The "After Party"

John's family reunion hadn't been over long (6 hours tops;) when a couple of his brothers and their families arrived in Canada, ready to spend another week partying.   My sister in law Sarah referred to this week as the "after party," and that was a pretty fitting title. 

'Cuz how could a week in this town be anything but a party?

We ate lots of yummy meals together that week, most of them cooked by John's Dad.   Delish!   Every once in a while I would throw a meal together just to remind everyone of just how lucky we were to be enjoying so much of Dad's cooking:) lol.

One day, I made everyone come with me to the local museum.    I had never been here before myself, but the kids enjoyed it in a "let's run around like we're crazy and breeze past every exhibit so our parents can't enjoy anything themselves" kinda way.   

They thought the old fashioned classroom was cool, and they probably could have played school there for much longer if they'd been allowed to.  

Perhaps the thing they enjoyed most of all was the part where they got to be the actors and re-enact a court case.    Libby was the judge and Abby was the criminal Mr. Black who was charged with stealing someone else's cattle!     tsk tsk.      

Perhaps the part that I enjoyed most was when we got to put our kids behind bars.  I was more then ready to lock those doors and throw away the key!    Nope. Not kidding!!!

After thanking and apologizing to the tour guide (I like to just cover the bases when my family is involved;) we headed on over to Dave's for some ice cream treats!   

Here are the kids responding to my question when I asked, "Who likes ice cream?!"    

Of course, Sam can't just raise his hand- he always has to DANCE in the affirmative.   Just ask his former school teachers;)

            The next day, we must have done nothing, because I have no pictures to show for it;)    But the day after that we went to Waterton!   We took everybody up to Blackiston falls because what hike is more kid friendly then Blackiston?     

(I love that Liberty wore this pink head piece for most of the hike!)    

Jordan insisted that I take a family picture of his beautiful family.  

(Jordan loves it when I take his family's picture;)

I really enjoyed getting to visit with Ammon, Kristin and their kids this past week.   They live out east in North Carolina so we don't get to see them very often.   Definitely not as often as we'd like!

Oh and this is one of the beautiful views from the Blackiston lookout.   

I absolutely love that stroll!

We had a great big Olympic Kick off Party planned for last Thursday evening, but just as we were about to begin the festivities - the storm OF THE CENTURY hit!  

 (I'm not even exaggerating like I usually do when I say that:)   

And thus began the end of all the fun...

The time I tried to make a family music video

Months ago I came across a YouTube video of an extended family who had made a music video during one of their family reunions.  I LOVED it- and immediately emailed all of John's siblings and told them that I thought we should try to do something similar.    

 I was pretty insistent.   

And annoying.  

We all spent about 1,462,708 + hours (in the form of a trillion emails) debating which song we would use, who would be in it, who would teach us the dance moves (Rach and Luce!) and how excited we all were going to have to be in order to make it awesome.  

In the end, half the family thought it was a cute(ish) idea.

Half of the family thought it was lame and that I was the biggest dork in the world for attempting it.

And half the family were too nice to voice an opinion about it either way. 

 (and yes- I just broke John's family down into three halves;)   

Still though, despite the fact that 78% of John's family were sick of this song by the end of the first day and never wanted to be filmed again - I persevered.   Because that is what I do.    

I persevere.

   

********

Dear John's family,

 (including those who deep down, or not so deep down, thought I was a dork for making this video in the first place)

Thanks so much for putting up with it all, and thanks to Luci and Rachel for teaching us all how to really dance.   And See?   Now we have this super cool(ish) video to remind us of all that fun we had right?  

 You're welcome.   

Sincerely, 

Me

     

          

And Poof! A star was born...

Wow it has been a week now that we have been back from our family reunion in Coeur d'alene, and it has been a week of Lots.More.FUN!  

 I am tired.  

Pooped. 

  Exhausted.

