A Poem by 6th Grade Noah

 Visible, invisible,

a fluctuating charm.

But be careful with the creature,

'Cause if not, it will cause harm.

Watch as the jellyfish

Floats in the sea,

I'm going to catch it-

Ouch! It stung me.

Off to the hospital,

I am feeling pain,

As I tilt my head up,

I see it stung my vein!

In the ER now, 

they're going to do some studies, 

In goes the srynge-

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Then I wake up and hear the doctor talking.

"After some research and quite some dread, 

We're sorry to say you soon will be dead."

So I sit and curse on the bed.

*****

And a really sweet Noah-ism, who was resting on the couch and catching up on an old volume of the blog- 

Low key the best book ever is the blog. It’s a great book with great characters who are great role models. It’s the kind of family I want to have! 

(How lucky am I that I've had a chance to write and shape and edit and refine the memories that our family has made over the last 20 years?! The blog has definitely highlighted many of our best sides! 

Do it and you're cool!

 Hello everyone!! I was slacking on writing my email but then Hermana Black said "do it and youre cool" which is the win-all reason to do something in our district for some reason. So the email is being written!

 This week, we saw lots of blessings! We were fed dinner every day this week, a little 8-year-old girl we were helping prepare got baptized, there were beautiful sunsets, some people in our ward brought a soft-serve ice cream machine to church, Hna Woodbury and I bought giant matching shorts and cool t-shirts, we went on a district hike + yoga session, and had an awesome district council which always fills my cup! When the work felt tiring and hard, I would see little things that reminded me that God is aware of what we're up to down here in Arizona and that He has a plan for us! We've also been doing district prayers every morning, where we all call and pray together, and its been a great way to start the day off on the right foot. 

Also, our friends came to church for the first time in my mission!! Its two awesome teenage girls and the young women's group is doing SUCH a good job of helping them feel welcome and invited!! We appreciate them.  

Spanish word of the week:  bendiciones = blessings 

 Bug of the week: tarantula!! It had been a while since we saw a tarantuala but right as we left a members house there was one getting ready to knock on the door! He was fast and ran away real quick.  

Spiritual thought: this week in district council (where all 3 companionships of missionaries serving in the area meet together) we talked about receiving revelation and how when a thought comes into your mind to do something good, act on it!! It doesn't matter if you think its from your own thoughts or the Holy Ghost - act right away. We were invited to pray every day to be trusted with one spiritual promting and promise to act right away - not to push it away with logic or stall, but to do it even if it doesn't make sense. Sometimes God works in mysterious ways! And when we choose to do what He asks, He'll trust us with even MORE opportunities to take care of His children! How lucky! 

I always love getting emails - send me a little thought if you get a chance! God loves you!  love, 

Hermana Morales 

8th Trip to Utah

 Over the last 12 months, someone in our family has left Iowa to go to Utah 8 times!  

It's been a huge blessing for all of us, with adventures galore and lots of family time. In August, I took what looks like the last trip to Utah for the forseeable future. My layover was in Arizona, a mere 2 hours away from my sweet peanut Leah. I cried the whole time and bought myself a sweatshirt as a pittance of a consolation. 

This trip to Utah was for Cousin Sarah's wedding!

Which meant lots of fun family time. 

And Bea time too! 

Hiking with my brother Jared (Uncle Bubba!) and Cousin Junie and Auntie Al was my favorite part of this quick visit. Jared is an excellent guide and makes hiking extra exciting!

The final hike up to Donut Falls was soo steep! 

But SO worth it! 

We went up and up quickly! My popcorn almost popped!

Uncle Bubba is the best tour guide- he will literally carry you on his back to make sure you have the best hike possible. Five stars, would definitely book him as my guide again. 

How lucky are we that we get to live in such a wonderful place as Iowa, but visit such an incredible place as Utah so often?!

The Highs and Lows of High Adventure

 For the first time ever, I got to join in the fun! And Noah did too!  And we all had a great time. Day 1 was Maquoketa Caves and setting up camp. Two minutes after we got out of the car, most of the youth disappeared down into Why Cave. 

Not me or Dad, but thanks to the leaders who took pictures from inside the bowels of the earth!

This is the place that we originally learned just how much Adam loves bounding around at great heights. Nothing has changed!

Our campsite in Decorah was perfect! 

And right on the Upper Iowa River. This is the part of Iowa that no one really thinks of when they think of Iowa, but it's gorgeous!

Our second day was packed full- 

first up, a four hour canoe ride down the river! There were lots of gospel lessons to be learned throughout the whole trip, including the importance of following your guide, helping each other, staying yoked to the Savior, and knowing when to ask for help or turn around. 

Next up, a 13 mile bike ride! 

Or a mountain biking adventure, that thankfully Adam walked away from. 

And then off to a waterfall! 

We had to pack it all in this day because it was supposed to rain for the next 24 hours, and it absolutely did. But we got one really good campfire on our second night. 

The second day was memorable but not at all high adventurish- we were all soaking wet all day long and had to deal with wet food, leaking tents, and soggy clothes. 

We watched Spider Man 3 in the clubhouse, and then Spider Man 4 in the local theater!

We did manage one hike up to a waterfall- I did it in rubber sandals!

The father and I spent the third night in a tiny tent because the deacon's tent was leaking so they moved into our big tent.

After the rain comes the gnats!

Emma and Camille slept in a tree tent!

Pulpit Rock offers some beautiful views!

The Ice Cave wasn't actually icy, and it wasn't technically a cave.

Oh wow, what an adventure we had! When we left Utah a few weeks ago, I was wishing for more outside adventures this summer, and this fit the bill perfectly!