Basket Ball Ty

Today we were so excited for Tyler--He made the SOJO Basketball team--
a difficutlt feat we know because of so much competition.
We give a lot of the credit to 2 older brothers to show him the way and teach
him how to play since he was 4 years old

Mom's Surgery

Today I spent in St Mark's Hospital waiting room with Beckie and Dad waiting and waiting for
my mom to come out of surgery.  She had  a hysterectomy for her endomitrial cancer.
She finally got to her room around 8 pm.  So I was only able to visit with her for a few minutes

Missionary, Temple & Blessings

 

Hola Familia

Hmmm I'm never really sure where to start. But this week was really good and bad too haha.

Bad news first. I was soooo sick this week. I ate at Hermana Moreno's house and that's never good news with her house that smells like cat pee. And the food isn't too good either, obviously because I got really bad food poisoning! I threw up so many times that night I literally didn't sleep at all. And then the next day were exchanges so I still had to get up and work. I was so tired and still felt sick ugh It was a miracle I made it. The worst part is that we eat at her house every thursday. I don't know how I'm going to eat there again...wish me luck...

The good news is still the Perez family! We haven't taught them Word of Wisdom or tithing yet but they learned about it at a fireside last night and they seemed fine. I was so nervous during the fireside because the speaker kept going on and on about how Mormons keep the word of wisdom and then he said we don't watch TV on sundays. I was just dreading what the Perez family was thinking! I wanted to say, "Hey I watch TV on sunday!" But after they seemed fine. It's almost like they're willing to do whatever it takes. One cool thing is that the mom, Josefa hasn't come to church yet because she is always working. But her boss recently changed her schedule so that she doesn't work Sundays anymore! So we look on target for the fifth of december still!

Oh more good news! I'm not getting transfered! However, Elder Bunch is. I feel bad because he can't see the Perez family get baptized! But he was a good trainer. A little change will be nice though I'm not going to lie.

Rene and Ahorra and Hector are all doing good. However all still need divorces. It's kinda funny praying for people to get divorced ha ha. But they'll all be baptized as soon as that happens. Hopefully in one more transfer.

One thing we have a problem with is that we don't have a lot more legit investigators. We need to pray that we can find more people who have been prepared to hear the gospel.

That's so cool how Ben is from Manasseh too like dad. that's wierd that we're all different. I wonder how that affects future events and responsibilities. But anyways that's so cool!

That's cool about the temple story! i've always wanted to just walk around the temple. I tried once but got in trouble. That's cool that dad saw Ashlee's parents and Jake. That's crazy that he's leaving! I feel so bad for Ashlee! She always tells me how hard it's going to be for her for Jake to leave. But I know she'll be ok because she's such a tough girl! That's too bad she's sick though! It's kinda funny we were sick the same week though I thought ha ha
Thats a bummer that Ty got cut from basketball. But wow he made it so far! He'll make the freshman team for sure! I'm jealous of his skillzz.

It sounds like Kaitlyn and Brycen are having fun too! Tell them I miss playing with them!

I'm excited to hear that Jenessa is taking voice lessons. she's such a good singer already!

I just miss you all so much! But don't worry I'm still having lots of fun here!

Oh more good news. I might actually get some Texas BBQ today becasue we're going out so i'm going to try to talk my district into it.

Well that's about it this week. I'll let you know about my new companion next week!

Love you all! Miss you.

Love,

Elder Soutas.

Dear Jordan/Elder Soutas

¿Cómo estas?  I hope you are feeling good this week  We received your pictures this week and it was fun to look at them.

I will send you another picture of the family when I get one.  The one I sent was the only copy I had of that one because the photographer

makes you buy all the copies and doesn't give access to the digital.

How is the Perez famiy doing?  I have been praying for them each day.  Especially that they will accept the lessons you 

give them on tithing and the word of wisdom  

How are your other investigators doing? 

Today was a special day for Ben   he received his patriarchal blessing from Pres. Skouby.   The most interesting part was before the blessing.

President Skouby just wanted to talk for a few minutes before he started.  He said he felt prompted to ask Dad and me if either of us were of tribe of manasseh

He actually thought maybe it would be me, but Dad said he was.  he also asked if anyone else in family or Dad's family was Manasseh and Dad said no

After the blessing, President Skouby said he knew that Ben was Manasseh as soon as he sat down and that asking us just confirmed it to him

So I told Dad  now he has a friend..in Manasseh  I told them that you were of mixed blood but primarily Ephraim.

