Stake conference Talk for Connor

 

Good morning brothers and sisters and aloha,

(Smile and look around. You are gonna do great!!)

I’m super happy to be standing here today and especially because I’m able to talk about the savior, my relationship with him, and stories about him in my life. Three things that I want to cover is the importance of music, Relationships with others, and following in our Savior’s footsteps.

One of the things that I have been trying to get better at is playing music on the piano. I was taught the piano at a young age by my mom.  Thank you mom!! As I've grown I realize the importance of making and listening to uplifting music. An example of this is how sing before the sacrament is administered, the sacrament is the most important ordinance we participate in each week. The scriptures say “the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me” so we should really sing our praises while singing at church. We also know that The power of music influences and invites the holy spirit. So as we invite the spirit into our life through uplifting music we are setting the right tone in our life and in our homes to help us become more like him

Another way I grow closer to the savior is by creating relationships with others. I am constantly creating relationships with people around me - being a military kid every 3 years has given me many chances to meet so many different people all over the world who have influenced me. Many of my friends, teachers, and leaders have helped me grow and become better. Many of my friends have also helped guide me to make the right decisions. I can strengthen my relationship with the savior by reading my scriptures daily and going to the temple. So as we try to be like the Savior by loving those around us we grow closer to the savior.

In a few years I need to be ready to have the strength to go out as a missionary and spread the gospel in areas that might need it. The fact that i love sports and that they are helping me to prepare for my mission by pushing me to work hard is helping me with skills that give me more confidence in my body and my mind. Going to seminary this year has really helped me in my testimony and love for the Savior. I have learned from the scriptures that “I can do all things through christ who strengthens me”. Jesus served  those who could not help themselves.  So I need to be ready to use my body to serve others, and by doing so I  am becoming more like him. 

We can grow closer to our father in heaven as we create meaningful relationships, lasting testimonies, and strive to serve him . As a young man I am trying to mold my mind and my body and my spirit to create the kind of person that is who to my Heavenly Father wants and needs me to be.

Testimony

Stories of Jesus in my life remind me to keep growing - better and better.

The gospel is true

Families are forever so be nice to your siblings 

Back to School 2020/2021

I didn’t do a good job of taking the first day of school pictures, we didn’t really have an official first day of to start- but I would say it was after  Labor Day we “started” school... and since then we’ve been doing more and more each day and the kids are pretty good about getting all of their work completed. Some days are better than others, but I’m okay with what we do and the ability and freedom of our time and how we do things together- lots and lots of learning time together.

So here is my attempt at taking pictures of the kids at the start of the school year late Sept/Oct 2020

#FirstDayofSchoolPictures

Handsome Connor 5th grade

Beautiful Brielle 3rd grade

Can do it Cannon Kindergarten 

Muscle man Cael 11th grade

GQ Lookin’ Brecon 7th

 

Halloween Trick or Treat?

Halloween is always such a fun holiday to celebrate- heaps of candy, dressing up in costumes and fun parties! Who could ask for anything more?

Well... since it is also Connor's birthday we try to really make sure he is having a great time- and he is so easy-going and happy with whatever is going on! Easy to please. So our first party was at the church a few days before actual Halloween- dinner and a trunk-or-treat outside. After the potluck  (and the massacre of spilled food and drinks on the carpet floor -ahh!) We stood by our trunk and shoved handfuls of candy into all the kids bags as they shuffled by. It was so cold... I have to wonder why we don't have the kids walk around the gym instead?

HALLOWEEN NIGHT- Bassett Army Community Hospital, where Ben works, has an incredible community event where all through the hospital kids walk around and are given more candy than is possibly healthy for any child to ingest! The time and effort made to decorate and coordinate for each speciality/group throughout the hospital was impressive. The memory I have now as I am writing this (4/1/20) so even 5 months later was the wait in line we suffered (nobody had their coats on!) and it was bitter (not -40 bitter) but a painfully chilling temperature and the kids were whining and poor Brielle with her thin black T-shirt with her arms tucked in to try to conserve her own body heat. We just thought we were going to walk right in and that's why we left our jackets and layers behind... but the gatekeepers were trying to space the people that were entering the building out so the place wouldn't be overrun! At the halfway mark there were some of the outdoor heaters which helped, but also hurt to leave behind when the line started moving along once again. 

