April 2024

 In Our Family This Month...

* Rugby was the most prevalent activity this ENTIRE month! The girls played on both the D1 and D2 teams so had games two nights each week and Nathan had games each week as well (although he got injured early on - more about soon... but I still went to most of the boy's games and took photos for the parents). So we were involved with Rugby practices or games 6 days each week. Sadly in one of the boys' games, Nathan injured his knee - did something to his LCL on his right knee (opposite of the knee he had his ACL replaced on)... we're hoping he won't need surgery and has been going to to the Physical Therapist 2-3 times each week and wearing a brace. He (and all of us!) are so bummed - he was really tearing it up on the field and had been playing so fiercely and even received the Man of the Match award! I take photos of all of the games - for both the boys and girls teams so that keeps me busy. Thankfully, I've been really enjoying it and so it doesn't seem like too much of a chore. I'm able to borrow a really nice zoom lens (either the 70-200mm or the 150-600mm) from Marissa Jenks and having an amazing lens has made all the difference! Our girls' teams have been playing so well, and our D1 has gone undefeated so far this season. Grandma Vogt, Aunt Heidy and her kids even made it out to a match!

* PROM! The kids have all been excited for Prom this year. Nathan asked Hallie Ballard and then Charlie, Aubrie, Lexi & Teegan all went together. We met up with Kiona and Roary down at the Train Deopot (along with 100+ other Prom goers - LOL) for pictures. We were able to get some really cute shots and then afterwards they went to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. Then it was time for the actual Prom - which apparently was a dissapointment for most of them (everyone except Lexi!) and then they returned to our house afterwards for finishing out the date. I had been super blessed with finding prom attire at the thrift stores! I found the 3-piece gray suit for Nathan for $3 AND the 3-piece green suit for Teegan for $3! They both were in excelkent condition and "just happened" to be their size!). We picked up Aubrie's dress for $6 and the black vest for Charlie for a few bucks as well.... Lexi had gotten a dress for $6 but then decided she didn't like it the best and went dress shopping with Hallie and found the green sparkly one you see in the photos. 

* Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party for the girls! Can't believe that they are 16!! They went back and forth about having a big party or small get together and eventually settled on having a bigger party - because how often do you turn 16!? They wanted it all PINK and so that's what we did - they even requested that all of the guests wear pink (which most of them did!) We had a bunch of food, they went and hung out at the park, they competed in a Kahoots quiz (on who knew the twins the best - surprisingly, Joe Yost won!), they opened gifts and even watched a movie. They had a great time with great friends and made some lasting memories (like smashing cake into each others face and hair with Audrey!) They have brought so much joy and happiness into our lives these past 16 years and I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed me with BOTH of them! They are the absolute BEST daughters ever!!! Happy Birthday Girlies!! We also did an impromptu Birthday photoshoot when we saw the empty field next to the grocery store as we were running in to pick up something on our way home from the Temple one evening. The girls were already looking cute (of course, they always are!) and so we took a few minutes and got some beautiful pictures of them!

* Teegan's mom had a stroke and then ended up needing 2 back-to-back brain surgeries and has been in the hospital all month. It has been so very hard on everyone in their family. Lexi has gone over several times to help do some cleaning and decluttering to get the house ready for family that is coming in to help out. She is such a caring and service oriented girl and is always thinking of ways to bless others. She decided to crochet an entire bouquet of flowers to take to him mom (so that they'd last!) and she worked day and night on them to get them finished in record time! Cheryl (Teegan's mom) was so very touched when Lexi presented them to her.

Spiritually Speaking...

Taken from my scripture journal about my thoughts on Mosiah 4:5-10

King Benjamin's invitation to believe in and trust God is as important today as it was in ancient times. As I read Mosiah 4:5-10 I was looking for truths about God that give me reason to trust Him.

* God is full of Goodness. He wouldn't be keeping my life and heart full of peace throughout the last 16 months and giving us the direction to keep pursuing Akuma that whole time and filling us full of hope - PLUS He did warn us that it wouldn't look how we wanted it to l\in the beginning - but that it WOULD! That's a tender mercy of goodness right there!

* Matchless Power. He is all powerful and omnipotent and His words WILL come to pass.

* Wisdom, Patience and Long suffering towards his children. AS I keep going to Him in prayer for witnesses, he has been very patient and long suffering. But I know that he wants me to rely on the answers I've received and never forward in Faith.

* Prepared the Atonement of Jesus Christ from the beginning. He is loving and kind and wanted his children to make it back to Him and so he prepared a way for that to be!

* Tells us exactly how to receive salvation and what we must do! We need to put our trust in Him, diligently keep the commandments and continue in the faith until the end of our lives (endure to the end).

* He is the Creator. He created all things in both heaven and earth.

* He comprehends all things. Our mortal minds can't comprehend the things the Lord can which is why He counsels us to "Lean not unto thy own understanding..."

* He is a forgiving God. I know that He forgives me each time that I sincerely repent.

Additional Truths of God throughout the scriptures:

* He will fulfill all of His words

* Nothing is too hard for God

* God is Love

* He is merciful

* He desires for us to believe in Him

* God is never changing

* He cannot lie and is a God of Truth

* He will judge us according to our works

King Benjamin gives us an invitation in verse 10 to Repent of our sins, Forsake those sins, Humble ourselves before Him, Ask in sincerity to be forgiven and then to do these things (if we truly believe them). Why would trusting God make it easier to do what King Benjamin invites? Well, of course all of the truths listed above would make it easier to follow through on the invitation from King Benjamin because I know that He loves me, is patient with me, wants me to return back to Him and wants me to be happy in this life!