Girls' Camp

SO, for those of you who don't know, I am directionally challenged. I have THE hardest time finding places. I should have a compass or GPS permanently installed in me. I envy people who can look at maps and everything falls into place for them. I have the hardest time just remembering where I parked my car in the commissary parking lot. I have no doubt that one day I will drive too far when I am lost and end up in a different country. Since we are only about 45 minutes from France, this is not a joke. I have a love/hate relationship with my GPS. When it works well, I adore it. When it tells me that it is recalculating, and I haven't done anything but listen and obey that superior snotty voice the whole time, I hate it. Today, I loved it. I had to drive about 1 1/2 hours up to Girls' Camp for our Church so I could give a lesson on Courage Under Fire. When first asked to participate at this 'Boot Camp' for girls, I thought I would be the Jillian Michaels of the gang, coming in and whipping those girls into shape with some pull ups and push ups. I had my whistle and weights all ready. Then I found out that although the whole experience for the girls is called 'Boot Camp', I am supposed to teach a spiritual lesson. Uh oh, and I was SO looking forward to yelling "Drop and give me 20!!" I really love the young women of the church. It has always been my favorite calling, so I tried really hard to give a talk that would leave a good impression on them and inspire them to always have the courage to stand up for what is right. I found some great talks that I used, some stories, and a few quotes. The girls were attentive and no one fell asleep, so that was a good sign. I told them one of my heroes who I looked up to for having exceptional courage is Colton's birth mom. They LOVED our story of Jenny's courage and strength and wisdom. I even caught one girl with "sweaty eyes" (aka crying) when I told the story. I think personal stories really help make your point. Anyways, the girls were nice and I'm glad I was able to do it. I am even more glad that it is over now because I have been worrying about it for the past 3 months!! I was also worried that I would never be able to find the place on my own, but I was on my GPS's good side today and it didn't tell me that it had to recalculate once. I bought a new skirt to wear for my talk. I picked it out hastily after the movie the other day because I was shopping with all four kids which limited my time to look for something to about 2.4 seconds. The funny thing about my skirt is that it looks like it is crocheted. The bottom of it resembles something very near and dear to this family: Here's a picture of me and my favorite 2 year old after I returned from Girls' Camp this afternoon. Sean, can you tell what the bottom of my skirt kinda looks like? (Think MASON!)

Ok, I just looked at the picture and its hard to tell so I'll just give this one to you: BLANKIE!!! The bottom of my skirt kinda resembles the edging around Mason's beloved and treasured blanket. He picks at the crocheted edging around his blanket until the thread unravels. He has been picking apart the edging of his blanket for the past few months and I am worried that soon there will be none left. So, this morning when he saw me in my skirt, he went right to it and started to try to pick at the bottom of it and pull it apart, just like blankie. I put a stop to that pretty quickly. Anyways, I really missed my kids today while I was gone at the camp. It took a long time driving up there, talking, and coming home. I put Jaxon in charge and he did a great job. This is how fast I was driving on the autobahn to get home:

I was doing 90 mph not because I was pumped up listening to sweet 80's music that I blasted in the car since it was just me and no Disney movie was playing the background, but because I really missed my kids and couldn't wait to see them again. I know, I probably shouldn't be taking pictures while driving at certain high speeds, but this is Germany. 90 is nothin'. I get passed all the time.
Yesterday, while I was finishing my talk, the younger kids played with Jaxon. They have officially enrolled as his students in the class he is offering this summer: "Zombie Destruction 101". You see, Jaxon has a fairly good imagination for a 12 year old, and lately, he has been a bit obsessed with magical creatures, mythical creatures, and zombies. He is glad we live near a church since it would provide adequate defenses for a zombie attack. After singing another round of "There's a zombie on your lawn" he took Ella and Mason outside on the lawn to train them in the art of defending against zombies. They were willing and able participants who quickly excelled in the use of a spear and cross bow. I can honestly say that I now sleep a little sounder knowing my kids are prepared in case of a zombie attack.





Mason has been showing off his muscles all day. He keeps telling me to look at them. Then Ella joined in and we "ooh"ed and "ahh"ed at her enormous biceps. They asked to see mine, and I asked, "Do you have tickets to the show?" They replied, "What show?" Then I flexed and said "The GUN show!" Hee hee!! Here are the kids flexing:

Nope, no picture of my bulging biceps. I'll just make you all come here to see the real deal. Oh, one last cute story. The other night we were reading scriptures and I read how the Nephites were not prepared to fight and went into battle without arms. Ella got a horrible look of shock on her face and said, "Wait, they didn't have any arms? What happened to their hands? They couldn't pick anything up?" Jaxon and I explained that "arms" is another term for weapons. "OHH!!" she said, very relieved. Too cute. And guess who was the best behaved for Jaxon when he babysat today? DRUMROLL PLEASE...................................

Yup, that's right. Ella was an angel while I was gone. And she even got rewarded when I returned since I had picked up mail and her new church shoes, or princess shoes if we must use the correct term, came today. She was so happy to wear them.