Girls Camp

Hey everybody, this is Hanna here. I just recently got back from girls camp, and decided that I wanted to share my little camp experience with everyone, so i got the ok from mom to blog. So, here goes...

This year, was my fourth year of girls camp; therefore, I was a fourth year. Usually, fourth years get to go on a backpacking hike and do various other fun activities, such as swimming in a lake, canoeing, and sleeping in tents. But, this year, I am sorry to say, was absolutely insane! If you know any 15 year old girls in the Mt. View stake ask them about it, I'm sure they'd love to complain, I mean tell you about our experience... But, alas, I don't have nearly enough time to explain the whole story. So, to make my long story short, I've created a list of the top 10 worst things that we endured through on our lovely hike.

10. We hiked in a cloud. Thus, causing it to rain and pour the whole day and night.
9. We had to carry 20 pound backpacks plus the weight of soggy clothes, sleeping bags, and food.
8. Wearing oh so lovely ponchos. (I’m sad to say that I didn’t get a picture of us wearing our attractive ponchos… oh well.)
7. Waiting over 2 hours for all the girls and leaders to finish repelling.
6. Slipping and falling (yes, this includes me) on wet rocks.
5. Listening to constant complaints from the girls (no, this didn't include me)
4. Having to stop in a random spot on the trial to set up camp, while it was still raining and dark. (Luckily Me+ 5 helpful girlies = a tent set up in under 5 minutes. That’s pretty Impressive for us girls :)
3. Not having enough time or energy to make dinner that night AND breakfast the next
morning.
2. Having to pee in the woods. That was an interesting experience...
1. Sleeping in a puddle of water, next to five other girls, in a three man tent, on top of rocks merely covered by a thin sleeping bag, wearing only a semi-dry tee shirt and our undies.

Good times. Good times.

Ok, ok, i can’t just mention all the horribly bad occurrences that happened on our hike, that would be unfair. So here are the top 5 best things that made our hike bearable.

5. Seeing all the different girls come together and help one another through the hike. I was seriously surprised by how kind and caring we were to help each other through the mountain.
Example:
Brooke: Here Hanna grab my hand, this parts slippery. ok, step on this rock, now jump.
Hanna: Thanks Brooke! (turns around) ok Sabrina grab my hand it's a bit slippery. Step, and jump.
Etc. it was like a chain reaction and totally nice.
4. Hearing Bro. P yodel. This was totally amazing, and he said it's hereditary so I’ll have to ask Josh about it. :)
3. Having an amazing story to tell for years to come.
2. We were all able to gain stronger testimonies after our hiking experience because we knew that Heavenly Father was watching us the whole time
1. Being blessed with the most amazing leaders, (Bro. and Sis. Brewer and Bro. and Sis. Peterson) who I swear could do anything. I am so grateful for them and their positive attitudes which helped us keep going and finish the hike.


Well, now that that’s done, Picture Time!

Kathryn and Hanna. Notice our smiling faces BEFORE we began our hike.

Foggy mountain

When we finally made it back to our camp we all just crashed in our cabbins. This is the lovely Jenna VanLueven writing in her journal, she was so awesome.

Sunday! Ok, it is so hard trying to camp in a skirt! Ahh

One of our daily events, riding in the back of a tuck to the main camp to attend classes with the rest of our stake.

Hanna Evans and Sharol Evans :)

No, we're not related... I think.

Smile cute little teenagers!

UGH!!! You guys ruined the picture! let's try this again... Smile!

Awww! That's better, how cute :)

Crandalls and Evans. Love you guys!

Sistas! (Dani wouldn't smile so i had to attack her. It worked :)

Jenna, Catie, and Clara making cards for our service project. I just love their camping hair do's :)

Day dreamers! Corina and me

Another daily occurance, hanging out in the eating area... eating food

Chin contest. I think Corina won. Girls are wierd :)

Our Fabulous leaders! Sorry for the blury picture, they were dancing.

WOW Bro. P!

Ha ha we slept in the kitchen :) Hey, every where else was cold :)

This is Aly and squishy on the bus ride home. Fun!

Well, that's all i have time for so, if you have any questions fell free to ask :)

Ok, yes I had a birthday

You can see, Hanna has a sense of humor.

Congratulations!

