The Temple on the Hill

The blogging seems to have ceased for a long time. I am not a patient person, so to sit and type a blog is usually near torture, as I am a move, move, move, type of gal. However my heart is full at this time, and to not blog and journal about this past week would be utter nonsense on my part. This week I had the opportunity to be not only a Young Women counselor, but a camp leader for these beautiful young women (a group of teenage girls from church which I am blessed of serve). It was held at Heber Valley Camp, also known a the Temple on the Hill. Let me preface this by sharing that never have I laughed or cried so much all in one week. I learned through so many amazing experiences. These are some things I learned that I did not know.
I did not know that if you challenge girls to do things they may not think they can do, almost all will learn a spiritual lesson, and feel closer to God. That if they choose to climb a long rope ladder tethered only by a harness and belay rope, (held by a well trained elderly missionary couple), teeter on a horizontal ladder, and jump off the edge of a plank onto a zip line soaring through the air high above, that they can gain more confidence in themselves.
I did not know that you could leave a valley and travel to the mountains, and have these girls give up cell phones and I-pods, and watch over a hundred young women truly know, if they had not known yet, that they are divine daughters of God.
I did not know that all at one time I could see through hundreds of dirty braids, sweaty brows, tattered jeans, and make-up-less faces, directly into the spirits, the souls, the 'true selves' of all of these girls. I did not know that when I looked at them this way I could truly love and care for 28 of the girls I know so well now, and feel I love them as though they were my own children. I did not know that when I looked at these fabulous young women who bore their souls to me, that if I saw them through God's eyes, that for moments I could see them as He does. I knew He loves them, but I had never seen how much until this week.
I did not know that young women could teach a not so young woman so much. I did not know I could get a note from a 16 year old young woman expressing herself to me, and that I could look up to her so much, and want to be like her.
I do know however that these girls are a million times stronger, happier, and wiser than I could ever have imagined, because they know who they are, and what they stand for. They know that they are daughters of God, and that is the difference.
I did not know what it felt like to have my daughter stand and bear her testimony that she is a daughter of God, and that she would sob in front of 45 girls and leaders as she told me how much she loves me. I do know that I never thought it possible that I could love her more because I had the privilege of seeing her through His eyes this week. I do know that I am so grateful that he loaned his beautiful daughter to me to raise and love.
Finally, I do know that the reason why I get to learn these things is because I am a daughter of God, and I know he loves me, and I love Him with all my heart. Every good thing I do for these girls is through Him, through prayers and through the strength He gives me. I could not do any good thing I do without knowing this. I am grateful to be so blessed to know these things more now. I am grateful to share this experience with these young women. My heart is truly full.

Ali performing for Broadway Review

This is a must see. The sound is not very good, but it's the best this amateur could produce. Enjoy!

Gobble, Gobble!

PULL!

Well- no Turkeys to be found, other than on the table, so we shot the

annual box of clay pigeons.

The kids shot the 410, and I tried the 12 guage.

Mark and PaPa stood behind to back us up with the real guns.

We ate a great meal at Gramma and PaPa Slaugh's, and then lazied

around. Papa and Gramma sang and strummed the guitar,

and Mark and Ali added a little- Ali voice and Mark guitar.

Ali and I finally saw Twilight that night(never as good as book).

We had a great day and felt very grateful for all we have.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our family and friends. We miss you!

Ali shoots 410- she has no comment.
Alisa shoots the 410 here, out of practice, shot 50%.

Ian shot great, really nailed one.


Haley's first try- she had fun!


Daddy helps Whit aim.

Can you be any Lazier!

Pa Pa entertains

Gramma Sings

Mark tries to remember how to play.(HA)

Crazy Days and Sleepy Nights

The girls had a reading marathon in September.

This is how it was for a week.

Ali dressed up for '80's day at school.

She Looked more like Riz (Stockard Channing) from Grease.

Whitney has fun with crazy hat day at school.

Ian almost whips my Hiney in a foot race.

Scary how old that makes me feel.

Our "Maine" Attraction

Anthony came to visit from Maine in October.

We all had so much fun!

