D-D-D

"Decisions Determine Destiny" was the message President Monson gave to the youth tonight before the Youth Cultural Celebration. He told them they should make their decisions prayerfully, and the best companion they can have is that of the Holy Ghost. 4,000 youth gathered at the Filer Fairground rodeo arena to perform the dances they had been preparing for 5 months. The amount of youth, the costumes, the dances, just herding that many kids - AMAZING!
President Monson is standing on the right corner of the stage looking out and talking to the youth. Justin is one of the kids in orange. Justin said he was very funny and talking to the kids as he walked up. Darren and I could see Justin, it was neat to watch him watch the prophet.

Each stake had a part showing a section of Idaho history. This is just one of them. They started with a cool dance about the Indians. Then went through the pioneers, the miners, the people who dug the canals, and made the Magic Valley "magic" - They dug 90 miles of canal in 90 days in 1905 so they wouldnt' lose their water rights. Talk about "hard things." They went through the depression, the 50's (cool dance) and on to today.
Our stake's performance was about what things we like to do in Idaho. Justin is the third orange kid up on the end of the "P"in "CAMP". I do not usually cry, at anything, but the tears were streaming as I watched so many kids perform. Watching the boys dance, some of them obviously not coordinated, yet do so well was so cool. The costumes were beautiful, the dances amazing for just regular old kids! Seeing young people do "hard things" is so inspiring! As I watched these kids perform their hearts out with HUGE smiles to the prophet on the front row, I was touched by the amazing opportunities the church gives our kids. The hours of sweat and boredom and frustration all came together to form a meaningful memory that won't soon be forgotten. Darren and I have definitely benefitted from being in the bishopric at this time. Talk about timing. The temple coming has been an amazing experience. We were one of the lucky few who even got tickets to tonight's performance, considering it involved 14 stakes. We were asked to guide tours of the temple during the open house - a task that at first seemed so daunting, yet ended up being such an amazing opportunity for us. The church is definitely made up and carried forth by lay people, because if they wanted "professional" guides they sure didn't have them. But as we learned, and watched our peers do the same, we could see the growth that comes through serving. It is obviously the spirit in the temple that teaches, not the people. Sacrifice is what breeds commitment. Having the temple come here has made us all open our mouths a little more about who we are and what we believe in. These experiences have made me want to "stand little taller" - the Lord knows how to draw out the best in us, we just have to be willing. Almost 170,000 came through the open house! Watching our community support us and come together has been amazing. Twin has been know for its "anti" attitude, the paper and everything. But have you seen the Times-News selling pictures of the temple? I think they finally realized who their audience is. The temple has sparked this here. Amazing.

First Day of School!

Do we really have a 7th grader? Wow. He has been going to cross country at 6:45 am for a week. He isn't super thrilled about it, but he's a fast runner, and good at distance so we're not letting him off the hook. Someday he'll thank us, right? That's what I keep telling myself about all the things I seem to be pushing on my kids - chores, piano, reading, I could go on and on...does anyone else feel like a constant nag? Justin has had a busy summer. He has been involved with the youth celebration for the temple. The final performance will be Saturday, after many 10 o'clock or later nights at practice for 4 months now. I know when they perform in front of the prophet they'll be glad they persevered. I can't say enough good things about Justin, he's responsible and as Darren says about him, "he just gets it".

Is it real, or am I dreaming? Did I really survive the summer with this crew? Now instead of constantly nagging to do chores it will just now switch to nagging about homework... School comes earlier every year.
Third grade - Mrs. Haskell. The house is going to be so quiet with her at school! The giggles permeate our house most of the time. She knows how to have fun, and is constantly making notes and treats for her brothers and the neighbors. Door bell ditching treats to people is her new favorite past time. She sees what needs to be done and does it. Monday we were at the wave in Shoshone and someone lost their boogie board. It was taking off down stream, and without a second thought she made the jump off the 4 ft. drop into the moving water and grabbed it!
Fourth grade - Ms. Koepnick. Brady is crazyiest, funniest and loudest, but also the most tender hearted and sensitive kid. He is always surrounded by friends, he is just fun to be around. He is ambitious in his goals and loves to read. He did two 360's on the wave on his knees! The first time he made it Justin and I couldn't believe it! He has a natural athletic ability and the aggressive nature to go with it! Watch out world.
Paige at her new desk. Get this over with mom!

Redneckin' it

It was TDK night at the Magic Valley Speedway on Saturday night and our partner told us we couldn't miss it, that it was a blast. We hemmed and hawed and finally gave in. It was one of the funnest things we did this summer. The kids had a blast! We all had to take showers when we got home to get rid of the smoke and burned rubber smell, but it was a riot. The highlight, for me, was the fact that TDK got 2 "ride alongs" for being that night's sponsors. Ken came and got us to go for a ride in the fast cars. It was actually the blue one you see above with the yellow number 19 on it! Darren gave his spot to one of the mechanics and I somehow still got suckered into it. Paige wouldn't let go of me and kept crying that I was going to die! Boy did that make me feel better, as if I hadn't already thought of that! I had to put on the helmet, and climb in through the window (good thing I had practice playing "Dukes of Hazard" into my dad's roadrunner growing up), and they buckled me into a five-point harness. The man inside was in full protective gear and the divider running through the center of the car was burning hot! It was actually pretty freaky, you go really fast then it shifts down to go around the corner and you slide to the right and feel like you're going to crash into the wall! Then reallly fast again. It was pretty cool! Maybe I have a new hobby!

