Hello Again!

It has been so long since I have posted on my blog! I have been wanting to for a while now, but I am totally lazy. My summer has been filled with a lot of wonderful things. I have been playing a lot of volleyball over the summer at the recreational center and as well with my school team. I also have been umpiring baseball a lot for the All-Star Tournament for all ages which went really well. This will be my job starting in September. I get paid $45 a game :)).

A few weeks ago the Aaronic Priesthood members in my ward drove up to Durango, Colorado for one week. It was a blast! We did a lot of fishing and hiking. My quorum split off from the deacons and teachers and went on an overnight hike to some really nice fishing spots. We hiked around 20 miles. the fishing was really good. I fly fished for the first time. There was also this crazy beaver in the river that kep scaring me half to death as he would body slam into the water and steal my fish! I also fell in love with the shotgun. We shot lots of clay pigeons and I loved that!

My last year in high school is starting up pretty quick here! I am a Senior! I have dreamed for this year since like 6th grade. (Ive never been a big fan of school) I am very excited for what this year has in store for me. I am taking seminary, and advanced Anatomy class, orchestra, AP Statistics, English 101, and Economics with Government online. It is going to be one crazy semester full of homework but im excited!

On a more spiritual side, the Lord has definitely be shaping me over this summer. I think I have grown more spiritual over this summer then I ever have. Throughout all the trials that I have gone through earlier in my life, they all have seemed to come into a new perspective and I have realized why I have gone through the ones I have. I am better understanding my Heavenly Father and His spirit and as well as the Savior. Next year in June I will be able to send in my mission papers (341 days left) and get going on my mission for 2 years! I will also be ordained an Elder and receive the Melchizedek Priesthood almost right after school ends. Holy Cow! I am very excited for these next few years of my life.

Since I was in junior high I always wanted to become a doctor just like my Grandpa Hooper! Then after some thinking and talking with my mom and doing some research, I don't know if being a doctor is something I really want to do. Something that has really struck me is Genetics and Biotechnology. I just imagine myself creating new vaccines and using Gene therapy to cure diseases (but not making Apes take over the world like that new movie haha). But who knows that could all change! I will be turning in my admissions to BYU in December so hopefully they will accept me! Life is really going to change very soon. I like to see it as, my life will finally "begin" :)).

But that's my life right now and I'm loving it.

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Surgery

So I went to the doctor thursday and he told me my ACL is torn was pretty bad and I need surgery. I will be getting the surgery this wednesday morning. I didnt think the surgery was going to be that bad but the past few days have been really depressing for me. I just cant do all the things that I used to be able to do. I wont be able to do anything physical for about 6 months. Ill be going to through rehab every week. I cant do any of the activities on my super activity this summer, I wont be able to waterski or anything that puts strain on my knee. It is going to be a very long and painful 6 months but atleast going to rehab and the gym everyday Ill be buff lol!

It also has been hard on me spiritually. I have been so focused on this surgery and just havent had my thoughts focused on my saviour like I normally do. The adversary knows that I am week right now and he is doing all that he can to make me feel awful.

It is definitely going to be a tough 6 months but I will get through it!

Its been 6 months!

I have been so busy i have completely forgotten about my blog! So many things have been going on in my life during the past 6 months so I will just skip to the important parts.

I am driving Opa's 1971 Chevelle still. I absolutely love this car! It has quite a few problems but it gets me from place to place.

I didnt make the Red Mtn Baseball team. In was way I was really glad I didnt make the team. The boys are just very crude and its hard being a Latter Day Saint and keeping your standards up around them. Instead I tried out for the Volleyball team and I made that! Volleyball is officially my favorite sport! It is so much fun! You are always constantly moving and into the game!

During my freshman year at Shepherd, I gave a girl named Kaylee Tyner a Book of Mormon. Since then, the missionaries and I have gone over to her house to teach. We have only gone twice but we are trying our hardest to bring the gospel to her. I have invited her to church and quite a few other activities but she always seems to be busy lol. This up coming sunday I have invited her to come to church and play her violin with me. She accepted that! So we will be playing together in church next sunday. I really hope that goes alright and that she feels the spirit.

During spring break my orchestra and I went on tour to NYC!! WE played in Carnegie Hall and St. Paul's Cathedral. I will never forget that experience! it was absolutely amazing and I would love to go there again.

Last Wednesday, playing in my volleyball game, I tore my ACL. I was hopping backwards to go for a spike (the ball was set a bit behind me) and as I hit it, my knee popped and gave out and I couldnt bend my knee for some time. It hurt like crazy! I am not yet sure how bad it is. I will be going to the doctor this thursday and we will see whats up. If it is bad enough, I will most likely get surgery because otherwise I have to give up sports and I am sooooo not doing that!

AIMS Tests are tomorrow! :((

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