Mark Started Working at the Temple

Mark was called and set apart to work in the temple.  Every other Friday night (2x a month) Mark works at the Louisville temple.

Devon's Wisdom Teeth come out

On Thursday, May 29 at 9:30 am Devon had his appointment to get his wisdom teeth out by Dr. Jamie Warren.

Devon was an excellent patient.  He got a little faint either from the IV or the laughing gas, but he quickly recovered and endured the proceedure.  Devon's wisdom teeth were very high (they probably didn't need to come out) and so they were a tough job. 

Devon's doctor warned us that he would have a lot of swelling and pain because of the teeth's position.  Amazingly, after the first day, Devon really didn't have any pain.  He did however, have swelling.

Devon was a strong cookie - he didn't have any kind of "funny" reaction to the laughing gas like Jessica and Marissa.  He was very child-like but he didn't say crazy sentences or make "out-of-the blue" comments.  After an hour he was almost completely back to normal. 

Our biggest challenge with Devon was finding SOFT food that he would like.  We came to realize Devon doesn't really like soft food.  It must be a texture thing.  Luckily we found enough soft foods to make it through the few days that he was required to eat soft foods - bananas, pudding, rice with teriyaki sauce, ... he tried oatmeal (but said he didn't like it).  He doesn't like mashed potatoes, jello, mac and cheese ... ugh.

I think he has a very high threshold for pain and a high ability to handle medicine.

Devon's one great patient. 

By Sunday the stitches came out and he was HAPPY to eat real food again.

I GOT ACCEPTED TO U of L

I got accepted to the University of Louisville!

I'm so excited

I've always wanted to finish my degree in business!  now I can.

Tuition is out of this world, hopefully we can make this happen!!!!

Week 54 - new companion

Hey guys!

Well, like I said last week, we had transfers this week and as I sadly predicted... Sister Burt got transferred :( yup we cried like babies haha.)

We just became such besties here in Calapacuan and we had so much success here together... I really miss her... BUT I’m still here in Calapacuan and I am very happy about that because I just LOVE the people here! Every single area that I go to just seems to get better and better! Hajie, Mhae, and Saricris are doing AMAZING and are seriously like some of my best friends now, and it just amazing to see the huge change in them and their lives. I feel so blessed to be just a small part of it :) 

SO I’m sure you all are wondering who is my new companion?? da da da daaaaa... Sister Enguita! She is sooooo nice! She is from the Philippines down in Mindanao and she's been on her mission for 10 months. Right now I am training her to be an STL and she is just the most humble and sweetest people I've ever met. We are working really hard in our area to bring as many souls to God as we can! 

We have 4 baptisms the week on Saturday!!!! We are super excited for them and we also have more baptisms coming up in June!! I love missionary work, it is the BEST work on the planet :) It may not be the easiest time of my life but it is the best thing for my life. So i also have new housemates in the apartment! Its me, sister Enguito, sister Talent and... Sister Lariosa!!!!! Yup, my trainee is now in my house again!!! we were so excited to see each other again :) I've missed that cute girl. So its approaching rainy season again, and its already flooded a couple times here. 

The day before sister Burt left we forgot our umbrellas that day and on our way home got SOAKED! I mean completely wet as if we had jumped in a pool with our clothes on haha it was awesome :) Well, I'm sure i'll have lots more to tell you next week, but for  now just now that I love you all and know my savior lives. He sacrificed for us and died for us so that we can return to him. I love my Heavenly Father and my redeemer Jesus Christ :) Lets all keep sharing the good news!  Love you all!

Love,

Sister Lowe

sorry no pictures, I forgot my camera back at the apt :)

MY Eagle Scouts

So proud of both my boys for earning the rank of Eagle Scout.  I had to get a photo of them together!!

At the memorial Day breakfast I was able to get a photo of Robert and Devon together in their scout uniforms.  I have wanted this photo ever since Robert made Eagle.  I actually had taken a photo like this, but there was no "film" in the camera... ugh!!!  Today was a very happy day for mommy!

So far behind on my blog

I couldn't believe it.  I went to update the blog about scout camp and realized it had been two weeks since I entered anything - and so much had happened in those two weeks.  Kinda crazy - how could I let that much time slip by?

Well, hopefully I can get it all caught up soon and hopefully I didn't forget something important. 

Respect, Robert and being Grounded :(

For a while now Robert has had an attitude that has been very disrespectful (in my opinion).  We had tried to ignore some inconsequential things, but it was getting out of hand so we came up with a way to help him see how important it is to be respectful to others - mainly me.

See Robert (I'm sure due to "rights" teaching at school) believed he was equal to his parents - and in some ways he is - he is a child of God, just as we are, but what he was forgetting is that we are his parents, not siblings, not friends, not peers - parents.  God entrusted us to take care of him, teach him, love him, guide him.  Not the other way around. 

