Tournaments and Yellowstone

Well let's see. The 9^th Annual Tom Sherwood Golf Tournament went off successfully. I'm so glad that it's over. Granted we still have the finishing up work to do, but it's over. I worked really hard to make it a successful event, and I feel like everyone was pleased and had a great time. We also raised $14,000 to contribute to our scholarship fund. Summer goes by way too fast I have to say. This past weekend my sister Maddie came up and we went camping in Island Park on Friday night. In which three of us slept on an air mattress that deflated in the middle of the night. Oh camping! It was a good time though. The next day we wanted to get some sun so we decided to go to Yellowstone and go swimming in Firehole. SO FUN! The water from the geysers drains into the river making the river warm and enjoyable on a hot summer day. We would jump into the rapids and float the river down. We then went to Old Faithful and the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. I didn't take any pictures during this leg of the trip. Maddie has all those pictures, so as soon as I get those I'll post them. We saw a lot of animals, and of course tourists who thought these animals are in a petting zoo. We had a lot of fun though, and that evening we were SO tired.

Maddie at the antique show with her awesome broach

Baby tent

Big Springs

We totally didn't mean to wear the same color of shirt

See the moose? That was on our nature hike

Mountain spring water!

I can't believe the summer is more than half over. ICK! Life still hasn't slowed down at all, and work is busier than ever. I'm still currently homeless come August 14^th. Still on the whole Apartment hunting thing, hopefully something will turn up. That's what keeps me up at night mostly. I do however think I have a new RS presidency set up and that will help me ease a little of my stress. Life is good, I'm so blessed, hooray for fun!

Life is a Test, so no Cheating!

My life has become one big "to do" list. Besides picking up a new job and trying to get my big golf tournament over, I've also trying to find a new place to live AND now I might have to find roommates. Oh and did I mention that HALF of my girls in my Relief Society are leaving this month, which means new callings (and a new 1^st counselor and Secretary). That stresses me out. To the point where I just laid in bed and cried, HA! Everyone needs one of those once in awhile right? I thought stress was gone after I graduated college and said goodbye to finals! My brain is on overload, which is probably my fault considering I was on vacation for close to a week, and forgot about everything. As my friend Melissa said "this stuff is giving me a rash". AMEN! I know everything will work out, but it's hard to see the end of the tunnel sometimes. Especially when you know people are counting on you. Wouldn't it be nice to just live in Tahiti (my new fav place thank you Bachelorette!) and not have a care in the world? I guess, but I know I would be bored eventually. It's so easy to want to just say, I QUIT! I quit work, church, life in general and become a bum, but 1. I KNOW I would be so unhappy, and 2. I KNOW that's not why I'm here. Life is test Savanna so get workin' there's no cheating! Oh well, I guess that is why I have God, a family and friends to help me. So hunker down is my only solution because giving up is not an option. Here's to acing this portion of the test!

Jerry & Alpha’s 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration

This has been a long time coming. My mom's parents celebrated their 50^th anniversary in the beginning of July, and so we all got together to celebrate naturally. It's a little harder for our family since my mom's 2 sisters live in Florida, and a 1 brother lives in South Carolina, and the other brother lives in Seattle. We are all over the country. My grandpa is getting pretty old (he'll be 79 this year), and he's getting to a point where he can't do much. So this was probably be one of the last times we are all together (I hate to say it, but it's probably true, and we all knew it, we just didn't want to say it out loud to anybody). Anyway, the reunion started on Thursday, but because of work events I wasn't able to leave until Friday. My mom has been planning and shopping like crazy. Seriously, what did families do before Costco? Friday night was Mexican night, and then we danced and played per usual. We also played football and took some pictures. My family is crazy, but I do love them!

Saturday I rented a 53 foot water obstacle course. Seriously, so fun! It filled our entire back yard but it was pretty much amazing. I rented it for 8 hours and we used all of those hours. I even got my grandparents to go down it, baby Liam even ventured a ride down the slide. 

We of course all were sun kissed for the evening festivities. We had pictures and then we had a little testimony meeting, and it was very good. We each got up and said something about our grandparents. Very touching, and I'm so grateful for their sacrifices. They traveled across the country just to get married in the temple, and because of that we are eternally linked. That followed with a song and dance program, of course. Comedy and music proceeded, and it was pretty fun. Mariah even made a beautiful slideshow, that made me cry, AGAIN! After everyone left we ended up having a dance party, it was GREAT!

My family is so special and important to me. We each have our special role and place and I'm so grateful that I'm a part of it. I wish it could have been longer, it wasn't enough time for me really. One more night and I would have had my fill of family. We love to play games and laugh, and that is mostly what I love about them all. As my mom said, I guess our anniversary is next. HA!

Happy Birthday America!!

Summer is in full swing around here. July is always jam packed with events and festivities. That is probably why it is one of my more favorite months, mostly because I love the 4^th of July. It's my most favorite holiday behind Christmas. I wasn't planning on going home this year but Austin and Kenz were traveling through and offered to give me a ride from Burley, and Jenn came down so I caught a ride back up with her. It worked perfect actually!
Ok so first of all, I love Liam. I know I say that a lot, but I love him so much. He's so cute, and he just gets bigger every time I see him. I got to share the back seat with him, and this is what I got to experience most of the car ride home:

I love the 4^th of July. I love everything about it, from the weather to the BBQ's. I even stopped at good ol Rocky Mtn. Fireworks and purchased a good amount of fireworks. Saturday was probably the most eventful day, Jenn spent most of the day with our family and we went hiking to Jump Creek (hardcore), and got a Scotch and Soda from Boy's Better Burger. I also realize this whenever I go home, but I just love where I grew up. I love the people, the wide open space, the crazies, just well everything. It's crazy how much my hometown is a huge part of me. I know Parma is a special place, whenever I meet someone and I tell them where I am from, I often hear, there are so many awesome people from there. What can I say, we are pretty special! Anyway, that night some friends came over for a fire and of course a prequel of fireworks. I was so tired, because I had been up since 6:00 am, but I managed to last through most of it. The next day was the Sabbath, and I got to sing all of my favorite American Hymns. We then had another BBQ and talked to my grandparents. Bless them, they are a little crazier in their old age, but I love them! Then we started getting ready for the fireworks. Jenn, Jeff, Smitty, Kelli, and the Searle's rounded out our party. It was a good show, and I just love mostly watching the others set them off. Happy Birthday America!

Also, whilst I was home, my mom and dad are busy prepping for my grandparent's 50^th wedding anniversary celebration and family reunion that is coming up this next weekend. So my mom is in full cleaning mode. We sort of have a hoarder room (don't judge we all have a space somewhere where we just pile crap), and I helped my mom do that. I should have taken before and after pictures, but then my mom would have been mortified with the before pics. HA! I also rented a 53 foot water slide, oh man, I'm so excited. There will definitely be pictures of that!