Tonight for FHE( Family Home Evening) I am teaching a lesson about friend sleepovers. It's been on my mind the last few days, and I thought it would be great to take some time to explain to our kids why we do not allow friend sleepovers, what the exact rules are, and if there are any exceptions.
This is sticky territory.
It is unpopular of me to have a no sleepover rule. My children are bummed out by that.
Good.
There was a talk given in General Conference in October of 2010 entitled "Courageous Parenting" by Larry R. Lawrence, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. I guess that some people consider talks given by anyone other than the Prophet to be simply advice. To me, it is more than advice. It is inspired counsel. On one hand, I do not make every change suggested in every talk. If I did, I would be pretty dang perfect. I probably also wouldn't use the word, "dang". But, when any speaker in conference gives a clear warning about something we should NOT be doing, I try really hard to listen and apply the advice.
It is easy to choose NOT to do something.
It is easy to be PERFECT at NOT doing something. I do not drink alcohol and that is easy for me. I made the choice once and I have never had to make it again. I do not smoke. I do not do drugs. I do not kill people. Sometimes I am tempted there, but I'm holding strong.
Our church leaders seldom give specific guidance, but it does sometimes happen.
Do not watch rated R movies.
Do not have more than one piercing per ear.
Do not let your kids spend the night at a friend's house.
WHAT?
Here is the talk I am taking this no sleepover warning from:
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/courageous-parenting?lang=eng
It's not church doctrine. It's not a commandment. It's a "personal warning" from a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. And that is good enough for me.
Elder Lawrence says," May I express my personal warning about a practice that is common in many cultures. I am referring to sleepovers, or spending the night at the home of a friend. As a bishop I discovered that too many youth violated the Word of Wisdom or the law of chastity for the first time as part of a sleepover. Too often their first exposure to pornography and even their first encounter with the police occurred when they were spending the night away from home.
Peer pressure becomes more powerful when our children are away from our influence and when their defenses are weakened late at night. If you have ever felt uneasy about an overnight activity, don't be afraid to respond to that warning voice inside. Always be prayerful when it comes to protecting your precious children.
Courageous parenting does not always involve saying no. Parents also need courage to say yes to the counsel of modern-day prophets. Our Church leaders have counseled us to establish righteous patterns in our homes. Consider five fundamental practices that have the power to fortify our youth; family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, family dinner together, and regular one-on-one interviews with each child."
"Try to imagine what the rising generation could become like if these five righteous patterns were practiced consistently in every home. Our young people could be like Helaman's army: invincible( See Alma 57:25-26)."
It's an awesome talk. It was not was started the no sleepover rule at my house, but it certainly has given me the strength to be a courageous parent and stay firm. We first started the rule when our stake president in Kearns counseled the stake at stake conference to abandon the practice of sleepovers. He gave the same reasons as given in the talk I quoted. They were both right.
So, why don't I only allow them at my home where I can "keep them safe?". Well ,for one thing, that would be hypocritical and hurtful to my other good and trusted friends if I were to say my home is okay but their home are not. Secondly, if the children are unsupervised ( which will happen unless the parents stay up all night), it doesn't matter whose home they are in. I do not target individual kids and make decisions about them. This is a blanket rule. NO FRIEND SLEEPOVERS.
They can have late-overs. I will pick them up at 11 or 12. I will even bring them back for breakfast. I will host parties that end before the next day begins. I will also supervise the entire time.
We do allow cousin sleepovers for little kids. That is the only exception we make.
We do allow our kids to be babysat overnight. That is not a sleepover. It is babysitting . I only use people I trust who will make my kids go to bed and sleep.
We do let people visit us and stay at our house while on vacation. We do not let the kids stay up after we go to bed. We even had foreign exchange students for two weeks last September. I put them in their own room in the basement so they were far away from my girls and I can hear if anyone comes upstairs during the night. I also stayed awake each night until they were sleeping.
It's all about supervision. Kids do stupid stuff when they stay up late. Even good kids do stupid stuff. Kids need to be supervised. Sleepovers are not supervised if the parents are asleep and the kids are awake. And kids are tricky. Older kids might pretend to go to sleep and then get up and do things they shouldn't- like sneaking out. I might be 36, but I still remember sneaking out to toilet paper people's yards when I was a teenager. Luckily, that was the worst thing I ever did on a sleepover. And usually, my mom took us to do the toilet papering. True story.
As Elder Lawrence said,"Challenges and temptations are coming at our teenagers with the speed and power of a freight train. As we are reminded in the family proclamation, parents are responsible for the protection of their children. That means spiritually as well as physically".
