MK's Final College Soccer Season and Blind Date All-Around

MK summed it up:

"Soccer season didn't have the greatest record but we had the greatest team. This season was sooooo much fun and I loved all the girls. This season taught me how to lose and put into perspective the things that are important. And I got to be captain with my best friend so that was sick." 

She earned Honorable Mention in the PacWest Conference for her 5 goals and 3 assists. 

Sarah is one of MK's roommates and co-captain

 Sarah's a little standoffish, but they get along...

Blind Date All-around

I passed along this idea to MK from a friend's daughter, a former BYU pro dater. To expand her circle of 20-something girlfriends, she paired up her friends with the task of finding a (gorgeous) blind date for each other.

So, MK got to work assigning her 24 soccer girls to each other. Boys' soccer team was off-limits for dates, so the girls could get out of their comfort zone.

What to do on a blind date with 48 people in Oahu?

Beach volleyball tournament

"It was seriously the funnest thing ever, Mom!"

(She says that every day...)

Family Night Scavenger Hunt

We needed to do something fun for Family Night, so we drove to Smith's Marketplace and split into two teams: Getty, Connor, and Cam vs. Mia and Cy. We set the stopwatch for 20 mins and agreed that every 10 seconds late would cost a photo. Most photos wins. Rob took the photos for his team while I did the other, but we could only give 2 hints for item locations. 

Getty had "cheats" down pat. The rain boots are technically "on" his arms and feet. And ya—team Getty won.

General Conference Inspiration, October 2014

Proper attire for watching General Conference, as shown:

Getty said, "If I were speaking in Conference, first thing I'd do is say, 'This is for all you kids out there playing Conference Bingo: Priesthood, Temple, Prophet, Sacrament, Commandments, Faith, Holy Ghost, Prayer....'" haha

And yes, we were playing Conference bingo for (3) Hi-Chews. And Getty claimed he got "blackout" and was owed exactly 35 Hi-Chews.

My main question for Conference was this: "What more should I be doing in my life? What's my purpose in this phase?" 

Elder L. Tom Perry quoted Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley:

"Women who make a house a home make a greater contribution to society than those who command large armies or stand at the head of impressive corporations. Who can put a price tag on the influence a mother has on her children? 

"We cannot begin to measure or calculate the influence of women who, in their own ways, build stable family life and nurture for everlasting good the generation of the future. The decisions made by the women of this generation will be eternal in their consequences. May I suggest that the mothers of today have no greater opportunity and no more serious challenge than to do all they can to strengthen the [home]."

Then Elder Perry said, "It is my firm conviction that there has never been a period in my many years of life when our Father in Heaven's children have needed the guiding hand of faithful, devoted parents more." 

I got my answer, loud and clear. 

Along those lines, I was inspired to make several changes and improvements in our family life. Some of which came from the following counsel:

Elder Richard G. Scott described Family Home Evening: "Decide that on Monday night your family will be together at home for the evening." (not just an hour?) We can do better.



Elder Tad Callister mentioned the story of Ben Carson and how Ben's mother decided to only allow him to watch 3 tv programs a week and required him to read 2 books a week. Ben became a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon. This suggestion happened to coincide with information I've been reading in "Outliers," so I was all over this and will figure out ways to adapt this to our family.

I had the thought to go through our library and choose books we would even pay the kids to read, like: "Jesus the Christ," "The Book of Virtues for Young People," "How to Win Friends and Influence People," "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens," Shakespeare plays, etc.

Doing family history work was a theme that stood out to me in Conference, too. Our stake president has asked every youth to index 100 names by the end of the year, so we decided to set up incentives for the kids to accomplish that goal.

... our kids love it when I get ambitious for them, ha

Elders Richard G. Scott and Tad Callister both reminded us to arm our children with family and personal prayer especially in the morning to prepare them to face the temptations and struggles of the day ahead. 

Elder Scott said, "Parents, help safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer. Children are bombarded every day with the evils of lust, greed, pride, and a host of other sinful behaviors. Protect your children from daily worldly influences by fortifying them with the powerful blessings that result from family prayer. Family prayer should be a nonnegotiable priority in your daily life." 

Tad Callister said, "... how many of us let our children march out the front door each morning to the most dangerous of all battlefields, to face Satan and his myriad of temptations, without their spiritual breastplate and shield and sword that come from the protective power of prayer?" 

Need to do better.


Elder Richard G. Scott reinforced a new family temple goal we've made when he said, "Don't let anyone or anything prevent you from being [in the temple]."

