I have about a gozillion pictures from our vacation this year so I'll  try to break them down into groups so my computer doesn't explode...I'll call this one ...
                                                                     
                                                                 " Fun at the beach"

 We really did have such a good time this year.  We had been in Arizona with Camilles family the past week because they blessed sweet little Emily. I will do another page about our fun time there.
We got into California on Wednesday afternoon, so we had a few days in a hotel before we could get into our condo. This was pretty funny too...we procrastinated getting a hotel cause we weren't sure when we were going to get there, so that last night at Camille's, we started checking into getting one and could see we should have done that a lot sooner!  All the places we had stayed before and liked were sold out  We were getting kind of desperate, so we checked out this motel 6 there in costa mesa.  They said they were all full but there was a room left at another motel 6 down on Harbor.  We thought well how bad could it be?  So when we got into town, we headed over there to check it out.  It looked pretty decent on the outside but our  "nonsmoking" room was super stinky.  I mean really bad. We couldn't really do anything about it at this point, so we ended up staying there one night, then  when Northrups got into town, they said there was other rooms available at their hotel, so we moved over there.

So Anyway, Candice flew in Sunday morning, and Camille drove in Sunday night.  (KC flew home Sunday morning because Jared was getting married Monday morning, then came back on Tuesday!)  We were all over the place, but for the most part, all of us were there together most of the week.
Katie had been wanting to have us meet her good friend Stacey, so we met Katie there at her house one day on Katie's lunch hour.  She is a news reporter there in California and just cute as can be. Her boyfriend was there when we went to her house and he was super nice.  He talked to KC about surfing and said he had a surf board and wet suit that KC could use.  He also said he had some paddle boards we could use too. So once we got in the condo, we went and got the surf board from him.  KC  had a good time with it and got to where he could stand up pretty good.  I'll do another page with our adventures on the paddle boards.  That was a hoot!
We had brought this boogie board that Brian N. had given us for Liv to play on and she took right to it.  She was like a new girl at the beach this year...absolutley no fear!  Her and Caitlin played about every day together in the waves.  Spencer showed them how to catch a wave and she was really good at it.  You would hear her squeeling all the way as she rode the wave into the shore.

 Katie got Liv this cutest little bag that is just for collecting shells so Kelley and Liv took some long walks and filled up her little bag with treasures.

 She was pretty good at paddle ball too!

 Camille looks fab after just having Emily about 2 months ago!

 One day Shauna came down and spent the day at the beach with us.  It was good to get to see her and visit a while.

 Olivia didn't want to leave the beach and the waves even though she was freezing and shaking, so Kelley wrapped her up in  everything he could find to try to warm her up.  She would usually be the last one to call it a day and head back to our place.  That girl loves the beach!