I know I can't protect my kids from everything, and if you know me personally or well at all, you know I am really pretty mellow. I let my kids play outside without me. I sit on the side of the playground and watch them at the park. I don't freak out when they come to me bleeding. I let them use knives and cook at a young age. I really am not a helicopter parent at all.
I believe in letting them make mistakes. I do let them go to public schools. I don't check their homework at night or tell them to change their underwear every day.
I even let them go to scout camp and pray that the leaders actually supervise them and make them go to sleep. That one does scare me.
But, this sleepover thing, this is really important.
Pornography? Drinking? Smoking? Drugs? Sex? Police?
Those are big. Call me overprotective if you want. No sleepovers allowed around here.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Penicillipet- a Punny Post
My last few posts have been rather serious. Well, two of them were. So, to even things out, I'm adding a bit of levity back to the blog and the entire Universe- or at least to the 45 people who will read this.
I invented a new word! I love it! Well, I think it's a new word. I'd better go check.
Zero results on Google! Yes! It's mine. Mu haha!
Allow me to define my new word for you:
Penicillipet- an extremely low maintenance pet derived from very very very moldy food. It's alive!
How is it that nobody thought of this before? I don't know, but I'll tell you how I thought of it. This morning my husband mentioned to me that he removed a plastic bag from my car which contained a pepper slice that had turned moldy and had some nice milky colored juice swimming around in the bag.
"It's a Penicillipet!" I declared.
"What?" He turned to me with undisguised disgust.
" A Pencillipet! We could make millions. The investment would be minimal. Toss some old food scraps into a plastic bag, that costs like a penny, add moisture, seal it up, and let it grow!"
(More looks of disgust)
"We couldn't sell them online. I think it's illegal to mail mold. But, how about Farmer's Markets. We could even get the starter rotten food there. One penny investment. Sell it for 25 cents. That's a 2,400% profit! Oh man, we are going to be rich! Who wouldn't pay a quarter for a pet that you never have to feed. It grows all by itself. It never needs to be tended when you go on vacation. In fact, if you step on a rusty nail, you might be able to save your life with juice from your Penicillipet!"
" This is genius!"
Judd replied"Becky, are you feeling okay?"
"Yes, I'm feeling okay. I just INVENTED a word! I'm going to blog about this. Maybe now I will finally go viral and break free of my all time high post reading of 298 hits."
With patience, Judd replied,"Becky, it's unlikely that this bacterial post is going to go viral."
Dang it! But, I still think I'm on to something.
I invented a new word! I love it! Well, I think it's a new word. I'd better go check.
Zero results on Google! Yes! It's mine. Mu haha!
Allow me to define my new word for you:
Penicillipet- an extremely low maintenance pet derived from very very very moldy food. It's alive!
How is it that nobody thought of this before? I don't know, but I'll tell you how I thought of it. This morning my husband mentioned to me that he removed a plastic bag from my car which contained a pepper slice that had turned moldy and had some nice milky colored juice swimming around in the bag.
"It's a Penicillipet!" I declared.
"What?" He turned to me with undisguised disgust.
" A Pencillipet! We could make millions. The investment would be minimal. Toss some old food scraps into a plastic bag, that costs like a penny, add moisture, seal it up, and let it grow!"
(More looks of disgust)
"We couldn't sell them online. I think it's illegal to mail mold. But, how about Farmer's Markets. We could even get the starter rotten food there. One penny investment. Sell it for 25 cents. That's a 2,400% profit! Oh man, we are going to be rich! Who wouldn't pay a quarter for a pet that you never have to feed. It grows all by itself. It never needs to be tended when you go on vacation. In fact, if you step on a rusty nail, you might be able to save your life with juice from your Penicillipet!"
" This is genius!"
Judd replied"Becky, are you feeling okay?"
"Yes, I'm feeling okay. I just INVENTED a word! I'm going to blog about this. Maybe now I will finally go viral and break free of my all time high post reading of 298 hits."
With patience, Judd replied,"Becky, it's unlikely that this bacterial post is going to go viral."
Dang it! But, I still think I'm on to something.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
The Promise of Spring
As I scrubbed dirt out from under my fingernails for the second time today, I thought about how incredibly happy I was feeling. Today was a great day! I spent a few hours weeding and pulling the leaves out of my flower beds. I don't know what the future holds, but today it hinted at Spring. Eeek! I'm so excited!
I love Spring. I LOVE SPRING!
It was 50 something degrees outside in the middle of February. Recent rain has melted almost every bit of snow. The daffodils, crocuses, and tulips, possessing a sure knowledge that Spring will come, have sent up their shoots. It is going to come.
There's just something so promising about those first little green leaves poking up out of the rich brown earth, not worrying about the freezing weather or snow that probably will happen, maybe again and again, before Spring truly arrives. These plants can take it. They are frost resistant.
