29 May 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 454
Yarima and Selvin at Grupo Firme concert
Yarima
I have been a fan of a Mexican music group called Grupo Firme for a long while now, and when I found out they were finally coming to the US, I felt the need (more of a want) to go. Selvin and I bought tickets to their first show in Inglewood, California. Two of his friends also bought tickets, so we all went together.
We left two days before the concert and were able to hang out with my grandma. We also went to see Jen and we went to shop at the swap meet. The concert was amazing, and they did a great job. It was such a fun weekend!
Caleb with missionaries and members
Monte
Hooray! I get to use my Lagoon season pass next week. Aiden asked if I could go to Lagoon on Thursday. I am so excited, and I will feel a lot better when I can use my pass and get my money's worth.
We also helped Grandpa Lin and Grandma Sharon move. They are moving to Montana. We helped them pack, and move boxes into the moving truck. It was a lot of work, but it was really fun. I love my grandparents. Speaking of Grandparents, Dad's parents are coming over on Memorial Day, just next week, so I'm excited for that!
Jen’s dog Medusa in sweater
Gloria
This week I have been more social. I have been talking to more people from work and from seminary. On the last day of seminary, I spent time with Aiden, Kade and Jacob from my seminary class.
Our stake will be going on trek in July, so on Wednesday at our youth activity, we learned some dances for trek like square dancing. Only some of us went while the rest went to help Grandpa and Grandma Miller move.
Also, Christian, Monte, Isaac, and I went over to hang out with Kade and Aiden. I really had a good time playing video games and talking to each other.
Ellie at the library
Brooke
This week my mom and I took Ellie to the library. Lately Ellie has been loving books, so she was in heaven when she had an endless supply. It was so fun to watch her go through the books and look at all the pictures.
She especially loved books with animals and would give them each a kiss. We spent a long time there and she went through at least 20 books. Time for us to get a library card!
Endia and Cougar at a waterfall
Endia
So, I’m not quite used to Dad finally being caught up on newsletters, and having them come out on time, so I’ve missed writing the last few weeks! I will just give a recap.
The week before last, New Haven had another camping trip that I got to go on. Working the full three-day camping trip takes up all of my 40 hours so I didn’t have to work the rest of the week.
This meant that I woke up last Monday morning and didn’t have any work for a couple of days, so I decided to just head up to Idaho to see Cougar!
It was definitely a spontaneous decision, and also a really good one! I also went to do smores with London and Ashton again and we had a ton of fun just laughing with and at each other.
London making smores
I think that is a theme with us because we did the exact same things when we got together and played Bananagrams. I was laughing so hard it hurt at times. Let’s just say that spelling isn’t any of our strong suits!
I went over a few times to help Grandma and Grandpa get ready to move, and that was always a fun experience. I am excited for them, but saying goodbye is definitely never easy.
I also went up to Idaho again over Memorial Day weekend after a really long week at work, where I had to cover for my supervisor. I stayed with Cougar’s aunt and uncle, and they were really nice, amazing people! We also went on a drive to see one of my favorite waterfalls ever, and we had such fun!
Christian with Jen’s baby, Israel
Vanessa
We worked a Rio Tinto game, and it was alright. Mine and Gloria’s job was giving people their boxes to put their food in, and it was really easy. This game was definitely a lot better than Jazz games because I didn't have to go back and forth with food like the Jazz games.
One of the times we couldn't talk to the people because there was such a loud band it was really cool. These games are usually really easy and fun, but you get tired after a long game.
Joanna and Troy waiting at church
Isaac
This week was so fun. For our activity on Wednesday, we did square dancing in preparation for Trek. We combined with three other wards and it was super fun. We did square dancing and line dancing. We learned how to do one square dance and two line dances.
I really liked the line dancing. It is just super fun to do it while everyone else is doing the same thing too. Square dancing is also really fun, and I do like it, it’s just that I like line dancing a little bit better. I can't wait for Trek.
Caleb with missionaries and members
Caleb
We painted a member’s bedroom this week. It took two mornings, but was a lot of fun. I also had a fun activity in the bishop’s parents’ home, where we invited recent converts. We had cookies and shared stories, being that I don't have too many, I had a good time listening most of the time.
This week we talked to people in plazas, taught lessons, and talked with some of our friends. We also practiced for our song we had to sing on Sunday. I bore my testimony, and shared a spiritual experience. I feel God's reality renewed in my life.
It's pretty cold, so the only refuge is our small room with our little heater. Also, randomly, the water heater doesn't work too well, so cold showers are something normal, that they aren't as bad as they used to be. But it's just cold—Ha ha!
Caleb waiting with other missionaries
Ashton
This week after not going through the temple for a few weeks, I got to go three different times. It was kind of funny, because they were all completely separately planned groups, but all ended up being this week.
I went on Tuesday with my ward, Wednesday with London, and Friday with some co-workers at the MTC. It was really cool, because on Friday I ran into my missionaries, who had just finished up in a different area of the temple at the same time.
This district that I had this time around was really special. They seem prepared to go out into the field, but not over-confident, or the kind of "just get me out of here" feeling that many missionaries leave the MTC with. It really is a joy to go to work every day when I am teaching them.
Ashton with MTC district
I've been doing good about getting up a lot earlier than normal for most of the break so far, but this week was pretty bad! I got up late so many times. Luckily, I don't have anything I miss in the mornings, but it still feels good to get up earlier.
Also, next week the boys and I will head up for our annual boys retreat, and I'm super excited for that! We're still waiting for Caleb to come home before we resurrect the Lego Star Wars, but it will still be super fun!
Emma and friend at soccer game
Natalie
It’s amazing how fast time goes. Our Emma girl just finished her soccer season and starts kindergarten in August in Pleasant Grove with her mimi. She’s pretty stoked about being around a familiar face and making new friends.
She is a sweet friendly girl and has made some good friends in our neighborhood. Our neighborhood only consists of 100 homes so kids out where we live are limited. The elementary school only has an average of six kids per classroom. Each grade only has one teacher, but it’s a nice little community.
We always seem to have at least 8 to 10 kids over at the house, so we keep busy. I’m glad I never learned to cook for a small family, because the neighbor kids like to eat, and I’m used to cooking for 14 kids, thanks to Mom and Dad!
Hungry neighborhood children eating
Dad / Arkin
Occasionally at work, I check in on LinkedIn to keep up with messages. I probably only visit LinkedIn once a week or so, so I must miss hundreds or even thousands of posts that pass through my feed unread. For that reason, I consider it a small miracle that this past week I happened to spot the following post from an old friend I knew from back in the early days of Lumin, almost 20 years ago.
Josh Steimle’s company, MWI, designed the Connect magazine website for us in our first year as a company. As I remember, the cost of that website was about $13,000. And now, with that background, on to his post…
Children waiting at church