Girls Camp

For the first time in 4 years I was able to go to Girls Camp just as a Leader and not as the one in charge. I really enjoyed not having the responsibility, I got to spend more time with the girls and more time with my bestie Erica. Instead of sleeping in a tent I chose to sleep in my car with Erica in her car right next to mine. I was excited to sleep in my car but it was not as great as I thought, it was not very comfortable, it was cold and it was really tight. It was ok but changing in my car was very difficult. The theme for the camp was CandyLand which I have been wanting to do for years and the YCL'S did a really good job with the decorations. The adults had to help with devotionals and Keri Shoemaker, Camp Director, had us put on our camp shirts, candy land glasses and carry a lollipop at the beginning of camp to introduce what our devos would be. I was tasked with talking about scripture reading and journal keeping. I am not. fan of camp shirts and after the little "skit" was done I took it off and lost sight of it. I was more then fine to not be=ring it home with me so it would sit in a box for the rest of its life.

 

On one of the mornings we went on a hike and I was put as the leader at the front which is where I like to be. When I hike or exercise I like to just get it done with and I do not like stopping so being in the front meant I could just go and get done. The hike ended at a little creek and I did get a little sad at this point watching all of the other leaders take pictures with their daughters. I was the only leader there without a daughter in the group and that was hard. 

I did a picture with Brynn Givens one of my favorite Young women and Chelsea Ham who is was assistant Camp Director. I also made Erica take a picture with me.

I did not have any opportunity to do my video workouts so I would get up every morning and go walking. On the second night of camp Erica and I got invited to stay the night at the Givens cabin which was so nice. We were able to shower and sleep in beds and in the morning I walked around their golf course which was beautiful and felt more safe then walking around the roads.

The last bright was the night the Bishopric comes up and we had skits and testimony that night. The Leaders did a skit to an SNL skit about Jorts and we did pretty good. The YCLs had the bishopric do TikTok dances with them and the girls loved it. I know Kefford hates stuff like this but he knows it is good for the girls to see him as relatable and he was a good sport and willingly participated. They did such a good job, it was entertaining and so funny. In the pictures Kefford is wearing the green wig.

After skits Kefford led everyone off for Testimony meeting and it was a great start to a spiritual night. 

I took a picture of my dirty feet and was able to then go home with Kefford that night and I am so grateful for it. I helped clean up as much as I could that night so that I did my part and was very happy to say goodbye to the girls and go home to shower and sleep in my own bed.

Dannys Church History Tour

Danny Ricks had been asking Kefford for a while if he would come on his church history tours with him and be his driver. Kefford finally had some time that worked with Dannys schedule and he was happy to be his driver. He got to spend the week with one of his favorite people as well as see some cool church history sights. The family they took was Kyle Lyons Mom and Dad as well as his sisters family. Kyle also came along for a couple of days and during one of the drives his sister had asked Kefford about how he and I met and Kyle recorded Kefford talking about our love story origins and sent it to me which was fun. I dontusually get to hear Kefford talking about our beginnings and it is perfect that I now have record of him talking about it. 

Kefford served his mission in Ohio and some of th church history spots were part of his mission. I think it was pretty fun for him to be able to go back and visit different sites. He had me send him a picture from his mission so he could recreate it. 

While at one of the sites they ran into the Young Men General President Timothy L Farnes and his wife as well as the Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman. I believe they were there filming something for the church. It was cool of them to be able to meet these power leaders and Kefford got a picture with President Farnes and his wife.

A Top Golf break was fun for Kefford and Danny to show off their powerful swings. Kefford had a lot of fun with Danny on this trip and I think he would do it again.

 

Family Call with Avynlea

I stayed at Joshuas house while I was I Utah and in the morning I would wake up early and go walking. Joshua started a running club with his kids and on this morning I went walking but stopped before I met my goal so I could join Joshuas family for run club. They run around their block and each time they do a lap they mark their time down. I was excited to be a part of their club and I was pretty proud of myself for running the entire way without stopping. 

We had a family chat with Avynlea and everyone found the filter settings so we had fun playing with the filters. 

Leah is one of my Young Woman and good friends with Rylee and she asked me to make her a pillowcase for graduation. She said I could pick out whatever material I wanted and I found the cutest fish material, I am a little obsessed with it. It turned out really cute and Leah was super excited about it when I gave it to her.

 

Fathers Day

 Right after the reception Kefford and Rylee drove back to Meridian, Kefford needed to get back for church and work and Rylee went with him. I stayed because Kefford was coming back Tuesday night to go with Danny Ricks on a church History tour and then I would drive the car back to Meridian. I did not want to do all of that driving back and forth so I stayed with my family for a few more days. Sunday was Fathers Day and Rylee made it a nice day for him. She even did better than me on his Birthday and got pictures of him with the gifts she got him as well as the sign she made for him. 

