19 July 2026
VOLUME 14 – NUMBER 649
Joanna at activity days camp
Joanna
We went to Camp Tracy for a day camp for younger kids. We first got assigned to our groups, and we went to a play outside. Then we played a canoeing game where you had to get a ball before the other team got it. Then you had to put it in a floatee thing.
Then we did archering, and I almost shot the target. After archering, we got to shoot BB guns. I shot two of the targets. At the trading post I bought some toys, and then we went to lunch at a table under a big pergola. We had a cracker barrel for lunch with juice and a treat.
After lunch, we played gaga ball where you are in a circle and you can’t get hit in the legs or the foot. You can’t kick the ball, but you can touch it with your hands. We also played a game where we put on dinosaur tails and we ran around trying to take each others tails off. Then we went rock climbing and we hiked up part of the mountain.
Quinn at activity days camp
Quinn
Camp Tracy was this week, and I was so excited to go! It was super fun. We got to go canoeing, and there was a play that we got to watch.
We got to look for fossils and hide them, then we did archery. I got a bullseye! After that, we got to shoot BB guns, and I hit a tiny target.
Then we ate lunch at the picnic tables. After lunch, I got to go rock climbing. We also played some mini games before heading back to watch the second half of the play.
After the play ended, we left. It was a really fun day, and I had a great time at Camp Tracy!
Joanna at activity days camp
Kai
I started my new job at the Holiday gas station this week. I'm not going to lie—I don't really like it that much. Looking back, I kind of wish I had spent a little more time exploring other job options before choosing this one because it's probably not the job I would have picked.
Even so, I think I need to stick with it. I feel like it's an experience I should go through, even though it's been really hard so far. I think one of the biggest challenges is adjusting to the hours, and I'm hoping I'll eventually get used to them.
Another difficult part is that I'm by myself for about five hours of each shift. Since I can't wear earbuds to listen to an audiobook or anything else, the time can feel pretty lonely. Hopefully things will get better as I adjust to the transition from my two-hour, super easy and relaxed janitorial job to this one.
Quinn at activity days camp
Braden
Growing up, one of my favorite memories was when Dad would read the Harry Potter books to us. I remember waiting until midnight the night Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released, going to Walmart to buy it as soon as it came out, and then staying up into the early morning hours reading the first couple of chapters. It's a tradition I've always wanted to recreate with our girls once they're old enough to understand the stories.
Over the last month, I've started reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with Ellie. Every night, we do a recap where Ellie "retells" what we read the night before, and then we read one chapter before bed. This week, we finished the first book, and now we need to make a trip to Barnes & Noble to pick up Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
This has become one of my favorite activities. Ellie looks forward to it every day, and it's been such a meaningful way for us to bond and spend special time together. As all of our girls get older, we'll start the series over so they can all experience it together, and hopefully we'll create many more special memories as we read through all the books.
Braden and Ellie completed first book
Veidi
I went to girls camp in the new ward this week. When I first got there, we were just getting our stuff settled and putting everything in the right places. Once we arrived at the campground, I started getting to know the girls and became friends with a lot of them.
We started doing things together, like playing games, making crafts, and talking to get to know each other better. The first day was pretty chill and was a good chance to meet everyone. On the second day, we played gaga ball, and it was super fun! We also did archery and I got a few good shots, but not as many as I hoped.
After that, we made crafts and had some free time. We went back to our campsite, ate lunch and snacks, and then went back down to play more gaga ball. It was fun spending time with everyone and getting to know my new friends.
Himalaya house
Afterward, we had a devotional and then went down for dinner. After dinner, we had a testimony meeting, and it was super peaceful. We got ready for bed and then went back to our tents, where we played games and talked for a little while before going to sleep.
On the last day, we packed up and headed to the lake. Once we got there and everything was set up, we went paddleboarding, and it was a lot of fun. They said my paddling was really good because I was able to go so fast!
We flipped over a few times, but I loved being at the lake and spending time with my new friends. Afterwards, we went home and started preparing for the river trip.
Joanna at activity days camp
Ashton
I had a lot of late nights at the MTC over the last couple of weeks. We're working on hiring new trainers, and I also need to find a new supervisor. Because MTC tours happen in the evenings, many of our interviews have been scheduled then as well.
It's actually been pretty cool being there late. I haven't really had to do that much since I was teaching and supervising myself. It's been fun to see the MTC in a different setting and help with the hiring process.
Dad working at new portable desk
On Friday, we went to a goodbye party that some people in the old neighborhood threw for Mom, Dad, and the family. It was a lot of fun to play some crazy rounds of Revenge with such a big group. After that, we played some of the regular games, like crazy ball.
The following Friday, we had our poker championship round. I was up big at one point but ended up losing it all and finished the season pretty poorly. Even so, I'm already looking forward to the next season.
I always look forward to those nights with the boys. It'll be even better once football and basketball season are back.
Roasting smores in the backyard
Troy
We have been having a busy dog schedule, but it hasn't been too bad because we have all done a great job managing everything. It didn't really feel like we had as many dogs as we actually did. It was still a lot of work, but Veidi handled everything really well.
