Primary Boot Camp 2022

Every year the Primary organization at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has a summer activity for the kids that are 8 years of age and older in Primary. This year our theme was Boot Camp. The word BOOT stood for Build Our Own Testimony. It was a delightful morning with these youth and leaders and parent volunteers. 

Everyone was given a t-shirt and dog tags as they arrived and were welcomed to Boot Camp. Jessie Rayburn, our president, was in charge and wore a whistle and had every intention of acting the role of a drill sergeant. Alas, that is just not in our nature to yell at the kids. These are pictures of the kids arriving, being given their t-shirt and dog tags and mingling till start time.

Our camp had four stations which each child would attend and participate. The kids were divided in two groups. The first two stations we would each teach twice, once to each group. Then we would have a water break of 15 minutes for the kids. 

I was invited to teach one of the stations. It was the Title of Liberty based on the story of Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon in Alma. I told the story of Captain Moroni by reading from the Book of Mormon, defining the big words, and having the kids focus on what Moroni wanted the Nephites to remember, how he got them to remember, and what Heavenly Father wanted them to remember. We reenacted this story. Then the kids made their own Title of Liberty based on Moroni's Title of Liberty or things they knew Heavenly Father wanted them to remember. After our craft, we returned to our chairs and read about Captain Moroni's characteristics and talked about how they could be characteristics we wanted to develop in us as we try to be good disciples of Jesus Christ. Then we looked at the BOOT = Build Your Own Testimony and talked about how Captain Moroni's story can help us build our own testimonies. 

The other station held while I was teaching Title of Liberty was the Relay Station. Janick Stephenson led this station. They would memorize a scripture while running relay races. Time to use up some energy. Since I was teaching at the same time, I didn't get to observe this one and these photos were taken by others who did get to see this station.

After the 15 minute water break, we held the last two stations. They were also each taught twice, once for each group of kids. I was to help in the First Aid station. This was taught by Jessie Rayburn, our president, and focused on Repentance. She used Robert as the example and the kids each took a Band-Aid out of her first aid kit with a problem on it. They then helped to explain how Robert could repent using the four steps of repentance. The four steps the kids were following were: feel sorry, ask forgiveness, right the wrong and don't repeat. They started calling the feel sorry "guilt gut". They should have no problem remembering that first step. 

The fourth station was an Obstacle Course. We didn't have a sign for this one as it was to be outside in the parking lot. However, we had a little rain so it was moved to the Young Women's room and the foyer on that side of the building. I was helping with the First Aid station so I didn't get to see all of this. The first pictures were taken by someone else. I did sneak away and took a couple of pictures of the end of the obstacle course. There was a blue tarp representing a body of water. The kids were to get across this imaginary body of water without touching the water. The point was they had to have help to do this. They ended up with a skate board and a member of the bishopric helped them balance and pulled them across the water. This was to teach them that we all need help to get through the challenges of our lives. 

That concluded all four stations. Time for lunch and then closing. Lunch was set up by Christian Cash. She is our first counselor in the presidency. Lunch was set to resemble a mess hall. The kids lined up in the hallway. Then they entered the cultural hall and were given a Styrofoam tray. They pass down the chow line and we, the primary presidency, served them their lunch. They had to take what we gave them. Once they got to the table they were free to talk and trade items of food they might not want. They had 30 minutes to eat.

After lunch, I was asked to give a closing sum up of our Boot Camp. I reminded the kids that our theme for the morning was BOOT Camp. I asked them what BOOT stood for. They all knew. So we said it out loud together, Build Our Own Testimony. Then I asked them what they had learned in the four stations that would help them build their testimonies. I had goose bumps as the kids shared what they learned that morning. They got it. They really got it! Then I shared that their testimony was a very important thing. When they face the difficulties that life throws in our path, if we have a firm testimony, belief, it will keep us on solid ground. It will not take away difficult things. It will and does help us to stay strong as we endure well that which we are called to endure. Then I told them what their and my testimony was about: a belief and understanding they are a child of their Heavenly Father, a belief and understanding the Jesus Christ suffered and died to make Atonement for each of us and that Atonement touches us in everything we do, a belief that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true in all its doctrines and principles. 

Then we presented each child with a certificate of completion of Boot Camp, and an award based on a candy theme that was unique for each child, and their Title of Liberty. After this we took group pictures.

This was a really good activity. Today at Church, parents were thanking us for the good experience their little ones had Saturday. It was a real privilege to participate and help with this activity. Covid took one year of this away. Last year was a year to start it again and I was not serving in Primary for that one. This year, it was back in a good swing for the event. So happy this turned out well and the kids participated so well. 