Elder Neil L. Anderson made an unusual suggestion, "Record the testimony of Joseph Smith in your own voice and then listen to it." We did that a few weeks ago in Family Night and plan to follow up with another Family Night, where the kids can listen to their recording in separate rooms and then come together to discuss it. 

And I loved what Elder Jorg Klebingat recommended—that we "joyfully repent." I'm going to try that :) And teach that.

I loved President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's message, 

"... for some of us, obedience to God's commandments doesn't always feel very joyful. Let's face it: there may be some that seem harder or less appealing.... 

"Perhaps during times such as these, we might find ourselves asking, 'Do we really need to obey all of God's commandments?' 

"My response to this question is simple:

"I think God knows something we don't—things that are beyond our capacity to comprehend!"



I loved Elder Dallin H. Oaks talk, "Loving Others and Living with Differences," and David A. Bednar's talk, "Come and See," about why Mormons are so anxious to share the gospel. 

General Conference never disappoints—full of powerful speakers addressing the most pressing, relevant topics of today with such insightful, motivating counsel. 

Sadie's with Alema, 2014

Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Restaurant for dinner

Outdoor dance on the high school tennis courts

Then a Haunted House. Snuggling in the dark = offsides, holding, offensive foul....  

Elle's Would-be 7th

Elle's cousin Jack wrote an essay recently:

Death of a Cousin

by Jack Vietti, age 11

It was a day unlike any other day, the sky was light gray like an elephant's skin, me and my sister, Izzie, were on the trampoline having fun, until my Mom called us in for a family meeting. "Oh no," I said to myself. When I got inside from the freezing, cold, weather, I felt like I was going to melt into a puddle I was so warm! My Mom had very important news, my cousin, Elle, was hit by a truck while going to her friend's house! I was shocked, my heart stopped, I turn to my sisters, Maisie and Izzie and my Mom and Dad and they were crying so much, a waterfall formed on their cheeks! I tried not to cry (being the oldest in the family). So we decided to head up to Utah, where i lived for years, to see how she was doing.

On our way up, we had to stop at a hotel in Colorado to rest. That night, I was really upset. My cousin was hit by a truck and died! I could just imagine the pain that she had. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't I was struggling so much that night. The next morning we set off to Utah and boy, my cousins and grandparents were so happy to see us! That night, my Mom and Dad told me we were going up to the chapel to celebrate her funeral.

That morning was the first time we would see Elle after her accident. When we got there, we saw a lot of people! There was a long line leading to Elle's coffin. I got in line and when I got there, I touched her forehead, and it felt like ice! Me and my sisters got stuffed animals. I got a ferret, Maisie got a tiger and Izzie got a lion to help us through the funeral.

We got inside the chapel, and it was gigantic! Then, I see her three brothers and two sisters, Cam, Cy, Getty, Mia and McKenzie and when I see Getty speaking, I started to bawl I was so upset! We had a blessing for her that day. Now she is up in heaven with my Mom's Dad, Grandpere.

The accident happened when Elle was 4. Right now she would be 7 years old if she were still alive, and the worst part is… she died on my Mom's birthday! Elle died on February 8, 2012. Even though she's in another place, I love her and I hope she will be safe.

Jack and Cam last year

In the months and years since Elle's death, Elle's would-be birthday has been a tougher experience than her Angel day.

Angel days are about accepting the reality of what has happened. What's done is done, and with each passing year, our new normal is validated as necessary.

Would-be birthdays, on the other hand, are about that parallel universe. The one where we got to keep our little girl. Where she is celebrating her 7th birthday. And I can't believe she's grown so big and rides the bus to all-day school. That's when I feel the bitter loss. That's when I resent our new normal.

I feel like she's not a part of our life anymore, which is devastating to me. Our adjustments have required that we build a new normal that does not physically include her. And now that we have, it is crushing.

Our friends wearing pink for Elle's birthday

 We went to the temple and wore pink that day (and it was jersey day)

Rob took us out to Chilis for dinner

Cam's giving me that look again...

I snuck off to Elle's grave alone late that night. Our friends/family had left balloons and a card and stuffed lion at her grave. Pretty sure Elle would want Cam to babysit that lion for her til she gets back, so the lion was waiting for him in the morning.

That Sunday night we all visited her grave in the dark 

and sent her balloons. Cy's balloon message:

 Cam's balloon message:

And there she was in the pink sunset to receive them...