Monday, November 12, 2012

The End of Summer

The end of summer brought a lot of changes.
Ben started his first semester of College.  He is taking a few General Ed classes at SLCC and working.  He works at a place called Rocky Mountain Care as a CNA.  For the most part he enjoys helping others and making a difference.  I think it helps him to know that it's a stepping stone for where he wants to be.

Brooklyn went back to school.  She is in Middle School now and loves it so much.  She still attends North Star Academy.

I went back to work to help alleviate the costs of having two college students and soon a missionary.  I work in the lunchroom at Brooklyn's school for two hours a day.  I am the lady who sits at the computer and takes the lunch numbers.  I actually really enjoy it.

We took a trip to Southern Utah to see Linc's mom.  It will be Ben's last trip south before his mission.  We had a great time with family.  The guys hiked Angels Landing in Zion National Park and had a great time.  The girls shopped and enjoyed girl time.

On our way home we went to a place called the Parowan Gap.  It is a place with a lot of hieroglyphics.

Here are a few pictures.






The Housing Crisis and Answered Prayers

Summer had come to an end and it was finally time for Bailee to re-join us in this great state of Utah.
Before the summer began she made arrangements to live with a friend from High School.
They looked around Ogden and Weber State and chose a great apartment.
But, a few weeks before Bailee was to return to live in Ogden the previously arranged place fell through.
The girls she was going to live with looked around and found another place for them all to live.
I went and looked at the outside of it, as Bailee was in Montana and couldn't look for herself.  It was not optimum.  It was farther away from campus than she usually lives and in a very wooded area.  After a lot of discussion, Bailee decided she would live there anyway to avoid having to live with strangers.  She really felt living with some girls she knew would outweigh the location.

The plan was for the dad and I to move her belongings in and buy her some groceries on the Friday before school started.  That Sunday she would drive down from Montana attend three days of school, sign her housing contract then Thursday return to Montana to finish out her contract.  Sunday she would move back to Ogden for the school year.  So Linc and I loaded up our two vehicles with all of Bailee's hud and drove to Ogden to meet her roommates and move her in.

The first major warning that our Bailee should not live here were the woods surrounding the apartment complex and parking area.  Bailee often travels to and from her house very late at night.  Due to her major and Folk Dance she is involved in a lot of late night rehearsals and shows.  Her dad felt very concerned about her walking through this very wooded area to get from her car to her apartment.
The second warning, the elevator was broken.  The apartment was on the third floor. Not good at all when you have to move in a butt load of furniture.  The third warning signal, the air conditioning was not working.  Really!!  They are moving in and something is already broken.  The stairways were very dark. The final straw for the dad had to be the type of housing it was.  It really wasn't college housing.  It was apartments that were occupied by a variety of people.  Some a little sketchy.  But, to avoid a scene we moved her in and felt wrong about it the whole time.  It just didn't seem like the place for her.  As we drove home the feeling just got stronger and stronger.  We just felt like she needed time to make a choice that was right for her.

I called and cried and begged to my sister who lives not far from Weber State Campus to allow Bailee to live with her temporarily while she finds another place to live.  Of course they were happy to have her.  So I broke the news to Bailee.  Daddy and I just don't feel like this apartment is the right place for you.  She had also been feeling very uneasy about the decision to live there.  Thank goodness she had not signed a contract.  So Sunday back up to Ogden our family drove and packed up Bailee's belongings and moved them into the garage of my sister.  Bailee arrived in Ogden feeling homeless.  All of her stuff was boxed and stacked and school was starting the next day.

For the next three days I drove to Ogden every day and we looked and looked at apartments and houses.  Nothing was working out.  We all just prayed that she would find a place to live that was safe close to campus and with sweet girls for room mates. A place available soon.  She really wanted to settle in somewhere with her stuff.  She went to classes and I scoured the Internet.  No luck.  So she hopped in her car and headed back to Montana thinking she might be living with my sister for the semester.

Then a folk dance friend told her about a house with a space available.  She gave Linc and I instructions to go look at it as soon as possible and if it looked good, sign the contract.  It was perfect.  A cute house about 2 miles from campus with three great girls living there.  We signed the contract and moved her in.  Sunday she came home to a new house and all her belongings there and ready.  It has been the perfect place for her. She loves it and her dad can rest easy at night knowing she is safe.  It really was an answer to her prayers having the other housing fall through and finding this house.  It's where she is meant to be.

Home away from Home at Heber Valley Camp

This year as part of my calling as the Young Women's President I had the privilege of attending some events at Heber Valley Camp. I am going to refer to it as HVC for the rest of this post.

I don't think I have ever spent so many nights on a wooden bunk.  Thank goodness for air mattresses.  I first went HVC this year for Youth Conference.  It was just a two day conference on July 20, so only one night on the bunks.  Just one sleepless night listening to my 3 young women laugh and laugh.  The boys were in other cabins and sound asleep early.

About two weeks later, August 6-10th, back up to HVC for a week of Girls Camp!  What a blast!  If you want details see my Walk Tall blog...after I update. :)  But let me tell you, I have the best young women EVER!!  There was no arguing, everyone gets along and strengthens each other.  It was four long nights.  Man, those girls don't need much sleep.  So much laughter.  There were so many great events that happened at girls camp this year.  Times when the spirit really testified to us what an inspired place this camp really is.  It truly is the Lord's camp, the Lord's mountain really.  I feel blessed to have been able to participate in camp.
 The road entering the camp is lined by flags in all the Value Colors. 
 You know your at Young Women's camp.

 This picture of the bunks is before the cabins are totally finished.  
There are blinds on the windows and tables in the center of the room


Friday camp ended.  Our girls loaded up on buses and headed home.  Me and my leaders...not so much.
It was now time for Relief Society Retreat, also at HVC.  I love Relief Society Retreat, it is an event I NEVER miss!  It has always been a time of building friendships and love.  But, after five days I knew I could not, no way, no how sleep on that wooden bunk for even one more night.  So the other young women leaders and I spent the day with the sisters and after dinner headed home.

A long hot shower, a real bed and hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Welcome to the "Teens" Brooklyn

Today was Brooklyn's big day!
She turned 13 years old.
I cannot believe my baby is officially a teenager!!

 She woke up to the surprise of having her sister here for the day.
Bailee has been living in West Yellowstone Montana for the whole summer 
but took the shuttle home in the middle of the night.
Brooklyn loved having her sister home with her on her birthday.
She chose one of her favorite dinners and Chocolate cake to celebrate!
Silly kids!
We are done with big birthday parties at our house until the Sweet 16
(we don't want to rush that)
So Brooklyn spent Saturday with her friend Nicci
they went and saw the movie Step Up 2
and had a sleepover Friday night.

I am so proud of the sweet young woman she is growing into.
She is a great babysitter
She Loves to do laundry :)
She loves her siblings
She is a good student who works hard
She is affectionate
She has a strong growing testimony
She is an example
She is kind to others
She is a blessing to our family.
We Love you Brooklyn
Happy Birthday!