Bear Lake 2009

WOW! I am FINALLY getting this trip posted. I have been waiting to get all the pictures I could from my family to add to the hundreds I took and then once I got them, I realized I had so many pictures to sort through, I couldn't decide which ones to use. So BEWARE. I did my best to choose. Hope you enjoy the plethora of pictures.

Every year my family heads up to my most very favorite lake EVER...

BEAR LAKE!

Each year we head up there for some great camping and then a day or two on the beach. I love Bear Lake for so many reasons. Let me list a few of them:

1. THE BEACHES are AWESOME! I love that they are so big. There can be hundreds and hundreds of people there and it seldom feels very crowded. I love that the water stays shallow for quite a ways out so you don't have to worry so much about your kids falling off into "the deep".
The kids love it too. They can play for hours!

Tate was totally in his element. He loved the sand so much. He did however insist on wearing his life jacket ON and OFF the boat. Just in case- you know. Actually it did help me feel a bit better too.

We often found Tate looking like this...

... and then like this...

He tends to be really fascinated by textures.

Tracen and Tyler LOVED looking for sea shells. They filled their entire sand bucket with them. They all look pretty much the same, but they didn't seem to care.

Our little BEACH BABE Madi.

Kev seems to love anything with a motor he can drive.

Maverick tried the boat,but found it wasn't really his thing...
Seems he is more of a land lover.

Poor Slater had to leave the party early. He wasn't feeling too great. Can you see his poor little red eyes and nose? Cute little guy.

I think grandpa's favorite ride was May and Ty's newest toy...

THE RHINO!

No wait, it was the little boys who loved it most.
It actually came in very handy in hauling all our gear back and forth.

Especially all the great food mom provided!

2. We then headed to THE WATER. I love the turquoise color. I love the clarity of it. I love that it doesn't feel dirty. I am not worried that I will water ski over the top of a dead fish. (that's another story) I even love how very chilly it can be.

We had the option of taking the SEA-DOO out.

Shane and Kenzie... aren't they cute?

Dee and Tate.. he loved this.

or riding on the boat...

or sailing...
(Oh wait, we don't have a sail-boat.

I just thought it was a pretty picture. )

...or riding behind the BOAT or SEA-DOO in a tube..

What started out with much laughing....

...which turned into much crying and a few pep talks from Kenz and I...
...don't the let the smiles fool you...

...we were going pretty darn fast and found ourselves hanging on for dear life!

We also spent some time skiing and wake-boarding.

My brother Shane ROCKS!
Now for what seems to be the "main event"...

TUBE WARS!

It usually starts out so "nice" with everyone on their own tube "happily" enjoying the ride.

But then it begins...

...and usually looks like this most of the time.

So let me TRY to give you a little play by play to break it up for you.

One or two of them will jump from their own tube ...

and the wrestling match begins.

Occasionally one will be swung out to the side of the boat...

...but are quickly brought back to the craziness.

...where it begins again.

Looks like Brian may end up with the upper hand here. He has a lot of power going for him.

Ooops. A little too much power.

Oh wait. It looks like Dan held on.

One down. Who will be victor?

Ty wins this match!

These two tried talking some smack to defend themselves but...

...we reserved someone to pick up the trash.

So as not to be out-done, they start again.

Who's the lucky guy this time?

BRIAN TAKES ALL!

So now Dan is beginning to feel a bit left out so he decides to take control.

...and when Dan puts his mind to something...

...HE CONQUERS! (and oh so humbly too)

Ok. One more round to see who the real winner will be.

It's gonna be a tough one...

Wait! Where'd they all go?

DRIVER WINS! Way to go May!

Then, so as to not be shown up by the guys, Melanie and I decided to try our hand at the sport.

Here is our "ready to conquer pose".

The ride begins...

What? You think we're being too friendly?

Oh no. That was just our little trick to try to pull each other closer to one another.

But then Melanie being a bit quicker than I decided to make the first move....

