Amber's Play..."Robin Hood"

Amber shines as Casper!

Amber as Casper in Robin Hood

General Scene:)

Two of Amber's biggest fans!  Grandma Garner & our favorite neighbor, Doris!

Rachel and Sister Beecroft also came to support Amber!

Notes from Dad--March 24, 2014

Here is Dave's letter to Samantha:

Dear Sammy,

Exciting times!  Can't wait to hear about your trip to Piura and your first "real" area assignment/companion, etc.  Actually, I guess we have no choice but to wait :-)  And even though you may not get a chance to read this email tomorrow, I'll drop you a note just in case ...

At work, I'm still enjoying the "high" of being victorious in my special education hearing.  I went out to lunch with the associate who helped with the trial (and then left the firm to go clerk for a judge before the briefing was due).  She was excited to learn about the favorable result, and the client is very pleased.  

One of my partners sent an email to everyone in the firm about the successful ruling, and I received a lot of congratulatory emails, etc.  It's been fun.

Also, Grandma wanted to take your Mom and me out to a celebratory dinner, so we went to the Outback Steakhouse on Friday.  We had a nice dinner and enjoyed some good conversation.

Amber's play (Robin Hood) was this week, and we went on Thursday.  Doris came with us, and Grandma came as well.  Amber played the role of Kasper (one of the Prince's guard, who has the arrow shooting contest with Robin Hood).  As usual, Amber did a fantastic job.  She is very animated and expressive on stage.  Sis. Beecroft came as well and brought Rachel Kingsford along. Afterwards, Grandma treated us to DQ, where we saw Maddie Brown (again :-).

On Saturday, I got up early and took a 31 mi. bike ride up through Las Sendas and some surrounding areas.  The route was a familiar one, generally, but I explored a couple of new areas on my way home to make things a bit more interesting.  The morning weather was beautiful.  The only downside was that Mom was not able to go with me, as she was over at the Riparian, leading the YW in the orienteering course as part of Girls Camp certification.

We made up for the time apart by going on what ended up being a "date hike" on South Mountain (we invited the kids to go, but they weren't interested).  It was probably a good thing they didn't all come, as the hike turned out to be a bit more strenuous than I had anticipated.  It was a new trail for me, called the Guadalupe Ridge.  It starts at the eastern end of South Mountain and follows the ridgeline for four miles until it finally dead-ends into the National Trail (which extends the full length of the mountain range).  The ridge was neat because from that vantage point, you could see all of the surrounding areas both to the north (i.e., downtown Phx, Camelback, Piestewa Peak) as well as to the South (Ahwatukee, etc.) and everything out east (Supersitions, etc.).  So, the views were great, though it was a bit hazy.  

The ridge is not an official trail, and there were quite a few spots where we had to guess/explore and scramble up/down rocks to figure out where to go next.  That, along with the warm temps and exposed nature of hiking along a ridge, made it more tiresome than we had planned.  We did, however, find a cool rock formation with a sheltered, cave-like area that was kind of fun to explore and take rest in the shade.   

Just before we reached the junction with the National Trail, we climbed to the high point in the hike and enjoyed essentially a 360 degree view, which was very cool.  

Instead of returning on the ridgeline, we took the National Trail back, including a shortcut through Hidden Valley.  We went through Fatman's Pass and the rock tunnel on the other end.  By the time we were done, we had hiked nearly 9 miles and were pretty pooped, but in a good, satisfying way :-)

It was dinner time by the time we got home, so we stopped by Little Caesars and got pizza for dinner.  I  did a little shopping that night for some essentials and picked up some mint chocolate chip ice cream and swiss rolls for a treat.  I figured we earned it!

In other news, Amber spoke in church about the family.  It is my month to arrange for speakers for sacrament meeting, and I had had trouble finding a willing YW, so Amber, bless her heart, stepped up to the plate and filled in the gap at the last minute.  She talked about the Proclamation on the Family, FTSOY, quoted 1 Ne. 1:1, and shared about how some of our crazy family traditions help bond us together ("sure do love ya .... big hugs" after prayers, and our scripture alarm clock).  I was grateful for her willingness to step up and help me in a pinch.  I guess that's one of the consequences of being a child of a bishopric member ...

