Sevark Central

Garrett went out for the Queen Creek High School swim team this year and has been practicing every day for the past few weeks.  Today was his first meet of the season.  He swam in two heats, doing pretty good for his first time. I was able to attend the first 45 min because we had the missionaries come over for dinner tonight...but that was just enough time to watch him swim both of his heats today. Below is a video of his last race which he was quite tired to race after his previous heat...but still did ok. I couldn't believe how many kids were cheering him on!  Garrett is the kind of kid that can accomplish anything he sets his mind to.  I really love that about him.  He's doing great this year at school and in swim, and has many friends.  Great job little buddy -- keep up the good work!!

Tonight was our ward Court of Honor.  The boys have been looking forward to it because they've worked hard and received many awards -- in fact, Caleb received 12 merit badges (2nd only to Colton Cluff who was on FIRE receiving 18 merit badges), Noah also did very well receiving 8 merit badges, and Porter received his 9 Varsity pins which is something most families never even know about. Garrett has also worked hard, but his night is coming October 21 @ 6pm for his Eagle Court of Honor (mark your calendars).He wasn't able to be at most of the Court of Honor due to his swim team practice.  All-in-all our boys were great examples in their scout advancement and hard work.  You guys are awesome...we're so proud of your hard work!

Happy Birthday Bentley!!  Wow...17 years old!  It seems like yesterday when Lexine and I first met and Bentley was only 14..then 15...then 16...time never stops flying by.  This evening we took Bentley to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and enjoyed our meal talking to her about many of the things going on in her life, then we came home to a surprise visit for her from the Trotter familyi (Lexine had arranged it beforehand), then finished the evening with Bentley opening her only present -- a desk that she has been wanting for her room.  It was a very nice evening with a beautiful young lady who is talented and has a pretty good idea where she wants to go in life.  I can't believe your next birthday is big number 18 -- followed by college!!  But you have our confidence...we know you can do anything!  We're sure proud of the person you've become...keep it up!  We hope you enjoyed your special day...

Bentley's Birthday present -- picture of her new desk that should arrive any day...

Maizey went out for the Badminton team at Queen Creek High School this year.  She's been working hard, with practices every day after school...she's actually become quite good!  Last week at the team Parent's meeting I had a chance to play with her.  I've always considered myself pretty good ever since Cindy and I had a make-shift court setup in our backyard for a time and would play quite a bit with the kids.  But Maizy was tough competition for me!  At her meet today, she won her first match 11 to 3.  We were only able to get back-shots of her playing, so we'll have to get better pics later, but at least you can see her in action.  Great job Maizey -- we're sure proud of you!

The new beds finally arrived and we have some pretty happy boys around here excited to finally have real beds!  They look a lot nicer than I remembered and solid wood built -- so hopefully they'll be the last beds we buy for a looooong time (ever)!  :-)  With the new beds, the boys also decided to change around rooms again, so this time Garrett & Caleb are together and Noah & Jonah -- probably for the next 6 months to a year until they decide to change again. Now on to the next project on the "needs" list (whatever that might be) -- one project at a time, but slowly & surely we're getting there!

Porter now has been also been called into the leadership of his Quorum.  A couple weeks ago, Bishop Petersen called Porter to serve as his 2nd Assistant in the Priest Quorum.  That's almost all of our kids in leadership positions now!  Porter is supposed to be set apart sometime in the next couple weeks, but we know he'll do his best in this calling.  Porter is a hard working as well as a smart thinker -- which are two very good traits he brings to his quorum!  Porter, we're proud of you and know you'll do great!  I sure do love you!

Kami started back at ASU today!  Year 2 for her, now she's a sophomore!  Kami has worked hard all summer long both for Desert Schools and also taking some summer school classes so she can graduate a semester early, so going back wasn't as big of a shock to her.  She asked if I would give her a father's back-to-school blessing last night, which it was my privilege to do so.  Then this morning she was up and starting some of her online classes and then to the ASU Williams Field campus this afternoon for other classes.  Kami is such a great example to all of us.  She works so hard and is so productive.  She's a great manager of her time and completes what she sets her mind to accomplish.  We know you'll do great this year Kambo -- I sure love you!

