Trish Neville offered my name to help with the 3rd year hike this year which I was absolutely ok with. I have always loved girls camp and the last time I was able to go was in 2004. That year I went with Sara and we were just helpers to the Stake. I was so excited to go and Jesús was asked to go and cook. I wasnt able to go up until Wednesday and Trish and I were going to go together and stay one night and come home after the hike. It was great to see Jesús there helping out in the kitchen and he even carved me a walking stick for the hike and burned our initials into it. The weather was perfect and it was so much fun to hang out with everyone. We got to listen to the girls sing the camp songs and goof off around the camp fire and then sing hymns. When it got dark enough we went out to the meadow to look at the stars. I got to fulfill one of my wishes which was to play my guitar around the campfire. I didn't know a lot of songs but it was still fun. That night I got all snuggled into my sleeping bag and I was warm but I couldn't go to sleep. I started to feel pretty nauseous. Around 5:15 we got up to use the potty and when we got back in bed I still didn't feel any better. I got up in case it got worse. I sat out by the fireless fire pit and waited for people to wake up. I started feel a little hungry. I ate some breakfast and started to feel sick again. I really didn't want to miss out on the hike so Jesús offered to give me a blessing. It was a wonderful blessing and I started to feel better. We all got ready to go and I wasn't feeling 100% better but I wasn't going to miss the hike. Once we started hiking though I felt fine and I enjoyed the hike to Cannel Meadow. We got there and I was exhausted from no sleep the night before. I almost fell asleep sitting on a log. We had lunch and Sonnet and Trish taught the girls about using a compass and I taught them about water purification. It was a nice break. Jesús and David showed up and said they had spotted some bears in the meadow next to ours and Jesús offered to drive me back. I really wanted to finish the hike. The hike back was hard. So hard. It was in the middle of the afternoon and so hot and uphill for about 2 1/2 miles. I probably stopped every 10 minutes. I was so relieved when we got to the top and after that the downhill part was a piece of cake. The girls were amazing. I hope I was that strong when I was their age but I'm sure I wasn't. It felt like a big accomplishment when we got back to camp. Once we got back I decided to lay down and I fell asleep for a few minutes. When I woke up for dinner I was feeling sick again. I took some medicine and felt ok enough to help Trish pack up. Jesús helped get the tent packed and made some dinner in case I felt better on the way home. Then we headed out. We made it home at about 10 and it felt so good to get home to shower and sleep in my own bed. I was so disappointed that I was sick and I was probably so annoying and whiny. We did hike 3 1/4 mile soon after we got there and Ryan Bunting was pretty sure it was Altitude sickness. When we got down to Kernville I was feeling better so I hope that doesn't become a regular thing. Next time I will give my body a chance to get used to the altitude before I hike anything.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Girls Camp 2010
by Mrs. Schmalison at 1:11 PM Thoughts from friends (3)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Pioneer Day
by Mrs. Schmalison at 2:04 PM Thoughts from friends (0)
Monday, July 12, 2010
A total stranger saved my kids today
I was getting my kids into our new/used double jogger this morning in the BC parking lot. I had them in and the stroller packed. I put the lock on the brake and went to quickly put my purse in the back of the car. I shut the door and the stroller was gone. Gone!!!!! I looked across the parking lot and saw them rolling away very quickly it was like a movie that you think would never happen to you. I started running as fast as I could but I wasnt going to get to them by the time they hit the speed bump and went right into the traffic pulling into the parking lot. Luckily the van that pulled in noticed something was wrong and slowed down. Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone running. I looked and saw a young guy with flip flops on running faster than I was. He got there just in time, maybe a foot away from the speed bump. I cried and told him thank you over and over again. I'm so grateful he was there. He was my angel today. I'm grateful my kids are safe, and now I know not to use the brake lock on the double jogger. I almost didn't post this because I felt so stupid and embarrassed but I feel grateful even more so I did post it.
by Mrs. Schmalison at 8:55 AM Thoughts from friends (4)
Friday, July 9, 2010
Gardenias and I go way back
Many years ago when I was in elementary school, I felt lonely a lot. I knew a lot of kids that I went to school with but I didnt have a best friend because the only best friend I had known was a year older than me in school and we didn't spend time together at school very much. I didn't feel as cool as she was. I was very naive and gullible and I got teased because of how I ate my sandwiches with my sensitive teeth. One day I felt particularly lonely and I didnt have any one to sit with at lunch so I went to the office and called my Mom. She asked if I wanted her to come to school and sit with me while I ate. I said yes. She came and I climbed in the car and we sat in the parking lot while I ate. She started to tell me about her Gardenia plant that she had in her front yard that wouldn't bloom. She had been waiting and waiting for it to bloom. Well that morning a flower had bloomed and she said it must have bloomed for me. So she picked that flower and she gave it to me. I cried and felt so blessed to have such a wonderful mother. After I finished eating I said goodbye to my Mom and hugged her. I started walking back to class and one of my friends from band saw me and asked why I was crying. I told her that I had felt lonely and that my Mom had saved the day. She put her arm around me and told me she would walk with me back to class.
When we moved into a house, I knew that I wanted to plant Gardenias so that I could always remember that day. I bought a Gardenia plant and planted it, I was worried because after a while it started to look a little droopy so I fertilized it and watered it more and it in a few days it started to look much better. All these little buds started growing and I was so excited for it to bloom. On Sunday I walked outside to find a small Gardenia flower. It is so beautiful and now there are so many of them. Thank you Mom. I hope I can be that kind of Mom.
by Mrs. Schmalison at 9:19 AM Thoughts from friends (4)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Longest 4th of July ever
by Mrs. Schmalison at 2:43 PM Thoughts from friends (3)
The Shower
by Mrs. Schmalison at 2:22 PM Thoughts from friends (0)