Girls Camp Stuff

Although I'm not in the Young Women's organization, I was asked to be a leader and go to Girl's Camp this year. Despite my assumptions, it was actually REALLY fun. We drove 2 hours from GF to a place called Tiber Dam. Here are some photos from the adventure.

The theme was "Happy Everything." Rachel got a shirt and painted it herself. Going for a little Watchmen logo, I think.

I loved this sign. There were a few of them along the road. Made me think of the cows as being criminals at large.

We had a testimony meeting at 6:30 in the morning at a little place from our campsite. This was our view. Very beautiful.

This is our ward's Young Women and leaders who attended. We were all pretty cold and tired.

We had huge fires every night.

Some of the girls down at the river. I had to supervise.

Bishop and I went fishing for awhile, even though we knew we weren't going to catch anything. Here I am displaying the fishing pole.

The girls played lots of games. This one involving some kind of rhythm.

We kept a tight schedule everyday.

Slide on the playground.

Lonesome swing.

The teeter totters.

Thanks to my dear friend Rachel bringing all her instruments, we got to jam out and sing around the fire and on other various occassions. Here is the uke.

Recorder.

Chinese clappers.

Tamborine.

Guitar.

Sepia fire.

The river next to our camp site.

My feet in the cold water.

Hanging out at the bank.

Artsy photo involving instrument and person. Taken by Rachel.

The Cottonwood trees were enormous and the trunks were thick and rough. The branches created wonderful canopies of shade during the day. Loved it.

Time flies

It's been 3 years today since my mom passed away. Of course, it's not just today that I miss her. I think about her all the time. I will never forget this date. In some ways, June is a not-so-pleasant month. Just remembering....

Summer is here!

Unlike the updates I've heard from friends in Utah and Idaho, I think summer has finally decided to come here. But it's going by way too quickly. I want summer to last and it's already mid-June. This year I decided to try growing a few things in pots. Mike wanted to grow an entire garden in the backyard this year, but with my lack of gardening skills, I convinced him that we shouldn't. Honestly, I have such a hard time keeping plants alive it would be a miracle if I could grow a whole garden. In fact, some of my flowers have died since taking these photos! So sad. But maybe next year when I have more confidence we will give it a shot. This year I planted some Marigolds, Hydrangeas, Petunias, and Osteospermums, along with some Vinca and Cordyline. I also planted some cherry tomato plants, a pepper plant, as well as Cilantro, Basil, and Parsley. I think having them in pots gives me more control and a little bit of practice before growing something enormous. Someday we would like to go all out and plant corn, squash, beans, carrots, onions, etc., especially since we have the room. And we definitely want a raspberry patch and some strawberries too. Someday....

Oh, P.S., can I just say that I love mowing the lawn? It has to be my absolute favorite "chore" of all time! I love it. I know that must sound crazy. But I would do yard work every day if it meant I never had to wash dishes or mop the floors again. That includes weeding. Seriously, EVERY DAY!

One Year and Counting

We have officially lived in Montana for an entire year now. It went by so fast, I can't even believe it. This past year has had it's ups and downs, but lately things have been so good and are only getting better. Life is a bit overwhelming these days, but strangely in a good way. I'm finding joy in just being alive and experiencing the sweetness and beauty the world has to offer. I'm always busy & I have things to occupy my time. I've got good friends and family, also a calling that challenges me and helps me grow. Life is more fulfilling now than it's ever been. I am developing good qualities (or at least trying to) and learning new and important skills. I am embracing who I am and loving myself more, all while growing closer to my Heavenly Father. He has blessed me more than I could ever imagine. My testimony of the gospel is the strongest its ever been. This feeling is like a true happiness I've never entirely understood. There were times in my life when I thought I was happy. But this time in my life takes the cake. I feel like things are finally falling into place. It's amazing and scary at the same time.

P-town

Mike occasionally goes to Portland for business and on his recent trip I asked him to take some photos for me. During his stay he called and told me that he could totally picture us living there. It could be a serious possibility within the next 4-5 years. It sounds beautiful there.

The Portland Temple was practically across the street from his company's office, so he was able to do some temple work between meetings and also got some pictures.

The Office

The spires through the trees

A nearby neighborhood Mike said he could picture us living in. :)

What are YOUR thoughts on Portland?

