May 2026

 May 2026

This month I will share Eve's news first. 

After graduation Eve enjoyed lots of dinners and get togethers with all the relatives who came to Women's Conference at BYU. She is so lucky to get so much family time with cousins and other extended family!

Camille and Sabey were leaving town and this was their last time all together for the next few months.

On May 2nd Eve went to help with the Utah Lake shore clean up.

She has also been active in trying to protect the Great Salt Lake with concern for the new proposed data center. I am proud of her for being an engaged citizen and standing up for what matters to her.

She has spent time with friends. 

Here she and Allison went on a trip to Antelope Island.

She got to go to a Charlie Puth concert.

And while she is waiting to hear back from a conservation job she took a job at Cafe Rio.

She is getting to know her ward and enjoys nature walks and identifying birds.

Meanwhile in Amarillo, the school year is wrapping up.

Here are some highlights.

Sheri participated in the Greater SW Music Festival.

Here is Sheri's Bushland High School Band. They received the highest marks. It is a joy to hear them! The band has grown together so much this year! 

Here are all the seniors.

Sheri and Zoe

Sheri and I also played her solo for a judge the following day. He said that she was the best he'd heard in the past 2 days and she reminded him of a previous student of his that went on to study music in college. We were grateful to get the extra performance practice before State. We practiced most days at the high school since my piano was in San Antonio.

After Sheri performed that day we transferred to a different Air BnB where we stayed until we left for San Antonio.

Also that day, Christian had his last soccer game for the season. He has worked hard on the field and really enjoys the game. I hope he will get to the chance to continue participating in soccer when we get to S.A.

The following week Sheri had her band banquet.

We were able to perform a movement from her Solo & Ensemble piece.

Sheri was recognized as the Outstanding Woodwind Player again this year. She was also honored as a drum major (for her 2nd year), earning her own baton. She also received certificates for her accomplishments at Area, Region, and State.

Finally, Sheri was honored to receive a special award, the John Phillips Sousa Award, given for "superior musicianship, leadership, dependability, and loyalty." This is the most prestigious award offered to high school band students.

 I am so proud of all Sheri has accomplished! She has made a tremendous impact in her band program.

It has been a memorable 4 years filled with fantastic marching seasons, wonderful band concerts, exciting competitions, long bus rides, lots of rehearsals and special friendships! We are so grateful for Mr. Bennington, Ms. Henson, and her flute teacher, Ms. Cardenas for all they have done to mentor, encourage, and support Sheri!

Sheri and Kylie.

Ms. Henson-Bennington, Sheri, and Mr. Bennington

Sheri and Olivia

The following weekend Sheri was able to go to prom with her friend, Landon who flew out from California. He has been a good friend to her throughout the years and we were grateful she could go with someone that she felt comfortable with. We did some fun things with him when she had dance rehearsals she couldn't skip. Here we are at Cadillac Ranch.

I enjoyed making her corsage and his boutonniere as well doing her hair.

She was also able to make bouquets with her girlfriends, each unique to the girl creating it.

Here they are getting ready to go for pictures.

They were a beautiful couple!

Pretty pretty!

The day after prom I performed Master The Tempest Is Raging in church. I have been working on this piece for quite a while. Knowing nerves usually throw a wrench into performances I tried to over practice. In church my performance was close to perfect. I felt grateful that I could share this piece as a sort of "parting gift" for my ward since I haven't performed a solo in church in this ward or any ward for quite a while. This is my attempt to not bury my talents and grow the gifts God has given me. 

This is a recording of the practice the night before. Though not perfect, I hope it will still be a good record of the beauty of the piece and my testimony of the Savior.

The following weekend was Sheri's end of year dance recital. It was beautiful, of course, and so special to be able to see her one more time on the stage (at least for now.) It was also such a treat to see her little girls that she teaches dance on stage.

Her dance friends also brought her balloons and gifts as an early birthday presents since she would be moving before her actual birthday. She has made such great friends through dance!

Ava and Marianne also came to support her.

