06/20/18 Girl's Camp

2018 Girl's Camp

Girl's Camp was a lot of fun this year. We started out early at the Isom's and were on the road by 7 a.m. We got up to camp early -- by 9 and by 9:30 we were all starving! Several of us ate our lunch super early!!!

The stake put on some devotionals and a skit for the girls to watch. The stake YCLs (all the older girls, Katie was one this year) also did a fireside in the evening. Katie sang a beautiful song. She went to camp praying for some answers to things she was concerned about and during the talk and her song the answer came. She was overcome with the spirit and even though she had practiced the song dozens of time just fine...she started crying...and struggled getting through the song. It was very touching and several others joined her in tears.

Thursday our girls put on a cute skit and then we had workshops. The workshops were really good. Sister Katrice Schimbeck talked about her grandfather and all the people the assisted him when he had a heart attack.

There was another workshop where we talked about caring for others and we wrote notes to give to other sisters.

One of the workshops was kind of fun games where one person was blindfolded and their partner had to coach them across a mind field of blocks.

Perhaps my favorite was put on by Sister Turek. She had a completely quiet area and spiritual music playing while you read inspiring stories. I felt the spirit while I read the boards.

Thursday evening the Stake Presidency came and spoke to us. They gave some great talks -- Carnevale, Jackson, Beckstrand.

Friday was ward day and we had nail art projects and a treasure hunt which ended with the girls receiving letters from their parents. It went really well. The girls played games all afternoon together and really bonded and had a nice time.

We had one girl who was really struggling with life (she admitted to being suicidal and self-harming). During the camp she started out very withdrawn and she wanted to go home. She stuck it out and by Friday afternoon a total transformation had occurred. It was amazing to watch. She came out of her shell and her personality shone through.

That evening during testimony she got up and told that she had read a book about someone dying and being dead for 10 minutes. They met Jesus during that time and felt his incredible love for them. She expressed her desire to die so she could feel that love. She then said that she had felt the love of Jesus from all of our young women as they had helped her through this difficult time in her life.

When she finished Katie got up and hugged her and then the whole entire ward got up and hugged her. It was very emotional loving time and the spirit was strong.

Holly bore her testimony on Friday night. She got up and told the girls to compare the fire to the gospel. She said if you stay close to the light of the fire (in the ring) then the light burns bright and you do well.  

However sometimes there is little pops and embers escape.  The further they get from the fire the more they lose their heat and light until they burn out. It is of course easier to just stay in and never escape. She said to compare the embers to people leaving the gospel.

She picked up one of the embers and said -- sometimes you can help the embers (or people) back to the gospel and they will do well again. Sometimes, however, they just pop out again and lose all their light and heat. (As she said that the fire crackled and more embers escaped)

She challenged the girls to stay close to the gospel so they could enjoy the light of the gospel.

Holly's version: 

While I was watching the embers from over there, I noticed how, the farther they go from the fire, the quicker the light dims. Of course, we all want to stay close to the flames, it’s warm and well lit, after all. But sometimes, we pop out. You can try to pick them up and put them back, but then they can just pop again.

While I was listening to other people’s testimony I was watching the fire and noticing how some of the embers would pop and fly away. As i watched them I noticed how the further they got away from the fire the faster they would lose their light and heat. I wanted to compare this to the gospel and say that the gospel is like the fire the more people there are the brighter the light burns, but the further you get away from the fire(the gospel)  the less bright your light burns and the faster your light goes out.

Overall the entire camp was a success. The theme was Peace in Christ -- and we truly all felt the weight of the world leave us and the peace of Christ enter our beings. Ask, Learn, Walk = Peace.

Great camp.

06/15/18 Youth Conference, Manti, Utah

9th Ward Youth at Cedar Temple

Youth Conference this year was a quick trip up to the Manti Pageant. We had breakfast at the Isom's house and a short devotional by Andy about standing out and being different (in a good way!). 

9th Ward Youth at Cove Fort

We headed up to the temple including the Beehive's and Deacons and did baptism in Cedar City's newly opened temple. The young kids had to go home while the rest of the group headed up the road. 

