8 May 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 451
Children helping to weed Aura’s front yard
Aura
Hello, it’s been a while! A brief follow-up on the cancer situation. My cervical cancer has been cleared! Thank you all for the prayers and love!
This week Mom, Dad and the kiddos came over to help conquer my front yard weeds. I didn’t even know where to start!
On Saturday, a friend and I held a yard sale and if I say so myself, it was a success (I made $17). To finish off the week, Itzel and I attended a small graduation for Andi. He completed a seminar on personal growth.
Andi’s seminar graduation
Braden
Brooke and I have a big announcement to make. In November, we are expecting another baby in the family, and it’s going to be a baby girl!
We found out and announced it to immediate family back in March around Ellie’s birthday. Brooke is now just finishing the first trimester and her due date is November 12. We are so excited that our family is growing, and I’m excited I’m going to get even more practice being a girl dad!
Ellie at gender reveal
Endia
This week I finished off my twelve-day working streak on Friday! It wasn’t as hard as I was expecting it to be, but I was definitely excited for the weekend. Isaac did come down again to visit. We got some lunch and then walked up to Bridal Veil Falls for a quick picnic. Then we came back and tried to watch a movie, but we both fell asleep.
On Wednesday, we played some Star Wars Trivial Pursuit (since it was May the 4th). London came over with Hannah later, and we all played some Settlers of Catan, and then ate some pizookies. Then we all did some personality tests and had a lot of fun talking about that, until really late.
Endia and Isaac at Bridal Veil Falls
Before he left on Thursday, Isaac got to go out to dinner with Ashton and I. He also showed off all of his volleyball skills to all the college kids before Dad picked him up.
The weekend was amazing! Cougar came down from Idaho, and we spent a lot of time visiting with family. We met so many people and had such a fun time. I went to some of his siblings’ houses and a family baptism, and everyone was so nice and so fun.
We also went to West Jordan for lunch and played some games at the church. We played volleyball with friends and then saw some more people the next day before going to church, and then Cougar had to head back up to Idaho.
Playing volleyball at a Springville park
Caleb
During some meetings this week, I was just thinking about how amazing it is to be a part of this work. Throughout all the great causes in the world, people have met together in order improve or make something good happen.
Then to think that this gospel and the work of God is the most important of all the great causes! The work with the most influence. The only work with an eternal influence!
It was cool to think about and to feel the truth of it. I know this work is divine and amazing. I'm grateful to be a part of it, twenty-four seven!
We also had lunch with the members every day, and like always the food is delicious. Lots of chicken, rice, sopipias, cakes, ribs, churipan, tomato salads, salads, lasagna, pancita (more or less Chilean bread), etc. So that's a little on the food.
Earlier today for P-Day, we went to the beach. Perfect day to go. It was super wet, rainy, cloudy, and a little cold. No, but really it was pretty awesome. We made some dog friends while we were there as well.
Things are still going great! I’m still trying to improve every day and learn! Life's pretty great!
Caleb at beach near Concepción, Chile
London
Since I'm terrible at thinking of good gifts to give, I decided to make whatever dinner Mom wanted for Mother's Day. It was fun having all the kids help make the potstickers, even though they mostly stuck to the pan when we were cooking them. Everything still turned out great, and I was really glad to be able to make a fun meal for Mom.
I'm so grateful to have such an amazing Mom. She has shown me how to love others unconditionally and is constantly showing me through her actions how to follow Christ. While she's not perfect, I hope to one day be like her in my dedication to Christ and his church.
She amazes me with her knowledge about the most random things, and I know that I can always ask her when I have a question about anything. From gospel topics to medical questions, I'm so glad that she cares enough to help me find what I'm looking for. I love you, Mom!
Family playing games
Christian
On Saturday, we went to Aura's house and pulled weeds from her yard. Some of the Older's went on Thursday and did half of it, and then we all came back On Saturday and did the rest. We also had McDonald’s Saturday morning, which was really good. I enjoyed helping Aura and cleaning her yard.
Alex
We helped make Aura's yard clear from weeds. It looked really hard at first, but we were able to finish it in two days. Also, all of us have been preparing to have a summer break so we're wrapping up school.
On Saturday, we all got to meet Cougar (Endia's boyfriend). While he was over, we went to the gym and had a bunch of fun playing Crazyball and Spikeball!
Mable and Misha resting
Vanessa
Lately we have been helping Aura with her yard. I actually liked doing this because it was fun, and I like pulling out weeds and just helping Aura out. Later, Endia and Cougar came over for lunch on Saturday, and we also played games at the church.
For Mother’s Day, London and everyone made dumplings. They were so good! I loved making them and eating them, and London also made really good chicken with a really good sauce.
Cupcakes made by the children
Gloria
This week I have practice questions on the iPad, so I can prepare for my learners permit test. Vanessa and Veidi also finished school, so now we can do more stuff in our free time. We also went to the store to get Mother’s Day gifts.
Veidi, Troy, Quin, Joanna, and I had a visit at the park with our biological family. I got to talk to some of my family though Facetime, and my aunts were there with their kids. I was able to get caught up with them and stuff they are doing.
On Sunday for Mother’s Day London and Ashton made dinner for Mom. We all helped make pot stickers and they turned out great.
Zuniga-Orozco family visit
Veidi
I finished school, and I am so glad that I did. Now I get to start summer break. It was also Mother’s Day, and London made a good meal.
We also had a visit and I played with my cousins. It was really fun because I have not seen them in a while, and I got to know what they like and what sports they are doing.
Kai
We went to the gym with Endia and Cougar. I had a fun time, we played Crazyball with them. There weren’t many people, but we made it work. I love going to the gym and playing with family and friends.
Quinn
In primary I was asked to give a scripture. And we sang some songs. I remember “Mother I Love You, I do.” Then in class we were talking about Moses, and how he opened the water and the bad guys drowned. Then we got some paper, and I did not have time to color it. The funniest thing was that Alex and Veidi thought I said “be quiet,” but I was telling them to wait!
Endia playing games at the church
Troy
Kai, Vanessa, Veidi, and Gloria got done with school, and I am still doing school with Alex and Monte. On Thursday, Mom and the Olders helped in Aura’s yard to get all of the weeds. Me, Joanna, Kai, and Quin stayed home and cleaned the whole house and then watched a show.
When Dad came back from Provo, where he picked up Isaac, he brought home pizza (and took some more pizza to the people working on Aura’s yard). It was very amazing because we had a picnic in the living room. It was fun because we had Domino's Pizza. We had barbecue and pepperoni pizza with sausage, and it was so good.
Then on Saturday, we all woke up at 6:30am and drove to Aura’s place and cleaned up all of the weeds. On the way, me Isaac, Veidi, Joanna, and Quinn went with Dad. We got McDonald’s breakfast on the way to Aura’s place. When we got there, we all ate it. It was so good. Then, for the rest of the day we either played at the gym, or played in the backyard. Dad also played Stardew Valley with Monte, Veidi, Isaac and Gloria.
Misha
Jen
Hey everyone, it’s been a while! This week we decided to take a trip to Utah. It was such a long ride. Once we got here it was nice to see everyone. While we have been here, we’ve been super busy trying to visit all of our friends and family.
Ian and I added a new member to our family. Her name is Medusa. She is 16 weeks old, and it’s been hard to get her crate trained. I had asked Mom for some tips on how I can start, and she was nice enough to just take her in!
Caleb and others on Preparation Day