Summertime, summertime, sum sum summertime

We enjoyed our time camping in Sointula this past weekend. We saw a few new things at the beach we hadn't seen before. Sointula is a neat place. The weather was great, no rain!! It was nice to get away from home for a few days. We heard baby eagles up in the tree above our tent. We saw 3 cruise ships go by. We caught a couple of frogs from the pond. We went to the light station Sat. night and roasted wieners by the beach and visited with friends. Sunday morning we went to the beach and left on the 11 ferry for we had church to attend at noon. We were a few minutes late but thanks to fly lady it was only a few min. because all the boys had their clothes ready before we left. We rushed home, 2 of us showered, we changed, they ate and then we left

3 of the boys have been swimming each weekday for swimming lessons. They are enjoying them and the weather has been sunny but a bit breezy. It has been this way all week. The wonderful part of wind is that it keeps the fog away! The boys had a couple of water fights this past week. We went over to the school parking lot and rode bikes with friends. It is great having freedom to do different things and enjoy our little piece of heaven on earth.

Reading is always on the list of things to do during the summer. Drew and I are reading the latest Harry Potter story to the boys. Drew finds it amusing that some nights he reads us to sleep and we have to recap what we missed the next time we read. After each chapter there is always a chorus of "read more" so he KNOWS when 'we' are sleeping, he KNOWS when ' we're ' awake....Drew, Carter and I have read Kenneth Oppel's Airborne. We agreed Dexter would like it and have encouraged him to read it but he hasn't started it yet. Hyrum found a book that he enjoys, The Boy Who Drew Cats, adapted by Margaret Hodges. Alick enjoys any story with pictures so he doesn't really like hearing all the Harry Potter stuff but likes to listen anyway. One other book Drew started reading, before Harry Potter interrupted, was The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. It is the prequel to the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I am looking forward to reading Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume, to Hyrum for he will be going into Grade 4 this Fall. So Now that we have shared some of our stories for the summer with you........Please tell us what you are reading or what you enjoyed reading as a child/youth.

A Season of Service

You don’t have the power to make rainbows or waterfalls, sunsets or roses, but you do have the power to bless people by your words and smiles... You carry within you the power to make the world better..."
—Sharon G. Larsen
Ensign, May 2000

There have been times in my life when others have helped me when I didn't have the strength to do all that was required of me as a Mother and Wife. Now that life is on a easier plain I am enjoying the time I can help others. I try to have the boys help when they can as good Cubs and Scouts should. In the last few months we have stacked wood, babysit, watered plants and made meals. It is the little things in life that make a difference in the lives of others. I have a friend that found a good deal at the flea market out at the dump. For 2 bucks she got 6 pieces of lino that was left over from someone's reno job. One day she phoned me and said "Are you busy today?" Nope. So she came over and that afternoon we lined the inside of my cupboards. She cut the lino to fit the shelves. I cleaned out the cupboards and sorted through them. It was a wonderful act of love! Here is a challenge for you.................find one act of service to do each month. Good luck and enjoy making the world a better place. I know I am. =0)