Live Endowment

 Keilie and Dallin's Live Endowment Session

She asked ME to be her Escort.  My heart was so full when she asked me, and even more full when we arrived.

They will be Sealed for Time and all Eternity on September 6th, 2024 in the Saratoga Springs Temple.

It was special to wait for Randy to come through as Caden's Proxy on 11/11/2017, but it was even more special to see Keilie's face and smile as she walked into the Celestial Room.  As I swept her up in my arms, I just wept, it was so wonderful.  Both Randy and I felt Caden there before the Session began.  It was just a wonderful night!

Soap Lake

 We went on an RV adventure last year while the kids were at FSY, so when I signed the boys up for FSY, I also looked for an RV vacation Randy and I could take.  About 10 years ago, I took the kids to the water park in Moses Lake and ended up talking to a woman that said they were staying at Soap Lake and loved it.  She told me that Soap Lake is Washington's Bath of Jane Austen's time, that it is filled with healing minerals.  I knew I was going to go there someday as soon as she said Jane Austen!  So, without further ado, I give you my 10-year awaited vacation to Soap Lake.

10:45 am-- All packed up and ready to go.  Randy had an hour's long call with work during the drive, so we pulled into a large parking area and once again felt such love for our RV.

2:30pm.  An hour call and a 30-minute construction stop meant we made it to our spot a touch later than planned, but still enough time to make it down for some serious soak time in the Lake of Healing Dreams.  

I LOVE that this campground has hot tub sites!  It's also the first campsite I had ever heard of that had "Glamping."  They rent out TeePee sites with A/C, and two different styles of canvas tent sites with A/C, all with comfortable beds!!  They also have a cabin and normal tent sites, with a pool, outdoor games, bathrooms, showers, and a little store.  Upon entering and seeing all of the shade trees and well manicured space, I wondered if this could be the next location of our Burrell Family Reunion!  We set up our RV, made a quick meal of sandwiches and chips, and headed down to the lake.  I was near bursting-- Finally, I was at Soap Lake!!!

3:05pm.  There was a white crust on the top off the "sandy beach" area.  Honestly, it was like no other "beach" I had ever seen in person.  The first thing I noticed was the flies buzzing just above the crust.  Millions of flies, as far and as wide as the eye could see.  The next thing I noticed was the sulfur smell.  I had expected it, so it didn't come as a shock.  And, truthfully, it wasn't as "rotten egg" as the hot springs we'd go to in Wyoming.  But the flies and the scent were a little off putting.

And then we stepped on the crust.  It didn't hold our weight, and our feet squished down ankle-deep with a loud GUSH!.  As we pulled our feet out {que the LOUD sucking sound here}, I recoiled in disgust not just because it was warm, but because it was a green color.  Flies, smell, warm squish, and green got it stuck in my head that we were walking through a poop field.  Step after disgusting step, it just kept weighing on my more and more heavily.

And then we made it into the water.  The "poop" was even more saturated, that as it squished through your toes, each step sinking you deeper and deeper to no be calve-deep, that I literally (yes, literally) asked Randy to walk back to me and hold my hand.  We made it hip deep and looked back at the shore, knowing we would eventually need to walk back out.  It was so disgusting, so sensation-intense, that we stayed in for, at most, five minutes.  My hands and arms were aching, I was holding them so tightly to my chest, I couldn't even imagine putting them down in the water.  By the time we made it back to our shoes, I was ready to run.  Anxiety has never felt so intense because of physical sensation!

We made it back to our RV and decided to soak in the hot tub.  But... it was actually a tepid tub.  As we sat there in silence, every once in a while shivering because of our disgust, we both said, "You know-- we're not going back in that water, the hot tub doesn't offer any comfort, we might as well just head home."  So we did.  

Soap Lake is NOT a place I could/would ever recommend.  I'm so glad we went first, otherwise we would have had three families drive from Utah and one from Western Washington that potentially would have wanted to leave less than an hour after arriving!  It may be a lake of "healing minerals," but I'd rather be sick than soak in that ever again!!!