Rylee got him some fun socks, a new shirt and a nail file kit, all picked out by her.

Ryker and Anna June 14th 2025

 

I think Avynlea took this screenshot of herself taking to Kefford. Anytime we get to talk to Avynlea is a good day.

Ryker and Anna designed their wedding announcement and I think it turned out really cute, I love the simplicity and the florals.

I am planning on having separate wedding books of my kids weddings but I wanted to document something that happened after the Temple ceremony. We were all standing outside waiting for pictures and Ashleigh said to me and Joshua that we should get a siblings picture of the ones who were there. I thought that was a greta idea and looked around for Erin and Emily. Erin was close enough but Emily was off a ways standing by a tree next to the parking lot. Ashleigh said that she was not feeling well and that she was waiting there for Matt to pick her up. She then mentioned that we could just do a picture later. I said or we can just go to Emily and take a picture where she is at. So we started heading over there with Joshua a little ways ahead of us. Right as soon as Joshua got to Emily she blacked out and started to go down and he was able to grab her and help her get down. By this time the rest of us got there and were able to help her get up and into the car with Matt where he and Joshua gave her a blessing. Remember Emily just had a couple of back to back surgeries and was really having a hard time and I am grateful that the Lord blessed us to be able to help her in that moment. I love when I can see and recognize Tender Mercies from the Lord. We did get the picture and unfortunately the wind would not let up so its not the best of pictures but we did manage to get one.

Family Dinner

It was time for Ryker and Anna to get married and they decided to get married in Utah at the Jordan River Temple on June 14th. Unfortunately Stephanie was getting married in Hawaii on June 19th and already had bought tickets for Mom to go out there for her wedding and she was leaving the morning of the 14th which was the day Ryker and Anna were getting married. So Mom and Stephanie were out. Heather and Jackson had something come up and they couldn't come. Ashleigh I talked into coming because I really needed the help and support and I was grateful she made the effort to come. Erin also came in from California while Andrew was able to come for the rehearsal dinner but missed the wedding because he was flying to Hawaii. Emily and Joshua were also able to be with us which was great. I wish everyone could have come but I didn't pick the dates and I am appreciative of the ones who were able to make it. Kefford and I stayed with Joshua at his house and we had fun being with his family. Leona really likes Kefford and it was cute to see them together.

We were outside with the kids who had their swimming suits on and were playing with water. I told them they should put the hose on the slide and make it a water slide and they had a lot of fun doing that. The hose was a bit wild and it was funny to watch them get sprayed by an uncontrollable hose.

My job for the wedding was to put together and host the family dinner. Anna had a lot of family that were going to be coming and we had a low number of Lutes but the Petersons were coming and they have a lot of kids so it was about 80ish people we were planning for. Kefford and I talked at length about what to serve and it shouldn't have but the planning of the dinner really stressed me out just because of expectations I had. We decided on getting sub sandwiches from Jimmy Johns and I bought chips, waters, clementines, and made a load of pasta salad. I also ordered cupcakes from Sam's Club for dessert and to use as part of the table centerpieces. Erin, and Ashleigh were super helpful with all of the set up, Emily came but wasn't able to do much because she had just had surgery, she was good to help with ideas and she let us use her lace curtains as a backdrop to try to hide the ugly church wall.Kefford, Rylee, Kenedy, Ty, Andrew, Maren, Matt and Isabelle were also filtering in and out to help with set up.  It took a long time and a lot of different ideas but we were able to get it looking pretty close to how I imagined and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. We had a lot of leftover food which is just fine because I would rather that then not enough food. 

I had Kefford welcome everyone and we had a prayer and then ate dinner and visited. I at some point went to sit with Anna's parents who were talking with Bob and Alison to visit with them and we had good conversations. I wish we had thought I advance to have some ice breakers or ways to interact more but I did my best. Ryker and Anna did go around each table and telling names and how they were related so we did that. I thought it was a good night and I was so happy when my part was done.

Elizabeth, Erin, Ashleigh and Emily

We thought out funny when Andrew showed up wearing the same shirt as Ryker

Rylee and Leona

Happy Birthday Kefford!

 Kefford turned 49 this year and his birthday fell on a Sunday. When Ryker, Rylee and I got home from church they wanted to make some posters for their Dad for his birthday. The posters turned out great and I don't know how but the only pictures we got this day was of Ryker and Rylee making their posters and then the one that Rylee made. Big fail of not even taking a picture of the birthday boy but does he even care? Probably not. We did our best to make it a good Birthday for him and I think he appreciated the effort.