Lake Powell 2014: Survivor

Since I am so far behind on blogging I'm doing a quick post on Lake Powell.

It deserves so much more but you can check out my kids blogs for more pics and info.

Carrie  

Scroll down for Lake Powell.  I'm sure there is a way to get the exact one but I don't know how

Carly    Jessi

This year was a new and exciting year because everyone was there for at least part of the time.

I can't even remember when that happened before

Here are some of the highlights of the trip.

• Luke and Amy chose the theme SURVIVOR and planned the activities.  I loved that because I didn't have to and they did a remarkable job, much better than I would of. 
• We were divided into teams complete with BUFFS, Flags, Torches and trophy cups.
• We had a different activity each day.  Relays were planned, water balloon shooting, an auction, puzzles to work out together, games and more more more.
• I always request a talent show from the grandkids and they were each amazing as they dazzled us with their talents.
• We brought our favorite Lake Powell Friend, Sandy with us to join in our fun and games
• Our meals were awesome, with everyone helping and working together it's not a burden for anyone to feed 20 people each meal.
• Our big boys are as fun to watch as our little grandkids.  Boys will be Boys!!
• We brought paddle boards this year which was a first.  Obviously a big hit.
• Not far from where we parked our houseboat there were some resident Beavers that were incredible to watch as they swam and slapped their tales.  An old huge patriarchal beaver would watch from his cover in the bushes.  He didn't seem to mind our kayaks and paddle boards as we quietly skimmed the water to see these animals.
• There was also lots of fishing--some with little princess and super hero poles as well as some serious spear fishing.
• We had remarkable weather until the last day.  We luckily pulled the houseboat in its spot as horrific winds picked up.  Tyler was picked to take our overloaded ski boat over in the white caps and load it at the dock.  Of course he did great.  That is usually my job so I was so thankful for a very capable son to take over my responsibility.
• We stopped both ways in Hanksville for hamburgers and shakes at Stan's.  This is as much a tradition as the whole Lake Powell adventure is.  
• Eight kids under seven is doable and fun at Lake Powell
• The greatest part of the trip is getting everyone home safe and sound with many memories to last until next year.  

 The kids shooting water balloons.

 And these cans were their target.

The big kids shooting water balloons

And these cans were our target.

Our Auctioneer, Luke

The Love of My Life and the Captain of the BOAT.

Sandy, our adopted second grandma.

Teamwork

And more teamwork

The Crew, almost everyone that was there.  

Our awesome planners

The tiki torches signaled it was time for fun and games

One of our Relays

The Beaver Show

The view doesn't get better than this.  

This is a blurry picture but I had to add it.
I was sitting in the boat as these 7 munchkins were out tubing, laughing and so enjoying the moment.
I thought to myself as I watched them.
"OK, this is why we do it. This is why we go to this much work and spend this much money"
Lake Powell is a children's paradise and being with family and bonding with cousins is worth it all. 

The Lord's Will Versus Our Will Part 2

On the morning that Tyler was supposed to be released from the hospital but was not because he was not responding to the antibiotics we received an early morning phone call from Kevin.

It went something like this:

"Hello"

"Hello"

"Uh I just rolled my car and it is upside down"

"Are you Ok?"

"Yes, Yes I am"

What a relief to know he was fine, but as the details kept coming I became more and more sick.

He was going probably 90 MPH and fell asleep.

He was in Beaver, UT hurrying to make a court date in SLC, which even if he wouldn't of rolled his car he didn't have a chance of being on time.

Hate it when we get involved in Las Vegas the night before and forgot to leave on time

 for sleep or for an on time court date arrival.

Miracle of all miracles he was not hurt at all.

No one else was involved so no one else suffered because of the accident.

Jeff went to pick him up and took a couple of pictures of his car.

When I looked at these this is when I got really sick

 to think that my son, whom I love dearly, was inside this car when it rolled.

WOW, he was protected in many ways that day.

As I told him- he must of been surrounded by angels to walk away from this unharmed.

Unfortunately I know that the Lord's will for him is not the way he is living his life right now.

The Lord obviously has a different plan for him.  

