Akamina Ridge

Akamina was the second hike associated with Abby's "Triple Crown" challenge. John, Abby, and Jessica did this hike a week after we had conquered Carthew Alderson. I was afraid my knees would not be able to handle it, so I stayed home.  I wish I had not done that though. It sounds like it was a SPECTACULAR trail! I wish I could share more about their experience on this hike, but I really don't know too many of the specifics about this journey. 

 All I know is that this hike was a favorite of theirs. It was hard, and a little bit scary at times. They saw wildlife (including a moose) and bonded with each other in a way that made my heart ache. 

What an experience!

Carthew-Alderson Hike

Earlier in the summer, Abby announced that she wanted to do the "Triple Crown Challenge" which involves hiking three extensive hikes in Waterton, in one season. Abby's original goal was to hike these hikes back to back, but she did do one of them a few days before the other two. Still- very impressive!

I joined Jess, Abby, and John on the first hike - Carthew Alderson. 

This hike starts up at Cameron Lake, ascends for 1/3 of the way, and then descends for the final 2/3 of the trip. I thought this meant it would be easier, but I have learned that descending a mountain is just a different kind of challenge.  My knees were screaming at me by the end of the day, but man, what a day it was!

One of the things that I LOVE about hiking is that I get to see places that I would not normally get to see. Take this view for instance. From now on, whenever I am up at Cameron Lake, I will know that THIS is what it looks like, on the other side of the mountain. 

I'll remember what it felt like to scale the ridge and have lunch at the peak. 

I'll remember how fun it was to stop at three lakes on the way down (Carthew and Alderson lakes) and sit in the icy cold water while John fished. 

I'll remember where the wildflowers flourished, and where my favorite spotted saxifrage grew.

All these new sights and views that I wouldn't have been able to see without the climb. 

(Cue Miley Cyrus;)

Parade Day

Jessica and Abby were IN the parade this year, riding on the float for the pool.

Sam couldn't attend the parade as he had to work, down at Home Hardware.

Thank goodness the relatives joined us. 

The best part of "parade day" is the company!

Can Cooker Fun Night

 We broke out the can cooker only once this summer. 

I am convinced that you can measure the success (and joy) of a summer by the number of times the can cooker is used. Clearly, we have room for improvement. Next year, I aim to live better. 

Still- this one time was pretty awesome!

Jewel and Crystal (and their families) joined us, as did a friend of Sam's. 

The food was good, the water play never stopped, and the laughter flowed freely.

What more is there to say?

Cameron Lake Date

There was one day this summer when John and I were able to sneak away for an actual date. I use the term "date" generously. John wanted to fish and I wanted to paddleboard, so it is more like our busy summer schedules collided serendipitously, but I'll take it!

We made our way to the end of Cameron Lake where John did the whole "Wim hof" thing (look it up) and I tried. The water was SO cold, which was perfect on a scorching hot day. 

 Standing below a waterfall and eating my picnic lunch on a paddleboard rank right up there with my favorite summer experiences. 

Reunion 2022 - Kelowna

As mentioned in my previous post, John and the kids' party with family continued on for another week, this time in Kelowna. John's siblings all booked this incredible house for an entire week. 

While I partied it up in Calgary (while going to school) the kids visited a winery, played pickleball, lived the lake life, and soaked up all those priceless moments with cousins, Aunts, and Uncles. 

John's brother-in-law was super kind and flew me out to join everyone on Friday, after my classes. I got to Kelowna just as the sun was going down and would you believe - we saw the northern lights that night!  

Dream.come.true! 

I was able to take some family photos the next day, before some of the family started heading for home. I'm glad I got to see them!

 Everybody left on Sunday morning, thus ending the most enjoyable two weeks my kids had had all year. 

We sure are grateful for family!

When Family Visits town

While I was up in Calgary, going to school, John and the kids spent one week at home hosting visiting family.  (The second week they all traveled to Kelowna BC together, but that is a topic for another day.)

John's brother Jordan, and his brother Ammon (and their families) both came up. Thanks to COVID, it had literally been YEARS since some of these cousins had gotten to see each other!

They did all the tings that you would expect a bunch of cousins to do in a small town. 

They rented the pool and had a pool party...that apparently included a "fish fry."

They played down by the creek, in driveways, and at the local high school.

No trip "home" would be complete without going to Waterton!

And, for the first time ever, these cousins were old enough to go to the temple together. 

