bruised, bitten, burned and blistered....

Cost of thousands of mosquito bites....a case of bug repellent and lots of anti itch cream

Cost of sunburns and heat exhaustion....lots of bottled water and ointment

Cost of no running water and stinky outhouses.....lots of hand sanitizer, baby wipes and nose plugs

A few days of camp songs, water fights, hugs, laughter, beautiful scenery and testimony meetings....... PRICELESS!!

From the title of this blog you'd think I had an awful time at camp. The physical conditions were extremely tough and not just because I was separated from my nightly bubble baths. The inescapable 100 degree heat, the over achieving man eating mosquito's (average person had well over 50 bites despite applying repellent every 30 minutes) and hauling in water for 5o people all took it's toll. But we all came home safe and sound with tired smiles on our faces. The amazing thing is I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

These girls are wonderful, not once did they complain to go home, and just be done. They just kept a positive attitude and helped each other find the humor in hard times. At one time during the trip I had seven girls in my car driving into Arches National Park. They just all started singing primary songs and hymns. They even sang in parts and sounded like angels, for truly they are. At one point they noticed I had tears in my eyes from hearing them, and they gave each other high fives because they made me cry with their beautiful singing. During hard hikes or during the river rafting trip, the older girls stepped up to help the younger ones. For those few precious days, I was truly honored to be around them. Testimony meeting was incredible as usual. You can't fear for the future when you here these YW and their powerful testimonies. What a blessing it is to serve in the Young Women's program. I am not ready to head out camping anytime soon, but I will treasure each moment I have with these beautiful girls. (These pictures were taken by Matthew Kho, a father to one of my beehive girls, he was there all week and took some incredible pictures, so I wanted to thank him for sending me some for my blog.)

Valorie and Camping....

These two words in the same sentence should strike fear in anybody who has gone camping with me. I know it's hard to believe but......I am not a camper. :) Don't get me wrong, I think the outdoors are beautiful, and there are so many incredible things out there to see---I just wish they were more accessible to someone like me. The following is a list of reasons of why camping and I should stay a respectable distance apart.

I love the outdoors, I just don't like to wear the outdoors

I appreciate the fact that God created all creatures large and small, but likes to admire them from a distance especially the man eating, creepy crawly, stinging, biting or slithering variety.

I am addicted to bubble baths and last time I checked no inflatable tubs were available. Good idea, although finding hot water to fill the thing, could prove to be tedious.

I enjoy the ability to regulate climate control with the push of a button.

Dirt and bugs...did I mention them already?

I am not a fan of extra protein in my food that wasn't originally part of the recipe.

I have an affinity to being clean!

However, the most important reason I feel camping and I don't get along is...

I was sent to this earth in a place and time of modern conveniences. Heavenly Father had good reason for doing this, so who am I to change that? :)

Girls camp is coming up next week. Although from the above list I sound like some unappreciative girly girl, I truly am not. I do not have separation anxiety from make-up, and perfect hair just bathtubs. :) Although I struggle with some things about camping, I do know what a beautiful world we live in and I am looking forward to seeing some wonderful things as we go to Moab next week. Plus I get to spend time with 40 incredible young women. I just had to take a moment and poke fun of myself and my concerns about experiencing the great outdoors so up close and personal.

memories made...

A few nights ago we had some long time friends over for a BBQ. We don't get together much because some live far away, (like Arkansas) but it's always nice when we can. The above picture is all of our children together. I can't believe of how fast they have grown. There are three families represented-- ours, the Marshall's, and the Browns. Most all of us went to the same high school, so it's always fun to make new memories as the years go by.

Cassie and I went to a mother daughter activity a few weeks ago and here is a picture they took. She is such a sweetheart and we have good times together. She always makes me feel young and I love having her for a daughter!

back in time...