Somehow he got it in his head he could just talk to us any which way and say rude and hurtful things to make a point.  We don't talk like this at home so it made me wonder where he was getting this influence.  He is wonderful in school, church, etc.  It's just at home that he has this misconception that he can talk any way he wants.  If he talked like that to me at school, he'd be in the office.  It was way out of line!

Well, long story short - it came to a breaking point - and I mean BETSY YELLING at him breaking point.  It took about a minute for her to calm down, and that is when the consequence came out.

As much as soccer is important to you, Respect to others is important to me - so until you learn to be respectful to others, there is no more soccer.  It breaks my heart (literally, I think because I love to watch him play soccer and I know how much he loves soccer - plus try outs are coming up) but I will not allow nor tollerate that type of talk. 

If we allow it now, it will just get worse (as we have witnessed).  He must learn to not say some of the things he thinks. 

So, unfortunately, Robert is grounded from soccer (and other things as deemed by mom) until he can act respectfully towards his parents and siblings.

State Track and Field Championship Meet

Everyone is so excited for the State Track meet.  We are predicted to take first place!!!

Well, the week leading up to the State Meet has been a horrible week for Marissa.  She's been suffering with Asthmatic Bronchitis and hasn't been able to shake it.  The timing is the issue.  If it had come sooner, she'd be better by now, but it came right at the worst time.  She's been on 6 - SIX - medicines (prednizone, z-pack, albuteral, singular, claritin, and sudafed) but they all take time and consistent timing to take effect.

Marissa missed three days of practice and then went back Monday - Wednesday this week but they were all slow days, and tapering.  She hadn't run at full force since the regional meet where this was brought on.

Her race isn't until 8:10 at night.  I really hadn't seen Marissa before the race until she was in the middle of the track for "line ups."  I gave her a thumbs-up, but she did't look to positive.  She smiled back, so I couldn't tell if she was okay or not.  I brought her nebulizer just in case ... I'm so worried.

They line the girls up and off they go.  Marissa is keeping a great pace with the other runners, she and Avery are very close together around 4th or 5th place, but then Marissa starts to fall back.  I keep cheering her on, but she looks like she's struggling - that's to be expected since she has had such a hard time.  No one else knew except her, but she was suffering an asthma attack in silence and didn't know what to do.

Right there between the 3rd and 4th lap her throat starts to close up.  With each lap it gets tighter and tighter, making it harder and harder to breath.  She finishes the race, but then grabs her throat.  That's when I know something is really wrong.  Oh my gosh!!!!

I race out of the stands to her.  She's so weak, she can bearly stand and she has no voice.  She keeps saying she needs her inhaler.  Coach Grimm had already taken off running for her inhaler while I walk with her.  Then Coach Sykora comes running back with it.  Marissa takes two puffs but there is no respite.  UGH!!!  She can't really take any more.  She takes some sips of water and the medicine starts to take effect.  We walk her over to the medic tent for them to check her vitals and administer to her.

OH MY GOSH!!!!  That was the biggest scare - she couldn't breath.  She couldn't breath.

She ran a 2 mile race in 12:34 while having an asthma attack.

Well - the girls went on to finish the last race - the 4x400 and did great - we took 1st place.

As a whole our team was named AA state Champions!!!!  They are the first girl team from NOHS to claim a state championship!  

Amazing Last Game of the Season vs CSC Gold

It's hard to believe that the last game of the season was supposed to be played 10 days prior at home, but tonight, after President's Cup, we are playing for the league championship.  Robert's teammates are still injured so he starts as the outside mid.  He has a GREAT GAME! -- THE WHOLE GAME!

Robert plays most of the first half.  Some exciting plays include Tanner's power shot (but went wide), Robert's corner, and Ian's shot.  He is subbed out to give him a rest since we only have 12 players for the whole game.  Michael comes in and immediately scores our first goal from Tanner's assist.  AWESOME 1-0.  We had a couple more shots - Keller shot, Garrett shot and Henry shot.  Robert was subbed back in - he was out 8 minutes.  We had a few more shots before the end of the half.  1-0.

Robert started the second half.  The shots started firing at CSC Gold right from the start - Tanner shot, Keller shot, Robert had another corner; Henry headed it just outside the goal.  bummer!  Michael took another shot, and then Michael passed to Tanner for a goal.  2-0.

Garrett shot, and then on a great run, Robert passed to Henry and Henry headed it in for our 3rd goal.  3-0. 

Trent was moved to forward and it was as if he was possessed - he wanted a goal so bad and he got one 4-0.  The CSC Gold team really were defeated at this point.  Robert had another corner kick.  It was so good to see him taking chances. 

The game ended 4-0.  WAY TO GO KFJ!!!

I'm Going to the Philippines!!!

I'm so excited!!!

I was at work on Tuesday and noticed that air fairs to the Philippines were going up by $500 dollars.  I called Mark to see if we should book now.  Normally we wouldn't book this far out, but we can't afford for them to continue to rise.

I booked our tickets!!!! 

We are going!!! 

I'm so excited!!!!

Week - 53 - Stellar Week

Hey guys!

