Girl's Camp

Girl's Camp 2011 here I come!  The next few days I will be taking pictures and creating slide shows for the girls in our stake.  I enjoy going as the "historian."  I get to take pictures of everyone and everything that happens.  I get to enjoy the activities on my terms, eat all that good chow and best of all, bunk with Cheryl.  We had so much fun together last year that I asked her if we could bunk together again in the bat cave. 

The bat cave is just a little tiny end of a cabin with 3 sets of bunks and not much room to move around.  We giggle ourselves silly and besides having a lot of fun, I think it relieves any tension that she may have to deal with as the stake young womens president. 

So, Monday morning through Thursday night, I'll be bunking at Camp Susan with the best of the best.

Sacrifice

On Sunday in our gospel essentials class we talked about sacrifice.  I asked a question that perhaps wasn't quite answered the way I wanted.  I explained that when we did the City of Joseph, the pageant presidency and directors spoke of our "great sacrifice" to be there.  It never felt like sacrifice.  Yes, my husband used his vacation and we spent quite a good deal of money, but it still was so enjoyable that it didn't feel like I was giving up anything.  Quite the contrary.  What I gave up monetarily and in my time was brought back 100 fold.

So what exactly is sacrifice?  One answer was that giving anything to build up the kingdom of God can be considered a sacrifice.  I believe that, yet always felt that it needs to "hurt" a little to be a real sacrifice. 

I had a conversation today that made me rethink my thoughts.  Sacrifice isn't just for building up the kingdom.  Sometimes we give up something we enjoy or something comfortable because circumstances dictate doing so.  It may not be something we want to change. 

Changes in our lives help us to grow, but that doesn't mean that they're welcome or even wanted.  Thinking about a change in circumstance because of certain situations just makes me angry and frustrated.  Why is it that other people often dictate our sacrifices?    It isn't right.  It isn't fair.  The squeaking wheel gets the grease while the quiet one that just does its job is taken advantage of.  I know, life isn't fair and we can't control other's actions.

There is consolation in all of this.  There is ONE who paid the ultimate sacrifice so I have the right to complain and grumble.  I thank my Lord for that opportunity.  In that perspective, do I even sacrifice at all?

Service

Over the past three days I've had the opportunity to give service to a very dear friend.  You know, when it's someone you love so much, it doesn't feel like service.  Rather, I got to spend some good time visiting with a wonderful person. 

On the other hand, I've been the recipent of service as well.  While making an inquiry, an offer was made that certainly didn't have to be made.  I'm grateful for the fact that as we give we are blessed.  Isn't the gospel of Jesus Christ grand?

Dreams

During the school year when I drop Andrew off at school, he listens to WIFC.  Often they talk to a woman who is an author of a book(s) about interpreting your dreams.  Her name is Laurie and she's on dreamzone.com.  She's great at figuring out why people dream what they do.

It is mornings like today, after having some scary, wacked-out dreams last night, that I wish I had that book so I could figure out what they mean.  Usually it's things we are worried about or things that you think about during the day.  Last night's dreams were out of the blue and very emotional.  Not liking them.

Today can't help but be a better day than last night.

Work and a New Son

 There is a tradition in our family which every man who wants to be a part of our family needs to be aware of.  If he wishes to join our family by marrying one of our daughters, there is work involved.  Clint painted and split firewood.  On Saturday that tradition continued.

Jeff came for a visit on Thursday and Pat was so busy working that the poor guy didn't have an opportunity to "talk" to Sammi's dad.  Pat put in a lot of hours.  The earliest he got home was 9pm and was up and gone by 5am the next day.  On Saturday morning Jeff finally got the chance to work and talk. 

We have a maple tree on the south side of our house that needed to come down due to the fact that it has been slowly dying over the past couple of years.  The following are pictures of the tree coming down a little at a time.

Pat is cutting up some of the larger limbs and making firewood while Tom was waiting for the next branches to fall. 

 Pat borrowed the "bucket" truck to get up high.  Jeff began on the ground with the pole saw and then headed up to get the higher limbs.

 A closer photo of Jeff up in the air.  Too bad I didn't get a shot of him with the saw in hand.  I believe he was busy maneuvering the bucket to get a better position to cut.

 After all that work and some lunch, we all went to the lake to swim.  Then to my in-laws to visit.  Jeff took Sammi on a gator ride to the pines where he officially proposed.  Upon getting home, the ring was put in place.

 Erin was crazy all weekend waiting for the official announcement of the engagement.  That's who Sammi is on the phone with during this re-enacted moment.

 More pictures after church on Sunday.  As a mother, I'm really happy for them.  They are so well suited for one another.  Our Father in Heaven sure knew what he was doing when he brought them together.  I took more candid shots which capture how happy they are and how much in love they are. 

Obviously not a candid, but looking so happy together.

 
A long 6 hour car trip home for Jeff and lots of hours on the phone during that trip.  They won't see one another until a day or two before the wedding.  It's going to be a long month.  Invites are in the mail today and tomorrow.  August 18th, here we come!

Home Again with Plans in Hand

Sammi has always had the idea that she'd like to get married on June 27th.  Well, that's not going to happen.  It is interesting that on 1:05am on June 27th, she decided that she was going to get married.  Here's the scrawl she left on the bathroom mirror.

It says, "Pretty sure I'm going to marry Jeff Fillmore!  Just so you know."  Now we all know.  Sammi and I made a roadtrip to Muscatine to see Jeff over the last two days.  They are so great together.  What a great man we will add to our family!  We went out and took pictures yesterday in the heat and humidity.  I think they turned out pretty good considering they were melting in the heat.

 Vonnie (Jeff's mom) and I took lots of pictures.  Some were posed and many were candids.  This was a candid.  It appears he's talking to her about something important.

 Her eyes are mostly closed, but this was pretty much how we saw them all afternoon and evening on Thursday.  Huge smiles and lots of laughter.

 I like the tender way he treats her.

 Except for the very bright sun, I love this photo.  They're just so comfortable together.

 She appears to be taken off guard by something very serious he said.  Or he's just really taking in whatever she has to say.  Another candid.

This too is candid.  He brushed her hair out of her face.  A really tender gesture.

So the final question is....Are they engaged?  Well, not officially until he comes to Gresham next week and talks to Sammi's dad.  Is a wedding date set?  Yes it is. 

Sammi & Jeff

 Sammi and I took a road trip today to Muscatine, Iowa.  One guess why we went.  These are just a few of the photos that Jeff's mom and I took.

 Isn't this a great photo?

 They are so sweet together.

 I think she has super glue on her hands.  They don't look like they're coming apart from Jeff's anytime soon.

 Sam is protecting Jeff from a bear attack!

Please don't feed the bears!