Justin and I had the privilege of being able to attend youth camp with our church this year. It was AWESOME! We went to Idaho and took 2 trips down the snake river. I thought it was going to be scary but it wasn't. I want to take it up as a hobby!
We started in Hagerman, Idaho with H.A.R.T. (High Adventure River Tours) They have a camp ground and it was an all inclusive trip that included camping, meals, and river rafting. These guys are awesome!!! If you are looking for a river rafting trip and you are in the Idaho area, Check out HART of Idaho.
Our whole group this year, from left to right:
Top row; Ashton, Christianna, Justin, Chunou, Randy (our camp host and owner of HART)
Middle row; Rick, Theodore, Natalia, Elyssa, Taylor, Chloe, Debi, Myself
Bottom row; Madison, Nicolet, Juliana, Wayne (our river guide), Bree,
This was the most incredible group of kids I have ever been with. There was no drama, and such a sense of love for one another.
Hagerman National Fish Hatchery. These Sturgeon are 20 years old, and they are HUGE!!! They love the attention and will let you pet them.
Camp is not all fun and games. We had some deep discussions and a lot of bible time.
So much fun!!!!
Playing slip-n-slide on the snake river.
Worship time and a lesson.
What would camping be without a nightly toad hunt?
Twin Falls, Idaho
Shoshone Falls, Idaho
1000 Springs State Park, and Ritter Island area. This has to be one of my most favorite stops. Green is my favorite color after all. The colors, the cool, crisp water, the beauty was almost too much to take in. It was late afternoon and the temperature was hot hot hot. Taking a nice dip in the water sounded so wonderful. Little did we know that the water was super cold. Almost glacial like. Never have I seen water so clear before, in a wilderness setting. It was like glass.
We had a blast on this trip. I got to share a tent with the older girls, and we had so much giggly fun! Working with these boys and girls and connecting with them has been such a wonderful experience. So many of them come from really tough circumstances that they did not ask for, but they were thrown into anyway. Some of them are just trying to cope. Others are beyond that stage and are survivors. They are wonderful girls and boys who have so much love to give and so much potential, if only they could see that they are loved unconditionally. I am so humbled that so many of them have chosen to call me friend and share with me their struggles, and bestow upon me their trust.
Ummmm, I really did mean to post more last month. Oh well. I will do better next month, I promise!
I was sitting with Justin one evening and we were going through all of the Sunday ads. We came upon this ad for bullets. I laughed so hard. It was probably one of the funniest things I have seen in a while.
Mmmmm! Fresh Strawberry Freezer jam from Elyssa's strawberry patch. She pulled in about 8lbs of strawberries this year.
Mustachioed men and women seem to be everywhere this month!
Utah Foster Care Foundation's Chalk art Festival.
Oh these mustaches are killin' me over here.
At Willard Bay State Park. Ashton is tearing it up! We call this wave runner "El Chupacabra"
Wowza! May has already come and gone. I just can't believe it. I know that I need to make sure that I savor every second of this summer. It will be gone in a flash. That being said, let's look at some of my favorite May 2012 Photos.
First up a gift from Dixie upon our return home from all of the Mother's day Festivities.
Campfire Worship, music, friends, family, fun, and fire. It is really hard to get a good photo of fire.
But I have to admit I like this one a lot. But I took it while it was still light outside.
My guy, I told him I was tired of all his photos looking like mug shots.
So he laughed and I got him mid-smile.
This is in Moab, at Arches National Park.
While I was still feeling adventurous and mostly alive.
Elephant Butte in Arches.
I love that it was like a Ginormous Elephant was watching us while we were hiking.
Along the Colorado River in Moab, Utah
I wish I was still feeling good when I took this photo. It was at the trail head to Corona Arch. But as it was I was just trying to get back to my vehicle by myself and not have to be carried out. 1.5 mile hike all up hill was too much for me on this last day.
Not a very flattering picture of me coming down the Corona Arch trail, however it is a reminder that I did make it most of the way there, and back down by myself for the most part. And my friend Carl, there to catch me if I needed help.
These four pics are at Corona Arch. Three very brave ladies were coming down the middle of the arch with ropes and harnesses. It was cool to see them hanging in mid air. I only have photo evidence that this really happened because I was holed up in a cave trying to not die! Feeling clammy and shaky and doing my best not to pass out. I am in the 4th pic in the very center.
This is Corona Arch, you may have seen it from the viral Youtube video I am posting below. At the time we decided to hike to Corona Arch, I had no idea this was the arch in the video. But the minute we saw it I knew it was the one. Check out the video it is incredible.
