Summerville Stables

Grandma Shinsel and I took the kids out to the Summerville Stables for some horse rides. It was so fun to watch Grandma so giddy and excited to see the horses and show her grandkids them. Grandma loved horses growing up and told the kids all about her horse named Jip. Sydney was the first to go and she even rode the pony bareback. She was all smiles and then got to lead the pony around while Wynn and Abby had a turn. We wasn't as sure as Sydney, but he perked up once we put a saddle on the horse for him to hold onto. Abby doesn't look excited but she actually had fun too. Sydney then got to ride the big horse and got her first lessons of on how to control the horse on her own. The kids had a fantastic time and I'm sure we'll go back sometime!

New Calling

I was released and then called again today to serve as a member of the Primary Presidency in our ward here in La Grande. The other members of the presidency were released but I was the only one to be recalled to the same position. As I have thought on this change today and the people I have worked with, I wanted to write down some of my thoughts. I love that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints members are asked to hold a wide variety of different positions. I love that the Lord trusts me enough to watch over even a small portion of His children and try to help them find their way home to Him. I am humbled by the opportunity to seek His will for them and know the things I can teach and do to help them feel Christ's love for them.

 I am also grateful for the opportunity to work with all different kinds of people. It is when we are serving and working with others that we can truly come to know them. In just visiting and passing by, we aren't often given as many opportunities to learn from others' strengths and serve them when they need help. As I have worked with the past presidency in the primary and now work with new individuals, I am grateful to get to know these women and learn from their examples and life experience. I am excited that I get to work with a new group now and even though I will be doing the same duties as I was before, I will have a whole bunch of new things I can learn and new examples I can look to by working with these new woman. The Lord always knows what we need and where we need to be to grow into the people He has foreordained us to be.

I am grateful to work with the children and get to hear the simple truths of Christ's gospel reiterated week after week and feel the Spirit brought about by singing of His truths in the primary songs. I know that the Primary program is inspired of Him to teach His youngest children the gospel and start them on their path back to Him.

Water park

It has been fun to go over the Pendleton Water Park this summer. We went over for a second time last week and since the kids already knew what to expect they were eager to jump in and play. Last time we went Abby spent her time going down the kiddie slides over and over again, but this time she wanted to try jumping in the pool over and over again. Then she realized she could float in her "learn to swim" life jacket and then she practice crawling and kicking around the shallow end of the pool. Sydney was super disappointed last time we went because they said she wasn't tall enough to go on the water slide. This time, I put her hair in a messy bun on the top of her head and made sure to show her how to stand up straight against the ruler and she was able to go down the whole day without a problem. She had so much fun going down the big slides with her friend Brooklyn. I love being out in the sun and the water too, so it makes for an awesome day for all of us when we get to go. I'm grateful we have something so fun to do and its not that far away. Its about a forty minutes drive each way. Hopefully we'll go a few more times this summer, especially with Andy at least once!

Waterfall

 

My friends invited us up to go to a Waterfall past Union off of Bates Lane a few weeks ago. It is such an awesome place! There a several waterfalls actually with short little pools at he base that don't get any deeper than wading depth. Sydney loved climbing up and down the rocks on the side of the waterfall. She felt so big wandering the trails up behind the waterfall with her friends. It was a fun outing and we already went back to show Andy where it was at. Wynn's favorite part of the trip however was when some kids showed us an old coyote skeleton. He thought it was super cool to see a complete skeleton. When we went back with Andy that was what he wanted to do the most... show Daddy the skeleton!

Fourth

We enjoyed the Fourth of July parade in a neighboring town called Imbler, fireworks at the college, and a bbq with family on the fourth this year. The week before the Fourth we checked out a early learning kit from the library that talked about patriotism and our nation's history. It was fun to see what Sydney had already learned in school and teach her new things. Wynn got especially excited doing the puzzle of the US and he even recognized a few states. That made him very proud. When we did fireworks, Abby was not really a fan. She said the lights were too bright and calmed down a little once we gave her sunglasses. She did like dropping and stepping on the "Pop-It" fireworks though.