May Wrap Up

After busy season we did a work event and Redline racing. They had go-carts and a really cool track. It was a ton of fun. They had a bunch of races to see who could put in the fastest lap. Then they took the 10 fastest people and put us all on the track to race. I had the 3rd fastest time and in the final race I immediately passed 2nd and ended up finishing 2nd overall and won a fun little trophy. 

Austin loves books - but he doesn't love reading on his own. However, I told him that as soon as he finished reading the 3rd Harry Potter book on his own, we could watch the movie together. That served as great motivation and it has been so fun seeing him in his bed reading at night. I took this when I went to check on Austin and he was still up reading. I was supposed to tell him to go to bed, but when I saw him reading, there was no way I was going to tell him to go to bed. I took a picture and let him keep on reading. 

Austin asked me to take a picture with this water balloon he made. He was having so much fun. 

A tickle war between me and the kids. I'm sure I won. 

Lucy with a picture of her feet. Also, a picture with her and her fruit snacks at church. Right now she likes to line them all up, then she grabs them all in one hand and shoves them all into her mouth at the exact same time. It is so funny. 

My Dad over for dinner on Thursday night. 

We went on a hike with the Newbold's. We've had the chance to hang out with Jason and Sarah a few times the last 6 months or so and it was fun to hang out and go on a hike. 

Dinner at Jenna and Kevin's house and Shantel with her Grandma Knowles. 

Stake Primary Day Camp: Power of the Book of Mormon

Purpose: Primary Activity Children in the Thanksgiving Stake will gain a sense of belonging as they see that they are part of a gospel family that is bigger than themselves. They will make connections with those around them and strengthen their own spiritual foundations. This activity will draw them closer to Jesus Christ as they learn about the Book of Mormon and feel the power that is contained there. Our theme is "Power of the Book of Mormon".

I'll be honest and say that I thought last year's Temple Celebration Day Camp would be our last one as a Stake Primary presidency and I was a little surprised when once again we were planning a stake day camp. This was our 3rd Day Camp, and 5th Summer. 

2020/2021 - No day camp/Covid

2022 - Step Right Up - Carnival Theme

2023 - Saratoga Temple Celebration

2024 - Power of the Book of Mormon

We are definitely learning and adjusting each year. This year we had a large committee and even so I was worried that it wouldn't all come together. But it did and it was beautiful. I'm in awe of the incredibly talented people who worked so hard to make this so special. This was not a calling for them, we just asked for their help and they did something amazing. I'm so grateful for them and for my presidency who supports me and helps things like this actually happen! 

In Come Follow Me this year, we are studying the Book of Mormon and I loved that our day camp theme was "Power of the Book of Mormon". It was so neat to emphasize the power that created (wrote/translated) it, the power that it testifies of (the power of Christ), and the power that we receive from it.

The gym was decorated to look like Old Jerusalem. We gathered donations from people on the committee, people in the stake, and even had a connection with the event department at UVU's Institute who let us borrow a bunch of things. 

We started by talking about Lehi and Nephi following the Lord and leaving Jerusalem and how, from the very beginning, it is a story of faith and the hand of the Lord.

The kids then rotated through three stations:

-Craft: Kids will made mini- golden plates, learned about how difficult it was to write on the plates, and how Joseph Smith used the power of God to translate the plates.

-Physical Activity: Book of Mormon Stories. There were three different activities planned, each centered around a different Book of Mormon story. (We rented large party games and did this outside.)

One was a large circle that they had to walk on to get from one place to another. This will be tied to "Nephi building a body and crossing the sea". Another was a giant twister game - "enduring to the end" and "keeping the commandments". The last was a giant tug of war game and a white shirt with "Holy Ghost" was given to an adult who helped that team to win. 

 It ended with a testimony that the stories matter because they show that the Lord was there for those people and we can have confidence that he will be there for us. 

-Spiritual: Tree of Life Walk. The kids learned about the story of the tree of life and then completed a simulation of the tree of life story (set up in the font room). Fruit snacks were hanging on the tree at the end. The committee members testified that the Love of God is available to all who seek it.

The closing was held back in the gym which had been "transformed" into the city of Zarahemla (instead of Jerusalem). We had video projector set up in an awesome archway, representing the Temple in Zarahemla, and had moved all. of the plants onto the stage to create a lush focal point. We talked about the focus of the Book of Mormon and then played the Church video of the Savior appearing to the Nephites. We testified that the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and bore witness of the love Jesus has for them. It was beautiful. 

I asked one of the committee members to take on the responsibility of feeding the committee volunteers lunch between the morning and afternoon session and it was another example of how delegating to other people instead of trying to do it all myself just ends up so much better. 

This was a special day camp and I am grateful that I have had so many opportunities to bear testimony of the Savior, His love and the love of our Heavenly Parents. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and hope that the primary children of our stake were strengthened and supported in their understanding of how the Book of Mormon can bless their lives. 

 

Walker Calendar

As a student at Utah State, I began learning how to use photoshop. I worked in the computer labs and one of our labs was a graphic design lab with all of the software students needed for those courses. I started teaching myself photoshop and enjoyed playing around with photos. I started to use those skills professionally when I was promoted to be the Public Relations Manager for the computer labs instead of just a lab worker, among other things, I was responsible for digital and physical signage for the labs. David encouraged me to take a Photoshop class, even though it didn't have anything to do with my major - just because I enjoyed it. The skills that I learned during my work and education led me to start my own wedding announcement design business: Red Ladder Design. I have stepped back from that business right now, but it was such a wonderful opportunity, and I still use those skills in my calling, for friends, and for personal projects. 

When I was at my house this last month, my dad pulled out this calendar that I had given them for Christmas in 2008.  This was one of my projects that I created for my photoshop class - turned Christmas Gift. (It had to use photos and shapes or something like that). My dad pulled it out and was expressing that he didn't want to throw it away because of it's sentimental value but that it's hard to take every sentimental thing when you're downsizing to a home half the size. I told him I would scan in the pictures and then he could throw it away. Here are the scans of the calendar tops, filled with pictures of my family and childhood. Maybe next year I'll create a Shutterfly calendar for them with these files for the top. Or maybe I'll just put them here and enjoy walking down memory lane for a day.