2010 U.P. Tour

On Thursday morning I was up early with my sweetheart to make a U.P. tour for work. We left home at 6am which is a lot earlier than I cared for, but I can sleep in the truck, so not a big deal. Our first stop was the Marinette building which is actually in Menominee, MI. I didn't even get out of the vehicle there. Then off to Escanaba where I helped do a couple of piddly things to help out. The next stop was in Germfask where we delivered an LH1 organ/piano and some artwork. I cleaned some toilets and cleaned the bugs out of the lens covers over the lights.

The next stop was actually at a grocery store to buy some treats. Then off to Marquette where I refilled some paper products. From there we drove to Houghton and got a spot at the Sunset Bay campground. We set up our tent and blew up the air mattress and headed out to get some dinner. Since it was already late, we got back to the campground when the sun was already set and there wasn't much light left in the sky. This is the view we found.

Here is the same view we found this morning. I woke up in the night and heard the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore of Lake Superior. I thought it must be windy, but there was no wind. Only the sound of the waves breaking on the shore.

As my husband was heating banana nut muffins on a rock in the firepit, I took a walk to the above point. The view was absolutely beautiful. We saw a ship at night and again in the morning.

This campground obviously has a lot of driftwood in the vacinity and someone made these pieces into a raptor. Kind of imaginative.

On the way south to Houghton, there are a ton of little towns. You may not realize that you've left one and entered another, except there is a sign saying which town you're now in. I saw this "ship" last year and decided this year that I needed to have a picture of it. It's some kind of memorial built out of stone.

We stopped this morning at the rock Wal-mart. It's a rock shop that has everything rock you could ever want. I should've purchased some piece of jewelry, but I didn't.

It was a wonderful trip, but more important it was wonderful to spend two days with my sweetheart working and taking in some sights. After seeing so many beautiful things, I don't understand how anyone can deny the existance of God.

A Satisfying Sabbath

This may not sound like a big deal to anyone else, but I got to spend the Sabbath day with my sweetheart. Usually he is up and out of the house before I get out of bed.

I attended church with him the past two weeks in Stevens Point and last week in Antigo, but he had things to do and places to be in the afternoon and/or evenings so we really didn't get a whole day together. It seems a stake president's work is never done.

Yesterday we attended church together in Gresham. As I was on assignment, I had to opportunity to speak. By the way, I get that assignment again next week in Marshfield. I don't care. Speaking is easy for me.

I just have to say that I enjoyed so much being able to spend most of my day with my sweetheart. The older I get, the more I want to be with him.

Nauvoo Trip 2010

Early Monday morning, 5am to be exact, we loaded up the truck and headed off to Nauvoo. I haven't been there for two years so I was especially excited to go once again. We took Cami along as she is always talking about "Auvoo." She insisted she have her picture taken with her babies.

The reason we planned the trip at the time we did was that Roland and Christi were getting married. I spent some time with them on Tuesday morning taking photos. I took more on Wednesday after the wedding.

It was a very hot and sticky time. The temps were in the 90's both Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was a bit cooler with the sun hidden for part of the day and the breeze blowing.

We saw several shows. The BYU international folk dancers were there so we watched their show on Monday night. We

saw High Hopes and River Boats as well. That show has changed so much since we first saw it. I enjoyed it none the less.

Erin and Pat spent some time in the temple on Tuesday morning. We went to see Just Plain Anna Amanda in the Cultural Hall. It's a show designed for children so they get to sit in the first two rows. Cami enjoyed that.

We went later in the day to see Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. I LOVE that film. I still get teary even though I know how it ends.

Cami loved the statue garden and had to have her picture taken with most of the statues. I especially loved this picture as she hugged the "little brother."

She got her own personal picture of the Savior to bring home with her. She would've liked to climb on the Christus but obviously we didn't let her.

We had dinner with the Fuller/Jefferson clan on Tuesday night. During which a storm came through and dumped about an inch of rain on us and cooled things down at least 20 degrees. That was wonderful!!!

Wednesday morning Pat and I headed to the temple. I had some thoughts on a particular scripture passage I've been studying, expanded as never before. It was so wonderful. I told Pat, even if I didn't do anything in the temple, it was worth going to receive that wonderful personal revelation.

As always, our trip was way too short and we had to come home before we got to do and see everything we would have liked to. Either way, we'll be back. I love Nauvoo and the special Spirit that is there. Next summer's youth conference is highly anticipated by one who has the opportunity to be the on-site coordinator.

My first bear sighting!

While at camp this week, Cheryl and I went to Antigo to make some photos at Walmart. On our way back I spotted this bear not far from the entrance to the camp. He/she was probably last year's cub as he was about the same size as a St. Bernard. I told Cheryl I saw either a dog or a black bear so we turned around to go find out. I didn't have my camera but Cheryl did so I rolled down my window and she shot these photos.

Cheryl and I shared a bunk house and in our sleep deprived state, we found humor in the following:

Bear Warning:

The Forest Service has issued a BEAR WARNING in the National Forests for the summer. They are warning everyone to protect themselves by wearing bells and carrying Pepper Spray. Campers should be alert of fresh bear activity and should be able to tell the difference between Black bear dung and Grizzly bear dung.

Black bear dung is rather small and round. It contains fruit seeds and/or has squirrel fur in it. Grizzly bear dung smells like pepper spray and has bells in it.

I had so much fun "living" with Cheryl for the past five days. We laughed ourselves silly.

Off to Girl's Camp

I'm off to girl's camp this morning and won't return until Friday. I hope to enjoy being with the girls once again. I know I'll enjoy being with the other sisters. I always do.