8.21.16

In Sunday school today, we talked about the 2000 stripling warriors. Here are some of the things that were listed on the board about them:

2000 stripling warriors

Alma 53-63. 56:46-48

Valiant

Obedient

True

Knowledge 

Strong in faith

Covenant 

Fearless 

Protect

Keep commandments 

Strong family foundation 

Innocent

Brave

As we were talking about the stripling warriors, it reminded me of my missionaries. Those that have served and are serving. Those characteristics remind me of you! And I feel the affection for you all like Helaman felt for his warriors!

President Benson said,

"You have been born at this time for a sacred and glorious purpose. It is not by chance that you have been reserved to come to earth in this last dispensation of the fulness of times. Your birth at this particular time was foreordained in the eternities.

“You are to be the royal army of the Lord in the last days. …

“In the spiritual battles you are waging, I see you as today’s sons of Helaman. Remember well the Book of Mormon account of Helaman’s two thousand stripling warriors” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1986, 55; or Ensign, May 1986, 43; note that stripling means young man).

Earlier this summer we had planned this past week to go on vacation with my mom and Thom. We didn't plan what we were going to do, but had the dates blocked out. Well.. We didn't ever get anything set up, so we decided to take day trips. 

Monday, we went to Mt. Rainier

Tuesday we went to the ape caves at Mt. St. Helens.

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It was dark and cold in there, but beautiful! Keagan andAurora went on to the longer trail. 

The south side of Mt. St. Helens. 

On Wednesday, we started out later and went in the boat with my mom and Thom. It was lots of fun!

Keagan even caught a fish. He was pretty funny about not wanting to touch it!!

Thursday, we took a break. Keagan had to go to the school, too, for orientation stuff. 

Friday our youth had the 4 stake youth dance at the beach. Ray and I took keagan and a date to ocean shores. It was so hot in Lacey! In the high 90s! The beach was so refreshing! It was 80 at the beach, which is unheard of for our beaches! 

Keagan and his date, Sarah bagnall. (Sp?)

Love you all! Have a great week!

Sis. Shoop

8.14.16

Today has been a great day! It has been what I fee my life has been like the past several years. We went to Austin Falter's mission farewell and David Wolfs missionary homecoming. Oly 1st ward 9-12 and then Lacey 3 sacrament at 1. And then to the Falter's for an open house.
I love the youth and young adults so much. They (you) have to go through so many things and are so strong! The spirit was amazing at sacrament meeting!

Most of the week we have been lucky to have Cichoski and Pederson stay with us. Such fun rms and I'm grateful anytime any of my rms come and stay with us!


We took them to Tumwater Falls. We enjoyed the scenery.. And the Pokemon!

One thing that we have been trying to do more of lately is to go driving and discover new spots. This week we went to the Skookumchuck river. (Isn't that a fun name?!) and the Tenino rock quarry.


Also, this week was the youth run to the temple activity. Here is our ward youth at the temple.
Poor kids, they were the first session for baptisms, so they had to be there by 445 am. Keagan was home by 10. They had a great time and felt the spirit!
And the Seahawks played their first preseason game. Hazel (as always) looked so cute dressed up for it.

Love you all!
Sis Shoop

7.31.16

This week was a fun week! I got to go to the beach with Aurora and my friends the Olivers. It was super fun, but my nose and forehead got super burned!
I was able to go to the temple with our new member family. They got to do baptisms for the dead. It was super cool! They found their own family names and their missionaries got to come.


Poor keagan had to go to scout camp this week. I felt so bad for him.. He was the oldest one with much younger boys. Doesn't he look thrilled?! Hahaha
Monday is Ray and My 24 year anniversary, so with Keagan gone we spent time together and went to a Tacoma Rainiers game. It was super fun and they won! 2-1. And there was fireworks afterwards!


Rhubarb, the mascot. We had pretty good seats. It was beautiful out!


Keagan talking to his friend Matt Cheney on FaceTime

This a garage sale find of mine. Hahaha
A scripture that stuck out to me today in Sunday school.

It made me think of my extended family and all their craziness and how sometimes they drive me crazy, but I need to show love unto them always, speak boldly about the gospel, but always show kindness.
Love you all!
Have a great week!
Love ya Sis Shoop

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7.24.16

Happy Pioneer Day! Obviously, we don't live in Utah, so we didn't do much about it. Some year I would love to go to Utah and see all the fan fare about it. (Well.. If it's not too hot).
We had some great talks today about pioneers (including Keagan). The thought I was thinking about is that we can all be modern pioneers by doing new things that haven't been done before and being good examples. Sometimes it is hard being the only active sibling in my family and Ray in his. We try to show love to our siblings and family and be good examples. Sometimes it is hard, when we just want to say just come back to church or just stop drinking or just keep the Sabbath holy, but we can't and won't , we don't want to drive them away, so we keep praying for them and ourselves in trying to be the best family member possible. How are you a modern day pioneer?

