22 June 2025
VOLUME 13 – NUMBER 614
After American Fork half marathon/5K
It was so fun to show up after everyone finished the American Fork half marathon/5K race on Saturday. Congrats to Brooke, Braden, Ashton, Caleb for running the half marathon, and for Jenn getting out there and running the 5K!
I love the feeling of race day, and it made me sad that I couldn’t be out there running with everyone. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get some more answers about my kidney stones soon, so I can start doing some of the things I love again.
I thought it was so fun to celebrate Yaretzie’s birthday together. I know I sound so old saying this, but I really can’t believe she’s already 16! Yaretzie, you’ve truly grown into such a mature and beautiful young woman. I’m amazed by your intelligence, and I know your mom is so proud of the person you’re becoming!
Family dinner and party for Yaretzie
The race is over! On Saturday, Braden, Jenn, Brooke, Caleb, and I ran in the 5K and half marathon. It was so fun. Training is brutal (which is why I normally skip that part), but the race is always worth it.
I’m still planning on running a marathon this fall, so I won’t be able to rely on my usual “no training and show up the morning of” strategy anymore. I do enjoy running races, so I think this should become a yearly tradition for me—at least a half marathon.
Classes also finished on Friday, which means I now have an open summer! I’m so excited to make the most of these last couple of months before I start my final two semesters in the fall.
Dad walking dogs with children
Last week it was Yaretzie’s birthday, and we had a big surprise waiting for her. We had confetti cannons ready when she stepped through the door, and she was very surprised!
Everyone was there celebrating her birthday. We played Jackbox and Space Team. The food was really good—my favorite was the pizza that Braden and Brooke brought.
We also played outside. We played basketball and a space-themed game. Then the party ended, and it was very awesome!
Yaretzie blowing out her candles
This week was the stake young men’s campout, and me, Kai, and Isaac were able to go. We left on Thursday morning and came back on Saturday morning.
We started at the stake center to divide into groups. Each group received a different colored bandana. I got a yellow bandana, which meant that every time we did an activity, we would do it with our colored bandana group.
After the meeting, we drove up to Eden. We had to sleep with our wards, and the older kids in our ward wanted all the deacons to sleep in their own tent. So I had to share a pretty small tent with five other deacons—it was rough.
Cougar, Endia, and Emmett in NICU
Once our camp was set up, we went to the main field area to do some get-to-know-you activities. There were four different activities. The first one our group did was a sliding puzzle. One person in our group named Don was very good at sliding puzzles, and we ended up winning.
After that, we rested for a bit and then did a bean bag toss. Then we played a mine game where we couldn't touch the ground but had to get across the field.
Next, we did a game called “Save the Bear.” There was a stuffed bear at the bottom of a tree inside a big circle. We had to use a rope to get to the bear without touching the inside of the circle.
Monthly family dinner
When it was our turn, I was the one who went across the rope, threw the bear, and came back. We completed it in 40 seconds. The fastest time before us was 60 seconds. I did get a pretty bad rope burn, though.
Then we had to go up against the group that got 60 seconds. They improved their time to 23 seconds. We made some changes to our strategy and tried again. This time, we got 22.64 seconds and won!
After that, we had lunch and some free time. We played baseball for a long time until it was time for dinner. Once dinner was over, we had a devotional, which was really good and spiritual. After the devotional, we played Ultimate Frisbee and Capture the Flag, which were really fun. Later that night, we did star tipping—it was my first time—and it was so funny.
Monthly dinner and party for Yaretzie
The next day, we woke up and had breakfast, followed by another devotional, which was also very good. After lunchtime, we had a lot of field activities, and those were super fun too.
That evening, we had dinner and did the iron rod course. It was a very spiritual experience. We each went through the course alone, and when everyone finished, we had a really powerful devotional. I felt the Spirit the whole time.
I had a great time overall, and I feel like I grew spiritually stronger because of it.
Gloria working on sewing service project
This week has been a pretty good week. I worked a couple of days for long hours, but it’s worth it because my last two paychecks have only been about one week’s worth of money, rather than two.
On Wednesday, Riley and I went to the movies and watched the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. I really loved the movie. After the movie, we went back to his house for a little bit, and then he went to the church to play crazy ball.
We also had Natalie and her kids stay over for a few days this week. It was really nice because I love holding Benson and having fun with the kids.
Gloria and Riley
On Thursday, Veidi had the idea to watch the Twilight saga. I forgot how good—but also how cringey—those movies are. That same day, Riley, Veidi, and I went to Highland Glen Park.
We were planning to go with our SYL company, but they ended up not showing up, so I started inviting other people. Caleb came, and Riley brought some of his canoes. We stayed at the lake for a couple of hours.
On Saturday around lunchtime, I met up with my old foster parents, Darby and Martin, for the first time in about six years. I had set it up about a week ago. I had a really good time talking with them and getting to know them more. It was really nice to see them.
Lunch with Darbie and Martin
Yeah, this week was a fun summer week! For my FHE, we had a barbecue at the first counselor's house up in Pleasant Grove. We had pulled pork sandwiches and played some nine square. I've got a fun ward.
