I went to Heaven .. No .. It was Wyoming

Dear Blog Friends,
John and I are in Utah visiting family. We just got back from camping in beautiful Wyoming. We love it there. The scenery is breathtaking. I don't think that heaven will be much prettier than Wyoming.

...

Here is a photo journal of our trip.

Every year John's family meets near Jacksonhole for a family reunion.

We camp on the Snake River about 20 miles from Jacksonhole.
Our favorite thing to do is run the rapids. We usually use John's nephew's rafts but this year we bought one from him. Here you see the "Black and Grey Pearl" on her maiden voyage. I never go more than one run a day but the younger members of our group make 3 runs a day. I don't know how they have the strength to do it. Rowing in rough waters for miles is very tiring . I don't ever row anymore like I used to. Now I sit in the middle with the young kids and hold on to the rope for dear life!
It gets pretty intense but it is really exciting. The water is icy cold, but I get so scared that I'm numb anyway so it hardly matters. I'd like to get a wet suit like my kids but I doubt if they make one big enough for me. Besides the thought of me in a wet suit is not a pretty picture. So even though I get cold it really is fun.
We told the kids that we were too old to go this year, but Erin and Patrick kept calling and insisting that we come.... so we did.... and we had a great time. This picture was taken at the end of our two hour run. I was so excited to still be in the boat and alive. On one of the commercial rafts all 16 people got washed overboard.... they were all o.k. but that is scary...huh!!!

...

On our first run it was cold, windy and rainy all the way down the river. I was freezing by the time our truck picked us up. The rest of the runs were much nicer weather.





...







Grampy and I were happy that we old timers survived.


...

Cousins had so much fun together.

We set up a great camp. All together our group took up 7 camp sites.

...

The scenery was beautiful. The food was great. (Everything tastes better cooked outside.)

...

It did rain everyday. We found out there was a hole in our 5th wheel when we got rained on the first night. Grampy fixed it the next day.
...

Austin was too small to raft with us but he had fun exploring.
...

He found pretty flowers to take his mommy.

...

I had so much fun with my girls. (Lynell is not in this picture because she was the photographer.) I missed our son, David. He was not able to get away from work at this time and bring his family.
...


At night we all got together and sang around the campfire. There was over 50 of us.

..This was my favorite time of the day.











One night we get cleaned up the best we can and go into Jacksonhole to eat and attend the great show at the Bar J Chuckwagon Ranch. Lynell and Dathan are two of the 21 of us that went to Bar J.

...


Lynell and Patrick were our best

photographers. Lynell got the great shots of the raft in the rapids.

Before we knew it, it was time to leave. We had sooo much fun. Thanks Erin and Patrick for insisting that we come this year.

Goodbye wonderful Wyoming

...

I always think it is fun driving down State line Road with Idaho on one side and Wyoming on the other.
...

Idaho has beautiful scenery also. I love the drive from Wyoming through Idaho to Utah....

It was 9:30 p.m. by the time we reached the Utah border but as you can see it was not quite dark yet.

On the way back we stopped and spent the night with our dear friends, the Doneys, who moved from CA to Utah. We surely miss them but we can see why they love living in rural Utah.

...

We had a nice visit with them. Dee made us a fabulous breakfast.

Dee and Fran have a wonderful view from their back porch.

...

We said goodbye to Dee and Fran and came on to Lynell and Dathan's lovely new home. (They have only been in it 3 weeks and Lynell has already made it really pretty and homey.) Mindy and Ernie are still here so we are having fun together. I'll make the rest of our trip the subject of another post.

...

If I can get back on the computer tomorrow I will get caught up on making comments to all of you. I read several of your posts today but didn't have enough time to make many comments. If I can't find time tomorrow I will soon.... I promise... I surely appreciate all of you that commented on my last post for Erin and wished her happy birthday. I hope that you all have a great day.

Happy Birthday Dear Erin

Dear Erin,

It was on this day years ago that they first put you in my arms and I gazed upon your beautiful face. They called you my miracle baby. After I lost our little Lyle and the doctor patched me back together they didn't know if I could carry another baby to term. Then you came. What a blessing.... really a miracle. You have continue to bless and enrich my life and the lives of others from that day until this.










You have always been tender hearted and loving.


As a young

child the veil between heaven and earth was thin for you. You seemed to remember your heavenly home and often talked about it.

When you prayed you really talked to your Heavenly Father. You taught me many things. One time when I was being impatient you put your little hands on your hips, shook your head and said "Oh, it makes Father so sad when mommies are cross with their little children." As I said.... you taught me lots.

You adored your grandmother as she did you. When she became too ill to live by herself you willingly shared your room with her until we could add a room on to our house for her.

...
As a teenager you continued to be tender hearted and always looked out for the underdog or less fortunate. You were a leader. Others looked up to you and followed your good example.

...

When you turned 21 you were called to serve on a sign language mission. You gave up one and a half years of your life to serve the Lord full time. You learned sign language quickly. You loved teaching the gospel to the deaf and they loved you. After your mission you graduated from BYU and became a sign language teacher. You have been very successful in teaching that beautiful language to hundreds of others.

...


Five years ago you heard that the deaf children in Ghana, Africa needed sign language teachers. You felt inspired to go there.... all by yourself.....I couldn't believe it when you told us your plan. You bought a ticket and traveled to Africa... all alone. You went to a deaf school and volunteered to teach the children in sign language. Many of the teachers in Ghana do not know how to sign. You lived in a hut without running water or electricity for the summer while you taught the children at the deaf school. After that summer you came home and founded Signs of Hope, International

http://www.signsofhopeinternational.org/
You have returned to Ghana 6 times, taking supplies and others with you to teach the children. You raised the money to build them a playground and get computers. You've set up classes to teach the teachers there to sign. You've found sponsors to help parents who could not afford to send their deaf child to school. You are trying to earn funds to build another dormitory so more deaf girls can attend school. You have others helping in your organization now but it all started because you had the faith and courage to listen to the promptings of your heart and do something about it.

...

Read more about her incredible story in her May 20th and May 24th blog posts. http://mcgibbon-family.blogspot.com/

Two years ago you found your Patrick and married in the temple. You two were meant for each other. Patrick's family is as happy to have you join them as we are to have Patrick. Even though your prayers to have children have not been answered yet you remain faithful and hopeful that they will. You two will make wonderful parents some day.

You were a beautiful bride but you were also kind and considerate. You appreciated and was happy with everything we did for your celebration




An example of your thoughtfulness was instead of picking your peers to be your bridesmaids you chose your 4 little nieces. They were thrilled to be your bridesmaids/flower girls.
...

You are a wonderful aunt to your 11 nephews and nieces.
...







You are fun and adventurous....

...From flying through the canopy in the jungles of Mexico to kayaking in Cabo you and Patrick have so much fun together







So dear daughter I am glad that we could join you to celebrate this day of your birth.
We traveled up from CA and so did Mindy and Ernie to join you today.

Happy Happy Birthday Erin (and belated happy birthday to Patrick)

Thank you for all the joy and pleasure you bring to us.

(Don't you love the way I wrapped your and Patrick's gift!)

We are so glad that we could be here at your birthday party with you, Patrick, Loni, Claire and Emma .

Most of all, dad and I are so thankful to have you for a daughter.

We love you more than words can tell. Happy Birthday
...

We are traveling to Wyoming for our yearly family reunion to camp on the Snake river near Jackson Hole with you and the family to run the rapids because you and Patrick insisted that dad and I aren't too old. (Wendi I'm sure you and Chase will want to join us. I know how much you both love camping.) I will be away from the computer for a few days. If I live through the rapids I will be back soon.