And there is soo much I want to write about this past week, but - I can't!   Not until I finish journaling this reunion from the week before!    (Apparently my blog is as backed up as my laundry.  I have a stack of posts to share AND a monumental pile of clothes on my bedroom floor to fold.    Can you guess which project I plan on tackelling first?:)

Here's the final entry (or one of the final entries;) about the amazing Cider Mountain Resort.   If I had more time, I would share just how much I LOVED this place.   It was so kid friendly that we would have been happy never going anywhere and doing anything.   The cabin we stayed in was perfect, and the main lodge was party central pretty much all of the time.  

I loved the small opportunities I had here and there to appreciate the beautiful area we were in.    Like the morning sunrise as it peaked through the trees behind our cabin, or the clear clear skies FULL of stars at night.     A favorite moment for me actually came while careening across Hayden Lake in a motor boat that was being driven by one super happy, albeit inexperienced, driver, (cough cough...John:)   Just as I was about to tell him to slow down (like the backseat driver I am), a giant bald eagle sored over us and slowly dropped down over the lake right beside us as if it was going to grab something out of the lake.   I've never been quite so close to an eagle in flight before, and as we WHIZZED by, I forgot how fast John was going, and instead just thanked God for that moment.   It was truly beautiful!!

 Seeing as I've already journaled most of our trip- I'll just skip to the last night when we all gathered for the much anticipated "Family Talent Show."    Another reunion tradition;)

Because this resort is typically a place where musicians and singers come to write and record music- we were able to get access (on our last night there) into one of the large studios.  The owner even came and acted as the DJ for us.   The kids LOVED dancing under the disco lights!

Across from the stage, just off the dance floor, was a cozy and groovy lounge area where we all could comfortably sit and watch the kids perform.   

My nephew Caleb played his Cello which sounded awesome in that setting.   Kaden wowed us all by performing amazing Yo-Yo stunts along to music that HE made up!    His younger brother Luke (pre school age) had us all laughing as he showed off his rockin dance routine, and our nieces Kate, Maddie and Brooke introduced us to the wonderful world of clogging.  So cute!   

 And then.... there were my kids.

Let's just say - we unleashed the talent when it was our kid's turn, and John and I were just beaming with pride.    Abby- chose NOT to sing one of the numbers her Jr. Choir sang this past year like I thought she was going to, and instead pulled out her sock...horse/thingy that she sewed during the most recent sessions of General Conference.    Remember that?

And Sam?   

Well...Sam donned his black wig, brown jacket and glasses and danced (and I use the word "Dance" lightly) to his favorite song ever:    CELLO WARS!    

Yup this little costume of Sam's was quite the issue as we were preparing for the trip.  So many times I pulled it OUT of his luggage, hiding it back in the crawlspace, and so many times he went and found it- making sure we did NOT leave without it.   Sigh, this is what he must wear when he performs ok? Who am I to stand in his way?  

All I can say is next reunion...our family is going to show up with some real talent.  

I promise;)

Ur...well...at least I hope;)

Here is a short clip from that night that John made.
 It sure was a lot of fun, when lots of memories were made!

When John's family gets together...

This post is all about the things we did while vacationing in Coeur d'alene with John's family.    We packed an awful lot into 6 days, it kinda makes me tired just remembering it all!

John's family is all about traditions.  (cue Tevia and his fiddler on the roof rendition)
Truly though-  when John's family gets together, there are a few mandatory events/ criteria that absolutely must exist in order for it to be a success.

For example:

"When John's family get together"....PLAY TIME is taken VERY seriously!!! 

On Tuesday, we loaded up the kids and drove the 20 minute drive to Silverwood theme park. When they tired of that- we simply hopped on over to Boulder Beach for another 5 or 6 hours of excitement!

  Abby, of course joined all of the older kids and they immediately set out to tackle the big kid rides and roller coasters.   John and I had fun with the younger group taking them on much smaller rides.    (I don't know if I'll ever get over feeling like a dork when I have to sit in these dumbo chairs, but oh well:)

I love the picture in the top right of Jessica with 3 of her new friends.    One day in- and we knew these four cousins were going to make quite the team!

