Just a year ago...

....we packed up our camping gear, took a flight to Denver,

stopped at Shauna & Daren's for the night, and then drove 6 hrs south to

Cimarron, New Mexico to

PHILMONT boy scout training camp.

Several months prior, Jeff was invited to the LDS church's annual "LDS Week" for

stake presidencies and stake YM presidents and their families to be trained

in all things scouts and how it connects to the priesthood.

When we got the invite he was estatic and even though he was 

released as the Stake YM Pres. and called to 

be a bishop just weeks before we went, we got to go any way.

The accommodations were in a "tent city" and we were split up into 

3 tents for the week.

During the day, Jeff went to training meetings

and the rest of us got to have fun - 

the kids in their own age groups with counselors 

and loads of fun activities planned, and I got

to go with all the other wives and also attend speaking events,

hikes, crafts, NAPS, etc!!

 Jeff and I even got to enjoy

a sunrise hike one morning,

complete with a trail breakfast and fantastic views!

On the 4th of July, there was a primary parade

and everyone made their own costumes with the help of their 

family out of butcher paper!!

This is what we came up with for the boys...

Monday night was a family home evening where all 

of the families introduced themselves

with a family flag we made BEFORE

we got there...

A few weeks before we left,

I received a big envelope in the mail from Salt Lake City.

It was from David L. Beck (General YM president) who basically

extended me the calling of "2nd Counselor" in the primary

for the Sunday services at Philmont.

My responsibilities were outlined for me - one of which was to teach sharing time

to the Senior Primary.

This was so thrilling for me, especially since I had just been released

as our ward primary president.

It was a culminating event for me and was so exciting to actually

teach the sharing time with Sister Rosemary Wixom present

(General Primary President).

We're buddies now.  Hee, hee.

We also rubbed shoulders (literally - look at Alec!)

with Brother Beck.

Hannah was also well-known at camp by the end of the week -

she chopped off the top of her finger with her razor in the shower

and woke everyone up in the "tent city" at about 6:30

in the morning with her cries!!

Poor thing!

Luckily, our tent neighbor was a doctor and had his bag ready to go.

A scout is always "prepared", right??

It was a week our family will never forget.

New Mexico was beautiful and we all learned so much while we were there...

if you ever get the chance to go,

DO IT! 

If not just for the food and not having to cook or do dishes for a week. :)