09/27/15 Letter from AJ to Bryce

09/27/15

 Hey Bro!

This week was really a good and busy one. School is in full swing with mid-terms coming up and tons of homework! Today in church I was reading some of my old notes and I found a story from Sheri Dew about when she was at BYU. So she had always wanted to play basketball for BYU and never received any attention after high school. While she was at BYU the team had some injuries and was holding an open try-out. She unfortunately doubted herself and never tried out. Years later she met the coach and talked to her about that particular year and her unfulfilled dream of playing collegiate basketball. The coach told her that they held tryouts and never ended up picking up any of the girls and that year they were shorthanded because they needed a player of her type(I think she was a guard and none tried out that fit the description). 

So long story short is that the Lord opens up opportunities that are specifically for us and that may go EMPTY if we don't take advantage of them. 

So I read that and I was thinking about how HF has little plans like that for me and then I was thinking about Dallas, Bryce, Katie and Holly how they each have little plans that HF is making for them and then I realized another reason how it is impossible to completely understand God in this life because he has those intricate little plans for everyone of his children and he is fulfilling ALL of them simultaneously. 

Wow! It just blows my mind trying to comprehend how God is able to be in each of our lives all at the same time! 

What was the highlight of your week?

AJ

09/26/15 Women's conference, FHE, and lots of games

Holly is bridging from Junior to Cadette

It's been a pretty good busy week. 

Porcelain Peine with Holly
who is now a Cadette
 (she is wearing Katie's sash)

Monday the girls had early out and got to play with friends and hang out.  In the evening we got pizza and went over to Wendy's clubhouse and had dinner and pickleball and swimming.  Dad and I played pickleball with Gpa and Eddy.  It was fun.  Gpa is 80 years old and he did awesome!  I think he really enjoyed it too!  He said he wasn't too sore afterward or anything so we'll have to do that with him again some time!

Wednesday the girls all had things to do...Katie YW; Holly went to the PVHS homecoming parade with the Riley's so Dad and I went and played pickleball up at the end of green springs. It was fun.  It is still REALLY hot here so we got to sweat extra good!

Thursday nights dad covers girls soccer games and Nikki Turner is playing so we have been going together and watching those.  It's been fun to see her and hang out with Dad while he works.  She's a defender and a good runner too (she is doing the marathon next week!)  We usually take the motorcycle so it's a nice little mid-week date!

Decorating badge shaped Girl Scout Cookies

Friday we went to Dickey's and got BBQ and then the girls and I went to homecoming.  The girls were excited to go hang out and watch the game -- they ate pizza and junk food and hung out with friends.  Unfortunately PVHS lost to HHS but it was a pretty exciting game and they had friends so they were happy!  It was SO hot though!  

Saturday morning Katie did her 2nd parade and marched for Dixie Homecoming parade.  The littler girls were able to get tons of candy thrown at them this year so they really enjoyed the parade more than last week!  They also got frozen yogurt, a frisbee, a football and several of the characters stopped at said hi to them. 

We came home and watched BYU game and had goodies -- Unfortunately BYU was shut out so not the best game ever!

Gpa and Gma Griffin & Shelly enjoying some ice cream
at Dickie's in Washington, Utah

We made salsa and went to women's conference too.  The one message that I recall is "I am a child of God, therefore ______________."  We are children of God and therefore we must do good things and try to serve and love him and others.  We need to fill in the __________ daily. 

he conference was really good.  Katie and Holly both went and paid attention good too.  Pres Uchtdorf gave a talk that was really good too.  He said the key to happiness is the pure love of Christ.  

President Uchtdorf recounted the woman’s words, “You see, everything else in the gospel — all the should and the musts and the thou shalts — lead to love,” he said. “When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our own problems and help others to solve theirs.”

PVMS Marching Band

Feeding the ducks at Sullivan Park

Dad went to Dixie Rebels game for a little while.  The game wasn't great and neither was the food so he came back about the same time we did.  