We are grateful to Roxanne for welcoming Sheri to the dance company her sophomore year and for her flexibility with Sheri as she has worked around her band, track, theatre, and church events. The Lonestar Ballet Company has truly had great staff, kind dancers, and a supportive, positive culture. We have loved all the performing opportunities Sheri has had with them! We will definitely miss this!

For me, as the dance mom, this last dance recital was bitter-sweet. I'm happy we got through all the shows but I'm sad to see it end and I will miss watching my kids on stage! I will have to find a way to keep dance in my life.

The following Sunday Sheri graduated from Seminary.

Sheri received many academic awards at the end of the school year. Most notably she was honored as the Salutatorian of her high school! She was also given the UIL Scholar Award, Superintendent Scholar Graduate award, Academic Honors, Amarillo College Dual Credit Honors, Athletic Allstate, and a Scholarship through the Athletic Department! We are grateful for her perseverance and her commitment to her academics. We know it isn't easy when she is also involved in many extra-curricular activities. Congratulations to Sheri!

As school wrapped up Sheri and the other seniors had a Senior Sunset to commemorate the ending of their time in high school.

She graduated on May 21st. As Salutatorian she was quite nervous about giving a speech that would meet everyone's expectations. She decided to use her platform to encourage her class to consider how they treat others and to choose kindness, to lift and build others as they move out into the world. I was very proud of her.

 She looked stately, confident, and so lovely!

We loved having Annie and Jonathan come for the special occasion! It was a quick trip for her but we loved the extra time together and we were grateful for her extra effort to honor Sheri!

Sheri enjoyed the after graduation party held at WT as well as her friends' graduation parties the next few days.

Two days after graduation we also hosted a party for Sheri. The theme was "Freshly Graduated".

She had lots of friends from school, dance, and church that came (more than I included pics for - didn't want to overwhelm the post)! I am grateful for all those who have loved and supported her throughout our time in Amarillo!

I especially enjoyed the slideshow of Sheri throughout the years that was playing throughout the open house! Going through all the years of memories was so enjoyable and left me feeling grateful for all the wonderful experiences we've shared.

Our last evening in Amarillo was beautiful, and a bit melancholy.

After church the next day packed out of our Air BNB and headed to San Antonio. Sheri drove with the band as they were also heading that way for State Solo & Ensemble. Once I got to S.A. I dropped our belongings and went to join Sheri near Austin so we could get an early start for the competition on Monday.

At State Sheri did very well! We both felt good about the performance though her solo judge was stingy with her score (a 2, very few earned a 1). She wanted her quiet parts to be quieter for more contrast in the dynamics. This is quite an advanced skill, especially for a student in high school.

  Her quartet also did well and got a superior rating (a 1, which may have been too generous in Sheri's opinion). Though Sheri was disappointed with her solo score we recognize that some of the judging was subjective and the judge was quite young and inexperienced. Oh well, you win some and lose some but it can be discouraging after working so hard! Either way, it was a joy to create music together.

I love hearing this girl play!

After the competition the kids swam at the pool and then we headed to The Oasis on Lake Travis as is their tradition. It was a stunning setting! 

This years' and last years' drum majors

L-R -John, Dallas, Olivia, Sheri & Kylie.

The following day the kids went to Schlitterbahn water park and had a blast!

She is going to miss all the great friends she has made in band over the last 4 years.

This was a happy end to her high school era. It is always sad to see a good thing end. However, Sheri is definitely ready to move forward with her life and experience new things.

The end of May was filled with unpacking boxes and trying to find a place for everything.  

(This photo is AI enhanced with a few plants/planter added for inspiration)

Lots of natural light

I lovely back yard with a view of the green space. 

We love the variety of birds, flowers and trees in San Antonio and are excited to discover all that it has to offer!

Here are some photos of Elder Smith in Brazil.

He enjoys teaching the gospel with his awesome companion.

He enjoyed Zone Conference.

The highlight for him this month was the baptisms of Joseildo and Daniel.

He knows that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change lives and he is so happy when he can help others come into the church and make covenants with God.

We are very proud of Sterling! He is our favorite missionary and we are excited that he just has a month and a half left until we get to be with him again!

Well, that sums up our month of May! It has been abundant, joyful, sad, and most of all, a beautiful end to our Amarillo chapter.