"cousin camp"--as I have chosen to call it

what fun!!!!!!!!!!
it was to see so many of the little cousins playing together for the past few days--(we missed kaci this go around and talked often how much fun it will be when she gets here next week and the party cousin will continue on--only difference is that the parentals of the cute kids will all be there--taking care of the kids and well be sitting back and smiling -)then after we get some pictures of all 7 cousins I hope -to make a little dvd for each of the cousins--with music behind it and them being together.
I affectionately- dubbed this past week and next week as 'cousin camp' meaning they are spending some time together --then in years to come--I hope to make it an annual or semi-annual event *with or without their parents parents --what ever they are comfortable with--so if they don't mind being left then the parents can have a get away
and we take the kids for 1-or 2 days. maybe we can do some of the same things we did again that we did this past week such as (not pictured cause my computer is old and being weird) so use your imaginations:
*swim, *paint little 5X3 pictures with paint,*cook little pizzas, *go to a play*wade in the wadding pools, *squirt water guns at the cyder block wall, *jump on the trampoline--with and without the sprinkler*learn new stories-read from books*make pudding popcycles,*dance around the front room to music *pet the horses -on the way to the duck pond * feed the ducks at the duck site *make tie dye handkerchiefs *make macaroni and cheese, *make messes (J/K_) *go to riverview park and swing and swing and slide and slide * eat in the back yard--eat in the kitchen --eat in the basement
make a little fire in the firepit *play board games *play the radio--play the piano
*go up and down the sidewalk on rollerskates *play dolls *learn some new songs * go to Carl Jr. for milkshakes and fries *pick strawberries out of the garden, make a milkshake *make popcorn *play cars (and crash cars) *put the green mud,beauty cream on face and cucumbers on the eyes, play house *tell bedtime stories,roast marshmellows, *pet the neighbors doggie*watch movies--*stamps on paper--*carve soap *go in the little space under the deck --grandpa made for kids
and generally--have fun and get spoiled with all the attention grandpa and grandma can muster
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Looking forward to next week too-- I'll update more with some next Sunday after we've been together--then. --it was a pleasure to be around them and hear the funny little things they said--
needless to say--
we didn't just endure--or muddle through--the week truelt we ENJOYED it!!!!!!!
it was an honor to have them. I am a little sad --that the house is too quiet today
hurray home everyone--and make some giggles and noise and sing and breath--and enjoy each other so--its not so quiet--I love a childrens book called "the relatives came" and basically shows cousins of these two families getting together one from virginia and one from somewhere else and how they eat, sleep, play--lounge around together and it always makes me smile--when I think that is what we will be doing together soon. can't wait...

Joseph Smith

It always touches my heart to read about Joseph Smith restoring the gospel and his first vision. Today comemorates the Martydom of he and his brother Hyrum. I often think of the Prophet John Taylor writing down that their was none better than Joseph Smith--Save Jesus Christ.
I have had the opportunity to stand in the Jail room --where he was on Jun 27-1944 and to feel the spirit testify that he gave his life for the true church and I am so thankful for prophets then and now and thankful to be a part of the gospel he restored. I spend quite a bit of time reading about Joseph today and again renewed in my testimony of him.. One thing Joseph often ended his letters to Emma with was his testimony of the gospel and I wanted to write this to my family and end with my testimony of the Gospel --and my testimony of my Savior and of a loving Heavenly father. Praise to the Man who communed with Jehovah--...as the song says--many religions confuse the fact that we worship Joseph--no-- not so --but we revere the things he did to restore the truths and Preistood authority back to the earth as it was in the day of Christ --before the apostasy --how thankful I am for the restoration of all the keys of the kingdom of Heaven in this dispensation.

some memories from J Harold Call

recently I typed up a history I had hand copied out of a book that J Harold had written part of his own history below is an except. I am so thanful Bryan was raised by such a great dad.
the part I'm sharing is when He wrote about how they came to keep a dog-and his birth and his parents.I also remember that a neighbor befriended a black and white dog. She gave the dog to me and to my brother. WE arrived home with the dog. Father and mother did not believe it would actually stay at our home, from the time we brought it home–even till morning. So they made an agreement to let us keep it if it stayed (thinking it would run off). However the dog did stay put and became attached to all of the family. We loved him as a member of the family. His nose and tip of his tail were white as well as his four little paws, but the rest of him was black as I already said. Thus the name of Boots seem to fit him well. When ever we arrived home from being gone he was always glad to greet us. When we finally owned a car the dog would ride between the fender and the engine hood. Each time the car stopped for anything the dog would run off the care and run around the car and then climb back into its place. This could be annoying when the driver stopped for a red light and then it turned green. Sometimes we would have to wait for him to get back into his place on the car ( this is just one excerpt from the history if you want the history in more detail send me your email at lyndacall@gmail.com and I will send you a completed copy)