  

"When John's family gets together..." they like to EXPLORE!

 The resort we stayed at was nestled deep in the Idaho woods.   We took a short pre-dinner walk one day that let us up this hill, and it felt good to get out, but I quickly realized how out of shape I am.    I was glad to get back to the lodge so I could chill out in a hammock or do something less exhausting;)

"When John's family gets together...." there must be guns, rockets, and remote control planes!

I lump all three of those into one category because they are all things that I don't necessarily appreciate on the same level that John and his siblings do.   Still though,  it is quite funny to watch them when they get the chance to play.    They never go flying without having some sort of fun story to share, and word on the street is that John has a pretty decent shot!

Another thing that is required "when John's family gets together"....  is Sand!  

And when I say sand, I really mean that it must come in the form of a BEACH!    We spent two days this past week at a couple of different beaches near Coeur d'alene and the kids had an absolute blast!   Abby (but mostly her Aunt Kristin) caught a fish (a catfish perhaps) with their bare hands.    Some of the kids wandered up and down the beach more then others, and I tried to enjoy it all underneath the beautiful shade of an umbrella.

There was lots of sand in my van on those days- that's for sure!

Perhaps most importantly, "when John's family gets together"... a motor boat is required!

I'm pretty sure that any family reunion from here on out is absolutely, undeniably going to have to be held at a location where motor boats can be used.     Some of our nieces and nephews learned to ski for the first time ever this past week!  Abby was fearless on the tube,   Nate finally consented to sitting IN the boat and going for a ride, and John reminds me a teensy weensy bit of Don Johnson whenever he got behind the wheel.  

Apparently, a boat makes EVERYONE happy!  

"When John's family gets together"...they always organize a fun family carnival!

It's just automatically part of the reunion schedule, and of course, how could it not be with all the fun it is?    This year the kids had fun with various arcade type games, a relay where they had to dress up as babies and be fed pudding by someone else, a search for gold and then the breaking of golden pinatas, a shoot out, and a fun photo booth!    Soo much fun!   (And soooo much Candy!)

"When John's family gets together"....the eight of us Moms always, always  ALWAYS steal away for a   little bit of "girl time."    

(You know, without planes, and rockets, and things that explode;)

This year, Sarah found the most charming location for us to hold a "Favorite Things" party.    She took us to an old Mansion overlooking Haden Lake, and it was AMAZING!

We chatted as the sun went down,  and we dined on Seven Nut Pie,  Cheese cake, and Shirley Temples!   We each exchanged gifts with everyone (our favorite things) and walked away with our arms full of delightful treats and trinkets, and hearts full of love!    

That probably sounds cheesy-but it's true.   I really did feel such love for these amazing woman!

This evening was definitely one of the highlights for me.    

Now, if you were to ask my kids which evening they enjoyed most, they'd tell you it was the night of the "Family Talent Show!"   You know, just another one of those mandatory things we do -

 "when John's family gets together!"

Day 2- Family Pictures

The only thing that I remember from last Monday is that it was "Family Picture Day" at the reunion.  

Every father and child's favorite event, no? ;)  

This photo pretty much consists of all of John's Family.   Some came from as far as North Carolina to be together this past week - and they are definitely a fun group!     We missed having Rachel's husband Brent with us, but I suppose someone had to stay home and work, and you know, be responsible and stuff;)

Here are the grandkids!    

Those older boys are some of the sharpest boys I've ever met, and each of these kids have such remarkably fun personalities!     

Because I haven't taken photos of people in over two years, I thought I'd share a few:   

The hardest part is getting there

Last Sunday- we loaded our van and headed off for a little family reunion.   Every two years, John's siblings all get together for a week of fun, and every two years we find a new place to meet.   

This year, John's brothers Ben and Ammon found the perfect spot - in the very beautiful woods of Coeur d'alene, Idaho.   

