2nd Game vs Manual

The second game of the mustang classic was at North at 8:00 pm.  All the guys think they are going to lose.  I wish they understood the concept of a positive attitude.

Robert starts on the outside left wing.  He is hardly ever passed the ball.  It's as if they are playing 10 v 11.  He takes a few runs on goal but doesn't even get a shot off.  He played 25 minutes and then subbed out.  The half ends 0-0.

pre-game huddle (almost)

on the attack

The second half we don't look as sharp; again our midfield doesn't look to the wing (ugh).  Manual scores on two defense plays.  The game ends 0-2.

NOHS Boys 1st Soccer Game vs Fern Creek - VICTORY!!!

It's that time of year again for FALL SOCCER!!!  I'm so excited and a bit nervous for this season.  Robert will be playing VARSITY ONLY!  The Varsity team is comprised of 2 seniors, a bunch of Juniors and the rest are sophomores with one or two freshman... yikes ... we are young!

The beginning of each season the NOHS soccer teams host the Mustang Classic.  Our first game is Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 8:00 pm on the North field!  (Last year our fields were destroyed so we had to host the tournament at Collins).  It was so nice to have it at NORTH.

Robert started on the wing.  It was so fun to hear his name be announced.  #20 Robert Lowe!!!

The game was very exciting - the ball went back and forth, but the other team just didn't have a good shot, whereas we did.  Our first goal was off a FREE KICK.  Matthew Morris took the kick with his left foot and hit the top right corner - beautiful shot.   1-0

Our second goal was off a long play where we passed the ball around a lot, then Grey Kinnison took a shot, but the goalie blocked it, but didn't catch it so Robert ran up on the ball and booted it in with his left foot!!!  2-0

Our third goal was a very quick goal.  Kaleb Patterson passed the ball to Keyon while Robert was making a run.  Keyon passed it long and Robert ran up on it with no hesitation.  Goalie and Robert both went for the ball, it popped up and Grey Kinnison followed it with a shot into the goal!!!  3-0

At half time we were 3-0.

Robert started the second half.  We didn't score but we had a few opportunities.  The coach subbed the starters out a little faster (considering we have a 3-0 lead) but then we got scored on 3-1 ... 10 minutes later 3-2.  YIKES!!!

Luckily the game ended.  3-2.  WE WON!!!

Devon - Week 61 Veronica Got Baptized

Veronica got baptized and confirmed this week.  I forgot to tell you but veronica asked me to baptize her. I GOT TO PHYSICALLY BAPTIZE VERONICA!!! 

 I am always happy to hear about and witness a baptism.  I have been a part of the teaching process for a couple people that got baptism but I was never there for the entire teaching process.  I have been part of the finding, the teaching, and the baptizing but I have never done it all with any one person.  Veronica was the first person that I have found, taught, and baptized.  There was a lot of preparation that went into the baptism to make sure that everything stayed good.  I also realized that when she goes into the temple next year I won’t be there :( because my mission will be over that makes me really sad.  I will tell you more about the baptism later.

Zone Conference was really good.  I didn't really pray for it but I thought about some things that I should study and get better at and it was so surprising that all the talks had something that I desired. 

I wish that I was not cursed with slow hands that type slow and that we had to leave earlier then you are aloud. 

Devon - week 60 TRUST

This week has been a stressful week but everything worked out in the end.  First we taught the three commandments that most people have a problem with to Veronica, which are Word of wisdom, Law of Chasity, and the Law of Tithing.  So i was stressed about it because if she had a problem with one of those then we would have had to push the baptism date back.  Everything went great and now we just have to do the finishing touches on the baptism program.  

We were trying to teach Noen more often so we sent a text to his farther.  Sadly his farther texted us that Noen will not be taking the lessons anymore at the time being.  That was really depressing but I believe that missionaries will be able to teach him in the future.

This week and these next weeks we are going to put extra time in making our teaching pool bigger.  If we want more people to teach then we need to talk to more people and that's what we are going to do.  We have been having better ward council after President Winder's Training.  We have gone the extra mile to get members in the ward council more involved in the missionary work. Whenever the Ward council wants us to visit someone most missionaries contact the people that week and most of those contacts happen early in the week.  We now have been informing the ward council member/s the day of when we contacted the person.  It’s a small thing but it makes a difference. It shows the Bishop and the ward council that we will do what they ask, we do it fast, and that we are focus and work hard. There has been great blessing from this.  

The funny thing is that we go to try and meet the people that the ward council tell us to and they don’t live there anymore.  However, we have had great talks with the people that now live there and hopefully they can become investigators.  We hope that we will get some more new investigators from it.