And so am I.
I can wait for the Spring. I can make it through the Winter, even knowing that Winter is going to come again.
I'm referring to the seasons, but I'm also referring to life, the ups and downs that come to us all.
Sometimes the trials come so fast and hard that the only thing that gets me through is that promise. Sometimes, Spring comes just in time to give me a little boost, to remind me of the promise of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation. The promise that this mortal life is but a small moment, that one day I will understand the tapestry being weaved in my life.
My Life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.
Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.
author unknown
Every single Spring is a reminder that God is in control. He knows what is coming. Hard things are coming. And good things are coming. And no matter what, it's going to be okay, because God is in control and He is a master weaver.
So, with all of that said, I announced recently that we had become licensed to do foster care. We didn't know that after the homestudy, and after the licenses are issued, there is still a board that reviews each homestudied family. We were reviewed and the committee decided not to recommend us for placements. We found out on Monday with a "courtesy call". At some point we will get a letter telling us this news, but it hasn't come yet.
We will not be doing foster care.
They gave some reasons, but the summary of those is that they don't feel it is right for our family right now. I won't go into details, but we were told to learn more about foster kids and how hard it is to care for them, stay strong in our family and marriage, and we could reapply in three years- after going through the entire process again. And the answer could be the same again.
3 years will be 2017. I will turn 40 in 2017.
Life is full of hard things. And good things too. My husband is heartbroken. Our extra bedroom holds a bunkbed and a Cars toddler bed with adorable cars bedding. The closet has little boy outfits that now need new homes. We won't be needing them.
Hard things.
But, I know that Spring will come. And we are going to be okay. God can see our tapestry. He has given us so many blessings. His love is always there. I will trust in His pattern and follow His plan.
Spring will come.
I love Spring. I LOVE SPRING!
It was 50 something degrees outside in the middle of February. Recent rain has melted almost every bit of snow. The daffodils, crocuses, and tulips, possessing a sure knowledge that Spring will come, have sent up their shoots. It is going to come.
There's just something so promising about those first little green leaves poking up out of the rich brown earth, not worrying about the freezing weather or snow that probably will happen, maybe again and again, before Spring truly arrives. These plants can take it. They are frost resistant.
And so am I.
I can wait for the Spring. I can make it through the Winter, even knowing that Winter is going to come again.
I'm referring to the seasons, but I'm also referring to life, the ups and downs that come to us all.
Sometimes the trials come so fast and hard that the only thing that gets me through is that promise. Sometimes, Spring comes just in time to give me a little boost, to remind me of the promise of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation. The promise that this mortal life is but a small moment, that one day I will understand the tapestry being weaved in my life.
My Life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.
Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.
author unknown
Every single Spring is a reminder that God is in control. He knows what is coming. Hard things are coming. And good things are coming. And no matter what, it's going to be okay, because God is in control and He is a master weaver.
So, with all of that said, I announced recently that we had become licensed to do foster care. We didn't know that after the homestudy, and after the licenses are issued, there is still a board that reviews each homestudied family. We were reviewed and the committee decided not to recommend us for placements. We found out on Monday with a "courtesy call". At some point we will get a letter telling us this news, but it hasn't come yet.
We will not be doing foster care.
They gave some reasons, but the summary of those is that they don't feel it is right for our family right now. I won't go into details, but we were told to learn more about foster kids and how hard it is to care for them, stay strong in our family and marriage, and we could reapply in three years- after going through the entire process again. And the answer could be the same again.
3 years will be 2017. I will turn 40 in 2017.
Hard things.
But, I know that Spring will come. And we are going to be okay. God can see our tapestry. He has given us so many blessings. His love is always there. I will trust in His pattern and follow His plan.
Spring will come.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Snowball Fight in July: Camping Adventures and Misadventures
Last weekend my family went camping for the first time in over 6 years. The last two times we camped were disasters, which led to the 6 year break. One of them involved a tent with a broken zipper and a snake visiting our sleeping baby. The other involved a monsoon, I mean rain storm, that led to me sleeping in the car with the little girls, I mean spending the night in the car, wide awake listening to the pounding rain and desperate for morning to come so we could go home. Good times.
I told Judd I was never going camping again without something more comfy to lay on and a proper tent that zips and doesn't leak at the first drop of rain.
Time passed.
We had more kids and never got a new tent, thus making our "4" man tent completely inadequate. So, for Christmas this year we got a new 8 man tent and bought 5 more sleeping bags and a car top waterproof bag.
We were ready.
We christened all of these items at the Currant Creek Campground, about 60 miles away from Heber, Utah.
The campers:
My brother Michael, visiting from Omaha with his wife Colina and their six kids.
