prepare

my parents do a kid's camp for the grandkids each year.  this year's theme was:

for the last couple months, my mom has been sending assignments to help 'prepare' for camp.  things like reading the book of esther, finding the scripture that says, "for such a time as this" or finding out what speaker in general conference said, "With all that is going on in the world, with the lowering of moral standards, you young people are being 
raised in enemy territory."  

through these parties, my mom wanted her grandkids to feel that they have been saved for this time, that they are in 'enemy territory', and that 
they have been prepared and they can do it! 

the army themed parties started at our house this year.  we had breakfast and swam.  then we headed to the heber valley girl's camp, where we played and stayed over night.  we went on the lake in canoes and did a few challenge courses.  

max found a fox...

and caught a chipmunk and kept it in this garbage can:)

we listened to bash'n tunes (a mix of all the cousins favorite songs), sadie shadow danced and played her guitar.  we had the birthday bash with the traditional pinata.  we had an outdoor movie night and we watched a movie my mom found on esther.  it was like a glorified road show.  the kids thought it was pretty funny.  everyone took turns preparing meals and we especially loved uncle kelly and aunt connie's kneaders french toast.  yum!

 the challenge courses became even more challenging when my dad started timing everyone.   it was fun to watch the big cousins get competitive.  sadie and abe cruised!! 

this is abe way up high, walking across the wire to the platform, where he got on the zip line down.  i made myself do it....it was fun, wobbly and really high!

wouldn't be kid's camp without a little b-ball.

we spent sunday at my parent's house.  

after church we had four "battle stations".  since we are in 'enemy territory', my mom invited a few grand children to teach ways we can beat satan.  sadie taught one about being tight and not letting satan in. i once told tyler something was 'hip' and he told me to never say that word again.  he gave me a list of words to use and one was tight:) so she focused on "are you tight?"  she referenced the brother of jared and how the waters were really rough, but it couldn't hurt them because their boats were tight.  if we are tight and determined to keep the commandments, it doesn't matter how much evil is out there.

tyler's battle station was about the best athlete, manny paquiao, a boxer from the philippines (where he served his mission).  ty showed a highlight youtube video of the guy punching his opponents.  it was a great visual, especially for all the little boys.  satan wants us to lose.  he said satan tries to get us in lots of ways and on his mission satan would get to him by making him feel discouraged, but he would "punch" satan by choosing to love.  he talked about how satan wants to destroy individuals and especially families, but we can punch satan when we strengthen our families and choose to love.  he had us write down on a picture of boxing gloves three things we would do to punch satan.  each of the kids got to punch his bag.  my kids really got into the idea of punching satan and tyler's punching bag.  i have thought about this a lot since then.  satan does want us to be miserable and is so happy when we are.  when we were in the middle of transitioning to this new town and schools, sadie was discouraged and one day, really discouraged.  i remember looking at her and saying, "satan wins when we are miserable."  to which she responded, "well, he is winning!"  then we cried/laughed.  we talked a lot about having faith that when we do our part, heavenly father will do his.  she has chosen to be happy and make things better and heavenly father has blessed her immensely.  i am so impressed.  since tyler's battle station,  i have tried to love myself and others, be less critical of myself and others,  and choose to love.  we have talked many times as a family about being on the winning team and punching satan.

my mom even gave it a go.

jaicee taught about choosing to be happy.  she did an awesome job.  she talked about how one of the signs of the last days is that 'the hearts of men shall fail them'.   the hearts of men meaning their confidence and how satan uses discouragement and depression.  we can fight satan by choosing to be happy.  happy is a choice.  we wrote down when we feel happy.  i appreciated that sus took kai aside on his baptism day and told him that she noticed how much he smiled at his baptism and when we feel like smiling, it's usually because we are making a good choice.  i was so interested in what jaicee taught about hearts of men failing them that i later found this youtube video.   don't demand unreasonable expectations, but demand improvement.  improvement sounds more doable than perfection sometimes.  jaicee gave everyone a little notebook with a happy face on it.  she told the kids to write down a few things each day that made them feel happy.  gratitude helps everyone feel better and helps us realize that heavenly father has a hand in our lives.

the cousins love staying up late with grandpa.  grandpa is famous for his ice cream runs and making malts.  everyone orders the flavor of malt they want and he enjoys having them sit by him while he makes them all.   

i talked my sister into staying a few extra days at my house.  we went to the community outdoor theater and saw "fiddler on the roof".  we swam and played tennis and absolutely enjoyed being with them.

i appreciated kid's conference this year.  my mom was inspired with her theme and the kids (and i)  really felt her message.  her hard work payed off.