Ray Gertsch (my wonderful dad)

I had this idea--its a bit rough on the edges but take it and enjoy in spite of my amature technology. what I did was make three short movies on my camera--and then get a cassett with my dad's voice --- so the voice in the movie is my dad's telling a few parts of his memories--while my camera is focused in on the pictures of my dad as a : 1) young man in his family -he is the one on the far right. 2) my dad in his younger years 3) my dad with his siblings when they are older.
I have been listening to this a cassett tape over a few times in the last few days and it just made me remember again what a wonderful person and dad he was--I hope that it reminds you kids a little of grandpa and hopefully your spouses who never knew him--can become more aquainted with his goodness. -this is my way of giving tribute to my dad--for Fathers day--I sure love him

What grandpas/&dads do best part I

dads/grandpas fix up the house for their family

*mow the lawn and let the kids help

dance around the front room or dance class

what dad's do best.....Happy Fathers day

*dad's read From the Bible on Christmas Eve, --and teach their kids and grandkids about Our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ

*Dad's say two heads are better than one and do their level best to help build stuff.--(basements and tinkertoys) and wear funny hats

Grandpas --get a kick out of watching the joy of their grandkids

grandpa coax smiles out

*
*dad's swim with the family

dads go to their kids houses and play with their kid's ---kids

dad go to ballgames

*dad's work--together on projects and share time with kids

*dad's put up trampolines--

*so sorry the captions don't match up with all the pictures--but its a all here just mixed around-- (lol) --

*also dad's dance around with their kids

*dads/grandpa freeze with their family while walking around temple square at Christmas time-* dads/grandpas

*dad's hike

*dad's send missionaries out and suport them and write to them --
*dad's
push their kids in the swing

*dad's help decorate ginger bread houses *dad's look at the sky--

Dear family
Happy Fathers day to all the Fathers
Especially to the Fathers of this family--I am bias --I know but I think we have the greatest examples of being a good dad in brad, bryan, stephen, and dad (bryan) than anyone I have ever known --I have the greatest respect for fathers--the weight they carry on their shoulders to protect and provide and teach and lead out in the home is a great weight and responsibility. They are so good to do all they do and since having bryan home (working out of the home) I have a greater appreciation for all the work that he does and has done all these years and I didn't fully appreicate what it takes to be an Administrative Law Judge---but now I have a better idea.
I am so happy that dad is a dad to you all--he does that job better than anyone I know and he is also the best husband I could have ever asked for. I love him with all my heart...remember one of my favorite stories is about the Ezra T Benson's family _saying Pray for dad ---we'll I ask the same--pray for dad and for all the dad's in our family to be able to have the stamina and the love of their family to do all that they do--WE LOVE YA DADS

I think to myself "what a wonderful world"

one of my favorite songs is -"what a wonderful world" --the Tabernacle choir sang the most beautiful rendition of this on the spoken word yesterday and I thought in my mind-of the blessings in my life, and having just attended a sealing for joshua and kristi gertsch the day before I thought of all the joy of that day, and my own family sealed to me and my blessings of the beautiful world around me and being able to be out and about in the beauties of nature/

I thought of the blessings of the gospel teachings in our lives--and about the many people in my life that influence me and bless my life just by being there and caring for me and about me....and I think to myself....WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! so above is a bunch of random pictures--and in my mind a hundred more--(I've been a little down and out with a cough this past week and posting this and thinking about the song and these pic has brought me back in good spirits)_

summer school

summer school is fun for me--because I love reading so much --I started teaching again today

my big challenge is to make it so fun for the kids--that they are happy to be there--so far so good

but I don't want them to feel like its a punshiment--only a pleasure--I mean we take swimming lessons or piano--or go to the weight room to get better at something right--? so I want the kids to know that its great 'practice' to make the Good --Better-- wish me luck--I have to stick to a pretty tight lesson plan and they do get a treat at the end of each session--but I am open to suggestions--actually the Grandkids gave me some great ones-- but I'll take your ideas too (:

oh ps my students I work with are 3rd graders and 1st graders--they are good sports too

This would have made 'em happy

2nd home had Gertsch home on pine canyon road

first home I grew up in in midway

swinging in the barn

petting Laren's horses in the feild next to Lyle's

the extended gertsch family has a pretty much standing invitation to meet at Lyle and Nola's on memorial day weekend (Sunday ) I think it would make my mom and dad happy to have us meet

because when they were here with us--that was some of their happiest days--

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I think of mom and dad's birthdays both being in the month of June- and I think what an influence they were and I know their influence live on--so bottom line--I think they would have been happy to see that we still get together and share our lives from time to time-and come back to our homes saying -a good time was had by all-