Seeing as Coeur d'alene is only six hours away from us, I shouldn't have worried so much about the drive, but for my kids, a trip to Lethbridge is a big ordeal- so I was plenty anxious about how they'd do. 

Turns out, they are better travellers then I've ever given them credit for, and they did just fine!

There was beautiful scenery all around us, music on the radio, and more treats then one person should ever be aloud to eat.   It was a van full of happy happy people;)

We arrived early in the evening to the most charming lodge/music studio we'd ever seen.    As soon as we pulled up and got a glimpse of the back yard- we knew the kids were going to be in heaven.   

There was an adorable play house and fire station complete with furniture and props.  Perfect for keeping little kids in - and parents out!   They had cute flower beds and gardens with all sorts of produce growing, a giant play structure, and tonnes and tonnes of running space!   All of this was enclosed by the beautiful woods surrounding the property.  

Half of this lodge is a music recording studio, and rumor has it that the group 'Mercy Me' actually recorded a CD here.    The other half though consisted of huge almost hotel like set up.    There was a pool room.  An arcade room.    Public washrooms.   A commercial kitchen, and serving area.    And a HUGE gathering/eating area that became the hub of a lot of visiting.   

As you can see - Sam enjoyed chilling in the hammock in the Sun room;)

By 6:00 that evening, most everyone had arrived.  We all quickly un-packed our things and immediately got down to FUN!

LOVE those beautiful Idaho evenings!  

Never ever a bit of wind!!   I mean, can you imagine that?  No WIND!!!

  I never knew such a place existed;)

Smile for the Camera PLEASE!!!

Oh dear.  

I recently tried taking family photos at John's family reunion.   

Have you ever tried to get 21 little kids and teenagers to look straight ahead?

Yeah...it was pretty much a failure on all counts.   To their credit though,  they are a pretty good looking group, if I do say so myself, and their collective awesomeness makes up for their inability to stay still for 3.5 seconds.

For the fun of it, I'd like to draw your attention to the little boy on the far right, sitting in the chair...

I'm proud as punch to say that that happy little boy is mine!!!

Sanctuary....Sanctuary....

We attended a different ward Sacrament Meeting yesterday, which filled Sam’s sweet little heart and mind with a lot of anxiety.   He worried about where we would sit?  Who would we know?   what would we do if someone sat next to us....?    

So so many things to worry about.

He snuggled up next to me, and for the duration of the meeting continued to say all sorts of embarrassing things at all sorts of LOUD decibels!  

Like when, as the sacrament meeting was being passed (you know when ALL Is quiet!) he leaned over to me and said:  

Sam:  “Pssst Mom.  How long is this cold of mine going to last.”  

Me:  “Sam- I don’t know.  You’ll have it for a day or so.  Now...shhh.”   

Sam:   "It’s just so hard, because when my nose runs my boogers get  mixed in with my spit in my mouth and it's so yucky!”    I tried my best to hush him but not until he'd already ranted for quite a bit about his runny nose.  

After the first speaker, and musical number Sam was ready to go, and did not like the fact that there was still one more talk.    Part way through the concluding speakers talk Sam turned to us, (and let’s face it everyone else 3 rows back as well) and said: 

  “MOM!   When is this guy going to get off the stage already?!!!!)

Much to Sam’s relief the final speaker did eventually conclude his talk and sit down.   Sam took as a cue to start dancing around declaring that it was over.   (You see, we were headed for a special family outing right away, which I think contributed to his impatience.    If I had just not told him the plan for the day, he could have behaved so much better!)   At any rate, we wrestled him down long enough to participate in the closing song, but as soon as the closing prayer had been said- he shot up fast and happily proclaimed:  

“It's time.  IT's Time!  IT”S TIME to GO!!!!!”

He was out the door and in the van faster then white on rice, leaving me behind to repeat in my mind the phrase my Dad always used to say about my siblings and I:

You can dress them up - but you can't take them out!

