HAPPY 2022!!
Yep, we've made it to another year and here's what we've been up to the first 2 weeks of the new year....
* Nathan finished up the classroom portion of Drivers Ed and has been doing the instructional driving. He should have his permit in another week or two! On the last day of the class, they had everyone go to Fast Lane - an indoor Go Kart Race Track. Nathan loved it an did a great job coming in 3rd on both of his races (out of 20 drivers).
* Rugby has kicked back off! Nathan is playing on the Rocky Mountain Boys' high School team and the girls will be playing for the Rocky Mountain U14 team (for 7th and 8th graders). The U14 team doesn't officially start practices until Feb 15th but Aubrie and Lexi are practicing with the high school girls for the time being. Dad is still heavily involved in the whole Rugby scene as is now on the Rocky Mountain Ruby Club Board of Directors and will be the new Head Coach for the girls' U14 team. To help Aubrie and Lexi to be able to see while playing (since they take their glasses off for practice/games) we got them into the eye doctor and now have contacts.
* Well... after 2 years of staying safe from Covid - mom tested positive with several other family members showing similar symptoms. The whole family is fully vaccinated and it really didn't feel much different than a head cold. That's what we're hearing about the Omicron variant - that it's much less sever (more like a cold) but much more contagious. Protocol has also changed on how to deal with positive cases - it's no longer quarantining for 14 days, but only for 5 days or until you're 24 hours symptom free (if you're sick past the 5 days). Lexi had actually been sick for several days and them mom came down with it and so the two of them went to the hospital to get tested - which they found out it'd be 2-3 days until results came back! What!? Thankfully, dad happned to pop into Walgreens and they had just had a truck shipment arrive that had some of the home test kits that he was able to get! Mom's came back positive and Lexi's negative. The hospital called 2 days later and confirmed a positive test for mom (and at the writing of this, we still haven't heard from the hospital about Lexi's test - however, she was much more sick than mom so I wouldn't be surprised if she was indeed positive!)
* Ben got a new job... we'd like to introduce you to Officer Ben Vogt! He is doing Security for a large business in Boise called Phototronics and ... he loves it!! He's only on his 2nd week but we've never seen him be so hyped and excited to go to work! He works 12 hour shifts 3 days a week for the first week and then 4 days a week for the 2nd week.
* There was a HUGE Mental Health & Suicide Awareness event at the Idaho Center that we took all of the youth in our ward too. It was called "Connection is the Cure" and stressed how people crave connctions with others and all it really takes is 1 person connecting with someone struggling with suicidal thoughts to help save their life. It also heavily stressed how God loves each and every one of us and how we are HIS CHILDREN! It was well attended with over 8,000 people in attendance! The first hour an a half were filled with guest speakers (that were all very entertaining and made a tough subject like suicide and mental health awareness much more approachable and comfortable). The 2nd hour and a half was a music concert put on by Alex Boye with inspirational songs and interspersed with motivational speaking by the singer. Even though it was quite long (3 hours on a Wednesday night PLUS we showed up an hour early to insure we got seats!) but the content was all relevant and very well presented. I felt it was a great use of our time and left more aware of others struggles.
* After having Seth home for close to 3 weeks, it was time for him to head back for his final semester at BYUI! He's taking a very intense line up of classes but we know he'll do great! Plus, we're excited and so very proud of him being this close to graduating!
* We also had another church activity where we took all of the youth Sledding at Steamboat Gulch in Idaho City. Mom was so worried she'd be so cold and miserable BUT it was a beautiful day with bright blue skies, no wind and the sun shining brightly! Sadly, Nathan had to work so he wasn't able to attend with us but all those that went, enjoyed themselves!
* Nathan advanced in the Priesthood and was ordained to the office of Priest! He's been working hard on being ready to administer the Sacrament an practicing the Sacramental prayers. Can't believe my little Nay-Nay is old enough to be a Priest!!
* Russell M. Nelson has been the Prophet for 4 years as of Jan 14th. I saw an article in The Church News that recapped some of the invitations that he has issued to us during those 4 years and I thought it was a great reminder! Here they are below:
1. Stay on the Covenant Path
“Now, to each member of the Church I say: Keep on the covenant path. Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women and children everywhere.”
2. REPENT
“I plead with you to repent. Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance — of doing and being a little better each day.”
3. Make time for the Lord Everyday
“Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ,” he said.
4. Increase Spiritual Capacity to Hear Him
“In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost,”
5. Remodel Our Homes into “a Sanctuary of Faith” and “center of gospel learning.”
He promised, “Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.”
6. Prayerfully study Doctrine and Covenants 25 and “all the truths you can find about priesthood power.
“As your understanding increases and as you exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power, your ability to draw upon this spiritual treasure that the Lord has made available will increase,”
7. Gather Israel and Let God Prevail
“Anytime we do anything that helps anyone — on either side of the veil — to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.”
8. He challenged the youth to read daily from the Book of Mormon to learn more about the gathering. He also extended five invitations he promised “will change you and help change the world”: hold a seven day fast from social media, make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord, stay on the covenant path, pray daily that all of God’s children might receive gospel blessings, and stand out and be a light.
9. in October 2018, President Nelson extended “a prophetic plea” to the women of the Church to participate in the gathering of Israel. He invited the women to hold a 10-day fast from social media, read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year, attend the temple regularly and participate fully in Relief Society.
10. Give Thanks
To bring hope and healing during a time of global instability and uncertainty in November 2020, President Nelson prescribed a “fast-acting and long-lasting” spiritual remedy to the world. He extended two invitations related to the “healing power of gratitude.”
11. “First, I invite you — just for the next seven days — to turn social media into your own personal gratitude journal. Post every day about what you are grateful for, who you are grateful for and why you are grateful,” he said in a Nov. 20, 2020, video message, inviting all to use the hashtag #GiveThanks. Second, let us unite in thanking God through daily prayer. Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray by first expressing gratitude to God, and then petitioning Him for the things we need. Prayer brings forth miracles.”
12. Increase Faith in Christ
“My dear brothers and sisters, my call to you this Easter morning is to start today to increase your faith,” he declared. “Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life, even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest.”
President Nelson offered five suggestions to help Latter-day Saints develop that faith and trust:
- First, study. Become an engaged learner.
- Second, choose to believe in Jesus Christ.
- Third, act in faith.
- Fourth, partake of sacred ordinances worthily.
- Fifth, ask Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, for help.
“So, I ask each of you: ‘How firm is your foundation? And what reinforcement to your testimony and understanding of the gospel is needed?’ …. Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear.
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