Summer - August Version

This is Payden Olsen. Jill is a just a few days older than Payden. She has been one of Jill's good friends since we moved to Canada. They played basketball together all through school. The other day Payden had a lawnmower accident and got her feet run over. They ended up amputating her right foot and reconstructing her left foot using part of her right foot. We went up on Sunday afternoon to see her at the hospital in Calgary. It is such a sad/tragic story to lose a foot. The miracles and tender mercies and community support have all been amazing. Cardston had a huge fundraiser for her. Payden is a member of the Lethbridge College soccer team. They have also been super supportive. 

All of the missionaries Payden's age fasted for her the day of the surgery which was on a Sunday morning. We also fasted that morning. The surgeons were amazed at how everything fit together perfectly and the surgery took way less time than they expected.

On Heritage Day, we went for a morning horse ride near Rod Olsen's house. Then Hanna had to go to work. The rest of us went to play in the St. Mary's River at Kimball. It was so fun. Did I mention I love to play in moving water?

On the hottest day of the summer (99 degrees F is really hot for Cardston) we went with the cousins to play in Payne Lake. It was really fun and not too busy.

On another summer afternoon, Lucy, Carly and I went ice blocking down the hill at Redford Park. I haven't gone ice blocking for 20 years since I went down Old Main Hill at USU.

Lucy, Carly and I went biking in Waterton. Of course it was a windy day. We rode from the stables to the townsite and had ice cream at Beaver Tails.

 The stake young women had an activity at Payne Lake. This is Lucy with Karen Bevans.

This is how Carly felt about her hike with the Lees to Crandall Lake. I was at work. They showed up at our house and asked if the girls wanted to go. They each took a small water bottle and headed off. They hiked from the Red Rock turnoff to Crandall Campground. It was 4.5 miles each way. They were on the road most of the way, so there is no shade. It was a hot day, like 80 degrees. They didn't pack a lunch. When they got to the campground, Carly said she couldn't make it to the lake, so they all turned around. She felt bad after for giving up, but she was not mentally or physically prepared for this hike.

Cardston Heritage Days Parade

Summer Trip to Utah

First stop - Logan, Utah to stay with Karma and Steve Albiston. We hope we are like them when we are 80!

We also got to see Jill's new abode. She shares a nice little basement apartment with Whitney Trapp (her brother is on the rodeo team with Jill). 

Jill was in a rodeo in Bluffdale so we got to go and watch her. It is always entertaining to sit in the stands near people who have never watched a rodeo before. Jill roped her breakaway calf in 3.1 seconds. 

Then we enjoyed 3 days of Waite Family Fun Days (separate blog post).

Jill told us we should move back to Utah. We did have to say good-bye to her. Always a bit hard.

Then we stopped to see Elder Wyatt Olsen from our Leavitt Ward who is serving in Logan. We had Aggie ice cream with him. He is doing great and having lots of success. The elders ordered a single scoop of ice cream but they gave them 3 scoops since they are missionaries. They couldn't even finish.

Then we headed to see Les and Hollis in Bennington, Idaho. We roped at Pitchford's and then the next day we went on a little hike and picnic up Georgetown Canyon. 

Then back to Idaho Falls. We got to stop at the Idaho Falls Temple Visitor's Center to see my parents in action as they are serving their mission there. It was so great to see them and listen to them teach us. 

All along the way when we had a few minutes, we would do some school clothes shopping. We brought Austin's new car that he got for his new job which is quite a bit smaller than our Yukon. It took careful packing to fit everything in by the end. We didn't even have room to stop and buy cheese on the way home.