A Cabin By A Lake

Sunday, September 18, 2016

What I Will Miss...

The conversations on the mountain seem to be centered on what everyone will be doing this winter. Especially for us going home for good- what are we going to be doing next.
Such questions have me reflecting on our time here. Here are some lists I have come up with:

What Have I Missed The Most While I Have Been At Camp-
1- Family and friends
2- My Bathtub!!!!
3- The ability to decide my own schedule
4- My garbage disposal

What I Will Not Miss When I go Home-
1- Being dirty every day
2- The radio chatter
3- Backing up the dumptruck!
4- The dust- it is everywhere
5- Turtle slow internet
6- 1-ply tissue!

What I Will Miss When I Go Home-
1- The association with amazing people everyday
2- Our cozy cabin, who would have thought we could be comfortable in such a small space
3- This beautiful mountain and the spirit that is here
4- The animals that we see every day. It never gets old
5- Driving around in the Rhino, instead of a car
6- Attending church outside
7- Working with the Young Women
8- Playing marbles on Sunday night
9- my camp wardrobe- it's much easier to just pick which green shirt I will wear everyday!
10- 1/2 price meals at Culver's
This list could go on and on.......

One of the most important things I will miss is the opportunity to wear the missionary name badge- to declare myself a disciple of Jesus Christ and to testify of Him. What an honor it has been to serve Him.

What will be do when we go home? Sleep, unpack, clean up our house and yard, attend the baptism of our two granddaughters, do a little traveling, and see what the Lord has in store for us next!

A Walk To Remember

One of my goals this year was to hike all of the trails in the camp.... it didn't happen. Finally yesterday, Granger and I hiked the Legacy Lake trail. It goes from the parking lot, around the side of the mountain and ends up down by maintenance. It took us about 1 1/2 hours. It was beautiful!!! The leaves were stunning. We walked on a carpet of red, yellow and gold part of the way. I'm glad we got in one good hike!!!

Leaves I picked up along the way. They were spectacular!!!

New (To Us) Camera

Elder and Sister Moretti decided to buy a new camera this summer. Granger convinced them to sell us their old one. We figured that with the great pictures they take (most of the really great wildlife pictures on our blog were taken by them) that the camera would be very well trained! It has a great telephoto lens. Here are some of the best pictures we have been able to take.

Taken outside our bedroom window- through the screen.

Taken across a very large meadow. We didn't even know the third fawn was up in the trees until we downloaded the picture!

We have had a lot more fun taking pictures this year!

Monday, September 12, 2016

Flag Retirement

One of the traditions at HVC is the annual flag retirement ceremony. It is one of the last things we do in the fall.

As we gathered, sang the Star Spangled Banner, and honored the flag- the symbol of our country, I couldn't help but reflect on recent events. We have been watching the rapid degeneration of our political process, the lack of moral, upright leadership, and the dishonesty that is permeating our country.

Yet, in the same moments, I feel so blessed as I watch these good, righteous, priesthood holders reverently honor the flag. They not only served their country in time of war, but continue to do so on this mountain as missionaries of the Lord.

Each flag was presented before it was lowered into the flame.

As the fire burned brightly, consuming the tattered remains of the flags that have proudly flown over our camp, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I am blessed to live in this great nation and to be associated with such great people. We concluded with the songs- God Bless America, and God Bless The USA. We "Proudly Stood Up", and expressed our love for our country.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Fall ON The Mountain

Fall has arrived on the mountain. The potguts have been gone for a few weeks. They go underground about the time the girls leave the mountain. We miss the furry little critters. They are so fun to watch. The nights are cold and the days are perfect! We have watched the leaves slowly start to change, and then suddenly accelerate as the color spreads over the mountains. It is a beautiful time to be here. The best part is, when we go home, we get to do fall all over again!!!

The mission changes when the girls leave and the campers dwindle as school begins. Even though the urgency to get tasks done is still there, the atmosphere relaxes. We can leave the mountain in the evenings more often, and the missionaries are having more social times as they anticipate the end of this season of our lives. Everything seems a little bittersweet. We start to count up the "lasts".

We had a mission reunion yesterday. It was so great to see so many missionaries from last year. We have missed them. It also made me realize that a year from now, it will be us coming back to visit the mountain.