Richard also went hiking on Saturday, taking Amy and her friend up Flatiron.  They came across a huge rattlesnake, which he sent me a picture of.  Pretty crazy.  I still have yet to come across a snake while on a hike ..., which is okay by Mom :-)

Kathy and Julie are planning a trip to Southeast Asia this summer, including a few days in Singapore with John and his family.   So fun.  Also, Kathy's roommate is getting married, so she is now looking again for a new living situation.

The weather continues to be unseasonably warm around here, but unseasonably cold throughout the rest of the country.  Kind of weird.  The mornings and evenings right now are fabulous, though it won't be long before the real heat wave begins.

Your missionary plaque came in.  It looks great (how could it not, right?)!

I'm probably forgetting to tell you about some events of the week, but hopefully Mom will fill in the gaps and straighten out any errors ;-).

I need to sign off so I can take Amber over to the Y for a quick evening workout.  

We are excited to hear from you, as always.  We love you and pray for you multiple times a day.  Proud of all that you are doing.  Keep working hard, and good luck as you enter the "real" mission field!  You'll do great!!!

Love you,

Dad

Dave's Letter to Samantha and his perspective on Spring Break 2014

Dear Sammy,

Mom just finished giving our FHE lesson, based on an article in the New Era that reminds us not to look to the world to define what is of value (e.g., trendy clothes, money, toys, body shape, etc.)  A good reminder that, in contrast to the world, the worth of all souls is great in the sight of God, regardless of physical attributes or material possessions.

Although last week was spring break, I worked all week long, so it wasn't much of a break for me. As Mom mentioned, we did, however, sneak in a good family hike  out to Canyon Lake from the First Water Trailhead.  I had toyed with the idea of making a trip up to the Grand Canyon and doing a hike out to Plateau Point (not all the way down to the river, but still a tough hike), but Lindsay had an end-of-season breakfast with her soccer team on Saturday morning that she was excited about going to, so we looked for something closer and more modest in terms of difficulty.  That was fine, as I had been wanting to do this "shuttle hike" for quite some time.

Because of Lindsay's breakfast, we got a little later start than I wanted (11 am) and I was worried that it would get pretty hot (forecast was for 84 degrees), but the weather turned out to be quite pleasant. We had a nice breeze on the latter half of the hike that helped keep the temp in check as well. We set up the shuttle, by dropping off our "destination" car (the Honda) at the Canyon Lake Marina. In researching this hike, I wasn't sure if there was a charge to park there (there is not). Then, we headed back to the First Water TH in the Suburban.  I thought the TH parking lot would be full, but we lucked out and there was a spot open when we arrived!  As Mom mentioned, this is the same trailhead where we did the "full moon" hike with Bro. Kirby and where we started the Garden Valley/Hackberry Springs Loop hike 3 or 4 years ago.

When Paige asked how hard the Canyon Lake hike would be, I told her, "We've done much harder."  She responded that that was not particularly reassuring, given some of the difficult hikes we have been on :-)  It was 8 miles long, but actually quite manageable.  There was some elevation gain, but it was just enough to get the blood pumping.  Because it was a point-to-point, shuttle hike, we did not cover any ground twice.  I was impressed by the wide variety of plant life, rocks, and diversity of nature we saw on the trail.  There was a spring that fed a running stream and some creek beds we crossed over that probably have some pretty impressive flows after a good rainstorm.

The first four miles were generally flat or downhill.   We came across a train of horse riders and a few small groups of hikers, but for most of the trip, we enjoyed some peaceful solitude. We stopped for lunch at a place called the Indian Paint Mine--a section of particularly red rock/dirt, which the indians apparently used to make paint for their pottery, etc.  There wasn't a "mine" in the traditional sense, but a good size pit and some areas with nice shade for our lunch spot. 

As we headed out after lunch, the kids remarked that the hike had been pretty easy. I told them that the uphill section was yet to come and that's where they would "earn their ice cream." Luckily, the elevation gain came with breathtaking views--first of the classic Superstition icons (Flatiron, Peaks 5024 & 5057, Weaver's Needle, Battleship, Geronimo Head) and then after cresting the divide, views of Canyon Lake and the surrounding areas. The outstanding scenery took almost all of the pain out of the climb (which wasn't actually that bad). 

