Are you SURE you prayed about this?

I lost count at 20 years of girls camp, 5 different camps in 3 different states, and I recall all the fond memories of my experiences as a young woman, youth camp leader, ward camp specialist, ward camp director, stake camp director, stake camp-music specialist, stake YW counselor… I think that about covers it. Ah, the memories of flag ceremonies, "singing in the trees", value colors, amphitheater, certification, waterfront, “the lone pine”, A-frame cabins, hot sweaty hikes, air-mattress-beds, wet-wipe-baths, greasy hair, mosquito-bitten flesh, sunburned ears….hmmm.

I lovingly packed away all the 3-inch binders years ago. Chuckling softly to myself as I recalled every grain of dirt and drop of rain, I boxed up the tab-filled binders, each one representing an adventure-filled week of my summer. I placed the boxes on the shelves in my dark basement as I just knew that one day, when my granddaughters grew into young women, my very own daughter would be following in my footsteps as a YW leader and would want to glean from my vast knowledge (a YW value, value-color-green, in case you didn’t know). Five years later, the dust has accumulated and the stacks of clutter have hidden the boxes from view but still they remain in the dark basement, waiting for my daughter to carry them back up to the light.

Meanwhile, I have been enjoying a cushy, flying-under-the-radar life as a BYU Bishop’s wife, imagining my life was perfect. So, consider my surprise when on Tuesday this past week, I was summoned to the Stake President’s office and heard these unimaginable words, “We are re-organizing the stake YW presidency and board; your name has been submitted, and we would like to extend a call for you to serve as our new Stake Camp Director.” An audible groan escaped my throat before I could stop it. I pulled my jaw back into place after it had fallen to the table, and my thoughts turned to the one magnificent lady I knew was perfect to fill the role as new Stake YW President; I quickly dismissed the idea of her though as I thought, "Nah, it wouldn't be Debbie; surely she recalls the more-than-a-few dialogues about our combined girls camp experiences...and we're FRIENDS after all, right?"

So a few days have gone by, and I know the right way to feel is, "I'm so grateful for your confidence in me!'...and I'm getting there, really! But alas, this camp-weary grandma, who just wants to ride on the back of her hubby's Harley to our next BYU activity, can't help but wonder, "I love, LOVE, love you Debbie, but are you SURE you prayed about this? Because I love, LOVE, love NOT camping!"

Remember That Time I Bought You a Harley?

On Sunday, August 3, 2008, I'm pretty sure I pulled off the best birthday surprise ever! So, as long as I've known him, Kirk has wanted a Harley.

I remember a time in the olden days when we were dating. Kirk had pulled up next to a Harley, turned off the radio, and rolled down the window. With a longing gaze (I actually thought he was thinking of me) he turned to me and said, "Just listen to that sound; doesn't it give you chills?"

"Er-no; is it supposed to?" I thought he was going to end the relationship because of my response!

Honestly, I never remotely considered either of us would ever own a motorcycle. Slowly however, our lives began to change: our kids moved out, the house was quiet, we no longer had a reason to be at home, I felt FREEDOM! (sorry kids) Then an acquaintance of ours built this amazing Harley Resort in Lindon, "Timpanogos Harley", and Kirk took me in for a tour. This is one of the coolest buildings I've ever seen, entirely built out of scrap-material from Geneva Steel, the railroad yard, etc. There's a restaurant inside called "Marley's" that our friend Milo manages, and we began visiting Timpanogos Harley more regularly; you know, just to look at the cool building and grab a bite; nothing more!

One day in June while we sat at a table munching on Milo's famous "Sliders", someone started up one of the Harley's, and guess what? I got chills! You know that Cadillac commercial that says, "When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?" Well....

As Kirk's birthday drew near I began to have doubts about my newfound feelings for Harley. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis? What if I'm losing my mind? What about the upstairs-remodel I have been considering? I hadn't told a soul about what I was thinking. Then just before the big day, I casually strolled into Timp Harley, found the General Manager Rick, and told him I wanted to buy a bike. Two hours later I walked out with the pink slip. I KNOW!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??!!!!!

Rick even arranged for it to be delivered on Sunday even though the store was closed. Yes, it's true - he bribed one of the workers with a "six-pack" to deliver a Harley to a Bishop on the Sabbath! (Ha!) What better way to begin my life as a biker-chick?

The minute I walked out of the store I started hyperventiliating! What have I just done?! I called my son Jared. He was elated, and naturally assured me this was the best decision of my life! I called my daughter Jen, who was so excited she dropped everything, packed up her hubby and kids and made the 3-hour drive to Orem so she could be there for the birthday surprise on the following day. On the afternoon of the "event", I started to panic again so I called my sister-in-law Kate. Her response was enough to calm my nerves for another hour, "AWESOME! You just fulfilled Kirk's life-long dream!"

Kirk came home from his Bishop-duties in the late afteroon, and somehow I forced myself to act natural. We started grilling steaks in the backyard for his birthday-dinner, when lo and behold, word had spread to some of Kirk's 13 siblings (there are 12 boys and 2 girls in Kirk's family). Fifteen minutes before delivery time, Kirk's parents, brothers and sister Amy began to trickle in, which would have been really great if they had all gotten word that it was supposed to be a secret - yikes!!! Fortunately, the part about it being a "secret" was passed around with no harm done, and Amy helped me throw off any suspicion from Kirk.

Finally, after what was for me a nail-bitingly, long and panic-stricken wait, the Harley-Delivery-Boy called to let us know he was around the corner. We opened the back gate for him, and when he arrived, he drove right through the gate into the backyard and onto the lawn. Kirk was looking at me as the sound of the Harley reached his ears. He told me later that it was at this moment that he allowed himself to consider that getting a Harley for his birthday might actually be a possibility, but he quickly dismissed that thought, not wanting to be disappointed.

My only mistake was not having a video camera on-hand for Kirk's reaction. There were actually tears!! So.....Helmet?...$100, Gloves?...$50, Harley?...$affordable, Look on Kirk's face?...PRICELESS!!!

The moment I saw my Hot, Harley-Hubby on his brand-new toy, all doubts receded as this thought gradually occurred to me: "I am going to be able to get a lot of mileage out of this birthday surprise, for a very long time....'Honey, remember that time I bought you a Harley?' "

Best Vacation Ever!

Wow, I'm not gonna lie - this is kind of scary for an old lady! What? Blogging? At my age? Jen and Heather both told me I need to do this, and I'm really good at doing what I'm told (HA!), so here we go!

We've had a great summer, so I guess that's a good place to start. Kirk and I, blissfully enjoying our new status as empty-nesters, are livin' it up! I'm pretty sure our children believe we vicariously live our lives through them....little do they know...

Our trip to Belize: definitely a summer highlight! Our first vacation EVER that we did NO WORK! Before leaving, we both committed to no email and no voicemail. I thought I would be technology-detoxing the first two days but we didn't miss a beat. And although hard to imagine, the company survived without us - quite a blow to my ego by the way. In fact, I suspect half the employees didn't even know we were gone, but I'm a little afraid to consider that possibility. I prefer to hold on to the fantasy that I'm indispensable in the workplace.

Nine amazing days in the Honeymoon Suite (wink, wink) at Chabil Mar Resort. The resort was in a tiny village (pop.500) called Placencia, which is on the peninsula in South Belize (highly recommended to anyone considering a Central American vacation). Belize was the perfect combination of jungle, beach, pool-side, cultural, third-world, luxury, snorkeling, cave-tubing, canopy-tour, sun-bathing and our new obsession sea-kayaking.

Belize already feels like a distant memory, but I will definitely go on record, benchmarking this trip as our best vacation ever!