8 January 2023
VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 486
Endia’s children book about Artie Gardner
When I was a teenager I had an idea at a Roots tech conference I went to for family history. I thought it would be really cool to have children’s books that are written and illustrated based on family history stories. I knew that was something I wanted to do some day.
Caleb wrote an email about a month ago about family history and he inspired me to sit down and get it done. I had the first draft of a story for my great-grandma, Artie Mae Sutton, and I sat down and re-wrote the story to make it a little more creative. Then I went and illustrated it and finished it just before Christmas.
I ordered a few hard copies and they came this week! Cougar and I had most of the family over for dinner and games and Mom read the story to us. It is only part one of three, but I’m excited to get more done and start on new stories!
Family members in car
The branch here in Los Sauces is super small. When we got here we were told that there were like five active members. We were told this area was super difficult, for a few reasons, but this week has been amazing!
I'm with Elder Miranda again, and it's been super fun, we've made a lot of jokes, and we're both motivated to get out and teach, serve, and all that.
We're already working with some pretty amazing people, there's this kid named Kevin that wants to get baptized so we're getting ready for the 21st!
Our tiny branch is already growing as well! We've had a Noche de Hogar and that was a ton of fun, and on Sunday we gave our testimonies and thought the class, so I think we were able to invite the spirit and get people excited!
Caleb, Elder Miranda, Kevin and mom
This past week, Mom and I have been training a golden retriever puppy named Rue, and she was so cute. I was helping with puppy duty and it was really hard because she would have a lot of accidents. I had to wake up a lot to take care of it.
It was hard, but then when she was gone it was a lot easier because we were getting ready to go on vacation, and I got ahead in school until we got back. I like helping Mom with the dogs.
Mom and Dad
This was the last week before school, and having the full three weeks off has been really nice! I got my eye appointment rescheduled this week and finally got new contacts. Those of you that didn't know, I've only needed contact lenses in my left eye for the past 3 and a half years, and now my right eye is off just enough that I now have contacts in both eyes.
It's always super weird after you get a new prescription. I walked out of the America's Best and the world was in HD! The car lights and road signs were all so clear and everything looked so good! Those of you who have never needed any correction in your eyes don't understand, but the rest of you get it.
Also this week, I decided to get a rec center pass since I won't be taking any basketball classes this semester. In fact I'm only doing six credits this semester so I'm only a half-time student.
My hope is to save up as much as I can so I can avoid taking out any real loans for school. I think if I work a lot this semester and through the summer, I'll be able to pay for everything. I've just got to be a bit more disciplined in my spending habits.
Charlie
Disneyland is next week! I'm so excited. It definitely doesn't feel like its been a year since we last went, but it has, and I am as ready as I'll every be for it. I'm super sad cause Indiana Jones is closed, but there are plenty of other rides that we can go on.
Not much has happened this week other than the anticipation of going. I mean I've been trying to get my classes ahead, so I don't fall crazy behind while we are on vacation, but thats pretty much it.
Gloria making friendship bracelet
This week school started back up. I was happy to start again so I could finish up early. I have enjoyable classes this semester. I have five electives and three main courses. I have also been trying to get ahead for Disneyland, which is only a few weeks away. Most of them are good until we come back.
Wrestling practice has been a bit harder on us because we have really big games coming up in a few weeks.
Dad also did a fun activity with me one night. He brought home a project that was a friendship bracelet maker, and we both made a friendship bracelet. He talked a little about experiences he had in the past, and about what it means to be a true friend.
Joanna sleeping
Well I'm pretty excited about going to Disneyland, and I've gotten all of my beads for practicing Spanish. Dad has been helping us since we are getting close to the trip by doing more Fab-Fab-Vocab games where we turn over tiles on the screen and then have to say what the Spanish word means in English. If we can also use the word in a Spanish sentence, we get double points.
To be ready for the trip next week, I also just need to get all caught up in school, (especially math, which isn't too hard), and then I'll be set.
Israel
It's not just Disneyland that I'm excited for, it's the drive there, and hotels that I'm also excited for! I love the beds, and the free breakfasts, and you you can eat as much food as you want during breakfast!
Also the walk to Disneyland is pretty fun. However, I can't say that it's fun on the way back. The way back is tough, cause you've been walking all day and screaming all day, and now you have to walk back to the hotel on your sore drained and probably wet feet. Overall, I'm stoked to go to Disneyland!
Family playing FabFab Vocab
I am trying to get caught up in school for Disneyland and I can't wait. Science is very easy for me because It is easy to learn. Social studies is a little harder and math is a breeze. ELA is hard for me but I was able to get caught up.
In primary we learned about Jesus’ sacrifice, what he did for us, and why he died for us. We also learned that we should honor our mother and father.
Mable and Misha snuggling