Most of March 2021

Kanyon competed with his junior high team at the district Scholastic meet on the first Friday in March. It was originally going to be in-person, but then due to (you know--what everything is "due" to these days--) COVID regulations, they changed it to an online event. It was kind of weird, since every other meet they'd had this year was in-person, but we were glad the students were just allowed to compete on the district level, as last year it didn't happen. Their team did well, and made it past the first round of competition, but didn't make it to the final round. Kanyon was the mathematician for his team, and as the season progressed, he scored more and more points for his team as his confidence level grew due to participating in more tournaments. It was a great season, and he enjoyed competing with his friends and being coached by Mr. Packer (one of his favorite teachers at West J). 

Ryker, Lucas, Kanyon, and Jaxson (teammate Maely is not pictured)

Josh and I teach Sunday School for youth ages 14 and 15. I really enjoy teaching with Josh, and I also really like that Sunday School is now just twice a month instead of every week! This is our third year teaching youth Sunday School together as a couple. It's been a bit more challenging this year because we have two combined age groups, but it's been a rewarding calling overall, and I'm grateful for the opportunities we have to spend time with the youth and with each other! Anyways, on the first Sunday in March, the lesson was on the similarities between the restored Church and the church as it was established when Jesus Christ was on the earth. Josh had an idea to use an object lesson that was a direct correlation to the scriptures we were studying, and we built two identical "temples" out of foam cups. I love when we can collaborate our ideas to make a more effective lesson! 

I had my first foot zoning session with a gal in Idaho Falls that used to live in Salmon on March 8. It was a very emotional, soul-searching event for me, but ultimately I really valued the experience! It was the first time that I'd heard the term "empath", and that it was possible that I was one, which makes so much sense about who I am!  

I hung out with my Dominoes friends at Val's house in Mud Lake on the 11th, and we played a new game similar to "Truth or Dare". There were some crazy tasks I did, but this one is still talked about because of how dramatic I was as I performed this:

On Friday the 12th, we had game night at the Hobbs' house with the Oswalds. It was the same night as a stake youth activity, so it was just the adults (and Dallin, who was younger than 12), which was SO much fun! It felt like a date night! Since I'd just driven home from Mud Lake, I didn't have time to cook, so I ordered and took loaded fries from the bowling alley, which was the first time they'd had them! They are our favorite fries in town!

I happened to snap these photos of Kanyon and his friends during recess on that same Friday. I was on recess duty, and the junior high students were outside during their mentoring class because it was nice weather (don't let the sunshine fool you--it was pretty cold outside). It was funny to see Kanyon with his friends--they were all wearing long pants and long-sleeve jackets, and he (who is never cold) was just wearing shorts and a t-shirt! He wears shorts year-round and HATES to wear pants!

He had such a nice group of friends in Mud Lake!

Micah went to MORP with Kendra (Girl's Choice Dance). I like that the girls got the guys matching shirts--that's how we used to do it when I was in high school, too!

Ammon and Gabby came to visit Salmon on the weekend of the beginning of their spring break. We went bowling, golfing, and played games. We loved having them home--even for just two days!

Ammon's birthday present FINALLY came in the mail--
that Brooklyn Nets jersey! Online orders have been
SO delayed due to...well, you know what. 

There was only one bowling lane available,
and only 6 people are allowed to bowl, so I
opted to sit this one out. Ammon won! Yay!
All that junior league training when he was a kid
has paid off! ;)

Technically, the driving range wasn't open yet due to the snow
on the ground, but we hit balls that we had, and then picked as
many up when we were done. It was fun!

Codenames is one of my new favorite games! 

My friend Emily shockingly passed away on March 7. Her husband Joe notified us a few days later--we were totally unaware that she was sick or that she had cancer; it took her life very quickly. We were grateful that he took the time to contact us. We were both in shock for several days afterwards. Emily was Josh's friend before she was mine: they grew up together in the same ward and she was his date for junior prom in high school. I met her when both she and her husband Joe were newlyweds and Josh and I were newlyweds, and we went to the same student ward in the Pocatello area for a few months together. After we moved to Salmon, she also moved to Salmon to live with her parents on two occasions: once when her husband was in basic training, and once when he was stationed overseas. It was during those two periods when we became good friends. She was my best friend for several years. I haven't spoken with her in a few years, but the last time I saw her in person, we were both shopping in Old Navy, and it just happened to be her birthday! We shared with each other that we had both gone back to school, and we were both in the same program at WGU, and would be student teaching around the same time as each other! It was so fun to catch up with her! I value my experiences with her over the years, and am grateful for our friendship. She leaves behind 7 children, including twins! (She had twins after she moved away from Salmon, but that's just one more thing we have in common with each other!) We are so incredibly sad for Joe and their family to have such a devastating loss; she was an amazing lady who lived a full life. We watched her wonderful funeral via ZOOM on Saturday, March 13th.

Josh took me on the first motorcycle ride together for the year on March 14. I love going on motorcycle rides with him! We just went around the loop by our house, but it was nice to feel like it was warm enough to go (even for just a short ride!).

March 17 (St. Patrick's Day) was the first high school track meet of the season. Salmon hosted, and the meet was titled "Salmon Icebreaker" which was named appropriately, because they shoveled the snow off the track just days before in order to make it happen! It was beautiful weather that day, which was nice for the athletes! I took the afternoon off so that I would be able to see him compete after making the drive up from Mud Lake. He ran in the 1600m event, and got 6th place with a time of 5:11, which was terrific! He also ran on a 4x400 relay team. He enjoys running, and has such great form! It was great to watch him run again--since track season got canceled last year. I was so grateful I got to see him at his season opener this year! 

Happy St. Pat's Day! I love any occasion to dress up!

Since there was still snow on the golf course, the high school
golf team was practicing on the grass in front of the high school!
As I waited for Micah to run, I could see Jonah from my spot
on the bleachers! (He's in the white hoodie)

On March 18, Kanyon and I were invited to the Haroldsen house (my principal's family) for a night of games. Mr. H and I both LOVE games, and we'd been talking about getting together for years. Since we both knew it was my last year at West J, he finally made game night a reality! Kanyon and I played with he and his wife, their son Jarret, and their daughter Jorie and her husband Braxton. We played 3 games together, and laughed so much! I lost TERRIBLY at Settlers of Catan (like the WORST game I'd ever played), but Kanyon WON Skull King, so that was good. The other game we played I can't remember the name of (maybe Midnight Wolf), but it was played partially online, which was unique. Kanyon and I had SO much fun with their family, and I was so grateful for the invite into their lovely home to spend an evening with these awesome people! 

We had our annual family contest for March Madness. Ammon and Gabbie even filled out brackets this year when they were in Salmon over Spring Break. Ammon came out as the big winner this time--he even guessed the correct champions: Baylor!