"Mini Vacation" Ok... driving 6 hours one day and 3 hours the next!!

Ok so this weekend I got the chance to go on a mini vacation. Ok 6 hours of driving one day and 3 the next. We went up to Flagstaff where William had stayed the week to go the Band Camp. We watched his preformance... which included Honor Jazz since he made the top jazz band! Then it was off to Payson to take him to Boys Camp. Since the week he was at band camp was the EXACT week our troop from our ward went he had to go the provisional week which means that troop is for all the boys who couldn't do with thier troop for whatever reason. He had a good hike when we were there! Then we went to the hotel that had lots of suprises along the way. We were all tired by then so we didn't do much. Then today we drove home and here we are!! Lucky us.

Memories

Story Time...
Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2.Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. :) If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

PS- look at the post below to see an update on me. Comment that too!

Update

My life is hectic right now... I know, not too suprising. Well here is an update about what is going on:

• William is going to be gone for 2 weeks! One week has already passed. I know, it's sad. This week he was gone for band camp so tomorrow we are driving up to Flagstaff to see the concert.
• After that straight to Pason to take him to Scout Camp. Then we spend the night in Pason and come home the following day in the morning.
• Yesterday Kennedy and I went swimming. Then she came to my house and she spent the ngiht. This morning we went to babysit.
• I am planning a party for the coming Monday. It's not for any reason other than William is gone and my parents gave me permission. It will be at my grandmas apartment.
• We found the blanket that Kennedy made me!! Brother Adams had it. We had giveen up hope.

So these are the major things that are going on right now. There are lots more but I am not gonig to bore you with them. What do you think?

Longest Post Ever!

Just to warn you this is going to be a long post... :). I hope that you don't mind and read the whole thing and comment.

Ok so today in church I was asked to give a talk about camp. I really enjoyed everyone and I thought that mine was pretty good. It went something like this (I am going to have to remember from memory so bare with me):

Good Afternoon brothers and sisters. My name is Katie Russell. Today I was asked to give a talk about camp. First off I want to talk about the most amazing and fun thing you can do at camp: and that's the hike. (I don't think that people got that that was a joke). I was very proud of myself because this year I did not hurt myself. I was not one of the first to finish but I did it without complaining and suprisingly I enjoyed some of it. The only thing that I don't get is why they always say,"Take a look at nature while you are hiking." I don't know how you are suppose to do that when you are always looking at the ground! Well, I guess I could tell you something about nature and that is what kind of rocks were on the hike.

While I was up at camp I had some issues with my anxiety. I was proud of myself because I worked through it and I am thankful to all the girls for helping me. I guess that Sister Johnson told my mom that she knew the anxiety was coming when I started pacing. I hadn't even realized that I did that. I learned something neww about me at camp.

To be truthful I was not that excited to come to camp this year. It's a hot place and I am not a nature kind of girl. I mean I think that it is pretty but I don't love being outside. We had fun last year but it was not enough to make me want to come again this year. I enjoyed the leaders last year. It was nice this year getting to know new leaders. Last year I knew both the leaders before camp and this year I got to meet new people. I am so glad that Sister Johnson and Sister Mitchell got to come and I am glad that they helped me through camp.

Last year was a fun experience but I always made the assumption that at camp you got this big spiritual filling that I did not get. I mean I felt the spirit but I didn't in the way I thought I would. This year I went to camp not thinking I would get it but hoping that I would and what do you know, I got it. Last year I just thought it was going to be handed to me but this year I looked for it and felt it and let in then rather than just expecting it to be there and not doing anything and then being disappointed when nothing camp of it.

I loved both years of camp. This year was spiritual and last year was fun. I honestly don't know what to expect for next year because both years were so different. I will go there hoping to find fun and the spirit. Sister Mitchell was always saying, "Camp is what you make it." I truely believe that. You do there thinking you are going to have the spirit you will. I know now that if you just expecting it to be there it will not be there. You have to look for it. And I say these things on the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Now I know that it was longer than that but that is basically what I said. I hope that you enjoed that. Moving on to the next thing I want to talk about. Sister Adams talked today in Young Women about trials and oppistionns. She said some things that really opened my eyes. Did you know that when Elder Maxwell had cancer that he said after a while he realized that he had it so that he could teach the poeple of the church better?! I don't know if I could ever admit that to myself. Ever trial that we have it for a reason whether you recognize it or not. I will post more later about this talk tomorrow... I really want to discuss it but my hands are betting tired!

I spent.....

The whole weekend excited for....





Oh ya, and I hung out with Shanci and had an amazing time. We played Wii, went shopping, saw a movie, babysat for the Bradshaws, went to Sonic, make smoothies, watched Camp Rock, listened to music, computer, and took pictures. I had an amazing time! =]

Girls Camp

So.... now that I posted pictures I am going to talk a little about girls camp. I was asked to five a talk about camp this coming Sunday so we are going to have to see how that goes.

First, I have to say that this year I had amazing camp directors. Sister Mitchell and Sister Johnson are amazing. They spent their own money for us. We ended up getting 3 shirts, 2 bags, a thing to cover your eyes, a necklace, a hair pin, candy, sweatband, bandana, and bracelets. I think that was one of the best parts, seeing that our leader's cared enough to do that.

I also really enjoyed testimony rock. I posted many pictures of testimony rock on the post below. It was very spiritual. I think that it is amazing to see exactly where the fire and how "coincidently" it did not get our camp. That has to mean something in terms on the church.

I loved it when we did the scavenger as the ward. I think that was a great way to build frindships in the ward and to work together and show our shine as a "star." I applaude whoever came up with this fantastic idea. I really think that we had a good stake this year.

I would also like to talk about the program what was put on this year. I knew everyone who sang and talked at the program and I felt special. I really like seeing precious sing because I could tell that that was hard for her but she did it anyway because she loved the lord. Jessica was amazing- that is the only was to discribe it. And myriah is so musically talented. She is going to go far in life. It made you feel the spirit.

I would like to point out to Sister Golding that I finished the hike this year... in the FRONT! I was one og the first ones the whole way and it came easily to me. I didn't complain once... I was very proud. That was also a good experience.

So that is a small synopsis of my camp. Hope you read the whole thing.

Camp '08 Pictures

Well....

Yesterday I got my back brace. It hurts and digs into my hips but I guess it is going to be worth it in the long hull. Last time the flight was horrible and things like that but this time it all went smoothly.

I've been tagged!

Uno, Dos, Tres
How to play this game. Post these rules on your blog. List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.

3 Joys:
1. My dog. I love him so much!
2. Clothes. It's in my blood. My mom worked at nordstrom for 7 years and I guess it just catched on.
3. My family and Friends. They are my support system.

3 Fears:
1. Someone taking me... I have anxiety and that's the big one!
2. Someone close to me dying. I think that obvious.
3. Not death... how I am going to die.

3 Goals:
1. Get married in the San Diego Temple
2. Graduate from BYU
3. Become a journalist... political

3 Current Obsessions/Collections:
1. Blogger. I am addicted.
2. Taco Bell's slushies. Love the texture.
3. Clothes. Forever and always.

3 Random things about Katie:
1. I can flip my tounge upside down.... easy right? I can do it really fast both ways.
2. I can like wiggle my eyes. You would have to see it to understand.
3. I have kyphosis. Got my backbrace today!

People I tag:
Kennedy, Tina, Shanci, Sister Garner

Babysitting the Garners

Austin insisted on taking pictures... so we did!