We were so happy to see Veronica at church this week.  I get a little stressed when it’s an investigators first time at church because I really want them to have a great first experience at church. On this Sunday we had to go to two ward councils.  The second ward council happened during the second block of church or during gospel principles class.  So we couldn't be there in that class with her.  I want to make sure that Veronica made it to gospel principles.  Elder Belden said we should have a member take her so that we make it to ward council on time and Veronica could meet some ward members.  He said it would be killing two birds with one stone.  His logic mad scene so we went with it.  We ask Br Nguyen (Wind) to take her since his wife teaches that class and because he is an awesome member.  After we and the ward council talked about missionary work we were allowed to leave so we went to gospel principles class to be with Veronica.  We found out that an older sister of the ward intervened and told Br Nguyen that she would take her.  Well she took her to Gospel Doctrine!!!   What make it worse is that I already knew what gospel principles lesson was, it was about baptism!!!   We didn't change the scheduled it just happen that that was the lesson that week.  So I was excited about it because it would be a perfect lesson for Veronica that is about to be baptized. However, she learned about Stephen and how he was martyred. So my plans for church failed.  If any of you know me you know that I don’t like my plans to fail especially ones that I can control.  The lesson in this is not to not trust others and do everything yourself but, it is do your best with the circumstances and to Trust in the Lord.  My stress did not leave me until I turned my thoughts to the Lord and thought maybe this was the Lords will and I also remembered that the Lord is always there to help us especially when things don’t go the right way.

She enjoyed Church. 

New York, New York (need to finish and photos)

Mark arrived in New York Thursday night.  Betsy got them a hotel room right in Time Square!!!

Mark, Robert and Marissa checked into the hotel and then went down to the square to bask in all the excitement.  They were able to get their faces up on the big screen!  How exciting!!!

I feel so left out.  I didn't get to do any of the fun things in Philadelphia and now I'm missing out on New York.  I'm the one that arranged all the sites and hotels, but I don't get to enjoy any of it.  I'm glad they are having such a great time, though!!!!

Perfect day in Philadelphia

Robert, Marissa and Mark left on Wednesday around 12:00 pm for the long drive of their "Last trip before college" for Marissa.

Mark has always wanted to take the family to New York and Philadelphia, Palmyra, etc. ... but we just haven't had the time to get away.  This year Mark decided to just take the time since Marissa quit at Tinseltown on 8/1.

Wednesday they made it to Harrisburg and spent the night there.  The next morning they made it into Philadelphia and had a wonderful day.  Mark and the kids took a bike tour of the city.  They got to see all the sites!!!

Robert enjoying a Philly Cheesesteak

biking together - sister and brother

this is soooo cool

at the contemporary art musuem

What a great way to get around.

They also enjoyed Philly Cheese Steaks - yum!!!

Next stop is to see Gumby (Brian Monson) in Wilmington, PA and then head up to New York.

Devon - week 59 - Leadership, Great week, new people

LEADERSHIP EXCHANGES were this last Wednesday and I was With Elder Bowler.  HE is a stud.  He reminds me a lot of Elder Bodine. We killed it that day and taught 7 lessons.  This leader ship exchange is different from the ones in the past because I am a senior companion so I got to attend a meeting that day taught by President Winder about how to work better with Member and help them do missionary work.  My focus is to use members and inform them more in the missionary work.  This week we work a lot with members and help them get involved like bring the RSP to meet Veronica and the YWP to a less active house.

We had 8 referrals this week and did our best to contact them.  While we were contacting we started talking to Cortani.  She was downstairs smoking when we meet her as we were talking she stopped smoking and we had a really good conversation with her.  We went from strangers to acquaintance to friend and we were just being missionaries teaching and talking. We taught about the Ten Commandments, the importance of reading the Book of Mormon and how it will bless your life, the importance and sanity of Marriage.  We also committed her to read the Book of Mormon and to stop smoking.  She awesome. She is keeping her commitments and she’s not even an investigator (no specific appointment).    

Veronica baptism is scheduled for the Aug 15 at 4.  For now hopefully it won’t change :). 

Say Goodbye to Jessica's child room - Say Hello to the "Guest room"

Saying goodbye to the cheerful fun loving turquoise ...

Say hello to the neutral, comforting soft color of gray ...

New Guest Room

This was Jessica's bedroom for the past 10 years, but it was time to change it into an appropriate GUEST room for visitors.  Considering that we don't get visitors very often, it will most likely be Jessica and Tate's room, when they come to visit so I wanted to do something super fun with it.  I had a few different ideas but the one that stood out was ENGLAND.  When I talked to Jessica and Tate about a Theme - they suggested PARIS, so I knew I was on the right track!  