What an awesome experience for them all. 

It was fun to see (when I popped in over the weekend) how close these kids had grown over that first week together. By the time they all left for Kelowna, it was as if they'd never been apart. 

 

Summer School

July was a busy month for me.  A week after Moroni's Quest, I went up to Calgary for a two-week period of time. (I did come home on the weekend, but really, the bulk of my time was spent on campus.) 

It was fun to feel like a university student. It can be difficult at times to feel like a legit student when I am attending class, at home in my pajamas. For a time, my scholarly efforts were slightly elevated. 

See- here I am studying on campus, beneath the shade of a giant 100-year-old tree. 

Such a scholarly thing to do, no? 

I was grateful to know a handful of people from home who were also attending the same classes as me.

Kasey and I made sure to partner up any time we could. 

Four of us girls lived together for those two weeks. 

The first week we rented a small townhouse on VRBO. It definitely provided us with a comfortable place to sleep each night, for which I was grateful. 

Our second week, however, was a true vacation!

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law own a BEAUTIFUL home on the south side of the city and, because they were going to be away at a family reunion, they allowed me and the other three girls to stay there. 

It truly was a delight to come home from classes and get to spend some time on the lake, in the hot tub or visiting in the grand front room. 

We learned how to use "skip the dishes" and we ate way too much. 

Ironically, none of us wanted to go home when Friday rolled around.

That said, we were certainly glad to be done with the homework!

Backyard Garden

My yard. Oh, how I love my yard! 

Last year a hail storm decimated so much of what I was growing before I could get photos. I figured that this year I should at least try to capture our garden success if I can. 

Raspberries are thriving and looking like we'll have lots of berries to enjoy soon!

We commandeered a tomato cage from my father-in-law. It is as ugly as all get out but really does help the tomatoes to be happy!   And all these other things are just growing so so well!

John was super awesome this spring and replaced the edging for me. I like how this bed along the fence is coming, but there is still a lot more that needs to go in here.  Peony bushes perhaps?!

And this....

This is what makes me happiest of all!  

We expanded the gravel area and moved back the log benches. Then we (ahem...John) constructed these posts for hammocks. We strong up some patio lights along the top and voila....the place I'll be for the entire month of August.  

Like seriously, you can find me there.

But don't;)

 

Moroni's Quest 2022

Back in the fall of 2018, John and I were asked to be "Moroni's Quest Co-ordinators." 

Moroni's Quest is a four-day camp event in which the youth and leaders immerse themselves in a thematic review of the Book of Mormon. Over those four days, they watch reenactments of scripture stories, participate in battles (Lamanites vs Nephites), eat amazing food, bond as wards, bear testimony, and feel the love of their Savior in a way they never have before.  For twenty years, this has been a most beloved Stake Youth Conference that families and stake members look forward to. 

John and I have attended Quests in years past in various capacities (Tribe Leaders, actor, photographer, etc) but this role of being in charge of it, was a challenge I never expected to have, and frankly, it has been my greatest struggle these past four years. 

In 2018, we were called. Together, we studied the Book of Mormon, chose a theme, and tweaked/prepared the script that would be used for reenactments. 

In the fall of 2019, we began preparations with the stake. We divided assignments out to High Councillors, called Tribe Leaders, started to choose actors, and introduced a year-long Stake Scripture Reading Challenge in anticipation of this Quest experience. 

In early 2020, everything was shut down because of COVID.  Everything.

In 2021, we once again made efforts to resume our preparations, but on the eve before our Stake prep was to resume, we once again, made the decision to postpone Moroni's Quest. There were still too many covid restrictions for us to feel confident proceeding that year. My heart sank when we had to cancel a second time. It was incredibly hard to lead (or to act as a leader) during this time. I wanted to wash my hands of Quest and let someone else be in charge. I felt inadequate and unequipped to carry on with this. 

Still, though, our Stake Leaders assured us that they felt we were the couple for the job and asked us to stay on one more year. By January of this year, we all felt fairly certain that Quest would be allowed to happen and so began our final efforts to prepare our youth and stake for this event. 

Quest was held on a very special property (owned by a member of our Stake) less than a mile from the US border. Chief Mountain looms over the site in a most majestic way!

On the night before Quest began, John and I drove out to make some last-minute changes to some things. I remember feeling so afraid, yet so calm. We knelt down in the field area and said a prayer that this event would be led and directed by God, that it would unfold and happen exactly as it should, and that the youth of our Stake would grow from the experience. 