I also visited little Emmett—or "Double T" as I like to call him. I'm just kidding; I just made that up, but we'll see if it sticks. I visited Endia, Cougar, and him in the hospital, and then again at their home a few days after they brought him home. He's so precious.
I was honored to be there when Owen first saw him at home. He had just woken up from a nap and, because of his crazy schedule, was in a bit of a “needy” mood, but he lit up whenever he saw Emmett.
Endia and Emmett at family dinner
It was cute to see Endia and Cougar read Owen a book of his choice called Made Just For Me. Owen loved it, and it seemed like a nice bit of closure for him while adjusting to this major change in his life. I love your family, Endia and Cougar—it's so fun and beautiful.
Also this week, I ran a half marathon. I do love running. It’s definitely a big part of who I am. This half marathon was mostly downhill, and I surprised myself by running it in 90 minutes!
During training, I only averaged a seven- to nine-minute mile pace. But during the race, I really pushed myself and ended up averaging 6:53 minutes per mile!
Around the ninth mile, I think I strained my hamstring, which made things more difficult and painful and slowed me down. But I made it through! I surprised myself and had a lot of fun running it.
Girls with Darby (former foster mom)
Camp Helaman was this week, and it started on Thursday. Technically, it wasn’t actually Camp Helaman, because all Aaronic Priesthood holders could attend. It is a new idea in our stake—a stake Aaronic Priesthood camp.
Lots of people were pretty bummed about that. We thought having the deacons there would make the camp less meaningful because of how obnoxious they can be.
By the end of the camp, though, I was grateful the deacons came. It gave me more opportunities to serve, and Troy was able to come. It turned out to be a really amazing experience overall—like a mini FSY. I felt the Spirit so much during the few days we were there.
I got to make new friends and show kindness to those who needed it. Every night, Isaac would take people to go star-tipping because no one knew what it was. I had a pretty fun time watching everyone take turns spinning!
I’m so grateful that I got to go to camp over the weekend. It really helped me grow my testimony and become a greater disciple of Christ.
New dog agility bridge
Now that the major CRM project is finished with MyPack, I have been working on a couple smaller MyPack projects that had been put on the back burner for a while. One of them was the making of a nicer dog agility walk for Mom that she uses for training. It took me a couple days to finish, but I think it turned out very well.
A second project was also completed. For this one, we hired a fencing company to install a new divider fence between the “small side” of the yard where the porch potty is and the “big side” of the yard. Several weeks ago, one of our bigger dog visitors knocked down the shorter fence that the boys and I put in a couple years ago.
Now, for the third project on my list, I’ll get all our security cameras up and working, which are helpful to keep track of the dogs—and children and grandchildren as well. Talk about putting something off—they have not been re-installed since we finished painting the house 10 months ago!
New dog fence
I went outside with my friends and played a mermaid game. Then I made a potion. I was a witch—that’s why I was making potions.
After that, we went inside and ate cake. Then we played a scary game. After the game, Yaretzie’s party was over.
Elders Lemon and Hill
Unfortunately, Hermano Pérez and Hermana Castillo, will no longer be our teachers starting Monday. I was so bummed to hear that because they are such amazing teachers. I'm really going to miss them, and I hope I'll still get to see them around campus.
Okay, now it's time to get into the bright side of things. It's been another amazing week here at the CCM. I'm learning a ton, and I was able to share my testimony without using my good ol’ friend, Google Translate.
We had several devotionals, and afterward we meet as a district to discuss what we learned. After our latest devotional, we had a particularly spiritual discussion. We talked about the power of the priesthood, and the Spirit in the room was spectacular.
Mexico CCM (MTC) devotional
After we finished our discussion, Hermana Pratt asked if any of us had received any advice for our missions. I shared my thoughts on a phrase I heard a lot: “Lose yourself.” No offense to anyone who told me to "lose yourself in the work of the Lord," but I was never a huge fan of that saying.
I have come to the conclusion that instead of losing myself on my mission, I want to find myself. I will always be me, but I know I'm not yet the man I'm meant to be. So, for those reading this who are preparing to serve or are already serving, remember—while you're on your mission, find yourself.
Today, I went to the temple for the last time in two years. It was really awesome—and a bit sad. I love going to the temple, and not being able to go for that long is going to be difficult. This week, Hermano Pérez and Hermana Castillo joined us for sealings and the endowment session. It was awesome.
Monte’s district and teachers
When we got back from the temple, we cleaned our casa. The other elders were belting out Hallelujah, and the acoustics in our casa are great. It felt really good to have all the floors swept and mopped. The president of the CCM always says the Spirit dwells in clean areas. That’s something I grew up hearing, but only now am starting to understand the importance of it.
A few days ago, two of the hermanas in our district asked us to give them blessings. We decided to fast today for them, and also to help us have the Spirit while giving the blessings. We went to our classroom, and two more hermanas—Hermana Watson and Hermana Graff—also asked for blessings.
It was an incredibly spiritual experience for me to be able to give a blessing, and to watch my fellow elders give blessings too. I know the Spirit guided our words. I then had the opportunity to give my companion, Élder Lemon, a blessing. It was a truly wonderful experience.
Monte’s CCM (MTC) bedroom