I like to call him "Rainman"

This is what Sam likes to do during a late afternoon rain shower.   

I've started calling him "Rainman" when he does this, which if you ask me, is a step up from the name his classmates gave him when he'd where this to school.

Rainman just sounds so much cooler then Banana Man, no?

Garden in July

Here's how the flowers are looking in our front yard right now.  I LOVE the tiger lilies, and the babies breath is about to bloom which is always a favourite of mine!

They're still the center of my mine

A while back the flu went through our home - affecting every one of the kids and myself.

  But not John.   It NEVER seems to get John!    I remember  that Monday afternoon, when I rushed around all over town trying to get all my errands done before that nasty bug hit me too - because I knew it would.   I had to make all the preparations for my family to get along without me for a day or so right?     Sure enough, an hour later - I came home tired.   So very tired.

I crawled into bed, just as my body started to ache, and spent the rest of the evening and next day there being as pathetic as I could possibly be;)   At one point- John came into the room and asked me how I was doing, and I told him that if he really wanted me to be better, then he would sit beside me, stroke my hair and say, "there there....poor little bird...."  

John didn't do that.  He refused to! (The nerve;) 

Instead, what he did do was - go into the kitchen, make supper (sole and grilled veggies), set the table, and feed the kids, all while helping them with their after school homework.   From my room, I could hear them all gathered in the kitchen laughing hysterically as John uttered all sorts of crazy threats.  Like, when he told Nate that if he didn't eat all his food then John would spank his bum until it turned red!   Of course John was kidding, but it was enough to get the kids acting all sorts of crazy.   Then after they ate dinner, I could hear them all happily working together to clean up, and do the dishes.  I could tell that Sam got distracted and had started using the broom for things other then it's intended purpose, and John had to bring him back to the task at hand.   Still - they got the kitchen clean.   Then, all of the sudden, I could hear the tinkling of our piano as Abby sat own and practiced her recital piece that she was due to perform in just a matter of days.  

I laid there shocked.   And frankly, a little disappointed.  

Where was the bickering about who got to say prayer?  

Where were all the complaints about how gross the meal was?  

Where was the tantrum about having to practice the piano?

I tried to identify what it was that could have possibly led to the synergistic, harmonious feeling that seemed to encircle my family that evening, and they only conclusion I came up with was that I wasn't a part of it.   It was a hard realization to see that life does in fact go on without me;)

 Not only that -but that it goes on rather smoothly!    OUCH!

I sometimes reflect on that evening as I laid in bed and listened as John took over and handled everything so marvelously, and I really have to commend him for the way that he always makes every situation better.    

And sure, I recognize that I may not be the center of my families universe like I'd originally perhaps thought I was....

...BUT they are still the center of mine!

(John and the kids watching lightning strike during a summer evening storm)

Thanks to my sisters and ok...a pretty cool brother too;)

I came across this picture in our photo archives and had to share it again,  for a few reasons:
    

1) I'd crimped my hair that day and felt pretty darn cool for it;)  looking back-I'd still say it was cool of me;)

2) It's a snapshot from that one amazing day my siblings and I spent last year in Waterton with our families.  Such fun!

3) It reminds me of how LUCKY I am to have sisters!   

I've been feeling especially grateful for my sisters lately, and that may have something to do with the fact that I've been looking back on this past year and remembering the countless times in which they were there for me.    In the past 11 months they have helped me through 3 surgeries, lots of specialist appointments, and 1 weekend away recently for Moroni's Quest.   I truly, would not have been able to have gotten through this past year without them.

My sisters made meals for my kids, mopped my floor when I couldn't, helped me learn to sew, gave me rides to Calgary and offered lots of emotional support.   Most importantly though- they took my kids for me, so many times,  and watched them- always caring for them like they were their own.   Crystal, for example, watched my kids for an accumulated 16 DAYS this year!!!
 That's SIXTEEN DAYS in which they were loved extra special and had the times of their lives!  

