The Great & Mighty 144

Tonight we went to the World Jamboree Celebration. It always feels bitter/sweet to have an amazing experience come to an end, but luckily we still have our committee reunion to look forward to in October.

The program was filled with encouragement, council, song, testimonies, and challenges for the boys. Throughout the evening this group was referred to as “The Great and Mighty 144” and were repeatedly told they would be the future leaders of our church, community, and nation. A lot is expected from these young men, however, they have amazing leaders to help them succeed.

After the meeting, we went to thank Presidents Gibson and Dahlquist. When we finally got to the front of the line and I had just started talking to Sister Gibson, Caleb showed up. She said, “Oh, is he yours? He’s one of my favorites!” and then proceeded to give him a big hug. It’s nice to know he has other mothers looking out for him.

I am so grateful for the scouting program, for the doors it has opened for Caleb, and for the mentors who have come into his life to teach and encourage him. Scouting has been such a blessing in our lives.

The Choir (wow, these boys can sing!)

Different

I’m about to have a heart attack with the thought of sending Caitlin to junior high and I’m not sure what’s at the root of my crazy anxiety.

We have successfully sent Caleb to junior high and high school (we were even out of state on Caleb’s first day of high school) and he did just fine. We didn’t take him to school to find his classes, didn’t have him attempt the combination on his locker, or worry about him having seven different classes and teachers. I also didn’t worry about him attracting friends who would lead him astray.

With Caitlin, it’s just different. I’m not sure if it’s that fact that she’s our baby, or if it’s because school has proved to be a challenge for her, or if it’s because she’s a girl and I know how teenage girls can treat each other, or if it’s all in my head. Today Caleb and I took her to the junior high with schedule in hand, and showed her the path from class to class and the layout of the school. We found her locker and tried the combo, we showed her where the bus would drop off and pick up, we got her a school map with the names of the teachers, and when it was all said and done, she was even more lost than before we got there. She wants her dad to take her back in the morning for one more go at finding her classrooms before 7th Grade day on Thursday, and then the first official day on Monday.

I guess when all is said and done, I want her to make good friends in junior high, I want her to experience success and accomplishment and to actually like school, and I want her to grow into a young women with a sense of who she is and what she stands for.

Yes, I think I might just have a heart attack before the week is over.

One Last Summer Getaway

This past week we drove south for a few days and enjoyed one last family getaway before school starts. It was nice to see family, nice to have a change of pace and scenery, and nice to do some fun things to end the summer.

The first evening of our little trip, we met my parents and sister, Toni for dinner (thanks for driving out of your way to spend time with us!). Then we went to Grease at Tuacahn.

The next day we visited my grandma and aunt, went to a family fun park, we ate frozen custard, Caitlin and I went to a movie, the kids went swimming, Clint worked from the hotel room (not planned, but necessary due to some unforeseen craziness), and Caitlin and I went to Little Mermaid, again at Tuacahn. While we thought Grease was good, Little Mermaid was excellent. Very, very cute show.

I think for the most part we’re ready for school to start, although I’m a little sick about sending Caitlin to junior high. We’ve played, shopped for school supplies and clothing (except for Caleb who insists he doesn’t need anything new…sigh!), we’ve cleaned and organized the bedrooms and closets, and now we’re just kind of waiting for something to happen… one more week.

Downstairs

I’m venturing downstairs today with trash bags in hand and every cleaner I own for the BIG CLEAN before school starts. Time to de-junk the kids rooms of all the things that may have accumulated there over the summer, organize closets, wash bedding, and dust the day away.

Honestly, having my kids bedrooms in the basement is a curse and a blessing. It’s way too easy for me to pretend nothing beyond the stairs exists. Blissful ignorance…

A Little Bit of Everything

The weekend is coming to a close and I’m kind of sad because it’s one I’ve been looking forward to for awhile.

First, it has been wonderful having Caleb home. He had such a great time in Sweden and Denmark. This trip was everything we could have hoped it would be and we’re grateful for this amazing opportunity (I can say that now that the disgusting laundry he brought home has been washed multiple times and is now put away). We got an ear full of stories and experiences the first night he came home and he continues to remember things that he shares. I hope to get some of his photos uploaded soon… but not this week!

On Friday I went out with some of my oldest and favorite friends. I love this smart, talented, good-hearted group of ladies. We started with dinner at Zupas, then creative fun at Color Me Mine (we needed way more time than 2 hours), and topped the night off with frozen yogurt. We stretched this night out as long as we could and have decided our next GNO is going to be an all nighter.

On Saturday we did a ton of yard work. Too much yard work for one day. Clint thinks he’s too old for the “To Do” list we were trying to accomplish, and Caleb about died of heatstroke. He’s not used to the dry heat after spending most of this summer in 70 degree temperatures. Luckily for us, some of our sweet neighbors arrived with shovels and helped us get it done.

Last night Clint and I went to a dutch oven class/catered dinner. It was a ton of fun spending the evening with our neighbors and friends visiting, learning, and eating the yummiest dinner. We had pork chops with apple and almond stuffing, scalloped potatoes. mushrooms and asparagus, parmesan cheese bread, and blueberry and raspberry cobbler. The mushrooms were my favorite. Oh man, they were so, so good.

   

The Boys are Back in Town

From Copenhagen, Denmark to Keflavik, Iceland to Quebec, Canada, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Home. Over 6,000 air miles and a 24 hour travel day, they finally arrived shortly after 11 p.m., more than five hours late.

Welcome Home 2011 World Jamboree Utah LDS Contingency!

