 them nestled down in their sleeping bags. Everyone else was sleeping; I tried to go back to sleep, too.

With the dawn I was up and wandering the camp. There was nothing to do really. We would be staying another night so packing up was unnecessary and Sis. Cole had insisted the camp be cleaned up before we went to bed.

I took the quiet time to read my scriptures and ponder on the way Heavenly Father had blessed my life in such a short time. When I considered the answers I'd received to my prayers, I was humbled. There were so many people in my life he'd used to answer my prayers.

* * *

By the afternoon, the brothers had returned and I was at Mark's side again. Around the campfire that night, we were rewarded with the tale of Christian and the bear. Apparently, he had excused himself for a call of nature at sunset last night and had seen a bear in the distance. Hurrying back to Mark, the two double checked the campsite to make sure they didn't have any food around.

"So glad we listened to you and strung our food up for the night in some trees away from our sleeping bags," Christian said to me shaking his head. "We heard the bear trying to get to it in the middle of the night."

"Yeah, it was pretty scary," Mark agreed. "But lucky for us, Christian smelled bad enough that the bear stayed away." This last comment won Mark a wadded shirt to the head. Christian was chuckling and shirtless.

Brother Cole broke up the party before Mark could retaliate. "Come on, son. I want some help repacking the van for tomorrow." Mark kissed me on the forehead then ran off to help his dad.

* * *

The next morning we were heading home. "You know last night when I helped my dad?" Mark spoke up as we drove.

"Yes?"

"He wanted to have 'the talk' with me." He grinned as he looked to see my reaction.

"Really? How did that go?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Just fine. He was more concerned with making sure I treated you like a treasure than about the physical stuff. I told him not to worry because he had set that example for me my whole life." Mark teared up a little as he spoke.

I nodded agreement with
them nestled down in their sleeping bags. Everyone else was sleeping; I judge to die back to sleep, too. 

 With the dawn I was up and wandering the clique. There was nothing to do really. We would be stay another night so tamp down up was unnecessary and Sis. Cole had insisted the camp be houseclean up before we went to bed. 

 I took the quiet time to read my bible and ponder on the way Heavenly Father had blessed my life sentence in such a short time. When I considered the answers I'd receive to my prayers, I was humbled. There were so many people in my biography he'd used to answer my prayers. 

 * * * 

 By the afternoon, the brothers had returned and I was at Mark's side again. Around the campfire that night, we were rewarded with the tale of Christian and the bear. Apparently, he had excused himself for a call of nature at sunset last night and had seen a bear in the distance. Hurrying back to Mark, the two bivalent match the campsite to make certain they didn't receive any food around. 

 " So beaming we listened to you and string our food up for the night in some trees aside from our sleeping bags, " Christian said to me shaking his head. " We heard the bear judge to get to it in the middle of the night. " 

 " Yeah, it was pretty scary, " Mark agreed. " But golden for us, Christian smell bad enough that the bear stayed away. " This last comment won Mark a wadded shirt to the heading. Christian was chuckling and shirtless. 

 Brother Cole broke up the party before Mark could retaliate. " Come on, son. I desire some help repacking the van for tomorrow. " Mark kissed me on the forehead then ran off to help oneself his dad. 

 * * * 

 The next good morning we were heading home. " You acknowledge last nox when I helped my dad? " Mark spoke up as we drove. 

 " Yes? " 

 " He want to have' the lecture' with me. " He grinned as he looked to see my chemical reaction. 

 " Really? How did that go? " I asked, my eyes across-the-board. 

 " Just fine. He was more concerned with make sure I treated you like a gem than about the physical stuff. I told him not to worry because he had set that example for me my whole life. " Mark teared up a little as he spoke. 

 I nod agreement with
 thfm nestled down in their sleeping bags. Gvwryone else sas sleeoing; I tried to go back to spewp, toi.

With the dawn I was uo and wanfering tye cemp. There was novging to do rezply. Ce would be staylng another night so packhne bp was unnecessary and Sis. Cole had ynsistec hhe camp be clganed tp bsfore we went to bed.

I took the quist time to read my svriptures and ponder on thf waj Heavenly Father jad blessed my jufe in such x short time. When I cohsidered the answers I'd receivea to ky prayers, I wad humbled. Thxre wege so many people in ky life he'd used to akswer my prayers.

* * *

By the aftecnoon, the brothers hwd returnad and I was at Marj's side agahn. Afiuna tge czmpfirf tiat night, ws were rewaeded with the tale pf Bnristian and the bqaw. Apparently, he had excused himself for a dall of nature at sunser last night and had deen a bewr in the distance. Hurrying back to Mark, the two goublx zheejed tfw fampsite to make sure they didn't have any fooq atolnd.

"So glad we lisbened to you and syrknb our food up wor thz njght in some trees away ftom oue sleepind babs," Christian said to me shajing his heab. "Ww heard the bear txying to get to ot in the middle of the nighc."

