Girls Night out!!!

( Rachel, Cami, Jenny, Kris, Ann, Camille, Clairesse )

Last night we had a girls night out.  We went to Cheesecake Factory because yesterday was national Cheesecake day and so our cheesecake was half off.   I love being with girls friends and just having a good time.   Thanks for the picture Ann!!! You are awesome!  I have met amazing girls in my neighborhood.  I just love it.    I didn't get home until after midnight and Ann and I still went walking this morning at 7:30!!!  I don't think I would have gone if I was going alone!!

I am all packed for trek and I am excited to spend time with the youth and feel the strong spirit that is so strong when you go on trek.  I am all packed and I even started getting packed to go to Seattle as we leave a day after we get home!  I am excited, but tired today and still have so much to do.   I am grateful that I belong to the church of Jesus Christ.  I love the Lord and I am so grateful for the sacrifice he has made for me and His perfect plan of Happiness.  I am so grateful for the sacrifices the pioneers made and what faith they had to endure each and everyday.   I feel so blessed.     

Kara's Master Voice Class

The lull in the summer

I have loved this week so much because it hasn't been super busy, just full of fun and just a little work.   During the month of  June after we cancelled our trip to the Northwest I felt very restless. I wanted to go on our trip and it was hard not to go.   It was the first time I had felt that restless that I can remember.  Usually, I am too busy and I wish for free time, so it was good for me to have the break even if I struggled with  it at the time. 

But the summer is quickly going by and now I wish I could go back to the lazy days of June, well kind of.  Anyways,  I have been putting together all of  my trek clothes, and other things we need for trek.  It has been a kick back week.  I have been able to go to lunch twice this week with girlfriends and it has been fun to catch up. I have done some de-clutttering.  I struggle so much when my house is unorganized and not clean.  It is one of my biggest pet peeves and I am constantly working on not letting a mess make me crazy. 

Also  I went to a movie with a couple of friends from my old neighborhood, which always makes me miss my neighborhood.   It always makes me wonder when you finally feel like your new home really feels like home.   A friend of mine, Cori, was talking about it on Facebook and it really made me think.  I am still considered "new" in the ward and our neighborhood is referred to as the "new" neighborhood.  When I go back to Sandy I miss it so much, but I am really starting to feel like I am home when I come home. 

The rest of the summer will be spent going to St. George, Seattle, Portland,  Boise, camping at Bear Lake,  Education Week and trek and then school will begin. 

I think one of the reason this summer has been a little different is because Matt has been working from our home with his three employees since February.  I can't express enough that I love that he has a job, but sometimes it is weird having his employees and others drop off contracts or come in and out of my home all day.   I feel like I always have to be quiet or that I can never let my  hair down.  There is no end in sight yet, but I am hoping it is sooner.  I love having Matt home, but it is hard on him to work from home. 

We are also excited for the Olympics.  Kara loves watching the Olympics and it certainly makes it more fun!!!

Trek, 24th of July!

I get to go to trek!!!!  I am so excited. Matt and I were a Ma and Pa two years ago and I loved it.  It was a very spiritual time for myself and I learned so much about myself.  I just loved the atmosphere and being with the youth. I let a few people know that I wanted to go on trek and thankfully, when they needed a few more women I got called.  I got the call on my birthday.  It was one of my favorite birthday presents.   I have been borrowing some clothes from friends and one of Spencer's friends.  She has been a great help!!!  Thanks Allyson!!!

 I have been walking with my friend Ann in preparation for Trek each morning.  I usually walk on my Treadmill, but I remember when I got to trek how different walking on a treadmill was from walking on the hard ground. It has been fun walking with her; she is such a dear friend.

Yesterday for the 24th of July, Pioneer's day we stayed home and relaxed.  I have been really busy so it was nice to enjoy some peace and quiet.   Spencer and Coby both went with friends to watch fireworks. This year we enjoyed the fireworks from home.  A lot of people in our neighborhood spend a lot of money on fireworks!!!  Thank you neighbors!!! 

Girls Camp-- Thursday and Friday

 On Thursday we stayed around our camp area.  We did more crafts and we had a fun couple come and  speak to us about, "All Things Bright and Beautiful."  They did an amazing job as did all of the missionaries we came in contact with. There are 67 couples who work at Heber Valley to make  it run smooth.  They are all very kind, helpful and so willing to serve.  I think it would be a cool mission to go on.   We worked on certification and we made balloon and fabric flip flops.    Above is a picture of the YCL's leading us in singing.  We had a lot of fun singing silly camp songs.   We also had my friend Ann Marie's in- laws, who work at the camp, come over for dinner.  They were a lot of fun to talk.

