Week o' Camping

This week we camped. Oh boy did we camp. Bryan went with his Teachers Quorum all week and I went to girls camp. We had fun but are happy to be back to a real bed, plumbing, and electricity. Here are a few pictures of our adventure filled week.

Bryan's cute little tent. I took the nice one and he got the tiny one. :)

Don't you just love the hat?

The boy had a great time hiking, fishing, backpacking, and cooking on his new backpacking stove.

Now for a completely different camping experience: girls camp. There's nothing like it!

We rock climbed, rappelled, canoed, ate lots, sang, hiked, did crafts, served, laughed until it hurt, and built friendships.


I got home and realized that I took 0 pictures of myself. Maybe that's a good thing considering I had on no makeup and I didn't ever do my hair. It was GREAT!

I am so releaved that girls camp is over. I have taken for granted all of the work that goes into making it happen. Thanks to all of my YW leaders who helped make the great memories I have of camp when I was a teenager. I hope I have paid it forward!

On this Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day I reflect. Maybe it’s the fact that I am all alone today (Bryan is camping for a week) or maybe it’s just the fact that I am getting older and sappier. I think the military means something different to me than it does to others. I am in complete awe of it; I love its strictness and exactness; I love its power and security. When I was very young my dad joined the Air Force. Since then we have moved all over the country, mostly to bases out in the middle of nowhere because my dad was a missile launch officer and had to be near the missiles.

A little stroll down memory lane.

I would often lay on my parents bed while my dad would be getting ready for a fancy ceremony. He would carefully take pins out of a baggie, place one on his uniform, then turn to me and say, “Is it on straight?” I took pride in knowing that I was his quality control in a situation where it was expected that his uniform would look perfect.

I would hate going anywhere with my dad when he was in uniform. Everyone was always saluting and saying ‘sir’ and whenever he walked into a room someone yelled something (never could figure out what they said) and everyone would stand up. It scared me every time even though my dad would warn me in advance. Who knew that I would ever miss this?

The base would run exercises that we were totally used to. I remember one day walking to the BX and seeing a few men in uniform laying (playing dead) out in the middle of a field. My friends and I said, “huh, they must be in the middle of an exercise” and just kept walking.

I feel sad that I am no longer really involved with the Air Force. My military card has been expired for a few years now. I will not be shopping at the Commissary for food or the BX for stuff. I no longer get to stand for the National Anthem before a movie starts at the theater. I miss explaining to the base guards why I am coming home at 2AM. The threat that if I mess up my dad’s boss will be called and he will get in trouble at work is no longer there. I do not get to go to all the amazing air shows.

Now whenever I see a person in uniform my eyes get a bit teary. Memories fly and I instantly feel a connection and want to know their story. I want to thank them and shake their hand. Now when I hear ignorant criticism on the military I turn off the TV or leave the room. Now if I were to go to an air show I would be a wreck (just like my mom). How can you not be with this amazing powerful machine flying so close to you?

On this day and everyday I am grateful for those who serve and have served this country. Where ever you are thank you. May God bless you and your family.

Just an Update

Excitement in the last week and a half.

-dislocated my shoulder. Last Thursday while playing city league volleyball I dove and landed wierd. It took me about 10 seconds to convince myself to move my arm and pop it back into place but I did it. Ouch. I am a lot sore and have been very creative on finding ways to function without having to put my arm up over my head.

-became a student again. That's right. Add Northland Pioneer College to my alma mater list of BYU and ASU. Go Golden Eagles! Never heard of the school? It's the double wide building just south of Safeway in Eagar. hehe. To be fair it's also in Show Low...main campus...not a double wide. AZ Department of Education says I have to take Arizona Constitution (because I teach biology, makes perfect sense) and Structured English Immersion and English as a Second Language Teaching Methods. Fun summer for me! Hopefully they will be realitively painless and at least they are online and cheap.

-snake dreams. Yes, random and scary. The last few nights I have been having multiple dreams about snakes attacking me. What does this mean? Naturally I googled it. Here's what it means:

To see a snake or be bitten by one in your dream, signifies hidden fears and worries that are threatening you

So there you have it. Yikes, now I just have to figure out what is threatening me.
disclaimer: no I do not really believe in this dream junk but it is kind of interesting.

-3 days of school left! I can't believe I have completed my 2nd year of teaching. I have learned alot this year; my skin has become a little thicker; and I actually am not as burned out as I was last year at this time. Next year will be great, I will only be teaching biology which will be a lot easier because I have already taught it. No new classes.

Graduation

Today my mom graduated with her Master's degree from NAU. The fam went up to Flagstaff and cheered her on (well, mostly just cheered when they read her name). We are so proud. She is such an example to all of us. This brings the family total to (with my 2 parents and their 5 kids) 6 undergrad degrees and 4 master's degrees. Two of the five kids are not even out of high school yet! If you are doing the math, my dad has 2 bachelor's degrees. Add in the new-be spouses and we have 1 more bachelors, almost one more bachelors, and almost one more masters degree. Crazy...I am thinking that education was stressed in our home...to say the least. Here's some highlights from our adventure today.

I wanted to take a nice picture as we were waiting for the ceremony to start. Here is what I got instead.

After a stern talk with the goofy boys (Bryan and my brother Todd) we got this picture. Much better.

After the ceremony. Don't mind the big lumberjack in the back that looks like it is going to chop of our heads. Yikes.

If you give a mouse a cookie

Almost every time I go over to my parents' house I read a different little kids' book. My mom teaches kindergarten and often has a few books sitting on her desk. Some of my favorites are the If You Give a ______ a ______books. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. If You Give a Moose a Muffin. The book goes on to describe what happens because the mouse was given the cookie or the moose was given the muffin (like he wants milk to go with it). Well, I have thought of a few of these myself.

If you give a Martin a free weekend they will be in the car to Eagar before you know it.

If you give a Bryan a ton of homework over the weekend he will procrastinate and have to do it at 4 in the morning and while riding on the light rail to class.

If you give a bank an offer on a short sale house they will take forever to get back to you.

If you give a sophomore a pack of Smarties (for a review BINGO game) there will be at least one kid who will crush them up in the package and inhale/exhale the powder. There will also be a kid who will take out his ID card and act like it is a razor blade and sort the Smarties like they are drugs. There will also be a very mad teacher.

If you give a Karen a 3 week countdown for summer she will literally count the hours till she can float in a pool and work on her tan.