So, the day had finally arrived, May 22, 2010. The anticipation in the air was something I will never forget. All of the kids were so excited and the adults were feeling the same way too. The time finally came when they directed everyone to take their seats on the field. I will never forget the incredible reverence that was there when President Monson arrived. It was amazing that that many people could be so quiet, they didn't want to miss anything. He shook hands and talked to everyone before he even took the stand. Then when he addressed the kids, there was a feeling so strong it was undeniable that this man was the Prophet of God. WOW!
I myself was so excited, just knowing that the people that mean the most to me were there for that moment. The Prophet actually came to Thatcher and it only got better from there. The kids put on a show that was so polished, you would have thought they were all professionals. All of the many hours of work and sweat (literally it was hot during the practices) all paid off because they performed for their Prophet and it was really special. At the end when the Angel Moroni was lifted and the kids all put their white capes on, it was AMAZING!! Dr. Lunt, Patty and Ken Raines and everyone else involved really outdid themselves.
I will forever be grateful for this day and for the experiences that my family was able to have. Dr. Lunt kept saying that this would be a life changing experience. I know that it was for my family. To hear the excitment in Cassi's voice when she told me she had the opportunity to shake the Prophet's hand was something I will never forget. The light in her eyes and the smile on her face is forever etched in my memory and in my heart. Koby was also soooo close to President Monson and his life will also be forever changed because of this moment. Mandi and I were on the field right behind the stage helping the elite dancers with their quick costume changes. It was a great opportunity for all of us to be involved and together. Mom, Dad, and Camron were in the audience right in front of the podium where everthing was taking place. They too were touched by everything that happened that night.
President Monson was so funny, one of the pictures shows him waving a red flag, he actually took it from one of the kids down front. He was following along with the kids as they were waving the flags during the production. The kids were supposed to be following a director in the stands but I don't think one eye was watching Tia Palmer, she was getting upstaged by the Prophet and I doubt that she cared one bit. haha He was so playful and cute with the kids. You can tell he is just a big kid at heart. Also before he left the stand when everything was over, he paused for a moment, looked out over the crowd of kids and hugged himself, like he was giving each of them a great big hug! That was special, you could feel his love for all of us especially strong in that moment.
I'm sad it's over but so grateful to be living here at this time. We Thank Thee Oh Go For a Prophet and all of us from the Gila Valley are especially grateful for the reason we were all gathered to celebrate. The Gila Valley has a temple!!!
P.S. I really need to thank all of our friends at Hollady's Photo for taking so many wonderful pictures and for sharing them with all of us! Go check them out on facebook and you can see thousands of pictures they took over that weekend. They are awesome.
Koby and Gentry made a beautiful couple as they went to Girls Dance together. Aren't they adorable????
We had the chance to go to the Suns/Lakers games to celebrate Cassi and Koby's birthday's. It was the Suns season opener and the Lakers are the defending World Champs, so it was really exciting. Alex is probably the biggest Lakers fan in the world, so we invited him to come with us. Needless to say, I was the only one cheering for the Suns and the Lakers won the game, so yeah! I don't need to say anything more about that. haha
We had the chance to go to The Catwalk in New Mexico this past week with my mom, my sister Krista and her two sons, Trey and Crew. I have fond childhood memories of this place when I was young, we used to stop on our way to visit my aunt and uncle in Luna, NM. Krista said she wanted to take her boys there and so we jumped on board and went along. The Catwalk is now a National Park so it has really been fixed up a lot since I was there last. 
So call us CRAZY (believe me it wouldn't be the first time)!!! But a summer tradition for the Alva Family is to attend the ALL day, outside music festival called Warped Tour! Yes, they call it that because you have to be warped in the mind to go to this tour, in the sun, in the Arizona/New Mexico summer just to see TONS of your favorite bands play at the same place. We usually do one date each year in Las Cruces, New Mexico because it is usually a little cooler than the Phoenix date. But this year we went a little crazy and attended Phoenix and then drov
e 6 hours that night to Las Cruces to do it all over again the very next day! Why 2 dates this year? 
her all time favorite lead singers, Tyson Ritter of the All American Rejects. She was just a little bit excited (she was shaking but don't tell her I said that, haha) !!
