27 March 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 445
Isaac and Braden in North Carolina
Braden
The big news from this week is that we had Isaac come out to join Vanessa and the rest of us here in North Carolina. I picked him up from the airport on Tuesday and it has been awesome having him here!
Brooke and I have been having a lot of fun with him and Vanessa. It also has been very nice to have two teenagers available to help with Ellie when needed. They both have been so great!
A couple months ago, we decided to buy tickets for when the Jazz came to Charlotte to play the Hornets. This week was finally the day, so we drove down to Charlotte for the game. We didn’t realize how good our seats were until we were actually there. The Jazz tunnel was right next to us, so we saw them up close when they came out for the game.
It ended up being a close game, but unfortunately the Jazz lost by six. It is definitely a weird experience being a fan of the visiting team, and not a super fun one when they lose. We still had a fun date night, despite the Jazz letting us down.
Jazz game in Charlotte
Endia
At work I stepped down from my supervisor position a little while ago to give myself a break and try to get on a better schedule where I could work the morning shift and not be up so late all the time.
Switching to a more regular schedule has been amazing for me and I feel so much happier and healthier. I have more time every day to make better meals, exercise, do my scripture study, and actually spend time with people!
This week one of the morning supervisors switched positions, so I applied, and I am going to be a supervisor again (better pay and more fun responsibilities), but I will still be on an awesome schedule. I’m excited!
Christian with JJ at the Maui airport
With COVID really settling down for now, the temples are available more often, so I got to go this week for the first time in a little while, and it was exactly what I needed. I love to be in the temple and learn so much. It is a reminder to me of the path I have covenanted to walk and the place that it will bring me if I stay true!
On Saturday, one my friend Cougar invited me to go play sand volleyball with some of his friends, since it was such a nice day. The weather was so nice, and when I showed up it turns out I actually used to work with one of Cougar’s friends at New Haven for a little while. We played for most of the afternoon and into the evening, and it was so much fun!
Family at Emma’s soccer game
Troy
This week Isaac was getting to leave home and go to North Carolina. And now that he is gone it feels very different without him. I also did school and played outside, which was very fun.
Veidi
Me, Gloria, Monte, Kai, and Dad went to go and see One for the Pot. I didn't think it would be that funny, but it actually was really funny! They got random people from the audience and told them to do random things. One woman got picked and they throw a pie at her face!
London
I have been worried recently about graduation coming up because I was notified last minute that I’m apparently missing a credit. They told me that I would have to take a class over the summer and wouldn’t officially get my diploma until August.
Well after meeting with several people, I finally got in with my advisor this week who recognized that the error was on their end and not mine. She was able to make a substitution, which means I will be completely done with school in April! It feels so weird to be so close to graduating, but I’m even more excited now that I will actually be done in about a month!
Misha and Mable in back of van
Ashton
We found out that those of us working on a pilot curriculum for the missionaries will have one more district to try new activities. It’s exciting and reassuring to hear that we get another chance to go at it, since it can be kind of hard to get a good grasp on the activities and models only doing it one time through.
Also, I applied for a supervisor position at the MTC, and got a call back for an interview, and I’ll have that next week. I feel like normally I would be pretty nervous for something like this, but honestly, I am feeling less nervous about it.
I hope to stay at the MTC as long as I can, and this would be a potential next step in making that happen. The best part about applying for other positions at the MTC is that even if it doesn’t work out, I still absolutely love the position I have right now!
On Saturday, I went on a date with Alexis, a friend from work. It was really fun, and we went to see the new movie Uncharted. I just watched that with London and Endia last week, but it was definitely good enough to watch again!
Caleb and Elder Emery with a member
Caleb
Hello everyone! Another week here at work! I'm still working, learning, and growing every day. I think I'll just share a bit of my testimony this week. I'll start by saying that there are no words to describe how much I want to say these things, and for all of you to know and feel the same as I do.
I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God! It has all the answers to all our struggles in this life. It's amazing. I really know without a doubt that a boy of 18 years of age (that’s how old he was when he translated the Book of Mormon), with hardly any education, could have written that book.
The accounts and the perspectives that the prophets have are always right on. They could have only known and had that wisdom if they had lived it themselves, and they did! I'm grateful to learn of their amazing lives and examples.
Elder Emery and Caleb eating
More importantly than that is that we can listen and read the words of the God of the universe—the God who created all life, all beauty, us, and this plan for us to have what He has!
I can't explain the joy that He has given me, and I want everyone that reads this to at least someday feel as much joy and know as much as I know that this true!
I'll try to keep this short so everyone can read this, but I know that the Book of Mormon is the word or God, and that Joseph Smith was the prophet that restored the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ, and most importantly that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He has the power to help us improve and have eternal happiness that won't die with the world!
Caleb, Elder Emery, and member
I'm grateful that I was born into this knowledge and light! I know that anyone who has had the opportunity to accept and live this knowledge and light will need to find out if the gospel is true or if it's false. Find out for yourself, and don't just let this light and knowledge passively leave you!
