Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Mark and Betsy's 25th wedding anniversary

Wednesday was such a special day, but also just another ordinary day.

On one hand it was disappointing that Mark and I could not take time out of our busy schedules to celebrate something so special as our 25th Wedding Anniversary, but on the other hand being understanding and flexible is one of the reasons we have made it this far.

With Betsy in school and it so close to finals week - she could not take time away from her classes.  With Mark's schedule and demands at work, having just taken a week off to go take Devon back to school meant he could not take any more time off right now.  Then add, Robert's soccer games and our church callings - yap!!!  Super hard to get away.

But that does not stop Betsy from doing something BIG and SPECIAL even with a crazy busy schedule.  She bought 25 red balloons and attached one photograph from each year of their marriage to each balloon.  There were red balloons all over kitchen, family room and going up the stairs.  She wanted to show that their love is never ending.


Wedding day

Jessica's birth

Cascades - 1993

Devon's blessing

Bedtime stories 1996

Marissa's brith

Marissa's blessing day

Our Family 1997

BYU Enthusists

Dewey Beach 1999


ZION 1998

Robert's Blessing

Windsor Castle 1999

Dover Cliffs 2000

Bournemouth Beach 2001

Isle of Wright 2001

Our back garden in England

Brighton Beach 2001

Mark at the Madrid Temple

Soccer Parents

Family Reunion 2001

First day of school 2004


Family walks

Support after Betsy's surgery

Hawaii

Cancun - Playa de Carmen

2009

2010 - running Anthem 5K

2011 - sending Jessica to college






Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Game vs CAL - very physical game

Tonight's game is the first game this week - it's Tuesday night at 7:30.  Last year there were lightning delays - let's home that same thing does not happen again.  It's strange how we are playing at CAL again this year when we played at CAL last year.  I wonder why?

Robert started on the outside wing




We started out super strong and out played them the first half of the game.  We were playing without Max Sander in goal and without Mason Rice as center mid.  Blake Reitnauer took Mason's place and Hickenlooper took Max's place.

The referee's are not calling any fouls and CAL is getting more and more physical.  CAL got past Nathan Clark and scores 1 in the first half, we did not score.

The second half was even more physical.  CAL increased their pressure and the NOHS team just played just as tough but we forgot our finesse.  We had several attempts to score and several scares that CAL would score.  The game went back and forth.  CAL scored another goal which really disappointed the NOHS boys.

Game ends 2-0.


Monday, August 29, 2016

Marissa Week 13 - People are Back

Hi everyone!
This week has been great! We have been waiting all summer for this week because...All the college students moved in!!! YAY! Everyday we walk on campus and usually there are no people in sight. But this Thursday we went on campus and there were so many people there! It was so awesome! We just started talking to everyone. I have never been so social in my life. We literally talked to everyone who walked by us. It's weird... but the Lord really helps Sister Brunt and I to figure out who to talk to because there are a lot of members also on campus.

But somehow we always chose to talk to the people who are non members and I know that that is the Lord helping us find those people. We met a lot of non members and got some return appointments with them. Sister Brunt and I kind of have a game of how many people we can talk to and get a return appointments with! Today is when school starts for USU students, this is probably the first time that I am excited for school to start, haha.

Cool things that happened this week were:
- Sister Brunt went on exchanges with Sister Zheng (Chinese), so Sister Lee came with me! She's from Korea and was really awesome on exchanges. We had a lesson with a girl named Jenner and I had to lead the lesson and we taught the restoration and then asked her to get baptized on September 17th... She said "if I find out that these things are true and Pray and ask god if the Book of Mormon is the word of God, then yes I will get baptized that day!" So we were happy!! It showed me that I've learned a lot since I've been out and I can teach the first lesson with out having Sister Brunt there which is so crazy! Sister Brunt has actually never met Jenner because we are always on exchanges when we meet with her, haha.

- The other day we were with the Asian sisters and they are so fun to be with. So when we walk on campus a with them, if they see an Asian person they just start running towards them and then talk to them. It's like a game on where if you see an Asian you just take off towards them, it was so fun! Then they all start speaking Chinese which is where I lose them, but I've learned some phrases actually which is pretty cool. I can say "Dú mó mén jīng dǎogào." Which means read the Book of Mormon and pray! Yep pretty much fluent now... Just kidding:)

- So we met with Jean this week and she told her parents that she wants to be baptized. She said they took it a lot worse than she thought and she said it was an emotional day (she was crying a lot). So we went over to her house and heart attacked her door and gave her candy. She wants to be baptized on the tenth of September now which is fine as long as she is getting baptized!

- Adela is getting baptized this Saturday. We had a lesson with her on Sunday after church and she says that she feels nervous and might want to wait a week, but we told her that she is ready now and just like how she finishes a track race for USU she needs to finish her spiritual race. She felt a lot better after that and wants to be baptized at 6pm on Saturday! So everyone please PRAY for her to get baptized that day at that time!! She needs the Lords comfort to know that she is doing the will of her Heavenly Father.

So it was a pretty good week. My testimony has grown so much since I've been on a mission and I still sometimes think how crazy it is that we are helping Gods children come closer to him through baptism. I can't thank my Heavenly Father enough for letting me go on a mission because it has changed me so much into the person I want to become which is a disciple of Christ. I am so grateful for my amazing companion who has taught me so much! We will be friends for life (I’m going to New Zealand when she gets married, I've already made up my mind haha). I love this gospel and am so happy to be serving the people here in Logan (they are some of the nicest people I've ever met). I love you all and hope you have a great week!


Sister Lowe:)

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Game vs Ryle County

What a perfect day for a soccer game, except for the heat.  It was over 90 degrees today, and the field is lined by metal bleachers that reflect the heat.  During each half the teams will take a water break.  It's Saturday - unfortunately Mark is out of town with Devon.  I am going to have to manage filming, photos and stats all at the same time.  Luckily, some of the JV boys said they would help me with stats.

Robert started on the wing as usual.  The team had some great plays but were not able to convert them into goals.  Several times Mason, Robert and Dylan had the ball in goal position, but the cross, pass or shot was intercepted or blocked.



















It was such a great game.  Everyone played so hard.

The game ended 0-0.

Quote for the Day

"Happiness is found along the way ...
... not at the end of the road.
- Cowabunga Bay (7/30/10)