Just as we were approaching the final descent into Canyon Lake, there was a fork in the trail. The most "direct" route to the trailhead was blocked off by a pile of rocks, but for no reason that I could divine. Yet, we decided to take the longer, more circuitous route, assuming that the trail had been blocked for a reason.  Sure enough, the more circuitous route re-connected with the more direct route about .1 mile from the Canyon Lake TH (and was again blocked off by a row of rocks). When I came home an checked by GPS track on the satellite view, I could see both trails and still  I don't know why they are apparently encouraging the more round-about route.  There's a good gospel analogy there, as sometimes it's not always clear why the Lord asks us to do (or not do) certain things or to do them in a way that we think is harder or more complicated than we think it necessary.  At those points, we learn to be humble and trust His judgment.  

When we got back to the lake, we stopped by the Marina Restaurant, but ice cream was expensive (and they only had vanilla) so we decided our sweet tooth could wait till we got back to Gilbert for a less expensive option at DQ.

After coming home for a quick shower, Mom and I went to a dinner/dance party that Glade and Laurie Smith were hosting at their church building in Queen Creek.  We saw a bunch of our old Ragnar teammates (and women from Mom's Bunko group).  The food was good, but we had to cut it a bit short, because I had to get back home to meet a deadline for submitting an application for the lottery to hike Mt. Whitney in California, as part of Kent's 12 y.o. birthday trip.  The deadline for the lottery was 9 pm, so we hustled back and put our hat in the ring.  Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states, so it's a popular hike.  We'll find out next Sunday whether we get drawn.

In other news, Mom and I finished reading the book "Ender's Game" together.  I don't know if you heard about that movie coming out, but the book is a sci-fi novel by Orson Scott Card (who is LDS), about a young boy (Ender Wiggin) who is extremely smart and saves the earth by leading a military attack on the "buggers"--a race of intelligent, insect-like beings who had previously attempted to conquer humans and colonize the earth.  The book gives a lot to think about, including the fact that Ender has no desire to be violent or hurt others, but was constantly being thrust into situations where he was forced to do so (as a matter of self defense).  While much about the book was a bit disturbing (to Mom, in particular), it had a satisfying, cathartic ending, where Ender was able to turn from violence/destruction and focus on nurturing and building society (including the bugger nation for whose nearly complete destruction he felt responsible).  Anyway, after finishing the book, Mom and I rented the movie.  As usual, it was only a pale reflection of the book, but still well done, as far as it went.

Work is going okay.  I've been expecting a decision in my big case (the special education case that went to a 12-day trial last year).  The special education laws require the judge to issue a ruling within a particular time frame, unless the court approves an extension request by the parties.  Well, it's turned out that the judge has been requesting multiple extensions of the decision deadline, each time promising that this extension will be the last.  The last extension expired on Friday, but still no decision.  We didn't get one today, either.  I anticipate that we will get the ruling tomorrow sometime.  It's a little stressful, but I feel comfortable that, regardless of the outcome, I represented my client's interest well and put them in the best position possible.  That said, I would sure like to win :-)

We finally got your missionary plaque ordered, along with Kellee Huffaker's, and Megan Nelson's.  Hopefully, we'll have those hanging up in the hallway soon.  This month, the ward newsletter contained a blurb from each of the missionaries serving from our ward.  It was great to see all of you sisters out representing well!  That said, it will also be nice to send out a few elders.  We should have a batch going out after graduation (hopefully)--Riley Hales, Kenny Morris, and perhaps a couple more.

Since the marathon, I've just been taking some easy runs.  It's been nice just to enjoy the runs without any firm time goal or pace.  The weather has been perfect for running in the mornings.  Have you had a chance to go running at the CCM?  Do they have a gym or other exercise equipment? 

It's exciting to think that you will be heading to Piura in another week.  Do you have travel plans?  As Mom mentioned, we've been "blog-stalking" other missionaries in the CCM and in Piura.  You are in for a great experience and adventure.  We sure love you and pray for your continued success with the language and in sharing the gospel message in your field of labor.  You are and will be a great missionary.  Very proud of you!

Till next week, love, Dad

Spring Break March 2014

So Dave did a little digging on the internet and found the blogs of a couple of Sisters in Samantha's district.  It was fun to read what their thoughts were and see some of their pictures as well!  I decided that Samantha should send more pictures, in and out of the MTC!   