The boys with all the loot. SO after their bags were full from the hospital, the big kids went out into the neighborhood to collect some more candy treasure. I put Cael in charge of the candy to give away at the door until we ran out - he set up a heater and covered himself with some coats as he sat outside on the porch so he wouldn't freeze! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOY

So after all the trick-or-treating was over it was time for presents and Connor's favorite- pumpkin pie!

That kid was excited about every present we had on the table.. even if he didn't know what it was. AP Biology study cards from Cael... "thanks Cael, I can't wait to read these"--Connor. We just love that Connor kid! He is sure fun to be around!

First day of school 2019

It’s always a little tricky moving and making sure everyone is ready for their first day of school. This year felt a little more difficult moving out of the hotel and into the Hulls house (a missionary couple that has their house available for people who need it while they are away)— driving the kids to school and then picking them up at the end of the day. We did this for about a week before we would move into our empty house on the base, where we will have a bus to complete that task for the elementary kids.

Cael- 10th grade at Lathrop High School

Brecon- 6th grade at Ladd Elementary

Connor- 4th grade

Brielle- 2nd grade

End of school 2019

Brecons 5th Grade graduation- A fun program put on by the teachers and staff for the graduates-- even though Brecon will be back in elementary school when we move to Alaska! They had a few speakers, a hula group performance, and Brecon (with a few other students) played their ukulele for the school song. When they finished the song, Brecon had the biggest smile on his face, looked at our neighbor Sam Wiggins and then put his arm around him in a cool side hug "way to go- bro" way!
At the end of the program, the entire 5th grade danced to "Best Day of my Life" with motions, jumping and clapping! They looked like they were having fun, and it was so fun to watch them all. I thought Brecon looked the best- but I'm his mom so of course I would think that! I know that Brecon's teacher Mrs. Doster was a big influence for learning for him. I'm glad that I was able to reach out and help chaperone field trips for her class-- even if I was late sometimes-- oops! They were a pretty great group of kids!

WHAT A GOOD LOOKIN' KID-WAY TO GO BRECON!

Brielle's 1st grade teacher Ms. Kinsey pose for the end of school picture. The class party refreshments were heavy on sugar and carbs-- which is okay once and a while. I'm happy to say that Brielle did NOT finish her plate... I mean... that is just too much! Brielle thought her teacher was nice (and she was not married) which was something she would always tell me "Ms. Kinsey is not married." When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Brielle would say "I want to be a teacher like Ms. Kinsey. I don't want to be married and I want a dog."

Connor and his teacher Mrs. Distefano. A kind and loving lady who had class projects for the English, Science, and social studies. Connor had to research an influential person, memorize the story and recite it back for a living history museum. He chose Walt Disney and it was interesting to learn more about this innovator and his creative imagination. "If you can dream it, then you can do it" --Walt Disney

CAEL FINISHED HIS FRESHMAN YEAR AT LEILEHUA

What a busy year for this kid. Out the door at 6:05 for early morning seminary, school all day, and then an extracurricular sport for every season, usually getting home around 7:30 at night. Cross Country, soccer, and then Judo. It was sometimes a crazy schedule trying to get him everywhere he needed to be, but we also were glad that he was involved with his school and still had a 4.0 GPA. Way to go CAEL!

LAIE TEMPLE TRIP
What a good looking group of youth doing the good work at the temple. I'm always glad to send them off to this activity, and Brother Asato makes sure that everyone gets a full tummy when they are all finished. Loco Moco or hot cakes... he is a good man to provide the food for these hungry teenagers on an early Saturday morning.

CUB SCOUTS RAINGUTTER REGATTA- Connor
Even though we had weeks to prepare a boat for the cub scout race- with everything going on and getting ready to move, this task had become last on the totem pole. About 30 minutes before we are supposed to leave for this activity, I yell "YOUR BOAT!" and we got to work on it right away. A quick spray paint job and hot glue gun for the sail really did the trick for our quick put together job- and surprisingly Connor won each of his races to get the 1st place ribbon. What a funny night!

Bro and Sis Rigby (and Leia) are stalwart cub leaders. They were always there to help their boys and I know that Connor sure loved having a cute baby in class ("she's so cute, mom")