When I booked our Disney trip I had completely messed up with the timing of FSY - For the Strength of Youth. I had written down the wrong week that I thought Ellie was attending. Because of that she ended up missing the first half of the week. Immediately upon returning from Cali, she had to get her suitcase and head over to Utah State for the FSY camp. We were proactive and had her packed before we left for our trip. This was also why Jessi ended up going to Disney with us, they had planned to attend FSY together and both were hesitant to attend alone and because I felt so bad about my mixup with dates I thought having Jessi join us would help.
So they both mustered up their energy and headed to FSY.
Well it ended up being one the best experiences for Ellie. She loved it so much and was super sad that she had not been there the whole week. She loved her group, her counselor, staying in the dorms, the spirit she felt while attending, the dance where she danced with boys, all of it. After getting home she was ecstatic and it was so fun to see her so excited about it all. She still talks so fondly of it. What a great thing the church has put together for the youth. I have a friend who worked as a counselor when it was EFY and she said there is data about the number of kids who stay strong in the Gospel is positively impacted by their attendance in EFY. She shared the numbers with me, but I can't remember. Anyhow, after seeing Ellie after attending I can see why. The awesome thing is, since we moved she will get another chance to attend in 2023 because our new stake is in the rotation this year for it. I also want to look into having her attend an HEFY (humanitarian Especially for youth) because I've heard that is an amazing experience for youth as well.
Lazy July days in the pool.
We have yet to get Riggs swimming in the pool, but he sure loves cuddling up to someone on a floaty.
The reason we bought this house and made the big change - time together.
At the end of July I was able to join my friends for our annual Wellsville Mountain traverse run/hike.
The Wellsville Mountains are so beautiful and although there are many areas that are super steep and the trail runs along a steep side where if you fall you're probably dead, and I hate heights, I still love overcoming those fears and accomplishing the traverse. The beautiful early summer sunrise is always breathtaking (so it the initial climb, literally LOL).
The steepest, longest part of the climb, looking back into Sardine Canyon one of the many rewards.
The views are so breathtaking. I don't have a bunch of pictures, but I do in other blog books from years gone by.
Little Riggs, growing and growing.
We went in for a check up to see if this girl has enough progress to start braces and it turned out that Dr. Guymon said she was ready anytime. Well there's no time like the present so that same afternoon we went back to have her braces put on. So starts the beginning of 18-24 months of monthly sore month and some nagging about brushing well, for that beautiful smile. I always tell the kids how fortunate they are to get braces as a kid, I had HORRIBLE crooked teeth and couldn't get braces until I was old enough and had a job to pay for them myself.
One of many awesome portraits that Ellie has drawn.
She is so talented.
Only a few days before he starts his mission, I took advantage of having a third driver to have him drive my friend and me up the canyon for a long run. He was a willing driver to get up early for us.
Ethan and all of his friends who are also serving missions wanted to have pictures taken together with the flags of where they are all serving. There is one friend missing who had already left and a few of them pictured were already in Home MTC. I felt lucky to be able to be here and take the pictures for them. My heart was/is so full thinking of the willingness of these young men to put their lives on hold, sacrifice all of the comforts of home, family and friends and devote their lives to serving the Lord. When I think about what they are doing as well as all they will learn from the experience it amazes me of their willingness. Also, to think of all the lives they will bless in doing this work. So great!!
Another really cool thing about this is that with the exception of Antarctica, every continent is covered in where they are serving. Their friend Adam who has already began his mission is in Nebraska. The other places where these boys are serving include Australia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Germany, Kenya, Philippines, Spain
As I stood there waiting to be told what to take pictures of I listened to these friends laugh and talk together. I continually teared up thinking about the friendships they have and that they all have the same goals and purpose in life. They have found support in each other throughout the years. I know several of them pretty well and know that they have not just chosen this because all their friends are doing it. They have a testimony of Jesus Christ and in Heavenly Father's plan. I am so grateful for these great young men who have been wonderful influences and supports in Ethan's life and in who he has become. I know they will meet up again after their missions, but it will not be the same. I stood here witnessing as their lives were coming to that place where everything ahead was different than where they were coming from. It is the beginning of a new chapter for each of them and for some they may cross paths again, maybe for a moment, and for others maybe their friendships will last a lifetime. Only time will tell.
The same day we attended the temple with Ethan where he went for the first time to take out his endowments. What a special evening this was. To be in the house of the Lord, know of His plan for us and to have this experience with Ethan was so great! So grateful for the friends who were able to attend this session with us, DeVon & Lee Labrum, Russ & Katrina Guymon, Rob Arnold and Ethan's friend Brennan.
The same weekend included the Sunday that Ethan spoke at church.
It was fun to have the Adams' family and grandma and grandpa Krohn come the day before and enjoy time in the pool and just hanging out. Grandpa even got in the pool with the kids to swim.
Sunday was a great day. Ethan did a great job speaking and sharing his experience preparing for a mission as well as his testimony. We had several family members be able to join us. We were sad that Aunt Patricia and Aunt Shauntay and their family were ill and unable to come. It was nice that family members who lived far could join in online and listen to his talk.
Aunt Kathy took this picture and shared it with us. They watched with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Larson.
Riggs dressed up in his Philippine colored scarf.
I had a huge mom fail for this event. I did NOT take ANY pictures of the get together and all of the friends and family that came share this special day with Ethan. So many friends and family came to support Ethan. It was great to have room and a place in the backyard to host a large group. Two of Ethan's friends also had their farewells this same day so that made it tricky for him, but he was able to attend his friend Colby's Sacrament meeting.
Our friends the Reeders were able to come and Sunny took these pictures of Ethan and Kayson. These boys have been friends since Ethan was about 5 years old. (Seems like yesterday)
