28 September 2025
VOLUME 13 – NUMBER 628
Jenny at Governor’s press conference
For several months, I have been working on a new team at Utah Foster Care called Care Communities, which is a pilot program set up by the First Lady of Utah to help create support teams for foster parents and families, as they do the hard work of helping children through difficult points in their lives.
This Wednesday, we had the official launch of the program at the Governor’s Mansion, where the Governor, the First Lady, Church and community leaders spoke. Now Care Communities is officially out of the pilot phase of the program.
The press conference was a fabulous success. After the conference, we had a short reception, and I was able to make several important connections with members of the community. Arkin and I went out for lunch with my team to celebrate the success.
Now we go to work to expand the program as quickly as possible. I’m excited to provide this service opportunity to more and more people in Utah. Not everyone is in a position to be a foster parent, but now everyone can be a part of a child’s caring community!
Jenny and co-workers at press conference
This week was the first time I got behind, and it happened in Science. I had to do a project that took way too long, and by the time I finished it, I was six lessons behind. I don’t like projects or essays because they take too long and are boring—unless you’re making a presentation, which is kind of fun.
All of my classes are ahead now, but now I have to make a presentation for BDL. I also have to do an essay for LA. This time, I hope I won’t get too far behind.
When Mom and Dad went horseback riding, we also had a blast. We watched a movie and played games. The open house was super! We played different games, and I even got something stuck in a tree.
Mom and Dad horseback riding
For Christmas last year, Caleb worked with many of you (Yarima, Braden, Endia, Jen, London, Natalie, Ashton, and Gloria) to get a Christmas present for Mom and I—horseback riding! I thought that was a very thoughtful gift, especially because Mom has always loved horseback riding.
However, over the last several months, we have had to reschedule two or three times. Caleb was so patient with us, and he kindly kept prompting us until we finally we able to go, and it was a lot of fun! Thank you, Caleb and crew!
Mom and Dad horseback riding
We have gone fishing a lot this summer and wanted to get some trips to the lake while it was not that cold yet. Mattias really likes to watch his dad catch fish and also attempt to throw the rod. Selvin has really enjoyed teaching Mattias and just being with him at the lake, just like his grandpa did with him.
Also I was asked by my friend to cater some desserts for her niece's quinceañera. I made 200 desserts. It took me all morning but I was able to get them done in time for the party. We stayed for a while to hang out with my friend and her family and it was such a beautiful event.
Mattias and Sophia
We had so much fun on our honeymoon this week. Our Airbnb was so cute and cozy and felt like we were in the middle of the woods, but we were just 10 minutes outside of Spokane.
The weather was perfect for us the whole time. We went paddle boarding a couple of times and drove over to Couer D’ Alene on one of the days. We of course also did a good amount of rock climbing, and the areas we went to were so fun!
All around, it was the perfect trip to celebrate getting married, and I couldn’t be happier to be with Keaton forever!
London and Keaton on honeymoon
BYU football season is here! This week, I had Ashton and Caleb over to watch BYU play Colorado. They fell behind early but pulled off the comeback in the end.
Hosting BYU watch parties has been one of my favorite things to do since being back in Utah. So far, if I'm not mistaken, BYU is 4–0 whenever Ashton, Caleb, and I get together to watch—stretching from last season to this season. We might have to keep that going with a track record like that.
Boys watching BYU game on computer
Caleb
On my birthday Natalie sent me some money to buy myself some dinner, so I got some Panda and watched a movie.
Saturday morning I spent all day preparing for an Accounting exam. Once I felt ready, I took the test at the testing center. However, I didn't check the testing centers schedule. Usually the testing center closes around 9:00pm, but since it was Saturday, it closed at 4:00pm.
As I was taking the test, to my surprise, a voice on the intercom stated, "The testing center will close in 30 minutes." I was about halfway through the test and had taken about an hour to get there. I realized I really needed to pick up the pace.
I stayed calm and tried to move through the questions as effectively as possible. I got to the final 10 questions or so when the voice said, "10 minutes left." Then before I knew it, the voice said turn in your exams now or you will be marked as a zero on your test. I still had four more questions to answer. I scribbled a guess for each one on the bubble sheet and turned in my test.
Owen eating an apple
It was too bad because I felt like I really knew the material, it just took a long time to work through each question. I still got a pretty good score at 75%, especially considering that I was rushed for the entire second half of the test and completely guessed at the last four questions.
I actually felt pretty good about myself, because I was able to keep my head even when it felt like I was working under immense pressure. Also, I learned the lesson to always check the testing center schedule.
Then I drove my motorcycle from Provo to Saratoga springs. A little boy in Brooke's and Braden's neighborhood wanted my motorcycle helmet, he then entered Braden's and Brooke's house without their permission, I showed Braden my bike.