Welcome to ENGLAND in KENTUCKY

We painted the walls a soft gray to accent the royal/navy blue and red tones!  I'm so excited to finish decorating this room!

HARROD's Bear with BUILD-A-BEAR

To Devon from Mom

Hi Devon,

Wow, it sounds like last week was a super great week for you.

Can you send me the dropbox address again?  THANKS!!!!

I thought of you this week almost with every scripture I read.  Then our home teachers came and they shared D&C 84!!!  I'm sure you know it.  It's all about how your life will stay in order even if you serve a mission ...

D&C 84:33 - "For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing their bodies."

D&C 84:38-40 - "And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom, therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.  And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.  Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

You are so blessed to to receive the priesthood and to receive the blessings the Lord promises from being a righteous priesthood holder.  You have the SPIRIT with you at all times!  

D&C 84:65-68:  And these signs shall follow them that believe - In my name they shall do many wonderful works ... cast out devils, heal the sick ... 

D&C 77-   :  "And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power;

For I suffered (allowed) them not to have purse or script, neither two coats.  Behold I send you out to prove the world, and the laborer is worthy of his hire.  And any man that shall go and preach this gospel of the kingdom, and fail NOT to continue faithful in all things, shall NOT be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed.  And they shall not go hungry, neither athirst.  Therefore, take ye no thought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed.  ... For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things.   Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself."

Devon - I'm so proud of you, for you honor your Heavenly Father, and he blesses you with HIS spirit.  I am so proud of you for trusting in the Lord to sacrifice your time to serve him, and in return the Lord will bless you that the things (schooling) will take care of itself - meaning you will be able to go back to school and retain or relearn all that is needed!  I'm so proud of you for being a senior-companion which means you have earned the trust and respect of your Mission President.  We are most proud of you for keeping yourself worthy of the priesthood and keeping the commandments.  I bet you feel the Love of the Lord everyday!  He loves you so much - you are a valiant servant!  I'm so proud of you for honoring your Scout Law and Oath.  Your character speaks for itself.  

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH DEVON!!!!

Have a great day,
love 

Mom!!!! 

Devon - week 58

We had another lesson with Veronica and taught the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We set a date for Veronica baptism on the 15th of Aug.  She is super awesome. She has not been to church yet so we challenged her to come even though she has work on Sunday. She said she would ask to get some Sundays off and told us that she wants to be more committed to the church.  Most of the time we ask people to church they give us some excuse why they can't come.  It was quite astonishing when you don't get a similar response to a question that you ask most people especially the church Question.  I was so happy to hear that she had a desire to do what is right and feel the spirit all the time.  The only thing that is a hindrance is that she needs two Sundays off to go to church and the funny sad thing is that her main fellow-shipper that works with her, works on some Sundays. 

Side note they changed all of the bishopric last week.  So there will probably a lot of changes in the ward these next weeks. I am excited for leadership exchanges coming up this week!! 

Really cool week.  We were trying to go and contact Monica a referral from Bishop for the 5th time and as we were about to cross the street a man yelled out to us a said "Hey Missionaries." That’s is always a foreshadow to a good conversation.  We went over and to our surprise he (David Page) told us his life story/conversion story. Then he went on a rampage of how great missionaries are and the good they do across the world.  We basically stood there hearing his testimony about the Book of Mormon and other Scriptures. It was a really cool experience.  We invited him to come to church especially a fast and testimony meeting so that he can share his testimony there.   

We also cover a Married student ward but the work is really slow but I am excited to announce that we contacted a Less Active and they invited us to come back!!!  That has not happened since I have been here in this area and we got a ward missionary Leader in that ward.  

Robert goes to Rough River Lake

Robert was invited a few weeks ago to go to the Rough River Lake with his friend, Aaron Green.  Aaron's parents bought a lake house a few years back (probably 4 or 5 years ago) and Robert has enjoyed going to the lake with them every year.

This year with the wedding and receptions, it has been hard to find a weekend where the boys could go together, finally they found a weekend where it would work.

Aaron's family picked Robert up from practice on Friday at 9:00 pm and left for the lake from there.  They stopped at DQ to get him food on the way down.

Robert and Aaron have been friends since they were 3 years old, and have always maintained that friendship.  I love that my children have had that opportunity!  To have a friend and keep them is a treasure!

Saturday, Robert go to go wakeboarding with Aaron, Alex and the Greens.  He had a great day.  Maureen (the mom) sent me some amazing photos of Robert doing tricks and jumps on the wakeboard.  AMAZING!!!