At the Gorge with the Jackson's and the Rasband's (Nick's family)

 

We spent a week at the Gorge with some of our family.  Roy had planned another ride for his club (he did one last year) for Friday and Saturday (July 11, 12).  Previous to the ride we had three perfect boating days.  On the third day Roy and I stayed at the cabin because I had an institute class to teach and Roy had chores.  After we finished up with that, we had a peaceful kayak ride in the bay.

Speaking of my institute class: this semester I am teaching "Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel" and my students are all from West Africa.  I have found that I have to listen very carefully to understand their comments.  When I can understand them I learn from them.  It's been a great experience so far.  

Bevy and Effie eating chips on the boat.  It's an essential boating activity.

 

Camden and Sara

Bevy, Effie, Mav

Harvey

 Max, Ori, Harvey, Effie, Bevy, Mav, Avie, and Cam 

Mav spotted this garter snake which thrilled Nick.  He went with Mav to find it.  He says he's never found a snake in the wild in Utah.  He has 17 (I think) snakes as pets.

Hiking Day

Camden and Nick

The clouds are always amazing

Hiking on the non-boating day (none of the kids went with grandpa on the ride on Friday.  Sara went both days and Max, Ori and I joined on the Saturday ride).

Ride days

Friday's ride was a desert expedition.  The TV crew from "Adventures You Love" went along for the ride (they've done two other episodes with the club).  In this picture Roy is being interviewed for the show.

The NUATV Club.  Max is in the middle of the picture but Ori was taking the photo. I'm by Max and Roy is by me in the yellow vest.  Sara is in the back on the right.

We feel lucky when we're able to finish our trip to the Gorge at the rodeo.  Several of the club members stayed in the area after the ride to attend the rodeo, too.  

Camden won this watermelon.  The youngest group had to race to the 5 or so watermelons and sit down to claim it.  Cam and Harvey raced together and were both standing by it, but only Cam remembered to sit down (it may be that he heard his mother yelling "sit down!")  Harvey was pretty sad that he didn't win.  Cam wasn't too excited about the race at the beginning.  He was crying when Sara took him down to compete.  The older group (11 and up) did a calf chase (get the ribbon from the tail) and a boot race (6-10 year olds) where they leave their shoes in the middle, the clowns scatter them and they race to get their shoes back on.

Elise, Bevy, Andy and Maverickyroo (I think I've said this before, but I'm the only person who is allowed to call him that).



Church in Manila.  Effie, Cam, Bevy, Avie. Ori, Maverick, Max and Harvey

I had dinner with my friends while everyone at home enjoyed a final dinner with the Jackson's before they left for Georgia.  Andy leaves for Kansas on Sunday.  These are my friends from elementary school and Jr. High.  Karen Gardner-Dee; Anne Davey (my best friend growing up; she lived two houses up the street from me).  Me; Leann Bradshaw Hague; Lisa Badger (she's married, but she kept her own name).  Anne has long Covid and it's changed her life.  She had to rest every 20-30 minutes.  After a total of 90 minutes, she was done.

Jieun had some art exhibited at the Alpine Art Gallery in Alpine.  Her painting of the Markhor was the star of the show.  She also displayed her painting of the lion and bear cub.  Adrienne, Ila and Cub supported her.  Unfortunately, I forgot. 

Dan, Dojin, Doyeon, Yuna, Hyeji, Jieun and Yuli

Jieun, Ila, Adrienne, Cub and 2 cubs!

Catharine, Roy, Dojin and Yuna enjoying a night out together to see "Catch Me If You Can" at the
 Centerpoint Legacy Theater.  The kids seemed to enjoy it. 

Adrienne and AJ are definitely raising athletes. Gunnar is always honing his golf game.  The video shows what looked like a hole in one!  It wasn't, but it was close.

I finished up a fun two weeks studying and preparing for my lesson on Sunday.  My lesson was on sections 76-80 (I use both week's lessons to some degree).  It was a great learning experience for me even though it stressed me out.  Two things stood out to me. The first is that section 76, first and foremost, is about Jesus Christ.  It is centered on Jesus Christ and His resurrection.  He is the Savior of mankind and the only source of salvation for men and women. 

And the second thing that stood out to me was what Elder Eyring said (loosley) in relation to this verse:

D&C 17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.(Can't you just feel His love for us in these verses)!

Elder Eyring said, "We can and we must become as a child--a little child...To be like a child is not to be childish.  It is to be like the Savior."