IDF FAMILY CONFERENCE

Jac is so good at her posts that I had to steal this one :) I added just a few comments... THANKS JAC!!

Thanks to the scholarship we got to go down to the conference with, we FLEW to Arizona instead of driving!

Of course we had to spend a few days with our cousins! (and Paco and Roxy... how could I forget?)

The Morph Man paid us a visit while we where there....

(actually it was just Jake)

The next day, Monica took us to Val Vista Lakes with her friend. The daughter's name is Annalise... she was really nice!

On this morning, I went to XC practice with Jake's team! It was at 5:30 a.m! That's what you get for living in Arizona! (The Coach asked her if she was transferring schools!)

 Uncle Wade took me on a scorpion hunt.... I killed this little guy with a hammer!

But alas, cousin time had to end, and we went to the hotel! It was quite fancy!

These are some of the families we met while we were there... they all have kids that have ADA SCIDS... just like Emily! It was so neat for Emily to meet other kids that have the same issues. All of us felt an instant bond with one another!

 The ADA SCID families...."COUSINS" we call ourselves!

The first day at the conference was focused completely on ADA SCIDS. We heard from Top doctors from  Italy and the UK and of course the US! It was amazing! We are so blessed to have them. One doctor even broke down in tears... you could see how much he cared for his patients!

 

There was a lazy river where we enjoyed spending our time at!

Emily and Mom played with the funnest people ever! (Monica, Hannah, and Sophia!)

I played with some new friends too!

We got a little bored with the Kiddie Corp babysitters they provided for us... so we tried on the ugliest clothes we could find in the gift shop!

This is us before one of the many meals they provided us! 

(me, Jacinda, Macy, Amanda, and Carolyn)

Some of the babysitting activities were fun... like the team fort building ones! My team was the Gnarly Ninjas and we made the award winning fort! Woot! Woot!

More friends!

(me, Jacinda, Ashlee, and Amanda)

I am so glad I met these friends! They made the experience much more fun!

(me, Jacinda, Emily, Madison, Macy, and Amanda)

It was amazing to be one of the only LDS people at the conference! Missionary opportunities popped up everywhere... I've never experienced that before!

It gave me a stronger testimony of what missionary work really is. It is not being afraid to live what you know is true and to share that knowledge with the people around you!

It was also neat to meet these kids that have immune deficiencies. They are tough kids, and it is amazing how easily we can relate to each other because of the disease that has affected us and our families.

There are good people everywhere!

For the last night, we stayed at Wade and Monica's again! 

Roxy would not leave Emily's side! She is one hilarious pup!

We also made 'Y' cookies for Mitch since he's at BYU! Yum!

This was a fun trip with just us girls!

(the boys were at Scout Camp)