Heigh Ho off to Van Gogh we Go...

In about February 2022, we started receiving notices that a new exhibit could be visited in Cincinnati. The exhibit was the Van Gogh Immersion Experience. This intrigued Claude and me. Claude purchased three tickets. As the date approached, we asked our daughter, Andie, if she was interested in attending this with us. She was very interested. 

Tuesday, June 7th, Andie said she was running the schedule past her family to be sure all would work. Bailey said, "I want to go to that." Andie contacted me and asked if Bailey could go in her place. Of course she could. 

Wednesday, June 8th, Andie and her children finished cleaning out her classroom. Then Hayden was able to get a few more of his driving hours in by driving himself, Andie and Bailey to our home. They would spend the night so it would be easier to get up in the morning and get ready to drive to Cincinnati. 

Thursday, June 9th, Hayden had a YouTube program he wanted to watch while we were gone. Andie had a book she wanted to read. Claude, Bailey and I left for Cincinnati at 10:30am. We were assigned a time slot to keep crowds to a minimum. The drive went well, no backups in traffic. There was one concern and that was as we approached the drive leaving Kentucky to cross the Ohio River into Ohio. A man on a motorcycle in front of us was driving very weird. I was very concerned for his safety. Claude and I spent many years on a motorcycle and are very aware of the inherent danger of riding a bike. There was some backfire of his bike and then he rode leaning to the right and working with something on that side of his bike as he drove. This particular stretch of road is just before crossing the Brett Spence bridge. Traffic is heavy and people are changing lanes to be in the correct lane to exit the Interstate, take another Interstate or exit to a street in Cincinnati as soon as they cross the river. I was grateful Claude was driving as he was aware of the problems this motorcyclist was causing for himself and others. He would slow way down slower than all the rest of the traffic. Claude would slow but sometimes he was right on the guys bumper. I kept hoping this man would move to the side of the road but he kept leaning and working with his bike like everyone was to stay out of his way. I was grateful when our change of lanes came up and we were not behind this poor fella and his motorcycle. 

We found a parking garage and walked the block to the venue. We were a little early but went in anyway. They scanned our tickets and let us begin our visit to the Van Gogh Immersion Experience. The exhibit was clearly set up in an old empty building they had worked to create a museum in. They cleverly painted the walls in the stairways like Van Gogh's Starry Night. It was very well done. The canvases on the walls had the painting projected onto them. Lots of well laid out signs to explain Van Gogh's life and the story behind the paintings. 

The first part of the exhibit was more like going through an art gallery. The first of several images that had movement was a bust of Van Gogh. The bust started as a normal looking bust and then they projected painting of flowers that Van Gogh did over his bust. 

There was a series of some of his paintings. I came away understanding that Van Gogh loved nature and painted many flowers and outdoor scenes. He would paint the same flowers over and over. The Sunflower painting he is so famous for is actually two series of sunflower paintings. Trying differences in colors and stages of the growth of the flower. He did this repetition of painting something a lot. 

Another video type presentation explained, using Starry Night, that they now are sure that Van Gogh was color blind. His bold use of color was him compensating for the way he saw things. It allowed him to be more free with how he painted. They have learned this by an expert taking his painting and running it through multiple color processes. 

Then I was fascinated with the vase video. I shouldn't call it a video. But I really don't know what to call it. The stationary item was the vase. Then the screen would slowly add the image of one of Van Gogh's floral paintings in a vase. This would morph into another of his paintings of flowers in a vase and the vase might change its color to go with that painting. Fascinating to watch. Here are some of the flowers I liked best in this presentation.

Before we left this room, the final painting was of Tree Roots. It has now been determined this was the final painting by Van Gogh.

We entered another room with cameras projected on the floor. You stood where the camera image on the floor was and they had three dimensional representations of some of Van Gogh's art that you could have your picture taken in front of. One of these I could not figure out what it was so I simply took a picture of it. But two of them we took advantage of getting a picture of Bailey with each of us.

Then we went down a little hallway with self-portraits Van Gogh had painted. 

We took a hike up the stairs. They went up and up and up and up and up one more time! Then we entered a large room. There were lawn chairs and big pieces of carpet to sit on spaced apart for social distancing. There was a raised area you could also sit on. This is immersive because there is art projected on all four walls of the room. This art is accompanied by music and follows his life story through his paintings. The paintings morph from one to the other so there is constant movement on all four walls. It was delightful to watch all of this. The people come and stay till they get back to the part where they entered and then they get up and leave. So, there is movement of people throughout the Immersion Experience. I totally enjoyed this portion of our visit. Here are some still shots of these some of these scenes on the walls. 