This is my boy, he will be 15 in just a few months. More than ever I am realizing that things are changing, he is growing up, and I only have 3 years 4 months and 8 days, before I have to let him go. Let's just say I am having a hard time thinking about that. You don't expect your little ones to grow up so fast and before you know it. They have. He is growing up into the most wonderful young man. I enjoy his company immensely and love his personality. He is taller than I am, his arms are a lot longer than mine are, he has beautiful long fingers and hands. He is becoming quite the little drummer boy too. And he leans toward being a thrill seeker.
This is a picture taken by my brother in law. It is at the Pack Creek Campground in Moab, Utah. The 2 kids in the front from left to right are Mercy and Sierra. Behind them are Braden and Elyssa. The reason I mention this photo is to point out a new blog I am following. Mercy and her family are on an adventure of a lifetime. They are living on the road visiting the entire United States. They have a blog you can read and follow their adventures too if you like. rain4river.com Their story is one that makes you think about the most important things in life. Mercy's mom Tanya, is a cancer survivor and so is River, Mercy's brother.
This last picture is poor quality and unedited. But I share it because it is one of those moments that kinda takes your breath away for a split second. Well it did Justin's anyway. We were sitting in the front yard having dinner, and waiting for the clouds to clear up so that we could view the eclipse. The kids were on their bikes and when Justin looked up, Elyssa was standing on her bike. His breath caught and he whispered under his breath, "Elyssa Be Careful!"
Yep she is growing up too!
I know this was a long post but thanks for sticking it out with me.
We are really starting to get the hang of this Zentangle Art.
The best thing about it is I literally only need 15 minutes with my pen and paper and I am feeling relaxed.
I am trying to learn not to force anything on the paper, and learn to feel what is needed next. The creative process eludes me when it comes to pen and ink. This is the first piece I have done that I let the process just happen. I hope it gets easier! Now if I could just remember how to do more patterns.
This is a Zendala that Elyssa tangled.
She is the artist in our house (takes after her dad), however she is intimidated a little by Zentangle. I am amazed every day by the artwork that comes pouring out of her. So I am a bit baffled by the fact that this is intimidating to her. I gave her a zendala template to work with, and told her, "Anything is possible one stroke at a time." After that she went to work and finished this in 2 days. She is currently working on her second one.
Eclipse
We were fortunate that the clouds cleared out just in time for us to be able to enjoy the Eclipse that was visible on Sunday. It was amazing. I prepared a cold dinner and we set up a table in the front yard. We enjoyed eating dinner al fresco.
The shadows from the leaves on the trees were very strange and we had fun playing with our shadows, while we took turns looking through a welders mask and wearing sunglasses.
We were able to use a welding mask to get this photo. So although it looks like a crescent moon it really is the sun with the moon in front of it.
My favorite posts are the photo of the month posts. Time for April already! I can't believe how this year is flying by.
First up is a letter that our little girl wrote to us. She usually puts a note into her dads cereal bowl most mornings, and this is one that we are saving. I admit I cried like a baby when I read this one.
We were able to tend some babies for some friends, A little goose, 2 ducklings and a chick. Sadly we ended up killing one of the ducklings. We let them swim in the tub while we cleaned out their bedding and while they were swimming one of them drowned, and the other was barely saved. It was a hard day for Elyssa, life and death stuff sucks when you are only 12. She gave this little guy a temporary name,Tim.
One of the ducklings was named Ping, temporarily of course.
And this guy got the name of Featherstone, he looks so proud. Well we were not sure if it was a he or a she, but his stance here all but screams Rooster!
Dixie just had to get in on the action, What in the world is going on in that box? Can I play with it?
She was a bit skittish around these little babies. Pretty funny to watch.
Zentangle Inspired Art or ZIA #3. I am not good at all when it comes to a blank page. I think I might be a little bit left brained and need a structure to start out with. Thank the Lord I have a Child who can draw. She drew the Chicken and I tangled it. It is going to be the art I use for egg carton labels. I am going to add a nest and a few eggs as well. If you don't know what Zentangle is look it up on youtube, also look up zendoodle or zendala. So much fun and relaxing as well. The best part is that ANYONE can do it.
Wonder is the cause of delight, because it carries the hope of discovery. -Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274
With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy. -Lope de Vega
Dragonflies are symbols of significant meaning in many cultures. On the ancient Nile they were used to represent life. In some Native American tribes they represent swiftness and activity, and for the Navajo they symbolize pure water. It is said in some Native American beliefs that dragonflies are a symbol of renewal after a time of great hardship. In Japan dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness, and they often appear in art and literature, especially haiku. In ancient mythology, Japan was known as Akitsushima, which means "Land of the Dragonflies". In Vietnam the dragonfly is used as a barometer for the weather. In other cultures the dragonfly represents a wild and free spirit.
