Moroni's Quest - Part of our Summer 2016 Top Ten

I hardly know what to say or share about Moroni's Quest.  It's the type of experience you just can't describe adequately.   I was very VERY lucky to get to go this time around and I was even asked to take pictures throughout the weekend!  (I'm sure the other photographers had amazing shots, but these are some of mine that bring back great memories for me)

It has been such a privalige to serve in a stake young womens presidency.  One of our jobs was to serve the youth and tribe leaders breakfast the morning Quest began.    They all met at the civic center for milk, juice, muffins and such.   It was fun to feel the excitement and energy that the youth had prior to leaving.

Quest happens on some special land near the base of Chief Mountain.   It's an incredible thing to watch a couple of people hike into camp with that as a backdrop!

The entire weekend is designed to help the youth become better acquainted with the scriptures and their Savior.   The youth move from one scripture re enactment to another and discus what they have learned and felt (with their tribes) in between.  

Quest began on Canada Day.  I was so happy to get to sing "O Canada" in this setting with this group of young people!

The Book of Mormon is filled with wars and battles, so naturally those were some of the youths favorite moments to re enact.    But really, whether we were watching a scene about Abinadi, listening to Captain Moroni bear testimony, cheering for Helemans 2000 brave young warriors or watching Alma the younger forsake his sinful past or participating in a battle - every moment of Quest offers something meaningful and testimony building.  

I particularly loved two special moments.   The first, was watching the young men in our stake face our young women.  Each group bearing testimony through song.  ("As sisters in Zion/We'll bring the World His truth" was the medley that they sang)   So very moving.  

The highlight of Quest for most people will likely always be the Sunday morning, the day of the re enactment of Christ's visit to the American Continent.   I loved a couple of things about this re enactment.   (Of course, this was President Low dressed up to portray the Savior, but it was incredibly moving, just the same.)  I was constantly humbled as I watched and noticed each persons reaction as they hugged him.   They exuded such love - and so did he!

It was neat as I photographed during that 2 1/2 hour experience,  to listen to the conversations around me.  I heard fathers thanking coaches for the service they'd given, parents thanking youth for being friends with their kids, kids thanking teachers for being so good to them at school ...etc.   So much gratitude being expressed.  I've spent time since then reflecting on the correlation between the gratitude that automatically ensues anytime we feel close to the Savior.  

Another experience I had during this Sunday morning came as I was trying to photograph each persons "moment" with President Low.   I hadn't realized that his hands (and feet) had also been made to look like the Saviors.   While taking one particular photo - the marks in his hands stood out to me and I could barely control my tears from that point on.  I was drawn to the image of ONE person wrapped up in His arms - with those wounds still there.  Proof that he suffered for each individual soul on this earth.   I am in awe of that!  I LOVE that!  I want to do better at living worthy of such a gift.  

I was so grateful to get to experience Quest with Jewel.   Jewel actually had half of her own family with her  (and I had no one from my family with me) but it was always nice to run into her, sit by her at times and watch her serve others in her designated way as well.  

This final photo is of myself, Karen Cahoon, Jolene Strang, and Jana Jensen.   

We currently make up the Stake Young Womens Presidency and it has been SUCH AN HONOR to serve with these women this past year.  It's been a year largely focused on Moroni's Quest and so it was a little bit bittersweet on the last day, to feel that our small efforts on this grand project were done.    I'm not sure how much longer this presidency will be serving as they have already been together for 3 1/2 years now.  I suspect a change will come in the months ahead but in the meantime, I will (like a sponge) soak up every moment and opportunity to get to know them better and learn from them!  

I am so very grateful for the opportunities that come my way (and my families way) as a result of my membership in this church!

June Fun

June was forever ago. (Yes, I'm gifted when it comes to hyperbole;) How am I only updating now!!!

Get ready for a bunch of posts, full of pictures and not enough detail about the awesomeness of each:

The town has completed renovations on the local pool and the WATER SLIDES are officially open and running!   We bought a family pass for the summer and the kids LOVE going.   Jess, in particular, loves taking her mermaid suit along.  

During the month of June we were able to have Jordan and Luci and their families visit us.  They were in Calgary and Waterton a bit too, but it was nice to see them when we did.   Unfortunately we had LOTS of end of school things going on as well.   Boo to feeling torn :(  

On one of those evenings, Abby played the flute in her year end band concert, which, due to the fact that she isn't taking band next year,  also may be her final concert ever!