Hanna decided to try out for a position at Mountain View called Sport Trainer. The Sport Trainers are there at sporting events to help in case of injury. It is a major time commitment because they stay after school every day for several hours. They keep the same group from year to year and just replace the graduating seniors with incoming sophomores. This year 25 sophomores applied for the 7 positions. The application process required writing about the reasons why you want this position, and 2-3 letters of recommendation. I wrote one of the letters. I wrote about Hanna's even temperament and how she is calm under pressure. She is not squeamish around blood and has a compassionate nature. I assured them that if they were to choose Hanna, they would always be happy to have her around, because I am always glad when she is here.
After an interview, the group was narrowed down to 13, who were then invited to shadow the current sport trainers for two weeks. After the two weeks were up, they announced the seven 'winners' and Hanna is one of them! She was so excited and is looking forward to learning about sports medicine, and possibly pursuing a career in medicine. The fact that this program counts for a p.e. credit is an added bonus as Hanna would much rather watch sports than play them (she is kind of like her Mom that way).

May Happenings

There were a few activities happening this month but we don't have pictures of some of them because we took a video but we can never get our videos to post. So anyway (in random order):

Danica's piano recital (she played River Runs Through You, it was great!)

Hanna's final orchestra concert (possibly her last one ever since she decided not to pursue orchestra in high school)

Danica's Choir performance

Chandler's choir performance

Maranda's softball season

Andria's school class patriotic performance "Proud to be an American" (they recited the Preamble to the Constitution from memory!)


Samantha's preschool performance

I wish . . .

I wish I had the ability to formulate my thoughts into entertaining and informative sentences and paragraphs. But, since I don't have that gift, I wish I could write in a way that would at least accurately portray my own thoughts. For instance, when I wrote that I might have lower expectations for mother's day, my sweet husband was a bit offended. That wasn't the way it was meant at all. I was trying to say that I am not one of those Mom's that expects breakfast in bed, showers of gifts, or a perfect home for the day. I really am very happy with homemade gifts, cards and the occasional sacrament meeting talk :). I also enjoy the fact that I will not be allowed to wash one dish on Mother's day, even though I have heard about other Mother's that still do all the cleaning on their special day. I think I opt for brevity over clarity because I know my own limitations, or I am just lazy.

I wish I was a more thoughtful person. Sadly, I was so busy enjoying myself on Mother's Day that I all but forgot my own mother. But I really am so grateful for what she taught me about motherhood and homemaking and faith. I am the person I am today because of the example of my Mother. My sisters say I am a lot like her, which I take as a compliment.

I wish I was more patient. I think that patient people are more able to enjoy their children. Patience is something that hovers on my horizon, just out of my grasp.

In spite of all my wishing, I know that I have reason to be eternally grateful. Grateful for my husband, who though not perfect, diligently tries to be all I need him to be. Grateful for my amazing children and the opportunity I have to be their mother. Grateful for my neighborhood, community and good friends. Grateful for my home, and my 12 passenger van :). Most of all, grateful for my testimony. For my knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. For a plan of happiness which can lead us back to our heavenly home with joy in the journey. Grateful for my eternal marriage which seals my family to me forever. Grateful for the peace that I can feel every day by striving to be worthy of the many blessings which are mine.

I will try to be less wishful and more grateful.

Mother's Day!

I like to think that I have trained my family well for Mother's Day. But then I sometimes think that I am just luckier than most with the family that I have. Then I think that my expectations are just lower. Whatever it is, I had a great Mother's Day. I opened presents (isn't my Sam so cute?) Maranda made this in her school class

This is going on the shelves in my bedroom (nice choice, Dan)

Andria made this pin in school, it matched my shirt.

Zanya and Hanna

All my posterity (as Chandler would say)

Speaking of Chandler, he spoke in church on Mother's Day. His topic was how his mother has influenced his testimony. Could a Mom have a better present? He did a great job and was slightly emotional through the whole talk, revealing his true feelings towards his Mom (I hope :)). I loved it. After a delicious dinner, we played games together, what a great day!

Thayer Park Ward has Talent

Our ward had a primary talent show last week. Maranda played a song on the piano, Zanya sang Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam,

Samantha did a routine with You're a Grand Old Flag,

and Andria did a tumbling/dance routine with some friends.

They all did a great job!