I keep wondering if I'll ever be able to repay my sisters for all they do for me - and I'm beginning to think that I probably never will.

We're planning a Super Duper Fun Family Trip together in August, and I am getting so excited for it!   Mostly because I know we'll be getting together for no other reason then to be with each other.

               My brother is the one making it happen, and it will be fun to see his family as well. It will be especially great to catch up with his wife Heather.  (AKA:  MY SISTER in law!)
She makes the BEST frozen Mojito Pie EVER!   

Sometimes- you just gotta celebrate the Sisters in your life, ya know!

(But don't feel left out Chad.  You're still wicked awesome to me too;)

Here comes the bride....

Every so often, (or whenever I go grocery shopping) Jessica likes to grab a head of Romaine lettuce and pretend it is her bouquet.  

The other day, while unloading the dozens of grocery bags, Jess found this and walked around the house chanting, "Here comes the Bride.   Big, Fat, and....LETTUCE!"   

A berry productive summer so far

One day last week I received a giant delicious bowl of home grown strawberries from my Father in Law.    I turned it into four strawberry rhubarb pies, and several jars of strawberry freezer jam. 

And what is home made jam without a couple of loaves of home made bread?    

It was such a happy sight there on my counter, almost worth the aching feet! :)

Local Moron gets eaten- while eating out!

Who was it that coined the phrase, "Lazy Summer Days?"

   Like, really.   Who exactly was it?

I'd like to find that person and ask him how he achieved such a thing, as our summer has been everything BUT lazy!    My backyard hammock keeps calling my name, and it makes me sad that I haven't had a moment to give it the attention it deserves;)     

As soon as we got back from quest, we immediately threw ourselves into a bunch of other well laid out plans, all of which are great.  It's just that I'm beginning to think that I'm going to need a holiday after this whole "Summer Break" thing;)  

On Thursday evening, I looked around my kitchen (which was a complete and utter mess), looked at my kids (who were all bored and grouchy),  looked outside to the west of us (it was clear and sunny) -and made an executive decision.

I found John and told him that we were EATING OUT!!!

Of course- in this family "eating out" doesn't mean what you would think it means.    

Nope.  To us- this is eating out!

Thanks to the wonderful invention that is the Wonder Box, I have found a new way to enjoy a warm cooked meal in the mountains (which I love) without getting all smoky (which I loathe).   We enjoyed a sausage and pasta dish with fruit salad, coleslaw, and strawberry rhubarb pie leftover from the night before.  It all tasted soo good!  Things always taste better when you "Eat Out" right?

John LOVES eating out!   (So long as it doesn't involve a restaurant.)  

After supper, the kids tried to catch a squirrel for a little bit, while John sat around and looked handsome.     (Just saying'.)

When the sun started to dip behind the mountains, John figured it was time to start the fishing.   Max chose to fish from the shore with his fly rod, while John insisted on heading out to the middle of the lake in his beloved Seahawk 500.    

I usually get a bit nervous when John inflates the boat because I know that once he is way far out there - there is no getting him back until he is good and ready to come back.  This usually leaves me wandering the shoreline with an impatient two year old, which believe me, is just as fun as it sounds;)  

Miracle of miracles though, this time Nate insisted on joining them in the boat, and after climbing in and sitting down, he actually stayed put!    For the first time ever I sent John and ALL my kids off - wishing them a successful time fishing, and encouraging them to take as long as they needed.  

As in, don't you dare hurry back!

So as my beautiful family drifted farther and farther away, I settled down on the dock, with a lawn chair and a good book.    I sat there, soaking up the sun,  happily enjoying the quiet moment, and I couldn't help but give myself a proverbial pat on the back for being such a genius and having the idea to Eat Out in the first place.   

It was just what we needed!  

Oh yeah, and on the way back down to the townsite, we stopped to watch this little bear eating on the side of the road.   

