FISH ON! FISH ON!!!

Wow, I had so much fun on our Alaska adventure this year. My dad takes me and my brothers fishing every June to catch the salmon run on the Nushagak. I love this trip because each year I am able to see how much my dad cares about family togetherness. I know my dad doesn't plan this trip annually for himself. I know this because for the last ten years I've been, I have never seen my dad reel in his own fish. Each time he hooks a fish he hands the pole to me or another sibling. Zach and I tried to get him to reel in his own fish on this trip. Zach refused and I pretended to be too tired when he got one. My dad was begging Zach and I to come get his pole. The fish was getting slack so he had to start reeling. At this point he yelled, "Jill, DO WHAT I TELL YOU TO DO!" I jumped up and couldn't help but enjoy reeling in that fish. My dad is happy when we are catching fish and having fun. His family motto is, "A family that fishes together stays together."

This is the very first fish of the trip and I caught it! It's so small!
The first couple days were really slow because the salmon weren't in yet. We didn't let ourselves get bored. We went straight for the river. Jumping in the Nush is a thrill for us because it is SO COLD!


After that, the fish came in and we were all hooking into the big ones!

The last day I caught two really big ones near 30 pounds. (My dad hooked one of them) I had to fight one of them for 15-20 minutes. Every time I thought I got it close to the boat, it took out my line again. I love fishing for salmon!

We also did well halibut fishing. We all caught our limit, told jokes, laughed hysterically, and bugged our captains to death for the latter of the three.


(We saw these dahl sheep on the way to Seward.)

(And these are my lucky rain boots that I wore all week.)

Happy Graduation Jeremy!!!

My little brother is not so little anymore! I attended his graduation today. His salutatorian speech was really good. The best part was when he quoted President Monson, "We must go forward, look upward, move onward, and rise heavenward." I am so proud of him and I am so excited that he will be a cougar this Fall.

I was also happy to be at the graduation because I got to see one of my very best friends, Haley Adams. Her little sister was the valedictorian. Congratulations Alivia! She also did a great job on her speech.

Friday the 13th!!!!!!!!

Whoever established "Friday the 13th" as a superstitious, unlucky day is seriously mistaken. I have been waiting for this day for two years and I can't believe it's finally come. This lucky day I was able to see Elder Ringer!!! I greeted him at the airport and gave his hand a good shake, haha! It was so good to see him. This day is proof that "Friday the 13th" is really a magical day.