Wowza! We celebrated with Reyn on her senior night for volleyball! We're so proud of her sticking with volleyball all these years. It hasn't been easy, but she made it. This season she is playing right side. Her team is undefeated in region and has only lost to Skyridge, who is 6a, not 4a like Orem. They seem poised to with the state championship again this year. Go Reyn! During the game, she had tons of family and friends there to support her.
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We had another successful Hoop Camp event at BYU. Ben ran the show, Ayzha and Reyn helped with the athletes, Q helped with pictures, and I worked on prizes. Afterward, we enjoyed a yummy catered lunch that was donated by "Marvelous Catering."
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Q turned 13 and we are back to 5 teenagers! Ayzha and Reyn spoiled him with lots of fun gifts and he got a FPV drone. He skipped school, we lunched at Zupas and went to a movie. It was another great birthday!
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| He's a handsome stud! |
At the age of 18, a young man by the name of Charlie Kirk graduated high school. Instead of going to college, he set out to see how he could make a difference for good. As a Christian with conservative values, he realized that the young men and women in colleges across the United States were being taught and inundated with left wing, radical, liberal ideology and wanted to do something to promote conservative values. He decided he would go to university campuses to have conversations with those who had differing viewpoints than his own and his life as a conservative activist began. In 2012 he launched a company called Turning Point USA that grew by creating chapters on University campuses. He wanted his movement to turn young people to Christ and conservative values. Over the years, he became a household name. He was extremely effective and was especially influential among young men. Charlie made it his goal to get Donald Trump elected in 2024 election, a huge number of young male voters showed up to vote. It was quite possibly the difference in the election. If not for Charlie Kirk, Trump may not have won.
On September 10th, Ayzha was in attendance at a Turning Point USA event on the campus Utah State University, where she attends college. She was so excited to be able to watch Charlie Kirk debate her peers. As he walked in, tossing out hats to the crowd, Ayzha was lucky to catch one. After a few minutes he sat down and started taking questions under a canopy shade. The first question was religious in nature. In his answer he talked about some of the things he loves about the Mormon faith and mentioned that many on his staff are members of the church. He also bore testimony to his love of Christ and His victory over death. The crowd cheered his comments. As he started responding to the the next question, a single shot range out. A bullet ripped through his neck and he fell backward, blood gushing from the wound. Ayzha and the rest in the crowd witnessed the horrific scene and got down on the ground afraid that more shots would follow. The crowd scattered in chaos. She ran to the nearest building and then made her way to the car and left. She called Ben and said she had just witnessed a murder.
When I realized it was Charlie Kirk that had been shot, I ran to my room to turn on the news. I couldn't believe it. My heart broke when his death was confirmed. It was horrifying and heart breaking for millions of people around the world. And yet, his death did not silence him. His message rang out louder and spread farther than ever. The number of TPUSA chapters on University campuses doubled within weeks. People who had not been to church in years, returned. His death, while tragic, may be the real turning point to a revival of Christian and conservative values worldwide. Charlie, you were a one of a kind. We will miss you.
During the summer, Qyntn started a little business. He rents out inflatables. He made just shy of $1,000 over the summer. Not bad for a 12 year old. Truth is, I did most of the work, but he always helped clean them when they were returned. With the money he earned, he bought an FPV drone, that he has wanted for a long time. I love that he has his own little business. I also love that he chooses to pay his tithing, which he calls his heavenly tax.
Alyssa is killing it, she got her instrument rating. Next up, commercial! Way to go Lyss!
