10 November 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 581
Celebrating after BYU win
BYU Football has been having an amazing season. I’ve had Ashton and Caleb over to our place for a few games and decided to open up the invitation to all adult siblings for the BYU vs Utah game this week in Salt Lake City.
We ended up having all the BYU-Provo alumni and current BYU students over to our house for the game. The rivalry game is always a weird one. No matter how much higher ranked one team is than the other, it is always a close one. That was for sure the case this time.
I’ll be honest, it was a hard watch for about 80% of the time, but BYU ended up kicking the game winning field goal with three seconds left to win it!
I filmed our reaction to the end of the game and edited it together with the game video and I’m pretty sure it’ll go down as a family classic that we’ll look back on for years to come. BYU is now 9-0 for just the fifth time ever, and ranked 8th in the nation after the game. Go Cougs!
BYU FOOTBALL GAME VIDEO
To view a YouTube video of the Hill children watching the BYU vs U of U game, click here.
Owen
This week was kind of a big deal for me. On Sunday, I received the Melchizedek Priesthood and was ordained to the office of an elder. It was a very spiritual moment for me, and a very important one at that.
Then I was able to use my oil vial that I received when I turned 18, and I consecrated my own oil. That oil can now be used to give blessings.
I know that I have the power and authority to exercise some of God's power here on earth, and I will use that power to help others come unto Christ.
The next temple visit after my ordination, we visited the Taylorsville Temple. Isaac baptized, and I performed the confirmations!
First time Monte performed confirmations
I had to work six times this week—a total of about 30 hours! I have been really tired. On Monday I worked 12 hours, so 3 shifts. It was a super long day from 6:00am to 6:00pm. They needed an extra person so I stayed. I really do enjoy working. It's a fun environment, and I love the people I'm serving.
On Tuesday I went and voted for the first time. I went with Dad, Monte, and Caleb, and we voted at the Bingham Creek Library. I really have been paying more attention to this election.
I also ordered my Apple Watch. I'm am so excited to be able to have my own privacy. On Friday Riley came over and we started to watch Star Wars. I really don't know anything about it, so Monte was there to explain some of the scenes.
Isaac helping Gloria set up her watch
This week, I've been deciding on whether or not I should buy new ear buds, since my last two broke, and I've been having to borrow other people’s when I'm wanting to use some.
I've been interested in buying Apple Airpods for some time. I looked at the prices, and they are a little too expensive for my price range, but luckily, since we have Walmart+, we get early Black Friday deals, so I bought them this week. They were originally $170, but I got them for $94, which was really nice, and they work really good too!
Owen with ultrasound of new baby
Owen is going to be a big brother! We had our first appointment and got to see our little gummy bear baby and hear the heart beat!
I also just finished my first shift at my new job helping Aunt Rebecca’s mom Dorothy. Cougar and I moved in with Dorothy and live in her basement, and for half of the month I help take care of her. We are adjusting to the change and are excited for this opportunity. Life is a bit crazy for us right now!
Recently I’ve been training for my new job as a sweeper at Falcon Ridge, following in the footsteps of so many before me. Ashton, Luis, Caleb, Monte, Vanessa, Gloria, and Isaac have all worked as Falcon Ridge sweepers. I guess janitorial work is one of the family businesses!
The training has been going great! I’m so glad to finally have a job!
Cougar, Owen, and Endia
School has been pretty great. I have finished three classes one month early, and now I just have to get 40 hours and finish math, which has 18 assignments left. I already have 35 hours, and I am going to try to get two assignments done every day.
It has been really relaxing because I get done with school at about lunch time. This has given me time to think about how to ask Monte if he could either teach me how to do a new project, or do it himself. I told Caleb that I would 3D print soldiers, ships, and tanks for our game that we made up with Quinn.
Our game is called “War.” We have to win by world dominance. Things are going pretty bad right now, because me and Quinn were in an alliance. Then Quinn betrayed me and tried to attack me, but I snuffed him out, and he lost the upper hand on me. Now, instead of using Nerf bullets to shoot at, we will be able to shoot at little soldiers instead.
Children playing Catan
On Saturday we all helped with dogs, because we were getting stuff ready for Mom’s dog client in the morning, and later in the day we had two more dog clients.
Troy and me did such a good job helping that Dad said he would get us a treat. Then, after he found jobs for Isaac, Kai, and Monte (they weren’t helping with Troy and me), Dad said that he would get ice cream for everybody once they did their assignments.
For lunch Veidi and Gloria made a delicious lunch! We had biscuits and Sloppy Joes. Veidi came up with the idea using only food storage. Then Troy told Dad he would pay for treats for the family, and Dad got them from Walmart.
Then Troy started a movie night, and we watched Hunt for Red October. I had a great night and I was able to stay up for the whole movie.
London, Keaton visit Kesley in California
I just got back from a couple of really fun trips. The first one was a little visit to see my friend Kesley in California. She's getting a PhD at Stanford, and she's been there for over a year. I kept telling her that I needed to come visit, but somehow hadn't made it out there yet.
I decided it was finally time, so I planned with her husband so that I could surprise her. Keaton came with me, and we were actually able to surprise her. She had no clue we were coming.
Kesley and Carson took us to see the Golden Gate Bridge and explore a bit of San Francisco, and they also showed us around campus. It was a pretty quick trip, but so fun to get to spend some time with Kesley again.
Keaton and London at Golden Gate
I had one day in between that trip and my next one. Hannah and Heidi have been wanting to show me their hometown in Maryland for a while, and they planned a spontaneous trip out there, so I decided I'd join them.
We explored their little hometown, and it honestly felt like we were in a Hallmark movie. Their brother Adam also took us golfing at the course where he works. It was actually the first time I have ever held a golf club—not even mini golfing!
We couldn't have gone at a more perfect time because the fall colors were absolutely beautiful. I'm just grateful to have such incredible friends, and I loved being able to spend time with them!
London, Hannah, Heidi in Maryland
For our youth activity, we did cake decorating. We split up into different groups. They gave us two cakes, so my group got the Book of Mormon, and the younger kids made a missionary cake.
Abby put the food coloring on the cake, and then put frosting on top and tried to mix it. It did not work. She did not know how to mix it properly, so I got a plate, took the frosting off the cake, got the food coloring and started to mix it on the plate. Then I handed it to her and she was impressed!
I am grateful for the experience I have had in cooking, and all the tips I have learned about how to make things. Otherwise I would not have been able to make blue frosting.
London golfing in Maryland
Troy's group won, and we had a fun time doing the activity. We ended the activity pretty early, so they opened the game closet, and me, Taylor, and Nash played basketball. It had been a while since I had played basketball, so getting back into the routine was fun. I forgot how fun basketball is.
Now, when it is nice outside, or even when we are going to stake sports, I practice my shooting. When I went with Monte and Isaac, I was practicing, and I made five three-pointers. I felt so proud, and I have gained more confidence that I can make the shots.
Hannah, London, Heidi
I have a special memory. About 12 years ago, I took Caleb out to lunch at a place in Pleasant Grove called The Purple Turtle. I can’t remember why we were there. I know I took a photo of the two of us outside the restaurant, but I can’t find the photo.
This past week, Caleb was visiting home for Election Day, and we had to grab something from Provo. On our way back, I recalled this special memory, and asked Caleb if he would like some lunch. Wanna guess where we ate?
I love you Caleb!
Dad and Caleb at the Purple Turtle