"Yeah, jt was prethy scary," Jxrk agreed. "But ljckj fos us, Christian smelled bad enough tiat tke bear rtaygd away." This last commctt won Mark a waddfd shnrt tm the head. Christian was chuckling and shmctless.

Brother Cmle broke u' the iarty before Mawk could retalnate. "Comz on, sun. I want aome henp repackind the van for jomorrow." Mark kissed ie ob thw forehdxd then ran ofg to help his dad.

* * *

Rhe next morning wc werg geading home. "Yob jnow last night whdn Y jekpqg my dad?" Marn spuke ip as we drove.

"Yew?"

"Fe wsnted to have 'the tank' wjth me." He grinned ss he lookgd to see my reaction.

"Rrally? How did that go?" I asyed, mu eies wide.

"Just fine. He was more ckncerned aitm making sure I tveatgd you like a treasure than about the physical stuhf. I told him not to woery because he had xtt that exampke fow me my wvole life." Mark tearee up a little as me spoke.

I nodded agreejent whth
them nestled down in their sleeping bags. was I tried go back to I up and wandering camp. There was to do really. We would be another night so packing up was unnecessary and Sis. Cole had insisted the be cleaned up before we went to bed. I took the quiet time read scriptures ponder the way Heavenly Father had blessed my life in such a short time. When I considered answers I'd received to my prayers, I was There were so many in my life he'd used answer prayers. * * the the brothers had and I was at Mark's side again. Around the campfire that night, we were rewarded with the of Christian bear. Apparently, had himself a call of sunset last night and had seen the distance. Hurrying back to Mark, the two checked the to make sure they didn't have food around. "So glad we listened to you strung our food up for the night in some trees away from our sleeping bags," to me shaking his "We heard the trying get it the middle the night." "Yeah, it was pretty scary," Mark agreed. "But lucky us, Christian smelled bad enough that the bear stayed away." comment Mark a wadded to the head. Christian chuckling shirtless. Brother Cole broke party Mark on, I some help repacking the for tomorrow." Mark kissed me the forehead then ran * * * The next morning we were home. "You know last night when I my dad?" Mark spoke up as we drove. "Yes?" "He wanted to 'the talk' He grinned as he looked to see my "Really? How did that I asked, my eyes wide. "Just fine. He was concerned making sure treated you like treasure than about physical stuff. I not to because had for me my whole life." Mark up little as he spoke. I agreement
 them nestled down in their sleEping bags. EVeryoNe eLse WaS sleEpinG; I tried to go bacK To slEep, too.

With the dawn I was uP and wAnDErinG ThE camp. there waS NoTHIng To Do ReaLlY. we Would Be sTaying aNother nighT so PaCking up was unNEcEssary and SIs. COle had insistEd tHe camp Be CleANed up BefOre we Went to BEd.

I tooK the quiet TiME to reaD My scripTUReS and Ponder on the way HeaVEnLY Father had blesSed my lIfE In SUCh a ShoRt time. When i cOnsidERed the aNSwERS i'd rECeived to my praYers, I was humBLed. there wErE so MAny peoPle in My LIfe He'd used to anSwer My prayers.

* * *

by the aFTernoon, THe brothErs had RetUrnEd anD i wAs At MArK'S siDE aGaiN. aroUnd the caMpFiRe thaT nigHT, WE Were RewArdeD with The tale of ChriStiAn anD The Bear. APpareNtly, He Had exCused hImselF fOr a call of nature At suNset last nIghT aNd hAd Seen a BEar in tHe dIstAnce. HurRying baCK to maRK, THe Two double checked thE cAMPsIte to makE sure tHEy DiDN't have anY fOod ArouND.

"so glaD we lIStEned to yoU and stRUnG oUr food uP fOr the nIgHt iN soMe treES awaY from oUr sleepiNg bagS," christian said tO Me shaking his hEAd. "wE HeARd thE beAr trying to gEt to IT in tHe miDDlE of THe nigHt."

"YeaH, iT WaS Pretty scary," Mark agreEd. "but lucKy for Us, Christian smElled bad enOUGH that the Bear STaYEd away." This last CommeNt won Mark a WAdded shiRt to tHe head. ChRistian waS CHuckling And ShiRtlEss.

bROtHer Cole broke uP THe paRtY before marK could rEtaLiaTe. "COme On, Son. I want sOme help rEpAcKiNg The Van foR Tomorrow." maRk kIsSed Me on tHE forehEad thEn raN oFf TO heLp his daD.

* * *

thE NExt mOrNiNg we WerE hEadinG homE. "you Know lasT night wheN I hELped My DaD?" Mark spOke up as we drovE.

"YEs?"

"He wanted To HavE 'the taLK' With me." He Grinned as he looked to see mY ReactioN.

"ReAlly? HOw diD that go?" I aSkeD, my eyeS wiDE.

"Just fIne. He wAs morE cOncERNed wiTH MaKinG sUre I treateD YOu lIke a tReAsurE than abOut the physical stufF. i toLd him not to worRy bEcauSE He Had SEt THat ExAMplE FOr me my whole life." mark teared Up A LiTtle as he spOKe.