Mira on the Mountain

 Randy has been hiking Badger every morning for a few weeks now.  Today, he decided to take Mira.  Girlfriend trailed behind the whole way up, and lead the whole way down.  But she made it to the top!  Mira's showing her age more and more.  I'm glad Randy thought to document her hike!

We sure love this precious creature.  

FSY 2024

 FSY at Idaho State

Tyson & Ryan Mann

Brennon & Sean Porter

Tyson

Brennon

They both said that they liked this year better than last year.  I'm so grateful that our kids have these opportunities!  They cannot wait to go again next year!

Cousin Time 2024

 We got to have the Wilsterman's come for a few days between their Utah trip and Girls' Camp/FSY.  We love having them so close!

Poor Aria got a headache on a hike with everyone up Badger Mountain.  I love that her doggos stayed right by her side while she rested.

Isn't Austen the cutest, eating her noodles with chopsticks.  I just love her!!

We let the Hatfield's borrow our RV and Rzr for a family reunion they hosted at their home, so they allowed us a swimming party at their home.  Twice!  We got to love on their pups.

And they got to love on us.  Look how precious Reece is putting her paw over Ashlee's hand!

Brennon took some time to teach Everly some new skills!

He sent her home with the string.  I love that my boys spend time with their cousins, no matter their age.

Right before they left, I capture this hilarious picture!!  Austen is clipping Tyson's "large talons."  SO FUNNY!!!  Our house is always so loud and full when they come-- I LOVE IT!!!  Cousin time is the BEST time!!!

Tacoma & Gig Harbor

 Randy had a few appointments over on the Western side of the State, so I tagged along for a fun night out!  Tacoma & Gig Harbor.

At first glance, I thought this guy had been targeted by Angry Birds...

Bloom where you are planted.

Jellyfish as big as my hand, if not bigger.

I got to explore with my Mister and sleep in while he worked.  Pretty much the best thing ever!

BHS

 A friend posted a picture of her daughter in a cheerleading outfit.  Since the colors are those of our high school growing up, where we became friends, I assumed her daughter went to Roy High.  Then I saw the name on her megaphone and did a double take. Sure enough, I read it right...

Brennan High School

Caden's tent

Brennon is going on a Priest High Adventure in a few weeks-- backpacking and many day hikes.  Knowing he needed a light tent so he could have a light pack to carry 8 miles in, we pulled out the tent we bought for Caden when he was 2-years old.  

Since Brennon is quite a bit taller than 2-year old Caden, we set it up to see if it would work.  Caden's Dog got to participate in the fun...

{Edit 8/11/2024-- Sadly, the tent's 20 years made this the last time we could use it.  While cleaning it off after Brennon got home, the poles bungees snapped.}
 

Bang Bang

Tyson: "Dad, where are our BB guns?"  And thus commenced our day of practice.  FUN!!! 

I'm proud to say that I actually shot a straw sticking up above a can. I felt pride in my skill, which felt amazing after months of being discouraged with my fragility and perceived weakness.  Obviously Tyson and Randy are straight-shots.  They are so alike, those two!

Choice

 We returned last night from a Burrell family reunion in Utah.  We had planned for over a year to spend an entire week at Lagoon, once again parking our RV at the campsite for A/C, fridge, and rest.  It hit me just as hard this year as it did last that my childhood dreams have been far exceeded.  I never imagined that I'd ever use the campground, with an RV, and Season Passes purchased on Black Friday.  I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

However, what hit me most at this season of my life was the power of choice.  I have felt so broken, so lost, so less-than for 10 months now.  My body is still in a near-constant state of fear/panic/anxiety.  But... given the CHOICE to feel fear, and I felt strong, powerful, and in control-- all things I haven't felt for so long, I wondered if I'd ever feel them again.

I chose to walk to two rides I swore I could never do (on opposite sides of one another).  I chose to stand in line for both rides.  I chose to sit down in each seat, despite Ashlee's assurance that she'd walk off the ride with me if I was too nervous.  I chose to feel the fear as both rides shot me straight up and then straight down with only a lap secruing apparatus for each.  I CHOSE FEAR!

Quoting Caden's words for myself: "I WON!"

There is power in choice.