June 2025

In Our Family This Month...

* Mom and the girls flew out to Nebraska on May 29th and stayed until June 11th! We truly had a blast! Here's a collage with some of the fun things we did! I'll list them below so you know what's going on in the pictures:

1.  We toured the Quilt Museum. Might not sound that fun but honestly it was pretty fascinating!

2. We had lunch at a place called the Crave with JR, Lori and their kids (not pictured). I was intrigued by their "Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger" and let me tell you - they lived up to their name as I craved another one! It was so good!

3. The girls with some of the cousins: Kissac, Aubrie, Sehren, Lexi, Mindah and Ada. Aubrie and Lexi had a great time with Sehren. They had several get togethers that included going out to eat, shopping, sleep overs, S'mores and just hanging out!

4. At the Mormon Trail Center: Winter Quarters Nebraska. After the temple, we toured the visitor center and we even got a very detailed tour by one of the Missionaries.

5. Prehistoric Putt Putt. On grandma and grandpa's Anniversary (June 9th) we went mini golfing!

6. Grandma and Grandpa are Ordinance workers at the Winter Quarters Temple (every Saturday). So we signed up to go do baptisms while they were there! It was pretty special to go to the temple together and I'm glad that the girls were able to see another temple! 

7. We went for a walk at Pioneer Park - around the lake there. Ada and Anders joined us.

8. Stopping for a quick treat at McDonalds. We had specifically stopped for ice cream BUT their machine was down so we got some burgers and chicken nuggets and then hit another McD's location on the way home for the ice cream!

9. This is out at Jared and Hope's house. They have a horse (Tux) and the girls were helping to feed him. We went to Jared and Hope's a couple of times. They had us over for pizza dinner and Pickleball (they have a court in their barn) which was really fun. We also headed their way to attend Mindah's Dance Recital. And just before coming home, we went out to help Hope and her dad get their big pool set up!

10. Mom with her little brother, Jared. This was taken after celebrating Ander's 15th birthday. 

11. At Urban Air with the cousins. Mom and grandma also got into the fun and did everything from the Zip Line to the Zero Gravity trampolines! 

12. A couple of times we gathered around the fire pit in the backyard with S'mores and music! They were relaxing evenings just enjoying each other!

A few things not pictured that we did: Shopping - at the mall, shoe stores, Old Navy and the likes! Went to the movies, had a crafting day with some of the cousins and several family dinners hosted at grandma's! We really had a wonderful visit and (of course) it flew by too quickly! Grandma and Grandpa made us feel so welcomed and special and spoiled us rotten!

* After months of planning and preparations, it was time for Adventure For Youth (AFY) Camp for our Ward! The Bishopric and the YW Presidency felt impressed to do a full YW/YM combined youth camp this year. They called 4 couples (Dad and I, the Mortensons, Cyrier's and Burrups) to be on the planning committee. Honestly, we all worked well together and decided to split up the days to where a couple was just in charge for all activities on that particular day (which ended up working quite well). I suggested that we have a SURVIVOR (like the reality game show) theme and have the youth separated into Tribes with Tribe leaders (the graduated Seniors). We decided to go with that theme and then our spiritual theme was this years Youth theme:  D&C 36:6 "Look Unto Me in every thought; doubt not, fear not".  Here's some of the highlights from our week (we were there Mon-Friday):

Volleyball and other games, participating in challenges, dancing, singing around the campfire, Faith walk, Testimony meeting, Tribal councils, Calling youth out on their good deeds and attitudes! Seeing Nathan be such a great youth leader and make ALL of the youth feel seen and important! Devotionals, Yummy food! Lounging in the hammock, personal reflection time, swimming and paddle boarding at the Lake, Polar Plunges, Hiking, competitions, seeing the youth all get along and grown in their testimonies! 