This is a short video a bit of the Immersion room portion. Absolutely fascinating. 

We made our way to one more room for the Virtual Reality portion. Claude and I did this. Bailey gets car sick and felt she would not do this part. She took pictures of Claude and me as we participated in the virtual reality. This portion had you moving through eight of Van Gogh's paintings. It was amazing. And, Bailey got a kick out of our reactions as we watched through our VR devices. 

Vincent Van Gogh had a very troubled life. He was beset with depression and psychotic episodes. He was in institutions several times. And yet, he loved nature and reveled in walking and sketching so he could paint what he saw in nature. I truly appreciated the quotes they took from his life and included in this exhibit. In round numbers, they have say 800 letters from his life. 600 of these are between him and his brother, Theo, whom he dearly loved. That is a nice record of Van Gogh. I am sure these quotes came from those letters. Here are a few I really enjoyed.

I enjoyed this afternoon learning a bit about Van Gogh. I only knew a little. Now a know a little more and appreciate him. For all his troubled mind and life, there is something positive in his quotes and the beauty of his colors and style of painting. This was a very good use of our time.

A Funeral...

Tuesday, June 7th, while we were on our little trip, we learned that a sweet friend passed away. This is someone we felt close enough to that we wanted to attend their service. Tuesday, from 4pm to 8pm was the viewing for Janet Kappes. We would travel to Morehead, Kentucky to attend this viewing. We would leave about 3pm. That left the morning to get things done after our trip. I would begin the laundry. Claude would take a Zoom training class for a new interest of his. Then we gave the rest of our day to driving to, attending, having dinner at Cracker Barrel, and returning home. The thing about these events, is you get to see people you haven't seen in a long while. The pandemic only exacerbated that. Hugs from Janet's girls and a brief chat with Keith, her hubby of 51 years, felt good and right for them and us. 

Wednesday, June 8th, was the funeral. We needed to leave our home around 11am. This gave us again a couple of hours to accomplish some of our home chores. Claude did a little grocery run. I did the mountain of ironing. Then we were off to Owingsville for the funeral. 

It was a sweet funeral. Janet had requested the last piece for prelude be a recording of Frank Sinatra singing "My Way". One of Janet's sisters gave the opening prayer. Keith spoke about his lovely wife and read the eulogy. Also speaking were Kelsey (a daughter), one of the sons, Kallie (a daughter) and Janet's sister from Utah. The grandchildren sang two songs. Then Bishop Nelson spoke. A good friend gave the closing prayer. There were three congregational hymns throughout the program. It all took about 1 1/2 hours. 

Janet and Keith had eight children. When they married, she was told she would have none. Surprised those doctors. Janet was always busy doing something for others. She was a school teacher by profession. But she was always reaching out to help others. Her children all shared what a perfect mother she was. Her boys were rascals and she was excellent with each of them. She has a lot of grandchildren. When we were at the viewing, Kourtney, a daughter, shared that one of the grandchildren said, "What about new pajamas at Christmas?" Kourtney assured me they would make that happen to honor their mother. 

I found myself in interesting territory. Papa passed away on May 15th and his funeral was May 19th. It hasn't been a month yet. I feel like I am on solid ground with all of that. Then yesterday, as we left the funeral home after the viewing, I found myself very quiet and reflective and on the verge of tears. I realized I am still at a tender place with regard to Papa's passing and having no living parents. Claude's mother passed in January. It really is a lot to take in even if you have great understanding of life after death and that is a source of great strength. I have let myself feel what I need to feel and let that be a healing process. 

I am sure of the Plan of Happiness. I know I have a Heavenly Father whose child I am. I know I can and do talk to him constantly through prayer. Each of those prayers is heard and answered in the timing and way that is best for my life. I believe in walking by faith in this life. That is not always easy. It requires being humble and submissive to the Lord's will and timing. I love the lessons I have learned by walking by faith. Mostly those lessons are learned in hindsight. Looking back and seeing the hand of the Lord in my life and the way things happen. I know I have a Savior who loves me enough to endure that great Atoning Sacrifice. I know that Atonement touches every bit of my life. All of this sure belief gives one strength to endure whatever we are called upon to endure in this life. 

As I watched Keith walk out of the chapel today with his hand on Janet's casket and tears in his eyes as he one more time leads her out of that chapel, I know that he knows these things as well. They will give him strength to work out Janet's passing in his life. 

How grateful I am for this testimony. The strength that it gives to let the bumps of life polish me into a better disciple of Christ. It doesn't take away the bumps and difficulties. It does give purpose and meaning to why I am here and strength to gain and learn all I can from what happens in my life. Yes, I am very grateful for my testimony.