Girls Camp!

This year was the first year since 2006 that I've been to Camp Little Thunder up on Cedar Mountain.  Other years there has been too much snow and we've had to go to Hatch on the Turners property.  I loved it there too but Cedar has those magnificent Aspen trees that I love so much.  They remind me of American Fork Canyon that I grew up in.  This year was not much different than years past.  Different leaders, same spirit.  I love these ladies so much.  We are a team, one heart, one mind, one common goal to help these young women make righteous decisions that will lead them back to our Heavenly Father.  Girls Camp wouldn't have been possible without all of their hard work.  Thanks Ladies! 

 
 

 

Playing the sound game!

Now the girls...

They are all so awesome!  They all have their own set of problems but each one is amazing and has the potential to become a great woman who can achieve anything she put her mind to. 

 And we can't forget the hair!

MADI'S BUNHAWK!

TWINS! Paige and Joel wore their ARMY shirts the same day and didn't realize it until later. 

Sophie was so tired on day 3 that she laid down under that picnic table and fell asleep while were doing a craft.  You can't see it but she has a waterballoon in her hand ready to defend herself from Madi.  Those two were constantly teasing and fighting with each other.  Madi said she was sad that Shayne wasn't there and that it just wasn't the same.  So Sophie took over for Shayne and they had a great time together.

 Madi took this picture for me.  I thought Julie looked like Russell from the movie "UP".  So cute!

 Sophie slept in the hammock one night.  She said it was great except for the condensation the next morning.

 Joel and Sarah were part of one of the night devotionals.  They gave experiences of times when they had to Stand Up for what they knew was right.  It was the best devotional of the entire week.

Here we are. It took us about 25 times to get a decent picture.

Here's a Sophie montage.  She's so cute!
 

The 5th ward ready for Flag Ceremony!

 These 3 goofballs are "hooting" and "planking".

These next set of pictures are called the CREEPERS.  Kind of like photo bombers but creepier.  What's funny is that I took these pictures in the dark and we didn't know what would turn up until the flash went off.

This is Sophie warming up.

There were a million more but this blog is long enough.

Inside the "bunkhouse"

Our theme this year was based on a talk from Sister Dibbs...I'm a Mormon...Know it, Live it, Love it.  Each day took on a different part of that.  We had many excellent workshops that the girls were able to participate in and crafts to help them remember what they did.  They were so much fun.  I truly appreciate all the hard work that Leslie Snow, Madi and the Stake did to make this year so inspirational to the girls.  Every year the theme of the church seems to come back to my favorite theme they did 5 years ago...Joshua 1:9  "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

The part of this year where it says, Live It, focused on living what you believe even if you stand out and look different to those around you.  J'Neal Robinson came up and gave a great workshop on how you may look like a MORON when you are a MORMON because we don't do what the world says we should do.  But, we must stay strong and true to what we believe in.  Be Strong and of Good Courage.  I believe that the kids now a days are very strong and are not afraid to voice their beliefs.  I am very excited for this generation.  They are our future and we must continually support them and make sure that when they do stand up that we are there to help them hold their ground.  I love the youth!  I do!  I can't help it.  I want so badly for them to all get along and help each other out.  In our neighborhood it is pretty much like that.  I tell them all that they have to live this way, not just here at home but at school and wherever they are.  At All Times and in All Places. 

We always close our Friday night with a testimony meeting and it is the best part of the whole camp.  Everyone gets a chance to open up and express the love that they have for each other and for our Heavenly Father. 

I was so grateful that Joel and I were both able to come.  It was the first time since he was put in as Bishop that we've seen each other for longer than 12 hours.  It was much needed.  He helped out with the stake a lot but what a joy it was to see his smiling face whenever I needed to.  He and Bro. Knighton were able to give me a blessing while I was up there to get rid of one of my huge migrianes.  The medicine I had was not working and I knew I couldn't continue being there and help, instead of hinder the spirirt of camp.  I am so grateful for honest men who uphold their preisthood and honor it so that they can serve others and help in time of need. 

Sand Hollow and the Hair Cut

Josh needed a haircut very badly.  It was the longest it had been in a long time so we gave him a very thin 80's Mohawk.    I thought it was awesome.  Joel didn't like it.  It stayed a whole 2 days until I had to cut it off because he had a golf tournament and we didn't think it was appropriate.  Although he does wear a hat when he golfs.  Oh well.  It was fun while it lasted.

We took a trip out to Sand Hollow on day.  It was hot and fun.  We wish we would have planned better and took dinner out with us but it was fun none the less.  I don't think Sophie got in the water at all.

The boys had a good time skipping rocks.  Josh could get about 5 skips every time and Ben and David were glad to get 2.

They got a hold of the camera and this is what we ended up with.

1988's 25th Reunion!

1988 was a great year.  The Big Hair bands and the New Wave music ruled the world.  It was also the year Joel graduated from High School.  I love to go to his reunions because they are so much fun.  He graduated with a great group of people.  5 years ago at the 20th reunion they decided to do a combined reunion with Pine View High because around 1988 was the time that it opened up and they were still really good friends with the kids that went there.  So, they had a basketball game.  Our boys team against there boy team.  It was awesome.  This year it went into 4 overtimes!  It was hilarious.   I wished Joel had played.  Then they would have won without going into any overtimes.  But it was great to watch and everyone was so supportive. During the time outs they did 80's music trivia and I won a $30 iTunes gift card!  The next morning they had a 10K with Pine View High and a lunch in the park but Joel had to get ready for Bryn's wedding so we weren't able to do that.  But later that night we had a night out at the Marriott with dinner dancing and games.  Pine View had there dinner at their High School.  This is Mark Muskgrave singing to Mr. Roboto by Styx.  It was awesome.  We also had drawings for prizes and Joel won $100 in cash.  It was really fun and great to see everyone again.  I can't wait until his 30th. 

Bryn & Victoria's Wedding

 

Every once in awhile Joel gets asked to preform a wedding for someone in our ward and Bryn Parastino asked him to do his.  He married Victoria Neilson, the mayor's daughter.  It was held at the Cotton Town Village where Josh and Michelle Howells got married.  Joel preformed that one too.  It was a beautiful day and wasn't to hot.  Joel did a wonderful job and his gray suit matched the bridesmaids dresses perfectly.

JAG and Grandpa!

 This summer we were able to sign Josh up for Jr. Association of Golf (JAG).  We heard about it last year but when we went to sign up we asked about when golf classes started and they looked at us weird.  Apparently it's only for people who already know how to play.  So we took last year and put him into beginning then advanced golf lessons from our friend Mike Sandberg.  Mike is awesome and played golf in college.  The JAG program gives kids a discount on golfing on all the golf courses in St. George.  $3!  And half price on a bucket of balls for the driving range.  They also put 6 tournaments together for $10 a piece and have 4 parent/kid tournaments.  Luckily Grandpa Beckstrand was more than willing to do those with Josh.  Joel said he would if Josh wanted him to but Grandpa loves to golf and with him Josh would have a chance to not come in last place.  Those tournaments also come with a golf cart and they feed them dinner afterwards.  It's been great for Josh.  He loves every second of it.

 

 

This is Josh at his first golf tournament.  We had just cut his hair so we needed a hat so he wouldn't get fried by the sun and we forgot one so we bought this one for a million dollars from the Pro Shop.

 

I dropped him off and he "putted" around until it was his time to tee off.

He had a great time but shot a 136.  Not bad for his first time but a kid in his 4some hit a 72.  Oh well, you have to start somewhere and I'm sure that that 72 started out as a 136 on his first tournament years earlier.

 

 Best Summer of Golf Ever!