 The bishopric came too that night for dinner. Karlin was in charge of the food and she did amazing.   I think it was the best and most food I had, had in a long time. 

 The picture of all the girls that came during camp.  Minus Lynn Selin who came and  Trisha.  I love this picture because it captures how much laughing Leya truly did.  She was always giggling and she has the cutest giggle that can't help you from smiling.

 It was fun to get to know the girls better and also the leaders I work with.    We have some amazing women in our young woman that I am privileged to work with.  We sure missed you Liz and Mackinzee

This is where we held testimony meeting before everyone got there.   It was a beautiful testimony meeting where the spirit was so strong there.  Every person there bore their testimony.  I don't know if I have ever been to a meeting where that happened.  We have some strong girls in our ward.  There was no drama that happened there at all.  Which is kind of amazing for one week.  Thank you to the priesthood brethren who came up a day, or part of the week--, Brother Maxwell, Brother Selin,  Brother Leah, Brother Hartley, Brother Sampson, Brother McMurdie, and Brother Coulam.

On Friday we got up early and cleaned up the camp.  The girls were so helpful and since we worked together we got out of there almost two hours early.  What a wonderful week.

Girls Camp Wednesday

 On Wednesday morning we went to the Obstacle course 5  right after breakfast.  It is a beautiful steep hike up there.   This is also the day where I took the most pictures and I forgot on most of the other days!

Our ward split up into two groups.  Our group started with the swing.  It was a fun time.  Most of us did it, minus a few adults.  Some were really reluctant to do it, but most of us wanted to go on it more!

 Kara in action.

 Chelsea!!!  She was the quietest one on it.  I don't know how she could contain her scream.

 Emmalie

 Erin

 The girls who held the rope and pulled really hard when someone went up.

 Rachel

 Leya

 Kaitlyn

 Kelly

 Me

 I think this is Brenda?

 After the swings we went to the different  obstacle course, with a total of 7 in all..  They were all so fun to do and it was cool that they each had a message that we could learn from.  They all really made you do a lot of team work or you couldn't have done them.

Our group waiting for the next obstacle course. 

 The other group from our ward.

 Tarzan and Jane swing

 Figuring out the Tarzan and Jane swing.

 Lauri and Trisha came up today.  They sure look CLEAN!!!

 Our whole group minus, Kelly taking the picture after we were finished with the obstacle course.  Three hours of FUN!!!

Girls Camp---Monday and Tuesday

I love girls camp and this year was no exception.  I love Heber Valley. It is a perfect place for girls camp.  It is beautiful and you can't help, but smile.  Our theme for girls camp was, "Seek His Light and Shine."   We met at 7:45 to head to girls camp  Monday morning.  We had a total of 18 girls in attendance. 

 I was in charge of the cards and all the supplies for it.  Here are the supplies that we used.    The girls made the  cutest cards for one another.  

 Our cabin.  I was in the cabin with the Beehives and Laurels.  It was fun to get to know the Laurels better.   Our cabin  was known as the boring  one because we all turned the light out at night and went to bed.  The Mia Maid camp was where all the parties happened at night.  It was so loud there we could hear them perfectly each night with the windows shut in ours.   After spending a few minutes late one evening in the Mia Maid cabin I was really happy I was in the "quieter" camp. 

 We each made a beacon of light/lantern that we lighted with an electric candle (no fires or matches allowed) and also where we could put any mail we received.  Later that night we had super heavy winds that  broke several bottles of nail polish and happened to break my beacon of light.  Several girls hurried and made me a new lantern without me even knowing.  Everyone was so kind to everyone.

 We also decorated water bottles. This was one of the coolest water bottles I had ever seen.  Later that night the YCL's did a FHE on Self Worth/Esteem.  I loved how open and honest Thabata and Nickee were about their feelings.  They did a fantastic job!!!

On Tuesday we went boating.  We did a small hike to the lake and then the girls got on canoes and the leaders were on paddle boats.  It was so fun and beautiful there.  I forgot my camera.

 Here is a picture I copied  off the Heber Valley web page.   We had lunch at the lake. It was such a beautiful day.  That afternoon we made crafts.  I have never done such fun crafts as I did there.   We made a pictures of the temple and a picture of the prophet.  Julie, who was in charge of camp did  a great job.  She is so talented at everything she does.   That evening we had a lecture about Eliza Snow.  We stayed at the camp site named after her.  Then Julie, put together a beautiful video about having our lamps filled with oil and we discussed what that meant.  Kelly read us a poem she had written about the theme.   Each night the leaders went around to the cabins and gave each girl something she had made and gave a small talk about her interpretation of the theme.  It was really cool and it was fun to see everyone's interpretation of the theme.