My sister Rachael with her husband Dave and their six kids, plus two Chinese foreign exchange students and our cousin Thomas, visiting from California.
Myself and my husband with our six kids.
My brother Jacob and his wife Carolyn( came Friday to Saturday)
We got a later than planned start on Thursday, due to my brother going to the store to pick up a tarp and some black trash bags for rain ponchos. I wouldn't have brought any, which would have been a very bad plan.
We finally got on the road, stopping for free slurpees for 7-11 day, and noticed our check engine light turned on as we pulled out of 7-Eleven. Wanting to be careful, we drove to the car shop and had them pull the code- an O2 sensor needed to be replaced, but they said we could go ahead and make the trip.
We were off!
At 5:30 we arrived at camp and it started to rain. We quickly set up our tents, and let me tell you I was glad I bought an Instant tent that literally can go up in 1 minute, and then went to start a fire in the drizzle. My mom had given us some firewood and we sent the kids to gather more since we didn't know when Rachael would come with more wood. She was planning to arrive at 6.
Luckily, the rain stopped.
We built two fires to have enough room for a gazillion foil dinners. We cooked our dinners. And as strange as it sounds, we then wanted to eat our dinners.
Rachael was bringing the forks. It was 8 p.m. and she hadn't gotten there yet.
Luckily I had 8 utensil packs from Dickey's so we each got to use either a fork or knife
Rachael pulled in around 9 p.m.. She was also bringing the ingredients for dutch oven desserts. We opted to do smores instead since it was so late. The Chinese girls were fascinated by this strange American custom.
Injuries on day one:
One skinned knee- Emmeline
One majorly skinned face- Audrey
Moral: When Mommy tells you not to run at camp. . . . don't run at camp.
DAY TWO:
We all awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of more rain. I was pleased that our tent wasn't leaking and that it held through several hours of rain. Around 7 a.m. things petered off enough to go outside for cereal and yogurt. As we were finishing, the skies decided we all needed a bath.
We scattered to cars and tents. Around 9 am it let up enough for us to organize and go to different tents for games. Around 10 o'clock as I sat in my tent with Rachael, Judd, Tim, and Emmeline, it started to rain inside our tent. I said it was time to give up camping and go home. Rachael said to wait. The other tents were a lot wetter than ours and I was NOT going to sleep wet. Luckily, the rain stopped. At 11 we emerged and built 2 fires to cook our spaghetti and dutch oven desserts. Because of all the rain, it took a lot of effort, fanning, and prayer to get those fires going. No gasoline was involved, but only because we didn't bring any. And besides, girl scouts don't need gasoline to make a fire out of soaking wet wood. Cause, we're special like that.
After lunch, we took a hike in search of the gold mines that our camp host told us were somewhere nearby. We did not find the gold mines. We sent most of the people back and 6 of us continued on.
We did not find the gold mines. We did see a baby eagle that fell out of the nest.
The weather stayed dry until dinner time when it sprinkled some more and then was pretty nice the rest of the day.
Injuries: Michael- touched stinging nettle to his tongue. It does look a little like mint.
Casualties: Two broken Coleman lanterns.
DAY THREE:
We awoke to the sound of more rain. Oh goody! Fortunately it didn't leak and it did stop in time to get up and make pancakes. Lots of pancakes. It sprinkled while we cooked, but everything was fine.
After eating we played games and took another hike. The view was amazing and even Emmeline walked almost the entire mile, half of it going uphill. She got carried the last few hundred yards.
We came back and made our pyro fire, using up all the wood we had collected. It was so hot, people couldn't get close enough to cook their hot dogs. I held my cooker with my foot on the ground and leaned back.
Following lunch we played more games, cooked more smores, and sustained more injuries. Around 5:30 the weather started to turn again. Everybody packed up camp as fast as possible and got in their cars. A few brave and selfless souls stayed outside and made sandwiches and cut up apples for dinners on the go. The skies again decided to cleanse us and we got completely sopped while we spread peanut butter and jam. So, the boys decided to have a water fight. Why not?
INJURIES:
Wasp sting- Kyra
Burned fingers- Colina
skinned knee- Thomas
The camp host told us that Heber was only 31 miles away if we took a different road that had beautiful wildflowers . The crowd all agreed to continue the adventure and caravan out. The flowers were gorgeous and the view was serene. We all stopped like a collective Borg mind when we saw a snowy hillside. Doors opened and people swarmed out and up the hill for an impromptu snowball fight. How could we resist? It was AWESOME!
And when Asher, 15, kind of skied on his shoes down the snow, I thought that looked like a really fun way to get down. So, I did it too.
I got faster.
And faster.
And I couldn't stop.
The snow ended and I was on the muddy flower covered hill and I couldn't stop.