They ended the night with trailer races. You bring a car with a trailer and decorate it up. The trailer you see here was dragging a toilet with a dummy on it. They race until only one trailer is left. There was one that dragged an axle with one wheel forever! Sparks were flying everywhere! Most of them ended up with only the rims of their tires - it really had a bad smell! By the end you could hardly see through the smoke. My kids are still talking about it! I guess we're rednecks now - and proud of it!

Star Valley, Wyoming

I know I've said this recently about another place we visited... but there is hardly a more beautiful place in the world than Star Valley, Wyoming. (Hour south of Jackson). My family gathers there every August for the fair and the raspberries! My dad grew up there, his sister still lives there and my grandma is in the care center there. We stay in some darling cabins in the mtns. Bald eagles soar around the fish ponds, the kids roam and explore and Darren reads on the porch. It is truly close to heaven. Saturday we floated the rapids through the alpine section of the Snake. My dad and cousin braved it in an inflatable kayak. The best part being the moment when they realized they weren't going to make the eddy above big Kahuna - they wanted in the raft for the big one! Shock and true fear appeared on their faces, one of th but they made it to the right and did just fine. Big Kahuna was huge this year and I begged Darren not to hit it because my mom was in the raft (she is not comfortable in even still water) but gratefully he didn't listen because we had a great hit and it was her favorite part!

Y not Tri?

Last Thursday we went to Boise for the Y not Tri triathlon. The race is intended to get people to try out triathlons, it is for kids, and beginners, but even seasoned triathletes compete. The distances are 1/4 mile swim, 6 mile bike, and 1 mile run. Justin and Brady each did the whole thing and Paige competed on a team with our neighbors, the Heiders, as their runner.
This is the Heider/Smith team. The pond in the background was where the swim took place. They swam all the way around the buoys in the distance. When we first got there Darren asked me privately, "Can they swim that far?" I knew they could, but open water is a little intimidating. Good thing they are fish.
Paige and her runner friend who competed on a team with her sisters (also our neighbors, we have the coolest neighborhood ever).

Justin on the dock getting ready to enter the water. Notice the size of the other kids in the race. The category was 19 and under. My heart was pumping at this point, could they swim that far?
Brady coming out of the water running to the transition area to put on his bike gear. He was the first one in our neighborhood out of the water...and he was the one I was worried about! Notice again the size of the "kid" beside him.
Brady exiting the transition area to ride his bike, Justin is right behind him. Darren was yelling at Justin to help Brady pull his shirt on, it was hard having to just be a spectator! We weren't sure they totally understood what they were suppose to do. I guess they have heard us talking about it enough (they refused to come watch the Spudman this year, boring they said) Both boys exiting for the bike ride.

This is afterwards. A little tired and hot? It was over 100 degrees when the race started. We were so stinking proud of them!
Paige coming in strong to the finish line!
Justin coming in to the finish. He was the first one in the neighborhood in, even ahead of the teams!
Here comes Brady. It was so much fun watching them and cheering them on! It is so cool to see your kids do "hard things" and then watch them feel the sense of accomplishment afterwards! It has been fun to have Darren get into tri's with me this year. (Even though he comes in at something I've been working at and makes me disgusted with how good he is,- although I can still beat him back to the dock when we swim the 1/2 mile at Dierkes, though I'm sure not for long). We enjoy swimming and biking together, (joy isn't usually what I feel when I bike with him though, it's more of a puking kind of feeling) but it is a nice getaway to do together. I'm not great at triathlons, I'll never place in my division, but something about it is addicting. It helps to keep me going, setting a goal, it feels good at the end of a race to know you accomplished something difficult, something you have had to work at. The fact that on the run you would rather just keel over dead than continue, just makes it that much more rewarding when you finish! (Sounds inviting, doesn't it?) Something about doing "hard things" is more rewarding than the easy stuff. Maybe it just gets you stoked up to be able to take on the rest of life and all the crap involved with it. And watching the kids do it was so much fun! So I ask you this, why not tri?

Twin Falls Temple

Michelle and her kids came to visit Twin after moving (totally ditching us) 2 1/2 years ago. They couldn't believe how beautiful the Temple looked sitting there as they turned the corner onto Eastland! We went on a tour with them, it is very fun to be in the temple with family and friends. Having the temple here has already been such a great experience for our family. What an exciting time to live in Twin Falls.
Shel has been my friend since Kindergarten. We were cheerleaders together in high school, roommates at Ricks College and then we ended up marrying guys who were roommates! They lived in Twin for about five years, then moved to Utah. I still feel bitter when I drive by her old house!

Surfin' Shoshone

The wave in Shoshone is running and we had to take our friends to do it. They started off above little rapid and floated down for about 20 min.
Little ducks all in a row.

The wave at the end is the funnest. Kyle jumping in.
Ally's job was to stand by and look cute.

Trevor caught the wave.
Kristen is proving she is brave by doing new things whether she wants to or not! She is tearing it up on the boogie board.

Brady could surf for a year and not come off. We have to kick him off so others can have a turn.


Kristen contemplating making the jump! It is very intimidating to stand there and jump into a billowing wave of whitewater four feet below!

Now the story gets good. Shel is trying to live up to her famous statement "I'm tougher than you think." She is really thinking hard about this one.
Trevor is telling her what she needs to do. Still thinking.
Thinking again. Getting all dialed in to jump.
Trying sitting down to minimize the distance to the water.

And she's in! Shel is still tougher than I thought! You can't come to Idaho without swimming in a canal at least once. We're glad to have such willing friends!