Sister B.said that her companion and many others got sick and they thought that it was the food there (meat). Dave and I talked about it and came to the conclusion that Samantha didn't get sick because she probably didn't eat the meat!  I can't wait to hear if our theory is right or wrong.  

Only a little more than a week and Samantha will be out working with the people!  

The kids all had spring break this week.  We stayed home, can't even really call it a staycation because we really didn't do anything really.  Kent and Lindsay played with various friends and even Amber was able to hang out with friend a couple of days.  Paige was hanging out with friends when she wasn't working (which actually was only 2 days...so lots of friend time).  Both Haley O. (Cody W.) and Chelsea (Chandler, I think) got asked to Prom.  I asked her if she was sad that she didn't get asked and she chucked and said no, her guy friends all asked other girls and so she was pretty sure that she wouldn't be asked.  She has a great attitude about it and unless she is hiding something, it is really not a big deal.

The most major thing that we did this week was go on a hike on Saturday.  We started out the same place that we did on the night hike that we did with Brother Kirby (and in the same area that you and dad and the kids did a few years ago).  This time though we dropped dad's car off at Canyon Lake and then went back to the start of the trail and hiked to the car.  It was about 8 miles long and BEAUTIFUL!  Everyone had a great attitude about it and even though it was long it wasn't a hard hike.  We had to start a little later than Dad would have liked because Lindsay's soccer team had a breakfast get together to hand out trophy's, etc.  We thought it might be a little too hot starting out so late, but there was a nice breeze and so the temperature wasn't bad at all!  

Start of the Trail

Crossroad, good thing Dad had a map and knew where to lead us!

 

Beautiful views all around.  A look at Weavers Needle in the distance.

Stopped for a little lunch at the Indian Paint Mine

A little different perspective.

Looking back where we had come from.

This was the hardest part of the hike.

First sighting of Canyon Lake

Amber wasn't able to go with us because she had to help build the sets for her play that shows this week.  The performances are on W, TH , and F.  We will take some pictures of that and send them to you.

We did our regular thing and stopped for a treat at DQ on our way home and Maddie Brown was working.  It was fun to run into her and thank her for her friendship with you while you were home.  She is such a great gal!  She asked how you were doing:).  

Kent spent the week on his science project (for the science club at school).  He is testing 3 brands of batteries to see which one lasts the longest.  I don't think he really knew what he was getting into when he figure out what his project would be.  I am flashlight sitting right now.  They are starting to die, but so far it has been over 50 hours!  We had to convince him to do other things besides just watching them (he said it was boring....go figure:)).  He is determined to get it done!

Well that is our week in a quick nutshell!

Notes from Dad--March 10, 2014

I'm going to start posting Dave's letters to Samantha too because he adds things that I didn't remember about the week!  Go Garner family history through our letter writing to our missionary!


Dear Sammy,

Sure love you!  Hope you have had a wonderful week.  Can't wait to hear about it.

We just got home from an FHE at Usery Park with the usual Bridlegate suspects (Dilles, Smiths, etc., etc.), as we have done in years past.  Roasted hot dogs, s'mores, and sat around chatting till it was late.  I smell like smoke, but it was a very pleasant evening.  As we were arriving, the setting sun lit up Pass Mountain beautifully and then we watched the sun set and hung out around the campfire and/or ramada.  

The big event this past week for me (and Kent) was going to Science Camp.  I carpooled up with three other dads from our ward (Bros. Robison, Taysom, and Bloom).  We went to the same camp you went to in Prescott.  Kent had a great time.  We shared a cabin with Jared I. and Jacob B.. Most of the other kids in our "room" were various levels of autistic, so they required a little extra supervision, but the boys all got along great.

After lunch on Tuesday, our group went on the hike up Thumb Butte.  After we finished the hike, Bro. Bloom congratulated the boys on conquering Thumb "Butt" (he told them the "e" was silent).  That became the joke of the evening . . . .  After the hike, we did the rock wall and zip line.  That was the consensus favorite activity of the camp.  Kent didn't seem scared at all.  He climbed right up and jumped right off on the zip line. Then lined right up and did it a second time!

