Playing at the Basketball Game

Josh played at a basketball game with the a few band students.  They practiced a few times and then performed during the game.  I was sick and unable to attend, but Danni went and took these pictures.  It looks like they had a great time.

Practice

Zach, Josh, Jacob, and Freddy

Josh and Freddy

Memorable MondayDevon

Now that Devon is leaving on his mission, I thought it would be fun to look back at pictures that I took of Josh and Devon. Devon is just a year older than Josh, and they have spent many of years together.  It's been so much to watch them grow up when they got together.  We hung out with the Paces often when they were both younger.   It's going to be interesting to see what their relationship will be like when Devon returns.

Devon's Farewell

Devon had his farewell today.  He has grown to be an amazing young man.  His cousins look up to him and he is a great example to them.  He will be serving the people in Chili for 2 years.  It's going to be fun to see him grown on his mission and hear his missionary experiences.  We are going to miss him, especially on our Monday night park outings.  I know that his family will be blessed these next 2 years while he is on his mission.  I know that we can be our testimonies can be strengthened as we follow the examples of the Devon and the missionaries serving in our area.

Devon and his cousins

Group Hug

Josh's Eagle Court of Honor

Josh had his Eagle Court of Honor.  He has worked really hard last year to earn this award.  I was really proud of him.

Leaders: Alex Lee, Bro, Lee, Bro. Smithson, Bro. Connelly, Bro. Kennedy, Bro. Huish, Bishop Beames, Bro. Smith, Bro. Watkins, Bro. Huber, Bro. & Sis. Morris, Bishop Johson, Bishop Curtis, Sis. Curtis, Bro. McKay, Bro, Cochenour, Bro. Bevell, Sis. Favreau, Sis. Grant, Bro. Malmberg

Friends: Heidi Millett, Aubrey Merkley, Jacob Heslop, Jon, Amy, & Chris Boreu, Mitchel McKay, Blake Malmbert, Jocelyn Malmberg, Tyler Baird, Char Baird, Alex Lee, Zack Cochenour, 

Family: Grandma & Grandpa Pace & girls, Grandma & Grandpa Wall, Cortney Richardson, Clawson family, Turley family, Joella Jones

Josh receiving his Eagle

Mom wiping away a tear

Josh pinning his mom

Josh receiving his Mormon Battalion neck slide

Bro. Lee made him a neck slide

Josh and his friends

Josh and his Grandma and Grandpa Pace

Josh and Grandma and Grandpa Wall

Josh and Bishop Johnson

Josh and his parents

Josh in his uniform

Josh and his sisters

Matt Salmon visits Porter

Matt Salmon came to visit Porter because he heard of  the their efforts to help the children in Africa by building water wells.  Porter's Hope Club has an annual fundraiser to earn enough money for 1-2 wells.  Matt Salmon is our US Congressman representative for our district and he planned to visit the school to learn more about the program and recognize the school for their efforts.  Grades 3-6 attended an assembly with Matt Salmon where he talked with them and answered some of their questions.  It was great to see a politicians interact with the students at Porter Elementary.

Memorable MondayPrimary Class

 I was primary secretary and wanted to make nice gifts for our teachers.  I took pictures of the teachers and their classes.  I changed the hue and put the pictures in a frame.  These frames were going to the the centerpieces for the dinner that we were having for the teachers.  Here are the three classes that my kids belonged to at the time.  Emily wasn't born at the time, so there is no picture of her.  Sorry Em!!!

Angela's nursery class

Danni's Primary Class

Josh's Primary Class

MLK Performance

The Mesa Children's Choir performed at the MAC today.  It was so sweet to see Emily up there singing.  There were a lot of other performers as well, so this concert was a lot longer that the others, but the kids really behaved themselves and the community was impressed. This is their last performance and it was a great one.  I will miss Mesa Children's Choir.  Emily doesn't want to do it next year.  I'm not sure she wanted to do it this year, but I'm so glad that she did.

Emmy at the MAC

Emmy, Vivian, and Gwen

Cali's Baptism

Cali was baptized and Danni was a big part of that.  She went with him to all the missionary discussions.  It was neat to see the progress from the very beginning.  I wish Cali the best of the luck.

Memorable MondayMaking Temple Covenants

Linda S. Reeves, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency said "As we renew and honor our covenants, our burdens can be lightened, and we can continually become purified and strengthened so that at the end of our lives we will be counted worthy to receive exaltation and eternal life". I met Sis. Reeves in our ward Relief Society and will remember her emphasis on keeping temple covenants.

Ashley went to the temple on Saturday to receive her endowments.  It was a neat experience to watch her light up at the temple.  She went with her mom often to the temple grounds, so she was ready to make the next step and enter the House of the Lord.  It was a special experience to attend her endowment session and feel her love for her family and her Savior.  

I remember going through the temple for the first time and feeling anxious.  I didn't know what to expect.  I tried to remember everything, but it was too much to remember the first time.  I remember feeling loved by my parents, Jim, and others attending the session.  It's great to go back often and reflect on the covenants that I made.  

Memorable MondaySchedules

It's always so fun to look back and compare my school classes to my kids.  As you can see, they have much harder classes than I did.  I'm so proud of my kiddos.

My 11 grade Schedule                
1- American History / Dance I  
2- Chemistry                               
3- English 11                                   
4- Child Development / Seminary     
5- Orchestra                                  
6- Seminary / American History     
7- Optional Time                              

Josh's 11 grade Schedule
A- Marching Band / Full Orchestra
1- AP Physics
2- AP American History
3- AP English
4- Honor's Band
5- Seminary
6- Pre-Calculus

My 10th Grade Schedule                                     
1- Orchestra                                                          
2- Spanish 1                                                          
3- Seminary                                                          
4- English 10                                                          
5- Health / Speech / Driver's Ed                            
6- Science                                                              
7- Algebra 2                                                        
Health and Speech were quarter classes  

Danni's 10th Grade Schedule
A- Marching Band / Algebra II
1- Color Guard / CP Chemistry
2- Intermediate Acting
3- CP Chemistry / Advanced Fitness
4- Honor's English
5- Mixed Choir (Chorale)
6- Algebra II / Seminary
7- Seminary / -

My 8th Grade Schedule                                          
1- Reading 8                                                        
2- Earth Science                                                    
3- PE 8-6                                                              
4- Intro Algebra                                                      
5- Chorus 8                                                          
6- Beginning Guitar / Beginning Gymnastics              
7- US History                  

Angela's 8th Grade Schedule
1- 8th Grade Reading
2- English 8
3- Social Studies
4- Pre-Algebra
5- Lunch
6- Integrated Science
7- Intermediate Girls Chorus (Divea)
8- Family and Consumer Science / PE