October has been a great month! As autumn has arrived we have had shorter days and cooler temperatures. There is definitely more falcon pride with football season under way.
This month Matt has been enjoying playing softball with a group of church friends. They had a great season!
He also had the chance to fly to Richmond, UT to see how the new work facility is coming along. It will be very nice with new equipment and beautiful scenery.
We also continue to enjoy college football. Matt's BYU cabinet is getting more decorated. Check out that sneaker!
Matt harvested some honey from his beehive but learned that he will need to harvest earlier in the year or else the honey becomes bitter with certain flowers pollinated in late summer.
Sheri has been keeping busy with school, church, dance, and band.
Here she is conducting stand tunes at a football game.
Playing in the half time show
The band competed in the High Plains Marching Festival at Dick Bivins Stadium.
The school has pep rallies on days when there are home games.
Sheri with her fellow flutes
Sheri playing her duet in movement 3 of the marching show.
Extra rehearsal the night before competition
Practicing with her band before competition. She leads the beginning while the two senior drum majors have solos and then they take over so she can march and play on the field.
UIL Regional Competition
Here is Sheri after finding out they advanced to Area.
This was the same day as her Frankenstein dance recital and so we left directly after the performance.
I enjoyed helping with the props for the show and getting a behind the scenes view of the performance.
She missed the group shot with the trophy. :(
Band and football games are so fun and we appreciate the photographer who gets great photos!
Here the band is at UIL Area competition/
They did not advance but had a great show and we were so proud of how hard they all worked! It's amazing to see how much they improved from the beginning of the season!
Now that UIL competitions are over, Monday night rehearsals will end and the individual students will prepare for All Region auditions. Football games will continue through November.
Meanwhile, over in Utah...
Eve has been having a busy fall semester. Along with her classes she has been enjoying social activities including Fun Family Home Evenings,
weekly Harry Potter movie nights with roommates and friends,
and fun dates.
Here Eve went to Jekyll and Hyde by Ballet West with her friend, Landon.
Eve also attended the Saturday session of General Conference with an old friend (Josh) whom she knew from growing up in Illinois. Then they met up with Matt since he was in town.
Many evenings Eve stayed late on campus to study for her chemistry class.
She got to go on a Geology field trip.
Here is Eve dressed for fall.
And as the season shifted, Provo had the first snow dusting in the mountains.
Down in Brazil, Sterling has been enjoying his first area, Mongagua.
He and his companion have been teaching twin boys that belong to a part member family.
They were ready to be baptized so Sterling got to participate in his first baptism and gave a talk on enduring to the end.
Here he is on his first "division".
This was his welcome to Brazil from his Zone Leader.
Here he is on divisions with his MTC companion, Elder Spencer.
A division reunion
Another baptism that he attended
He loves the stage!
His first conference with the Mission President
He gets to teach in member's homes and appreciates the meals and friendship!
The Rainforest Jungle is remarkable.
He is enjoying the things unique to Brazil. He calls this a "Spiky Potatomelon."
We are glad he has been safe, that he is becoming more fluent in Portuguese each week, and that he is learning to do the Lord's will by serving and trusting in Him!
Back home in Amarillo Christian has been enjoying school, friends and music.
Here he is on "Dress like the teacher day".
He practices music each day after school and has learned many songs by ear.
I also count his piano practice in his band practice time. :)
On Halloween Christian decided to be Shrek and had a great time trick or treating with the Hendricks and other friends.
For Sheri, she and her friends were Alvin and the Chipmunks.
I have stayed busy with helping at band competitions and the spaghetti fundraiser, harvesting from my garden, making pickles, volunteering, attending calling meetings and unit conferences, substituting, and homemaking. I've even had time to organize a few small areas.
We stay busy but always remember that the Giver of all our blessings is the most important priority. We try to make time for God every day, every week, and try to share the good news of the gospel with those around us!
We look forward to November and to placing extra focus on our gratitude!