We stopped at Cove Fort for lunch and a tour.  We learned lots of interesting little tidbits and then were on the road again. 

Cabin Holly and friends slept in at Manti

We got up to Manti where we were staying in a really old home that was stocked with all kinds of memorabilia from my grandparents day. Old telephones, a coke room, old dolls, cracker jacks, wheaties...all kinds of interesting fun things. It was like a museum!

9th Ward Youth at Manti Temple

The kids spread out and "camped" out all over the house including in some "cabins" outside...I use that word lightly...they were old campers with wood structures built around them to make them seem super cool.  There was also a "creepy" basement that bishop and Brother Isom stayed in. 

We played 9 square outside for awhile and just hung out and had fun until dinner time. 

Holly, Shelly, Katie

We went to the town dinner -- turkey, potato, roll, brownie, green beans. The town serves 100s of dinners each night of the pageant. 

Then we walked about 6 blocks to the lawn in front of the temple. The pageant doesn't start until about 9:30 p.m. so we just hung out and waited. 

9th Ward Youth at home in Manti

The pageant was impressive. Hundreds of actor/actresses. Big lights, Sound, a volcano, a choir...the whole things was just amazing and very well done. Very enjoyable. 

Got up and headed home the next morning. 

All the girls were in a big white rented van and the boys were in Bishop Clark's truck with all the gear. 

06/08/18 Crazy week

Sometimes a week is so unbelievably crazy you just wonder what's up?! This week has kind of shaped up to be straight out of the terrible horrible very bad no good book. Only instead of lasting a day it's lasted a week!

Andy was informed on May 31 that his job was ending. That in itself is pretty traumatic and heart wrenching as a 52 year old male finds himself asking...what am I going to do for employment? Add to that the pain and suffering of recovering from a major back surgery and as you can imagine things seems pretty heavy and hard. Add the fact that really truly you aren't healthy enough to even really find and start a job at this point anyway. Also can't drive due to the medications taken to combat the pain.  In addition is the whole system shut down and possible looming additional surgery if things don't improve dramatically.

So we kind of feel like we're dealing with a lot is the point I'm trying to make. And then strange things started happening this week!

After getting fired Andy posts on facebook that he is no longer working and is sad that his career has abruptly come to an end. The next day we receive an email from his x-boss stating that the post must be removed as he is revealing trade secrets which violates a contract he signed. (ok?!) ((How are they still harassing us even after we no longer work there???)) And how is Andy not working there a trade secret?

So he removes all reference to who he works for and why he was fired and leaves the post up. There are tons of complimentary condolences from his friends and colleagues.

Now we nervously wait to find out if we (Andy and AJ both) will be paid for May's work. On June 5 Andy's money is deposited however as of Friday, June 8 AJ has still received nothing. So Andy will have to contact them yet again, unfortunately.

Wednesday I took Andy to the Dr. and got his 16 or 17 staples out of his back. We met with a Dr. Kashae Anderson, a PA we hadn't met before (we usually visit with Joe Ferguson in Fox's office). It went well and we had a positive visit.

When I got back in the office I started getting email notifications that money was charged on my CITI VISA credit card. I was curious because I didn't think Andy was buying anything (we're trying to cut out since we are on reduced income).  I was busy so didn't pursue it. Then I got an automated phone message -- which I ALMOST ignored because I've been getting so many telemarketing calls lately. But as I listened it said it was a fraud alert on my credit card. Ok, you got my attention now!!!

I immediately called in and was alerted that someone had tried to use my card:

6/6/18 VISA CITI card compromised - Case #1430205
$354 port wallet website
$235 ISMCRD
$1 Road runner sports
$1 Road runner sports
$1 Road runner sports
$1 Road runner sports
$20 Road runner sports
$50 Road runner sports
match.com
netflix.com
$224.58 SS Bangler

Thank goodness the fraud department was alert and attentive and declined all the requests to pay. The card compromised was my card (Shelly) and was immediately cancelled and a new card mailed out. However now I have no was to shop at COSTCO for a couple of days...which is where Andy's meds need picked up! Not a huge deal but kind of a pain as I now HAVE to make Andy walk over to the pharmacy every time we go! (more on THAT in a minute!)

