2 March 2025
VOLUME 13 – NUMBER 597
Ashton with his MTC district
Well, I sent off my district of missionaries this week. I am so curious to see how they do out in the mission field. Some seem like they are going to hit the ground running, and I’m a little worried about a couple of the others. It seems like their focus might not be in the right place right now.
At the MTC, I have the opportunity to be on a committee that decides which MTC employees will receive a scholarship each year. It is a really special opportunity to hear their stories see the impact that this can potentially have on their lives.
School is going well so far. I was sick for a little while so I got pretty far behind, but now I feel like I am caught up again.
Playing volleyball with 5th Ward
We were super cleaning the backyard. Kai said, “Mom do you want us cut the bushes?” Mom said yes, so Kai and Troy were cutting and throwing the thorny branches in a pile.
I had many pairs of gloves on so the thorns didn't poke me. Me, Mom, and Veidi were grabbing them, but we couldn't keep up with them. Soon there was a huge pile!
Mom started to sing a song, and told us to sing with her. The song was, “This is the bush that never ends, and it goes on and on my friend. Some people started cutting it not knowing what it was. And they just keep on cutting it forever just because…”
We sang the song, and soon we were done! Because everyone worked so hard in the yard, Mom got us Costa Vida for lunch! But when Isaac found out later that we ate at Costa Vida without him (he was at work), he was mad.
Mom and children/grandchildren
This week Mom did a super clean of the back yard, and when we clean…we clean! Mom had us move the glass tables, pick up leaves from the garden, and pick up every leaf in the yard!
But the best part is that Me and Kai trimmed the thorny bushes that were in the garden. Well, we didn't trim them, we cut them down very deep. Now it now looks beautiful compared to before—they were huge!
Me and Kai thought got pretty recked doing it because we had to reach into the prickly bushes and cut the big branch's off. My job was to move away the branches while Kai reached in and cut the branches.
I was also able to buff the artificial grass with the buffer. By the end of the job we had Costa Vida for lunch.
Ava at family dinner
Last week’s family dinner is always one of my favorite parts of the month. I'm always so grateful when Mom and Dad organize those.
I also went on two dates this week, both of which were from a date box my ward did. I got about seven dates because of this thing, and honestly it's been good for me, but also a little too much— ha ha!
I just went out to eat for one date, and the other date we went to a museum and then got some ice cream afterwards.
Isaac, Kai, and Quinn
I’ve been working a lot this week, which is really hard, but the good side is that the more I work, the more money I earn, and it is the best feeling when a paycheck comes in. One thing that helps with the long hours is that Mom agreed to take me to lunch once a week.
I’ve been saving a lot recently, so I can have enough money to start college this summer, and also for my mission.
Work has been going really well so far. I’ve been able to set aside more than half my paycheck into savings, and that still leaves me with a good amount to spend every paycheck, which is also really nice!
Gloria and Riley driving to prom
This week I have been able to work lots. As I been working a lot more, I’m getting behind in school. Time is flying fast and graduation is only a few more months away. I really do enjoy getting more hours, but by the end of the day it’s always exhausting.
I have also been preparing for prom. I bought a prom dress a few weeks ago, but it needed some fixing. It was a nice white dress with a nice puffy bottom. Mom helped me give it a few fixes and it turned out to be good. Thank you, Mom, for helping me do that!
Once Saturday came Riley came and got me. We headed to the aquarium and met the rest of the group for the day date. The group was a lot of fun. but it could have been a better if they planned it good and kept everyone in communication.
Gloria and Riley’s prom picture
We stayed there for about two hours. My favorite part of that was watching how fast the penguins swim. After that, we went to Noodle & Company. The day date was not long because some of the group had stuff going on. Riley and I decided to make it longer and we watched a movie.
Monte took our photos, and while taking them, someone said congratulations to us. I’m over here wearing a white dress with Riley in a suit. Even at the dance, people kept thinking we got married, and I just kept saying no. After the dance we went to McDonalds and got some food.
Prom group
This week we had stake conference. With only two days of choir practice, I wasn’t as prepared as I’d hoped I’d be. The choir sounded great, even with me in it.
I also got to sing “Army of Helaman” with other youth/young adults that were either preparing, serving, or had already served a mission. I thought it sounded really good. Time is passing by, and my mission is rapidly approaching!
This week we helped Mom clean up the backyard. It was a lot of work, but the good weather made it was a nice day to do that, and the bushes got cut back, which was nice.
On Sunday it was stake conference. We were there for the first hour, and then we left for Ava's baby blessing. We stayed for sacrament meeting in Braden and Brooke’s ward, and then we went home and took care of the dogs and took naps.
Israel, Ellie, Charlie, James
So I've been working as a sweeper at Falcon Ridge for a few months now, and I love my job! I do wish I could work more hours, especially cause the job is really easy.
Currently I'm a sub, but I'd like to become full-time (10 hours a week) because I don't get to work as much as I'd like. I still work a lot, compared to what a sub should be working, but I'd like to be getting more hours.
Isaac's been reading a book series by Brandon Sanderson that he really likes, and because I just finished Mistborn—another Brandon Sanderson series—he's wanted me to start reading his latest series, Stormlight Archives. Isaac told me that I could listen to them while I worked, and I liked that idea. I tried it out, and I loved it!
The book series is so good that it gives me goosebumps sometimes. That doesn't usually happen when I read books. It's got so much potential, and it's so well crafted. It's a Brandon Sanderson book after all, so what would you expect—ha ha!
Girls dressed up for Ava’s blessing