I didn't go to it.

But she looked lovely and I'm sure she played well!

We spent several evenings in June driving through fields near Walleys Beach, in search of a good fishing hole.   I LOVE southern Alberta in the spring!

John had high hopes of catching some big fish in these channels of water.
So far, no luck, but I keep reminding him it "isn't about how many fish we catch";)

Occasionally on evenings like this, Grandpa would join us.  

Grandpa always fishes from the shore. 

Sam and John always take the boat.  (Jess too, if she is in the mood)

Abby and Sam always find a seat in the van to lay back in, ipods and iphones in hand. (groan)

I like to find a spot in a field to sit down and photograph anything I see.  Sometimes it is one of the kids or a cluster of grass....

Other times ..

A few birds perched in a row on some fence posts.

I LOVE Spring!!!

The last couple of weeks in June were fun ones.  

John and the three older kids were still in school, but Nate and I were finished.  

We spent our afternoons playing Super Mario Bros. and going on picnics in the park. 

One fun afternoon we joined my friend Ashley and her two kids and went out to Waterton.  
It was cold and windy but that didn't stop those boys from climbing all over the rocks and getting as wet as we'd allow them.  

It was a blur of a month, but a month full of fun, family and friends.   

We tried to suck every sunny ounce out of our spring and plan on continuing the party all the way through the summer months.  

We can't wait!!!!

That one time.... in Banff

Last weekend was a dreamy time for our family.   

John and I surprised even ourselves and took the kids away for the long weekend -

to BANFF!  

The past few months have been a bit busier than normal and John must have been feeling that too, because he agreed to this relaxing getaway AND even took a day off of work in order to join us.  

Did you hear that Internet?

John took a day off work!!!!!!!

The man doesn't do that sort of thing.  In fact, this was such a foreign experience for him that he needed his boss to walk him through how the process of taking a "discretionary day" was actually done.   (Granted, the day he took off of work was technically a PD day which meant there were no students attending - but still.  John didn't go to work!!!   I'm clearly still not over the shock of that;)

We left Thursday evening, right after school and drove straight through to Banff.   Given that it was May long weekend - we absolutely were not surprised that the forecast was calling for rain and even snow.   We weren't going to let the weather deter us.   

We booked a suite at the Rocky Mountain Lodge resort and the kids were delighted with many aspects of it:

* it had a full kitchen which made making food and snacks convenient

* bedrooms were upstairs

* the front desk would deliver wood anytime we felt like having a fire

* the suite had cable which meant that the kids could watch FoodNetwork any time we weren't out exploring (and believe me- they watched it every time we weren't out exploring;)

* the wolf themed decor had us convinced we were officially in wolf country

* the kids had access to unlimited swimming and hot tubbing any time the cold weather got to us

We'd probably hadn't even been in banff for 30 minutes before we found ourselves enjoying a 10:00 pm swim/soak in the hot tub.   This grainy photo doesn't show it but it was actually raining down on us as we hot tubbed on the outside patio.   (Jessica can't go swimming without morphing into a mermaid now.  Best, most well loved Christmas gift she's ever received;)  

There were a few other people hot tubbing that rainy night and one of them happened to be one of the superintendents of the school division John works for.   AKA:  One of his bosses.    John told me after that he did his best to hide and go unnoticed (as unnoticed as you can be while carrying a 9 year old mermaid child around) but there is a very good chance that he recognized John too.   What are the chances that the ONE time John finally takes a day off (and okay skips a PD day) - he finds himself hours away from home, yet in the same hot tub with his boss.   Yikes!

One of my favorite things about our Banff trip was the moments in which I got to just explore and enjoy the scenery.   One morning Jessica and I got up early and drove up Tunnel Mountain Road and took pictures along the way.   Jess was delighted to find "the red chairs" and we managed to find some deer and elk as well.   

Jess and I spotted a few bears during our morning adventures.   (I think Jess had named this particular bear - Bob 1?  She's not too creative with the names, I know.)

During one particularly warm moment when the skies were clear,  we decided to capitalize on the good weather and enjoy a little hike.    Of course it had to be Johnston's Canyon!

(I remember doing this hike with my Dad when I was little, so I was determined to show it to my kids.)    On the way there, I asked all the kids to say a prayer that we "see a wolf."    

