Our McCall trip this summer actually started out with the K&K Reunion. I love this reunion with my Belnap relatives. I don't get to go every year, but whenever we do get to go, it is always more than worth it.
I come from some amazing people, and the spirit that is present at these reunions always touches everyone who is there.
This year was particularly special, especially the Sunday testimony meeting.
William got up and bore his testimony.
He gave a very short version of the story of how we lost Penny, and how we prayed and prayed, and after a month, we were able to find her.
It was one of the most special experiences for me, so far, as a mother. It was the first time one of my children has publicly born their testimony.
There was my sweet 7 year old, tender hearted, son, bearing testimony about something that he truly believed in....the power of prayer.
He cried a little, because he felt the spirit.
It was such a sweet and special moment. Every heart was touched.
William is a very special boy, with a big heart, and a strong, faithful spirit.
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| the primary age children singing an opening song before the testimony meeting |
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| William bearing a sweet testimony about prayer |
We headed to McCall Sunday afternoon.
This year, it was my family, my parents, and Kelsey and Taylor. The other siblings and their families.
As much as I missed my other siblings, it was pretty cool to have some time with just us sisters. It is so incredibly rare to spend time with just the girls, and it means a lot to me to be able to just hang with my sis sometimes.
We were in McCall for just 4 and a half days, but those 4 and a half days were about as close to perfect as you can get.
There is just something about a cabin on the beach on a lake, in a place with so many memories that they go back as far as I can remember. All of the memories are happy, peaceful and good.
We crammed in as much as we could during our time there.
Right off the bat, the first day there, we picked huckleberries. There were patches right next to our cabin...score!!
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| Sammy helping Molly reach a branch |
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| Luke found, "the biggest one ever!" |
That evening, Kelsey and Taylor did the devotional. They talked about families, and at the end they had us open a box. In the box was an ultrasound picture!!! My baby sister is going to have a baby! That seriously made our whole night. I am so excited for Kelsey and Taylor. They are going to be amazing parents.
The next morning I got up and went for a run. I am currently training for my second marathon this summer. Leading up to our McCall trip, I was in serious burnout with running. It was bad. I was just plain sick and tired of running.
I got up that morning in McCall, put my shoes on, drank some zipfizz, and just started running. Not sure how far I would go. I just ran and smiled and ran and smiled and ran and smiled. I could see the lake during my whole run, right next to me. The air was crisp and smelled just like pine trees, and the mountains. The scenery was gorgeous. I ended up running 8 miles that morning, and it felt like 1. This was what my finish line looked like.
We spent the day at the beach. Not the beach at our cabin...it was TINY, but at Ben's best friend's beach. The kids just played and played and played. It was so much fun!
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| Mary |
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| William LOVED this kid kayak. It was just his size! |
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| Luke |
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| the hot tub was a huge hit! |
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| Miss Molly |
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| Luke is the only one in the tube, because he likes to go so fast and hit such big waves, that his older siblings are too scared to go with him! haha!!! This kid LOVES speed. |
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| the inflate-a-bull was hilarious! |
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| sisters |
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| William |
Aside from playing on the beach and behind the boat, we went cliff jumping one day.
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| uncle Taylor |
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| William, with his knees perfectly bent...haha! |
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| William |
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| Yup, that would be my dad. Still got it, at age 62! |
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| back flip for Mary |
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| Back flip Benny |
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| I have no idea why Sam's picture is upside down. ?? |
Ben and I jumped together too. I can't find the picture...darn!
We also went to treasure island, where the kids tried to find Black Beards treasure. Luke was completely into it, and absolutely believed it was the real thing.
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| at the end of the treasure hunt, William fought Black Beard for the treasure. Luke got his sword out, but definitely got scared. |
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| Black Beard |
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| Luke STILL talks about this. |
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| Black Beard is telling pirate stories and talking about how family is his greatest treasure. |
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| It all started with a message in a bottle that washed up on the beach. Mary is reading the note that started the treasure hunt. |
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| the bottle that the message was in |
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| Luke was so amazed and slightly scared with the whole thing. |
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| reading one of the clues |
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| We had to anchor our "pirate ship" out a ways from the island, so it wouldn't hit rocks. In order to get back into it, we had to jump a little bit. My mom jumped, and then she got stuck....just like this! She literally couldn't move. I thing we about died laughing. It was hilarious!! Her pirate bandana just tops it all off perfectly. hahaha! |
The second morning there, I decided to get up and run again. I didn't set a distance, I just wanted to run again. I ended up going 10 miles! These runs in McCall were game changers for me, and pulled me out of a pretty big running rut. I just needed some fresh McCall air, to get some pep in my step again.
One evening, we had PERFECT water. It was totally glass, so we all jumped in the boat, and got in some great ski runs. I had an awesome ski run, which ended with an epic double summer sault crash that completely knocked the wind out of me. It was pretty awesome.
We have so many McCall traditions. I love sharing them all with my kids, and watching them love them just as much as I do.
Along with all of the playing and fun traditions, we definitely have food traditions.
The pancake house is one of them. It did not disappoint!
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| My favorite girls in the entire world. |
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| my mom and I both eat low carb, and we would talk about this ice cream and text about it, to try to remember a sweet reward we would be getting for our hard work. |
 When the day came to leave, the sadness in the air was so thick, you could almost feel it. The week we were there was almost magical. There was complete peace and harmony with everyone. There was love. There was fun, so much fun. The spirit was there. There was laughter, bonding, talking, enjoying, and just a feeling of freedom from the weight that the world can sometimes bring. I definitely cried as I hugged my mom and my sister goodbye. My girls. My kids did not want to leave either. It was sad for them to say goodbye to their grandparents and to Kelsey and Taylor. They were so great with my kids. They had so much fun with them. Luke kept begging to stay. He even built a tower out of soda cans, sticks, tools and nick knacks, and told me that it had to stay there until we came back. It was his way of making sure we would be back. I found Molly out in a little shed crying. She told me she wanted to stay. I just held her, and cried with her. Even the littlest one there felt something peaceful and special. I am so glad we have a place like this to go to. I am so glad my children and my husband hold it special in their hearts too. We will definitely be back. We have already started looking at cabins for next summer. :) |
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