Then she left for girls camp, and things still went smoothly. It was just a little more work for the rest of us. It also helped a lot that we already knew some of the dogs and that they were all very easy to take care of.
The river trip is coming up pretty soon, and I can't wait because it will be my first time going. Hopefully, everything goes as planned!
Owen with his homemade binoculars
Caleb
It's both sad and exciting that Mom and Dad have moved. The farewell party that Lori Chamberlain put together for them at the stake center was super sweet.
I hadn't thought about this when they first announced the move, but it's likely we'll rarely ever go back to that stake center. No more basketball, crazy ball, Touch 5, or whatever else we used to do in that gym. I'm almost going to miss those gyms as if they were an extension of our house.
Dad and girls eating lunch
Anyway, Gavin and Gabe Acuña showed up with their mom! They are so old now, and it was fun getting to know them again now that they've grown up and developed their own personalities. Those kids are awesome.
Some other highlights from the party were Revenge, volleyball, and banana splits. Revenge was especially fun, and I managed to get one of the three wins. I think we ended up playing about three rounds.
I also spent a lot of time car shopping this week. On Monday, I drove up to Taylorsville because I had a few promising cars to look at in the area. I borrowed a Tesla, and Isaac and Gloria came with me to check out a couple of them.
Caleb’s new car
Then on Friday, I went back to Taylorsville, and Gloria and I looked at another car. I decided this one was good enough to buy! It's a gray 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, and I feel like it was definitely worth the purchase. It's a really nice car.
Friday night was poker night! By the end of the night, I came out on top, so that felt good. I'm currently only $27 down all-time, so I'm slowly making my way back.
After work on Saturday, I drove back up to Taylorsville with a friend to finalize the purchase and bring the car home. It feels so good to finally have it.
Cougar and Emmett playing piano
Monte
To start off, let’s talk about the family we found a couple weeks ago on my birthday. They are so awesome! They all came to the activity on Thursday and absolutely loved it. We played some team-building games with the branch so they could get to know the members, and I feel like it worked out really well.
Last Sunday, they all came to church! Later that day, they invited us over for dinner, and we had some crazy good tamales. We chatted with them for a bit and then shared a spiritual message. You know they're locked in when they start talking about their upcoming baptism before you even bring it up in the conversation.
Now we also had some difficulties last week. In our branch, there was a bit of a gossip problem. Normally, it isn't our place as missionaries to intervene, but when the gossip is about our family with baptismal dates, then it becomes our problem. In the end, we were able to get everything settled and calm...for the most part.
Family baptism
And this week our family that we have been teaching—Dorca, Esmeralda, Daniel, and Mateo—all got baptized! I'm so proud of them. There was a pretty funny story behind their baptism, though.
We got to the church extra early to fill up the font, but the water at the church stopped working. There truly is opposition in all things, and Satan was definitely throwing everything he had at us at the last minute.
However, about 10 minutes before the baptismal service started, a member named Hermano Carlos Lozano (the Mexican version of Dad) called the firefighters and promised them breakfast the next day if they would come and use their fire hose to fill the font, and it worked! They came, and within three minutes the font was full and we were ready to go. The service was amazing, and I was able to baptize Mateo.
Monte with Elder Torres
This week we also received transfer news. Sadly, I will be leaving José MarÃa Morelos. I'll be going back to Cancún, this time to a section called Urbi. I'm really sad about leaving, but God has a plan for me, and I'll go wherever He wants me to go.
The work is progressing, and now I'm needed elsewhere. I can't wait to one day come back and visit the people here. This truly has been an amazing area. Thank you, José MarÃa Morelos, for everything, and thank you, Elder Torres, for another amazing transfer.
I love you all, and I hope you can look for the moments of opposition in your lives and recognize that it is Satan trying to deter you from reaching your true divine potential.
Fitting trailer into three-car garage
Dad / Arkin
Since we moved, I have had a never-ending list of to-do items. Over the past couple weeks I finally crossed off the last couple big projects.
Several weeks ago, we took our stinky old porch potty to the dump, since I had a better plan in mind. Quinn helped me with the multi-day project where we constructed a new porch potty.
We used the large outside kennel we have, put a drainable, artificial turf floor in it, and set the whole thing in the gravel side yard of the new house. We built an overhead sprinkler system for automatic cleaning. We also included an attached water bowl that automatically refills itself.
Quinn and Dad next to new porch potty
Because the water valve is a smart valve (wifi enabled) we can set a time to automatically rinse the porch potty several times a day, and the water bowl never needs refilling. The overhead shade also means that we can use the cleaned kennel as a hangout for dogs when we need to. Fancy!
And for the last large project on the list, I finally organized the Dog Room closet, making sure there was a charging area for our electronic tools. Because I always seem to make projects bigger as they go along, I also reorganized our storage tubs, and now we have 16 little tubs to organize all our doggie gear!
Newly organized Dog Room closet