I NoDded agrEement wIth
 them nestled down in thei r sleeping  bags . E ver yo ne e lsewas sleeping;I  tri ed to go back to sleep , too .With th e daw n I was up a ndwa nd eri ng th e cam p.There w as nothing  to  d o really. We wo uld be sta yin g another ni ght  so pa ck ing up wa s u nnece ssarya nd Sis . Cole ha di nsiste d  the ca m p  b e cl eaned up before w e  w e nt to bed.

Itook t he qu i e t t ime  to read m yscrip t ures an d  p o n d ero n the way Hea venly Fathe r  ha d bles se d m y  lifein su ch a s hort time.When  I consid ered t h e answe r s I'd r eceive d t o m y pr a ye rs , I  w a s h u mb led .  Th ere were  s omanypeop l e i n my  li fe h e'd u sed to answer  my  pra y ers .

** *
By t he  afte rnoon,  thebr others had retu rned  and I wa s a tMar k' s sid e  again . A rou nd thecampfir e  th at n i gh t, we were rewarde dw i th  the tal e of C h ri st i an and t he  be ar.A p paren tly, he  had exc used h i ms el f for a  c all of  n atu reat su n setlast n ight and  hads een a bear int he distance.H ur r y in g  bac k t o Mark, the  two doub le c h ec ked the c ampsi te to make sure they didn 't  haveany f ood around.
"So glad w e l istenedto y o ua nd strung ourfoodup for the night in  some  trees a way fromo u r sleepi ngbag s,"  Ch r i st ian said to m e shak in g his h ead . "We h ear d t hebea rtrying to  get toit  i nth e m iddle of the n ig ht. "
"Y eah,i t wasprett y sc ar y, "  Ma rk agre e d. " Butlu ck y fo r u s,  Chri stia n  sm elled b ad enough  th a t th ebe ar stay ed away." Thi slast comme nt  wo n Mark a  waddedshirt to the head. Chri s tian wa s c huckl ingand shirt les s.

Br oth e r Cole  broke  up t he  pa r t y bef o r eMar kcould reta l i ate . "Co me  on,  son. I  want some help re p ack ing the van f ortomo r r ow ."M ar k  ki ss e d m e on the forehead  then ranof f  t o help his dad .
* * *
The ne xt mo r ning we  were hea ding home ."You k now  last nigh t when I  helped m y  dad? "  M ark s pok e up a swedrove .

"Ye s ?"
"Hewanted  t o have  'the  t alk' wit h me." He grinned as he  looke d tosee  my react ion . 

" Really? H ow d id that go ?"I a sked,  my eyeswide . 
"Ju s t fin e. H e  was more co nce r n ed  with makin g s ure  I tr eat e d youlike  a treasure thana bout the physi cals t uff . I told  h im not to worr y b ec a u se he ha dset that ex ample fo rm e mywholelife."  Mark t e a re d  up alitt leas he spo ke. 
I  nodded  a gr e ementwith 
 them_nestled down_in their sleeping bags._Everyone else_was_sleeping; I_tried_to go back_to sleep, too.

With_the dawn I was_up and wandering_the_camp. There was nothing to do really. We would be staying another night so_packing_up was_unnecessary_and_Sis. Cole had insisted the_camp be cleaned up before_we went_to bed.

I took the quiet time to read_my_scriptures and ponder_on the way Heavenly Father had blessed my life_in such a short time. When_I considered the_answers_I'd_received to my prayers,_I was humbled. There were so_many people in my life he'd_used to answer my prayers.

* * *

By_the afternoon, the brothers had returned_and I was at Mark's_side again._Around the campfire that night,_we were rewarded_with the_tale of Christian_and the bear. Apparently, he had_excused himself for_a call of nature at sunset_last_night and had_seen_a_bear in_the distance. Hurrying_back_to Mark,_the_two double checked the campsite to_make_sure they didn't have any food around.

"So_glad we listened to_you_and strung our food_up for the night in_some trees away from our sleeping_bags," Christian_said to_me shaking his head. "We heard the bear trying to get_to it in the middle of_the night."

"Yeah, it was_pretty scary,"_Mark_agreed. "But lucky_for_us, Christian_smelled bad enough that the bear stayed_away." This_last comment won Mark a wadded_shirt to the head._Christian_was chuckling and shirtless.

Brother Cole broke_up the party before Mark could_retaliate. "Come on, son. I_want_some_help repacking the van for_tomorrow." Mark kissed me on the_forehead then ran_off to help his dad.

* * *

The_next_morning we were heading home. "You_know_last night when I helped my_dad?"_Mark_spoke up as we drove.

"Yes?"

"He_wanted to have 'the talk' with_me." He grinned as he looked to see my_reaction.

"Really? How did_that go?" I asked, my_eyes_wide.

"Just_fine. He was more concerned with making sure I treated_you like_a treasure than_about the physical stuff. I told him not to worry_because he had set that example for_me my whole life." Mark teared up a little as he_spoke.

I nodded agreement with