Whew!

Since my last post,

• Lyssa and I went to Girls Camp for 5 days
• The entire family plus 3 friends went to Idaho for about 4 days
• Lyssa got her 7th grade schedule for school
• Lyssa and I participated in Day Camp (for Girl Scouts)
• Brian and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary

Girls Camp was terrific! We got to go to the beautiful Heber Valley Girls Camp. I got to go as a Stake Leader, so I got "special" perks -- like a daily shower! That was a good thing for me. Our ward ended up only having 1 adult leader there, so I slept in the cabin with the girls from our ward and the other leader, since there were supposed to be 2 leaders per cabin. Otherwise, I spent my time with the other stake leaders. We made breakfast each morning for the entire stake. That was a great experience in and of itself. Lyssa really enjoyed her experience as well.


We came home from Girls Camp, washed our clothes, repacked, and prepared to drive to Idaho the next day.


Why did we go to Idaho, you may ask, remembering that we had just made a quick trip up and back the previous Friday? This time, we went to celebrate my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. It was good to reconnect with my dad's family again, for the little bit of time we were there, anyway. Then, we went to my grandparents cabin in Island Park for the rest of Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday morning. We enjoyed spending time there as a family, with 2 of Adam's friends, and 1 of Lyssa's friends. My dad, step-mom, and my aunt and uncle (whose anniversary we just celebrated) came to visit us on Sunday and go to church with us. It was nice to spend that time with them. I had been looking forward to not playing the hymns in Sacrament Meeting (I am serving as my ward organist), but it didn't work out. The man in charge of the meeting came by asking if anyone would be willing to play the hymns and lead the music. My dad volunteered himself to lead and me to play. Ah, well. That's how it goes when you are a member of the largest volunteer organization!


We came home from the cabin Tuesday afternoon. The next morning, Lyssa and I went to the junior high to get her school schedule and locker assignment and find out about lunch and walk around the school so she could find her classrooms and went to her locker so she could get used to opening it. She is so excited to start 7th grade!


Day Camp was a good experience as well, even though the weather didn't cooperate! A cold front came through Friday night, so our plan to be outside all day Saturday, including our plan to swim outside for 2 1/2 hours didn't work out. I was so impressed with the other Girl Scout leaders who were in charge of the event and the plans that were made to make sure that everything that was planned still happened, just indoors! The girls still had a great time, even with the changes. I was grateful for the opportunity to live the life skills of flexibility and adaptability. I was also very grateful that we didn't have any melt downs or problems and that everyone else also demonstrated those life skills so well!


Yesterday marked 21 years of marriage for Brian and I. Wow. Where has the time gone? I can honestly say that I did not forsee our life would be like it is at this point in our married life. However, I wouldn't change a thing. The things we have learned are priceless. We are happy, healthy (for the most part), and still kicking! What more could we want? Our wonderful son, Adam, made breakfast before church and, with Lyssa's, help, made a wonderful candlelight dinner for us to celebrate our anniversary. He is such a stud!


Tomorrow, I get to take Adam to the high school for his schedule and locker assignment and for his school picture. We'll take some time exploring, since this is a new experience for us. Friday, Lyssa gets to go to school for an unofficial first day, where there are only 7th graders in the school, prior to the official start day. This weekend is the ward campout. Sunday is the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication. Then, school officially starts next Monday. Amazing!!!!!! Where did the summer go?


~Bobi

The Circle of Life

The past 8 days have been full of ups and downs.

A week ago yesterday (Saturday), I picked Lyssa and her cousin up from Girl Scout Camp. Two of Lyssa's good friends joined me for the ride to Trefoil Ranch. We got to hear all about the great time they had at camp! The last time Lyssa went to Girl Scout Camp at Trefoil Ranch, I was the absolute last parent to pick up a child. That was pretty sad, especially because I got there only 45 minutes into the pick-up window! Before leaving this time, Lyssa had several conversations with me about not being the last parent to arrive. I had planned to be there right at the start of the pick-up time. Because of picking up Lyssa's two friends, I wasn't there right at the start like I wanted. However, I was there only 20 minutes into the time frame. I'm not sure if that was good or not, because once we arrived, we waited in line, in the car, for another 40 minutes! Yep! You read correctly. We picked Lyssa up at the end of the pick-up time frame. At least there were MANY other girls still waiting to be picked up as there was a very long line even after us!

