Aspen Grove

Just up Provo Canyon and neighbors with Sundance ski resort,  BYU owns a lodge/cabins/ retreat.  The Bishopric have been talking about doing this winter youth conference for a couple of years slowly it took form and became a reality for the youth in our ward.

Soon after the announcement at last Fall Conference about the bicentennial celebration of the 1st vision Bishop Sackewitz texted me and said "I've been thinking about youth conference in Feb and feel we should center it around the 1st vision." 

From there plans took form.  The 2nd counselors wife served a mission in Palmyra and was asked to give a fireside the first night we arrived.      She bore a powerful witness of Joseph Smith and shared some great mission stories which later that night the yw in the cabin expressed how memorable they were.  She recited from memory "The Standard of Truth quote from Joseph Smith"

The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.  Joseph Smith Jr.  

 It stirred something deep  in my soul and we memorized and quoted it each morning during my mission.  I wanted to stand up beside her and finish the quote but instead sat quietly and did it in my head.  The rest of the weekend I kept thinking about how lucky I was to serve a mission and proclaim what happened to Joseph Smith that day and think how it really is our duty to keep the work progressing. 

The next day we played a few different games such as "Oh the wrapture"   "Nailed it, 1st vision style"  Gospel topic Telestrations as big groups. 

We also broke off into snow shoeing, cross country skiing, obstacle course and hiking groups throughout the day.

Mary one of my advisors mentioned hiking up to Stuart Falls. Originally we were going to take off alone together in the morning while the youth were busy snow shoeing and skiing but then the Bishopric mentioned they would like to come along and there was some free time space in the late afternoon when anyone could    I was a little apprehensive fearing the slickness of ice and snow but it ended up being a delightful hike.  I was so proud of a couple of "couch potato" girls who wanted to come with us.  One of them discovered her love of being outside and was a natural mountain goat.  The other one  was hooked with the lure of a frozen waterfall but realized she was in over her head a bit but slowly plunged along and made it.    I felt so proud of her for completely something hard just like a felt proud of a few of the yw who braved the obstacle course despite their fears of heights.    It's great to be a leader and see this new generation grow.   Its the most rewarding experience to watch growth in others especially as a mother and a leader.

Friend and Foe

My sisters are always sharing life hack for working mom ideas and accounts.   One such account we've recently collaborated on is Walmart grocery pick up.  For $33 a year it's a  game changer I tell you!!!   I've been doing grocery pick up for some time but often would have to wait until the next day to pick it up.    Grocery Delivery is just a couple hour wait and like magic my grocery's appear on my doorstep and often its my girls or Bart who signs for them and these capable people I live with put them all away while I'm taxing someone around and abracadabra my fridge and pantry is stocked again. 


Most of the time grocery delivery is my best friend but occasionally it's my foe.    Emily must like the same gum as everyone else because it's about 95% of the time unavailable and she's pretty picky about her flavor and heaven forbid you have bad breath in middle school.     I don't often un click allow substitutions.  Sometimes its because they often give you a bigger bottle or a nicer brand but sometimes I just plain forget.   (Speaking of forgetting.  I often place my order during my lunch break when I know we desperately need more milk.    I'll scroll through my favorites and come across something like Pilsbury Cresent Rolls and think I wonder if I have this at home.  Better to be safe than sorry and I click it into the cart.   Later I'll be putting away my groceries and come across this..... 

Oops!)  But I defer..

Back on topic.  Anyway so  Valentine's Day is coming up at the end of a busy week.  Some day I'll be on top of my life and have them done in January but this was not the year.   Aaron was back and forth between doing a star wars light saber theme (which he did last year) and doing a minion Twinkie idea that he got from Suzanne's kids who gave our family one.  Such as this..

We never quite made it to the store to buy the Twinkies  but on Thursday morning I thank my lucky stars I've got  Walmart delivery to the rescue.     I order 3 boxes of the golden delicious stuff and later that afternoon this appears as a "substitution" in a bag.

 What?  Who knew they even made Chocolate twinkies.  For a split second I thought oh well these will have to do then realization of how NOT politically correct this be to give out black minions. 


