THE LDGs GO TO GIRLS CAMP

There is Beauty All Around!

LDG = Long Distance Grannies, and that is what Nicole and I were this week at our stake's Girls Camp.  We were in charge of crafts and service.  And everyone called us the LDGs or Grandma Nicole and Grandma Sundy.  We decided we would just embrace the role of grandma and "become" grandmas to all 96 girls!

LDGs and loving it!

Both of us are decidedly NOT camper material, but we truly loved the girls and the relationships and the gospel, so it "worked."  Yes, it was hot.  Yes, there were lots of bugs.  (I even took a shower with Charlotte and her egg sack a few times.)  Yes, there was hiking and smoke from fires, etc. etc. etc.  But there was also laughter.  There was joy.  There was teaching moments.  There were amazing young women who are striving to become what Heavenly Father wants them to be.  I'm glad I got to participate.  And, believe it or not, I'm excited to go back next year to see all my new grand daughters.

Here are some photos (but I'm only posting pictures of the girls from whom their parents gave me permission).  There were so many that I took pics of that I can't share, but love just as much!

The Shelbyville Ward Ladies

I was lucky enough to be called as a camp leader for ONE girl!

I lovingly called her "My Girl!" all week.

I met all 96 girls - and "My Girl" is one of the best!!!!

"My Girl" has a terrific sense of humor.

She is extremely kind.

Her spirit is HUGE!  And her testimony of Jesus Christ is even bigger!

I truly love this young woman!

The sad thing?!  She got sick and had to leave camp a day early.

This was the service project.

We made hexi-flowers for a quilt for hospice.

The Leaders day 1

(Some of the leaders didn't stay the entire week and were replaced.)

Nicole and I single-handedly SAVED the Faith Walk.  The Faith Walk was an amazing activity the last night of girls camp where the girls receive 24 bottles of water to cary.  We stored the H2O at our cabin outside.  Nicole and I happened to notice that some of the bottles of water were open and unusable (about 20 bottles).  Upon inspection, we noticed teeth marks, etc.  We determined that racoons were being stinkers.  SO we tattled on them.  With the help of our amazing priesthood leaders, we moved all 2,350+ bottles inside our cabin to protect them from the trash pandas.  And being me, I TOTALLY took credit (with my cohort grannie) for saving the Faith Walk.

Another girl I call Mine because she'll be in my seminary class.

I LOVE this girl sooooo much!

A few creative young women decided they needed to paint their hands.

It made me laugh.

Yes, that is a frog!

There were tons of itty bitty frogs.

The girls loved them.

I have a picture of three girls competing to kiss

one of these little critters to see who will get the prince!

Our fearless leaders were AWESOME!!!!!!

I wanna be just like them.  I learned so much from them.

Meredith and Teresa

Nicole's husband, Josh, and Scott also went to Boys Camp at the same time we were camping.  They sent me some pictures and I love it!  I gotta share OUR boys too!

Scott and Josh

These guys are truly amazing!

Nicole and I are so blessed with some of the best husbands ever!

And I'm SOO glad that Nicole shares her sons with us too!

I'm gonna lovingly call them Jello (on the left) and Jambalaya (on the right).

I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father allowed me to have a spiritual, yet exhausting, week with some of His elect daughters of God.  I'm grateful I was able to associate with them.  And I hope I was able to be a bright spot in their lives.  Being in nature with these great girls allowed me to share my testimony with them and have some special teaching time.  I truly do love the Savior!  I'm also beyond blessed for another grandma who made all of this experience bareable.  I love you, Nicole!

LIFE KEEPS HAPPENING

We had friends over for a Memorial Day BBQ.  And these cute boys were difficult to photograph.  I love them all!  They make me laugh.  (The difference between taking pictures of my daughters, and my friends' sons is completely opposite.)  

Silly Boys eating ice cream!

Never a dull moment!

Luckily, my sister took a picture of my own son, Skylar, and it wasn't too bad.  Apparently he's good at using a sling shot.

My Skylar!

My other son, Cody, decided he's run a marathon.  Apparently he's good at running.  (Ha ha ha!)  He enjoys it.

My Cody!

And a beautiful picture of my Colorado Daughter, Sheila:

My Sheila!

I finally got my awards for winning a couple of Table Topics competitions at Toastmasters.  I am really enjoying my Toastmasters club.

Ridiculous?!  Maybe.  

But really fun!

My dear friend, Jan Melanson, came to visit her grandchildren.  (I really wish they hadn't moved 7 years ago.)  They are staying with us for a couple of weeks so they can spend some quality time with her grandsons.  I love her so much!  Anyways... they are staying with us.  And yesterday they blessed their newest grandchild.  And we got to share in all the fun.  

My Jan!!!!!

Nettie, Me and Jan!

I love these two!

Blessed!

And then there is my adorable grandson:

This guy knows he's cute!

Showing grandma his clean room.

He's got moves!

He loves dancing!

Skittles shared his clothes with his stuffed Sloth.

I absolutely LOVE this boy!

There is nothing better than having a red-headed grandson!

Words are inadequate to express how much I love and miss him!