Anyway, we hurried to my sister's house so that Lyssa and her cousin could shower away their camp smell and put on nice, clean clothes. Then, we all went to a baby shower for my sister. Exciting and fun! Then, we went to my mom's house and hung out for a while, waiting for another of Lyssa's friends to get home from a family reunion so we could go to the new Draper Temple so the girls could do baptisms for the dead. Lyssa, her cousin (first time!), and 3 friends were able to participate. We also had a friend's mom bring Adam and two others (siblings of one of the friends). It was a great experience. It was fun to be there with Lyssa's cousin and to share that with her.

Monday, Brian and I attended the funeral of my mother's sister's husband's brother (my uncle's brother). He had lived with his brother (my uncle) and family for over 20 years. It was very sudden and unexpected. It was nice to hear the stories that friends and family shared of their relationship with him.

This past Wednesday morning, Brian, Adam, Lyssa and I were able to go the Salt Lake Temple to do baptisms for the dead. This was the first time that we went all together as a family. We had all gone, just in smaller combinations. Pretty exciting stuff! Then, Adam and Lyssa hung out in the Youth Room in the Marriage Waiting Room while Brian and I attended the sealing of our cousin/nephew and his new bride. It was very, very nice. We were able to stay for pictures on the temple grounds and then join everyone for the wedding luncheon. We all had jobs to help at the reception as well. Brian scooped ice cream; I kept an eye on the toppings and helped serve the cake; Adam helped with the gifts; and Lyssa got to help clear tables. She even got to wear a frilly apron!

Two days ago (Friday), Brian, Lyssa and I (and my youngest sister) made a quick trip to Hamer, Idaho to attend the funeral of my dad's sister (my aunt). (Adam was at Camp Steiner as a CIT. He was able to come home with our other cousin/nephew -- brother of the groom -- for the wedding.) My aunt had been battling cancer for a while. It was good to see all the family, even though it was a sad occassion that brought us all together. We left at 6:38 a.m. and returned home at 5:03 p.m. Very quick trip!

Anyway, celebrating the excitement of new life in the form of a baby and new life in the form of a marriage sealed for time and all eternity and mourning the loss of a physical body while celebrating a life well lived (twice!) this past week has caused me to stop and ponder a bit about what this life really means. I don't profess to have any answers to any questions that might arise from this type of reflection. What I do know is that our Heavenly Father loves us and is in charge of what happens. All we can do is do our best to live as He would have us live so that when it is time to return home to Him, we can be satisfied with what we did while on this earth.

~Bobi

Reading is Fun

Those who know me know that I love to read. I always have a book that I am reading. The current book goes with me everywhere. I read every possible moment. I am even a member of a couple of book clubs.

This morning, as I was reading in the criptures, it really hit home with me about how much I love to read! I love the printed word. I enjoy learning new things. I enjoy being entertained. I enjoy trying to figure out the mystery. I love that there are so many books to be read. I am so grateful for authors who have thoughts that they put down on paper and turn them into books that I can read. I love that there are so many books out there that were written a long time ago (think Little Women or Anne of Green Gables) that are timeless.

I am currently reading the second book in a series. The series, and the name of the first book, is called The Mother-Daughter Book Club. The second book is called Much Ado About Anne.

Funny side note: Lyssa and I have participated in a Mother/Daughter Book Club sponsored by the County Library system for the last 4 years. We read The Mother-Daughter Book Club for our last meeting in May. We were at Grandma Camp's house, getting ready to leave to go to our last meeting. We had been talking about our Mother/Daughter Book Club. Grandma asked if we had read the book. We said yes. She asked the name of the book. Lyssa said, "The Mother-Daughter Book Club." Grandma said, "I know. What was the name of the book?" Lyssa said again, "The Mother-Daughter Book Club." I started laughing, because I realized that Grandma thought Lyssa was still talking about where we were going and didn't realize that she was now saying the name of the book!