That evening, we did a group scavenger hunt.  Our team came in second place (and earned a big Hershey bar)!  After the scavenger hunt, we went to the lodge, where the kids put on their skits.  Kent is so funny.  He was so prepared--he had written out a script for his group and, in addition, put everyone's individual lines on a 3x5 card with various items highlighted.  It was cracking me up (as the skits are pretty simple).  Anyway, they had planned to do a skit involving one of the kids acting like a lawnmower that proved very difficult to get started.  After the boys all failed to get it going, they were going to ask Bro. Sawyer to try; then, when the mower starts right up, they would say:  "I guess all it needed was a 'big jerk'!"  (haha.)  Well, it was a great plan, but before they could have their turn on the skit, the "MC," who was interjecting jokes and stuff between skits, ended up stealing their skit . . .  Luckily, the boys had another one that they ended up being able to do, though it wasn't quite as funny.  Anyway, Kent didn't seem to bothered by it, so it was all good.

I actually slept fairly well that night, though I always forget to bring ear plugs along with me to combat the inevitable snorers . . . .

On Wednesday, we did all the other activities (solar art, backpack attack, owl pellets, dance instruction, teamwork challenge, etc.).  Kent's owl pellet turned out to be a good one--we were able to construct nearly a full skeleton of the rat the owl had eaten.  Bro. Sawyer taught the owl pellet lesson and started by telling the boys what owl pellets are [i.e., puked up stuff that the owl eats but can't digest]  and then explained that, in a survival situation, you could eat owl pellets if necessary.  He then told the boys that the pellets didn't really taste too bad and proceeded to unwrap one and pop it in his mouth.  The boys all gagged, before Mr. Sawyer confessed that he had just wrapped up a piece of brownie to look like the owl pellets.  :-)

During dinner, a whole group of javelina decided to come traipsing through camp.  The kids got a real kick out of watching them.

That night, we sang campfire songs and roasted s'mores before . . . the DANCE!  The dance was hilarious!  I had no idea how much the kids--including the boys--would get into it.  But, get into it they did, including Kent.  Mrs. Wilson had taught them about 12 line dances and other dances during their rotations, and they all really had a fun time.  Kent was cracking me up.  He really let down his guard and went a little wild (which, as you know, is not his normal m.o.).  I kept discretely taking video clips of him on my phone to show to Mom.  His "macarena" was the best--particularly the "hip action" part.  (it was all knee action...Kristine's comment)

That night the boys all slept like logs and the following morning we packed up and headed for home.  I'm glad I was able to go with Kent.

On Friday, we had the adult ward party.  Mom gave you the details on that and sent you a couple of photos of our "potato car."   As is the Garner tradition, our car was more about design and looks, rather than speed (it didn't even make down the entire track), but we had a fun time. 

Saturday, Mom and I did the 35 mile Usery loop on our bikes.  She told you about her two flat tires.  Turns out that my front tire was punctured as well, though luckily, the leak was a slow one and the tire held up for the whole ride (which is good b/c I didn't have a spare tube with me).  I didn't realize it was punctured till later that night when went to ride it to the park and found it completely flat.  Anyway, the weather was absolutely beautiful for a ride.  I love getting out and being active in the comfortably cool mornings this time of year!

Mom gave you the scoop on Jessica's wedding and Amber's tryout for the Saturday's Warrior play and Kent's and Lindsay's final soccer games.

The play Mom and I went to see was Oklahoma.  The singing, acting, and choreography were actually pretty good, but as Mom mentioned, the storyline of the play is kind of dark and filled with a lot of sexist, gender stereotypes.  But, the actual date activity was not as important as the fact of the date itself!  

Between the ward party, the bike ride, the wedding, reception, the play, and a no-extra-meeting fast Sunday, I pretty much spent the entire weekend with my sweetheart.  I sure love your Mother!  It was great to have a chance to spend that much time together.

At fast and testimony meeting, there were a number of testimonies referencing the Cultural Celebration and temple dedication.  All very positive and uplifting.  Amber shared her testimony.  She mentioned that one of the moments she felt the Spirit most was when the youth were all out on the field getting drenched while waiting for the prophet to arrive.  Instead of focusing on their wet condition, a bunch of youth in her area broke out into singing primary songs, which made it both spiritual and fun.  Love it!