Yesterday I didn't wake up for church till ten to nine.  Wow that's never happened before.  I guess I was more tired than I thought.  I threw myself together and got there in time to hear Brady W talk.  He did a great job.  He looks so much like Bryan...even his mannerisms and the way he talks are like his dad. 
I had to run back home during Sunday school because I forgot some of the receipts from the luau.  I came back for Young Women, hoping to find Charity in there ready to teach.  She did not show up.  So we decided to give the girls a piece of paper and let them write a concern or problem they had with school starting up or just life in general...then we would gather them and read them anonymously and try to find some answers for them.  What  we read about broke my heart.
These girls are facing some pretty tough things.  Many of them worry about fitting in, not having any friends, and even being bullied. One said she wanted to be with the popular crowd, but felt like those friends are fake.  Others were worried that they wouldn't be able to do well at school, wouldn't be good enough, and several said they didn't know how they could find time to do everything that's expected of them and still have time to come to church or young womens. Their thoughts were deep and unexpected.
Before class, I was asking the girls how school was going for them so far.  There were a couple of "fine" answers, then I noticed one of the girls  just looking down and really uncomfortable.  I went and sat by her and asked her what was going on.  She said she was not going to go to school anymore.  She said she is going to get her GED, then go on to college classes.  I asked her why and she said she  couldn't handle what was going on in school anymore.  She said she was over her friends and wouldn't go back.  Oh man, this is not OK! 
The last question I read brought me to tears.  This girl said she didn't know if she believed the church was true anymore.  She couldn't understand how a  God that is supposed to love us would let bad things happen to good people and why isn't he answering their prayers?  She said she felt lost.
 I felt the spirit guiding as we tried to answer these  concerns.  Bonnie and Stacey were amazing and the spirit was so strong as we talked about how much Heavenly Father does love us  and is always there for us.  He wants so much for us to turn to Him for help.  We don't know why some are tested so much more than others...  free agency? to make us stronger?  I'm not gonna lie...I've had these same thoughts...not that the church was true, but just wondering why God doesn't intervene when he sees someone who is trying so hard to do what is right  and follow Him have one really difficult thing after another dropped in their lap.  Also  for people who have a righteous desire that they have been praying and pleading for, for years and years and they are never given that blessing.  Why? I've read all the books on enduring with patience,, listened to Michael Wilcox talk about the 4th watch, read the book of Job many times and prayed my guts out, but I still am left wondering why.  I guess that is something I won't understand until I am much wiser.
Anyway, we closed the class with lots of tears...I think everyone could relate in some way to what we were talking about and either felt compassion for others or comfort  themselves by the spirit that we felt there. Pretty amazing the way things work out some times.

Yesterday was a wild but very good day. Well I guess I had better start with the night before cause that was when the fun started.  We had gone to Costco earlier and bought a cart load of meat...pork and chicken.  Then brought it home and put it into coolers till it was time to prepare it.  About 5, we started getting the sheets of foil ready to put the meat in...you have to put two together and seal them so you have one great big sheet...we made about 15 of these ( Stacey and Rick came over and helped too)  Then they open all the packages of chicken and put them in the cooler and pour the marinade over them.  Dave M. got there in time to help with the pork.  It's sliced a bit, then salted and doused with liquid smoke and put in another cooler.  The pork is put in the fire pit first thing in the morning, then they barbeque the chicken on the big grill in the afternoon.

  Kelley was up at 4:30  in the morning to get the fire in the pit started. After another sleepless night, I  was just starting to fall asleep when he got up, so I rolled over and went back to sleep till about 7.  I woke up to the clanging of the tent poles being put together.  Kelley, KC and Rick were out there and were soon joined by a bunch of guys from the high priests unloading tables and chairs.  They had everything set up in just a little while. 

Candice came over  and helped me arrange the serving tables and round tables.  We had some pop up tents for shade that Kelley and Rick helped us put up too.  Everything was looking really good.  I had been making rice all morning and had one of Karen's big roasters all full, but remembered how much people had eaten last year so I kept making more. 

I wanted to get another roaster since we had lost the inside tray to ours one time when we lent it out.  So Candice and I went out on the hunt.  I had already looked at Walmart and Target so we went to Shopko.  No luck, so we went over to bed bath and beyond.  They had one just like I was looking for so we got it.

When we got home, Vickie, Jo Ann, Kim and Carolyn were in the back yard decorating.  They had got some real cute things to add to what they used last year.  Cute sea shells and star fish and sand buckets with shovels to set on the tables and flower leis to decorate.  They set up the Tiki shack and the kayaks to hold the drinks.  Everything looked really cute. They had set up the sound system and the stage too.  By about 3 the guys from the Elders quorum showed up to start cooking the chicken. 

 It had been just kind of muggy all morning, but now the clouds started gathering and turning dark. The thunder started rumbling and  the wind started blowing, sending the cute decorations flying.  I hollered at Kelley to help me cover the sound system, microphones and speakers.  As soon as we were finished, the rain started coming down.  I thought...OK...this will pass over and we will be OK by 6. 