So, I ran. I hoped I could slow down and gain control.
I couldn't.
I lost control.
The next thing I knew I was lying flat on my back upside down on the hill.
Apparently I did some cartwheels and flipping, but my brain has blocked that thrill ride from my memory.
Apparently, I looked dead or paralyzed since I wasn't moving, compelling my brother and husband to run to me, one from the top of the hill, and one from the car.
I was just shocked and assessing my injuries. Luckily, I'm fine. I'm just scraped, bruised, and sore.
Summary:
We had a lot of injuries. We got rained on a lot. We had to lock all the food up in case of bears. There were 3, 254,897 flies buzzing around our bodies, biting us, and one even nestling in my, well, in a certain part of my shirt. Dave was not eaten by the bats that lived in the bathroom. Jacob and Carolyn did not sleep on cots under the stars. There were a lot of cows. I blame them for the flies. The massive ants only desired to eat my flesh, leaving everyone else alone. Foil dinners taste really good at 8 p.m. I enjoyed being able to tell Judd that he had a burr on his bum. There were a lot of stickers. We saw a potgut. We saw a chipmunk. We saw a hawk. We saw a baby eagle. We did not see a bear. We did see a lot of quaking aspens, yarrow, lavendar, daisies, flies, ants, dirt, rain, and sunburned faces and shoulders. We did have a snowball fight in July.
The kids bonded. Ages and genders blended together and fought against the elements, solved problems, and emerged victorious.
It was worth it!
We can't wait to do it again next year!
I told Judd I was never going camping again without something more comfy to lay on and a proper tent that zips and doesn't leak at the first drop of rain.
Time passed.
We had more kids and never got a new tent, thus making our "4" man tent completely inadequate. So, for Christmas this year we got a new 8 man tent and bought 5 more sleeping bags and a car top waterproof bag.
We were ready.
We christened all of these items at the Currant Creek Campground, about 60 miles away from Heber, Utah.
The campers:
My brother Michael, visiting from Omaha with his wife Colina and their six kids.
My sister Rachael with her husband Dave and their six kids, plus two Chinese foreign exchange students and our cousin Thomas, visiting from California.
Myself and my husband with our six kids.
My brother Jacob and his wife Carolyn( came Friday to Saturday)
We got a later than planned start on Thursday, due to my brother going to the store to pick up a tarp and some black trash bags for rain ponchos. I wouldn't have brought any, which would have been a very bad plan.
We finally got on the road, stopping for free slurpees for 7-11 day, and noticed our check engine light turned on as we pulled out of 7-Eleven. Wanting to be careful, we drove to the car shop and had them pull the code- an O2 sensor needed to be replaced, but they said we could go ahead and make the trip.
We were off!
At 5:30 we arrived at camp and it started to rain. We quickly set up our tents, and let me tell you I was glad I bought an Instant tent that literally can go up in 1 minute, and then went to start a fire in the drizzle. My mom had given us some firewood and we sent the kids to gather more since we didn't know when Rachael would come with more wood. She was planning to arrive at 6.
Luckily, the rain stopped.
We built two fires to have enough room for a gazillion foil dinners. We cooked our dinners. And as strange as it sounds, we then wanted to eat our dinners.
Rachael was bringing the forks. It was 8 p.m. and she hadn't gotten there yet.
Luckily I had 8 utensil packs from Dickey's so we each got to use either a fork or knife
Rachael pulled in around 9 p.m.. She was also bringing the ingredients for dutch oven desserts. We opted to do smores instead since it was so late. The Chinese girls were fascinated by this strange American custom.
Injuries on day one:
One skinned knee- Emmeline
One majorly skinned face- Audrey
Moral: When Mommy tells you not to run at camp. . . . don't run at camp.
DAY TWO:
We all awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of more rain. I was pleased that our tent wasn't leaking and that it held through several hours of rain. Around 7 a.m. things petered off enough to go outside for cereal and yogurt. As we were finishing, the skies decided we all needed a bath.
We scattered to cars and tents. Around 9 am it let up enough for us to organize and go to different tents for games. Around 10 o'clock as I sat in my tent with Rachael, Judd, Tim, and Emmeline, it started to rain inside our tent. I said it was time to give up camping and go home. Rachael said to wait. The other tents were a lot wetter than ours and I was NOT going to sleep wet. Luckily, the rain stopped. At 11 we emerged and built 2 fires to cook our spaghetti and dutch oven desserts. Because of all the rain, it took a lot of effort, fanning, and prayer to get those fires going. No gasoline was involved, but only because we didn't bring any. And besides, girl scouts don't need gasoline to make a fire out of soaking wet wood. Cause, we're special like that.
