ANYONE UP FOR A GAME OF SETTLERS?

As long as Saul and I have been married, Saul has never been interested in playing board or card games. He never played them growing up and he just hasn't ever wanted to since...until about a month ago when David and Cher asked us to play Settlers of Catan with them when we were at mom's.

I was introduced to this game a couple of years ago at YW's. We had a combined activity with the boys at the Mosley's. Some of the leaders...who were all pros at the game...started playing it. I had never seen it before but got talked into filling in for one of the leaders. I ended up playing with Bro. Mosley, Bishop Muder, and Bro. Troy Goodwin. Even though I ended up losing, I still thought it was fun. But since it took us until after 11:00 to finish it and I didn't have my phone with me, Saul couldn't get a hold of me and didn't know why I was so late on a YW's night. He was in a panic and didn't find the joy that I had in me learning to play a new game...and justifiably so. I found the game online and have asked him several times if he wanted to play...it was a no. I played it several times with others, but couldn't ever talk Saul into playing with me. So I was pretty surprised when Dave & Cher got him to play with them. Since that night, Saul has been obsessed with the game. Several nights a week he will get out the game and want us to play as a family.

Since we didn't have a TV growing up, we played a lot of games and had a lot of fun. But since we have gotten older...things have changed. There are some in my family that are pretty competitive and there have been some pretty intense games where things have been said such as...Why would you play that?!!...What are you thinking?!!..(and my favorite and the most often repeated) you would be shot if you played that in Vegas!!! Playing a game in my family is not for the timid or faint of heart...in fact, very few of the in-laws, and even some of the siblings, will even dare attempt it... most of them will clear the room when we pull out a game. After all is said and done, we all still love each other. I love to play and am often one that can handle it, but sometimes I am pretty surprised, and ashamed at the way some act in a game.

So since Saul's new love of this game, I have seen a different side of him and my kids. I guess in playing games with my family I have learned to lose and not be mad, don't take it personal when someone attacks me...it is just part of the game, and my family still loves me and I am still of worth...even if I lose. The first night we played at home it got pretty intense. When I made a move against Saul...he didn't take it so well. It didn't get clear out of control, but was heading in that direction. I finally had to lean over the game and tell everyone to...CHILL OUT! EVEN WHEN THE GAME IS DONE AND OVER WE WILL STILL BE FAMILY AND WE WILL STILL LOVE EACH OTHER! IF WE ARE JUST GOING TO FIGHT AND HAVE CONTENTION, WE ARE PUTTING IT AWAY! At first they all wanted to hit me for blocking the game...then they all just sat there all pouty...then they all started laughing. Since then things have been better...there have still been some squabbles and some tense moments...but they have been better sports about it all. But one thing we are all learning is that no matter who wins or loses, we are still family and we still love each other, we are all still of value! At first I wasn't sure that I wanted to have game nights, but I think that my family is learning some valuable lessons of life. And things are 'settling' down...no pun intended! (hehehe)

So...anyone up for a game of Settlers?!!

White Water Rafting

A couple of weeks ago Billy Ervin came by to bring Justin some stuff for their scout hike. Saul was home and Billy asked him what he was doing that Saturday. Saul finally was going to have a Saturday off and Billy invited him to go white water rafting on the Salt River. Saul was so excited. He had been rafting on the Snake River when he was a scout, but hadn't gone since. I have been telling him that we need to take the kids and raft the Grand Canyon. Anyway, Saul told him he wanted to go. The next day, Billy called and asked if Justin could go also. So that Saturday morning, Saul and Justin got up early and headed out. They were both so excited to get to go. They got down there, unloaded and headed out on the river. Some of those that were with them were; Billy, Gary Kirkman, Tyler and Jordan Mills, Ben Lunt, and David ?. The river was pretty high and they were having a blast. Then they got to a big rock that they were trying to maneuver around...but didn't make it. They slammed into it, which sent the raft straight up into the air, tipping them all out! Saul was on the high side and was sent flying over the others' heads. It slammed him about 10 feet down into a big rock...luckily it was on his back and not his head. Although, even through his life vest he got a big bruise. It churned him down and around several times on the bottom of the river until he finally kicked off a big rock and got to the top. He got to the raft and started looking for Justin. He decided he would find him better if he was in the raft, so he pulled himself in. After being swirled on the bottom of the river for a while himself, Justin finally came up...under the raft...which still held him down so he couldn't get any air. He did some quick thinking and rolled onto his back, putting his arms out to his side and his legs together in front of him. He hit a rock which slowed him down enough to let the raft go on over him. He actually came up behind Saul just as Saul was getting into the raft. Saul didn't see him for a minute, but finally found him and pulled him in. The rest of them got back into the raft also, and thank heavens, they were all OK. A few days later Saul woke up in the middle of the night in terrible pain. The next day he went in to see Dr. Ballard (Chiropractor) and found out that he had shoved a rib up under the other ribs. He has been in quite a bit of pain since, but I think he is getting better. Dr. Ballard asked him if he would go again and he said..."heck yeah, I will just wear a helmet next time!" We both agree that if that was his head that had hit the rock, things may not have turned out so well. I am grateful that they made it home safe...I will worry should they go again.