 The guys barbecuing came under the patio to get out of the rain.  It started coming down harder and harder till it was like buckets dumping on us.  Then it slowed down and stopped.  I got out a bunch of towels out  and everybody started to dry things off.  Just as soon as we did, the wind picked up again and in just a minute, it started raining again.  It was really coming down now, then it turned to hail. It kept this up for a few minutes, then just kept raining.  It was about 5:30 and I was starting to panic  People started calling  asking what we were going to do.  I told them we were just going to go for it  Kelley and I tried to figure how we could rearrange the tents so it would be doable if it kept raining.  We moved all the serving tables under the patio and put tents over the round tables and where brother Barcarce would be doing the music.  Bishop Blake had showed up by now along with several other ward members and they all pitched in to help us wipe everything down.  The rain finally stopped about quarter to 6. The dancers had all  shown up and were downstairs practicing and getting dressed.  Brother Barcarce had asked some  of the young women and young men to do some of the dances too so they were all dressed up  and practicing with the  Hawaiian dancers.
I was trying to get all the paper products set up and get the rice into serving dishes and get pans for the chicken and pork and ice for the drinks and tell everyone where to put all the food that was quickly arriving all at once, so I was very glad when Carol and Chris jumped in to help me.   Then I had the nicest surprise...earlier when Candice had been over, I  was disappointed when I had asked her if she was coming to the luau.  She said she was getting her hair done so she wouldn't be able to make it. Well when I was right in the middle of running around like a crazy lady, I turn around and there she is...all fixed up so cute and ready to hand out the leis.  She is just like a ray of sunshine.  I was so grateful to have her help that night.
Stacey had offered up her house for babysitting and had prepared some fun things for the kids to do.  We had asked the young women to babysit and had about five of the reliable ones show up.  I guess they had about twenty kids show (in their own words...twenty that felt like fifty!) up and it was not easy!  Sure do appreciate these good girls for their willingness to help out!  And for Stacey for opening up her home and for all her work in making it fun for them over there. 
Then, it was like a flood of people came in  all at once and pretty soon the back yard was full.  Kelley and his buddies got the pork out of the fire pit, the food was blessed and the party began!  I loved how Brother Barcarce had music and dancing going all the time so it was really enjoyable whether you were standing in line to get your food or sitting down and eating.  The tables were soon all filled and people were sitting all around.  I was really surprised cause I thought the bad weather would discourage people from coming. It was fun to see some people who used to be in the ward.  The Pooles, Wrights, and Northrups came.  I was glad Tammy and Ken came too. They know several people in the neighborhood now, so I think they had a good time.   There were actually several people there who were not members.  I was really surprised when I saw this Bob L. talking to this guy that looked familiar...I did a double take and it was this guy Bonnie and I had taken a flyer to when we went around doing pennies by the inch with the yw and ym.  We had gone up to his door and when he answered,we could tell he had been drinking a bit.  We told him about the luau and gave him the flyer.  He asked us if he could bring some drinks.  We were like ummmm, we will provide the drinks so just come on over.  He asked about where I lived and we tried to explain to him, but never dreamed he would actually come   Well, there he was. When I got a chance,  I went up and talked to him a bit and he was very friendly and nice.  There was also this cute Spanish gal that we had taken the pennies by the inch, luau flyer to.  She told us that she had used to come to our church about 15 years ago but hadn't been active since then.  We told her we'd love to have her come out but sure didn't think she would come.  She had come with her mom and her 5 year old son.  I told her I was so glad to see her and she said she would like to help me in the kitchen.  I said "no no!  please just enjoy the entertainment." She insisted and the next thing I knew, her and her mom were in the kitchen doing the dishes!  I really tried to get them to stop, but she said that is what they do in their culture...they help!  The mom didn't speak any English but just chatted away and smiled and laughed while she washed the dishes.  The daughter, Suzanne, was very friendly and easy to talk to and her son was cute and played with Lizzy while we worked.  She told me that her mom went to a Spanish speaking ward but that she hadn't gone to church for a long time.  She wanted to come to a English speaking ward so her son could get along better there.  I told her when our church was and she said she would try to come!  I felt a real connection with her and like I had made a new friend. 
The night flew by and I think a good time was had by everyone.  It was great how everyone pitched in to help take down all the tents, tables and chairs.  With that many working, it was done in a few minutes!  Carol came in and helped me clean the rest of the dishes.  Sure do love her and Brian.  They stayed and talked for a while about what was going on with their kids...hard to believe they are all grown up men now.  They are good people... always the ones that you can count on to help.
After we got all the leftovers put away (there wasn't too much this year!  they really ate most everything!)  We got a little bite to eat (neither of us actually sat down and ate any dinner) and Kelley and I collapsed on the couch....totally exhausted but happy and so grateful for the way the night went...we were grateful for all the good  family, friends and neighbors who had given their time and service to help us make this possible.  We were grateful for the new friends we had made...and  grateful for Gods mercy in stopping the rain in time for  us to be able to have an enjoyable night.

