Gifts of Love

Some of you know I have been working on a couple of big projects this year -- A quilt for Lauren and Steve and a crocheted coverlet for Emily and Jake.

Both projects took so much longer for me to complete than I originally expected (when will I EVER learn?), but I am finally done and they turned out beautifully. I just wish I could have been present when the surprise packages recently arrived in the mail. I even had to be satisfied with a delayed telephone response since they arrived in the evening which was the middle of the night for me -- but the girls and I still had some delightful conversations the next day.

Here is my first ever "real quilt" complete with an attachment of handmade lace (I made the lace for Lauren several years ago) . . .



And I chose this beautiful crocheted daisy pattern because it reminded me of Emily . . .



So . . . I think I am done creating heirloom wedding gifts for a while. And 401 daisy squares later, I cannot possibly crochet again for a VERY LONG time! Good thing Lissie has determined that she someday wants a QUILT as her wedding gift. Just give me about TEN years, okay Lissie?

As Summer Comes to Close . . .

We have had such a memorable summer -- A trip to Italy and Bavaria with the Clark family, World Cup soccer, summer jobs, girl's camp, scout camp, and EFY in Nottingham, England. And this past Monday Christian left for Berchtesgaden for a week with the young men of our stake at Camp Helaman (a missionary preparation and adventure camp).

Here is a quick recap of the kids' fun EFY experience: 15 hour bus rides, ferry rides across the English Channel and a glimpse of the White Cliffs of Dover, a taste of British food (granola bars and Goldfish to stave off the near starvation), late nights and early mornings, wonderful new friends, British accents and idioms, scripture and gospel study classes, winning the dance competition (Bryant and Lissie placed first and Christian and Stephani Ray second), performing I'm a Believer in the variety show, dances, game night, morningsides and devotionals. And finally . . . having to say "cheers" until next time.

Here is a YouTube link to their enthusiastic variety show performance (just copy and paste if it doesn't connect):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9IwHJVlTbw


It was such a wonderful blessing for our kids to have had this experience. Thank you Kaiserslautern Military Stake and the Area Presidency for making it all possible!

In the next the couple of weeks we will be back into our school and seminary schedules along with soccer, ballet and ballroom dance.

SO LONG . . . Summer of 2010!

I'm a Believer

In preparation for their EFY experience, the kids put together a band number to audition for the variety show. I've posted a YouTube link to their practice run of I'm a Believer by The Monkees. Lissie plays the tambourine and sings, Christian accompanies on the guitar, and Bryant is on the keyboard.
Br. Togisala (our dream band coach) is in the background on the drums.

Here is the link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9y8vAagSbQ

So, from the #1 fan of CeLeBration! . . . Good Luck CL&B at the audition!

I'M A BELIEVER!

Home Alone!

I was going to label this post as "Goin' to Camp," since in the first picture Bryant is sitting on the step at 5:00 a.m. waiting for his ride to Camp Freedom in Ansbach; and then six hours later (notice the light of day difference) Lissie poses on the same step clutching the remainder of her camp gear. She was on her way to Jugenddorf Teufelsfels, Schneppenbach, for girls camp. They both enjoyed a week of camaraderie, activities and RAIN! Bryant says they were completely rained out the first night and "allowed" to sleep in the cars. And even though his sleeping bag didn't dry out until Wednesday, he says it was an AWESOME week. Lissie is especially grateful for cabins and covered pavilions!




Tracy and I drove up to girls camp on Thursday to attend the hoedown dinner and testimony meeting. Then we spent the night and helped bring a carload of girls back. Yes, we left Christian HOME ALONE. But aside from it being really quiet at home, he only encountered one mishap . . . he burned his frozen pizza and still had to eat it!

And speaking of being "Home Alone," Tracy and I are on our own this week . . . Christian, Lissie and Bryant all left last evening for Nottingham, England, for an Especially for Youth (EFY) program. We were there to wave goodbye as they drove off (three busloads totaling about 130 youth from our stake), but the hardest part was coming home to our empty house . . . we miss them!