Kevin could of easily gone to meet his Maker that morning 

but I know the Lord has something different in mind for him.  

He has a great work still to do here and he has been given a second chance.

How blessed our family was that day,  Both boys are now whole and healthy.

The Lord loves each and everyone of us.

The Lord's Will Versus Our Will

Recent events in the past couple of weeks have made me take time to ponder whether I really believe in accepting the Lord's will when it is different from mine or a close family member. 

I think I pass but when the chips are down it is something that needs to be analyzed.

Tyler and his cute little family had decided that this summer Ty was going to do a career change and work closer with the oil industry in North Dakota.  

He changed jobs, they gave up their apartment and Carly and the kids moved to Utah for the summer because he would be spending so much time traveling and working long hours with his new job.  They felt and I'm sure they prayerfully decided to do this.  They could save money from not having to pay the high cost of housing, Ty would make great money and then at the end of the summer they could possibly have a down payment to buy a house.  

That was their plan.

It was obviously not the Lord's plan.

Before we left for Lake Powell (Post coming soon) Tyler was diagnosed with a bladder infection.

He was struggling with it a little on our trip

 but it really flared to a kidney infection after we got home.

Long story short he was hospitalized with it when he returned to North Dakota.  

Carly flew up to be with him and I had the two girls here with us.

He wasn't responding to the IV Antibiotics and the infection seemed to be spreading so he ended up staying extra days in the hospital.

I remember laying by these two beautiful girls one night and praying.  

The thought kept going through my head that these girls needed their dad.  

I wanted Tyler to heal so much so he could fulfill his role as their dad.

Could I accept the Lord's will if His will was different from mine?

I had to truly search the inner recesses of my heart to find those answers.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine

own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Thankfully Ty began to respond to a third antibiotic and 5 days after being admitted to the hospital 

he was released.  

Only he would have to continue IV antibiotics 3 times a day for two more weeks 

and then once a day for another two weeks.

So much for his desires to work long hard hours, He couldn't work at all for 2 more weeks, in fact because of Lake Powell, hospital stay and home health care

 he wouldn't work the entire month of June.

When Ty and Carly left the hospital they didn't have a home to go to because remember their plan was to give that up so they went straight from the hospital to the airport to come back to Utah.

He was so sick when he got here.  Having an infection that severe truly takes everything out of you.  

He was in pain, exhausted and overwhelmed with the thoughts of doing IV's in his PIC line 

on his own.

It was so fun to watch Carly and Tyler learn and care for all of his medical needs.

Ty passes out at the sight of blood and Carly literally shivers and cringes at the thoughts of needles.

I was so impressed with how they stepped up to the plate and took charge of this situation.

No--not their plan for the summer, but they have accepted it 

and I'm sure learned so much from their experience.  

They have one another and fortunately now that Tyler is down to only one IV a day he has gone back in North Dakota to slowly work into his new job.

They are faithful, they will see this through.

Maybe large medical bills will be paid instead of a down payment on a house

but they have an eternal family that will still be together here for on earth for a long time.  

This was the day he left for North Dakota.

He was feeling so much better, I didn't think to take a picture of him before.

So thankful today for Ty and his improved health.  

Israel

Once a month blogging isn't really what I had in mind but it seems to be whats happening.

Hopefully here's to better blogging days!!

Since I have been so neglectful about blogging our "Trip of a Lifetime"  and life seems to have run away from me since then I think this will mostly be a picture post.

We left SLC and flew to Houston, Texas and then on to Istanbul, Turkey and finally landed in Tel Aviv.  Needless to say the flight there was exhausting.  The travel agency had messed up some details so it was miracle we actually made it on schedule.  Thankfully we have traveled enough to know how it works so we led the way as we ran through airports and securities.

 This is at our hotel in Tel Aviv overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  It was by far the nicest place we stayed.  Its too bad we were only there a few hours.

 Caeserea.  During the time of Christ this was a fishing village.  Its location was such that Herod had a dream to build a palace and harbor over the sea.
It was accomplished and many of the ruins are still there.

 Jezreel Valley.  They claim this valley to be an area that can grow anything almost year round.  

