to just over my shoulder to at an arms length, but rather from a distance now.

Missionaries from....

We Love, Love, Love to feed the missionaries!

And right now, the poor guys get all kinds of questions and drilling from the teenager inquiring about anything and everything mission related!  But they never seem to mind, and love teaching him all they know.

This dinner was an extra special one for us... meet Elder Ozuna and Elder Navarrete!  They are serving in the Spanish Branch... but we were able to have them to our house with special permission because Elder Ozuna is from Asuncion Paraguay!!!

Right where Jacob will be serving.

They couldn't believe it!!

It was an instant bond, and he will share some names of friends and family, for Jacob to take with him to visit and hopefully teach on his mission.

 There seems to be a very special brotherhood (and sisterhood too) of missionaries no matter when or where they serve.

A bond and understanding like no other.

 These boys hit it off, shared some very sweet family stories of conversion and how they came to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and we hope to see much more of them in the next 2 1/2 months!

They will probably never know how special it was for them to come  have dinner with us.  But the teenager requested his favorite Korean Chicken... so anyone who knows us, knows just how special it was!!

A thrill and an honor!!!!!!

We loved every minute of it!