Fantastic Adam,
Happy October (The Spookiest Time of the Year)! Happy three months being out on your mission (just in case you missed it, it was on Oct.1). Your Mom knows all of the big anniversaries of your mission service: New Years Day is six months, April Fools will be 9 months and July 1 will be a year (big dates in my world as I miss you much). We are so happy that you are enjoying your mission and are finding so much joy in building the Lord's Kingdom. There is nothing you could be doing greater than the work you are about now, so work hard. The real highlight of our week is being able to talk to you in person and hear all about the continuing wild adventures of Elder McMullin. We talked with Aunt Patrece and Uncle Steve yesterday and they told us how much they enjoy reading your letters each week. I guess Grant was the write two sentences home a week missionary (lame) so your letters are refreshing and fun for them, you do such a nice job. We also hope you got your new camera and new computer bag (both should have come yesterday) and that you got an appointment to get the bracket on your permanent retainer fixed.
We hope you are also enjoying General Conference and the wonderful talks being given. Civil unity is a huge theme this Conference, one for which we all need. I really loved President Oaks talk about the First Amendment Right of 'Peaceable Assembly'. He explained the fault of all of the 'Black Lives Matter' Riots of the summer so well--- we do not have the right to violent demonstration under the Constitution. I want to take his explanation and use it when I teach Constitution because it was so clear of how to have civil disagreements the right way (his is a lawyer by profession and a former Utah Supreme Court Justice so he knows his subject well). I love to feel the steadying hand of prophets during this turbulent time. We love you so much and are so proud of the service you are giving!!!!
Highland Happenings
Lucky Luke News:
The big news of the week is American Fork High School Marching Band just swept every award again at the second competition of the season in Logan. They spend so much time cleaning their show this past week and it really looked good yesterday night when they crushed the other competitors by five points. They took outstanding music, visual, color guard, and drum line as well taking first place. The band director listened to the judges comments on the show on the bus ride home from the previous show (Herriman) and he told the band that three of the judges were laughing joyously at the fun of the show! No one looks as good as they do and no one sounds as good as they do--- it is so fun to watch them. Luke was fighting a cold yesterday (no not COVID, just a regular cold-- I checked :) and so we were worried how he would do, but he did great, put his whole heart into it and slayed it. He got home about 1:00am this morning not covered in glitter this week as the baritone celebration got rowdy this week. They each get a bottle of Martenelli's apple cider an toast their big win as a section and then take big swigs then shake the bottles really hard and spray each other with the remaining drink. Luke was dripping wet and had to have a shower before he could go to bed, but he had an epic time. In other news Luke is not liking AFHS hybrid schedule where they have split the student body in half and half are in school for two days while the other are online and then they switch. He says homework is so much harder because the teachers don't explain it as well online and everything takes so much longer to figure out. The end of first quarter is next Wednesday so we have our fingers crossed that all will go well with Luke's grades (as he has never gotten an A - he is a pretty safe bet). As you saw from the video Luke sent you he lit his hand on fire in Chemistry and it scared his Mom to death, even though no one was injured. This school year has been the busiest Luke has ever had and he is handling it like a boss.
Delightful Dad News:
Dad's foot is still a pain!!!! We hope that he can get some relief as he goes to a podiatrist (foot doctor) this week, but he is still hobbling around in his boot. I think Dad was more sad to miss the deer hunt this year than Luke was especially when he learned that Garn got a massive five point Elk (the same size as the one hanging in our big garage). All of Garn's boys were up with him (except Bryant) to help get it out, but Dad still wishes he could have been there. Patrick also got his first buck deer this year (smaller 2 point -- and he couldn't have been more proud!). No one else got anything, so I see it as Uncle Garn's blessing of having a missionary out :). Dad also made final plans for the rocket booster tanks from Florida to find their final home in the landfill in East Carbon-- it takes a lot of work to move something that big so far. On a very sad note Dad's oldest cousin Jeff (Todd and Lindsey McMullin's older brother) died this week. He just retired in March from his accounting job of 50 years and was beating cancer when he contracted COVID. He seemed to be doing OK for awhile but COVID caused pneumonia in his lungs and after that he went really fast. It was a big shock for the entire McMullin family. We went to a viewing for just family yesterday and it was so sad. They took Jeff's body from Jenkins Soffe Mortuary to the South Jordan Cemetery on the back of his tractor. His sweet widow Claudia climbed into the cab of the tractor being driven by her son and sat on the fender just like she had done for 49 years with her husband as he cut hay. It was a moving experience as the family then walked to the cemetery following the casket on the tractor. You never know what life is going to bring. On a more positive note Dad is becoming a master lawn mower since you left. He always makes Luke mow the front islands of the Old home but the back is looking as good as the front these days. Dad is also 'Mr. Dependable' when it comes to serving as a Band Dad. He couldn't help load the band to go to Logan because of the funeral, but he stayed up till midnight to travel down to Dear Old AF High to work hard for an hour to unload them and take Luke's six bottles of Martenelli's to the baritones so they could celebrate their win -- an amazing guy your Dad!
