10 years ago...

What a wonderful journey it has been!

Kooper

This week marks a new beginning in our family as we welcome Kooper into our home. Michael and I spent the last few months preparing for this week, working through legal paperwork, speaking with school registrars, and praying for direction and guidance.

We are so excited for Kooper to be a part of our lives. He is a fifteen year old, warm hearted, intelligent young man with much potential. We look forward to bonding together as a family through the next few years and supporting Kooper as he grows and matures. We love you already.

Juicy Blues

We geared up for the heat and spent a fun afternoon picking blueberries together. What a perfect family activity!

The staff at the local orchard encouraged us to sample each bush to make sure we only picked the sweetest berries. We certainly filled our tummies and our buckets! We have a freezer full of berries and have enjoyed many scrumptious recipes starring these juicy blues. (See our favorite blueberry recipe below.)

Moist Blueberry Streusel Muffins

MUFFIN BATTER:

4 eggs

2 cups white sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups plain yogurt

2-4 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

STREUSEL TOPPING:

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper liners.

2) In a large bowl, beat eggs. Gradually add sugar while beating. Continue beating while slowly pouring in oil.

3) Stir in vanilla. Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix gently until blended.

4) Stir in yogurt. Gently fold in blueberries (the less stirring the better).

5) Prepare streusel topping by mixing all streusel ingredients in a bowl (cut in butter with a fork).

6) Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle each with streusel topping.

7) Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Beach!

We spent a fun-filled day in Galveston last week to celebrate the visit of my wonderful sister and her cute baby Emerson. How relaxing to play in the sand and enjoy the sound of lapping waves. So glad Shannon and little E could be here to spend a few days with us.

Pioneer Trek

We have returned! After 3 wonderful days of being a Ma and Pa over five youth, ages 14-18, we are back home and excited to share our adventures...

The Trek experience began by sorting the large group of pioneer-clad youth and the other Ma's and Pa's into families. We spent time getting to know each other and creating a family cheer and flag. Our team chose the theme "Power Up!" and we used this phrase throughout the entire 3 days as it applied to pushing handcarts, helping out within our family group, and also in spiritual applications.

After breaking the ice and creating our family vision, we set off on a 6 mile hike, pulling loaded handcarts through hilly terrain, thick with ankle-deep mud in many places. Our youth teamed together and were not afraid to use their muscles to power through the difficult spots. How wonderful to see these youth working together, strategically placing their strongest members in various spots on the handcart to keep moving along.

We stayed hydrated by spritzing each other with spray bottles and drinking water by the liter. Occasionally, we stopped to view vignette scenes of real life pionner stories acted out by stake leaders to help us understand the true pioneer experience.

After a long day of hiking, we were ready to set up camp and prepare our dutch oven stew with cobbler for dinner. Our boys were so polite and everyone worked together to make the preparation enjoyable. Why does food seem so delicious when eaten outside?

We concluded the first day with a spiritually uplifting FHE and chatted for a while before settling into our tents for the night. Perfectly clear sky with no clouds in sight.

We awoke on Day 2 to breakfast and a visit from Brother Brigham, who issued mission calls to each young man in our family. The boys packed their lunch and belongings, and left to report to their leaders for their service mission. Meanwhile, the ladies were left to pull handcarts alone that morning - the Woman's Pull, as they called it. We ladies walked, pulled, and chatted, working together to help each other. We stopped for a devotional and to eat fresh oranges along the trail.

Later that morning we met up with the young men who returned from their service mission of clearing bushes and briars from nearby trails. After lunch we trekked back to base camp and enjoyed an afternoon of pioneer activities. Stake leaders planned workshops on wool-spinning, leather-branding, orienteering, and rope-making. As evening approached, we enjoyed sack races, watermelon seed spitting contests, and other fun games.

After another yummy dutch oven dinner, we walked to the nearby pavillion for a skit showcase and hoe-down! Michael and I, along with another Ma and Pa couple, taught the Salty Dog Rag to the group. Much to our delight, nearly every young man and woman participated and seemed to be enjoying themselves! We retired late that evening, tired from a full day. Another perfect, starry night.

Morning of Day 3 began with a quick breakfast, breaking camp, and a Silent Pull, where we were asked to pull the handcarts one last time through the steepest terrain yet - all in silence. After the quiet struggle up the steep hill, the Spirit was especially strong and at the top the youth were handed sealed envelopes from their parents and asked to find a quiet solitary spot in which to ponder, read their letters, and write in their journals. We were so moved by the example of one young man in particular, who kneeled in prayer for about 20 minutes on the shore of the nearby lake. Such a powerful moment.

We concluded the youth conference with a testimony meeting and farewell lunch. Most of the youth expressed their initial reluctance to come on the trek, and how surprised they were by the life changing experiences they had.

A true experience of a lifetime for us as well! What an honor to spend three amazing days with these valiant young men and women.

Pictures...

Ready for Trekking...

Skirts and bonnets sewn (check).
Handcarts loaded and ready (check).
Bug spray and sunscreen applied (check).

Ready for some Pioneer Trekking! We are all set and ready to power up for three days of handcart pullin', dutch oven cookin' fun. We'll be Ma and Pa Lewis for our "family" of youth, ages 14-18, as we set out on an adventure at Lake Sommerville. Hopefully our camera survives and we'll have some pictures of the adventure when we return...

Dance Revue

Our girls danced beautifully in this year's recital! It was fun to see them so excited to perform and be a part of the production. The show turned out beautifully, thanks to wonderful support from parents and friends. Our costume designer was such an incredible help to me, as well as the other teachers and photographers. Thanks to all for an extradordinary year!

Shots of Madeline & Audrey at dress rehearsal: