The Updike's

 This little 5-year-old cutie headed off to kindergarten this year!  Though she was not initially excited for school, (I think she wanted to go back to her preschool teacher and she was afraid of the unknown), once her dad gave her a special blessing for the school year, she was pretty excited!        She is just growing up way too fast! Lily and Mrs. Croissant  This little handsome man, on the other hand, could not wait for preschool to start.  He had to wait a whole week after Lily started for his school to start.  Let's just say it was the longest week of his life and mine.  He would ask me 20 times a day when it was preschool time.  I love his enthusiasm!  Can't believe how big he is getting!  This little dude wanted so badly to be apart of everything!  I love how he had to have his own backpack on and that he wanted to pose for pictures also.  Boston and Ms. Jeannie ...

Garrett and I had the opportunity to head up youth conference for our ward this year.  Though we felt quite inadequate for this assignment, we know that we were guided and directed in our efforts to make this a fun and spiritually uplifting event for our wonderful youth. As Garrett and I were discussing possible themes for youth conference, we knew we wanted something that correlated with the mutual theme of the year, which is, “Come Unto Christ.”   As we pondered this theme, we discussed why it is so important to “Come Unto Christ.”   We live in a time where the adversary is very subtle in his tactics.   One of his greatest tools is to attack our faith.   What used to be easily discernible as good or evil, the world has polluted and filled with gray.   While the church’s standards haven’t changed, the world would make us think that this gray area is acceptable and even normal. Because of this w e recognize how truly important it is to be secure in ...