Marvelous Mom News:
The band had a chili and soup cooking competition this week to feed the band kids during a six hour cleaning camp. Dad and I volunteered to help serve and I entered my chicken and wild rice soup into the competition and guess what. . . . I won best soup!!!!! I got a cute red apron with the band logo embroidered on the front. I have not won anything in a long time so it was super exciting for me (see the picture bellow of the huge trophy- ah.... I mean apron :). Just so you do not think I won because I was the only one who entered a soup, there were about 20 soups there that I beat out (victory tastes ----savory). I am also half way though the two UEN classes I am taking this fall, a big deal as I have really had to stretch my technology muscles to complete. I even submitted my last assignment all by myself, Luke didn't have to help me at all--- he was so proud of me! We also had the fantastic opportunity to have our first Kick-Butt McMullin Work Party this fall as we pulled all of the annuals and trimmed all of the bushes and perennials in the front yard. Then we planted about 600 tulips and seven flats of pansies and put out all of the pumpkins from the garden. We also mowed, trimmed, and blew the front yard---whew. It took all . . .stinkin. . . day. . . to do (notice in the 'before' picture that it was so early in the morning that the carriage lights are still on) and we didn't finish until 5 (now look at the 'after' pictures and oh and awe). At which time we all drug out tired butts in for a dinner of cereal and watched movies for the rest of the night. We really missed you as you add so much spice to conversations and an extra pair of hands is such a blessing on that kind of day (if you had been there were usually would have been able to put up the outside Halloween decorations, which we didn't get to). A major advancement of our technique this year is we didn't do the 40 wheelbarrows full of annuals and trimmings to the back like in years past instead we loaded Ladasha's bed and made three dump trips (it was revolutionary). As we move into winterizing both the Old Home and the Highland Hacienda there will be many Kick-Butt McMullin Work Parties to come. A positive about so much work to be done is that the fry sauce and Diet Dr. Pepper are flowing in great abundance :).
News From The Hood:
- Aunt Pam and Uncle Garn are flying out to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this Friday Oct. 9, to go with Bryant (Elder McMullin) through the temple for his first time! They are so excited to see him and share in this wonderful experience. They are flying out and coming back all in one day so its going to be fun and exhausting.
- Dave Collier had his 70th birthday bash this past week. He looks so good and acts so young you would never know he was that age. Robin ordered the cutest sign for the front lawn (see picture below) and I want to order the same kind of thing on the day you come home from your mission -- although it won't be to wish you a happy 70th birthday :)
- Makenna Kondel now Christensen, received her endowments in the Mount Timp Temple this last week. The only ones that could attend were Kari and Neil and Uncle Tom and Aunt Dixy, but they were so thrilled to be able to be with her. Their sealing date is not until next month, but they are slowly being able to make their wedding in June--- eternal. Weird COVID year.
- We were sad to hear that the Bushman's that moved into the Bringhurst home all have COVID this week. We are really scared for the wonderful little girl (I can't remember her name) who is in the wheelchair. We are praying for them and ask that you will as well.
- Another sad happening of the week is Case Leloux's younger brother died of a brain clot, he was only 45. We visited and took Case and Roxann a statue of Christ and a sympathy letter, they were very shook up and sad.
- Lone Peak High School Marching Band won first in the 6A small band division in Logan. They don't compete against AF or the other big bands but they ruled the small bands. Go Knights! (Luke edit- AF Still won. LP beat the little schools, and it's not nice to crush little school dreams. I am ashamed of you.)
- The leaves are turning very fun colors and their is a bit of a nip in the air Autumn has officially arrived in Highland.
Well my beloved boy that is a summary of our busy week. We miss you so much and are sending you lots of loving thoughts and air kisses. Stay safe and healthy and work hard everyday. I remember thinking at the beginning of my mission that it would last forever, but the time goes by so fast. Make every day your best effort and one you would be proud to give our Heavenly Father and you will do a mission right!
All Our Love!!!
Mom & Dad
Pictures:
1. Patrick's deer
2. Brother Collier's sign
3. Our yard after A butt load of yard work
4. Garn's elk
5. Mom's splendid trophy
6. Fire Fest 2020
