Well it's finally the end of summer. School has started in Kodiak and Stephen and I are doing something that we've done before. I think this is the first season, since we've been married that that has ever happened. We both have decided that summer of 2008 was our most difficult yet. We only spent two weeks together at home the entire summer. The first half of the summer Stephen was in Fairbanks working on his masters. He lived mostly on hamburger patties and protein bars with peanut butter on them. He did enjoy the warm weather and staying at Annie Jone's home. It's a beautiful cabin on the outside of town.
I entered my first summer as the summer camp director. I have to admit I've never done anything quite so intense in my entire life. We had a huge group of great summer staffers and a load of crazy and amazing children. Each day was filled with new challenges and hurdles to clear, but as I lay in bed each night it was evident that Christ strength was what got me through. While I am unsure how good I really did, I know that children heard, learned and developed a relationship with Jesus Christ. Many had heard of Jesus, but few understood the amazing opportunity they have to have Jesus in their every day all the time life. Many didn't understand how much our Savior loves them. But they began to learn through our staff as they showed Christ love in everything they did.
Stephen and I both spent a week in Ouzinkie together and then each another week with a different group of staff. It was encouraging to see our relationships develop even more with the children and also the elders of the community.
Stephen traveled to Southern California for a week as well to take part in a training for the school counselors. He had a good time with some of his fellow staff and brought me home so very good food! It was on this trip that I really realized he knows just the right thing to get me (two years ago that would never have happened).
In the middle of the summer I and Cindy Jones (I would have died without Cindy) took all 25 of our summer staff on a 10 day mainland trip. I'm not sure that previous sentence explains the craziness of this task! I realized in the first 5 minutes that this was going to be more than just a normal Foreman Jones adventure. We traveled by van across the beautiful state and spent a few days at Kennicott. Cindy, Julie (my cousin) and I climbed the Bonaza Mine Trail, an 8 or 9 mile 3,800 feet high climb. It was incredible and is one of the best things that happened in the entire summer.
Because of our busy schedules Stephen and I only made it out on one fishing trip. But it was GREAT! I brought two halibut up on one reel and Stephen caught . . . a 110 lbs halibut (all of his muscles were showing for this reel up). Of course we can't do things the easy way. We had forgotten to bring a gaff to bring the fish on board, so two hammers did the trick. Oh, it was so stressful, but so much fun at the same time!
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