After lunch, we took a hike in search of the gold mines that our camp host told us were somewhere nearby. We did not find the gold mines. We sent most of the people back and 6 of us continued on.
We did not find the gold mines. We did see a baby eagle that fell out of the nest.
The weather stayed dry until dinner time when it sprinkled some more and then was pretty nice the rest of the day.
Injuries: Michael- touched stinging nettle to his tongue. It does look a little like mint.
Casualties: Two broken Coleman lanterns.
DAY THREE:
We awoke to the sound of more rain. Oh goody! Fortunately it didn't leak and it did stop in time to get up and make pancakes. Lots of pancakes. It sprinkled while we cooked, but everything was fine.
After eating we played games and took another hike. The view was amazing and even Emmeline walked almost the entire mile, half of it going uphill. She got carried the last few hundred yards.
We came back and made our pyro fire, using up all the wood we had collected. It was so hot, people couldn't get close enough to cook their hot dogs. I held my cooker with my foot on the ground and leaned back.
Following lunch we played more games, cooked more smores, and sustained more injuries. Around 5:30 the weather started to turn again. Everybody packed up camp as fast as possible and got in their cars. A few brave and selfless souls stayed outside and made sandwiches and cut up apples for dinners on the go. The skies again decided to cleanse us and we got completely sopped while we spread peanut butter and jam. So, the boys decided to have a water fight. Why not?
INJURIES:
Wasp sting- Kyra
Burned fingers- Colina
skinned knee- Thomas
The camp host told us that Heber was only 31 miles away if we took a different road that had beautiful wildflowers . The crowd all agreed to continue the adventure and caravan out. The flowers were gorgeous and the view was serene. We all stopped like a collective Borg mind when we saw a snowy hillside. Doors opened and people swarmed out and up the hill for an impromptu snowball fight. How could we resist? It was AWESOME!
And when Asher, 15, kind of skied on his shoes down the snow, I thought that looked like a really fun way to get down. So, I did it too.
I got faster.
And faster.
And I couldn't stop.
The snow ended and I was on the muddy flower covered hill and I couldn't stop.
So, I ran. I hoped I could slow down and gain control.
I couldn't.
I lost control.
The next thing I knew I was lying flat on my back upside down on the hill.
Apparently I did some cartwheels and flipping, but my brain has blocked that thrill ride from my memory.
Apparently, I looked dead or paralyzed since I wasn't moving, compelling my brother and husband to run to me, one from the top of the hill, and one from the car.
I was just shocked and assessing my injuries. Luckily, I'm fine. I'm just scraped, bruised, and sore.
Summary:
We had a lot of injuries. We got rained on a lot. We had to lock all the food up in case of bears. There were 3, 254,897 flies buzzing around our bodies, biting us, and one even nestling in my, well, in a certain part of my shirt. Dave was not eaten by the bats that lived in the bathroom. Jacob and Carolyn did not sleep on cots under the stars. There were a lot of cows. I blame them for the flies. The massive ants only desired to eat my flesh, leaving everyone else alone. Foil dinners taste really good at 8 p.m. I enjoyed being able to tell Judd that he had a burr on his bum. There were a lot of stickers. We saw a potgut. We saw a chipmunk. We saw a hawk. We saw a baby eagle. We did not see a bear. We did see a lot of quaking aspens, yarrow, lavendar, daisies, flies, ants, dirt, rain, and sunburned faces and shoulders. We did have a snowball fight in July.
The kids bonded. Ages and genders blended together and fought against the elements, solved problems, and emerged victorious.
It was worth it!
We can't wait to do it again next year!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
That is so Junior High!
I wrote this post a couple of years ago, but never posted it, probably because the feelings I express are very personal and vulnerable. But, I don't have that many readers, so, what they heck! Here you go guys:
Do you ever have a twinge of Junior High feeling flit across your heart? I hope not, for your sake, because, for me, it is as unwelcome as snow after Mother's Day. Just the act of writing those two lines has invited that awkward chest tightening yet again. It's just, so, well, so Junior High. What am I talking about? I'm talking about the feeling that comes when either 1. I tell myself I am nerdy ( in a bad way), a fashion disaster, a blob of gelatinous cellulite ridden grossness, uncool, lacking in close friends. . . . I could go on, but you probably get the picture OR 2. Someone else acts in such a way as to make me feel like THEY think I am nerdy, a fashion disaster, uncool. . . . you get it right?
I really hate feeling that way. To borrow a line from a Wicked song- it's loathing, unadulterated loathing, for my face, my hair, my clothing. Do they loathe it all? Okay, I'm not really going around wondering that, at least not all of that at one time. But, sometimes doubts creep in, whether initiated from me or from the outside. It's a bad feeling.
