Young Women's Camp

Wow!! It's been a roller coaster ride for the last 2 months. We made it through Young Women's camp. What a long road to get there though. It was a ton of work and thank goodness I go camping quit a bit and had a good idea of how much food to feed people. We ended up having a little more than necessary.

We had a variety of weather; rain, snow, hail and then sun. We even had the coldest day on June 17th recorded in 115 years isn't that funny. I told the girls to expect anything because I was going to camp with them. I forgot my camera so I didn't get pictures at camp.

Our first night it rained and actually rained one of our tents out only because the girl brought her tent but had no rain fly, thanks to the promptings I had before we left we had extra tents. We moved the girls into what was suppose to be the leaders tent for the night and the leaders slept in their cars. Not the greatest nights sleep I've ever had camping.

The second day we switched out tents and the second seemed to do better although I thought my dear husband had put the extra tarps in and found out after camp that he told me where they were and just assumed I had gotten them in. Anyway, thanks to one of the stake people we got another tarp to cover our cooking area. I suggested that next year the person in charge have 2 tarps per tent and two for cooking and sitting areas. Down pour was worse the second day. I didn't hear the girls complain that their stuff got wet, so I believe that it wasn't too bad. I still had one tent we could have put up if the need arose.

The third day was a great day we woke up to sunshine, snow on the ground, and ice on most of our stuff and clear skies, and it remained that way all day and all night it was wonderful. It remained clear after we left camp. I'm still recovering from all the late night and early mornings along with all the unexpected things going on at our house this weeks.

I'm home and dry and thankful for the roof over my head and the access we have to all the needs in life. Thankful for a Heavenly Father that loves us. Thankful to the Savior for giving his life that we might again live with Heavenly Father and our loved ones who have passed on before us. I'm grateful to my wonderful husband for all of his help, love, and understanding, I could not have done this without him. There are so many things to be grateful for, there is no way to express all my gratitude.

We did go on a 6 mile hike before camp and I have pictures to share. Now with all these responsibilities filled we hope to go on a few camp outs and trips as a family.

Our Thursday Soccer Game!

It was cool to watch my team play yesterday. They are actually learning. I've been working with them in stopping the ball and turning it around. I have one particular player that is trying really hard. He actually stopped the ball yesterday and turned it around. So what I am teaching them is sinking in. It's just taking time.

It was really cold so I'm surprised they did so well. They are learning how to pass the ball and work together as a team it's pretty awesome. I'm very happy that it is actually starting to look like they're learning to play the game. I have no idea what the score was only that they did their best and had as much fun as they could in the freezing cold weather.

WHERE'S THE GOAL?

I'm baffled. I think one of my players has decided that's it's more fun to kick the ball into the other teams goal, hence helping the other team win. I think the score was 6-4 in favor of the other team. Of the six goals scored only 4 were actually kicked by the other team. I kept telling this child to stop the ball and turn it around. He kicks the ball hard but can't control it. OH boy!

I asked the other coach if he ever wondered what they were thinking, he said that he thinks they're just thinking: follow the ball, follow the ball! It's funny, but sad for the rest of the team, it was a blow to lose because one of their own team mates can't control the ball and is very relaxed about coming to practice. It's not fair to the others that are working so hard.

This week is going to be a better week. It has to be. Bumble ball and all. They definitely look like a hive of bees fighting over the same flower. It's sad. I hope it does improve.

The frustrations of U6 soccer!

With coaching the U6 teams this year the coaches are refereeing the games, so any pictures I get I will post. Hopefully some great parent with take some pictures and send them to me. Things are going okay. Have you ever heard a child say, I don't need to come to practice, I'm already a good player? These kids don't realize that they gain so much more than just learning the game, like learning to play together as a team. I have so many frustrations with this age group. They play in a ball, which is driving me crazy and even when you tell them to spread out and get them to spread out, they end up back together in a ball. Oh ya, they fight their own teammates for the ball. Help! I've forgotten how to reach 5 and 6 year old kids in soccer.