Today, Kelly, Ryan and Mark had the opportunity to dress as Union soldiers from the Civil War era and march in a parade firing black powder rifles. (The younger kids carried toy guns, in case you think I've completely lost my mind!) They had a large cannon also and had a great time. I guess this group is going to be doing a few parades this summer so they will get lots of practice. I have decided these men of mine looked pretty good in uniform! Of course I think they would wear anything if they got to make a lot of noise while doing so. What is it with boys and exploding things?

My Girls at the temple.

I love working with the beehives in my ward. I have 16 incredible young women that teach me more than I could ever teach them. I always call them "my girls" because I'm possessive that way and since I only have one daughter, I am greedy and want more. Yesterday we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house in South Jordan. It was so beautiful and peaceful and I just wanted to stay all day. It was great to share it with my girls from church. They humored me by letting me take pictures every chance I got, but who wouldn't want to show these beautiful young women off!

You know you are a mom in the summertime when.....

the kids have amnesia when it comes their routines of just a week ago..."you mean I have to read, clean, practice the piano and sleep in the summertime? Totally unfair!"

the kitchen feels like it's open 24 hours and you are the only employee.

the only showers your kids want to have is running through the sprinklers (think if I pour soap on a slip in slide that will count?)

all the exterior doors forget how to close and you find yourself sounding like your father...why don't we just throw money out the door since we are air conditioning the neighborhood.

the house is turned into a three ringed circus...lions and tigers and bears oh my!

you've already started a countdown for when school starts. :)


That first week of summer vacation is a doosey isn't it?

Remembering Marilyn

Marilyn Christensen is Kelly's mom. She passed away 8 years ago yesterday. I haven't mentioned much about her on my blog, and wanted to take some time today to remember her. She was an amazing woman. When I first met her, she intimidated me a little because of all her accomplishments and her no nonsense attitude. But I quickly got over that, and as soon as she smiled and laughed you knew she was something very special. To this day I can still hear her laughter in my head, she had a great sense of humor and I loved to hear her tell stories. Once she she considered you a friend you were a friend to her for life. She was the most loyal person I ever knew. She sang in a group with four of her friends, and did so for decades. She was involved in Relief Society for many years and knew how to entertain and throw a party. I will always remember her favorite holidays were the 4th of July and Christmas and we still celebrate those with Kelly's side of the family every year together. She was an incredible baker. I can't make her orange rolls, but have managed to make a couple of her favorite treats that Kelly loves.

When Kelly and I were first married, we defined the role of poor college students. I remember our first Christmas, she came by, picked me up and took me shopping for Christmas decorations. To this day we still have so many boxes of unopened lights from that first Christmas long ago. (I think she at least bought us 20 strands!) When she did something, she went all out! She loved to collect a lot of things and one of them was nutcrackers. She had over a hundred in her collection and if you come to our house at Christmas time, you will see a part of her collection on our mantle. It is a way we remember her during her favorite season of the year.

Marilyn was very organized. I was always amazed how despite having seven children, doing the books for the family business and serving in her church callings she could stay sane, but she did. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary. She came to every family event and special occasion. I think that is where Kelly got all his organizational talents from, and wishes more rubbed off on me.

She had a strong testimony of the gospel. I will always remember that a few weeks before she died, and she was bedridden from the cancer, she had the bishop and stake president come over to renew her temple recommend which was expiring soon. She knew she would never be able to go to the temple before she left this earth, but she wanted to have a current recommend. That was such a great representation of her spiritual strength.

Mark never was able to meet his grandma Christensen in this life, but I know that his spirit knew her. She loved the Timpanogas temple and when Cassie was little she used to call it Grandma's temple and the Templenogas temple.

Kelly, loves his mom, and has such a special part of his heart with her. It still breaks my heart when I see him get a tear in his eye remembering his mom and missing having her here on earth with him. I am so grateful for the gospel for the knowledge that we know that we will see her again, we will hear her laughter, see her service, and feel of her love one day in the future.
Cassie who was about three at the time of her grandma's death said the day of the funeral, why is everyone crying...We will see Grandma again.