Day Log 07.03.05 Sunday

Mary had said last night she wanted to get up and be part of the Camp
Choir and to get her up at 5:30 AM so she could be ready for the 6:30
practice. After a long night and short on sleep when I turned on the
light at 5:30 the look and statement I got was not one that I could
print. The kids next door on our left didn’t listen to the parents when
they kept telling them to turn down the DVD movie they were watching.
So sleep didn’t come quickly and then at 1 and 4 getting up to hit the
bathroom didn’t allow for much sleep. The temperature was just right
for sleeping so getting up tired was not something she wanted to do. I
hit the shower and at 6:30 Mary needed to get up so she could shower in
time for use to have breakfast at 7:30. After eating light we finished
the make up, hair and put the tie on for church meetings starting at 9
AM. They had the Relief Society in the assembly hall and the Priesthood
out on the west lawn. Three different teachers for the men and young
men were sent off in age groups. They said last night about 765 members
here, 425 Men for training, 30 states of fifty are represented as well
as Canada. People here from Hawaii, and Alaska to the west and Florida
and CT from the east. Well back to the church meeting! Sunday School
was broken down by last names and on the west lawn where ever you had a
large shady spot you had an adult or teen class. For Sacrament meeting
they used the assembly hall, one of the dinning halls that was attached
and chairs on the lawn. The program was handled by the YM’s and Primary
President with the choir and children’s choir adding music. You could
feel the spirit in the building and it was just like most wards with
the little one’s crying and old folks wondering why they didn’t take
the kids out. At the end of the meeting we had about an hour before
lunch so we found a bench in the shade with a light wind to keep us
cool. The valley heat is higher than I had expected. We are not as high
in the mountains as I expected. The morning wind was warm and when I
got up this morning it was warmer outside than in the tent. We have
been warned to keep the tent flaps shut and windows closed because of
the unexpected rain in the afternoon. As it is right now most of us
will run fast rather than keep the heat in the tents. Even the fan we
toted all the way out here has a hard time moving the hot out but it
does help in the early evening and first thing in the morning.

This afternoon is free time and as we sit here in the shade near the
villa I took a few shots of mom getting a nap and to show the villa, we
were able to hear part of the walking tour that the staff members give.
It seems that the church is the only group that comes in on Saturday
and starts on Monday. It is because of the no travel on Sunday. This is
the only Sunday that families are seen napping or reading on the west
lawn. All the other groups or conferences are Sunday afternoon arrivals
and not allowed the use of lawn. That is the reason we have all day
for family time and the staff assigned to us are hard to find, except
the kitchen staff. I also know now why that group seem so unhappy to
see us, this normally is their day off. Over time pay is ot as good as
time away. We are week five in the system and they are already tired.
So reading and napping is a good Sunday activity when we could be off
walking some of the trails but with white shirts and ties on it would
be a dead give away we were sinners. Some parents are having a hard
time with the kids who want to play and be on the move. Oh well rest is
rest!

After taking time out for the afternoon nap in the shade of a
cottonwood tree we headed back to tent for a quick stop then back into
line for the supper of beef tips and salad with wheat bread and Peanut
butter, the Adult fire side was right next door and so from the hour of
7-8 PM had a chance to hear from Elder Robert L. Backman and his wife
of four years. They had both lost first companions and together told
the story of a late life romance and melding two grown families
together to a total of 103 then and now up to 126 counting children,
grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Their story was full of humor
and tips for those of us married to stay together and keep our families
whole and happy. Sun had gone down after the meeting and so we are
getting ready to settle down for the night – now if all of these active
kids would do the same. Mary just said that not getting as tired and
staying cooler has helped her to feel better this evening. It was hot
today but we learned to seek shade and more water, Dark old cloud is
coming over just at dusk which I took a photo of. Even shut the car
windows tight for the night just incase.

We have tried the cell phone in a number of location on the camp site
and I am officially disconnected for the rest of the week. It is a very
strange feeling not to know the news, check in with folks for complain
on line.