Sisters

I was missing my sisters today, alot. Not totally sure why.

So I looked up some quotes about sisters, and these were some of my favorites:

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double.
-- Toni Morrison

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.
-- Isadora James

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. -- Marion C. Garretty

A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.
-- Author Unknown

A sister smiles when one tells one's stories - for she knows where the decoration has been added.
-- Chris Montaigne

A true sister is a friend who listens with her heart. -- Author Unknown

And here is the only picture I took when Natalie visited in May:

It's not the best picture, but it'll have to do for now. :)

A quick trip to Arkansas

It turns out that Arkansas is one of the most beautiful states ever,


and is also within reasonable driving distance of Texas. We went for a quick trip to Arkansas for a Blair family reunion.

We enjoyed the weekend with all of Jeff's family. Aren't they a good looking bunch?

Anna was my little friend all weekend. I loved spending time with her and having her ask me to sit by her at all the meals.



We went fishing, or rather everyone else went fishing while I watched. :) Jeff caught 3 fish, and pretended to eat some glow in the dark nightcrawlers.

And one of the highlights of the trip was seeing the house that Jeff's dad helped to build, that their family then lived in for quite some time. We really had a good time, and felt very sad when we got home, because we know it will be too long before we see them all again.

A reason for not posting....

.... GIRLS CAMP!!!! (nope, not pregant, sorry to get your hopes up by the title :))

(Jeff had a really hard time pick me out in this picture... can you find me?)

In January I was called as our ward's girls' camp director, and I almost couldn't contain my laughter. You see, back when I was between the ages of 12-18, each year I gave my parents a really hard time about going (my mom was the ward camp director at the time), and I distinctly remember my dad saying that I was going to get this as a calling because I had given them such a hard time about going. Well, he was right!

But, anyways I was excited from the very start, and I had a blast. It really was an amazing opportunity and I got to know each of the girls so well.

Our Stake theme was Survivor, and our ward's tribe name was Toa Ho Chunk. It uses words from both the Tongan language and the Native American Language, and it means Big Voice Warrior. Pretty cool, huh?

Anyways I ended up having the coolest assistant ever (she's on the left below):

, and we had so much fun all week with our 14 girls, singing songs, having campfires, doing certification stuff, swimming in the pool,

playing in the river,

riding horses,

pranking their cabins, etc, etc. Then one the last our ward showed their stuff by dominating the certification challenge. They won the first round, and then the final round they competed against one other ward and had to light a fire and get it going high enough to burn a string above it, set up a tent, and put together a puzzle. It was so fun, and we won!

On our very first camp mutual as a ward, as we were just in the brainstorming phases of preparation for camp, we all went into the chapel to practice our camp song for the year. As we all started to sing, I had such a strong feeling that Girl's camp was/is a perfect place for these girls to gain a stronger testimony. I loved the song, and we tried to sing as much as possible. These words are a part of my testimony and I think that as teenagers in today's world these girls need to hear this message so much:

Be Strong

When the world and its temptations seem to call you by name
Be Strong, Be Strong,
When they question everything you put your faith in every day
Be Strong Be Strong
And when your trials seem like they're too hard to bear
Remember someone else stand by you
who's already been there
Be Strong and of good courage
Be not afraid, Stand firm in the faith
For the Lord will with you
Wherever you go
Be one. Be His. Be Strong

When the world tries to convince you to make the wrong choice
Be Strong. Be Strong.
If in the noise that's all around you
you can't hear the Spirit's voice
Be Strong, Be Strong,
And when you stand for something right and stand alone
Remember someone else stands by you in our heavenly home

Be Strong, and of good courage
Be not afraid, stand firm in the faith
For the Lord will be with you
Wherever you go
Be One. Be His. Be Strong

So, long story short, I wish that I had had a better attitude about girl's camp when I was young, (however, I was able to feel empathy for the girls who got homesick or just wanted to go home, because that was totally me) and I am so grateful for the experience I had this year!