Back To School!

Dear Ty,

It was great to talk to you tonight! I really look forward to Sunday nights and seeing your face on my screen! I’m glad you had a good week, and hope this week is fun and exciting with transfers. May the odds be ever in your favor! I’m so glad you’ve got a great companion and hope you are able to stay together. It’s hard for me to imagine the challenges you face building up a small branch, but I know you will be able to make a difference in the lives of those you are serving. 

We had a great week here. This is what we've been up to:

1. We spent Monday on the river with Michael and had a great time. Several people were tossed from the raft—including Tate and Jett, but we managed to get everyone off the river safe and sound.  Jett had a scary moment when he was swept under the raft and had to get out from under it. But he was brave and able to calm himself down and go back into the water later. Even I got into the water towards the end of the day. Dad had a smile plastered on his face the whole time, and grandpa was happy to be invited along for the adventure. 

2. Monday night we drove to Boise and stayed the night. The kids were bickering about who had to share a bed with Tate, and I had just about had it with the fighting. So I told Tate he could have the pullout bed all to himself and Ethan and Jett could duke it out for the queen. But dad had a different opinion and made Tate move into the queen with Jett. Ethan refused to sleep on the pullout and just found a spot on the floor. I offered Grandpa the pullout and he said no way was he going to enter the fight. So he slept on the floor too. Sigh. 

3. Tuesday we took the long drive home in time to get Jett to his soccer game and Tate & Ethan to back-to school night. Yay for back to school!

4. Ethan also had tryouts for Hard Knox that night. His tryout went well and he was offered a spot on the team. He accepted, but he’s not so sure he wants to play with them. He expects to make the 9th grade basketball team, and he’s worried about being over scheduled with school ball, Hard Knox, volleyball, piano and homework. It’s going to be a busy year for him!

5. Thursday was the first day of school, and I think it went well for everyone. First day of kindergarten for Tate! He’s in Mrs. Stark’s class and she is the best kindergarten teacher ever. Jett didn’t have any of his friends in his class this year, so I’ve been worried about how he would feel at school. But he’s been really positive and seems to like his teacher a lot. Ethan is too cool for school right now, but I think it will be good for him to be back on a routine. Blake has a morning home release period and I think that’s going to be great for him to be able to sleep in a bit. It’s of crazy that I have a kindergartener and a senior this year! Not to mention a missionary and a college student. Man, I’m an old lady.

6. I was scheduled to work at Davis High on Thursday and Friday. It was really fun to be back in the auditorium of the school where I spent so much time as a kid. And it was great to be there working with a life-long friend that I met at Davis. And I got to take photos of kids that belong to my friends! Talk about a time warp. I had to be there from 7-3, so I wasn’t able to take Tate to school or be home when he was done for the day, and I was really bummer about that. I’ve never missed a kindergarten first day before! But luckily dad covered the morning for me and took lots of photos.

7. Friday was the opening game for Farmington football. It was a home game against Syracuse and it did not go well.  Dang it. Blake was really excited about their season and said the team was going to be much better than last year. But Syracuse dominated the game and it was really disappointing. Hopefully this week’s game against Bountiful High is better.

8. Saturday we had the Stone Family Reunion at Barnes Park with dad’s extended family and it was fun to visit with aunts, uncles, and cousins. When we got to the park and big storm rolled in and it poured rain, but luckily we were nice and dry under the pavilion and the rain cooled everything down. Unfortunately the rain came with lightning, and Jett’s afternoon football game got delayed and delayed and ultimately cancelled. I can’t remember ever having a football game cancelled for bad weather! So now Jett’s team is going to scrimmage on Monday night and that’s going to conflict with his soccer practice. He’s got a lot of sports conflicts right now, and eventually he’s going to have to choose one sport over another. He’s not so hot on football right now, but that’s what dad wants him to play, and frankly it’s what he’s best at. He was invited to play on a comp baseball team as well, but there just wasn’t time to squeeze all of that in.

9. That evening Tate got to go to the circus with Gavin, and Jett had a fun pool party with his soccer team. Ethan and Blake went out with friends. Dad got a much-deserved nap, and we enjoyed some tv time together. Not a bad weekend!

10. Michael finished up working on the river this week. And of course instead of coming home he rounded up some buddies to go backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains. He should be home sometime this week and stay for a week or two before school starts back up for him. I’m looking forward to having him home for a little bit!

Sending all my love to you Ty!

—Mom

Ps. We had a back-to-school bishop’s fireside for the youth tonight and Bishop Hyde spoke about happiness. I thought I’d share some of my notes:

Genetics (50%), circumstances (25%), and habits (25%) affect your happiness. Habits can change your circumstances and your genetics. 

Arthur C Brooks - 4 pillars of Happiness:
1. Faith 
2. Family
3. Community
4. Meaningful work

Happy Habits from Hank Smith:
1. Be around people who are happy
2. Spend money on other people 
3. Cut down on screen time
4. Talk to people in person
5. Laugh a lot (20 seconds of laughing is equal to 3 minutes of strenuous rowing)
6. Listen to uplifting music
7. Exercise and eat a healthy diet
8. Go outside a lot
9. Get enough sleep (go to bed earlier!)
10. Tune in to the spiritual 

Bishop Hyde:
- Pray on your knees!
- Take the time to pray, come to church and learn, read scriptures. Build your testimony!
- A crumpled, stomped on $20 bill still holds its value at $20. No matter your circumstances YOU have value as a child of God.