We're Off!

We woke up at 6:00am and shortly after that Emma came into our room.  The first words out of her mouth were "Road Trip!".  It didn't take long for her to get dressed and she didn't even complain when I did her hair!  Lennard and I both got showers and I got the last few things done around the house.  No one wanted to stop and eat breakfast. Ben got up about 6:45am.  I managed to get the kids to eat a yogurt, but that was it!  The kids played outside with our neighbor, Katie, while we finished loading the last few things into the trailer - pillows, toiletries and the last of the fridge stuff.  We had family prayer inside, said goodbye to our cat, Buddy, and locked the house up.  Uncle Scott and Duane French will be coming in to take care of Buddy for us.  We got going just after 9:00am.

We crossed the border going to Babb and it was the first time we were asked to take off our glasses so he could compare us to our passport photos.  Thankfully we got through without any issues.  We made a quick stop at the Babb post office to get the kids new piano books that we'd had shipped there and then we were off.  The kids dug into the snacks and pulled out their tablets to play on.

 Stopped in Great Falls, Harlowtown, and then arrived in Hardin, MT for the night - 5:35pm (35°C)

Everyone was happy to get out of the truck.  We got the trailer plugged in first thing and got the AC going.  It was so hot!  It took a couple hours to completely cool down.  We had tacos for dinner since it was too hot to cook anything else.

The campground had an 'ice cream social' at 7:30 ($1.50/scoop).  It was quite ridiculous. The ice cream was all sitting out.  The building was dirty and stinky.  Then, when we paid, the kid had to find change...hidden in a dirty broom!  Then, we had to tell him what we needed for change... gag!  At least the ice cream we picked was good (and we provided our own bowls and spoons!)

Lennard and the kids watched a movie for a while and I read a book.  We had prayers at 9:00 and after a little convincing Emma finally fell asleep.  Ben went right to sleep!  Lennard and I made it until 9:30 and then we crashed too.

Setting Apart

We had a very special experience on Sunday when each of us got to be set apart as part of the Nauvoo Pageant and as special representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the duration of the pageant.  The bishop then went on to give each of us a blessing with very specific things for us.  It was such a wonderful moment to see how excited Emma and Ben are to go be in the Pageant. 

Ben was told that he would be able to have a sensitivity to the Spirit and that he'd be able to share his testimony by his actions and words.

Emma was told that she'd be able to find ways to be a peacemaker and that she'd be able to meet new people and develop good friendships with them.

I was blessed that my mind will be at ease.  (What a blessing for me at this crazy time of preparation!) I was also told that I'd have an increased degree of patience and endurance.  One point of my blessing that struck me was when I was told that I would have the ability to connect to and feel the connection with ancestors long passed and that I will be able to share testimony with those around me of that connection.  It makes me think about the prompting I had to research my ancestors last month and make a small book about those who were in Nauvoo and in England at the time these pageants are portraying.

Lennard was blessed that he'd be able to anticipate the needs of our family and be able to fulfill them.  He was also told that he would have an increased amount of faith in the priesthood authority and that he'd be able to call upon it when necessary.

It made everything so much more real!  We really are leaving this week and will soon be in the thick of things in Nauvoo.  We have talked about it for so long that it's strange that it's really coming...and soon!  I pray that however things go in Nauvoo that we will be brought closer together as a family and we will have a stronger testimony of this gospel.  What a blessing it is to get to participate in these pageants!

New Bedding

For the over a year, Emma has been struggling with a lot of anxiety and because of that, she has been waking up in the middle of the night and coming in to our room to sleep in the floor.  Most of that time she would wake us up too, so it's been quite the undertaking getting her to sleep through the night and in her own bed!  We've worked really hard and with lots of help from some outside sources, she finally started sleeping in her bed!  We promised her that if she could stay in her bed all night for 30 nights that we would buy her new bedding... and she finally did it!  Hooray!  

She was SO excited to get her new quilt and sheets... especially because it has her favorite colors... teal and purple!  Good job, Emma.  Keep up the good work!  We sure love you.

Library Program

The big kick off for the Summer Library program was today.  They had so many fun activities for the kids that as soon as we got registered the kids took off and I pretty much didn't see them after that! (They would come check in every once in a while and then take off again).

I had a good visit with Shannon for most of the time.

Ben is anti pictures lately.  He wasn't very happy today anyways... because he finally has a loose tooth!  He was having a hard time eating his hot dog because it hurt.

Candy Parade

Since the Raymond parade was on Monday this year and the kids started swimming lessons that day, the Coaldale Candy Parade was the first parade of the summer for us!  It was a bit warm as we didn't get there early enough to find a place in the shade, but we had lots of fun anyways.

 The kids loved seeing Uncle Roger and his truck all decked out in the parade!  Too bad he'd run out of candy by then!

 The kids ended up with SO much candy!  Yikes!

 We even got a head of lettuce!

After the parade, we all went to Roger & Trisha's place for a potluck picnic.  It was great getting to sit and visit with everyone that was there. 

We weren't able to stay long since we had to get to Mindy & Dan's before they left for their family reunion.  We also had a list of things to do and get for Nauvoo (again).

Beazer Bonding

We got invited back out to Beazer today!  The kids were thrilled (and so was I!).  This time I completely unplugged, put on my swim suit, and enjoyed every minute.  We waded and visited together while the kids rode tubes down the river.  Katie came out for part of the afternoon and then after she left, Payne's and Lennard showed up. Cody brought Gwen (fresh from her super long nap) and got there about the same time as Lennard did.  

We made our way over to the picnic area and I got changed into dry clothes. Lennard had gone and bought us some chicken and spuds for dinner.  Cody did up tin foil dinners for his family and Crystal and Jeremy had all kinds of snacks that all the kids gravitated to!  It was such a perfect night.  We all sat around the fire chatting and Cody even pulled out his guitar and played a bit.  The kids raced around playing and exploring... it was wonderful!

 I can't get enough of little miss Gwen.  What a little dolly!

Ben loves Gwen and had her giggling lots!  It was well after 8:30 when we finally gathered up our stuff and headed home.  What a wonderful night bonding with great friends.

Busy Week

The kids started swimming lessons on Monday, so we've been busy with that every morning.  I've had a few chiropractor appointments, etc.  Anyways, we made a quick trip to Lethbridge to get a few more things organized for Nauvoo and on our way in, I looked in the back and saw our two funny kids.  It made me laugh to see Ben sucking on his water bottle with his feet propped on my seat.  Emma looked completely relaxed stretched out.  Time goes so fast and I want to remember these moments... especially because they weren't fighting (at that moment)!  

 We went out to a new Chinese food place and had a buffet dinner.  It was pretty good food, but too pricey for us to make it a regular occurrence.  When Ben opened his fortune cookie, we all laughed and thought it was appropriate considering our upcoming adventure!