Pumpkin Carving

Hola my son!  I am very anxious to hear how your temple trip to Tegus turned out.  I have been praying all week that it was wonderful, that everyone showed up, that the buses worked well, the baptisms all took place, and the spirit was super strong.  I went to the temple last week and put your name on the prayer roll with this experience in mind, how I hope it was everything you wanted it to be!  Can't wait to hear all about it.  

One thing I forgot to ask you about last week…we heard on the news that there was a huge 7.3 earthquake in Ecuador that was felt in Honduras.  It sounds like there was not much damage, but still scary anyway.  Did you feel it?  Do you know people who were affected by it?

We have had a good week, all the high school fall sports are winding down.  The cross country state meet was Wednesday.  Dad's team did OK, his best runner came in 3rd overall.  AF won the championship for both boys' and girls' teams, Lehi took third in both.  Another great XC season has come and gone.   

Monday night for Family Home Evening we got together with Bryan's family for our annual pumpkin carving activity. Awesome as usual!  

While we were together everyone wrote letters to you to include in your Christmas package, but most of Bryan's kids got confused and wrote "Happy Halloween" instead of "Merry Christmas". Haha, just know you were thought of and remembered that night!  And the good news is you will be here next year to carve your jack-o-lantern with us, what an awesome thought!

Today was Hailey Blackwell's mission farewell, she leaves this week for the Mexico MTC, then to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.  This now makes five missionaries serving from our ward…soon to be six.  Alonso Lopez, you, Annika Hancock, Kierran Steele (new family), Hailey, and soon Caleb Rodabough.   

I had a fun couple of days this week.  On Thursday and Friday I was invited to attend a conference for Elementary teachers in Deer Valley on the importance of literacy.  I rode up with two other teachers from my school.  It was held at a fancy hotel, they fed us breakfast and lunch, and we got to listen to several key note speakers and children's authors.  I really loved it!  I hope to be able to instill a love of reading in my students.  

Dad and I have been working on your BYU application this week.  We had to send in your high school transcripts, get a recommendation from your seminary teacher, we even had to contact President Bowler.  Now for some feedback from Brother Hammock on your essays… he said your first one (What is the hardest thing you have been through and what did you learn?)  was excellent, outstanding, exactly what the admissions board is looking for.  He had some suggestions for the second question (Why do you want to attend BYU?) so with your permission I will take his advice and make a few changes.  As for the third question he wants you to think of a positive trait you learned from playing soccer such as setting goals, being part of a team, working hard, etc..., how has that trait been reinforced on your mission, and how will it help you as a student at BYU?  Sorry to ask you to write another essay!!  I know you would rather spend your P-day relaxing and having fun!  Just give me a general idea and I can flower it up.    

I love you!  You are awesome!  You are doing great!  Keep working hard!  So proud of you!  Love, Mom

Fall Break

Hola my son!  I have a lot to tell you about this week!  But first…how was your week?  I am so excited about your giant temple trip coming up on Saturday, and all the baptisms that will take place that day.  I have prayed every day that everything will fall into place for it to happen, and it will be a highlight of your mission.  I went to the temple this week and put you and your entire zone on the prayer roll…I hope that will help!  Can't wait to hear an update about it, I sure hope everything is progressing forward.  What an amazing experience it will be!  

Today Brother Hammock came over to our house to help us begin your application to BYU.  It is a long process!  We can take care of nearly everything, but we do need a little help from you.  There are three short essays, 250 words or less.  If you will give me a general idea, Brother Hammock and I can flower it up.  Here are the three essay questions…

1. What is the most difficult thing you have ever done or experienced?  What made it difficult, and what did you learn?

2.  Which school would you most like to attend and why?  (BYU, BYU-Hawaii, BYU-Idaho, LDS Business College)

3.  Tell us anything else you want us to know about yourself that you haven't had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application. Include any special circumstances, experiences, talents, skills,  etc. that you think would have a positive impact on the admissions committee.

Brother Hammock says to be specific and express your feelings.  He definitely thinks you could use mission experiences if you would like.  Could you do this today?  No need to put too much time or thought into it, just give me something to go on and I will make sure it is awesome!  

 In other news, Friday and Saturday was Fall Break!  Finally both Jordan and Alpine School Districts were off the same days!  So we had to go somewhere fun.  We ended up going to Zermatt Resort in Midway.  

We met Rachel and George in Park City, did a little shopping and went out to dinner, then we drove to the resort where we checked into our hotel, did some exploring, went mini-golfing and hot-tubbing, then back to our room to bake cookies and watch football.  The next morning we slept in, Dad went for a run, and we made a big breakfast in our room. It was a fun little get-away! 

Wednesday night I was asked to speak at "Career Night" at Young Women.  I was very honored to be a guest speaker!  I told all about my experience of being a school teacher, my education and background, what I liked most and least about my job, some advice on how to be a successful teacher, and a question and answer period.  There were four other women who spoke, all with interesting careers.   Stefanie said I did a very good job!  Nice to be recognized for my efforts and achievements!  I really do love my job. 

One other thing…I have been posting all my letters to you on my blog, along with a few pictures. Not sure if you are interested or if you have time, but if you ever want to see a few pictures from home you can click on this link.