Sunday mornings are a busy time around the house...breakfast, showers, getting dressed, journals, working on scouts, etc.  Lots going on to get off to church on time!  This morning we noticed the boys needed haircuts...so we added that to our list of things to do.  One by one Lexine gave them all haircuts.  Usually we'll have Bentley or Maizey cut their hair, they've gotten pretty good at it as well.  Kami does great cutting hair as well, having cut our hair ever since Cindy died...but she's quite busy with work and school soon again!  Haircuts are not usually what we like to do on Sunday mornings...Saturdays are when we like to do them so we can relax on the Sabbath, but with how busy we've been anymore, we simply ran out of time yesterday. At least the boys will all look sharp and clean-cut for Church today -- thank goodness for our late 1PM church time -- Yuck! :-)

Noah had his first two Newell Barney Jr. High Flag Football games this week!  They have a pretty good team this year.  Tuesday's game was 115F outside...it was hot!  But today's game was only 96F...much nicer!  Noah's team is fairly large...over 30 boys on it, so he hasn't gotten a lot of playing time, but he does get his chances.  He plays 2nd string Running Back and 4th string Wide Receiver.  They work him out good...practicing for almost two hours every day in the heat.  He's thrown up a couple times on the field from heat exhaustion.  But all-in-all he seams to be really enjoying it and having a great time!  Tuesday's game they won 20-to-12, but today's game they lost 12-to-34 against Payne Jr. Still many more games to go...  Noah, we're proud of your hard work in making the team!

Tonight for family home evening we decided to visit the Gilbert Temple construction site.  The temple is looking really good as you can see from our picture.  Supposedly it is planned for completion at the end of 2013.  It was a very nice time together as a family listening to all they are doing to make it the house of the Lord.  I couldn't help but think as we were there, "how many of these kids will be endowed, married & sealed in this temple".  How nice it will be to have a temple so near by...

It is finished!  This evening was finally the night that Lexine and I spoke at the regional single adult fireside.  We have been praying and preparing for weeks now and it all came to an end tonight.  I have been especially worried -- I can't even think of Cindy without crying and now I was going to have to talk about what she and I endured together.  There was quite a good turn-out tonight...even filling the overflow.  Lexine spoke first and did wonderfully sharing such a powerful testimony of her experience losing Rod and all that she's been thru this past year.  Then it was my turn...I'm not sure what I said, but others seems to appreciate it.  We spent over a half-hour shaking hands with so many who wanted to tell us we did well. One sister told us she's been back to church for the past several months, and tonight was the most inspirational meeting she's been to yet. It was great too to see some familiar faces and friends that I didn't even realize were there...mission buddies and specials friends who helped my familiy more than they know not long after Cindy died.  I'm just glad tonight is finished, so we can now get on with everything else we have  to do!  But it was a great experience and opportunities for Lexine and I to get to share the what we've been thru separately and that we now have each other to weather future storms together.

Kami decided to take a break from the single's ward life and come back to our family ward for a while.  I sure enjoy having her with us again and apparently so does our ward.  They gave her a calling and a had her speak in church all within a week of her records being back.  That's not surprising with what an outstanding young woman she is -- so much like her mother, I love that about her.  Kami was asked to speak on President Scott recent conference talk entitled "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for your Personal Life".  She said that was the perfect talk for her right now -- and she did wonderfully, sharing so many experiences in her life.  Kami is so positive and happy -- always beaming -- your day can't help but be brightened by her presence.  So many members of the ward complimented her on how we she did, and lots more pass on the same message through Lexine and I -- I think some were even scoping her our for son's who will be coming home from missions soon.  :-)  Kambo, you're simply amazing!

We've been looking for beds for the boys for a long time now...but today we've finally bought them!  We took Caleb and Jonah with us and hit a few furniture stores.  The first couple we found nothing...way too expensive for mostly junk.  But last stop was Mor and we found these beds (below) for the boys (but in all Black).  The boys really liked them.  We were able to get a pretty good deal since we needed 4 of them! They'll be for Garrett, Noah, Caleb and Jonah -- Porter's has a really nice bedroom set from Grandpa Severtson's furniture business a few years back. So in about a month our boys will finally have half way descent beds!!!  They're all excited!