Keagan has scout camp this week. Poor guy, he's really not looking forward to it. I hope he has fun! He's the only one his age in our ward going.
He's been gone a lot this summer! This is his third week, one at camp Helaman, one with his sis and family, and now this.

My good friend Leslie Oliver has been here with her 3 youngest for the past couple of weeks. It has been so fun being around her! Her sister is with us in this one.


We call ourselves the Faliveroops. (Falter Oliver Shoop)
I've been blessed to be friends with Les for 15+years and Sandy for 21+ years.
This one isn't the greatest quality, but I love how Hazel is looking at her mama and I'm smiling watching them on FaceTime.

My birthday collage for Melissa. 7.22


Keagans bday was 7.15, so here's a fun one of him, too from our family pics that we just got back.
Love you all!
Sis. Shoop

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7.10.16

Summer has finally started for me. Not because of the weather.. (It has been rainy and cold ish for summer) but because we have been doing fun summer things!
Melissa, Chaz, and baby Hazel were here last week! It was so fun! They drove all night and got here @8 in the morning last Sunday. Melissa and Hazel came with us to sacrament mtg (Chaz hadn't got any sleep) and then melissa went home to sleep and we got to keep Hazel! So fun to show her off and to hold her!
Brooklyn happened to be at the church and came home with us and surprised melissa. It was the best! It was so fun to see Melissa reconnecting with some of her dearest friends! Brooklyn and Daneah and then a few others later in the week.
We did so many fun things and enjoyed so many great baby snuggles. One day I only took 150+ pictures...

One of the many highlights of their trip was having Baby Hazel meet her great great grandma Hazel namesake from Chaz's side. She lives up north of Seattle in Edmonds. What a delightful lady! She's 95 years old and still teaches quilting classes! She told us she goes to church with her girlfriends, they all sit together in the second row.. Her, and her 93 and 97 year old friends!

One of my favorite things to do going to Seattle is ride the ferry!

Four generations! Haha
My mom and

My dad

This face.. Haha. Do you have to take my picture again? Umm yes!
We already miss them!


Love you all!
Sis Shoop
Next week... Hunter Pyne (elder) and his family are visiting and the Olivers will be here! I love summer!
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6.26.16

First week of summer break! And it has been cold and rainy :/. But this next week, starting today is beautiful!
We had an amazing sunset this week! We had thunder!


This week my step mom fell when she was getting up in the middle of the night and hurt herself pretty bad. Luckily she didn't break anything, but bruised her tailbone so badly so can't sit up. She went to the hospital last week and was there on her birthday. The only good thing about this was that I got to visit her every day while she was at St. Petes and I enjoyed visiting with her. She's a pretty wonderful lady! We love gma Judy! She was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Montensano (near Elma) until she fully recovers. Hopefully she won't have to be there very long. She was not happy about having to go there. In other news.. And happiness!!! Brooklyn came home this week! I was so happy and excited to see her! Thankfully some of her family is big on social media and I got to stalk them and get pictures! I wanted to let her have family time, but I was dying waiting for Saturday to see her!

We went to her ward (oly 1) to listen to her speak. She did such a great job! It was fun to be part of the Falter clan today! Brooklyn is like a second daughter to me! I'm grateful Melissa has had so many wonderful friends!! A side note.. Keagan wanted to stay all 3 hours because of their awesome youth (cute girls). They do have a lot of ym and he loves being with other youth! Our youth are so small! I can hardly believe I have only two missionaries out now! I'm happy for all the friendships I have with everyone home now, too! I love it when I get messages and phone calls from my rms! One of my favorites called me today and made my day!
Love you all and we pray for you.. Even when you come home! Sis Shoop
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6.12.16

I can't believe I forgot last week.. Well I remembered as I was falling asleep..
The past couple of weeks have been crazy as usual for the end of the school year. I had my preschool graduation Thursday. I'm glad preschool is done until September!

Rays brother and sis in law and kids from Pennsylvania flew to San Francisco. They wanted to go to Crater Lake in Oregon, so we drove down there to meet them. We ended up having limited schedule because of Keagans dance recital, but it was so worth it! We got to spend from noon Friday and had to leave Sat morning by 930 am. We hadn't seen them in 6 years. It was a great visit! We just wish it was longer!!!
Shoop cousins keagan, Austin (who is 2 weeks younger than K), and Shannon 12.

We also drove by the Medford temple. It is so small! But of course, beautiful!

All of Shoops

Ray and his older brother John

Keagan and his dance partner for recital.
Oh, and I painted my door. I've always wanted a red door and I love it.

S
And what would a letter be without a pic of Hazel?!

Aren't they the cutest family?!

Love you all!
Sis Shoop
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