Boy Scout National Jamboree

 While on our way to Jamboree, we played one of our favorite games.  It's called the ABC game and you take turns listing things you should take to Jamboree.  We would say...

We are going to Jamboree and we are going to take
A Anti Itch Cream in Case of bug bites
B Big Bag of clothes to wear
C Clear Sunscreen
D Deodorant, lots of deodorant
E Extra Wipes
F Flash Light
G Grape Flavored chap stick
H Hot Beef Jerky
I Ice cream for astronauts
J Jello
K Kleenex
L Lime flavored hard candy
M Money for souvenirs
N Nice sleeping bag
O Organic Underwear
P Pocket knife
Q Quilt to cozy up at  night
R Razor blades for shaving
S Silky pajamas
T Tennis shoes
U Umbrella
V Very nice Boy Scout Uniforms
W Washing Machine to keep our stuff clean
X X-ray machine in case anybody is injured
Y Yellow banana
Z Zip Lock Bags to store treasure

 We stopped in Memphis for some barbeque, our GPS recommended this place.  I'm not sure we could pass on the same reccomendation.  But it was fun.

Nashville, Tennessee was our stopping point for the first night.  I wanted to see the beautiful Nashivlle Temple so Dick took us there. It's a small temple but oh soooo pretty!  I loved being on the temple grounds together.

We got up early on Saturday for the final leg of our journey and drove through some mighty big rain storms.  Texas knows how to rain, but Tennessee really knows how to pour.  We were so glad when it stopped and we were extra thankful we had replaced the wiper blades before leaving home.  This was an interesting tunnel we went though a mountain in West Virginia.  It was amazing to be in there and know we were driving through a mountain.

Saturday afternoon we arrived just in time to be checked in.  I was sure glad our paper work was all in order, we had passed our medical checks and our Youth Protection Training was up to date.  WHEW!  While waiting in line, we noticed a man talking to some other scouters saying he was from Dallas Texas.  Would you believe he is our neighbor that lives just one street over.  It was so fun running into him at registration.  We didn't see him again the whole week.  That was a tender mercy of the Lord. They let us in and issued us our badges and our Staff Hats and our lunch passes.  Then we were off to settle into our tents.  Dick was in the Men's camp and I was in the Women's camp.  I had the funnest tent mate named Doris Ann from Utah.  She was delightful and I loved getting to room with her.  Dick had two other tent mates who he really enjoyed getting to know too.

Early  Sunday morning we woke up in a cloud.  The beautiful West Virginia clouds were touching the ground and it was almost magical how they touched the ground. We had an orientation meeting and then worked on getting the exibit ready.  We mostly got acquainted and enjoyed the beautiful day. Sunday evening we had a Sacrament Meeting in an outside pavilion.  One brother had brought a keyboard and we were able to sing the hymns together.  The Priesthood blessed and passed the Sacrament and that was extra nice.  Then I was able to meet my dad's neighbor, Ralph Swiss who was at Jamboree as a Chaplon.  It was wonderful to meet him.  Dad loves him and I can see why.  What a good and very kind man.

One of the speakers at Sacrament Meeting was one of the Branch Presidents at he Missionary Training Center.  He was recently returned from Russia as a Mission President and is over the missionaries who are going to Russia to be volunteers.  Our sweet Annie Crandall is in his Branch and Dad loved talking to him about our Annie.  He just loved her and said she had worked so hard and done great in the MTC.  

The next few days we spent getting the exhibit all set up.  Brother Steve Anderson from the church was in charge of our exhibit.  He also does the new temple open house exhibits and is so talented.  He had us build frames to put these beauful murals on.  Wow, it brought the spirit in abundance to our space.  We had a fun Family Home Evening on Monday night and enjoyed getting acquaitned with so many members of the church who attended.  They divided us into two groups from birthdays from January -June and July -December.  I stood next to a man who was also born on July4th.  We loved it.

 These are the merit badge tents and the duty to God Pavillion.  What a honor it was to serve there.

This was an interesting bridge that Dick hiked quite a ways to go and see.  He was able to hike over it and loved it.  

On wednesday the Boy Scouts arrived.  That is what we had been waiting for.  They said if you lined up all the busses that brought the scouts, the line would be Six Miles Long.  WOW!  25,00 scouts take a lot of busses to arrive.  It was so good to have them there we loved meeting scouts from all over the 50 United States and many of countries outside the US.  They were great!

This is our map that I got to invte the scouts to put their name on a flag and put it on our map.  This was only after two days.  It was really filled by the end of the 10th day.  WOW!

 The Compass award was the special award the church offered this year.  It has a liahona on it which really spins.  So cool.  We had to memorize a quote from President Uctdorf which says: Though I am incomplete, Gods Loves me Completely, Though I am imperfect, He loves me Perfectly,  Though I may feel lost and without compass, Gods loves encompasses me Completely.  I love those words and believe them to be true.
The you get to memorize James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that waverith is like a wave in the sea being driven by the wind and tossed.  We got to practice it so many times with the scouts that it will never leave my mind.  I love those words and know they are true!

This is our councils Special Jamboree Shoulder patch.  I loved representing the Circle 10 council along with many Scouts who came.

I have to admit something.  I was not excited to go to Jamboree.  When they invited us to come last summer, I somehow didn't think it would really come, but it did and I am so glad Dick encouraged me and helped me to go.  The very last night the most beautiful sunset.  The sky was filled with Pink and I always think when the sunsets or sunrises are pink that Heavenly Father must have let my mom help with the clouds that night or that morning.  West Virginia holds a special place in my heart and Boy Scouts do too.  I loved being there and getting to love the boys and help them to fill the love of our Savior Jesus Christ! Dick promised me that I would be glad I went, guess what?  He was right!