Not 10 minutes later - guess what!

WE SAW THIS!!!!!

Apparently this is not a wolf;)  

BUT - for two glorious days (until I got home and started bragging about it to others) I was convinced it was a wolf and that seriously made my whole trip.  haha.   

The hike to Johnston's Canyon is perhaps one of the prettiest hikes that our family has ever done.   

Though I do remember walking this trail as a kid with my Dad and family, I do not remember it been so breathtaking!    

There were many different flowers in bloom (these Venis' slippers have been on my list of flowers to find for a long time now) and the forest smelled of dirt and moss and all that good stuff. 

So many spectacular views!

The highlight though for the kids was reaching the first waterfall.  There is a short (maybe 10 feet?) tunnel that you can walk through and when you come out on the other side you are right there in front of the waterfall.   

It's impossible to stand there without getting wet from the spray and mist. 

Just as we were finishing our little stroll, we noticed that the parking lot had filled with other tourists, the trail was now pretty packed with hikers and dark clouds were starting to move in.  

Our cue to leave;)

We spent the afternoon enjoying a bit closer to town.   We had a picnic lunch while we watched others ride the Gondola to the top of nearby mountain (definitely on our list of things to do next time) and we toured the fascinating Cave n Basin Historic Site.    AGAIN- I remember coming to swim at the Cave n Basin as a kid.   Since that time (around 1992) they filled in the pool and covered it with stone - leaving just a small natural pool to tour and look at.   (No swimming allowed here either;)  

I was fascinated with the Banff Springs hotel and could have spent an entire day just touring the inside of this building.   We were allowed to walk around the first couple of levels and so we did.  SOO beautiful!!   One day John is going to book a stay for us here;)

The town site of Banff is a pretty fun place to explore as well.   I couldn't get over the cool crosswalks there.   The lines went diagonal as well, so as soon as soon as the signal was given - people start walking in every direction.   The kids LOVED walking around each and every gift shop.   I felt as though I was constantly telling them not to touch a thing!  Finally, we found a delicious little shop in which we each found a treat worth buying.   

We spent the last half of our day fishing and resting along the shore of Two Jack lake.   

 We'd checked out of the hotel and the van was all loaded up but one of us wanted to leave quite yet.  

We all cried on the way home (okay, only I did.  On the inside) but I will say that no matter how much fun we had travelling somewhere new - it's the being together that means the most.   John's uncle Clark recently spoke in a stake conference meeting in which he shared the sentiment that "Home isn't where you live.  Home is Family."     

While we float around from house to house or as we travel to various fun places this next year or so - this is definitely the thought that will be hanging in my heart.   

Home IS Family!

Waterton through a new lens

My brother Chad recently helped me locate a cool lens to purchase on kijiji and last weekend I was finally able to test it out!    

Of course, the only place to test out a new telephoto lens is in Waterton, am I not right?

I am right (just for the record)

So on Saturday afternoon, John and I loaded the kids up for a bit of fun.   

From the moment we entered the park - I knew it was going to be a great day.  

Spotting a big beautiful moose just near the park gate seemed to be a good omen.

It was a little chilly but not cold enough to prevent us from enjoying some barbecued hot dogs.

Normally, I do not like hot dogs at all, but when cooked up in the beautiful out doors - Hmm mmm. 

Jess and Sam crack me up.  They've always had a close relationship.  

They are close in age, could pass for twin siblings, and for some reason - they can't stop picking on each other.  We've tried to tell Sam not to fight with his sister but she dishes it out more than he does.   It's sort of endearing.

There is a lot of construction going on in Waterton this year, which prevented us from really driving up into the mountains.   We walked around the town site though and explored the shoreline and took note of every wildflower that we saw.  

Of course we have conditioned our kids to need ice cream from Big Scoop every.single.time we come to town.  This time Jessica tried the "Moosetrack" flavor, in honor of our moose sighting earlier.

At the end of the day, we made a quick stop up at the Prince of Whales hotel to check out the view.   We were delighted to find a couple of dozen mountain sheep grazing up there and they certainly put on an entertaining show for us.     

We drove home at the end of the day feeling full, relaxed, sun kissed and content with everything.

(Waterton has that affect on people, you know;)

If only Abby could have been with us - then it really would have been a perfect day!