Eeee got home from Youth Conference today and I was very happy to see her. I gave her a hug and kiss and then sat on her lap. Diddy told her how good I was for Grandma and how much fun diddy and I had together. Eeee told us that she had a fabulous time....here is the report,
in eeee's words...
I am going to give Dallin a little break today from having to report for me....
Our theme for Youth Conference this year was "The Spirit Rocks" and let me just say that our youth conference rocked. Instead of the leaders being in charge of YC we asked that a couple be called to help facilitate and run YC...my (I consider very good friends) the "As" got called and let me just say that they did the most fabulous job ever. From start to finish it was a terrific YC. The As put together some fabulous games and activities that not only brought the kids closer together (and they are already a tight knit group) but these activities also helped to build the testimonies of these kids and it was so amazing to watch. We had some of the most terrific times filled with laughing and crying (and of course a little yelling because often times 12/13 year old boys and girls can drive you crazy...sometimes the 16/17 year-old boys do too).
For YC we went to a place called Reid Ranch and it was great. We stayed in a huge lodge with lots of fun amenities. The food was not horrible and the weather (after some rain the first afternoon) was almost perfect...not too hot/cold and a good amount of sunshine and cloud cover.
We drove up on Thursday and after checking-in, lunch and some time to hone up on their archery, putt putt and horse back riding, the kids were introduced to the theme, put in their "teams" with matching tye-dyed t-shirts, and played a fun game that helped the teams to work together and bond a little. It was funny to watch how when the teams were first assigned, some of the kids were not exactly pleased with all of the members on their team, but after the first game they began to work together and did great for the next couple days supporting and encouraging one another.
Later in the day a few of our girls put together a scavenger hunt, lead by scriptures...the teams seemed to have a great time running to the different areas of the ranch to get the next clue...I felt kinda bad, because I thought that the last team to come to my area was done and I led them VERY astray on their next location, possibly taking 1st place away from them...oops!
To end the night, we joined together for a rousing evening of Karaoke...No, I did not participate, but many of the kids did and had a great time...
Here are 4 of the priests...they even had a little choreography. I wished I had taken my camera to the pool because they also do impressions of Michael Phelps and did a little synchronized swimming...
This is D (the husband of the couple in charge)....he is a fan of the Karaoke. After he sings, C (the YW pres) gives us her best impersonation of Celine. Please excuse my "not good" video taking skills, I really don't know what happened...and it is kinda long, but funny, in my opinion.
After all the singing we had a great devotional about judging others and then watched the movie "Return with Honor"....for those of you who have seen it and liked it, I am sorry...I did not like it at all....
Okay, so the next morning, we woke the kids up early and had them on the front porch to enjoy this.....
and to have a wonderful devotional (by the YW presidency:) on how "prayer rocks!"
After some personal scripture time...
We participated in a service project (assigned to us by the ranch staff) to clean the area around the fire pit. I ran to get my camera and they were done when I got back. I guess when you have 40 people cleaning an area roughly the size of a large kitchen...it doesn't take long. Well, we tried to get them to learn more about service. (We did go to the temple at 5 in the morning the day we left....so service was accomplished there).
Then it was time for the main event....The Morningside Ward 2008 YC Olympics.
Here are pics of the events...
Walking on water
Pass the noodle...
Love your neighbor....one person stands in the middle of the circle and is blind folded with clothes pins all over him/her...that person has a fun noodle and while others are taking turns trying to pull off the clothes pins, he is trying to whack them with the noodle...if you get whacked you are out, but if you get a pin without getting whacked, the person in middle's team loses a point. The boys always wanted to be in the middle and man can they hit pretty hard with the noodle...
Just like Nephi...
Faith toss...
And of course....a volleyball tournament. The leaders, in white, didn't participate in any of the events except for volleyball. The first game we won...the 2nd game N joined in because his daughter was on the other team...he was putting "so much pressure" on us that we cracked and we lost!
If you notice in the above picture, there is a little girl playing in the sand...this is K...she will be 18 in the fall...I'm not really sure how to even begin to explain K, so basically, she is at about a 7/8 year-old level. She is one of the most amazing girls I have ever been around. She makes me laugh so hard with her honesty and story-telling. She is 100% herself and real all the time...but because of her mental age...you can imagine the struggles she has. I am so glad that she came with us and we got to enjoy the wonderful spirit that she is...she really is amazing!
I have to share the cutest story...K really wanted to swim, so C took her to the pool. K wears a life jacket so she can float around the pool and jump in...because as she says "I don't know how to swim". Anyway, she came out to the pool, which was filled with the older boys. They were doing lots of canon balls and she wanted to as well. So they backed way up because she was going to make a "big splash" and she jumped in with the best canon ball she could...there was very little splash so the boys began hitting the water (creating a bigger splash) really hard as she surfaced and hooped and hollered for her and her amazing splash. She was so proud of herself, she got out again and yelled in the loudest voice "belly flop" then slowly crept to the edge and very slowly threw herself into the water on her belly. I laughed so hard...the boys again cheered so much, that she did it a few more times till "it hurts my tummy". I love this girl!
Okay, back to the rest, for our closing ceremonies we gave out awards and then played do you know your neighbor. And to not disappoint the youth in our ward...we played their favorite game....
They have to roll a 5, 7 or 11 (there are about 10 pair of die that go round) and they can take/steal a candy, but if they roll doubles, they have to put it back. This is probably the biggest group we have had playing at once....and it got pretty crazy and very loud...but the kids absolutely love it!
We, of course, ended the night with a devotional by the Bishop and the most amazing Testimony meeting. Let me just tell you, that the 15-19 year-old boys in my ward are just amazing. It is in us girls to share our thoughts and feelings and to let our emotions show, but for a boy to do this in front of his peers, just amazes me. The majority of our boys that just graduated from HS are turning 19 this fall and have turned in/are turning in their papers for their missions. I think by December we will have 5 additional missionaries out. And although they act like typical teenage boys the majority of the time, they are ridiculously loyal, kind and loving to one another and supportive of others around them. I truly enjoyed listening to them share and hope that my little Dallin can grow up to be just like them.
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go with the kids for these past couple days....to get to know them better, and to learn to love them more! And even though there was no cell service and I couldn't talk to David or Dallin for 2 days...I made it through and got to give Dallin lots of loves when I got home. Thanks Grandma Thompson for coming and caring for Dallin while I was gone!
Alright everyone, that was eeee's report. I will now be taking control of my blog again! Talk to you soon!
1 comment:
I watched the entire 4 minutes of that video, the entire time hoping and praying that you would eventually get up to do Karaoke...but alas, I was disappointed.
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