I looked over the flat, and glanced below at the Tribe Leader tents and felt an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude for my Savior, as well as a desire to serve him with my whole heart over the course of those four days.  It was a rare moment in my life where I truly turned everything over to God. 

The fear subsided. 

Our Quest adventure started when 240 youth gathered at the Stake Center. We "left Jeruselam, " got on buses and continued making our way to the promised land. Our hike took about 4.5 hours and looped all around Wolff's property. It was a breathtaking trail (some of which John helped create.) 

Along the trail, youth watched many of Nephi's experiences unfold. They had to "return for the record," build a ship and live out Lehi's dream. The Tree of Life reenactment was one of my favorite. Even now, I find myself thinking about the beauty of this tree.  

We reached camp around 2:30 that afternoon and the rest of our time was spent there.

It was such fun to connect with people. It was SO amazing to have my family with me. (And one of my ys leaders, Nicole;) 

John loved when it was "battle" time. He really enjoyed leading out on the drums. haha. 

I loved seeing how these youth were turned to the Book of Mormon. Every young man and young woman was placed in a "Tribe" that consisted of 9 youth and a Tribe Leader couple. 

My kids each had awesome Tribes!

One thing I really felt a deep appreciation for were the impromptu moments that came from the youth as a result of something that they heard, saw, or felt. At one point, after a particularly rousing battle, we had the youth gather together to sing "As Sisters in Zion/We'll Bring the World His Truth." It was amazing to watch as one youth raised his sword and everyone else followed. They sang with arms raised, for the entire length of the song. 

A moment of conviction. 

It was a real challenge to try to step into this role of leader. I think I felt like a fraud the entire time. However, by the end of those days at Quest, I had truly developed a deep love for our Stake Presidency, the High Council, and all of the leaders who had worked so hard to make it happen. 

Early on Saturday morning, we met with the Stake Presidency to discuss the forecast. Rain was on the way and we wondered if we would be able to finish out Quest the way that we felt we needed to. It was a scary and prayerful time, but the decision was made to bump up our key reenactments so that the "Saviors Visit" could happen on Saturday night, instead of Sunday. 

At 8:00 pm, the youth gathered for our pinnacle experience together. Thick storm clouds rolled in and over us, but it didn't rain. Instead, those clouds acted as a blanket that enveloped u, calmed the air around us, and kept us totally and completely warm until 10:30 that night. It was a perfect evening!

A highlight for me was watching our Stake President, dressed as the Savior, love my kids. 

How I had hoped and prayed that this experience would be a meaningful one for them. 

For two hours youth, leaders, and families hugged each other and rejoiced together in the love of Christ. We all felt it in a most harmonious way. 

My heart was full.

I felt as though His purpose had been seen. 

I was convinced that God had stayed the weather so we all could feel that way together.

As we finished that night we all retired to our wards for a quick snack and ward time before bed. 

No sooner had the youth all returned to their tents than the sky released a deluge of rain.  It rained all night and would continue to rain the entire next day. 

We knew we couldn't stay.

As youth and leaders rushed to pack up camp in the rain, and evacuate safely, my heart sank, for just a brief moment. The regret I had that our time out here was cut short was instantly replaced with a feeling of peaceful satisfaction that God was in charge and everything was working out, exactly as it was supposed to. These youth had come to feel what they were supposed to feel, of that, I felt certain!

The youth were all home (they were soaked through to the bone, but they were home) by 10 am.  At 1:00 we met back at the West Stake Center, in our Sunday best. We finished watching all of the reenactments together, enjoyed an incredible roast beef dinner, and had a three-hour-long sacrament/testimony meeting. 

My heart was buoyed up when the seats behind the pulpit were filled with youth who had filed up, desirous to bear their testimonies. I am so thankful that these youth were able to feel something meaningful over those few days. It was not the ending or outcome that I had wanted, in fact, it was the very opposite of what I had prayed about for years, BUT it was meaningful, just the same. 

I believe that some of these youth walked away with a better understanding of who they are and whose they are. I know I did.

I will forever be grateful for the miracles that I was able to witness throughout the four years leading up to this event. I am grateful for the challenges that this event presented in my life. I am grateful for the support from others I received along the way. Most of all, I am grateful for the increased conviction I have that God is aware of all of us and He is in the details, for the good of us all!