I talked to Sister Warby after the conference and Byron is doing well on his mission in CA.  We talked about our missionaries and how we miss them but that somehow we made it past half way!  She is a month ahead of us.  

Love you and hope you are happy and well!  Can't wait to hear about your week.  Love reading your letters and seeing your pictures so keep 'em coming!  Proud of you and all your hard work.  

Katie loves it when we cheer for her!

Oh yea, I talked to Jill at Dr. W's office and she said what a nice young man you are.  She has a boy on a mission too and misses her boy.  She told me how you teased and wanted permission to play video games.  I told her you wanted permission to call your mama too!  She said if you ever wanna talk to your mama and can't to call her and she'll talk to you like she was your mama!  She seemed really sweet and nice!!!  We had a nice visit while I paid your bill!  Everyone I've talked to that's met you says what a great person you are!  

Hugs and Loves! Mom

Pinocchio came and talked to the girls!

09/21/15 Katie's first marching band parade

9/21/15


Super busy week as I had conferences Monday and Tuesday in addition to regular work. And something they have never done before...the conference Monday went until 7 p.m.  Who does that?!  And then started 8 a.m. the next day (so I had to go to work early Tuesday to get ready for court after the conference).  Made for a nice end of the week cause I was all out of hours for the week!

Thursday night Dad and I went to the soccer game and Nikki Turner was playing.  That was cool. She is a pretty good little defender.  She is a senior this year but she's still a little beehive to me!

Friday we went to a place called Ninja with gma and pa and it was a lot better than I expected and not too pricey either.  We enjoyed it. Dad went out to Hurricane for a game and me and the girls hung with the Turner's.  It's been a long time since we've seen them. 

Saturday morning Katie marched in her first parade.  She had to get there by 8 a.m. so it made for an early Saturday for our little sleeper-inner.  We took the Riley girls with us and Holly and the girls had fun trying to get candy.  (They aren't cute anymore so all the little kids on either side of them got candy, they got nothing!) Haha.  

There was an Elder Q party yesterday and they had a ping-pong tournament at Olsen's house.  Olsen's had three tables set up and such a big house and yard that it was a nice place to hang out.  (Cept that they have 10 cats and 4 fat dogs).  Jorge Barrigan was the champion but I think the guys had fun playing. 

We went to Marlee's house last night for ice cream and send off. We gave her the tshirt you sent and some money and twix bars. She looked really good and her mom said it's all up to you now.  You are the one that is gonna have to wait for Marlee! We are going over this morning for her talk in a couple of hours. She says she is nervous. 

I am going to help set up a blog for Marlee so they can do one like we have for you.

We went to Hoppies house last night for BYU game and they had wings and soda and we brought cookies, meatballs and chips.  So lots of junk food late at night.  We stayed 3 quarters -- and it was a pretty exciting fun game.  BYU ended up losing but it was super close. 

"Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful
men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't
quit."
--Conrad Hilton

Gonna try to record Marlee today and figure out how to get it to you.Probably will try to get a box out this week...any requests? 

Hope you are doing great.  Love you, pray for you, miss you!!!!!  Love mom

09/13/15 Labor Day & Regional Conference

Strange day because it was Stake Conference so I'm all messed up on my schedule!  I usually write you in the morning after my walk but today I had to get ready and go to church after my walk!

We had a good regional conference...AJ got the same church as we did, so did everybody down here I guess. Aj was at the Marriott Center where it was broadcast, we were all in our church houses watching. 

Creating a Harry Potter Game

Brother Ballard gave a talk saying that we need to have faith and be dedicated and committed to the church. He said we are more blessed than any other people on all of history -- we are prospering in the land. He warned us to live within our means and not try to keep up with the neighbors. 

We need to maintain good spiritual and physical habits -- make adjustments where necessary. 