Thursday morning started off awesome as I did sunrise yoga on the pool deck at the WCCC.  It was a really peaceful awesome class and it kind of made me melt away and forget my troubles in the peaceful solitude of the morning. And then 12 minutes to the end of class one of the guys opens up all the garage doors on the building -- which is really noisy and disruptive in and of itself -- but then also letting in all the pool crowd noise from the people inside. Needless to say the mood was broken.

I had planned to stay and swim afterward as a little reward to myself to relieve some stress. However I just had an urgent feeling I needed to get home. Andy had a rough night prior and I had put squeezers on his legs so I was worried he would need to get up and not be able to get them off. I just felt apprehensive that I needed to get home. So I just headed home right away. When I got there Katie's clock was going off and it was 6:55 a.m. I knew she was supposed to meet her friend at the temple at 7 a.m. so I thought maybe that was why I was prompted to get home right away.

I went and woke her up and then took off Andy's leg squeezers. I was about to get changed for work when Katie whispered, mom, I need you. Come here.

So I went out into the living room where she shakily told me to come outside with her. Apparently she had left her driver door unlocked and her wallet inside with valuables in it. When she went out to go to the temple she found her panel that covers the fuses off and on the floor, her glove box open and things jostled about in her car.  She thought that her wallet was gone but later found it. Fortunately her driver license and photo id's for school were all still in the wallet. However all her cash -- probably $30, her debit card and her food handler's permit were all gone. In addition some fancy pens that she liked and fruit snacks were taken. All in all could have been much worse but still smarts a little to lose that much money. Basically a days work for a teenager!

We called the police and cancelled the credit card and ordered another one. (Now me AND Katie can't spend money!! haha!!!)

And Katie was told she could not go to the temple that morning because she was too shaken up.
(Side note: We had a fireside with Pres. Nelson on Sunday in which he challenged the youth to set aside time during their week where they can do family history/temple work for the living or dead. Katie had made a goal to go to the temple every day this week and do baptisms. She was on track for 5/5 however missed Thursday after this little mis-hap.)

Thursday evening we went to refill Andy's prescription at costco for his pain medication. Because it is a controlled substance they will only release 5 days meds at a time -- so we have to go frequently to the pharmacy. He has had one bottle received from the hospital and one prior costco refill up to that point. This was his third bottle.  If you do the math he has been out of the hospital 15 days on Friday morning (day after pickup) but had only had 10 days worth of meds to last for those 14 days...so what I'm trying to say is he hadn't even taken as much as was prescribed.

HOWEVER, when we arrived to pickup they said they had not filled the prescription because he could not have the medication until June 22...a full two weeks away!!! What?!  He only had 2 pain pill left.  We told them there must be a mistake. The pharmacist came out and reviewed the account and said that it was ok to fill but now they would need 20 minutes or 1/2 hour to fill that for us.

So we went to have dinner.  Realized it was getting late and we had a 7 p.m. church meeting so we had to leave. Came back at 8:10 p.m. to pickup the meds and are now billed $20 -- (should be no charge) because we are not entitled to pick them up according to the insurance until June 22.  Sigh.

I paid the bill and left with another battle to fight!

Friday morning started out great with a much needed pool walk with Linda (who I haven't seen much of for two weeks as she just started working graves and took her nurse test yesterday in Las Vegas while I've been busy home taking care of Andy). We had a great time as we caught up on our past couple of weeks excitement and stress!  Got home and dressed and took my first bite of breakfast when Holly announced she had the flu. And had MOSTLY made it in the toilet.  Except the part that made it ON the toilet and the wall surrounding the toilet. Sigh. So put breakfast down and gave the potty room a thorough once over. It was really not as bad as some of the brother's have done in the past but still not the way I wanted to spend my breakfast time!  Poor Holly's feeling icky and has to miss Morgan's birthday celebration today. She is pretty bummed!

Amongst all this going on our house is for sale and we have showed it multiple times through the past couple of month. (It's been on the market about 60 days now).  On the one hand it's kind of awesome...the house has stayed really nice and clean as it is now required since we sometimes only get about 1 hour notice. On the other hand it's kind of exhausting to try to keep the house clean always!!!!

