Youth Camp

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.

June Photos of the Month

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"

Right after our first ride.

May Photos of the Month

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.