It is incredibly fertile and beautiful

 View of the valley from Mt. Carmel

Probably one of our favorite places of all was the Sea of Galilee.  

It is beautiful and we know for certain that Jesus spent much time on and around this sea.

We actually went out on one of these boats.  They call them "Jesus Boats".

They are supposedly fashioned after the boats used during that time period.

We spent several nights in Tiberias which is located right on the Sea.  

This was taken at sunrise directly across the street from our hotel.

 You can't visit the Sea of Galilee without getting in it.

 Caperneum (as we spell it) is where Jesus spent most of his ministry.  He was run out of his hometown of Nazareth and moved to Caperneum where there were many believers.

 Jackie Poulsen, our tour guide teaching us from the scriptures.  

She is a dear friend and an incredible scholar.  Her love of Israel is contagious.  

The Jordan River.  At this location on the river many people perform baptisms so they can be baptized in the same place as the Savior was.  It is an incredible peaceful place.

The place that is probably more likely to be the area of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized is actually located in Jordan on the West Bank.  Jackie has been to Israel five times and has never been able to see the sight before.  This time our Jewish guide felt that things were quite peaceful and it should be safe to visit the site.  Obviously the water is not as clear and pretty but scripturally based this is close to where the baptism happened.

 These signs were quite frequent as we walked down to the River.  

It was a little disconcerting but all went well. 

A chapel commemorating the Birth of Jesus in Bethleham.

Our Jewish guide can't take us into Bethleham because it is in Palestine. 

So a Palestinian guide got on our bus and took us there.

Our first glimpse of Jerusalem.  Jeff getting his bearings from Jackie on where everything is located.  

 Old Jerusalem.  The Gold Dome is the infamous "Dome of the Rock".  

It is a Muslim Mosque placed over the place that is believed to be where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac.  Tourists are not allowed to enter.

 Outside the walls of Old Jerusalem.

 

An ancient olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane.  

Maybe it was there when Christ suffered there so long ago.

The Western Wall or more commonly referred to as the Wailing Wall.  

Men go to one side of the partition and women on the other.

The Jews meet here regularly to pray.  

On Friday nights when they welcome in the Shabbat or the Sabbath, they congregate here by the thousands to pray and celebrate together.  

We were fortunate enough to attend
 but our Jewish guide asked us to be respectful that night and not photograph it.  

What an amazing experience it was.  It will always be photographed in my memory.

The greatest shopping of Olive Wood carvings and anything else you would need to enhance your visit to Israel can be found at Jimmys.  

 I did a fair share of damage to our pocketbook in that store, 

but I did bring home some remarkable items.  

Jimmy has actually called me since I've been home

That is bad when you are on a first name basis with the store owner.

 The Temple Mount has been controlled by the Muslims since 600 AD.

They are serious about their modesty and rules.  These ladies from our tour were deemed to be dressed inappropriately and they were required to wear the shawls to cover themselves.

The Dome.  I can't believe we were allowed to take this picture because usually you are forbidden from touching one another on the Temple Mount even if you are married. 

 Some of the gates still standing on the Temple Mount.

 The remnants of the Pools of Bethesda where one of Jesus's miracles were performed.

 Another view of Old Jerusalem

Our two guides----David, our Jewish Guide and Jackie 

 We hiked into a spring, En Gedi, found in the middle of the most desolate, hottest land ever.  

There were beautiful water falls and ponds hidden in the rocks.

It is believed that in Old Testament times this is where David hid from Saul.

One of the funnest things we did was to float in the Dead Sea.

It was remarkable.  Putting your feet down after you had been floating was extremely difficult.

Unlike the Great Salt Lake, the salt content is so high that absolutely nothing can grow there so it is incredibly clean and beautiful.  There is no horrid smell as there is at our Great Salt Lake.

 The Garden Tomb was the most sacred place we visited. 

It was unadorned, peaceful and probably the most  accurate place we visited.  

Years ago when they discovered the tomb they also found a wine press 

which is incredibly symbolic for it to be located so close to the tomb.

The tomb is Empty.  He is not there.  HE IS RISEN!!