So I'm not sure what Heavenly Father has in store for us or what lesson we are supposed to be learning (because really it's been a tremendously difficult year really ... was relief society president, Andy had 3 surgeries and recoveries, working full time, taking care of house and yard and kids and ward family, getting out of Relief Society as Andy is put in as 1st counselor in the bishopric etc, etc, etc!!!)

In my patriarchal  blessing it talks about Heavenly Father giving me challenges that I will be able to handle and will not be weighed down by them but will find much growth and joy in them. In the past I have kind of thought...well life is kind of hard but it's not too bad...wonder if this is what he meant.

Now I'm really feeling the weight and trying to continue to find the joy in it all because it feels really heavy sometimes!!!

Many of my friends put our names in the temple over the past couple of weeks as we embarked on yet another more difficult surgery and I know that we have been blessed and buoyed by the love and the prayers offered.  I wonder too though if they are the cause of all this going on...like there is something or somewhere we are supposed to be going and the powers of heaven are pushing us in that direction and maybe we're too dumb to figure it out so strange things keep happening to help move us where we need to go.  I dunno...??!!!

I also have to say that while this has all been exhausting (5 hours sleep a night seems to be the norm lately) and difficult I really have felt at peace and guided and ok with things. I have a very strong faith that there is something coming in Andy's future that will be a job he will enjoy and it will be fine for our family. We have savings and are ok as long as we are smart about our spending. I am trying to enjoy our down time and "hanging" out with Andy and cherish this time together as I know that if he finds employment he may be gone a lot.

Youth Conference and Girl's camp are right around the corner and we are preparing for that. As a reward for being in RS I was blessed with being called to advisor in YW over Mia and Laurels.  So that is super fun and exciting!!! Andy as first counselor is also over YW so had he been well he could have come on both trips.  This is a super bummer that he's not well enough to travel that far at this time!!!

I really feel like everything is going to be ok and am just working to find out where it is Heavenly Father would like us to be.

We are promised that as we keep the commandments we will prosper in the land. I know that we will be taken care of and that everything will be ok. And I am hopeful that things will mellow out -- if we get on the right path maybe we won't need all these nudges?!  haha

05/31/18 St. George News no more

For 7 years, I have worked hard at bringing you local sports on St. George News. Last Thursday, I was told by by Canyon Media (parent company) that they were "going a different direction" and that my job was terminated immediately. I'm not angry, but am saddened that my hard work and sacrifice since 2011 was not appreciated or recognized. I do appreciate all the coaches, players and fans I have interacted with over the years and hope that my positive spin on local sports has been felt. I will still be working part-time for ESPN Radio, so at least I can stay involved. Thanks again to all of you!





On Thursday, May 31 about 10 a.m. Andy received a text from his boss, Matt Borgoyne asking if he could meet with him that day some time. Andy said of course and a meeting was arranged for 4 p.m. Andy just had surgery on his back a week ago on Tuesday, May 22 and so he was still having a hard time (using a cane to walk, unable to drive due to pain killers, etc). Even so, during the week since surgery he had compiled stats and posted several stories for St. George News online. At his prior surgery he actually was working on his laptop in the hospital just hours after leaving surgery. He truly loved and was dedicated to his job.

Andy went into the meeting and Matt said they had some differences and that St. George News wanted to go a different direction and they no longer would require his service. Immediately they disabled all his email and layout accounts so that he couldn't even look at anything at all that was in his files before we even arrived at the meeting (they started disabling his accounts at 3 p.m. an hour prior to our 4 p.m. meeting)

Andy has felt that this would happen due to some disagreements with management but it is really sad to work so long and hard and faithfully at something and have someone show so little regard for your efforts. 

No one from his company even reached out to say sorry, miss ya man, nothing. 

I know there is something else in Andy's future that will be good and wonderful but it is sad to see the other love of his life taken away so swiftly and unkindly. 

I feel like it was something that will be better for Andy in the long run --  like a bad breakup/divorce --  and that he might never have left them due to his loyalty. But now that the ties are broken the sky is the limit!

I know he will land on his feet and find another niche where he loves to work!