...only to discover that I had moves of my own. She quickly bounced off the side of my tube making me think I had won, only to discover that she was pulling me off with her.

So...that was the end of that.

So I figured since I totally took Melanie down :), I could definately take on the guys.

And I totally did!

Unfortunately, when I tried to stand on the tube to do my victory pose, I pulled a move on myself and fell off the tube.

So I got to do my pose in the water.

It was an incredibly FUN trip this year. Thank you MOM and DAD for putting it together every year.

Just some advice to our future generations in this sport...

...none of us would have been as sore (or injured... Dan and his darn MCL) as we are had we just followed Tate's example. I really think he had the right idea.

So, until next year....

D&C 9:7-9

7. Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

8. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.


Why is it when you find yourself with a "stupor of thought" that it takes so long to realize that it is the Lord with whom you should be asking for help?

And then when you recieve an answer you find yourself "wrestling" with Him about it?

This is what I have found myself doing over the last several days.


Let me explain. A month or so ago, my dad asked if we, Dan and I, would like to go on a backpacking trip up in the Wind Rivers area over Labor Day weekend. Of course our immediate answer was YES! I have been wanting to go on one of these trips for such a long time. It had seemed that the last 3 times my dad has done one of these, I was either pregnant or nursing and could not go. So being that I am "FREE" at the moment, I was NOT going to miss this one. We then worked really hard to work out Dan's school schedule and commitments. After working that out, we were all set and EXCITED! Then, my family went to Bear Lake (which I am still working on the post for that one-lots of pictures) where we had the traditional TUBE WARS !Unfortunately, Dan partially tore his right MCL during this event and therefore felt it would not be smart for him to hike up very rugged terrain carrying a 40 lb pack.

I then had a decision to make. Do I stay or do I go? After little thought, it seemed a no brainer.

I WAS NOT GOING TO MISS THIS. I WAS GOING. So I asked my dad if I could be his tent buddy and began gathering my gear. Of course I was sad that Dan could not share this experience with me, but I was excited to hang with my dad and siblings. So at the beginning of this week I began to suddenly not feel so excited about the whole thing. Weird. I wonder why. I continued getting my pack ready. Then last night after I finalized my pack and even hiked up and down the stairs a few times to make sure I could carry the darn thing, I broke down. I suddenly had this overwhelming feeling of confusion about this trip.

Was it because Dan couldn't come? Maybe. So I talked to Dan about the whole thing again to make sure he was still good with me going without him. Yes. He was fine with it. He was happy I could go.

Was I worried about my safety? No. I knew that of all people to backpack with my dad is the most prepared and very experienced in this.

Was I nervous that I couldn't do it? No. I work out every stinkin' morning! Sure it might be hard, but I knew I could do it. So that wasn't it either. GEEZ!

Then why on earth was I so distraught, with such a turmultuous feeling inside?

Then this scripture came into my mind. D&C 9:7-9. I was definately having a "stupor of thought". So I prayed that I might know why I was feeling this way.

I then went to bed feeling like I needed to decide whether or not I should be going on this trip. When I woke, I prayed again. I was beginning to feel that I should NOT go. But WHY? Why should I give this up?

I then thought of the scripture in Proverbs 3:5-6.

5.Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Throughout the day I felt more confident with the decision to stay home. When I finally accepted that as the answer, I was amazed as the relief I felt.

I was worried to call and tell my dad. I felt bad cancelling on him just 2 days before leaving. I felt like I would be letting him down. I still did not know why I couldn't go, and I hoped he would understand. Well, when I called and told him, he said he respected my decision but I would be missed. Thanks Dad for understanding.

I still do not know why I shouldn't go. I may NEVER KNOW why, but I do know I feel better and I have learned a valuable lesson in listening.

So now I just have to unload my pack. :)

Just another thought showing that the Lord is in charge and always keeps His promises...

If you actually read all of this, thanks for letting me share.

And.... I am grateful I will get to see so many of you (Dan's family) that are coming out this way over the weekend.