Smith Station: October 2025

October is such a fun month with all the fall events happening!

Here is what we have been up to.

October is a heavy band month, full of rehearsals, stand tunes at football games, pep rallies, and marching competitions. So many fun memories are made!

Here are some videos from the pep rallies.

Here are some photos and videos from Friday night football games. During some of the last games Sheri played with the band for old times sake.

During the last football game they honored the seniors by announcing their accomplishments and future plans. Matthew and I were happy to escort her.

Bushland High School performed their marching show at halftimes and also participated in the High Plains Marching Festival where they earned outstanding 3A Marching Band.

This is their drum major salute.

They also competed at Regional UIL Marching competition where they earned all superior marks and advanced to Area.

The parents got to help with holding screens and other props. I was happy to help and get the "behind the scenes" view.

ALSO...

Christian has started playing at his school's pep rallies.

It is so fun to see them together since Sheri goes to the Jr High to help conduct.

Christian has also continued cross country and soccer.

On Christian's last day of soccer we also had Sheri's UIL Area Band Competition and then we went directly to help her get ready for her dance recital, A Haunting Whirl into the Brothers Grimm.

Here I transition from soccer/band mom to dance mom.

I love helping Sheri curl her hair between events!

Sheri actually had a Friday and a Saturday show. We were so happy that Eve, Grandma Bonnie, Grandma Smith, and Uncle Jeff could also come to the Friday show.

Sheri's best friend, Marianne came to her Saturday show.

Here are some fun pics with her dancer friends.

This is the whole cast.

This is Bryan, her "Prince".

Sheri with Isaiah, Snow White Prince, as well as a hunter and king in other stories.

Sheri in her Festival Dancer costume for Cinderella.

Back stage with Keyton (Hansel) who gave all the girls a flower just to be thoughtful.

What fun and happy times!

I do have a recording of Sheri's Rapunzel show. If anyone would like to see it just ask. :)

A special thanks goes out to all those who made the effort to support Sheri by coming to see her dance.

I was happy that I was able to bring my mom back from Colorado after Christian's allergy appointment. It was fun to talk time together!

Here are a few more highlights from our month.

A yard discovery

Garden harvest

Dressing up for rehearsal in a "Fancy Nancy" theme

Time to play with cousins during our quick trip to Colorado for OIT.

BYU Football

Sheri earned the Bushland Falcon award and was honored at a school board meeting.

This is a "Senior Board" that I did for the week of Fall Senior Recognition. I had a lot of fun creating it and looking at Sheri's highlights.

Finally, we had some Halloween fun. Christian trick-or-treated with friends this year (It was during Senior night at the FB game.) Sheri had a costume party with church friends as well as school friends and dressed up as Joker.

Here is what Eve has been up to over in Provo.

She passed her scuba certification at a crater in Midway. She has completed her scuba class!

She went to a Friday night football game.

She was able to attend General Conference in person with her roommates/cousins on Saturday, 10/4 and then was able to gather at Christian Sabey's home for Saturday evening. Then they gathered with Patty Sabey (like we used to do) for Sunday morning GC and had such a lovely time!

Eve went on a field trip to the Alpine loop for her Forestry class lab.

She learned to take a white fir tree core.

She also learned about forest metrics. Her professor is passionate about his subject and teaching his students. He has made the class memorable!

She is constantly studying and memorizing trees.

Here she is at a Wildlife and Range Club activity that she went to.

Eve has been enjoying friends/family...

at her apartment,

at the orchard,

getting hot cocoa,

at breakfast,

and at home. We were so glad she could come support Christian and Sheri in their events!

This is a cute pumpkin carving she made.

October is such a fun month!

Sterling is working hard in his new area.

His happiest moment was finding out that his friend, Gabriel, who he helped join the church, was able to receive the priesthood and baptize his friend Nicholas, who Sterling also taught. When he considers all that these two young men have, in potential to do good, it is inspiring! He hopes their journey of faith will continue to exponentially bless the lives of others. Here are his words:

"On Oct 12, 2025, Gabriel baptized Nicholas. This is my favorite picture ever taken on the mission. So the cycle begins! I cannot express the joy!!"

Here are some other highlights from his month.

(Note: I think cute animals must be God's way of brightening Sterling's day)

Sterling's new area is in a "Favela"

(A favela is a type of slum, typically located in or on the outskirts of major cities. )

He has had to learn where to go and not go by following the spirit. We are SO grateful that he has been protected, especially after learning about his close call with a very dangerous area! I guess being in a creepy area sort of fits for the month of October, but he is doing his best to bring light and hope to those who are stuck in a way of life that has little to offer.