Let's see...I think everything I tell you about, Dad has already wrote about  but another really cool thing that happened this week is that we went to the SL temple with Grandma Elaine and Gpa Allen to do some sealings of family names.  We got there late because Dad had been delayed at his office so we went into the sealing room and they were almost finished with all of the family names.  There were 6 daughters to seal to parents, so Dad and I were the parents and Beckie was the daughter.   And then that was it --the session was over.   It was only like 10 minutes the shortest temple experience ever.  Except then the sealer left us in the room and we were able to all just stay and quietly talk which we thought was unusual to be left in the temple without any worker with us.  Then we all decided we wanted to go into the celestial room.  They let us do that since we were dressed appropriately.  We all just sat in the beautiful celestial room. 

 Then Dad decided to start wandering the temple halls   He wanted to find the Holy of Holies - he never did, but he found the room where James E Talmage wrote "Jesus the Christ" and  Beckie showed us the hallway where President Smith told his granddaughter Allie that he had seen Jesus

(Beckie knew about it because she had taken a tour of the Temple with her student ward when she was at the U)

Anyway it was really cool to just kind of walk around the SL temple and look in some of the rooms

Then while I was getting dressed  -Dad saw Ashlee's parents and Jake.  They were just coming to the temple.  he got to talk with them for a few minutes.  I feel bad that I didn't get to see them.  They did say that Ashlee has been sick this week.  So I texted her later.  She said she is starting to feel better.

It will also be a difficult week for her and the family since Jake is leaving on Wednesday for his mission.  So we are praying for her

               

 Kaitlyn, Brycen and Tyler have all been sick this week with colds too.  As Dad told you Tyler had a tough week when he got cut from BBall tryouts.  He did very well though.  He made it through the first 2 cuts and there were only 8 - freshmen left.  We will see how tryouts for SOJO go they are this week

Kaitlyn had a primary activity days service project and they made dinner for Bro lowell and Sis June Sorenson  So they took it to them and stayed and played games with them. That was a good experience for her.

Brycen went to classic skating for Collin Crow's birthday.  I don't think he did too well at skating but he still had fun   Jenessa has started taking voice lessons from Hope Shulsen so she is practicing for a Christmas recital where she will sing at a rest home.  She is doing a duet with Lizzie.

          Ben went on his date with Emily Christensen to Bingham Ball.  She is such a pretty girl.  Ben looked
          so handsome too!

         

Last night Dad and I went out with the Thomas' for dinner   We went to  Ruby River.  Now whenever we go to a Steak Place - I think of you in Texas

Well that's our week recap    

We pray everything is going well as  you serve.  I know Heavenly Father will watch over you as you testify of our Savior.  I am so thankful for Him and for his loving and infinite atonement.

We love you Forever

Mom & Dad

Chocolate Soup

Last night we went to Kelly and Bev's for dinner.  They asked me to bring hot fudge sauce, so I thought I would post the recipe here.  I got the recipe from Your Home Based Mom one of my fav blogs.
This is sooo good and chocolatey I really really could eat a bowl of this!


Mom’s Hot Fudge Sauce
2 C chocolate chips (your choice – dark, semi sweet or milk)
1 can  (1 1/3 C) evaporated milk
1/2 C butter
2 C powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Melt chips, butter, milk and powdered sugar.  Bring to a boil.  Cook for 4 minutes – stirring constantly.  Take off heat and allow to thicken.  Add vanilla

Letter to Jordan

Thought I'd recap my week here with my letter to Jordan

 

 

Dear Jordan/Elder Soutas

 

Hola, How has your week gone?

How did things go for the Perez familia?  I have been praying for them all week.  I pray the Holy Ghost will testify to them

and that they will desire to be baptized.   

 

I actually hope you don't get transferred yet..it seems like you haven't been there long enough be transferred yet and you are having some great investigators. 

 

Love your pirate ross stories, they are so funny.

 

So are you feeling any better?  Is it the same type of cough like in the MTC?  and do you still have an inhaler? or do you need another one?

I have to admit I don't even know how long the medicine would last in an inhaler and how often you would need to get one.

 

Here's what happened this week

Monday - got ready for Tyler's birthday and made chocolate cake and tried to track down the pair of shoes he wanted.  Finally, I just went home and picked him up and took him to pick out a pair--so much easier

We went to Olive Garden for dinner so that was nice.

