I Got my License!

Yesterday afternoon my mom took me to the DMV. I swear we were in there for hours.... after the paper work was all filled out I waited some more and took the my dads truck in the 3 point turn area. I wait some more and the instructor tests my lights then tells me to go into the coned spot and do a 3pt turn. If you hit a single cone you fail automatically. That really got my heart racing. I pull up and started backing up but then I realized I was going to hit a cone. SO i pulled up farther then backed up and completed the turn. The instructor said to pull to the side and wait so I did and watched the other kids trying to get their license do the 3 point turn. 2 out of the 5 failed.

The instructor got in my car and we drove around the block. It was quite easy but I was shaking really bad! The instructor said I need to watch my speed but other wise I did fine.

Having a license is suhweet! I drove around like all day yesterday lol.

Shooting Range!!

Yesterday afternoon we all went to the shooting range. I have never had so much fun shooting guns ever! It was a lot better than shooting all the .22's all the time. I shot the AR-15, AK-47, 30.06, .22 pistol, and the 9mm's. My favorite had to be the AR-15 along with the 9mm. AR-15 has pretty good kick but it doesnt like throw you back like Eric's 30.06. The 30.06 was really kool too though. I have to say I was freaked out to shoot it cuz it has a lot of kick. I shot it and man that was awesome! I shot it about 7 more times. The pistols were really kool. I have always wanted to shoot a 9mm. I am also surprised how much my mom shot. She is pretty tough! My dad...., he dont care. He just picks up the gun no matter how big, pop...pop...pop. Grandma Hooper even shot the AR-15 with the .22 bullets instead of the bigger ones with lots of kick. It was fun watching her just unload that clip haha!

Overall I think everyone had fun. I so want to do this again!

Me on the AR-15
Kirk making sure I properly loaded his gun
The little cousins all hanging out on the back of the truck

Grandma chilling out in the truck watching everyone shoot

Getting ready to shoot the AR-15

Dad on the AK-47

Mom on the AR-15 (look closely and you can see her bullet hit the dirt behind the target

AK-47 again

Mom also on the AK-47

Dad on the AR-15 (his bullet also just hit the dirt)

Me on the AK-47

Connor didnt like how much kick the AR-15 had lol

Connor like the .22 rifle

Me and my brother shooting

Helping Jenna shoot the .22

30.06!

My dad with his 9mm

Me shooting the .22 Pistol

Connor on the .22 pistol

mom on the 9mm (she looked deadly lol)

Past weeks...

Over the past few weeks i have been really busy reading The Scarlet Letter and writing essays and character analysis' for my AA English class. Geometry is pointless. I will most likely never use this stuff in life...i mean, when am I ever gonna need to do proofs and write all the steps i did to find the proof...so stupid. Seminary is really cool. There are a lot of really good and smart kids in my class so I learn alot. We are studying the Book of Mormon this year and so far I am loving it. Its the time to just relax listen to the spirit and get away from the vain things at school. Orchestra is like the best class besides seminary. My orchestra director is awesome! He so funny and loves doing what he is doing. Yesterday after school, he helped me with my bowing technique because I told him I am having issues with it. I am already playing a lot smoother. Now I just need to practice and et used to the improved bowing grip.

Biology is pretty kool. This class is really easy for me. I have a 96% in this class and have gotten 100%'s on basically every quiz and test. I guess this means i am meant to be a doctor lol!

Drivers Ed is pointless. I am really not learning anything. Its a great class for those people who are trying to get their permit. I am learning everything I need to learn from my dad on the road.

Sign language is really cool. I love that I am learning a language and playing at the same time. Its fun to be swinging your hands all over the place and are actually signing words.

I am also doing baseball after school Monday and Wednesday. I am getting a lot better and hopefully Ill make the JV team.

Its my BIRTHDAY TOMMOROW!!!!!! I am so excited to turn 16 and being able to drive and date too. I feel like life is going by so fast. Each year is faster and faster. (a great bday present would be some money to fix up the chevelle haha!!!) By the way I am updating the chevelle blog also.


"Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today. Of the here and now providing pleasant memories for the future."
-President Thomas S. Monson

Chevelle Blog

www.hoopers71chevelle.blogspot.com

This is the blog for the car I will drive when I am 16. It will give you all the updates of me and my dad's progress on getting the car ready for emissions.

Check it out!

My Talk

So yesterday i gave a talk on Gratitude. I think i did a pretty good job. I had a lot of nice job's afterwards too.

Here is my talk for anyone who wishes to read it..

My talk this afternoon is on the topic Gratitude. The Strength of Youth pamphlet says The Lord wants us to have a spirit of gratitude in all we do and say. If we live with a spirit of gratitude we will have greater happiness in life, even in the most difficult times. Also in our prayers, before we ask for blessings, pour out your heart to God in thanks for all the blessings you have already received. Thank him for your family, for friends and loved ones, for leaders and teachers, for the gospel, and for his Son Jesus Christ.

When I read this early last week, I felt like I needed to thank my Heavenly Father more than I regularly do. The next time I prayed I thanked the Lord for about every blessing I could think of. I noticed that the Spirit was with me more strongly than normal. My day went smoothly and I felt the Spirit quite often and I was happy. At the end of that day I reflected on how I thanked the Lord for everything I had and how my day had turned out. I thought of how I feel when I do something nice for someone else and they greatly appreciate it and tell me thank you and how that it makes me feel good and want to serve that person again. Then I thought how the Lord might feel when his children thank him for all he does. I think it makes the Lord happy to see that his children care for what he does and makes the Lord want to bless them even more.

In the November 2008 Ensign, President Monson said, “Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.” This quote from our prophet has helped me so much. Whenever I am feeling alone or depressed I read this and it always gives me the strength to stop thinking of all the bad things that have happened in my life, and instead, as President Monson said, provide pleasant memories for the future.

A way we can create these happy memories is by showing thanks to our friends and family for all they do for us and as well, thanking our Heavenly Father for the things he does.

I know that Gratitude is something we all should have. When we try to see the blessings in our lives instead of the bad things, it helps us become more cheerful and more grateful for the blessings we have already received. All of us are going to have trials in life and have those rough days. When these come into our lives, we should try to find something to be grateful for. For example, I am grateful for the friends that I have, and for my cute little kitty, and for my wonderful parents and grand-parents, and for my education, my home and even my brothers and sisters. Having this grateful attitude will push us through the troubles we have and help us overcome them easier.

AMEN

What's been going on...

So lately I have obviously going to school and such. I have finished up my Eagle Project for Andrea's Closet 2 weeks ago. Me, my dad, and some friends from the ward went to the Andrea's Closet warehouse to inventory/stock the toys. There were lots of toys in this place. They were arranged by dollar amount. The bottom shelves were $3 and under, 2nd lowest shelf $5 under, the middle shelf $10, 2nd highest shelf $20 and under, and the highest shelf was above $20 (it was something close to this). There are different shelves for boy toys and girl toys. We took all my toys i collected and seperated them by its $ amount. Then we colored stickers on them (each sticker color meant a certain $ amount). then stocked them on the shelves. It was a lot of fun and Kenny Brunk (the president of Andrea's Closet) was really funny too. We collected approximately $3373 ($423 per hour), 566 toys, all in 8 hours at the Southern Walmart in the Superstition Springs Mall area. The project was definitely a success. All i have to do now is fill out the rest of the paperwork and then the court of honor to be an official Eagle Scout. i will also update info on the celebration of my cart going to St. Joe's hospital.

I have also become obsessed with the '71 Chevelle too. I will be driving this car when I am 16 (6 weeks exactly to this day). I love this car! Me and my dad are working on this and soon will have it looking good and running well enough to drive. I am so greatful for awesome parents to help me with the money to get this car fixed and to help me pay for my insurance as well!! Love you guys!

I am starting a blog for my dad and I's progress on the chevelle too. When I have it set up I will put up a link on facebook and on my blog.

:/

I have been totally forgetting about my blog ltely. I have been so busy getting ready for school and i promise i will post after school :)).