Swan Lake Makes the News

KPVI, Channel 6 out of Pocatello, did an "exclusive" on the flooding in Swan Lake on Sunday, June 14. We were watching the news when it came on. Bob Hayes and Kim Thomas were interviewed for the story. I checked KPVI's website, but they do not have the video there, but they do have a story about it. You can find it here.

Deb and I along with the girls were in Swan Lake that day to support Jackie's friend, Shannon Fleischmann, and her baby boy Noah being blessed. Brad did it for the family. Rex and Lori Criddle with several of their children were also there for support. We had a delicious Dutch oven dinner (chicken and potatoes) along with other delightful delectables! (I sound like a food critic!)

After dinner, Jackie, Brayden, Shantae, Taylee, the Criddles, and Fleischmanns left. A few minutes later, it started to downpour and then subsided. Shortly after that, a huge river of floodwater was roaring down Swan Lake Creek. The Matkin home was completely surrounded by water, and Brad got a call that the church was flooded. We began to wonder if we would have to stay there all night since we were surrounded by water. Eventually the floodwaters did subside, and we were able to get home.

Lake Powell

On May 31, we motored to Wahweap Marinia just out of Page, Arizona, to join Lynn and Leisha Brower on their houseboat. We spent a week just swimming, reading, playing games, and eating! It was a lot of fun.

Of course, Lynn and Leisha were there along with their daughter Kaylee. Deb (and Lynn's) mother, Idonna, was on the boat. Our family rounded out the Brower's on the boat.

Leisha's family members that came were her mother and father, Marge and Mel, her brother, Val, and his son Kevin, her sister Annalee and brother-in-law Dave and their children Zachary, Aurianna, and Gretchen, her brother Terro and sister-in-law Lorie and their children Tameka, Brennan, Bonita, and Marin.

We parked the houseboat in Last Chance Bay. It took us 2 to 3 hours to get where we were going to stay for the week. We were in a nice little cove which according to Lynn, the water was 89 feet deep off the back of the boat. Lilli's swimsuit lies there now! (Thanks to Deb's thoughtful and wonderful husband who does every wish that Deb asks!)

Deb and I along with her mother were in charge of the Sunday evening dinner and Monday morning breakfast. We got the cooking out of the way fast! On Thursday night, we did the "Huddle." Every night, each family is assigned to do the Huddle which is a mini version of Family Home Evening--a thought and a prayer. When we did ours, Grandma Don read a scripture on families, Angie sang "My Eternal Family," Deb provided an object lesson on families, and I read a story from my first mission president's wife about families. To conclude, Lilli led everyone in the "Hokie Pokie." Grandma Don then prayed.

Saturday morning we brought the boat back to Wahweap Marina and disembarked from the boat. We loaded up and headed for home. Highway 20, which goes from Highway 89 to I-15, is a very windy road. Right after we got off the road and onto I-15, Lilli puked. And this was no gentle puke. It shot out of her mouth. Of course, it took some time for us to clean it up at Exit 100 on the freeway.

All in all it was a great time. If you would like to see some pictures from our trip, you can see them on our Picasa web album here. Also, for those on Facebook, pictures can be seen on my account here.