Memorable Moments

This last weekend Mike and Jackson went on a memorable teacher's quorum over-nighter to the high desert of Arizona.  They attended the Snowflake temple Friday night and performed baptisms and confirmations for the dead.  Mike loved being in snow and fog after driving for only a few hours.  They both had a really good experience there because they basically had the temple all to themselves and had a nice testimony meeting right before leaving.  It's rare for 14-15 year old boys to be reverent for that long and to contemplate on life, but the temple allowed them that space and time. 
That evening they drove to a "ranch house" that turned out to be not much of a living space.  There was no running water or electricity and mouse and bird poop all over the floor and counters, not to mention it was 15 degrees outside.  But somehow they pulled out their man cards and spent the night mostly shivering instead of sleeping.  Jackson thought it was pretty fun though, so I guess that's the difference between boys and girls. I would have booked a hotel in a heart beat.  
The next morning they woke up and drove to Sunrise Ski Resort.  They enjoyed a sunny fun day snowboarding and skiing together.  Mike said Jackson is getting the hang of snowboarding and even went up onto some of the more challenging hills.   I'm so grateful they get to spend this kind of quality time together. It's so important!







Paige is still loving her mission, although she did have a little post- Christmas blues for a week, but in her last letter she said,

 "I love my mission.  I feel more fulfilled than I've ever felt in my life.  I know I'm doing the Lord's work." 

I am amazed at how much this mission has affected her for the good.  This last week we talked about why she is so content and she said that stepping out of the world and only focusing on others has completely changed her and how she approaches life.  My little girl is now a mature, wise woman!  


Grandpa O. made it to 74 years old on the 13th.  Quite a miracle to still have him here.  His memory is not great, but he's easy to please these days.
 Sydney has caught the baking bug lately.  She and her friends, Grace and Audrey, love to bake and then sell their products to the neighborhood.  Grace got this fancy cart for Christmas and they have legitimate bake sales.  They made $85.00 in a few hours.  The name of their company is BFF Bakery. They are pretty cute! 





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