Bear World

I'm sure many of you have been asking "What is their obsession with bears?" Two years ago we discovered one of the greatest places on earth. Just outside of Rexburg ID is a little place called Bear World. We love going there as a family in October to celebrate Kensington's birthday. There are between 35-42 bears roaming around in their natural habitat. We've had the opportunity to feed baby cubs a bottle, feed older bears pastries from a bus, and pet deer and moose.

Bears are one of God's most beautiful creations. There are strong, magnificent, and beautiful. They are rarely aggressive except for when something gets in the way of them and their food or between mama and cubs. We've been able to teach our daughters as well as our pioneer trek kids this principal. We need to be a docile creature. Get along and play well with others. But, when something jeopardizes our testimony or our eternal salvation fight like bears to hang on to what we know is true. This has become our Kent Family motto. "Fight like a bear to hang onto what is important.

We are not getting paid to promote Bear World but would encourage a day trip to really discover one of our Father in Heaven's splendid creations. Pictured is the Coca Cola Bear, Bridgette one of the 3 Grizzly Bears and other various black bears. Enjoy!

Pioneer Trek 2007

Today we received a disk of pictures and movie clips taken on our Pioneer Trek last August. It brought back so many memories and so many deep feelings. Cameron and I were very moved as we reminisced those four incredible days. We were blessed with 8 fabulous kids: Taylor, Chelsea (big sister), Brittany, Okaylee, Clark, Parker (big brother), Eric, and Steve. We were worried how we would all mesh together, but after the first grueling day of a 16 mile journey, we were family. The women's pull was that first evening. I have never been so filled with respect for 4 incredible daughters of God as I was during that pull. And our young men...how difficult that must have been for them to walk beside us and not be able to help until the cue was given. We are a family. These 8 young men and young women will always be our sons and daughters.

Each of them was given a bear claw. Pa shared with them how a mother bear is docile except for under two conditions. 1st something coming between them and their food 2nd something coming between a mother and her child. This was compared to our testimony in the gospel. We are to be aggressive if something comes between us and our God. These kids learned to growl like bears when Pa made them go up a steep hill, but also learned to purr like bears when Pa allowed them to go down hill later.

Our testimonies grew by leaps and bounds as we served these fabulous young people. We were privalaged to serve with spiritual giants-other ma's and pa's from the stake, an amazing stake presidency who has been so endeared to our hearts, and many others. We shared in finding out on a very windy morning that our dear Pres. Faust passed away a few hours before. We were honored to sing "We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet", and "Come, Come Ye Saints." It was a powerfully spiritual moment. With 3rd degree sprained ankle and a heart virus, we would do it all again in a second if asked to serve. It was amazing. We truly see the blessings we received on this journey when we run into our children. "Blessed, Honored, Pioneers!"

Easter Fun

Typically on Easter we are with the Deters' family enjoying the warm St. George sun. This year, due to cold weather everywhere we stayed home. Being that hotels aren't really equipped with the luxuries to promote egg dying we aren't very experienced. We had to call in for reinforcements this year. Bless Kayla's heart she rescued our egg dying mission. Karina and Kensington especially loved the magic crayon that allowed them to write on their eggs "I love Edward" or Edward + Karina/Kensington." Thanks Kayla even though you laughed at us the whole time.

We missed not having Cameron here for Easter but were comforted knowing he would be with us in a few short days. We are so grateful for friends in Kenai who watched over him and welcomed him into their home for Easter. Thanks Munyer Family.

Where would the girls be without Omi who lives up the street and can make fabulous skirts without a pattern! They looked lovely. Thank you so much!

Cameron's Surprise

We finally did it. We joined the masses. We've had so many people suggest we start a blog so that they can keep track of our Alaskan Adventures when we go away this summer. So here it is.

Cameron surprised us yesterday and came home a day early. We didn't expect to pick him up until this morning. He called me Friday afternoon and asked what we were up to. One of my favorite afternoon events is going to the grocery store for dinner and that is exactly what I was up to. He cut the conversation off quickly, he had to go. About 10 minutes later I hear Karina behind me say "Daddy" rather hesitantly. Then the screaming and crying insued right there in the frozen foods section at Dick's. There he was, beard and all with a rather smug look on his face. He had pulled one over on me. Not very easy to do I might add. We are so happy to have him home for a little while. We are going to eat up every second we can.