Happy Independence Day!

We hope this Independence Day finds everyone with family, friends, and fun! We want to take this opportunity to thank those who fight and have fought to protect the freedoms we enjoy. We are grateful to live in this country and h

ope we will always bring honor to the cause of liberty.

I'm feeling especially lucky to have a beautiful set of nieces and a handsome nephew and son. I pray that they will all appreciate the country that they live in and that God will always be recognized as grantor of this free land they live in.

I think the most important freedom we could have ever been given is the freedom of religion. I am grateful to have the gospel and for a loving Heavenly Father that designed a plan for which this country could bear the

task of restoring the gospel to the earth. As we attended

the Manti pageant a few weeks ago, my testimony was strengthened and renewed that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that he did not shrink at the task given him; for that I am filled with gratitude for him and Moroni who stood at the ready to usher in the Restoration of the Gospel.

Where Did Fall Go?

We woke up Tuesday morning to a drastic drop in temperature and by Wednesday morning we had 3 inches of snow on our front porch; all this before October 1st!  We've been in school a little over a month now and I can't believe how fast has gone by.  

   Dylan is in 6th grade this year and is loving his status as one of the 'big kids in the school'.  He is continuing on in the orchestra and looking forward to their much coveted trip to a festival in Cheyenne later this year.  He's also taking piano lessons that he is enjoying more each year...finally! (I'm hoping the years of making him practice are soon behind us as he is doing it on his own more often.)   Dylan also just turned 12 and was ordained a Deacon.  I have really enjoyed seeing his enthusiasm for the gospel grow the last few weeks.  He no longer waits for me if he even thinks I'm going to be late for church. He is out the door 20 minutes early and eager to take his place with his quorum to pass the Sacrament.   He also went on a 25-mile bike ride a couple weeks ago with the Scouts.  I was a basket case wondering if he would be able to keep up with the older boys, but he came home button-poppin' proud of himself and had a great time.  I am grateful that he is doing so well and that he has earned the privilege of holding the Priesthood that brings the Spirit closer in our home.  He is really growing from a boy to a young man fast.  I was  looking at my 7th graders playing football this year and can't believe that Dylan will be doing that next year.  He can't wait, but I think I can.  

   I absolutely love my students this year. I feel really blessed.  They inspire me to do better everyday because they are such nice kids and work hard.  (Knock on wood!)  I'm not quite ready to turn in my sandals for boots though.  I would love to get a few more horse rides and hikes in before the snow decides to stay.  I'm crossing my fingers!   

Fall Is In the Air!

   I can't believe how fast this summer has flown.  We got done with the fair last week and it was actually parka weather at the top of the ferris wheel. As always, summer is too short and while I never look forward to the brisk air that fall brings, I love to watch the leaves change on the hill above our house.

   Dylan did an awesome job this year with his steer and at the horse show.  His Grandma Joan came to stay for a couple of days so she could watch him compete and we both loved having her here.  Aunt Ash,  little Sophie, and Grandma Dana also came to watch him.  I know he really appreciates the support so thanks to all for making time to come.

   We stuck around home a lot this summer due to a late baseball season and keeping our little hobby farm going.   Dylan had a great time at GOFASA, (the summer adventure program) and was disappointed to miss the last trip because of a conflict with baseball.  He loves the bare bones camping and hiking they do as well as the friends he makes in the process.

  As for me, when I wasn't mowing, harrowing,  riding horses w/Dylan, or spending time at the doctor's office to kill off my hyperactive thyroid, I spent a fair bit of time taking classes this summer.  The most interesting was the week I spent learning about phosphate mining.  I know it sounds drab but it was actually very eye opening for someone who takes her toothpaste for granted.  As always, I'm grateful to have a good job and am able to enjoy life a little more these past two years instead of just surviving it.

  Here's to the start of a new school year! Ready or not, here it comes! 

     

Ready for Summer!

  The end of another school year brings prospects of a different kind of work, the main difference is I can do that work with my earbuds in!  Gotta love that!  Since the last day of school Dylan and I have been busy with many projects around our new house.  We gave our already kinda nice covered patio a glamourous make-over, painting the floor and getting new chairs and cushions for the seats -- all we need now is to mount a flat screen out there and we are set!  We celebrated by having all our family come from Teton Valley for a BBQ.  We had a great evening together and I hope we can do it again soon.  

  Dylan said goodbye to his first pony, Misti, last week and hello to his new horse, Dreamer.  She is a pretty little Arabian and they are already getting along famously! Dylan is also having a fantastic time being so close to the BMX track and baseball fields which are a block away from our house.  He is also loving it being able to ride his bike up the canyon to fish and has climbed up to the "Star Valley Star" that is on the mountainside overlooking our house once already. (He thinks he's hauling me up there sometime soon, lol, we'll see! I'd rather do it on horseback!) Our beautiful new home has been so good for him in so many more ways than I could have ever imagined.  We are very blessed!

It has been a long winter and we are grabbing every chance we can get to enjoy some snowless weather even though that means driving two hours or more! Dylan and I went to Salt Lake to spend the Easter weekend and visit my new niece, Sophie.  On Easter Sunday we went to see the live broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word.  It was amazing to be there in that historical place, listen to the legendary music that is performed, and feel the Spirit that resides there.  Although we drove through a heavy rainstorm on our way there the night before, we woke up to a beautiful sunny morning; just perfect for Easter!

Happy Holidays from this small branch of Hoopes'. We have been blessed with so much this year and hope that our friends and family have been equally blessed.

Not a week goes by that Dylan doesn't express his gratitude for finally having his own home and even though we've been in our home for three months already, I am still having warm fuzzies about finally being able to paint if I want and know that that money I spend on a mortgage will serve me better than the decade's worth of rent ever did.

It has definately been a year that has brought fulfillment of dreams and goals for me. In addition to Dylan's little pony that I bought him last year, I finally have my own good friend, Frosti. She is a beautiful red roan mare and she and I have become good buddies. My favorite childhood memory is riding with Grandpa Hoopes through the fields on the farm during the summer. I've never gotten my love of horses out of my system and am so grateful that Grandpa and I had that bonding time.

Dylan finally got his Misty to a lope and competed nicely at the fair this year. She doesn't like to lope and rebels by kicking about every ten strides, but Dylan has become quite an equestrian and he just lets out his trademark giggle as he rides right through her antics. I've always told Dylan, as have others, that if he could learn to ride that pony, he would be able to ride anything. He's done a great job with her and if he wasn't growing so fast he'd have a few more years with her but he is ready to move on to a new horse. Dylan also did a great job with his pigs last summer. Three years of pigs and he is ready to move on to a steer. We brought Bubbalicious home two days ago and so far so good.