14 August 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 465
Ellie at the beach
Brooke
My little sister is going to Utah soon for college, so we decided to have a quick little getaway as a last hurrah before she leaves. We decided to go to Charleston, SC. Because of work, Braden wasn’t able to join us. We sure missed him, but still managed to have a little fun without him.
We spent an afternoon at the beach. Ellie usually is very scared of the waves and hates when the sand sticks to her feet. But this time, she loved it all! We sat in the water and Ellie would squeal with laughter when a wave would splash us. It was so fun to see her enjoy the beach and play in the water!
The next day, we did some exploring around town. We went to the Angel Oak Tree, which is said to be one of the oldest trees east of the Mississippi River. Ellie loved to give the branches hugs and kisses. We had a fun time on our little trip, but Ellie and I were happy to see Braden when we got home!
Brooke and Ellie in Charleston
Monte
Happy Birthday Dad! I love you so much, and appreciate everything that you do for me, and the family. It is so amazing to have a loving father, and protector in my family. You are everything that I want to be and more. I admire the respect you give others, and the hard work that you do. Thank you, Dad!
Kai
I got sick this week, so I didn’t do much except sit on Mom’s bed and watch Clone Wars. I love Clone Wars. We also watched all of the Tobey McGuire Spidermans. Other than that, this week was pretty tough due to sickness. Cough! Cough!
Caleb standing next to a horse
Caleb
On Tuesday we got sad news that our friend Andrés, that was going to be baptized, got COVID. Sadly, he didn't get baptized this week.
But we found an awesome family! It's a family of four. Two parents and two girls. The youngest daughter is four years old, and older daughter is nine. We had an awesome visit with them, and then had some "once" with then afterwards. "Once" is a dinner, but it's just a small snack of tea, pansito, cheese, etc. It was really awesome.
Also, on a cool and miraculous note I found someone to teach through my personal Facebook account! Super awesome.
Guys, remember to do the little things. This church is true! God exists. Jesus is real, and he came to this earth. Joseph Smith was a prophet, and we have twelve apostles and a prophet on the earth right now!
We can pray directly to God, the being that made the universe, who is your father. He loves you, and He will listen and answer! He has all wisdom and an amazing plan for each and every one of us. Please just stick with Him! I love you all!
Also, Happy Birthday Dad! I didn't get to say so when I was on the call this week, but I wanted to make sure that I had the chance. I just want to say that you are an amazing Dad! I love you so much, and I miss you a lot. Your example helps me every day and you're exactly the type of person that I want to grow up to be like. I miss you a ton! Happy 51st birthday!
Caleb with other missionaries
Isaac
School just started up and I'm really liking it so far. I don't really like math or chemistry. I am thinking of getting chemistry changed for a different class, but I am really liking American Sign Language. This is the second year I'm taking it and I am taking ASL 2.
Gloria, Veidi, and I are also making plans to set up a popcorn stand to sell popcorn and drinks. We haven't started yet, but we are getting close. I can't wait for the popcorn stand to open up!
I am also going to audition for the Orem Hale Center Theater’s production of A Christmas Carol. I am really hoping to get it because it is a community theater and it's easier to get into the Orem theater instead of the main theater. I am really hoping I get the part.
Joanna helping make cookies
Gloria
Since school started, I have gotten ahead for a few weeks. I really enjoy doing school. For electives I am taking character ed, computer programming and fitness for life. I really enjoy them!
Monte and I went to Aiden's house, and it was really funny watching them play on the VR. Also, some of us went to the Zimmerman’s to hang out and it was really fun. We watched a lot of Try Not to Laugh and played games. Monte, Isaac, Bridger, Sophie. Addy and I went to Lagoon, and it was really fun hanging out.
I also gave a talk on Sunday, and I was really nervous and scared because I have never given on before. Dad helped me prepare it on Saturday, and checked it for me on Sunday, and Mom and Dad said I did a really good job. Dad liked that I shared scriptures and quotes, an example, and a personal experience, just like he had taught me.
Historical photo of Veidi and Gloria hiking
Veidi
This week was Dad's birthday and Me, Monte, and Issac were going to make a mini vending machine out of cardboard for his present, but it did not work out because the part where we put the granola bar in it did not slide like it needed to be able to slide because so the granola bars needed to fall. Instead, we gave him a box of granola bars.
Also, instead of going to Youth night this week we went to the Zimmerman’s. It was fun because we did lots of games, and watched Try Not to Laugh, and we talked and had a devotional.
