Wood Badge

I enjoyed my last Wood Badge as an assistant scribe. I worried. I dreaded. I made fun of the opportunity. I ended up having to miss the first 2 days to get my son to the MTC and then I went. I decided to be present, look for opportunities to be helpful and to connect and wear a full scout uniform.

I got there feeling a little like an outsider and my emotions were tender having just said good bye to Isaac for 2 years.  I finally got a cabin and loved having it all to myself.  I quickly learned that I was surrounded by great people and had an opportunity to have a great review on amazing leadership principles and practices.  I had a front row seat to people creating teams, cheering each other on, having honest conversations and thinking shifts, as well as some really good clean fun, crazy scout songs and budding friendships.

 And it was so beautiful.  I love the setting that we got to enjoy.  We had rain and sun and warm and cold. Mountain smells and wildlife.  I don't believe that I was really needed or did much but I tried to bring value to the experience.

The view from our dining porch

 I am guessing that it was for me to face my fears, do something on my own, make new friends, stretch a little and trust that saying yes and giving is the right thing to do.

I am grateful for the many boys and men that have been influenced for good because of the BSA.  It has a rich heritage. I am grateful for the leadership principles that stand in all situations that were being taught through this venue.  Those who attended are better for the experience and now have a whole toolbox of tools and information that they can use in many situations - family, work, church...  I am grateful for all that I received by attending and making an effort to be present and engaged in the process.  I hope I can always seize the moment and make the most of it. I know we are blessed as we seek for knowledge by study and by faith.

Lake Powell vacation 2019

When we get a chance to get a common consensus about a vacation destination, it is always super easy.  We go to Lake Powell on a houseboat with a couple of speed boats and all the family we can gather.  It is such a fun time for everyone -young and old.  We swim, fish, boat, canoe, float, get dragged behind a boat on a tube or skis or knee board or wake board

Early mornings are peaceful and calm and oh so beautiful.  Because the pictures came on in random order, I'll just tell you a little about what you might see and what it is like for us.  We spent Tuesday through Saturday at the Lake.  Isaac brought Kianna and William brought his father.  The rest were my own posterity but missing Dane, Erica and Terry in Tennessee.  We keep things simple and each prepare a couple of meals for the group. The water and boats are the main entertainment but Elise also brought embroidery floss to make bracelets and anklets. Reading, napping, playing games and snacking are also popular activities. 

The last night we have a dance on the lower deck while all the little ones are sleeping.  Isaac and Kianna decorated with beach towels and candles to keep the bugs away and Isaac brought the music.  We had fun dancing and ended it all with leg wrestling.  It was so fun.  Apparently Emily and Rachel are the champions for this year but there may be some challenge rounds ahead.

Josh and Simeon

Emily and Evie

Debbie. First ski of the day

Simeon

Lucy and John

Emily and Elise leg wrestling

bracelet making

kayaking

nap time

Each night a family took their turn for a family devotional.  We enjoyed discussion about The Family, a Proclamation, Come Follow Me lessons and conference talks.  This may have been one of my favorit things to do as a family as testimonies were shared and then we knelt together in family prayer.

Natalie

Evie, Lucy and Gideon

Rachel Peter
Q, Maddie, and Henry

John and Elise

John, Josh, Elise Lucy
Jack and Nellie

Evie, Brian, Emily and Ella

Simeon

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Emily

Isaac and Peter

Simeon Wake boarding

A rainbow for me

I enjoyed a walk this morning with one of my very best friends.  We like walking early (6:10) and seeing the sun rise. This morning we got sprinkled on just a little bit.  The clouds were beautiful as the sun peaked over the mountains.  But then we turned west and found just a sliver of a rainbow. As we continued walking we  got to watch the rainbow get brighter and finally full and a second rainbow much dimmer seemed to follow its lead.  It was so beautiful.  I love rainbows. I think of God's promises and beauty after storms and hope.

As we walked I was convinced that the end of the rainbow was on Laurie's house. Her home was the pot of gold, the treasure at the end of the rainbow.  It was fun to imagine.  As we continued to walk it seemed like the rainbow moved its standing in the sky.  Different parts took their turn shining and then it all slowly faded, almost without seeing it go, just like it had come.  Stealing in and brightening our morning, our whole day if we chose to see it.

I think its interesting that rainbows are always a happy surprise.  I am sure there are predictable conditions that would help a person expect a rainbow but for me they are always a happy surprise. Perspective is an important part of my rainbow experience.  If I stay in one place then I am certain of where the rainbow starts and ends. I can see it for myself.  If I keep moving, its as if the rainbow has moved-adjusting so that I am sure it is in a new place.  Its like so many things in our experiences.  As we move (learn, grow, experience life) our perspective changes, our view changes.  What we were once so sure of now has another level of understanding and wonder. There is still beauty and goodness, color and promise but we come to understand a little more of what truth really is. And sometimes if we are just willing to see things in different ways it doesn't change the truth of an experience but allows us to see from a new side and gain new understanding, new perspective.

This seems especially true with relationships.  We think we understand a person and their reasons for what they do.  This summer we had some youth stay with us.  One of them took ridiculously long showers.  In my home a long shower is considered selfish, inconsiderate, wasteful...  I saw others irritated with this person and expressing their opinions.  After a conversation with an adult who understood this girl I learned that she was struggling with some OCD that led her to have to wash and rinse extensively.  She tried to time her showers to be more thoughtful but it was amazing how just having a new perspective shed a new light on the whole attitude of everyone.  With a little attitude adjustment we were suddenly blessed with an ability to be patient.  So many times we just don't know what someone else is going through or why they don't think like we do.

I also see this with ourselves and the goals we are working on or the challenges we are trying to overcome.  Things can seem hard, overwhelming, impossible but if we can look from a different angle or even just close our eyes and take that first step then the impossible begins to happen and becomes manageable, step by step.

Us! uncombed, clean faced, morning breath, all natural look and finding beauty and joy.