I cooked our break-the-fast dinner (grilled chicken and rice), as Mom had a bad headache and, in any event, deserved a rest.  Kent made the salad, and Lindsay made a no-bake cheesecake (with minimal help from me).  The Bishop joined us for dinner (he is a "bachelor" for spring break, while his family is in Utah).  After dinner, we went on a family walk down through the horse properties to the south of us.  Again, the weather was gorgeous.  Very pleasant to be out.  I posted  a picture of the family on our walk to FB.  Doris commented on the post: "What a beautiful picture of a wonderful family.  God bless you all and I thank him every day you guys are a part of our lives."  She's so sweet.  She also commented on a photo of me, Mom, Amber, and Paige at the Cultural Celebration, saying "You are missing one!" (i.e., you).  

Work is going well.  We are settling into our new office space, which is not far from our old office (directly across from U.S. Airways arena--where the Suns play).  I get to look out my window at South Mountain all day, so it's all good. [I think I may have told you about that last week--oh well, I'm getting old . . . ].

Well, when I start repeating myself, that means it's probably time for me to wrap things up.  

We pray for you daily and think about you constantly.  I'm proud of your decision to dedicate this portion of your life to the Lord's service.  The blessings you reap for your service will be much greater than the sacrifice you are making.  Keep working hard, and enjoy!

Love,

Dad

Back to normal life!

Well I have to say my life has slowed down considerably! Most of the week was pretty slow, just the regular stuff...you know laundry, cooking, driving kids places and picking them up again, etc!  

On Friday, we had a Cameron Ranch Adult party at the church.  It was supposed to be like we were going on a cruise.  Each table was decorated with a destination theme.  We sat at the Anne of Green Gables table (Prince Edward Island destination).  I am always amazed at how they can transform the gym!  There was a really good turnout and lots of good food.  They also had a potato derby race (carved potatoes and put wheels in them and raced them down the pinewood derby track).  Ours looked great, just didn't race very well (kind of got stuck on the track).  I will send a picture.  It was the Jamaican bobsled team with straw hats and red pigtails!

 

Saturday, March 8, 2014 was a little busier. Dave and I went on a bike ride early in the morning (it has been a while). In fact, Dave told me there was a lot of dust on my bike.  I just haven't ridden outside much since training for the marathon. Well the front tire was flat and when I tried to pump it up, nothing happened:(!  So I ended up changing it.  While I was changing the front tire, something happened and all of a sudden the back tire lost a bunch of air and we couldn't pump it back up again!  That is the first time I have changed a tire on my bike and I had to change both of them!  Glad it was at home and not on the road!  The weather was perfect and it was great to get out.  Dave even let me keep up with him most of the time (he claims that he wasn't taking it easy), it must be because I am in pretty good shape right now with all that marathon training:)!  On a side note, later in the afternoon Dave went to ride his bike down to the neighbor's house and his bike had a FLAT tire. I think that something must be going on at our house!

We got home, showered and got ready to take Amber to tryout for Saturday's Warrior (more on this later) at the Higley Center for the Arts (it is just on Recker and Pecos).  It worked out great because we dropped her off and then headed to the Temple for Jessica C. (good friend of Samantha's) wedding.  Savannah and Jordan were there (Savannah had taken out her endowments the evening before so she could be at the wedding).  The Smiths, Dille's, Ayers, Sister Woolf, Bishop Ralph and Sister Teague were all there.   Mary's (Jessica's mom) family is so big and even though the sealing rooms are big Dave and I were curious to see if we all fit in there.  She was married in the sealing room on the South side of the Temple (just exactly opposite of the one featured on the tour during the open house).  We all fit with room to spare (about 15 extra seats).  Those sealing rooms are so beautiful!  President LeSueur was the sealer (he used to be our stake president and is good friends with the bride's family).  The temple worker had asked everyone to turn their cell phones completely off and not just to silence them.  Off course someone didn't and right after President LeSueur starting talking you could hear a buzzing.  He was not pleased and you could tell by the way that he asked the person to get their cell phone and turn it off.  He didn't dwell on it and went on to talk about how the ordinances that we participate in in the temple are a physical aspect of the convents that we are making and help us to remember them and to keep them.  He had a nice message and then performed the sealing. 