So here is the invitation! If you haven't already read all the Book of Mormon and then prayed to know if it is true, just do it, but be ready to take the answer that God will give you. The answer will come in a different way for everyone, because God knows each of you individually and perfectly!
I hope all of you will take on my invitation and challenge. I promise that you will never regret reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover, and praying to know if it is true! This is the only way to have eternal happiness.
I hope all of you will chose the happier and easier way. Opposition will come and try to make you think otherwise, but don't let it stop you!
Children eating in back yard
Kai
Dad, Monte, Gloria, Veidi and I went to a play on Wednesday, but first Dad took us to one of his favorite restaurants called Village Baker. He ordered us his favorite meal for us—BLT sandwiches and something called Special K bars (he couldn’t eat that because he doesn’t eat desserts anymore).
The play was called One for the Pot. It was about a guy that was going to get a lot of money because he was the only living relative, but then his long-lost twin shows up, and everything gets really complicated. In the end there happens to be quite a few relatives that show up!
Christian in front of the Iao Needle
Christian
On Saturday Tommy, JJ and I went to go play airsoft at this forest place that was like an hour away. When we got there, we had to hike up a hill for about 30 or 40 minutes. Tommy went ahead of me and JJ so that he could get the guns ready while JJ and I took more breaks than Tommy did.
We walked for a while and then sort of got lost but then we knew where we we’re going. When we finally made it, we played where there was one person defending while the two other people were attacking the defender. It was really fun.
About an hour later it started to rain so we played for 30 more minutes in the rain and then started to leave. On the way back we had to carry all the guns, which was kind of hard because they were a little heavy and it was about a 30-minute walk. We also took some shortcuts to get down the hill faster.
In the rain it was a lot harder with guns in our hands. I knew someone would probably slip down one shortcut, and JJ slipped twice pretty hard. The first time he slipped “peacefully,” as he called it, but the second time he almost went into a ditch with a lot of thorn bushes. He was okay, I guess, because we all started laughing about it. Overall, it was really fun playing airsoft.
Christian, Tommie, and Max in Iao Valley
Vanessa
I have had an awesome time with Braden and Brooke. I am sleeping in Ellie’s room while she is sleeping in Braden and Brooke’s closet. Braden and Brooke went to the movies to go watch Batman, while me and Ellie stayed home and had an awesome time!
Ellie is awesome. I love spending time with her. She always makes me laugh. One show Ellie loves to watch is Lilo and Stitch. I haven’t seen that movie in quite a while, so I also enjoyed watching that with her.
We also go to Brooke’s parents’ house. We have dinner there on Sundays. The food they make is always so good. I love it! They have a dog. Her name is Reese, and she is so cute. She is very much like Misha. She is very calm and loves to chase around her green balls.
Mable and Misha at Emma’s soccer game
Gloria
This week Monte and I hung out with Adien Viehweger. For a few hours we played a game called Phasmophobia on the computer. I also went shopping at Ross to get some pants and Sunday shoes. Later I went online shopping to get some Nike’s.
On Saturday, we went to Emma's soccer game. We also made hamburgers later. Sunday, I was in charge of the lesson for young women’s. I was able to share a few videos and had an activity that got everyone to talk about who they are.
Alex
This week Natalie dropped off Emma, Mackay, Brigham, and Mateo. And they got to sleep over with us during that time. Some people went to the play and watched the performance One for the Pot. Issac, Vanessa, and Christian were gone plus Monte, Veidi, and Kai.
I was the only one home with Mom. We watched Downton Abbey and I took care of the little kids with Mom, and the dogs (Natalie and Nate’s dogs). Mom was happy, and I was too!
Family at Emma’s soccer game
Isaac
A couple of days ago, Mom and Dad said that I was going to fly out to North Carolina with Braden, Brooke, Ellie, and Vanessa. For a while one night I couldn't sleep, because I was too excited, and then when the day came to leave, I had to calm myself down because I was really excited.
We got to the airport and got into the garage, and there was not a single parking spot. We were nervous that we might not be able to make it to the flight on time because.
When we got inside, we had to go through a special line for unaccompanied minors because I was flying by myself. They gave me a wrist band and an envelope saying that I was an unaccompanied Minor. It had all my information on it and who would be picking me up.
After that, we rushed all the way over to security hoping that it wasn't a long line and thankfully it wasn't at all. It took like two minutes to get through the line and through security. After we got to the gate, we sat down waiting for boarding. I hugged mom and said goodbye and one of the flight attendants took me onto the plane and sat me by a window!
Playing Exploding Kittens
When we took off, I definitely felt the butterflies and it was really fun. On the plane I watched a couple of movies, animated on my iPad that Mom let me bring, and had snacks.
At one point on the plane, one of the flight attendants asked me if I would like a snack. I said yes, and he gave me a huge box full of treats! Then I remembered that Mom said I would get a couple extra treats. When we landed, I could feel the butterflies again and it was everything I expected it to be.
When I got off, Braden was waiting there for me, and we drove to the house. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for letting me go on a plane, and letting me see Braden, Brooke, and Ellie. Next week I'll fill you in on the fun stuff we have done!
Eating breakfast a Emma’s game