Scenery in Caleb’s area in Chile
Mom / Jenny
I’ve had a house full of pups this week. Let’s start with our three dogs—Misha, Mable, and Max. Next, we’ll add in Lady, who is actually one of Mable’s puppies. We are fostering her for another month until she leaves for Hawaii, where her new owners live.
By the way, in case I never explained this before, we are in a guardian program with Mable. We co-own her with a professional breeder until Mable has had four litters of puppies, and then the breeders transfer full ownership over to us.
Okay, back to the doggy count. Next, add in the Milch’s two puppies—Libby and Gunther. As a service to one of our ministering families (and close friends), I have been training these two rambunctious puppies, and with Shauri Milch recovering from hip surgery, we have taken them in full-time for a few weeks. In case you lost count, that puts us at six.
Braden’s home office
And now, just for fun, let’s add in that Nate and Natalie had a family reunion to attend up in Idaho for a long weekend, so we will need to add in Leo, Bella, Hazel, Moo-moo and Cali, at least for a few days this past week.
The grand total? 11 dogs in our house! Veidi said we should all be assigned a dog since there are 11 kiddos at home and 11 dogs. Let’s just say that it took a good while to feed and potty all those pups.
Also, Christian, Vanessa, and Alex have kind of stagnated. They are spending more and more time just hanging out in their room, so Arkin and I felt like maybe a change of pace might help. Nate and Natalie are remodeling their house, so we sent Christian, Vanessa, and Alex to help them for the next few weeks.
They can help with the dogs, chickens, and children, and Christian will also be a big help for Nate with the remodel. From what I’ve seen so far, their house is going to be amazing!
Historical photo of Troy and Quinn
Ashton
I actually had a full day off on Tuesday which was nice, since I usually work every day and have two half days instead of one full day off. This week I also moved out of the apartment complex I’ve lived at for the past year, and actually moved in with Cougar for a couple weeks. Since BYU housing always ends early, and contract’s usually start right before school, there is a “homeless” week which sometimes lasts for a couple weeks in my case. So, I’m excited to get to know Cougar some more, and grateful I get to stay relatively close to Provo.
Caleb and Elder Jones
Dad / Arkin
My children at home know that I am not eating desserts anymore, and they were kind enough to give me a unique birthday “cake”—a box of granola bars (okay so granola bars are kind of like a dessert, but in my strange set of rules, they are allowed). Thank you, chillies! Endia, London, and Ashton also paid me a surprise visit, and brought yogurt, fresh fruits, and granola cereal. Way more delicious than normal cake!
However, not everything was great about my birthday. Allow me to tell my sob story—to plead my case, if you will. First, some background. In 2020, I received a couple speeding tickets. Endia and London, do you remember coming back from Bryce Canyon when I rescued you from car problems? Anyway, because of this, I already had a few points on my driving record.
Then in May, when we were desperately trying not to run out of power in the Tesla during our Fathers and Sons trip, I was so focused on battery usage that I made a wrong turn, and thought I was on the highway when I was actually on a residential street. 42 mph in a 30mph zone. Ticket #1. I wasn’t even aware that I was speeding. Good excuse, right?
Then, just a couple weeks later, I was heading out of our neighborhood at about 7:00am. Everything was peaceful and quiet. I arrived at the intersection of Wakefield and Laurel Canyon, and turned left. Motorcycle officer behind me… lights…not even sure what happened…well below the speed limit. A rolling stop? On a deserted street? Ticket #2.
Dad’s co-workers in AtlasRTX meeting
A week or two later I got a letter in the mail informing me that I had 170 points against my driving record! At 200 points, they can suspend your license. Visions of Jenny’s frustration at having to drive me 140 miles each day to and from work haunted me, and so I cracked down, and began to be very careful.
And that brings me back to my birthday. There I was, minding my own business…carefully driving the speed limit on slower streets, and no more than 5 mph over on the highways. As I headed eastbound on I-80 towards Park City, I somehow forgot to slow down as I entered a construction zone—a zone I pass through twice a day! Motorcycle police officer…lights… panicked moan from Arkin. 73 mph in a 55 mph zone (only 3 mph over what the speed limit had been just a mile earlier). Ticket #3.
Total points? 225! Bottom line? I will be attending a four-hour defensive driving course on Monday so I can get my points back under 200, because if I get my license suspended, Jenny is going to make me walk!
Yarima and Selvin’s engagement photo