First Ever FSY experience

Emma and Callahan had the opportunity to go to the first session of the first ever FSY (For Strength of Youth) Conference at Provo the first week of summer. It was down in Provo, at the BYU campus. Here's what they have to say about their experience.

Emma -

"This summer I had the opportunity to go to the first ever session of the first FSY camp.  I did not want to go to FSY in the first place. My mom made me. However, I was soon having a great time that I will never forget. At first I was nervous about it, but as soon as I met my dorm mates, I was good. I roomed with Arianne Dearden. It was great!"

Emma made goals to do some artwork and paint a First Vision depiction, invite 3 different friends over a year, exercise at least 25 minutes everyday, and practice Spanish on DuoLingo 10 minutes a day. I love what Emma wrote in her testimony in her FSY manual - "I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I KNOW that Christ and God love us more than anyone on this earth could even a little more than our Moms." She bore her testimony the day after returning from FSY and admitted we made her go and she really didn't want to but she is glad she did. She didn't like the dances and some of the other things, but had a great experience with the classes and some of the other activities. She said she loved it and isn't a huggy person but gave and received more hugs that week than she had ever gotten. She said her testimony grew so much and she knows that this Church is true and Jesus is the Christ. I had people tell me after or text me letting me know they appreciated her honesty and experience and her humor. 

Callahan - 

"I had a great time at BYU. I love BYU's campus and I loved my councilor and the dances. I was nervous but once I got into the routine I was used to it. I was a roomate with Jace Winkler. I liked the personal scripture study in the morning it really was spiritual. I liked the dance but there was way way to many people at the dance. One night we bore our testimony with two companies. Music is powerful. I really liked FSY and want to go again in two years. I can brag to my church friends that I was the first session of the first FSY year."

Cal made a goal to learn to feel the Holy Ghost more, make a new friend (he made several), read his scriptures at a certain time and run a bit every day. He's been texting lots of friends he made, so that's been good.  He said he knows he wants to serve a mission for sure now. 

What a powerful testimony building experience it was for her. I am grateful for the programs of the church and for the truth! The Gospel is the one thing the youth today need most and glad Emma and Callahan got to be a part of it. 

Rounding up our school year as Rangers

Here's our end of school round up, yeehaw!

We have a preschool graduate here! Which means come fall, all five kids will be in school full time. Sydnie has loved her time at Kid's Club and KCDC (this was her 3rd year of preschool!). She has had the most caring and skilled teachers and staff. Preschool is the best but watch out kindergarten, here she comes!! We actually had to put in a request for her to start kindergarten, as the new deadline is August 1st, her birthday. But her preschool teachers and the kinder teachers doing the evaluation said she was more than ready and passed everything with flying colors. KCDC graduation ceremony was sweet - the kids sang some cute songs, got their diplomas, gave lots of hugs, and we did a fun run. She also got to go for a kindergarten round up at the elementary school and loved that.

Field tripping! The kids were able to go on some great field trips. Emma went on an art trip to photograph and sketch wildlife. Cal got to go to a nature reserve (which he said they saw some exotic sage grass and not much else) and the theatre since he did well on his testing. Lucy got to go to Ft. Bridger and we got to chaperone. Such a fun group of kids and a beautiful day! She also got to go to a fish hatchery and since she met her reading goals, the Cache Valley fun center. Cov got to go to Hoagle Zoo, the fish hatchery and Ft. Bridger. Wish we could've chaperoned for more of them, but it was busy with all of the accompanying going on and moving in. They felt so lucky because the last couple years field trips were axed because of Covid.

The kids got some awards for high test scores, Emma lettered in band and Cal got the most improved band member award. They brought home their work which we went through and kept their best. That took a while to sift through as some never clean out their backpacks much. We had garbage bags full from lockers, desks and backpacks! There were some fun art projects and so fun seeing all of their work and doodles.

The last couple days before school got out the PTO helped put on treasure hunts for the kids at the park. They all got to go to the park and play, do sports, and they went on the hunts. We had fun coming up with clues, sorting prizes, and running it. That day was a hit with the kids. Cov's class did s'mores too which we helped with. The last day of school we had field day! We helped with the water balloon station. The day was freezing and we had rain, hail, wind, and then the afternoon was nice. Lucy and Cal liked all of the stations, and then we had a hot dog lunch for everyone which we ended up taking all inside because of the incliment weather. Still fun though the weather didn't cooperate. The kids gave out some socks to their teachers, we were glad they had some good ones!

Then it was home to get ready for our annual last day of school party! We had a popsicle themed party. First the youngers had their party, we split it up this year. Sydnie had Ember and Tessa, Cov had Dean and Colt, and Lucy had Tayzlee, Addi, and Deslie. We made rackets with paper plates and popsicle sticks to do balloon tennis. Too windy outside to play it. Played truth and dare written on popsicle sticks. Made some crafts out of popsicle sticks. And of course ate lots and lots of popsicles, yum! A couple of hours later, Emma had Mirabel, Phyllis, Kabrie come over and Cal invited Calvin and Dominic. The girls played the truth or dare while the boys wrestled, then they all played outside, next we had a bbq dinner with hot dogs and hamburgers and the usual fare, then the kids tie dyed shirts and socks. Always a great start to summer! Let's wrangle up some more memories.