More Cute Pictures of V-man

Self Discovery 2 part 3

Entry: Faith

I only went to Primary a handful of times. On ocassion my mom would attend Relief Society and drop my sister off at nursery and me off at Primary. I don't remember much about it. I had been 8 years old for about 5 months before my teacher realized I hadn't been baptized yet. So she scheduled an appointment for me with the Bishop during class. I didn't know what was going on. Even though the Bishop was very nice, I remember sitting in his office feeling incredibly nervous. He asked me some questions. Next thing I knew I was going to get baptized.
I remember the week leading up to my baptism. I talked about it non stop. I wasn't exactly sure what it all meant. I'd get my sins washed away. I'd make a promise with God. I'd have to be good, good, good. But I wanted it. I felt so compelled to be "good" or perhaps God would be mad at me. My understanding at that age was very limited. Not to mention I had never really been taught about the gospel at home. Yet, I was so eager for the big day. And when it came I was very excited because I knew it was an important day. Many of my family members came (the majority of which were inactive or non-members of the church.) Most of the actual baptism is a blur to me now. Although, I know I was confirmed the same night. I remember some men laying their hands on my head, my hair still dripping with water. And this is the part that isn't a blur. The feeling I felt after I was baptized and confirmed. The warm feeling in my heart.
When we got home that night I recall my sister and I laying on the lawn with our big pillows. It was a warm night. Dusk. Everyone was gone by then. We were alone in the grass and we layed there and talked. I tried to explain the joy in my heart to Steph. But I couldn't describe THAT feeling. The memory of that particular sensation has never left me. I knew very little about the gospel or Jesus or even Heavenly Father at that time. Yes, I had prayed to them before and I had felt peace from praying. But this feeling was different. Even with my scarce experience and knowledge there was no way I could deny that feeling. It WAS NOT something anybody could have ever "taught" me. It was real. A warm, sweet tingling all over. Like I truly was clean and could feel Their arms around me. I could feel that. And nobody can ever take that memory from me. It has always been such a sacrosanct part of my past. Something that has increased my faith in times of doubt.
Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I don't remember going to church again for a very long time. It wasn't until about age 12 when we moved to our 3rd house that I started attending church again.

Self Discovery 2 part 2

Entry: Faith

My first experience with faith occurred when I was about 5 years old. Around that age I started to have severe episodes of sleepwalking. It was really quite bad. I would go outside and walk toward the highway. (We lived in the country.) My mom would wake up to find me outside then run out and steer me back into the house. Or I would walk out into the field behind our house with the dog. Or mess around in the kitchen opening drawers and the fridge and pulling things out. These sleepwalking episodes went on for a long time. I had anxiety attacks leading up to bedtime. I was always so scared that something bad was going to happen while we were asleep. Like someone was going to break in or the house was going to catch on fire and we would all die, you know, really traumatic things like that. I was way embarrassed to tell my mom that I was having these panic attacks. But after doing some medical research, my mom figured it out anyway, and concluded that anxiety was most likely the cause of the sleepwalking.
Wanting to ease my fears, and not really knowing what else to do, my mom taught me how to pray. Up until that point I don't think I had ever prayed before. Growing up in an inactive household, we just didn't pray as a family. Not at dinner, not before bed, not in the mornings. Never. But Mom knelt beside my bed one night and we said a prayer together. She prayed that we would all be protected while we slept and afterwards emphasized that Heavenly Father and Jesus would watch over me, so not to worry. This was such a huge thing for just a small girl. Every night after that I never forgot to say a prayer, whether it was with my mom or by myself. I had been taught that there was a God and that there was a Savior. A mustard seed had been planted. And I had so much faith in them. I had faith they would keep me safe. And not long after, my sleepwalking episodes stopped completely.

You should never ask....

if someone is pregnant, especially if you don't know them very well. This happened to me not too long ago. I might've been more offended if they had asked me in person because then I would've taken that to mean I LOOK preggers. But this person asked me over the phone. A little caught off gaurd, I asked "Why?" And they said, "You just sound like you're pregnant." Really? Is this even possible? Eeesh, some people need to mind their business.

Recent pictures of the boy child

Homemade brownie batter. Mmmmm.....

"Show me your tongue," I asked.

Taken from Mike's phone.

LOVE his dimples.

This almost looks real!

Loves to play in the dirt. The dirt got into his eyebrows and made them look crazy dark.

My little stud showing off his gigantic muscles.

I shouldn't ask him to smile for a picture when he's in the middle of eating something.