YSA mud and marriage experiences

So we got home Saturday from Family Camp and got all of our muddy, wet stuff cleaned up.  Then we got texts that evening telling us that church had been cancelled the next day so that all of us could go up to Dammeron Valley and help clean up from the flooding from 2 storms that had dropped 3 inches or more of water on them in short periods of time all while we were out of town.  Some of the clean up started earlier, but then more rain had come.  So between all of the community and  church members there were about 1500 people who came to help on Sunday.  Paul and I came in his big truck and hoped the dump bed would come in handy. At first they were still trying to get organized and didn't know where to put us so we just went around taking food and drinks to people working.  Then later we worked at a house where Paul could haul off junk coming out of the flooded basement and I could help in loading that junk.  It was hard, muddy, hot work, but I was glad we came to be a part of it.  I had never done anything like it before.  It felt good to be a part of helping someone with a very big problem.  The house we were on was huge and had a full basement with 10-foot ceilings that had flooded clear to the ceiling.  What a mess!!! 

We saw this place when we took food around.  

We worked on this place.  It looked much worse while we were there.  This pic must be after the first storm.  

Today we got to attend the temple sealing of a young man from our YSA ward.  His bride was not from our ward, but we had gotten to know her a little while she came with him to activities.  They are a wonderful couple and we are so happy for them!  What a wonderful thing to see them get off to the best possible start.  Dave Younie and Mackinlee Barkdull.  He didn't have a lot of family to come, so I'm sure that's part of the reason we got to be there.  Still, it was a lovely thing to witness.  Wish more of our YSA's could move forward with their lives like these two have. 

Family Camp 2018 - Tushar Mountains Round Flat - Supe and Beacher

Final shot as we left the camp - what a beautiful place!

 It was an AWESOME camp!  We had 100% turn out for at least one of the days!  That's a record I think.  We were in a beautiful place and the weather, albeit a little rainier + hail than we planned for - was cool and it kept the bugs at bay!  Juge and Lance brought a giant tarp which was brilliant and provided us a great place to gather to eat, play games and just stay dry and together during some of the rainier moments.  As usual the food was fantastic and plentiful.  We didn't go on many outings because of the rain, but it was so much fun just hanging out playing games, badminton, horse shoes, the Finish block toss game, etc. that we didn't even miss it and things were rather relaxing.  We did take a drive up to the top of the mountains near Delano Peak and saw the beautiful views there very quickly as just after that the hail storm hit.  We were not deterred from our good times when we got back to camp to find the tarp had come down some places because of the rain/hail load.  The men worked together to remedy that, a bum barrel was started to keep us warm, Ryan provided electric lights to brighten the area and we went on with our fun!  We celebrated several birthdays - Beacher #28, Tahlia #7, Supe #32, Malakai #1, Lyv #14, Ellie #12.  We had some fun and funny talents shared, a dance party, and a sing along with ukuleles.  The rain stopped enough that we could get packed up the last morning and everyone got home safely.  Moss and Christie's tent got flooded so they had to make an early departure.  Brady's got wet too, but luckily there was an extra sleeping bag available.  Thanks to Supe and Beacher for being the in-charge people.  So next year - Bean's up!

Hanging out and setting up on arrival

These little guys loved riding trucks and biking along the muddy road!

Lazer tag was lots of fun!

Clara was in heaven - she had her mom, Cheetos and shades!

The camp beauty parlor put out some beautiful hair dos!

The younger set had their own beauty parlor.

The new hammock was a hit!

Lots of relaxing took place.

Some of the chefs at work.

The chef's work being enjoyed.

Games under the tarp were pretty popular and lots of fun!

And games in the open were fun too!

We had two badminton courts running.

Random fun around camp.

The ride to the top was worth it for the views when we arrived!

Our great gathering spot - before and after the hail storm.

Fun faces around camp.

Warming up after the hailstorm.

Supe and Beacher with their birthday loot!

Kai the younger - he got to celebrate #1 at camp (a little early)!

He also kept us entertained!

Tahlia #7!

Lyv #14!

Ellie #12!

The talent show participants!

Lyv and Juge rocking it!

The Smiths doing their awesome number!

Juge and Lance - singing some crazy song about ruining a sweater.  

Random camp shots.

Last night ukulele sing-along.  It was so fun!  We should make it a camp tradition!

Tushar Mountains - Checking out the Family Camp site for 2018

Paul, Bean and I took a trip to the cool Tushar Mountains above Beaver to see what conditions were for the coming family camp.  It was beautiful other than the flies, it was wonderful.  It was really cool, especially up on the top of the mountains by Delano.  We even saw the goats up there, but they were too far away for us to check them out.  Then we met up with the Weavers for a wonderful outdoor dinner of Navajo Tacos!  It was a really nice day in the cool outdoors and the site for family camp looked perfect!  

Grand Edventure Xmas Dates - summer fun!

We had fun dates with two set of grand kids.  We took Trigg and Eliza to build fishing games at Home Depot, to the Town Square for carousel and water fun and then to lunch at Wendy's.  It was a really fun day!  They seemed to enjoy it.  

In the same week we took Carly, Ellie and Eden to Tuacahn to see the play Matilda.  It was also a fun evening.  They are cute girls and we enjoyed the play! 

Cedar Breaks picnic with Bean and Jim

Jim came down for a little break and we took him and Bean for a Saturday in the cool and beauty up at Cedar Breaks.  It was quite a bit dryer than it would usually be, but still wonderful.  We had a really nice day and drove home through Zion afterwards.