Fourth of July Celebration!

Happy Fourth of July! We celebrated the day by going to our Ward's Annual Fourth of July breakfast. There were lots of people there. It seems to bring out all the people that we don't usually see on Sundays! We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage and lots of fresh fruit. Yummy! What a wonderful way to start our celebration!
In the evening we were invited to a lovely celebration at Kent and Jeanne's. It was terrific! We enjoyed swimming with the kids. It was overcast in the afternoon which cooled it down a little bit. Carl enjoyed playing pool with some of the other guests there. He was sure happy about that! There was a boat race in the pool with the inflatable boats. I, Debra, helped bring the B Team to the finish first! Sorry, we forgot to get pictures! It was my buff arm strength that brought us the win! After the barbeque there was a pie baking contest. Yours truly won the prize for the most patriotic pie! It was a red, white and blue Jello pie - pictured above. A gift card to Cold Stone Creamery was my prize! Yummy! I also made some Red, White and Blue dipped strawberries to share. They were a big hit. We arrived home just in time to catch the fireworks in our new neighborhood. There's a perfect spot to watch just down the street! Hope your celebration was awesome too!

Bluegrass Festival in Prescott

Last Saturday Carl and I went up to Prescott for the Bluegrass Festival and to enjoy the coolness.  Erin and Liam rode up with us.  Hannah and Sarah met us there.  Tracy and the girls actually came and enjoyed a short visit with us as well.  It bought back memories of those days when Gary and Linda lived there and we would go to Courthouse Square and enjoy fesitvals there.  We came to see one of Carl's favorite Bluegrass Bands, Blue Highway.  We actually saw them there 14 years ago with Gary and Linda.  Ahh those were the days!  Jeremy is working in Prescott Valley and we were able to stop by for a short visit with him before heading back home.  A lovely day!

My Dad

This is my Dad. (sorry it's not a really great post but the best I could do with my limited computer skills) The first picture is a picture of him with me when I was a baby.  The other picture is how I remember my Dad looking throughout most of my life.  As we just honored our Dad's for Father's Day, I felt it was fitting to write a little about my Dad.  When I was growing up, my Dad worked at the Cherry Point Naval Air Reworks facility. He worked the swing shift most of the time I was at home.  I remember a few times that he forgot his keys and would knock on the door.  Since my bedroom was closest to the doors, both front and back, I would hear him and get up to let him in.  It was kind of cool to spend a few minutes with him when he got home.  He would sleep during most of the day when I was in school.  I remember one time, I decided to pack his lunch for him.  He liked cheese and crackers with his lunch.  I wrapped them together and put in his lunch.  Do you know what happens to crackers when they are packed with something like cheese - they get mushy!  He was very kind when he told me that he appreciated me packing his lunch but reminded me not to pack them together next time.  Our family loved the beach since we lived so close.  Dad always made sure that we had several opportunities to go together on the weekends.  I remember one particular time that we went to the beach and I was allowed to bring a friend.  Mom didn't really go into the water and usually sat in the shade while we were there but Dad was with us in the water.  I loved jumping the waves and feeling the wonderful warm water.  Well, I got out in the water a little too far and there was a rip tide that day.  I jumped up with a wave and when I came down there was no bottom!  I came up with the next wave and yelled for help!  My Dad immediately came to my rescue.  I remember that I nearly choked him when he got to me because I was so scared.  He swam hard and we finally reached the shore. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life!  My Dad saved me!  He saved me many more times throughout my life by being available when I needed him in many situations. He always has been there to help me make decisions and encourage me through my trials.  My Dad is the best Dad.   Love you Dad!  I hope you feel the same about your Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there! Here is the father of our children on his special day. Most of our children were out of town for Father's Day but he did hear from all of them on the cell phone. The boys were the only ones around for the day to visit with their Dad. New shearling slippers, a fishing shirt and a camping towel were the gifts he received. I planned to make steak for his super dinner but when the package was opened it was ground beef instead so we had meatloaf. I did make bread pudding though - one of his favorites that I don't make very often. He did have cinnamon rolls for breakfast with his eggs and fruit. I did my best to spoil him like he always does for me. I have a long way to go to catch up though. He is awesome and love him so!

37th Wedding Anniversary!

Carl and I are celebrating 37 years of wedded bliss today! Well, mostly bliss:) We have had a lot of wonderful years together and some brief times of not so much bliss. We are still happily married though and especially enjoying this particular time of life! We are not retired but really enjoy the times we get to spend together which is not always a lot these days (we both have busy callings in church that take us away from each other many nights each week). We are still having fun together and almost know what each is thinking at any one time! We still don't always share the same interests but do appreciate the other's time spent doing what we like to do. Carl loves to hike the Grand Canyon and I'm not especially interested in doing that but we do enjoy hiking the smaller mountains around here together. He still loves to fish and I enjoy going with him though I sit and read or relax while he is fishing - at least we are together. We both enjoy Blue Grass Music and going to the movies. We especially love being with our kids and grandkids! That is the joy in our lives these days! WooHoo! We look forward to many more years together in wedded bliss!

Carl learned the cup game at camp!

The girls in our ward enjoyed having Brother Lee at Camp. They taught him how to play the cup game and he spent plenty of time playing it with them the last couple of days. Very impressive don't you think?

Camp LoMia in Pine, Arizona

Well we survived Girls Camp! We spent 5 lovely days at Camp LoMia. The weather was perfect - cool in the early morning and evenings but in the 60s 70s during the day. Carl was the Priesthood leader for the week and I was the 1st year certification leader. We sure had a great time with the girls. I felt much more comfortable this year. Last year I was brand new and only had a few weeks to prepare. This year I had some great ideas and our certification activities really went well. My co-leader, Tracy Moore, and I came up with some neat ideas to tie our activities to our theme "Straight and Narrow is the Way". We were working off of a theme of Broadway Plays for our activities. I made copies of several playbills and laminated them. We strung them up around our ramada with some stars. We made a red carpet runway for our YCLs to stand on while they taught their portion of certification. I made tickets in different colors that I laminated and gave to the girls for each area that we covered - First Aid, Fire Safety, Food Safety and Knot Tying. They attached them to their lanyards. My neice, Grace, sprained her toe while doing a back bend for her ward's lip sync activity and Carl went with her to the hospital the first night we were there. She was on crutches and a boot all of the rest of camp. She is good now. Carl also rescued a 2nd year girl on their hike. She fell down an enbankment about 10 feet and sprained her ankle. He ended up carrying her part of the way back from the hike. She did that the next to last day and ended up going home with a badly sprained ankle. At least this year we didn't have the stomach flu run rampant throughout camp. I think it was a very successful camp. Now I can start my summer vacation. WooHoo!