Enjoying June

A New Calling

I have been serving in the Young Women's organization for the last four years! It's been super fun to get to know the girls & watch them grow & strengthen their testimonies. I have been an Advisor - teaching Sunday lessons; a Counselor - helping them come up with activities with a purpose for Mutual; Secretary - keeping track of them, helping them stay organized & register for Girls Camp; & a Personal Progress Leader - encouraging their efforts in achieving the Young Womanhood Recognition Award.  Here is our last Personal Progress Activity.  I tend to go all out & try to make it fun for the girls. Sometimes I'm silly...

It's always bitter-sweet to move on & let go of a calling that you love. I love these girls, I love these YW Leaders, I love the Personal Progress program & I know that I will eventually love my new calling & the opportunities for growth it will bring...I will see you girls in Relief Society!

Happy Birthday!

We got to help Ben celebrate his 38th birthday. We just brought a little treat & went by to visit. How did he get so old, I get so old?

This little nugget also had a birthday! When I think back at the rough start this little one had, I am grateful for the miracle she is! She is healthy & happy & celebrating her first birthday! Happy Birthday Ryan Daranni!

Gifts of Summer

I love my summer garden! Everything tastes better home-grown! We had a ton of plumbs this year, too. We have to pick them all at once before the birds get to them because we have learned that birds like home-grown, too!

Another benefit of living here is the beautiful gift that nature provides. We have tons of critters around. I like to feed the birds & hummingbirds. I caught this random finch perched on the hummingbird feeder outside my bathroom window.

Every year we always get little fawns running around the property...they are the cutest little things!

Friends

Yes, I have a friends. Sometimes they come to visit! We were delighted to host the Ybarras for a couple of nights as they were passing through from Utah on their way to the beach. They wanted to show their son-in-law the California that they love. I'm glad we made their itinerary. We took them white water rafting & enjoyed visiting with them. Demi & Michelle even helped me with a couple of quilts I was working on...

Michelle helped me during a very difficult time in my life - when I went back to school to finish my degree. She watched our elementary school kids after school, helped them get their homework done, & hosted their Day Hiker's Club (taking them to hike local trails in our area). She was a lifesaver & the kids had such a great time! The plan was for me to help her when she went back to school...but she moved to Utah instead...I love Michelle!

Vicky & Mikey had a company retreat across the river from us. It was nice to just chill with them & enjoy some down time. Vicky is my partner in crime friend. We've taken many adventures together - literally, all over the world! They are our traveling buddies. Our kids call them their "Godparents" because they were the designated caregivers in our will when the kids were younger. If anything ever happened to us, they would be our children's guardians. The problem with that arrangement (in hind sight) was that whenever we were out & about where something "might" happen to us, Mike & Vicky were usually with us! 

Busy Bishop

Paul is a wonderful Bishop. Yes, I'm biased. But I have heard his prayers on behalf of the members of the Rescue Ward & I know he loves them & is concerned for their welfare...especially the Youth! He has tried to develop a relationship with each member personally so that they are comfortable with him & not afraid to counsel with him. June was a busy month for this Bishop.

Seminary Graduation

It started with Seminary Graduation. High School students throughout our Church attend Seminary. 

In our area of the world, Seminary is held in the early mornings, before school starts, in their church buildings. Everyday. Four years straight. These fantastic youth are learning what the scriptures say. At Seminary Graduations, their Bishops recognize their efforts & present their Seminary Diplomas. We had a small, yet powerful, group of seniors this year.

Who's Your Bishop?

There are four wards that meet in our building. On the first Mutual night in June, the Laurels (girls 16-18) invited their Bishops for a Root Beer tasting party & a little get to know you game - Who's Your Bishop? The Bishops were asked a bunch of questions ahead of time & their answers were printed on slips of papers. The girls had to decide which answer belonged to what Bishop. The girls were divided into teams so each team had someone from each ward on it. After the girls had made their choices, the Bishops would hold up their answers to see who got it right. It was a super fun activity & the Bishops made it fun for the girls. We all learned some interesting things about these Bishops & got to know them a little better.

Bishop's Backyard Bash & Splash

Paul was looking for a fun way to interact with the Primary age children in our ward (ages 3-12). He had many opportunities to get to know the youth through Scouts, Girls Camp, & Mutual activities - but not many opportunities for the children to get to know their Bishop a little better. He felt that if they grew up knowing that their Bishop was their friend & that he loved them, they would be more comfortable if they needed to counsel with him down the road. He decided he wanted to have a "play date" with the Bishop...so his annual Bash & Splash was born! This year was his 3rd one.

We invite the Primary to our house for some water games, a BBQ, & fun on the water slides. There was a Slip & Slide relay, a Sponge relay, a Bucket Head relay, a Sit & Pop relay, & who doesn't want to throw water balloons at their Bishop?

Bishop & I got in on the fun. Note to self...Slip & Slides are not for old people. OUCH!

Girls' Camp

The girls in our stake are lucky because they get to go to Camp Ritchie for Girls' Camp. All seven of our MidCart girls attended Camp Ritchie growing up in San Jose South Stake as they were one of the founding stakes to build the camp back in the day. The 6th level girls (High Adventure) don't go up to camp right away. They spend a couple of days doing some high adventure activities in our area before heading up to camp. This year, they stayed at our house & did a little white water rafting, a service project, & some zip-lining.  Friday is Bishops' Day & testimony meeting so Paul will spend the day up at camp playing games, interacting with all the Young Women, & sharing some advice & encouragement...