THE RV......

As a prelude to our Giberson reunion trip, let me introduce you to the newest member of the crew, our RV.  (This picture was actually taken when we picked my niece Megan in Provo on our way to Mesa, AZ.)

Now I grew up in a "tenting" family and I loved it.  I loved sleeping in a tent and breathing in the cool air at night while snugged in my sleeping bag (oviliously not my Texas camping memories).  I liked being in the outdoor, sitting around the fire, and all those other things which go with camping.  I admit that the older I got the bigger the depth of air matresses we would get but I did enjoy the chances we had to be outdoors and enjoy nature.

All that time, I don't remember ever thinking that I want to own an RV.  Gary's parents had one for a number of years and we benefited from some of its conveniences when our children were younger on extended family camping trips, but I loved sleeping in our tent at night.

So it was odd when I started thinking about some ways an RV might work for Gary and I and our current situation---maybe Ben would go on short trips with us, perhaps his sister and her husband might as well, it would be nice to have when we are the grandparents, etc......I shared these thoughts with Gary and he also saw some possibitilities and benefits.  We started looking and narrowing down the features we felt we wanted and needed but had no luck really feeling right about one.  Scott had encouraged me to look on ksl.com but I didn't have any luck and it was quite overwhemling to have 300+ pages of RV ads to look at.  Later Scott commented that it was good to check everyday to see what had been added.  I woke up the next day and decided to check and on the first page, there it was.  We went and saw it and bought it the next day.  Both Gary and I have commented that we just knew it was meant for us.  (Hopefully it was meant for us in all the good ways and not that it is going to be a "lemon" in our lives.)

It has seven seat beats, sleeping for six, and is 28' long.  It is a 2004 with 18,000 (although that was before our trip to Mesa).  Don't expecting any naming ceremony....Gary and I have never named a vehicle yet about 34 years so I don't expect that will change.  It will just be the "RV".

And we took a breath...

before the reunions began.

On the 16th, we gathered together in a nearby park  for an extended family Hall reunion.  This is Gary's dad's siblings and families.  This is the first one organized in over 30 years as far as anyone could remember.  We have had a few deaths of siblings in the past year and we decided at one of the funerals that we should get together for a reunion. We said we would help.  It turned out to be a beautiful day and we had a good turn out.  We ate, talked, and we shot rockets, a big hit with the great grandchildren generation (and some of the not so young generation--think Gary and his cousins).  One of Gary's cousins reported on some family history projects which started a disagreement between the three remaining siblings about an old family story about Grandpa Jick Hall (Gary's grandpa).  It was interesting to watch and I am sure would happen in many families.  As childhood stories are told and retold to different chidlren, things are remembered differently over the years.  I guess that is why we all should be writing journals. I didn't brng my camera so I took lots on Gary's mom's camera.

From start to finish the reunion took 4 hours on a Saturday.  Most people live within 2 hours or so which makes a Saturday doable...unlike the following weekend............when the Gibersons gathered.

First we had a mini-Giberson reunion when on the 16th, my brother, Rick, and sister-in-law and their children stopped over for the night as they were on the way to a reunion for her side of the family.  They attended that reunion for four days, drove to the Grand Canyon over night last Thursday and then made it to the Giberson reunion in Mesa on Friday for three days and then back to Dallas.  That is a lot of driving and "reunioning" for 11 days.

As part of the Giberson reunion included a Pinewood Derby, Saturday evening became pinewood derby construction zone.  We worked on ours and they built their six as well. It was quite a production.  I made my first very own Pinewood Derby car.  I know that it is a weird thing to want to do but I always had wanted to make one.  Probably some repressed envy from when my brothers made theirs years ago................. Using a pocket knife (the old fashion way), I carved the hood and made a replica of our old green station wagon packed for a trip.  Pictures will be posted later. 

One more item off the bucket list---pinewood derby car   check.  :)

Monday through Wednesday was spent finishing preparing for the Giberson Reunion.  We hold a reunion every three years a tradition which started sometimes in the early '90s as our families grew larger and the spaces between us was greater.  This year it was held in Mesa, AZ where my sister Valerie and yes, it was hot.  Read more in the reunion posts.

Special Olympics

There was no rest for Jena as the day after the conference was the last day of the Summer games for Special Olympics.  She had missed her running events during the Youth Conference, but we were able to head down to Herriman, UT (about an hour away) for the softball throw.  She enjoyed the time with her friends but it was a long afternoon for just three softball throws.  She got a silver, had lots of fun, and got a bit sunburned.  Life is good.

On to the next summer sports which for Jena is golf.  She has never done golf before but for the past three years (since she read that there was golf on the web site) she has asked about it.  Who taught that child to read?  It started the Monday after the Summer games.  She likes it so far.  AN it is only about 5 minutes from our house which is a bonus for us.

Swimming and basketball will start at the end of July so for the month of August she will be doing three sports.  Fitness is a good thing for all of us.

Youth Conference

Some times this blog seems like a reporting of Jena's life.  I apologize to my other kids from time to time as their lives were documented in emails to my family and before that old fashion letters to my parents, no pictures included (or very rarely).  Times have changed.  Digital cameras and blogs make keeping in touch with my family so much easier.  I don't have pictures of my young adult children working and living their lives alrhough they do keep some things posted on their facebook pages--the even more modern way to "keep in touch".

Back to Jena:  The first Thursday and Friday after school was out she attended our Stake Youth Conference which was a stay at home one (which means that they sleep at their own houses).  They spent two days between service projects, workshops, swimming, speakers, eating, and going to Boondocks.  She loved it. 

On Thursday night after the first day packed with events, we asked Jena what she liked best.  She said, "The speaker named Mike but I can't remember his other name.  I think it started with an F".  She remembered he had talked about attitude and the Holy Ghost.  It bugged her that she couldn't remember his last name.  I found out his name later and it did start with a F.  He was a motivational speaker.  Her young women leader told me that Jena was always very attentive during the speakers and workshops but she clearly loved that speaker.  Right after that session was completed she hopped up and went up to him to shake his hand and say thank you. Her leaders were very impressed and I heard that someone took a picture.  Hopefully we can post a picture later.  

She liked the Friday speakers as well.  And she beat her foursome in bowling on Friday afternoon....She surprised a few people with her skills.  A successful two days for her.  We are so grateful to everyone who made the conference great for her.