"I'm still trying to impress my dad..."

Angel's Landing - Zion's National Park, 1995

The following quote from the 'Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors' sums up my feelings this Father's Day.

"I'm still trying to impress my dad, I am still trying to tell him, Hey, I've been a good son, I've honored you and I've honored Mom, and I hope that you're pleased. I hope that if you have been watching over me all these years, that you're pleased with how I have conducted myself."
- James F. 'Bud' Comet, USN retired

SCOUT CAMP

Our scout troop, along with the rest of the troops in the stake participated in a week of camping at Theodore Naish scout camp. Theodore Naish and his wife were traveling on the RMS Lusitania when it was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in 1915.  Mr. Naish died in the attack.  His widow, who was rescued, donated most of the land for the boy scout camp soon there after. 

I filled in for our scout master on Wednesday and Thursday, as he had to work. It doesn't get any better than this - sleeping in a tent, eating camp food, in 100 degree/95% humidity weather, with ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes and 8 mostly twelve year olds. I loved it. :)
An added bonus was that Noah's troop was also up at camp at the same time. We ran into each other 2-3 times a day. Also, Wednesday evening was 'family night' at Naish. The families of the scouts in camp were invited to come up and bring dinner to eat with their boys. James and Kaui came up with the kids to eat with Noah. They shared some Kansas City Joe's barbecue with me. :)

Each campsite had a concrete bunker
that serves as a tornado shelter - just in case...
(life in the Midwest)

Tommy Merritt

Zach Brennan

Noe Chavez

Gabriel Muñoz

Yael Mera

Jayro Silvan

Andres Molina

Aaron Brennan

ELDER JAMES J. HAMULA

Once a year, a member of the Seventy conducts a 'mission tour' of each mission  throughout the world. We were privileged to be visited this week by Elder James J. Hamula of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Monday evening, he joined all the senior missionaries for a pot luck dinner and family home evening. Tuesday morning, we attended the mission conference where he and his wife spoke. It was the highlight of our week to be in the presence of one of the Lord's anointed and to hear his testimony of the Savior. Before the meeting began, he invited all in attendance to come up so he could shake our hand and introduce ourselves. What a privilege. 

Family Home Evening and dinner with Elder and Sister Hamula

FAMILY HOME EVENING WITH THE TORAYAS 

Thumbs Up 

Fruit salad with whipping cream and lilikoi syrup

With the Bishop's encouragement, we have been trying to visit each family in the ward and share a FHE with them. This accomplishes two things. First we have an opportunity to get to know the ward members better and second we hopefully model what a good family home evening lesson is like. Along with the lesson, Robyn always prepares the refreshments - usually something to do with homemade lilikoi syrup which is always a big hit.

Last Sunday, Carlos Toraya asked if we could come over to their house on Monday and put on a family home evening for their extended family.  The Torayas have all been getting together periodically at one of the family member's home for dinner and a FHE.  Carlos said that there would be about 8 in attendance, but as you can see from the picture, it was more like 20.  

They started a family tradition a while back where they text each other a 'thumbs up' emoji if they hold a FHE. It is a fun way to encourage and remind each individual family to have their own. This past Monday, they wanted to send a special message to one of the brothers living in Mexico.  They decided that instead of just sending him a text with an emoji, they would take a picture of everyone in attendance with their thumbs up to show him that they all had a FHE.