With All Our Love

Dear Tanner,

I feel badly you had no letter ready for you! I almost made it two years without missing a week...grrr! Hopefully you can sneak a peek, quick enough to print and read on the go. It's weird to have come home from girl's camp Saturday to read your letter, and then find another letter to read today. Quick turn around for me.

My week at camp was entertaining, to say the least. I laughed the hardest when one of the second year girls I was over zipped her hair in her tent zipper, and was caught on her tip toes, begging for help. I did not know I 'd be running the archery range ahead of time, but am easy and can become Miss Archery in a flash. My arm turned black and blue, as there were no arm guards. I did get ace bandages for the girls to use, so only two others had a black spot. I had three shoot a direct bullseye, one being your father. He came down Thursday to run the fishing clinic for three hours, and visited me on the range before going home. It was the day of our 23rd anniversary, and he brought me a c.h.o.c.o.l.a.t.e. bar to show how much he loves me ;-) He didn't want any hugs from me...I was too stinky ;-)

I have a mild case of poison ivy from retrieving a few lost arrows in the hillside, one spider bite, a bad scrap from a log that tripped me, and some itchy sun allergy spots. I also have wonderful memories of bunking with Myra, working with Molly, cooking with Darrell, and hiking with the girls. We had a few weather related issues. The first night a major storm blew through with 60 mph winds and potential of hail. The girls were scheduled to be in the lodge, so they just stayed a little longer. I was on the crew dispatched to secure all the tents, and uncovered belongings. We finished just as the black wall broke over us. When the storm subsided we found only one tent down, and seven girls that needed new bedding. It was a long day. We had arrived at 9 a.m., and I put up five large tents before lunch. The rain was off and on every day, but when we needed it to not rain, it didn't (hikes, performance, etc.) And during testimony meeting we enjoyed a beautiful rainbow. Speaking of hikes, mine was five miles, very enjoyable among the green hills of West Virginia. We saw an owl, a baby deer, a turtle, and two downed power lines and poles in the state park. We won the most cleanest camp site, as well as the best cheer ;-)

The service project was recording information and taking pictures of names in a cemetery, that will be entered on Find-A-Grave in two weeks. It was tedious work, but very interesting. I found one purple heart recipient, and one man who lived in three centuries! (1898-2002) 

That's been mostly my week. Dad did a good job of keeping the house together, Hunter did a lot when Dad was at work. Even Larry chipped in with a surprise lunch, and your grandmother helped with their sanity ;-) Breyer was a little perturbed she hadn't been taken, as she knew it was a "girls" camp.

I know your two beautiful nieces graduated this week, and thought you would enjoy seeing them. Moriah and Hannah did this year as well, so Hunter is the only boy this year!

One of the thoughts I found for you this week was given to early church missionaries. In the Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 it says, "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." Know that you are surrounded by heaven. In all manners He wants you to succeed. Finish strong.

We love you so,

Mom and Dad

P.S. I've enclosed some pictures of my favorite house. Dad's going down to Texas Thursday morning, and will be in house hunting mode Friday and Saturday.