 

They exchanged rings later (I think so that her birth family could be a part of some aspect of the wedding).  We had been invited us to the luncheon, but we had Kent's last soccer game, and since I am the coach there was really no choice.  We did go to the reception later in the evening and it was beautiful. It is crazy to see many of Samantha's friends engaged and getting married.

After the sealing we went and picked up Amber and changed clothes to go to Kent's game. We were really proud of Amber trying out for the play.  She had to sing a song and then learn a dance.  She thinks it went pretty well. We just hope that she is okay with whatever happens!  Over all I think it was a good experience for her.

On to our last soccer game!  It was a little bitter sweet.  We lost again (I just wanted someone to score a goal, but not even that happened, oh well!).  A. was the goalie the 1st half and said to me when I asked him if he would be the keeper, "Well, I probably won't be very good."  I told him to just do his best and that would be enough.  He made a ton of saves and did a fantastic job!  S. was the keeper the 2nd half and also did a great job!  We lost 0-4 (2 goals each half...a familiar pattern).  I just know these boys are better than our scoring indicated, but I did my best and that is all I could do.  The parents gave me a gift card to "Blue Lemon"  a new restaurant where the blockbuster used be (on Greenfield). So sweet!  Most of the boys even let me give them a side hug:) as they left! Part of me will miss the boys, but I will be glad not to be coaching again!  Kent decided that he wanted to do spring swim team instead of soccer.  Lindsay still wants to do soccer, but she has a coach that likes to coach! YAY!

We went to the reception early because we had tickets to the play at the Hale Centre Theater at 7:30 pm.  It is a musical.  It is not my favorite play, or musical.  They did a fine job with what they had to work with.  Kind of a dark story.  It was just really nice to be on a date with my sweetheart:)!

Sunday was fast Sunday because of the Temple dedication last week.  Bishop K. family went to Utah (left him here...sound familiar?),  The C.'s also left for spring break.  So no bishopric fast Sunday get together.  We invited the bishop over for dinner so he wouldn't have to be alone.  After dinner the bishop headed home and we went on a family walk (the weather was perfect) and then played a little Liverpool rummy.  It was a nice evening to spend together!

Phoenix Marathon and the Gilbert Temple Youth Cultural Celebration

We have had a crazy week this week!  Dave and I (along with Uncle Richard and Aunt Mary Ann) ran the phoenix marathon on Saturday.  It hasn't rained here in months, but decided to roll in on Friday night (well at least the clouds) the rain came just before the marathon started!  It wasn't too bad, just mostly light sprinkles through the first few miles then not much the rest of the race. I told Dave that I have run all my marathons in the rain!  He laughed at me and said, "All 2 of them, right?"  I replied that that was true, but it was still ALL my marathon experience!!

Mary Ann and I stuck together most of the race.  By mile 23 I could tell that she was feeling MUCH better that I was, so I told her to go on without me.  My quads had started feeling really sore and tight by mile 9 or 10 but just getting progressively worse as the race went on.  She did only after I promised I would't be mad at her (we had made a pact to stick together).  I knew that I would finish and so I didn't mind breaking that pact!  She finished in 4 hours and 54 minutes.  I finished in exactly 5 hours (our goal was 5 hours).  So we both felt like we had met our goal!

Dave and Richard finished with about the same distance between them.  Dave finished first and then Richard. They were both under 4 hours and I think Richard was THRILLED.  Dave was happy to have done decently since he hadn't had nearly as much training as he would have liked (as you know he had to stop running for a few weeks because of his knee and then that nasty flu he had took him out for a couple more weeks...overall he lost about 5 weeks of heavy training). So in reality he did AWESOME!  He was a little frustrated because somehow his chip timing did NOT work and the race had NO official time for him.  He emailed them and they had video of him crossing the finish line and so they will post a time for him online.  It seems important to be official on the race results!

Dave & Richard after finishing the marathon!

Yes, that is me making my way to the finish line.
It looks like a slow shuffle and that is what it felt like too!
I had NO kick at the end, just happy to be DONE!!

We DID it!!!  Can you believe that we are still smiling?

Me and Dave

As soon as we finished the marathon we hurried home to take showers and go help at the Youth Cultural Celebration for the Temple Dedication at Discovery Park.  

