Timberline Leadership Camp

June 6th-11th

This past week Coleman spent his first week away from home at a camp. He was so excited to leave that I am wondering if he likes us at all. :) He headed up to Hobble Creek Canyon with a group of scouts, that he didn't know, to do youth leadership training. Aside from the camp songs he had a BLAST!!! When I went to get him he was so dirty that I had to ask if he took even 1 shower, and he said "yes, 1" So 5 days with one shower in the dirty wilderness, let's just say it wasn't pretty. When I asked him what he learned he said he learned how to set goals for his life and how to lead a scout troupe. It really was a great experience for him!!! Here he is with his group. He really made some good friends and 1 of them happened to go to his school which was cool for him.

Before camp the parents were asked to write a letter to their sons expressing our feelings and hopes and dreams for them. On the last night they gave the boys the letter. Coleman would die if he knew I posted it, but since this is my scrapbook/journal I am going to!!! He doesn't read my blog anyway!

Dear Coleman,

We want you to know how much WE LOVE YOU!!! We are so grateful to have a son and that Heavenly Father blessed us with you!! Since the day you were born you have captured our hearts and our lives wouldn’t be the same without YOU! I know life feels challenging sometimes and you wish things would just be easy, but we PROMISE the Lord has a great plan for you and if you will decide NOW to always work hard at everything you do and to live the gospel Heavenly Father will work miracles in your life. You are a fighter and we want you to fight for your best life and a good education will get you there. We love watching you grow and seeing what you enjoy. Every year with you is more fun then the year before. You are always making us laugh and we LOVE your fun personality. We are so glad that our little girls have YOU for a big brother, I hope you know how much they love and look up to you. You are such a strong example of how I want them to be. Keep choosing the right and understand that when you make mistakes the Lord can help you do better. You make us SO proud and We are excited to watch you grow and change into a strong young man who will serve a mission and help bring the gospel to Heavenly Fathers children. Heavenly Father has blessed you with so many talents, try to do his will always and he will lead your life!! Thank you for all the laughter, jokes, scaring (mostly mom), and JOY you bring to our lives. Always know we LOVE you more then we can ever tell you and we are always here for you and even if we are not perfect we do everything we do because of LOVE!!! You are our ONLY boy and that is something special thanks for making us proud!!!

When he got home from camp I asked him if he liked the letter and he said "yes, thanks" I guess he was just too touched to say anything more. right? lol. I have to keep reminding myself that he is almost 13-a teenager!!!!, and as Evelyn reminded me the other day "those are the hard years" LOL.