Well it's been about two months since I've blogged but it's not because nothing has been happening.  In fact it's been a most eventfull, lovely summer.   I'm not sure how I will ever catch up so I'll just do the best I can to remember the highlights...I've got a lot of pictures so that will help!
Maybe I should start with the latest and go backwards...that might be easier to remember...

Last night we had bunko over here in the back yard. (ahhhh wish I would have taken some pictures!)
I didn't realize when I signed up for couples bunko that it would end up being the same week as the luau...A little bit stressful, but it actually turned out kind of nice because we had the yard all  luau ready a few days early. 
I just can't say enough how I appreciate Kelley and KC. They have worked so hard getting everything in shape.  Yesterday when they were working on the pond (draining and power washing...isn't Kelley cute in his waders?)  I  thought I am just the luckiest girl ever to have these two! They are just the best!
I had a bunch of running around to do yesterday..last minute things for dinner and I had procrastinated getting all the gift cards for bunko prizes. I don't know why its so hard for me to get things done these days, but I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off right up until people started showing up.   Kelley was a dear and made some yummy salsa to go with our dinner. We decided to go with the Mexican food, people seemed to like that last year.  I kept having this flashback though where as soon as we put out the food, there was an attack of wasps.  I told Kelley about my fears and he got the wasp spray out and sprayed in all the places we had seen wasps.  I was still worried so I stopped into Lowes and bought this wasp attractor that I hoped would draw them away from our eating area.
Well when I brought the food out, the wasps swarmed in just like clockwork.  Oh man I didn't know what to do!  Then Stacey said to get out my dryer sheets and put them around the table....she had seen on pinterest that that repels the wasps.  So I grabbed a handful and laid them around and it really worked!  I couldn't believe it!  The wasps just left!  I was so happy and grateful Stacey had thought of it! Hooray for Pinterest!
We had just started playing bunko when we heard thunder in the distance.  The clouds had been building all afternoon, but it was still pretty hot and muggy. The wind started blowing and sent things flying, but we were not too worried about it.  Then we started seeing flashes of lightning in the distance and a few raindrops started falling.  I looked around and could see it wasn't going to blow over any time soon, so I suggested we move under the patio.  Everybody grabbed the tables and chairs and in just a few minutes were were all set up under the patio and out of the rain.  By this time it had really started coming down...I was sure glad  we had a space big enough to fit everybody...it was tight but we all got out of the rain!  We got quite a show from mother nature...the lightning was really spectacular! 
:Later in the evening the ambulance and fire truck came down the canal road with their sirens blaring and stopped just a little way down the road from us... (kind of a rare occurrence) we thought there must have been an accident or a fire, but then today I saw on face book that Edo Rotinni had passed away and I'm sure that's where the ambulance had stopped.
It was a fun night...seems like as much as the guys complain about it, they seem to have a good time too.  :Love these ladies like sisters...taking to them you realize that each one has her own battle she is dealing with...Two of the ladies didn't show up tonight because of it.  Glad we have each other to put our arms around and either lift or be be held up by.