Jordan Oaks Stake Trek
After missing the Trek opportunity in 2020 I was eager to have my boys attend Trek. When they announced they would do Trek this year I was so grateful! I was surprised and even more thankful when Kent and I were asked to be Ma's and Pa's and could accept!
We had some great kids in our Trek family, and our boys had wonderful Ma's and Pa's! Our family, named The Family Rob, consisted of us, Dallin Jarvis (7th Ward), Rusty Leifson (1st), Truman Blackburn (7th), Jaxson Day (4th), Janelle Smith (1st) (*a story about her to follow), Lexi Loveridge (7th), Olivia Anderson (4th), and Abigail Foltz (1st). Unfortunately, Abigail could not attend so we were down a daughter from the start.
*We heard Janelle did not want to come on Trek, but I'm guessing her parents didn't give her a choice since she was there Wednesday morning. When we got to know one another at the church, she asked to go to the bathroom. We started looking for her when she didn't come back after a while. It turned out she had a friend come and pick her up. We were sad to be down to only two daughters from the start, but Lexi and Olivia did a great job keeping our family strong!
We were tired at the end of the first day and the sun was hot. Once we set up tents they had a fireside and I was so exhausted I think I may have fallen asleep. Thankfully I didn't fall as I sat on my arm in the bottom left photo. It was a tiring day!
Wednesday night after the fireside chat they had some square dancing. Seeing how awkward it was for some of the youth (boys especially) to dance with the adult leaders was so funny. My boys seemed to do alright.
The following night we had Pioneer Games and really enjoyed watching Kent and Reese Parmenter challenge each other to the stick pull! Truman Blackburn (from our family) won against all the other boys on Trek. He's one quiet, but strong kid! At the end of the evening, President Tullis spoke about building muscles, which was an answer to prayer for me. That day I ended up with blisters. It was also very dry and dusty, but still worth it.
As I said we had great kids and our boys had great families! Braxton was with the Day (DeVere and Lynda) family and Cort was with the Collings (Steve and Michelle) family.
Both couples were from the 4th Ward.
It was great getting to know the members of the stake better! We loved getting to know great leaders like Michael and Kristine Haynes and being introduced to the lovely ladies who came as nurses. Since we were asked not to bring cameras and phones I am especially thankful for Danny McBride (pictured with the guitar) who took many of these photos. I was very touched when my dear friend Kristen Hickman reenacted a sister pulling her husband along the trail. Watching her struggle reminded me of our experience with Trek at Martin's Cove in Union Fort 2nd Ward when the women struggled to get up the hill.
The Women's Pull was particularly touching when the Young Men were asked to line the sides of the trail and take a knee. I surely would have broken down in tears if I had looked at them.
I was also very touched by the Sweetwater River Crossing. Seeing the men and boys carry
the women across was a true blessing! I was grateful that Kent and my boys
were willing to carry me across the water!
The experience was great! A lot of wonderful and cherished memories!
Flag Football Championships
After Trek, we rushed home to grab Marshal and watch him play in the Championship Flag Football Game. His team played well, but unfortunately, the other team beat them. It has been fun watching him learn to love a new sport!
We enjoyed the tunnel and seeing the boy's excitement!
Braxton's 18th Birthday
Braxton decided to explore the city he lived near after our trip to New York. When he made this request for his birthday I couldn't think of a better part of Salt Lake City to explore than Temple Square and the Conference Center! We started at the Gateway (which wasn't as exciting as when Kent and I were first married) and then went to Temple Square and the Conference Center.
For Braxton's birthday dinner, we went to Bona Vita Bistro (where he went for his Prom date) and he thought it would be fun to take us there. It was a nice restaurant and we had a great dinner! Marshal wrapped up some random toys, a notebook, a kaleidoscope, and a bouncy ball to give the Braxton. He was not too impressed. lol
Primary Elections
Kent was elected a delegate and we have been anxiously hoping for the success of these candidates. Unfortunately, only two of the five made it through to the primaries. Like others, we are hopeful to see Trump back in office and see the economy improve. We are tired of seeing open borders, conservative censorship, and many other concerns! The political discord is strong this election!
Fish Lake
There was a court where we put Travis on trial this year... Spencer was the judge... Kevin was the prosecutor... Travis was found guilty of trying to cheat at the fishing contest and was sentenced to use a child's fishing pole at Fish Lake next year... At Fish Lake this year, we had a patriotic theme... We all hung out at the top of the mountain to get our WiFi fix, lol... We had a great hike to go see Pando, the world's largest tree (connected Apen tree root system)
These boys got some great fishing done... Marshal got a good-sized fish... laughing at the Kesler court... lots of hanging out... and Carl showing us how he finishes off a jug of milk.
Life in June
Marshal zonked out... Braxton decided he wasn't ready to serve a mission, so he's heading to Snow College. We decided to help him take this step by splitting the cost... Loved this quote from the Book, Courage to Be You, by Gail Miller (better view below)... I'm so thankful for a just and merciful God... Sebastian and I could definitely celebrate this "holiday"... while we were at Trek Marshal learned a love for Pop-Tarts from his cousins, Kamiry and Brayden... Looks like I've seen quite a few states, but I still have more to discover... We enjoyed attending Tanner and Brittany's sealing in St. George!
BeReal
Cort collected each color bandana from the Trek groups
just like our "son," Jackson!
Beautiful June
“Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree house; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape…” — Harper Lee
“I love summertime more than anything else in the world. That is the only thing that gets me through the winter, knowing that summer is going to be there.” — Jack McBrayer
“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.”
— L.M. Montgomery
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
— John Lubbock
“Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet.”
— Bob Marley
“Summer has always been my favorite season. I feel happier.”
— Zooey Deschanel
“Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air, and you.”
— Langston Hughes
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