 

Tues - Not much to report just housework, grocery shopping

Wed - same -  I really do keep busy its just all boring stuff

 

Had Parent Teacher conferences for Brycen and Kaitlyn  and they are both doing great.  I do have to say I have such smart kids you all are so amazingly smart!

 

This week the moment that stands out for me is when I was feeling tired and lazy and didn't really want to do anything.  It was on Thursday

Anyway, I decided to get going and get the house cleaned and try to make it to the temple.  I kind of set a deadline for myself that I needed to leave for the temple by 12:30 so that I could be back in time for the kids to be out of school.  Well I made the deadline and at the recommend desk, the brother said "Welcome to The House of Peace".   That just really had a profound affect on my mood and I really have felt so much peace this week since then. 

We also performed the "Joseph" musical on Thursday night and 2 times on Saturday night for the Stake.  It actually was a lot of fun.  Now Kaitlyn really wants to be in a 'real' play, so I'll have to check out that possibility.

I'll let Dad and the boys fill you in on all of the sports!  You'll be happier this week  :)

 

Dad bore his testimony on Fast meeting today since he was conducting.  He told of his experience of being sick last week and then praying and feeling better just in time for his meetings and then getting sick again just after his last appointment.

When Dad gets home in a few minutes we are going to Kelly's for dinner.  We haven't been there since August but time flies.  I can't believe how fast the Holdiays are coming.  do you think you will be going to Michelle and Brent's for Thanksgiving dinner?  If you don't get permission for that, what do you think you will do that day?

 

Ben is also getting his Patriarchal Blessing next Sunday.  President Skoube will be giving his blessing.  I'm really looking forward to that.

 

Thank you so much for your wonderful service as a missionary and for following the example of our Savior.  It is a wonderful blessing to have a missionary son.  We love you so much.   Have a happy week.

 

Mom & Dad

Joseph and The amazing Technicolor Dream Coat

Jenessa, Kaitlyn and I had a lot of fun in our Ward's mini musical version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.


Jenessa was in a short dance number, where they danced with ribbons.  Kaitlyn and I were in the Choir.


We hung out most of the night in the "green room" and had sandwiches and snacks.  I made some yummy chocolate chip cookies and 7 layer taco dip.

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
From Cook’s Illustrated
Makes about 30 cookies

2 1/8 c bleached all-purpose flour (about 10.5 oz)
1/2 t table salt
1/2 t baking soda
12 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (I don’t use unsalted butter because I never buy it – salted butter works just fine in this recipe when I use it!)
1 c brown sugar (7 oz)
1/2 c sugar (3.5 oz)
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 t vanilla
1-2 c chocolate chips (I use a full 12 oz. package of semisweet chips)

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

Either by hand or with electric mixer, mix butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; mix until just combined. Stir in chips.
Form dough into balls (I use my handy-dandy cookie scoop –
Bake, reversing cookie sheets’ positions halfway through baking, until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy, 15 to 18 minutes (start checking at 13 minutes – these cookies really do need longer baking time than most average cookie dough recipes). Frozen dough requires an extra 1 to 2 minutes baking time. Cool cookies on cookie sheets. Serve or store in airtight container.

Happy 15th Birthday Tyler

Today was Tyler's real birthday.--we celebrated a little early last week at the cousin's halloween party.
I made a yummy chocolate cake and then went shopping to try and find him some new shoes.  The store didn't have the shoes he wanted so after going to 4 more stores, I just came home and took Tyler with me to the mall to pick out some of his own.   I also got him a new indoor Basketball.  Ok I never realized how expensive leather basketballs can be.  I dropped $60 in nothing flat!




We went to Olive Garden for Tyler's birthday dinner.  We like to let the kids choose where they want to go on their birthday.  He ordered the tour of Italy, so that he could have lasagne, chicken parmesean and Fettucine Alfredo.

Back to The House for Dessert

The BEST Chocolate Cake
1 box devil’s food cake mix
1 small pkg Jello instant chocolate pudding mix
1 C sour cream
1 C canola oil
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 C milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 C semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bow mix together all the ingredients except for the chocolate chips.  Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into a buttered and floured cake pan.  I used two 9-inch pie pans.
For cooking time, use the cooking times on the back of the cake box as a guide and add about 10 minutes to that. Check for doneness using a tooth pick.)
Buttercream Frosting
1 C butter
4 C powdered sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 C heavy whipping cream
In a mixer cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue creaming until well blended. Add salt, vanilla, and whipping cream. Blend on low speed until moistened. and then beat at high speed until frosting is fluffy.

Happy 15th Birthday Tyler