We couldn't resist a night in Moab to

see Arches. Jantzen, Ian, Ali,

Whitney,and Haley under the Sand Arch.

Jantzen, Ian, Haley, Grandma,

Ali and Whit weather the wind.

Tony, Alisa, Ian, Haley, Whit, Grandma, Ali, and Jantzen

on top of Sand Arch. It took a lot of guts and

determination for some in the party. It was really high.

Ali, Tony, Haley, Alisa, and Whit with a friendly bird.

My very cool kids were

real troopers on the hike.

Checking out holes in the rocks

along the way- (no vermon)

Haley and the kids explore the holes as I stress about the

possible slipping factors. Very slick rocks.

Me- A head in the hole is better than a hole in the head any day.

We all had a blast and saw some great sights and had some

really fun walks. The weather was great!

Some fun sights in Utah/Colorado

Echo Park was beautiful and serene.

Rock Skipping- great flat rocks.

While the kids were in school, Tony and Alisa crossed the border into Colorado,

to see the Dinosaur National Monument area.The landscape is beautiful.

We even used 4 wheel drive to do some very off road adventures.

This is my best impression of Titanic over a

few thousand foot drop.

Tony was a little too macho for Titanic poses. jk

Halloween

We had a really fun and simple Halloween this year. It was pretty cold, so the kids were done in an hour, and had enough candy, but not too much.

Ali dressed up as The Joker (?) for a party,
and at another party she just had fun looking pretty.
The Joker make up was enough for one night.











































Haley was The Corpse Bride,
which was outside the box for her.












Ian was Ninja, and went
trick or treating with a few friends.






















Whitney was Snow White.
It was neat because I had been going
through old pictures, and found a picture
of myselfas Snow White at about
the same age.
Melissa was Pippy Long Stockings that year.

Me as Snow White and Melissa as Pippy.

(with her friend Laura)

End of Summer

School has begun. It was the fastest summer we have ever had. Haley spent several weeks with Grandma, Aunt Melissa, and Aunt Amanda. We missed her a lot, especially Mark.
Whitney loves 1st grade, and reads really well. Haley loves 5th and they like their teachers. Ian is still unsure, which is typical, but he is a quick learner. Ali will do well. She has some fun classes as a Junior, and is looking forward to performances and musicals. She has been working at Arby's. We will see how long this lasts, as she has a couple of tough classes, and she has a 3.85 GPA she likes to keep up.
Mark started sports up again- so busy for him in Fall. They are under staffed, not enough therapists want to move to the Basin, and the oil field pays a lot, which means housing prices here equal the big cities now. Homes like ours are renting for $2400 per month . EEk.

The good news is that the downstairs is finished except for some Hickory cabinets on the Entertainment wall, the mantle, and carpet. It is exciting. Now we have to save up for a big TV and the furniture. We even have most of our shelves, and have our food storage getting organized.

I am mostly teaching in the computer labs this year and testing students. I love both, so I am excited. I had my 20 year class reunion, and spent some time with one of my friends from H.S. and her hubby, which is great as Mark had to work late. It was fun. I got to throw candy to the kids at the parade the next morning.

Everyone is doing really great- it will be a busy Fall, but that is the norm.

Front of our mostly finished home. Yeah!












Last room!



Ian's food storage project

Ali's 16th birthday present. D.C. is her Favorite Idol- okay mine too. Look how close- I did not zoom for this one!

20 year reunion parade. Marcie on my right, Sharon on my left.

Our Jessen Lake Hike- beautiful country in the higher elev.

Ali, Ian, Mark- Jessen Lake

Whitney, me, Ian

Spring and Summer fun

4th of July

Watching the fireworks from our backyard.

After fireworks, the kids slept on the trampoline.

At the parade.

Ali and I and my great girls from camp. Hmm, 5 days with a bunch of teenagers in the mountains with the bears? It was fun!









St. Louis in June. It was really cool. Lots of walking and good food.




We visited our good friends Scott and Megan in New Mexico this spring. Their kids were fun.
It reminded us how much we miss them. We visited Mesa Verde, and 4 corners.








Mark with the kids at 4 corners. Ali was too busy with the play to come.