Hey I hope Marissa is feeling better! That's really scary :( I'll continue praying for her! So this week has been another stellar week as always! Its SOOOO hot (may is the hottest month in the Philippines) BUT it is great haha. Seriously, Sister Burt and I have just been so blessed in our area here in Calapacuan. We only planned on having 3 baptisms this month and are actually going to have 5! Looks like God have a different plan than we did haha, I'm just happy we were able to find the people he has prepared to hear the gospel. Milagrosa Albino (Mhae's mom) is doing awesome! She reads her Book of Mormon every day and applies what she learns to her own life better than I think I do, haha. John, Jernika, and Jerika are doing awesome and are learning more every day and coming to church every Sunday! They will all be baptized this May 31st! They are so so excited :) Chuck, who is Saricris' brother now wants to learn about the gospel because he's seen such a big difference in his sister so we have been teaching him too and now he has a testimony and wants to be baptized! Mhae has been a great little missionary to her family, her mom is getting baptized next week, she invited her grandma who is in a wheelchair to go to church (and she did!) and now we are teaching her uncle and cousins because she gave them a Book of Mormon and they said they felt the spirit when they read it, something telling them it was true. The Book of Mormon is amazing. I know it is the word of God and I know it changes lives. It changed mine. And it has changed many lives of the people I teach and help here in the Philippines. If you have not read it... READ IT. If you have read it, read it again!! It gives such peace and comfort when you feel like you are alone or don't know what to do in your life.

 

with Mhae's grandma

So besides that, this next week is gonna be interesting... transfer week! I know I'm gonna cry when Sister Burt gets transferred, we are so close and practically real sisters now haha. But I know whatever happens is for a reason and God's plan.

3rd Game at President's Cup - CSC Blue

What a great game for our boys!!!  We are down three players - Ben Carper, Ryan Pamplin and now Trent Arnold.  Robert starts on the left wing.  He is open and calls for the ball.  

Robert receives the ball and dribbles to space.

And then sets up the ball for a play on goal.  She sends it directly to Tanner for a goal but the goalie catches it.  After that Noah shot, Michael shot and Robert shot before Robert passes to Chidum for a goal!  1-0 us

So many shots in the first half.  After Chidum's goal Dillon shot, Chidum shot again ...

We dominated the game.  Robert was moved to midfield and had a super nice shot but the ball went over the goal.

Robert started the second half.  He has played every minute of the game so far.  In the second half Henry scored right away.  Then we took the ball back but there was a foul - Robert took the free kick.  It was a great shot, but he got too much air.  It went over the goal.

We controlled the ball 90% of the time.  The game went on with Michael taking a shot, Ian taking a corner, Ian rebounding his own shot and taking a shot.Robert was aggressive and assertive.  He wasn't intimidated by their size.  In the following few photos Robert dribbles the ball up the side line in a commanding presence and sets up the play for Tanner to shoot one in the goal.

teamwork

Robert and Tanner

Tanner running on

Robert passing through the guys legs to Tanner.  

 After Tanner's shot Garrett had a shot, Noah had a corner, Tanner had another shot, Ian had a corner kick, Garrett to Tanner to keeper.  We had so many SHOTS on GOAL, but NO goal.  After that Tanner had another shot that went over the goal, Ian had a shot - goalie deflected so Robert took the corner kick, Henry headed it but missed.  Tanner shot, Sam shot then FINALLY Tanner passed to Chidum for a goal 3-0.

Robert was moved to defense and started a great play that lead to Dillon scoring GOAL #4.

pass upfield

We had a few more shots - Dillon hand another - it was deflected so he took the corner kick which Ben Levech headed but it went wide.  The game ended with a GREAT WIN 4-0!

Robert had an awesome game - out playing his opponent.

2nd game at President's cup - BSC

This is the second game of the tournament and tensions are high because we just lost the first game.  We will have to win the remaining games and hope that Radcliffe doesn't win the remainder of their games.

We are still down Ben Carper and Ryan Pamplin but now we are down Trent Arnold as our center defender.  UGH!

The game started and everyone is pumped up.  Some players are in different positions from having a few players out.  Robert has a nice pass the Chidum but it is caught by the goalie.  Dillon has a nice pass to Henry for a goal.  We are up 1-0 at half time.

Robert was wide open some times and it frustrates me that his teammates don't cross the ball as much as they could.  He gave them another option.

In the second half, we had some shots - Tanner had one.  Robert was subbed in and just as soon as he came in BSC scored.  now it's 1-1.  We have to step it up.  Ten minutes goes by with the ball going up and back.  We are controlling it most of the time but just can't get to that shot.  Finally Henry passes to Chidum for a goal 2-1.  Then we really get fired up and we earn a corner kick taken by Dillon.  

Robert has a great play where he fights hard to win the ball.  Garrett's also in it, trying to shield but falls.

Robert stays strong!!!

Stays on his side and forces a bad pass so that Dillon intercepts the ball.

Robert does an overlap and is open for the shot.

Game ends - we win 2-1.