   

Crap

Latest update from the Leaders:

“It’s now 11:30 a.m. and our plane just arrived. We will board shortly. Our 12:00 noon departure looks doubtful.
Same plane. No movies or entertainment.
Sun Country Air 8805”

“Our flight has been delayed. We are going to arrive at 7:15 p.m. in SLC.”

Update:

“It's now 9 p.m. tonight – see you then.”

Jamboree: Last Update From Abroad

Over the weekend we’ve had a few updates about the boys and their final days in Sweden. They experienced a Cultural Festival Day and Closing Ceremonies. They are now enjoying time in Denmark before the long flight home.

From Brother Hall- This is a photo of the crew after dinner and a fireside given by President Gibson (first counselor in the Young Men general presidency).

Information from Leaders-

“Parents:
Today is our last day in Rinkaby, Sweden. The boys are packing up their bags, collapsing their tents, and going out for a final day of trading. We have to have everything cleaned up by 5 p.m., at which time we will move locations to the LDS tent area, where all 160 of us are sleeping tonight. We will go to Closing Ceremonies in the arena, then back to the group sleeping area to sleep for a few hours before we catch a bus at 6 in the morning for a two hour ride to Copenhagen. We will then switch buses, and head to Frederiksborg Castle for the day.
We love and miss all of you and are having a great time. Everyone is healthy and happy and looking forward to our Copenhagen leg of the trip.”

“Yesterday, Sunday, was a very good day, though it didn't start out that way. We stood in the pouring rain for about an hour and a half waiting to get on a bus. We and our stuff got pretty wet. However, by the time we arrived in Copenhagen the weather had turned and we enjoyed a sunny day.
We got off the bus in Frederiksborg, which I may be misspelling. We ate lunch and went inside. It is a large castle on immaculate grounds. The most significant room for us as LDS is a small antechamber just off the castle's chapel which is full of Carl Bloch originals. The halls around the chapel also have coats of arms of people knighted in Denmark. The two of greatest consequence for us were Lord Baden Powell, and the only American, Dwight Eisenhower.
Despite being told at least ten times that we could not sing in the chapel, in the end Floyd (Floyd Hatch, Contingent Leader) prevailed and we sang. It was really cool. Never doubt the power of prayer, faith, and Floyd's determination not to take no for an answer.
After that most of the boys went looking for food, as usual. I went and explored the grounds, which were immaculate.
Then we got back on the bus and went to a chapel. The members of that ward had worked for days to prepare a traditional Danish meal for us. We enjoyed pork loin, potatoes, gravy, cabbage and pickles, followed by a rhubarb/berry dessert soup with cream. After ten days of camp food, the cultural hall was pretty quiet other than the clinking of silverware. We then had our own sacrament meeting, which was incredible. We heard from a missionary who goes home this week, two of our boys, President Dahlquist (Council President/former Young Men General President), and then the Temple, Mission and Stake Presidents. We also sang one last time.
Last night we checked into our hostel and went to bed.
This morning we are at the temple to do baptisms.”

Copenhagen, Denmark LDS Temple

Frederiksborg Castle

The Summer Spent as an Only Child

Just a few days to go before Caitlin will have a full-time brother again. This has been a strange summer, but it has also been rather nice for us to have extra one-on-one time with our girl.

While we didn’t go on any trips this time around, some of the things we’ve done together these past few weeks are:

• Swimming
• Cheesecake Factory on Cheesecake Day
• We’ve seen every kid movie currently in the theater (except for the Smurfs)
• We registered Caitlin for junior high (and paid all the stinking fees, ouch!).
• Several late night frozen yogurt runs
• We had an excellent dinner at Ruby’s Diner. We loved sitting on the patio under the big trees with lights, the live music, and the great food.
• We went to The Sound of Music at the Sundance Resort. We invited my friend Betsy to go with us and we all cuddled together in blankets, under the stars, with our Sundance suckers on wooden sticks.

• We’ve been working on our Personal Progress together, you know… trying to make progress.
• We went school shopping in Park City. Caitlin does not like to shop, but she has big opinions about her clothes these days. Her favorite purchase by far were these little cuties. I’m pretty sure we won’t be able to stop at just one pair either. She already has several more colors and patterns picked out. They are pretty addictive because they are both comfy and cute (I got the silver glitters for me and love them, except for the trail of sparkles they leave behind).
• Tomorrow we have a birthday celebration with Caitlin’s cancer support group and the Park City Arts Festival.

   

In Sweden, the boys are just waking up to their last day of Jamboree. Today will be spent breaking camp and packing, making last minute trades (Caleb better come home with his scout shirts and not a kilt or kimono), saying goodbye to new friends, and going to the Closing Ceremonies. Early Sunday morning they will be heading to Denmark for the last two days of their trip.

World Jamboree (ad nauseam)

Well, the boys won’t be home for another week, so the updates will just keep coming (and so will the blog posts, ha ha) until they are safely home. I loved the latest article in the Deseret News, especially in light of how the boys moaned and groaned about having to wear cowboy hats while in Sweden. I bet they had no idea how these hats would set them apart. In some photos we’ve seen, it looks like they are having new friends sign them.

Here’s  a link to the latest Deseret News article-

Deseret News Article 2

***UPDATE*** Our one and only email from Caleb came today. In typical Caleb fashion, he wrote-

“Hey,
Having lots of fun and meeting lots of people.  For some reason my debit card isn't working, can you call the bank and see if they can work it out? Thanks.
Love, Caleb”

         

Here’s a link to the the most inspirational getting out of debt story I’ve read in a while-

Debt Story

I thought we were making sacrifices to get out of debt, but our experience was a piece of cake compared to what this man has endured.