Creating a Harry Potter Game

Be need to stay connected to the Lord - pray, fast, study the scriptures, go to the temple, take care of the needy, attend sacrament, keep the Sabbath day holy. 

Lauren and Holly working on Silver Scout Project

We need to ask questions and seek answers - in the right places...not on the internet.  In the scriptures. 

Brother Davies told us to read the book of Mormon to have fuller more complete happy lives. 

Sister Burton told us a story about cleaning the temple.  She said that she felt like it wasn't dirty so why was she wasting her time cleaning it.  She would spend 2 hours dusting and return a clean towel.  Then she realized she was preventing it from ever getting dirty.  Which is what we also need to do with our lives/temples!  What a great visual.

Dad and Mom at the Lake on the Hill in Cedar City

Last Monday was Labor Day -- pretty uneventful day.  In the morning we went for a walk up at the elementary school.  We were going to go to Sullivan but it was lightening and thundering a little so we went up the hill and it was a little better.Then we made pumpkin & chocolate chip pancakes -- they were yummy and the girls ate like boys...seriously -- like 3 and 4 pancakes each.  And they were pretty good sized pancakes!  I thought I was going to have tons of leftovers and there were only 2 left from a double batch!  I took the girls up to the community center to swim and we had Pizza with gma and pa.  (That was the day the van had it's problem I wrote you about). 

The week went rather quickly with volleyball and young women's and such.  Piano was cancelled cause the Wright's had the flu...and we didn't want to share!!!!  So we stayed away all week!

Katie building a castle at the Lake on the Hill in Cedar City

Friday Holly did her Silver Scout project.  They pulled some weeds from the community center and planted some flowers.  We were going to swim but the pool was drained for maintenance this week.  BOOOOOO!  So they put on the splash pads for us and we got the kids pizza, chocolate covered Twinkies (Oh yes, you have to try them. they are amazing!!!); soda, licorices and starburst.  (Sugar em up then send em home!)  Afterward we went to Linda's pool and swam with just the Riley girls -- because I was bummed we didn't get to swim!  

Katie went and did stats for dad so she didn't join us. 

Holly and the Riley girls chilling on the Lake

Saturday we went to the Lake on the Hill in Cedar City -- LOVED IT!  It is just this little man made lake with some sand to hang on.  There are fish in it. We took our tubes and paddled around and played for like an hour and half.  Then we went to Dickies Restaurant for BBQ. It was a fun afternoon.  The fish were even nipping at dad's back trying to eat him.  He didn't think that was too cool.  I thought it was funny though!

Magnificent cone made by Holly for Mom
at Dickie's in Cedar City

So there ya have it.  Wrap up for the week!  Hope your week was great and things are going well with your new comp.  Is the other set of missionaries still the same in your apartment or did one or both of them transfer as well? 

Look forward to hearing from you!!! Love you!!! Mom

09/08/15 Blessed once again

This looks like what was pulled out of our van!

AJ, 

So, do you know how lucky (blessed) you are?  Me too? 

(Background: Aj had taken the van up to Provo the weekend prior.  He brought back a van full of college kids.  They stopped out in Kanab and spent the night then went to Zion National Park before coming home Saturday afternoon 9/5/15. )

09/08/15

New fan belt

Yesterday morning the van started making a funny noise.  We had only driven to church (9/6/15) and back since you dropped it off.  Didn't go to gmas because they were out of town and stuff.  So 2 miles total. 

I got in the van at 6 a.m. headed over to Home Depot and it sounds like a lawn mower.  Strange.  Get out, look around.  Huh, can't figure out what's going on.  Go to Home Depot and back and decide I better park it until Dad can peek at it.

So now 6 miles total.

I want to go to the pool so I listen and can't hear anything and do a pool run with a van full of little girls (Katie, Holly, Morgan, Zie & Lauren Riley).

Now, 9 miles total. 