It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately- wondering where I fit in with the other people in my ward, my neighborhood, the school community, and the family. I have a strong personality. Maybe I offend people without meaning to do so. I have a tender heart. Maybe people don't really know that. And I think way too much.
I think about the people in my ward who seem like they are really nice. They are nice to my face, usually, but sometimes mean behind my back, and I hear about it later. I think about the times I may have said something mean about someone else and forgive the people who did it to me. But, I still wonder how many people really can't stand me. And I think about the people who have always been nice to me, but are just cooler than me, the groups that hang out together. Every now and then, I get invited to a fringe activity, but am never truly part of the group. I am not cool enough for them. I don't dress well enough. I don't wear makeup. Do I want to be part of that group or any group? Am I mad at them for not including me? No, not really. They can't have everyone in it. But, knowing I'm not part of it just brings that nasty Junior High excluded feeling back again.
What group do I fit in with?
I guess, none of them, not really.
I'm a floater.
http://theblacksphere.net/2010/06/confessions-of-a-token-white-girl/
I'm in a book club and I love all of the members. For most of the 5 years it's been going, since I started it, I've been the youngest member. Everyone is really nice to me, but it's not like we do stuff outside of book club. I walk with a friend 5 days a week, and I do truly consider her to be my friend, but we don't call each other to chat or hang out. She's busy with her own large extended family that all live close by. I even float with my church calling. One week I might be subbing in the Nursery. Most weeks I'm switching between playing piano for the Primary and playing for Relief Society. I kind of feel like an outsider in both places because I'm not firmly planted in either. I joined a block of the month quilting class, but even I know that I don't really fit in there, being a complete novice who doesn't even own a sewing machine. Still, it's good sometimes to be uncomfortable.
I'm probably coming across as unhappy, but I'm not. I have a lot of friends, just not a lot of close friends. I don't have a lot of friends I call and chat with for no reason at all. I can do that with my mom and two of my sisters. But, the awkward feeling does creep in with family, usually just with inlaws. My inlaws are great, but naturally we don't always agree. Over Christmas, we had a disagreement that was very upsetting to both sides. It pitted my husband and I against his parents and siblings. Now I feel, just so Junior High when I am around them. I know they are still mad at me. I get little clues like not being talked to for the first hour of a family get together. It's hard to tell with that Junior High feeling. There are other groups where I get that nasty JH feeling too. Is it me, or is it them? Or is it both? Do I do this to people too?
When I was in Junior High I had a pretty big group of friends. I was safe with them. It was THE OTHERS whom I tried to avoid- the mean boy who made fun of me on the bus, the cheerleaders who laughed at me, the kids who ignored me. It was all so uncomfortable all the time and the feeling there was one of too much caring of what other people thought. And sometimes I let that creep into my heart still. Cause I know I can't control them. I can't make them like me. I can't make them want to be my bosom buddy or invite me for a lunch date or to the movie. And I really do have friends. They just keep moving away, or I move away, or we're too busy to get together too often. I just don't have a group. That's not who I am. I don't feel comfortable belonging to just one group. I like to flit around myself and talk to a lot of people. I like so many different people at church and enjoy spending time with many diverse ladies.
The price for that is that there usually isn't anyone saving me a seat. The upside is that I can go and sit by someone who is sitting alone. And that is what I usually do, because I usually ignore any Junior High feeling that creeps up on me, and think about the other people who might be feeling insecure themselves. I like the girls who are 14 years younger than me- 20 year olds who just got married. I like the people around my age. I like the ladies in their 40's and 50's who have nearly finished raising their brood. I love the ladies 60 and above who have so much experience and wisdom to share. I'm so glad that I'm not in Junior High anymore. It's such an artificial environment and not the real world, at least not the world the way I choose to live in it. Yes, I still see the clicks. I still worry that my clothes aren't good enough. But, they are fleeting moments of Junior Highesque apprehension, rather than life consuming worries. Most of the time, I am comfortable in my own skin. Thank goodness. Do I still long for a kindred spirit to move in next door, somebody who is a perfect fit to become my BFF. Yes. Who wouldn't? But, if I had that, maybe I would lose the richness of a broad diversity of women in my life. Maybe keeping just a touch of the humility of Junior High in my life is part of God's plan for me.
Do you ever have a twinge of Junior High feeling flit across your heart? I hope not, for your sake, because, for me, it is as unwelcome as snow after Mother's Day. Just the act of writing those two lines has invited that awkward chest tightening yet again. It's just, so, well, so Junior High. What am I talking about? I'm talking about the feeling that comes when either 1. I tell myself I am nerdy ( in a bad way), a fashion disaster, a blob of gelatinous cellulite ridden grossness, uncool, lacking in close friends. . . . I could go on, but you probably get the picture OR 2. Someone else acts in such a way as to make me feel like THEY think I am nerdy, a fashion disaster, uncool. . . . you get it right?
