Graduation and Girls Camp

I counted and we have officially only been home about two weeks so far this summer and I am pooped!

Alex graduated from high school on May 27th. It was a bittersweet day because he has been asking me when he doesn't have to go to school anymore since he was in first grade, so it has been a long twelve years! It was so fun to see him so happy and having fun with his friends that day. That night we went to the high school and helped with the all night grad night party. The kids had a ball! I am so grateful for the wonderful people who put it all together so the kids had somewhere to be instead of out getting in trouble.

Girls camp was amazing! We took the girls to the Relief Society building in Salt Lake and one of the general young women board members, Sister Sagebin, gave us a tour of the building. The spirit was overwhelming in that building from the minute we walked through the front doors. Sister Sagebin talked to us about giving one hundred percent of reading our scriptures for five minutes each day, saying our prayers twice a day and attending our church meetings each week so we could be worthy to go to the temple. Then she had each of the girls sit at the General Young Women President, Elaine Dalton's desk with a crown and had us take pictures of each one of them. It was a wonderful experience for everyone. We toured temple square and made sandwiches in the park to take to the homeless shelter. Several of the girls were really bothered when we saw two homeless women begging for money outside of the temple. We don't have homeless people begging on the streets in Vernal, so this was new for them. One of the girls saved a couple of the sack lunches we made and gave them to these women on our way back to the car. It made me happy that she realized she could do something to help.

I took the fourth years to the Bonsai Steak house and made them try octopus sushi then we went to Scuba Utah for their high adventure experience. Several of them were very uncomfortable with the idea of breathing under water and taking their masks off etc., but one of the girls, took off like crazy and wants to get certified now. It was fun to see them do things that took them out of their comfort zone.

Tuesday we spent the day doing camp certifications and crafting. Wednesday we spent all day at the Park City Ski Resort playing on the Alpine slide, Alpine Coaster and the zip line. Several of the girls were terrified to even go up on the ski lift, but once we got them to the top and they went down the Alpine slide, we couldn't stop them from going up. It was wonderful to see all of the older girls cheering the younger girls on who were struggling and watching them conquer their fears.

We had a great testimony meeting that night then the next day we got up early and drove down to BYU to meet with President Samuelson. He talked to the girls about getting an education and the requirements to get into BYU. He had just come from talking with President Monson at the MTC and he was glowing! RoseAnna Batty said, "He still had Prophet dust on his hands!"

We were given a tour of the BYU campus and then treated to lunch in the Cannon Commons. The girls absolutely loved it! President Samuelson gave each of the girls a presidents pin - which made them feel VERY special and they wear them proudly now!

Last month we went to one of our neighbors houses for an Eagle Court of Honor. Sherilee Woodward made these yummy tarts for refreshments and they were gobbled up in a hurry.

Sherilee's Tart

Using a cup, cut circles out of your favorite pie crust or in my case, the premade pie dough and put them into greased cup cake tins. Bake at 350* for five minutes. Then carefully spoon a dab of raspberry (or your favorite kind) of jam in the center. Pour a little cake mix - prepared according to the directions - just until the jam is covered and bake according to the cake directions on the box. When they are cooled, cover with a little powder sugar frosting and enjoy!