SISTERS RETREAT @ HEBER CITY

Our Relief Society Sisters had our Annual Trip to the Camp at Heber City.

Abish Camp Gound

Here we are back at the ranch in Eden with a quick prayer and Picture for posterity.

We stopped in Heber at the "Dairy Keen" for Burger and Fries

and Ice Cream then headed down the road.

We gathered at the bowery and "chatted" and laughed a lot.

Carol and Marge came up for the evening

Lindsey came for fun and to support her mom.

LouJean had a good time and came up for the evening.

We were all entertained by the "Hula Hoop" Contest.

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Dinner was next..... under the sky, in the trees,

beautiful night, beautiful company...great Food.

Chicken and Veggie "Bobs"

Fruit and Pasta

and lots-a wata

We did what all women do when they get together.

We ate...laughed.....talked....cried.....

ate some more.... talked some more...etc

Somewhere in here we took a hike around the lake.

It was short, but beautiful.

Better late than never Tif!

Add a little "Spiritual Enlightenment"

and you have the perfect evening.

We retreated to the "Yurt" for a wonderful message by Lisa and the Bishop.

Margaret must be a night person look at her go pumping up my mattress!!!

Our President in her official red hat.

Who are the "Knights"?

Where is your "Warrior" shirt?

Nedra tries to liven thing up a bit, but us old folks are fading fast!

This is Tif.....

This is Tif with her smug look ....

after Margaret pumped up my mattress for 15 minutes.....

Tif brings in her electric pump and in 30 seconds ....

her identical mattress is pumped up.

This is not right....just not right.

While the over 55 set is dreaming of "Sugar Plums" dancing in their heads....

These young moms party on!!!!

Stay tuned for day 2 Retreat.

Let's just say it was a ....."Challenge".

Catching up........Aaron's B-Day

Things have been soooooo crazy around here....

who would have thought August would be so busy.

The first big event I need to catch up on is Aaron's Birthday on August 14th.

HAPPY BE-LATED BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

I LOVE this picture of Aaron and Emma.

How cute is this?

Again, I am finding I don't take near enough pictures of my son-in-laws...

Here are 10 things I love about Aaron.

1.

Aaron was sent to Nikki....literally...I am a witness.

2.

Aaron is a good teacher [teaches Spanish at the Junior High].

3.

Aaron is always trying to better himself thru education.

He as 2 Masters degrees

4.

Aaron always is willing to take all the kid's outside and watch them on the trampoline or swing them on the swings.

5.

Aaron is a good provider finding extra ways to earn money.

6.

Aaron honors his priesthood

and tries his best to keep his family on the straight and narrow.

7.

Aaron likes Vanagan's

8.

Aaron can lay tile, hardwood, paint, plumb, and he can even sew.

9.

Aaron allows Nik to spread her wings

and discover her talents and supports her completely.

10.

Aaron is the best dad. He spends a lot of time with the three kids working, playing and having a lot of fun.

Thanks Aaron for being you and for being part of our family.

I LOVE you!

PS. Aaron really likes to fish in Montana.

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Nikki and Aaron.

THE END

Day 3 Part 1....Did I sign up for this???

Day 3 Part 1…..Orderville Canyon
WWDI

I decided to add this picture of us and the men who helped us...

just in case we don't make it back.....

Thanks Jim and Marc....

Jen’s husband Jim and Marc [family friend] came to help us rappel and also because they had never hiked this canyon. [Thanks guys!!]

According to Joe: [Internet expert about the Canyon.]
Orderville Canyon:
Orderville canyon is an amazing little sister to the main Virgin River Narrows.
It is narrower and darker than the main narrow, but that beauty comes at a cost. You will be in the water almost all of the time and depending on conditions, there may be several deep pools, some that require swimming. [the part I did not read] You will also encounter many boulders and rock formations that you must carefully scramble over, including two major obstacles that require a rappel or handline.
All this adds up to an incredible canyon hiking experience.
8.5 miles from North Fork Road to confluence with the Virgin River, 1.5 miles from there in the “Narrows’, and 1 mile on the Riverside Walk trail.

Joe sure made this hike seem shorter than it was!!

We caught the shuttle just outside Zion’s in Springdale at the “Outfitters” there. After some confusion about our reservation we headed out for a “wild” ride up the canyon to the trail head.
Sally prepped the driver who told her he and his wife had just done this hike 2 days ago and that there were 2- 40 feet swims…and oh by the way, did we bring dry clothes? NOT!!
Sally shared this information as we were getting off the Shuttle….
My stomach was in knots….but hey….it was a good day to die….beautiful surroundings, doing what I love…….with friends that I love….and I made a heck of a good lunch.
As we are hiking down a dirt trail/road 2.5 miles approx,
we encountered some “columbine” flowers and a few rocks in our water shoes.

Next is a 120 ft dry fall that marks the beginning of the Canyon.

Here we are eating breakfast. Little did we know what we were getting in to. This was a “thinker” hike….meaning you had to pay attention to your steps so you did not twist an ankle or bump a knee.

But "quiet" Marc, I think he knew and he was already "thinking".

Joe [you know the guy from the Internet] says you begin to build “character” here or “fear” as the case would be.
Since we had done the “Narrow’s” ten years ago to celebrate all of our “50th” birthdays, I expected to be in water way before we were.
I kept asking “Where is the water….where is the water?”
[Be careful what you wish for]
Here are some pictures of this part of the trail.
Slot Canyons….in the sun…out of the sun.
Beautiful rock formations.
Most of these pictures were taken by Marc who has a wonderful eye for the beauty of the canyon. Thanks, Marc

Now the canyon starts to get crowed and we encounter our first obstacles.

Here is our first rappel 15-20 feet….

I will do anything ONCE…remember?

What we didn't know was that at the bottom of this first rappel was....

MUD!!!

Here is a close up.

How did Brenda do that/no mud?

Just like always....she did it her way.........

Stay tuned for Day 3 Part 2......

We find the water......who said where's the water????