There's no place like home"

That is our Stake Camp theme this year...."There's no place like home" with a Wizard of Oz twist....I have been called to be our ward's camp director this year....fun fun fun!!!

Our ward theme is "The lollipop girls"

Our girls have worked hard on their skit and we made camp decorations....they did a successful fundraiser...car wash and bake sale together....

They tie dyed their camp shirts....

I am looking forward to the camping part of all of this....planning and shopping are OVERRATED!!

4 more days....then....let the fun begin!!!!

Let the Shopping begin....................

MR. MAC

Now this is a Missionary's New Found Friend!!!!
(Mom and Dad' too)

We really had a great shopping experience!!!

It was a good start................but there's more to do!

52 days to go.....on your mark....get set....and we're off!!!!

Elder Robert David Schroeder.........

WOW! It really is real! Rob opened his mission call tonight and he has been sent to the Kennerick Washington Mission!! The really crazy thing is he is leaving in exactly 2 months from today! Holy Get This Done Fast Mission!!! He is really going............ready to serve those wonderful people in Washington and teach them the gospel....share his testimony and love for our Father in Heaven. This is going to be the "Best Two Years" for Elder Schroeder.....he will have 2 years of great experiences, challenges, up and downs, spiritual experiences, testimony builders, growing times and trying times....but all in all, he will be the best missionary for the people of Kennerick Washington...there is someone in Kennerick who is just waiting for him to teach them those eternal gospel principles so they too will have the blessings of Eternal Families.....how exciting is that...to know there is a reason he is being sent to Kennerick! My heart is so full right now! I really can't express how proud I am of him and his willingness to serve the Lord for the next 2 years....he is and has always been such a kind hearted young man...so caring and loving to everyone. He has been such a great example to me throughout his life. He is a hard worker and when given a task will complete it completely...he will really be missed at the Schroeder house for the next 2 years.

Max is struggling with this missionary thing.....he really doesn't want Rob to be gone for 2 years....it makes him really sad...but these are teaching moments for this little guy too....he is learning what and how important this mission is to Rob, that there are things we can do to support him and help him while he is on his mission....Max really loves his uncle Rob...they have had a really great relationship for the last 5 years of his little life....at times this mission will go fast and times it will seem like a lifetime, non-the-less, it will be a great 2 years and a blessing to our family.

Now, the really hard part is he leaves exactly 2 months from today!!!!! This is really the challenge...getting him ready! Some sisters in our ward are having a Missionary Open House for him..to help him get the things he will need to take with him...that will be a huge help....then, he is going to stop working about a month early so he will have time to prepare as well. Just a ton of things racing through my head right now....all in all, I am so grateful for this Gospel, for the many opportunities we all have to grow and strengthen our Testimonies, for these fine young men who are willing to put 2 years of their lives aside in serving others and sharing the gospel....for the many many others old and young who do the same..who spread the gospel and serve our Father in Heaven...I have learned there are so many ways to serve a mission...you don't always need to be a 19yr old young man....Gary and I have been called to a service mission in genealogy...we are waiting to hear and officially get our instructions.....the Gospel is True, I'm more and more grateful to our Savior Jesus Christ..for ALL he has done for us...for his consistent love and guidance in all we do....this will be a great 2 years....I am actually going to start a mission blog for Rob sometime this weekend..you are all invited to follow it...Love you Rob

I'm soooo excited!!!

We actually have a nice back yard....actually, I love our yard! I go out and lay on the swing for hours at night just listening to all the "outside noises" and thinking....the smells are fabulous...neighbors cooking this and that....grilling and just burning wood....often it smells like we are in the mountains...and I LOVE the mountains and all the smells!!! So...Kati came home and said "Mom, go buy one of those portable fire pits...we can roast marshmallows and stuff" What a good idea! I checked into them and they are kind of pricey...something a family sending out a new missionary probably can't afford....but, we have an area open and away from foliage etc that would be a great spot for a pit......we built it for a fraction of the cost of a portable pit!!! Hurray!! Tonight we roast hot dogs and S'mores....in the fall, when it's cool at night, won't this be a fun thing...sitting around talking with family and friends....I love our new fire pit!

3rd, 4th, and 5th of July Festivities!!!

Isn't this Holiday season the best??? Since the 4th falls on Sunday this year, we have the unique privilege of celebrating this wonderful Holiday for 3 whole days!! I just love that...we get to be reminded and pay tribute to our wonderful, beautiful country for extra days this year and what an honor that is! I know some are uncomfortable with not celebrating everything on Sunday, but I look at it this way, one day celebrating just isn't enough for me, having the extra couple days makes it all good. It's funny though, we attended the Magna parade this afternoon, shopped, cleaned up some of the garage then saw the Magna Fireworks (which were excellent as far as I'm concerned) we sat on the football field with several other high spirited families at Cyprus High.... everybody happy to be there! After the fireworks were done, everybody started clapping...then there was the grand "finale" so to speak someone sent off 1/2 dozen illegal fireworks from behind the bleachers LOL...they were really beautiful...Lol......then, fireworks done, we were off to the church on 6400 W and 2700 S to see the Rocky Mt speedway fireworks...got there just in time to spread out our blankets and they started!! Woot! Woot! The firework watchers there were a little more subdued...maybe tired from the day at hand...but both fireworks were really good. Now, as I type, it is 12:45am and some neighbor who lives close by is and has been setting off a stream of illegal fireworks ...for at least an hour! You got it...one solid hour....It amazes me how much these must cost! Our poor Jack the dog is just having a hard time with all the noise...he's not a real fan of these festivities...then there's shado...our other dog...sound asleep with not a care in the world...night and day these two. I hope they do run out of fireworks soon...a little hard to sleep with HUGE bangs throughout the night!






Then, about 10 min after Trevor and Staci left for home (midnight) she text me to tell me that they had already seen a drunk driver and to let Kati and Kristi know to be careful getting home...go figure...what a way to spoil such a great day...I hope these people get off the roads and sleep it off! How can it be fun to drink yourself into oblivion and then get behind the wheel of a powerful machine to endanger not only yourself but defenseless people out to have a great day...Selfish Cowards as far as I'm concerned...anyway...hope your holidays are fantastic and wonderful and let's remember what a great country we live in!!!!










I'm Proud to be an American!!!!!