Anyway, the first book is a story about four girls and their mothers who start a Mother-Daughter Book Club. They took an entire year to read Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. The overall story is about the four girls and their experiences in 6th grade. The author does a good job of relating experiences from Little Women to the four girls and the experiences they are having. In the second book, the girls and their mothers are reading the Anne books by L.M. Montgomery. The author is again using quotes and experiences from the Anne books as she tells the continuing story of the four girls who are now in 7th grade. I was thinking about how these books (the Anne books and Little Women) were written 100 years ago or more, and yet the messages and the experiences are still applicable to today.

The same thing happens with the scriptures. Isn't it great that the things we read today that were written hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years ago still apply today? I guess truth is truth, no matter where you find it!

~Bobi

Life is So Fragile

A very good friend of mine had a pulmonary embollism Saturday morning. She was 26 weeks pregnant with a little boy. She and her husband were so excited to bring this new little life into this world. Today, the decision was made to take her off life support. She passed away shortly after. She was only twenty-something!

I met her when I was assigned to be her visiting teacher several years ago. She didn't want anything to do with me for a very long time. As I continued to call her and ask to visit with her, she finally let me and my companion in the door. Her sweet husband joined us during our conversations. One of the things that I recognized from the very first was how much he loved her. He was not a member of the LDS Church at that time. Over the course of a couple of years, they got married, he investigated and joined the Church, they were sealed in the temple. They are wonderful people! It is so hard to believe she is gone. My heart is breaking for him. I am so grateful that I have been able to be a part of their lives.

~Bobi

Comment

Lyssa said the following yesterday, after her first experience doing baptisms for the dead. We were able to take her to the Jordan River Temple. We each did 15 confirmations. Brian was able to baptize her for 15 people.

Me: So, how do you feel?
Lyssa (in an extremely happy voice): That was so great!!!! It was like going on a new ride at Lagoon, only, you know, more spiritual!!!!!

~Bobi

She's Not Young Anymore!

Last month, Lyssa had a birthday. She also had a musical theater performance on the same day. So, we combined her birthday party with her performance. It was a lot of fun.

Her friends came over for brunch. After we ate, she opened presents. Then, we piled into two cars and headed for her performance. Up With Kids presented "Enchanted" this year. Lyssa played "Nathaya", the wicked stepmother's hench-woman. She did a great job. She had many lines. She even got to sing a duet with another performer. She sounded wonderful!

After the performance, her friends joined her on stage for some pictures. After Lyssa had changed out of her costume, we took some more pics. We went home and had lunch, opened more presents, and then had cake and ice cream. Her friends thought it would be fun to give her a big surprise by pushing her face into her dessert! She was a great sport about it.

~Bobi

Tenor Taylor

Adam gets to go to high school next year. When we filling out the registration form, way back when, he put down that he wanted to be in Show Choir and then anxiously awaited the day to find out when auditions were.

The day came. He, along with a lot of other friends, went to the high school to audition. He sang a solo. Then, he dashed to his junior high to play with the Jazz Band at the school's Tiger Extravaganza. When he was done performing, he returned to the high school with a group of friends so that he could be part of the group auditions. The audition process took about 4 hours total. After that, he anxiously awaited hearing the results.

We were told that the list would be posted the following Monday. No list. The rumors at the junior high were many: that the list would be posted later in the week; that there would be no list posted and phone calls would be made; that those who made it would be "kidnapped" from their homes early in the morning for breakfast. The "kidnapping" sounded like the most fun!

Days passed. No phone call. No list posted. Nothing. More days passed. We waited with anticipation. How would the call come? Had it already happened and Adam hadn't made it? When, when would we find out? This is something that he really, really wants to do!

More days passed. It's now been almost 3 weeks since the auditions. Maybe it wouldn't really happen. He must not have made it. Then...wonder of wonders! The phone call came. Someone currently in Show Choir called to let me know that Adam would be kidnapped the following morning... EARLY! Like 5:30 a.m. early. He wanted us, as his parents, to be aware and be willing to answer the door when he rang so early in the morning. We were stoked!

I was out of town at the State PTA Convention, so I didn't get to witness the early morning wake-up call. I heard that it was so much fun! Adam was surprised. His sponsor had made an outfit for him to wear throughout the school day. Doesn't he look great?

~Bobi