Not to mention if they don't want to do something they lay down in the middle of the field. What's up with that. Yikes! Patience is a virtue right. I've just got to be patient. How much do they really learn their first year and remember? Should I worry that I'm not getting through to them? I'm working with them on gaining control of the ball. I found a new drill called keep away and the kids are teamed up and try to pass the ball to one another to keep it away from the other team. I didn't have a good turn out to practice tonight, but I plan on doing it again.

One of the dad's gave me a good idea to keep them apart, to tie a rope between the kids and there can't be any slack in the rope it has to be tight. I didn't get to try this today but will on Monday for practice. I'm hopeful that this will help them learn to leave space between each other. I don't remember having this big of a problem with the first team of U6 kids I taught. I do remember them doing cartwheels during the game and running after butterflies and watching airplanes flying over. I guess it's normal but frustrating.

One other thing at our game we even had kids talking smack to each other. We had a nice talk about sportsmanship. I was totally blown way that they would do that at this age. We have a game on Saturday hopefully things will be better.

Who ordered the snow anyway?

Okay so the weather wasn't that great on Thursday, most of the kids were going to be gone for Spring Break weekend, we ended up doing soccer practice in the snow. It was very wet and cold. Needless to say, they could all control the ball because the ball wouldn't roll very far. It was fun and at least the ones that came prepared for the cold weather still had fun.

Our second practice on Saturday was better it was actually warm enough that you just needed a jacket. Of course, that's when the kids think they don't need them anymore.

Dalton and Caitlin were both throwing up on Sunday so everyone stayed home Sunday and Monday, trying not to spread the germs. Now Jim is sick on his birthday. I'm glad we celebrated yesterday. It was definitely better to have him at least well enough he could keep down his birthday pie. Today is a different story. He is down right miserable.

Our first soccer game is tonight at 5:30 p.m. and it should be interesting.

Oh ya, it's raining, poor kids these games are some of the hardest games to play and their first one is going to be in the rain. I know they'll still have fun. Bring out the raincoats and warm clothes. At least they can wear warm clothes under their uniform.

Spring, Soccer and Snow

What do all of these things have in common? It is spring and time for soccer excepting the fact that there is snow on the ground. Somehow I think I'm cursed. I got talked into coaching Dalton's soccer team and you can probably guess what happened? It snowed on the first day I tried to practice. Since it's a U6 team and 6 out of the 7 kids have never played soccer I decided it would be better to wait and practice on a day it's not suppose to snow. Hopefully Friday? Not sure how that is going to go but we'll see. All of them are really excited to play, but it was snowing pretty heavily and I didn't want any of them to get hurt on the first day of practice. I'll post pictures as I go about soccer.

Normally we get rain and that's okay, but I don't want to deal with snow and soccer. Although, the kids will probably enjoy it because they can make snow angels when they're done playing just like some of the High School soccer teams did last night that played in SLC.

We even had a power outage this morning because a branch hit one of the transformers, it was out for about an hour. My older boys were excited because they thought they might get out of school early, but the city got the transformer fixed so they have a full day of school.

Important things!

Have you ever thought about what is really important. With so many people around me being affected by cancer and many other health issues, it drives home the importance of family. Although, we are here to make it through this earthly life, we have the support and love of family. Why does satan try to side track us from what is important? Yes we are to work hard provide for our families and be successful, but to who's standards is success measured. I think we have to turn to the Lord and he will help us know what our measure of success is.

An education is important without one it is very hard to provide for our family, it is also the only thing we take with us, besides the love of our family, when we die. We can't take the riches and possessions of this world so why not take the time for family. Then there are good things that can be used for bad as well and can take away from our families and from God.

I find that even with my own family that sometimes the things of the world interrupt our scripture study, prayer and meditation time. I find sometimes, well a lot of the time, that the stuff that I'm doing isn't necessarily bad, but it takes time away from my husband and kids.

What kind of message do I send my children if the only thing of importance to me in this world is based on working and surviving day to day. Do I teach them about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do I affect their lives in a positive way. What about the lives of the people around me do I touch them for good or do I run over them or neglect them. Do I pay attention to what Jesus would do if he were here.

I think satan works so hard to distract us so that the family will fall apart and he can steal those who are struggling away to his side.

I feel strongly about, The Family: A Proclamation to the World an excerpt I wish to share with you is:

"The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

I continue to strive everyday to live the life I know I should. To live to become like Christ.