Happy 4th of July Week

Our Mansfield Thiots
After a fantastic weekend, Becky and the Girls headed to the airport for their flight to California. They will spend the month of July in Redding with Becky's parents and be home just in time to go back to school.  They love their California Summers and this year was a bonus as they didn't leave quite as soon as usual and we got to enjoy them before they left.  This will probably be their last time as Becky's wonderful parents bought a home in Cedar Hills and will be moving HERE this fall. What a blessing that will be for ALL of us!  Ricky will be traveling for work most of the  month and when he lands at home for the weekend, he promised Becky to have the remainder of the boxes unpacked and everything put away.  One of my favorite parts of July 4th was Ricky volunteering to do Keelie's hair after she swam.  That girl has the thickest and curliest hair.  I love her hair but it can be challenging to brush through it.  Ricky went to Walmart and bought a big bottle of de-tangleing spray and did a gorgeous braid in the back of her hair.  Go RICKY!

Our Charlottesville Granges
This week has been the Granges turn to take care of the gardens at Penny's Elementary School.  Each family with children at the school, is assigned a week during the summer to come to the school and water the garden.  The kids loved getting to go to the school each day and they tried to plan enough time to stay and play on the play ground for a little bit too.  Towards the end of the week, it was HOT and not quite as much fun as it was the first of the week. That's kind of how life is.  But the BIG NEWS of the week happened on the 4th!  Yes, their is now a BIG KIDS ROOM in the Grange Home. The bunk beds are built and Penny and Max are thrilled to be bunk'n buddies and Oscar is delighted to be out of his crib and into the toddler bed.  Everybody got a new bed this week and life is good. The Nursery is still a work in progress, but it will be amazing when Tatia works her magic on it soon. Good Job Granges!

Our Carmichael Thiots
Charlie and Callum enjoyed their Father and Son's Weekend together but were sure glad to welcome Keelie home on Tuesday night.  We had such a great time having Keelie with us for the week.  The time went by faster than I would have liked but I'm sure she was ready to go home.  There is no place like Home as Dorthy said in the Wizard of Oz.  We packed as much fun and made as many good memories as we possibly could in that week.  I will never forget all the fun.  I loved having sewing lessons with her, I loved watching her bake me a birthday cake, going to the firework show in Addison on Monday night and 100 other things we did together.  WOW!  It's no wonder we were all so tired this week.  Thanks for sharing her Charlie and Callum and Thanks for coming Keelie!

Our LA Thiots
On July 4th, we were out in the back yard with Keelie swimming in the pool.  Ricky was here, my Dad and my sister Lani and Dick and the phone rang, it was Pierce and Adelaide calling to sing Happy Birthday, then Charlie and Callum called, and then the Granges called. They were all face timing on either Dick's phone, or mine or an ipad.  It was like having my entire family in the back yard together for my birthday.  What FUN!  The kids went together and got a DNA testing kit so we can further our family history searching.  What an exciting and thoughtful gift.  Thank you ALL!

Our DownTown Thiots
I was counting and I saw Miss Elinor six days in a row while Keelie, Lani and Dad were in town.  Now it's been five days since I have seen her.  I think Keelie was quite a drawing card to have our Down Town Thiots come by.  I loved it.  Keelie had a sleep over with them on Sunday night and they took her to the Dallas Zoo and to the Dallas World Aquarium on Monday morning before we met up with them at Costco.  Keelie loved spending time with them and especially loved Elinor.  She got to hold her and loved getting to know her youngest cousin.  Thanks for all your trips to see us all!

We Plano Thiots
Dick had a trip to the Dentist this week for some work on his smile. On his way, there was a bit of bumper cars going on and he ended up with a lady in his bumper.  Fortunately, nobody was hurt and cars can be repaired.    Dr. Taylor got Dick's smile fixed up and he id doing well.  Dick's been trying to get all his eggs in a row before we leave town later this week.  We will be gone for nearly two weeks which makes it tricky to be sure you get everything done that needs doing before you leave town for that long.  We will be driving to West Virginia for Jamboree and won't have internet access for part of the time so hopefully everything will work properly and not too many crazy things will happen.

 

My darling niece Carissa and her sweetheart were sealed in the lovely Payson Utah temple on July 5th.  Lani and Dad made it home in perfect time to be there with them.  I love this photo with all her nieces and nephews.  Devin, Paige, Lucy, Jack, Ella, Calvin, Heidi and Taylor!

On My Birthday Eve, we had the funnest visitors stop by for a quick birthday visit.  Oh how I love these Chrstensen kidos and their lovely parents.  Thanks for my flag and for being a part of our family!

I've been trying to get my new shoes broken in for camp and have acquired too many blisters, so while walking I told Heavenly Father if he really needed me to go to Jamboree, that I would appreciate it if he could help me find some comfy shoes.  I heard the words "Go to REI" and that is where we went for our date night on Friday and I'm now the owner of some comfy shoes. Thank Heaven for answered prayers!
It' was so nice to have Lani and Dad here with us.  I asked Lani for an hour to help me make a pathway into my closet and she gave me three hours and I can not only walk in, but I can dance in there.  THANK YOU LANI!

At the temple on Friday, there was a note posted on the bulletin board about the passing of a wonderful brother.  Brother Grice who I have known and loved his daughter and her family since they moved to Plano 34 years ago.  It was an honor to get to attend his funeral on Saturday morning. What a great man who taught us all so much about how to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.   I'm so glad that I know him and love him and his family. He was the Stake Patriarch in Richardson Stake for many years and gave 900 Patriarchal Blessings.   My friend Jody spoke about her daddy and what a beautiful job she did.  If you hadn't known him well before, you did after she was done.  I loved being there.
I think that is everything I remember from this wonderful first week of July!  WHEW, it's no wonder I'm so tired.  Sure love you all, Robynn