 I opened the side van door, and hung out of it, trying to get the best possible picture.    That bear was not the least bit shy though, and I'll admit, my heart started to race when it quickly walked right up to us, sniffing the ground beside us and  FORCING me to quickly shut the van door before it gobbled me right up!   Because I know that's what it was going to do, ok!

 I can see the headline now:

"Local Moron gets eaten while Eating Out."

That totally would have put a damper on the evening;)

A truly amazing weekend

This Canada Day weekend was spent attending our Stake Youth Camp called Moroni's Quest.   In short,  it's a 4 day event that takes the youth through various events of the Book of Mormon.    There were about 230 kids in attendance, and close to 25 tribe leader couples.  John and I got to be Tribe Leaders and we were assigned a group of 9 magnificent youth that we had never met before.  Well, at least I had never met before.  

During the day, we spent our time as a tribe watching various re-enactments and then gathering together to discuss each enactment, always trying to find ways to apply it to the youth in a relatable way.     It began as we left the Mountain View Stake Center and followed Lehi and Sariah into the Wilderness, and it ended 4 days later as we sat on a hill and watched as Joseph Smith (the first prophet of this dispensatin) retrieved the Golden Plates from the Hill Cumorah.    Mingled in between those to scenes were re- enactments depicting Nephi and his family, Alma and the sons of Mosiah, the dramatic burning of Abinadi, King Benjamin's address to his people,  the 2000 stripling warriors and a beautiful visit from the Savior, just to name a few.

It all left me in complete awe of the beautiful gift that the Book of Mormon is to us, and it was amazing to see the hearts of these youth grab hold of it.   

Basically - I don't think I will EVER forget this weekend.

Some of the highlights for me:   

   For starters- this beautiful sight is something that took my breath away several times a day.

This photo was taken on the main flat.   It's a giant meadow where we would all join for various battle scenes.    On Sunday, we also took a small hike up to a beautiful grove with (if you can believe it) an even more spectacular view of Chief Mountain, where we had our Sacrament meeting service.   

Another special thing to me, was getting to experience this with Jewel.  Her and Kendall were also asked to be tribe leaders, and I'm so so glad for that.    We've gotten to attend lots of training meetings together over the past 9 months or so, and I LOVED being able to look around me this weekend and see Jewel off in the distance with her tribe doing the exact same thing.  

  Dang her though for tanning so well!

This was Home Sweet Home for us for those three nights.  I am happy to report that despite all my anxieties I actually did NOT die of hypothermia, nor did I get eaten by a bear.   

In fact- I don't want to brag or anything, but think I pretty much rocked this whole camping thing!

Each of the tribe leaders needed to come up with a Tribe Name as well as a trinket that would represent their tribe.     John and I ended up naming our tribe HAZAK, which is the Hebrew word for "Be Strong."  It doesn't mean Be Strong in a physical muscley kind of way- but rather speaks of the inner strength, a courageous type of strength, that we all need to have in today's world.   Our trinket wasn't the most original or cutest, especially when compared to other tribes, but our tribe members did like their name and never hesitated to shout HAZAK.    Over the course of those few days it became apparent to me that each member of our tribe was indeed, so so very STRONG.

This is our tribe.   It consists of kids that I had never known five days ago, but now LOVE.   I knew that this was going to be a special experience, but I was not prepared to care about these kids in the way that I did.    I admire each and every one of them deeply, and there are a few select ones that I truly wanted to just take home with me.       

It was so very hard to say goodbye to them at the end, knowing that they'd likely never understand how much they'd woven themselves into my heart.    I so badly wanted to convey that to them, but never found adequate words.  

More then that though, John and I wanted them to know and believe that their Heavenly Father cares about (and loves) them.   We wanted these kids to know that it is through our Saviour Jesus Christ that true strength can be found.    Again,  I'm not sure if we ever were able find the right words, but there were moments when one of these spectacular kids would astonish me and I'd feel a little stirring of joy that yes, they definitely do know it. 

I am so so grateful for the chance to be around these amazing people and just bask in their glow a little bit.    Truly Amazing!