Dad gets in the car and we head to Gmas and the sound starts up again really loud.  We go about 1 mile and then the noise stops and everything gets quiet.   The power steering goes out.  The a/c goes out.  It's kind of eerie.  

under 10 miles total.

So we were going to get oil at O'Reiley's cause that's what we thought -- it has an oil leak. 

We stopped at O'Reiley's and Tim Scott is there.  He comes out and pulls out our belt.  In shreds.  And sells us another one -- for $20.  Which Dallas installed with Dad last night in about 1/2 hour.  Thank you Dallas!!!! Thank you Dad!!!!

Holy Smokes that could have ended so much worse!!!!!!  In so many ways.  So say your thankful prayer that you were able to travel home safely and without incident.  And me too!!! (Cause at 6 a.m. nobody would have answered the phone to come find me out in the dark!!)

I'm feeling pretty blessed about now!!

09/06/15 Movies, pizza, BYU

The shirts you got us came in. Thank you from everyone!!!!  Very thoughtful of you!  I still have to give Marlee her t-shirt.  I figured we'd take it to her farewell if I don't see her before then. 

Monday started off with Dad taking the motorcycle test.  And not passing.  He was bummed.  I guess the course is really tight and it's hard to maneuver a big bike in a little course.  So not a big deal...he just has to keep practicing and try again another time.  He has a year.  The dump thing is he didn't even get to finish the test so he doesn't even know what else he needs to work on exactly.  He'll have to go out and watch some other tests and see if he can try again. 

Carnevale's had us over for Monday night dinner last week.  Brazilian BBQ and rice and beans.  It was really delicious. Poor bishop had an appointment at the last minute and didn't get to hang with us for a large portion of the evening. Their kids seem to really have taken to our kids and they love to play together. It's pretty cute. 

Tuesday Katie went to the movie theater and watched a movie about Beehives and girls camp.  I guess it was pretty accurate and fun for her to watch. 

Rigatti's Pizza

Wednesday I went to the dr for my annual checkup.  He said I was anemic.  Which is bizarre because anemic means your iron is low and mine is ALWAYS high!!!  I'm pretty sure it was because I had given blood the day before.  He wants me to come back and get checked in a month and make sure.  So next month when dad goes in for his annual checkup I get to get blood drawn again too!  After our dr visit we went and found the old home bread store (it moved three years ago and we've never been there since!)  They had good bread for a good price but nothing else amazing.  We'll probably only go there if we are over there...it isn't going to be the reason for going over there!   It's by ace hardware. Since we didn't have pizza monday night we went to Riggatti's pizza (new -- in the Staheli Barn area).  It is over roasted pizza.  It was REALLY good.  No grease like pizza hut. 

Friday dad and I went to Cafe Rio for lunch and Charming charlies to walk around after.  He had to work out at snow canyon while the girls and I went to Cinderella -- movie in the park.  It was a good movie and we had a nice time.  Still pretty warm here even until 10 p.m. so it was nice. 

Saturday Mitchell Squires (Moose) got baptized.  I went over to that -- they live in Little Valley area now.  He was being really shy but it seemed like he had a good experience.  The girls and I went swimming afterward at Linda's pool and then the BYU game was on all afternoon.  AJ brought some college friends over and they had pizza and popcorn and watched the game too. AJ had taken my van last week to get the big TV up to his new apartment.  He had a bunch of kids in his van.  One of them put their cell phone into our van in the glove box.  AJ got up past Cedar City before they realized and he had to turn around and come back and get the phone.  Dad and I took the motorcycle for our first ever freeway ride and met them in Leeds...but still...cost them probably 1.5 to 2 hours.  Ugh!  He probably didn't get home until 1 a.m. or even later.  They hiked 8 miles in the Narrows in Zion yesterday too so I bet they were EXHAUSTED!!!!

I don't have any pictures this week but here is a quote by Harold B Lee.  Hope you are doing well and you are happy!  We love you and are so proud of you!!!! Love mom