Summer

I had started this post and then was going to add pictures but my on the ball husband got it done and posted. Included is why there is a picture with the car on its side.

I can't believe it has only been 3 weeks since I last blogged. So much has happened in that short time that it seems like it has been months. We've had near death experiences, summer heat with swimming, gardening, a new calling, a destroyed and partially replaced kitchen, and family to help enjoy everything. As a result there are a lot of pictures that I would like to share but won't to save everyone from Mower overload!

Grandma and Grandpa came for the yearly 4th of July visit. We had decided to spend it in the tiny town of McCarthy and visit the ore mine of Kennicott. McCarthy is a very interesting place located in Wrangle- St. Elias National Forest. It is an 8 hour drive from Anchorage and 60 or so miles is gravel road, not a very wide gravel road. On our way in a large truck, going very fast pushed us off into the soft shoulder and we started to slip down the embankment. I am so glad that Matt was the one driving and not me! He was so much calmer than I ever would have been. Our angels were working over time as we hit the lone standing clump of trees that kept us from rolling all the way down the side. We had so many people stop and offer help. Nobody was hurt, the air bags didn't deploy and we became very well known. It's hard to forget our crew! As we offered a prayer of thanks, Carsten kept assuring us that the gospel would help us. The sweet spirit that was there despite being stuck in the middle of nowhere with our car turned over was so calming to each of us. Luckily there was only a minor dent in top of the car and some scratches.



Our visit to the Kennicott mine would be pages long but the short and sweet version is, it was AWESOME! The boys were giving the tour by the end and we couldn't have had a better guide. He went right along with my little inquisitive group.


It was HOT! I know 85 doesn't sound hot to most lower 48'ers but up here it may say 85 but feels closer to 95. Our theory is that you are closer to the sun and the since the sun doesn't go down it just gets warmer instead of cooling off in the evenings. So we brought out the pool and made slip and slides and ate lots of popsicles. As result my garden and flowers went nuts. It's been so much fun having soo many flowers. I've also been enjoying the fruits of our garden.


I have a received a new calling to work with the Young Women. I'm very excited but very nervous. I often times feel not much older than them. I've felt my self being prepared and the promptings to do better at my scripture study and prayer. It's funny how this happens, the preparation for something that will truly change you and your family. As we look at our schedules for the next school year and I think back to those early days in Pullman when I was longing for some things to do. What was I thinking!!! My calender is already full for August.

Along with the full calender in August, school will start! Now I'm not excited to have Sophie and then Benjamin gone all day but the fighting has become too much! The kids do really well together but they have their limits. Sophie wants to do her thing and the boys aren't always game for that. The noise level always seems to be on high all the time. I might be able to catch up on some laundry and have the bathroom clean for at least 2 hours before the ring around the tub appears again.