Last Girl's Camp

So, July 8-11 was Girl's Camp. It was my last year. :( But it was GREAT!!! It was such a care-free, relaxing time!! I loved every minute of it! We did so many fun things. We did crafts, skits, sang camp songs, talked, and laughed.
We went to Beaver Mountain and stayed in the yurt. All the leaders and girls in the yurt was quite an experience. The last night there was constant laughing for probably an hour. We just couldn't stop.
We also went on a 5 mile hike. It was BEAUTIFUL!! But kinda painful because I had a bruise under my toenail and got a blister the size of a quarter. But the view at the end was worth it.

Singing camp songs

just hangin' out

Our "battle" with marshmallows and PVC pipes

Attacking Sis. Haynie, our camp director

The hike

The view

A columbine on the hike

A tree...

just laughin' :D
Such fun, such great memories.

...heard this?

Have you ever heard the song "Any Day Now" from "Fiddler on the Roof"? It was what Perchick was going to sing to Hodel after he proposed to her. Originally it was going to be "Now I have Everything" but that was taken out and replaced with "Any Day Now." It was recorded but taken out of the show before it was filmed. I just love this song!!!

Enjoy!!!

Wisdom Teeth update

So, its been a week since I've had my wisdom teeth out and what a week! The week was full of nauseousness, pain meds, a swollen face, soft food, a stiff jaw, sleep and movies.
Just a little info - all four (4) of my wisdom teeth were impacted!!! Talk about "ouch." But I'm off the pain meds!! My jaw is just a little stiff and can open it about... hmm... maybe 1/2 an inch.

But I'm almost not swollen!!! HOORAY!!!!

Wisdom Teeth

So... I'm going to get my (4) wisdom teeth out tomorrow. I'm SOOOO SCARED!!!!! The doctor, because I'm... older and because I have all four, didn't spare me any info on what could go wrong. And my siblings that have already had them out have had pretty bad times so I'm not looking forward to it. But the good things is that, since I went to girls camp last week and didn't get alot of sleep, I will be able to sleep - ALOT!!! And I get to watch ATON of movies.

I just wanted to tell y'all - I'M SUPER NERVOUS!!!
That's all.

We got our first letter
from Alex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's great to hear from her and know that she is loving it!

p.s. her missionary blog is indianaadventure.blogspot.com/

my RANDOM thoughts on gardening...

I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth?

~Edward Giobbi

True, true.
Well, two Saturdays ago, we planted our garden. You see, we had our plants ready but we procrastinated, procrastinated and... procrastinated. Then it hailed really bad (most of our neighbors garden were destroyed). Then it rain, as most people said, for 40 days and 40 nights. oh, so much rain!!!! As you can see, we never had a chance to get the garden in (sheepish grin). So the night before before our friends came up for Alex's farewell, we stayed up late (9 o'clock) planting most of the garden. My dad had to shine a light on us so we could see what we were doing. So most of our garden is in.
And you know you have good friends when this is what they do when they come up for a "stay" at your house...

... so your yard could be ready for the farewell the next day,
even though it was raining.

This is my prayer now...

"I know that my Redeemer Lives" but do I really have to play (again)?

The rest of the story...
Seminary graduation was over. I was so relieved! I really liked the song I played but I didn't want to play it again for quite some time. It was over and I was done!
Well, one night we were playing the game Risk as a family and the phone rings. Need I say that... it was for me. (sigh) And it was a counselor in our Bishopric. (double sigh) He, in a round about way, asked me to play the song I had played at seminary graduation the next Sunday for Ali's farewell. Now, my mom had always taught me that you never say no to a church calling, or a talk, or a prayer. In other words, don't say no to a member of the Bishopric. (oh NO!) Because that principle was so ingrained in me I reluctantly said "yes." These were my thoughts - "I've played it before. It's just my own ward. I know pretty much everyone there. I'M NOT THAT NERVOUS." HA! Was I wrong or what!
I went to practice it on the piano in the chapel the Saturday before and, boy, was I nervous. I could hardly play it. I thought I could do it without God's help and I was so wrong. I was nervous, shaking and panicking (to say the least). I knew I was going to completely slaughter it. I had no right to ask God to help me the last minute. But I did ask for His help. I prayed so hard. I knew that it was Him that had made it go so well before. And I knew that I could not do it without Him.
The next day (which was Sunday) I went early to church so I could practice some more. I still was so nervous. I messed up so bad. But I trusted that God would be with me. When the time came I went up there, sat down and played. It went so well. Oh, it sounded so beautiful. But for a second I thought "I'm doing so well." And, well, I played a note wrong in the last chord. I went back to my seat and was shaking so bad. I knew that God had helped me. I hadn't deserved it but He had helped me. I had thought I could do it on my own and I was mistaken. Even though I had played the last note wrong, God had helped me and I was so grateful for that.
After the meeting was over I went up to my piano teacher, who was there to hear Alex, and I told her that I had played the last note wrong and she said that she could not tell. I thought "If my piano teacher couldn't tell then, wow, no one must have." So many people came up and said that it was wonderful, beautiful and great. My Aunt Zell said that she just loved that song and she had heard it twice! One uncle said that I did so well and it almost made him cry. One lady from the ward said that it was "straight from Heaven."
Even though I didn't deserve God's help, He did help me. I know that God loves me. I know that God won't leave us to fend for ourselves. If He sees you to it, He'll see you through it. I know that God wants to help us in our lives. I know that He will help us through anything. He is our Father and He loves us so very much. I want to always trust in Him, always love Him and do what He asks me to do, no matter how hard it is, because He will not leave me alone.
I know that Christ lives! I know that He loves us so much. I know that the Atonement is real and because of that we can repent, change and become better. I'm so very grateful for it. And I'm grateful for these experiences. They have helped me grow and trust God more.

I know that they live!!