It's a sudden last minute run to the store ( the thing I hate most)  and my deep seeded resentment I suppressed from days gone by of being 9 months pregnant standing in a long Walmart check out line wishing for anything else than to stand there on my swollen sore feet, emerged and a vowed to never shop at walmart again as I grumpily sorted through the picked over overpriced choices of Valentines at Harmons.

My resentment was short lived as a few days later I discovered as I was leaving for work that the milk was running low and the delivery would be there before I got home.  Bless you Walmart Grocery Delivery!!!


 

YW overnighter

I'm near the Bishops office at church last fall bidding my time until the Bishop emerged so I could get him to sign some reimbursement slips.  I''m talking to a couple fellows in my ward about how the church's program without scouts really levels the ground between YM vs. YW.  I mention how nice it would be to do some of the high adventure things the young men get to do and Taylor Norquist said "I'd be happy to take the Young Women up to my parents cabin in the Uintah's sometime this winter if you think the young women would like it."  Heck yeah the young women would be all over it so an overnight retreat was planned.

We arrived around 7:30 Friday night to a parking lot off the highway piled high with snow.    The only way in was snowmobiles and our feet.  Megan and Taylor piled on the girls sleeping bags onto the sleds behind the snowmobile and the rest of us took off for our mile and a half walk night hike in.   I've never been hiking in the snow in the woods at night but it was a surreal beautiful thing.  We lucked out with it being a warm weekend and most of us were shedding our clothes by the time we made it in.   

We arrived to this beautiful huge warm cabin with hot chocolate simmering on the stove and we settled in.  Jane who is in shape from all her sports participating was surprisingly whining on the trek in while Emily was the leader of the pack.   It all made sense once we got settled in and Jane started crying that her stomach hurt really bad and then started to throw up.  We quarantined ourselves in the back bedroom while the other played some games.  Jane ended up throwing up all night long but after sleeping in while the others ate breakfast and participated in a leadership training she emerged ready for some fun.

Fun we did have as we snowmobiled to a perfect sledding hill and enjoyed ourselves.   The fresh crisp mountain air and blue sunny skies was just what we all needed for a mid winter pick me up.  We came back to the cabin for lunch and some tubbing behind the snowmobile.  Most of the girls favorite part of the weekend was the tubing.    I gave it a whirl and agreed it was a blast.   They could have done that all day but soon it was time to clean up and hike back out to the cars so we could get home before dinner.   

Januarying

Jane asked the Bishop in her interview into Young Womens if she could have her temple recommend right then.  He said he couldn't print it until the first of the year but would happily print it at home when January 1st came.  I told her we shouldn't bother him on New Years Day but on January 2nd Jane asked me to text the Bishop and is so proud to have it in her possession.  

Bart and I took her the next Tuesday night for her first experience in the Draper Temple.   We went at just the right time nobody was around and Jane did an oodle of people and just when she finished youth groups came pouring in.  Jane was a glow with such youthful happiness.  It was a great night.   

Emily graciously shared a gift card she got from a friend to color me mine with Jane and Aaron.  

Jane had a soccer tournament in Mesquite.   It was pretty cold especially during the night game but Jane had a blast with her team.  They especially enjoyed the heated pool and going out to eat together.  

On the way home her teammate Sariah and Jane stopped by the Cedar City temple to do some baptisms.  

In a state of January boredom Jane busted out her cotton candy machine.  

Jane and her friends also convinced me to take them to airborne on a cold day.   Aaron and Spencer needed to get out of the house so off we all went.  

 Jane got the 5th grade ski pass this year. I took her and her friend Valentina and Val's sister up to Nordic Valley for a fun ski day!  

Aaron finished he Star Wars book once started and then got overwhelmed by.   He now qualifies to go see Stars Wars at Disneyland.  

Emily attended Alta High Freshman orientation night.    How can she possibly be old enough to start High School in the fall.   Of course she orchestrated meeting up with her beasties and I got to meet most of her friends moms.  

My Birthday came and went without too much of a fanfare.  Emily showed me her cake decorating skills decorating my favorite chocolate bundt cake.  

January was also filled with Junior Jazz for both Aaron and Jane.  Aaron continues to tower over the others and Jane gained some mad skills and one day was on fire and made around 22 points.