It is funny how the marathon and the cultural celebration seemed so separated.  Almost like 2 different lives...not really worried about the rain for the marathon, but extremely concerned about the rain for the celebration.

I needed some rest so I am sitting down ready for the kids to come for snacks!
Just don't ask me to get up because my quads were not allowing it!

I told you last wee that we had so much dust!  We have been without rain for about 2 1/2 months (which is an unusually dry winter).  It was crazy!

So, fast forward to the middle of the next week.  What do we have in the forecast for Saturday,  RAIN!!  A little on Friday and maybe some on Sunday, but 100% for Saturday!  We have been praying for rain, but not for the one day that we didn't want it!  How many times do you see 100% in the forecast???  The Executive Committee asked all of us to pray that the elements would be tempered.  Dad said, "It's in the Lord's hands now."

The rain came and went a bit in the morning, which was great because it settled the dust.  It seemed like everything else was skirting all around the celebration.  

Can you find Paige and Amber (among the other kids from our ward?
Paige is second from left and Amber second from the right.
Look at those smiles...and they stayed even through the RAIN!

The final dress rehearsal went really well and when it was over, it started to sprinkle a little (which we could handle), but there were some big black clouds heading our way.  The youth were upbeat and excited. We fed the youth dinner and sent them back to the field for the performance.  20 minutes before the performance was supposed to start, the rain came down!  The kids were on the field waiting for the Prophet and President Eyring to arrive.  Needless to say by the time everything got started, EVERYONE was drenched!! (even the audience!). 

The Farr's and Dave under the tarp (trying to stay dry as possible)

Me under the tarp.

This was our view.  Can you see the rain in the lights?  Those are the kids out on the field waiting to get started!

But the show went on! The youth smiled through the WHOLE show and had great attitudes!  Discovery Park is a RETENTION basin (the location of the event), so you can guess where all the water went!  By the end there was at least an inch or so of water at various places on the field.  Kids were slipping down the hill as they went to go onto the field for their parts of the show.  I am sure there will be lots of stories to tell!

It was fun to watch their excitement (despite being drenched) as President Eyring and President Monson arrived!

President Moson and President Eyring waving to the youth, who were waving and screaming with excitement!

It was certainly an event that NO ONE that participated in will EVER forget!  Even when it was all over and the kids were freezing they were still smiling and laughing and enjoying the craziness of it all!  Paige and Amber got to participate and I think that they will say that it was a truly memorable experience!  We talked about how the pioneers probably experience similar conditions, especially on the trek to Salt lake, but then had to pitch tents in the mud and sleep in wet clothes.  We got to go home and take a nice hot shower and hop into a warm bed.  

Take a look at all that water!

Sunday was the dedication of the Temple. There were 3 sessions and we ended up going to 2 of the three.  They were all different (including the talks and the choirs).  We were privileged as family to get to be in the actual temple ( Grandma Garner also received a ticket and came with us) for the last dedication session. We were wishing that Samantha were there with us, but know that she was where she needs to be and are so proud of her! The tickets were given by the Stake Presidencies and ours gave our to us for our work with the Celebration and Grandma's stake president just felt inspired that she needed a ticket. 

It was wonderful to listen to the words of the general authorities and President Monson (he spoke in the first session for a few minutes).  In the last session one of the Seventies that spoke talked about how some may wonder about their faith because even though they had prayed that the rain would be tempered it had come anyway.  He likened it to the Lord wanting to pour out his spirit on them.  I know that despite the rain, and maybe because of it, those youth (and adults) will have a special place in their hearts when we think of the temple cultural celebration and dedication!

We were seated in the temple marriage waiting room. (Just a side note, it is on the 3rd floor and we had to climb all those stairs, up was not so bad, but down...that was another thing all together!  My quads hurt so bad by this time that I had such a hard time trying to stand that Dave had to help me get up and it took so long that we missed half the Hosanna shout)  All the furniture had been removed and chairs placed in all the rooms.  The ushers said they were able to seat 1850 people in each dedication session.  Because we were at the last session we were able to see President Monson and President Eyring leave the temple and drive away.  What a wonderful way to end a wonderful weekend!

Waiting in line to be seated for the dedication session.

After the session was finished, on the South side of the temple.

A brief sighting of President Monson.