Exodus 2016

Last week #2, #3, and #4 had the opportunity to go on an Exodus.

What the heck is an EXODUS?

Exodus - a departure from, exiting from or a journey...

We are leaving behind the piece of our heart that distanced us from God and giving Him our new heart. A heart that loves God above all and places Him first in our lives. One heart, one mind - Zion

 Exodus is similar to a Trek, but without the pioneer theme.

Each child was assigned a Ma and Pa.

Here is #3 with his family

and #4 with his. 

#2 (Can you find her- hint she's on the left side) was on a special team they called the Delta Team.

It was comprised of those who had graduated from high school this past May. 

The Delta group was assigned as helpers along the trial. They served meals, unpacked trailers, help to pull handcarts, and befriended the friendless.

Months and months of preparation were involved, as you can imagine when you take 780  people on a 4 day hike over the mountain. Not to mention feeding them all?

 Here #3 and #4 are practicing setting up and taking down their tents.

 Exodus started up Ephraim Canyon

(Can you find #3?  - He's pulling the handcart on the left)

23 miles over the mountain where they ended their Exodus at

the Manti Utah Temple.

As they walked they thought about what things, things they were holding them back and distancing them from God, that they wanted to leave behind in the mountain.  When they reached the temple each of them made a commitment to be a new better person, to serve God more fully and love Him with all their heart.

 Pulling a handcart for four days in the mountains surrounded by God's creations and His presence, what a truly remarkable, spiritual experience, and I am so grateful my children were able to take part.

4-day Weekends Rock!

photo by my friend @ramtalk

 We had a glorious, fun-packed four day weekend.  Yes, I said FOUR DAY, and it was awesome.

#2 and #3 spent Thursday afternoon through Saturday at this beautiful lodge located in the snowy Rocky Mountains.  

Why?

They were attending our ward's (Church) youth conference.

They were able to go skiing and snowshoeing.  They played games, had a dance, and were able to have their spiritual tanks filled by two motivational speakers-

photo by my friend @ramtalk

This cute girl, Al Fox Carraway, and the amazing Elaine Dalton, former General Young Women leader for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Both of these women inspire me.  (Truthfully I'm a little jealous -I really wanted to go.) 

I'm grateful my children have these opportunities to strengthen their testimony of Christ and the gospel, but man! I miss them when they're gone.

Saturday was filled with basketball, basketball, oh, and more basketball-  Three games total.

It seems that the older my kids get, the more intense their basketballs games get.  Sometimes I just can't take it and I have to spend some time in the bathroom calming down. These games get IN-tense!  For instance, this particular game, our team came back from being down by about half to losing by just 1 -one- stinking point.  It was a nail biter.

 In between games, this little eight year old and I along with my assistant (#2) had an amateur photo session.

 We gussied her up in her new baptism dress, did her hair, and even put on lip gloss, then set out to 'try' to take some photos that we could use for her baptism invitations, and also to display.

 The weather was perfect for January.  It was almost 50 degrees, the sun was shining, and there was very little snow on the ground.

 We had such a fun time.  She was the perfect subject.

Luckily out of the 1, 227.065+ pictures I took, a handful of them turned out. PHEW-

Yesterday we wrapped up the weekend with a date to the Nickel Arcade.  As my children get older, I relish these moments when we're all together, playing and having a good time.  Family Time really is the Best Time. 

This morning it was back to school.  Today is the beginning of our second semester, which means the school year is half over.  WHAT?!  It's going way too fast!

Be True

I'm so grateful for the opportunity my children had last weekend of attending Youth Conference.

#2 and #3 went. (The age limit was 14-18)

The theme was Be True

Be True to the Strength of You-

"You must discover who you are and who you can become to accomplish your divine mission. . .Each of you must find out for yourselves your relationship with God and to 'Be True' to your foreordained missions."

Be True to Zion- 

Serve others and build others up

Be True to the Savior-

What distractions are keeping me from coming fully unto Christ?

(They talked a lot about technology, and cell phones)

(Can you spy #3?)
After three days of service projects, speakers, and comradery with their peers, my children came home testimonies strengthened, ready to take on the world!

"And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all-they were men who were TRUE at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.  Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him." -Alma 53:20-21

Speaking of Testimony Builders, this Playdoh playing guy left yesterday for EFY.  He gets to celebrate his birthday there.  Lucky Guy!