11 May 2025
VOLUME 13 – NUMBER 607
Jenny and Mable
This Sunday was Mother's Day. We started the day off by waking up early to go to Ashton's ward. He was being set apart as a high priest for his new calling as a high counselor in his stake.
The sacrament meeting was really sweet. They paid tribute to all of the mothers, and we sang specific Mother's Day songs.
Afterwards we went to elders quorum. The class was one of the best Sunday School classes I've been to in a while. The teacher—I think his name was Michael—talked about charity, which is something that I've written about before.
Mom making ñioquis
The lesson was impactful and made me want to do better as a human being, so I can have confidence in the presence of God. We headed home, had cracker barrel for lunch, and took naps.
At about 5:00pm people started coming to the house. Because it was Mother’s Day, London made some delicious, sweet kabobs. Unfortunately for some reason, I couldn't taste anything that Sunday, which was really sad.
After dinner we sat and talked for a while. We talked about jobs and Mom's childhood. After a while, we decided to play some Jackbox.
I had a great weekend! Thank you, London for dinner, and Happy Mother's Day Mom!
Owen wearing Grandpa’s glasses
The girls and I have been loving the weather warming up! Charlie asks me last least once a day, “Slide?” and wants to go to the park.
This week I met up with one of my high school friends and we took our kids to the park and had a picnic. It was fun to catch up with her and see our kids interact with each other.
Braden and I have been training for a half marathon these past couple months. Saturdays are when we have our long runs, and this week we did eight miles.
Brooke and Braden running
It has been pretty challenging physically but also mentally. I have found that if I go into a run with a good attitude, the run seems to go better overall.
I feel very lucky to have Braden as a running buddy, because we can push each other and keep each other accountable. It has made a big difference for me and has even helped me look forward to our long runs.
We’ve made it a new tradition with the girls that after we finish our run, we get lunch, and then go to the car wash. The girls love it, and it has become special family time.
Charlie, Ava, and Ellie
This week I got finished with school! I was afraid that I wasn't going to get done in time, but I did, and now it is a huge relief that I don't have to worry about school,
I also got paid this week, which is good. I got $165, and Dad also helped me get my own debit card!
Me and Quinn have also been playing a lot of gel-blaster wars. I am training him to do better, but the gun he is borrowing is a very bad gun, so I have been trying to get him to buy a gel gun so that it would be an even match.
Then on Friday, Mom let the people who wanted to go to a swim party for UOS students. Me, Quinn, Joanna, Gloria, and Veidi all went. It was very fun. We got to eat dinner, which was Dominos Pizza.
On Saturday, Mom invited all of us to go to a lunch for her work. Me, Quinn, Joanna, and Veidi went. The food was delicious. We had tortillas with beens, rice, pork, salsa, and cookies. We also played on the playground, which was fun.
Troy using new debit card for first time
This weekend, Keaton and I went rappelling down a waterfall! It was both of our first times doing a swift water rappel, and it was both awesome and terrifying.
The first two rappels getting down to the top of the falls were super fun and very easy. The third and final one was pretty intense because the water flow was so strong. I was nervous about losing control, so I took it nice and easy and got pelted by the water for way longer than I would have liked to.
It was also so cold that it kind of takes your breath away. Keaton went for the quick method, since he absolutely hates the cold. He was slipping and sliding, but got down a lot faster than I did.
I felt kind of like a superhero when we reached the bottom, and there were all these people and families there just watching us come down off of this crazy waterfall! Needless to say, it was quite a fun experience and we definitely made some good memories.
Quinn at Utah Foster Care activity
At work, I got to lead my first public tour of the MTC. Normally, I do small tours for guests, but I got the chance to lead a tour for a youth group, and it was really awesome.
There’s something special about being with people that are considering going on missions. Giving a tour of the MTC is a great way to help them to catch a vision.
Later that evening, some of the boys came down to Provo to watch Thunderbolts* with me and Caleb. It was awesome!
On Saturday, my ward challenged the stake basketball champions to our own games, and that was great. We played games to 21 and had the intention to do a best-of-seven series. However, they had to leave early when we were tied at two games a piece.
After Ashton ordained as a high priest
On Sunday, I was sustained as a high priest, and the family at home came down, so Dad could ordain me. It was special to have Mom at my sacrament meeting that day for Mother’s Day. It was a musical meeting where we spent most of the time singing songs.
When, as a congregation, we sang a Primary song that Quinn and Joanna had been practicing in their Primary, and Joanna turned and told Mom she was going to sing it directly to her and that Mom couldn’t sing but had to listen instead. Then she and Quinn stood between the pews and did a little Primary performance of their own, as they sang along with the congregation.
Quinn with Rex
Mother’s Day was coming, and I was so happy. Before Mother’s Day, we went to a lunch for Mom’s work, and before that we went swimming.
Then it was Mother’s Day, and I had a great gift. I got Mom a massage gun, which she asks us to use all the time now. Gloria gave Mom a knife set and a dress, and for London’s present to Mom, she made dinner.
Girls visiting Ashton’s ward
This week has been incredibly challenging for us at work. We lost three beloved residents within a week. I was very close to two of them, while the other one was not as close.
In AL (Assisted Living), I didn’t even know that two of the residents were passing until a few days before. One of the residents was in MC (Memory Care), so I witnessed her suffering. I know that they are in a better place and no longer suffering.
This week was also the last week of school, and I finished a few days before. I finished school with all A’s! I am finished with high school.
On Friday, Mom took Veidi, Troy, Quinn, Joanna, and I on a UOS field trip. It was swimming, and I had a fun time. I met some of the teachers.
Monte and Hazel
Later that night, Riley and I celebrated our two-year anniversary dinner. He made a ham and Alfredo with bell peppers dinner with Monte. That was new to me.
On Saturday at work, I did activities, and I love doing it. There’s a few of us that can do that job. Most of the residents love it, and I when I do activities, I don’t like putting on the TV and just having them watch. I like to help them get up and do things.
When I got home, I deep cleaned my room, and I rearranged the furniture. That took several hours.
Family chatting
On my new bike, I rode up to West Jordan. It was fun. It took about the same amount of time as the train, but I did get sunburned, and it was pretty tiring.
I drove up because Alex Veihweiger just got back from his mission, so we wanted to go out to eat and catch up. It's crazy because when I meet up with my friends we never miss a beat. It always feels like it hasn't been that long since we last got together.
But I think it's even better now, because we all have our own lives that we're leading, so we have more exciting things to talk about and learn from each other. However, messing around or talking about whatever is still fun too. It feels like our friendships run even deeper.
Also, hanging out with my bros and watching Thunderbolts was a highlight for the week! Thanks to Ashton for the tickets and to Braden for the treats! Isaac and Troy joined too, and we all had a good time.
Besides that I enjoyed my work, did some spikeball, went to the temple with my roommates, went to institute, got errands done, and just relaxed!
Dad and Braden at “Christian Lunch”