That is all for this week!  We love you and think you are awesome.  We are so proud and grateful to have you serving as a representative of Jesus Christ.  The restored gospel is true!  Hurrah for Israel! 

Love, Mom

Region Meet

Hola my son.  How was your week?  Your Consejo De Lideres last week sounds like it was awesome!  How exciting for you to be able to spend time with Presidente Bowler and the other leaders of the mission.  I will be excited to hear how things change and improve in the mission as a result.  

The highlight of our week was the Cross Country region meet.  The Lehi boys are headed to state as a team for the first time in four years!  That was your sophomore year!  Lehi came in second behind AF.  The girls' team is going too, they were third.  Stefanie ran great in the JV race, she has improved every race.  She is excited to go to the state meet on the 22nd to cheer on her teammates.  Copper Hills did great too, both of his teams qualified for the state meet.  Stefanie has really grown to enjoy cross country, she complained a lot at first, but I think she is glad for all our encouragement.  She is sad there are no more races this year, but she wants to go to Footlocker in California in December, and has already said that she wants to join the track team in the spring.

We are enjoying fall, my favorite season of the year.  The maple tree in our back yard is bright red…

...and the big tree in the front yard is beginning to turn gold.  We picked all the pumpkins from the garden and put them on the front porch, along with the scarecrow and the big scary spider.  We have a Halloween house! 

My first graders are super excited for Halloween, they talk nonstop about their costumes.  Fun stuff!  This week is Fall break, we are not sure where we want to go, but we are kicking around the idea of going to Moab or St. George.  It will be nice to get away for a couple of days.  

I had my first parent-teacher conferences this week, on Wednesday and Thursday, they went great!  They were very long days, but I was happy to get to know the parents a little better.  They all said their children love being in my class.  Touched my heart!  Dad had his conferences too, we were both glad to get them over with.

Question for you…Brother Hammock asked what your plans are when you get home from your mission, he has offered his assistance in getting you admitted into BYU if you would like to apply.  Of course it would be Dad and I who would do most of it, but you would need to write a paragraph or two about why you want to go to BYU, and your qualifications.  Are you interested?  Until you have been officially signed to play soccer somewhere it might be a good idea to keep plenty of options open. Let me know what you think.

We loved the pictures you sent last week, especially of the birthday party. I hope the Hermana did not mind having eggs thrown at her head!  haha.  Birthdays sound kinda nutty down there!  But lots of fun.  

That is all for this week!  We love you!  We constantly pray for you!  Have a great week.  Love Mom

p.s.  Hope your companion, Elder Yak, is feeling better.  Especially hope you did not catch whatever bug he had last week!  Where is he from? 

General Conference

Hola, my boy!  Loved your last letter, especially the story about Juan.  I have read it several times and it brings tears to my eyes every time.  I hope he felt the spirit during and after his priesthood blessing, and that he will have a desire to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a powerful experience!  Also, I loved the pictures you sent of Agua Caliente, what a beautiful, peaceful place.  I would love to walk along those trails with you!

It has been a great weekend, General Conference was outstanding!  What a privilege to get to hear our prophets and apostles speak the word of God.  Were you able to watch all the sessions?  Which were your favorites?  Did you notice any recurring messages or themes?  Dad's favorite talk was on Saturday morning from Elder Lynn G. Robbins, "Which way do you face?"  I loved Elder Ballard's talk, "Stay in the Boat."  We noticed a couple of recurring themes, especially following the prophet, and the importance of the sacrament.  Dad said the Priesthood session was good too, he told me about the missionary choir and I watched it online.  Your cousin Mark sang with that choir, he has only been in the Provo MTC for three weeks.  In his last letter he wrote, "Saturday I had choir practice.  Our choir director said that when a choir is asked to sing in General Conference they are given months to practice, but we only have two weeks!"  They were great, couldn't help but feel the spirit as they shared their testimonies through song.   The entire conference was inspiring, and I loved knowing that YOU were watching it too!  I am looking forward to reading and studying their messages for the next six months.   

Thursday was Dad's birthday, we were invited to Rachel's house for birthday dinner and presents, it was so nice of Rachel to do that for her daddy! 

My present to him was tickets to the BYU/Utah State football game on Friday night, Stefanie, Rachel and George came too.  

Oh, it was a disaster of a game, we lost 20-35.  BYU was undefeated so far this season, and nationally ranked.  The Salt Lake Tribune called it "the most devastating loss in school history."  Our quarterback suffered a broken leg in the first half and it was all downhill from there.  Ugh.  Dad said if BYU would have won, they would now be in the top ten. As Stefanie says, "It sucks to suck!"  Haha.

We have some exciting things coming up this week, Dad and Stefanie have their region cross country meets on Thursday and Friday…go Stef!  And I have my first parent/teacher conferences this week, I am actually looking forward to that.  Some news from Rachel and George's house, George has decided he does not want to be a baker for the rest of his life, he will start school tomorrow!  He will be a full-time student at the tech school by Thanksgiving Point, he is studying to become a computer tech.  We are proud of him and hope he can handle working at the bakery all night and attending classes during the day!  

We hope you have had a good week.  We love you so much!  Excited to get another letter from you today.  

Love, Mom