Honestly it went sooooo well and I have no regrets (on things we did or did not do!) and we have been told by numerous people (youth and parents) that this was such a special camp and it was "the best!" and I'd have to agree! We were up at Camp Smokey Lodge at Alturus Lake by Stanley, Idaho and it was breathtaking in it's beauty! We had about 45 youth and 15+ adults and such a unifying spirit was there! I designed up the logo and laser engraved the wooden medallions that we gave to each youth (there were leather tassels attached that the youth put beads on as they earned them - by doing good deeds and having good attitudes or being recognized by other youth for helping out, etc)

* Birthday's! Levi turned ONE on June 11th and Seth turned 27 on the 14th. Can't believe little Levi has already been a part of our family for a whole year! He's such a sweet little guy and does his best to keep up with his brothers. And of course, Seth has always been such a sweet guy as well!! Can't believe he's as old as he is! The other thing that I can't believe is that I got ZERO pictures of him with his cake!! 

Spiritually Speaking...

written by Lexi Vogt, Age 17

As I read this last chapter, of my Book of Mormon, I was very worried I wouldn't get a confirmation that this is true. So I started praying and telling Heavenly Father my worries when all of the sudden I was reminded of Joseph Smiths story where as he went to pray, the adversary tried to stop this very important part of God's plan in the sacred grove. I felt God letting me know that this is a very important part and base of my testimony and Satan does not want this to happen, he knew that if he could make me doubt my faith in this book, then he could destroy God's plan for me. but good is always greater than evil and God is good! So doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith as you finish reading this book and pray to know for yourself if it's true.

Today I finished my Book of Mormon. I testify that these things are true and good! I now know for myself that God loves me, and He knows me so personally! This books has always reminded me of God's goodness, and that he knows greater than I do which builds my trust in him. It has also taught me to prepare for His coming and all that this life has to offer. As I've read these words I've learned repentance. I've grown to love and use it daily. It is the greatest blessing in my life!!! Repentance brings me closer to the lord in a way that is so deep, it brings a connection to me and my savior. His atonement brings me peace and relief. Practicing repentance everyday has been the best decision because when I really mess up, I find more relief, and he comforts me on all days. I also know that because of the atonement, God truly knows how I feel. He even knows  and understands how I feel when I struggle to follow him, and I believe he knows all of the good because he is the good. All good things in this life acknowledge that he is! I know that making the lord a part of my everyday life (even if days were hard and I only read one verse) he sees my efforts and accompanies me with his presence. I also know that it has given me a relationship with my father in heaven that is so personal. I started reading on October 16th 2023 when I painted this book for a young women's activity. I had never gotten into the habit of reading scriptures everyday and I didn't like reading. On that day I made a goal to study one page everyday and highlight and note all that stood out to me and taught me something, I have seen my testimony grow so much! These words are powerful and I know they are true because of the way they make me feel! I am forever grateful for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for all they have done for me. On the darkest nights that I cried all by myself, I know they were there with me, holding me and reassuring that it would be okay. I also know that they send angels both in this world and from the unseen world. My parents, and especially my twin sister, Aubrie. I feel God's love for me because of her, and she is my greatest gift from him. I testify that these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, Redeemer, and friend, amen.

Whenever I have doubts, I come back to my testimony that was written when I first finished my Book of Mormon. It always reminds me why I believe and follow Christ, and how wonderful God is. I have a pretty strong testimony and when I have questions that I don't know the answer to yet, I still trust in God and am not shaken. But one night about a month later on June 26th, I had a genuine question that I couldn't quite get over. It was: "How do I know that these feelings of the spirit are actually from God?" I have no proof they are of Him and maybe if God weren't real then I would still be feeling peace, love, joy, and longsuffering. I then prayed sincerely, and this is what God so peacefully and lovingly said to me.

Lexi: How do I know that these feelings really are from you and that you are real?

God: You don't know. You choose to believe. If you did know, it wouldn't be faith 

And I was then reminded that all good things come from God, and to follow was the memories of joy in my life I experience when I choose to believe and follow Christ. Acknowledging that Christ is the good makes my life so much fuller.