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| www.dreamstime.com |
I really hate feeling that way. To borrow a line from a Wicked song- it's loathing, unadulterated loathing, for my face, my hair, my clothing. Do they loathe it all? Okay, I'm not really going around wondering that, at least not all of that at one time. But, sometimes doubts creep in, whether initiated from me or from the outside. It's a bad feeling.
It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately- wondering where I fit in with the other people in my ward, my neighborhood, the school community, and the family. I have a strong personality. Maybe I offend people without meaning to do so. I have a tender heart. Maybe people don't really know that. And I think way too much.
I think about the people in my ward who seem like they are really nice. They are nice to my face, usually, but sometimes mean behind my back, and I hear about it later. I think about the times I may have said something mean about someone else and forgive the people who did it to me. But, I still wonder how many people really can't stand me. And I think about the people who have always been nice to me, but are just cooler than me, the groups that hang out together. Every now and then, I get invited to a fringe activity, but am never truly part of the group. I am not cool enough for them. I don't dress well enough. I don't wear makeup. Do I want to be part of that group or any group? Am I mad at them for not including me? No, not really. They can't have everyone in it. But, knowing I'm not part of it just brings that nasty Junior High excluded feeling back again.
What group do I fit in with?
I guess, none of them, not really.
I'm a floater.
http://theblacksphere.net/2010/06/confessions-of-a-token-white-girl/
I'm in a book club and I love all of the members. For most of the 5 years it's been going, since I started it, I've been the youngest member. Everyone is really nice to me, but it's not like we do stuff outside of book club. I walk with a friend 5 days a week, and I do truly consider her to be my friend, but we don't call each other to chat or hang out. She's busy with her own large extended family that all live close by. I even float with my church calling. One week I might be subbing in the Nursery. Most weeks I'm switching between playing piano for the Primary and playing for Relief Society. I kind of feel like an outsider in both places because I'm not firmly planted in either. I joined a block of the month quilting class, but even I know that I don't really fit in there, being a complete novice who doesn't even own a sewing machine. Still, it's good sometimes to be uncomfortable.
I'm probably coming across as unhappy, but I'm not. I have a lot of friends, just not a lot of close friends. I don't have a lot of friends I call and chat with for no reason at all. I can do that with my mom and two of my sisters. But, the awkward feeling does creep in with family, usually just with inlaws. My inlaws are great, but naturally we don't always agree. Over Christmas, we had a disagreement that was very upsetting to both sides. It pitted my husband and I against his parents and siblings. Now I feel, just so Junior High when I am around them. I know they are still mad at me. I get little clues like not being talked to for the first hour of a family get together. It's hard to tell with that Junior High feeling. There are other groups where I get that nasty JH feeling too. Is it me, or is it them? Or is it both? Do I do this to people too?
When I was in Junior High I had a pretty big group of friends. I was safe with them. It was THE OTHERS whom I tried to avoid- the mean boy who made fun of me on the bus, the cheerleaders who laughed at me, the kids who ignored me. It was all so uncomfortable all the time and the feeling there was one of too much caring of what other people thought. And sometimes I let that creep into my heart still. Cause I know I can't control them. I can't make them like me. I can't make them want to be my bosom buddy or invite me for a lunch date or to the movie. And I really do have friends. They just keep moving away, or I move away, or we're too busy to get together too often. I just don't have a group. That's not who I am. I don't feel comfortable belonging to just one group. I like to flit around myself and talk to a lot of people. I like so many different people at church and enjoy spending time with many diverse ladies.
The price for that is that there usually isn't anyone saving me a seat. The upside is that I can go and sit by someone who is sitting alone. And that is what I usually do, because I usually ignore any Junior High feeling that creeps up on me, and think about the other people who might be feeling insecure themselves. I like the girls who are 14 years younger than me- 20 year olds who just got married. I like the people around my age. I like the ladies in their 40's and 50's who have nearly finished raising their brood. I love the ladies 60 and above who have so much experience and wisdom to share. I'm so glad that I'm not in Junior High anymore. It's such an artificial environment and not the real world, at least not the world the way I choose to live in it. Yes, I still see the clicks. I still worry that my clothes aren't good enough. But, they are fleeting moments of Junior Highesque apprehension, rather than life consuming worries. Most of the time, I am comfortable in my own skin. Thank goodness. Do I still long for a kindred spirit to move in next door, somebody who is a perfect fit to become my BFF. Yes. Who wouldn't? But, if I had that, maybe I would lose the richness of a broad diversity of women in my life. Maybe keeping just a touch of the humility of Junior High in my life is part of God's plan for me.
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