Then I got ready for work to teach an online MTC class. Afterwards, I watched a BYU football game with Ashton and Braden. Braden bought me Panda (again), cupcakes, and ice cream sandwiches to celebrate my birthday.
Quinn and Endia working
This week was pretty good. For most of the week, I just had eight-hour shifts. On Tuesday night, I went to the temple with Jack Haymond, and we did some initiatory.
It was nice going back to the temple, since I’ve only been for my endowment one other time. Afterward, we went and got some sushi, which was really delicious.
School has also been going well. I only have a few more weeks left, which is nice. It feels good just working at my own pace.
The deadlines are usually on Wednesday and Saturday. In between those days, I can get my work done. The assignments are pretty easy in one of my classes. We’re learning how to write topic sentences and doing some basic math. My other class is my Institute class.
Gloria after getting wisdom teeth out
I have a Zoom meeting every week where we talk about what we learned in the lessons. Then there’s a weekly in-person gathering at the West Jordan Institute building. We talk about my class, which is a life skills course.
On Friday, I got my wisdom teeth out. Dad took me there and back home. He was going to film me saying funny things, but he actually said that I just cried a lot!
When I got home, I was absolutely exhausted. I felt really loopy, and my whole body felt like noodles. My body would just flop. I laid down on the couch and slept for a little bit while watching TV, and I kept throwing up—I think I threw up four or five times.
Endia and Cougar’s new Cottage
Our family is starting to find a rhythm here at the Hill home. It has been a great adjustment and a blessing to be around more family. I will admit that it is not always easy, but I have loved going on bike rides with Quinn and Troy, playing games with the older kids, and getting to know the Hill family better than before.
My work this week has been absolutely full of trainings. Some of them are interesting, and some of them are not relevant to my position in the company. The trainings are long, but there is an end in sight, and soon I can finally get to work.
The new “Cottage Cove”
I’m cheating a little bit because I’m writing this on a Saturday, so technically the week is not over. I apologize to Dad and Kai because I know how much they “hate” receiving articles so early—Ha ha!
Caleb had his birthday this week, and Braden and I are going to throw him a little party tonight. He doesn’t know it, but when we meet up for the BYU game, we’ll have some things ready to celebrate with him. I’m assuming it’s going to be a blast.
Earlier this week, we had a stake kickball tournament, which I was running. We’ve done a few of these tournaments now, so we’re pretty good at organizing them to get lots of people there and having a great time.
A little blessing this week came when I was about to take my ECON midterm. I missed class on Monday because I was a bit sick, so I was behind and didn’t have a ton of time to study for Wednesday and Friday classes.
Governor Cox at press conference
I was playing catch-up the whole week. Our lowest midterm grade gets dropped, so I was assuming I would just take the test, do poorly, and then have it dropped as I do better on the others.
While I was at the testing center studying a little beforehand, one of the kids from my class recognized me (I am always in church clothes on campus) and asked if I wanted to study with him.
A major part of economics is being able to talk through things. It is pretty logical, but it takes a lot of thought. We studied for an hour or so, and I did way better on the test than I anticipated.
I went home and had a nice, relaxing night, then got sucked into watching Inception with my roommates and some friends. The movie ended around 2:00am, but it’s Saturday, so I’ve got nothing to worry about today!
Monte and Elder Larson
What a week! Everyone, it is a momentous day—Laura and Jesus are getting baptized! On Tuesday, they ended up getting married, and tonight they are going to make their first covenant with God. All it took was handing them back into God’s hands for a bit, and He did what He does.
Also, this Saturday, Emily was baptized! It was such a crazy experience being able to baptize someone for the first time on the mission. I'm so happy for her. I know that the decision she made to follow Christ will change her life for the better.
Elders Larson and Hill with Laura and Jesus
For her baptismal service, they had a whole lot of decorations and pictures set up. It was honestly wild, but so cool. ¡Felicidades, Emily!
We also received transfer news last night. Elder Larson is leaving Cozumel and is going to Valladolid. I will be staying here on Cozumel, and my new companion’s name is Elder Gutierrez. I can’t wait to meet him!
It’s been a bit of a crazy day as we’ve been trying to get everything figured out, and I’m on my way to Cancún right now. I think that’s all the important stuff—if not, I’ll fill you all in next week.
Elders Hill and Larson with Emily
I groomed Juno this week, and it went by a lot faster because I had charged everything. We also had a dog bathtub, which made the process much easier. Once he was done, he went back home.
Me, Mom, Quinn, and Joanna went to Kierstyn and Alyssa’s open house. It was fun doing all of the games, and we painted. I painted an ocean, and it looked way better than any of the other oceans I’ve done. Then we went home because we had a dog client coming.
We went to the basement and watched a show while Mom and Dad got the dog. It was a pretty normal week for me.
Owen hiding in pillows