Preparing for Dorm Life

Felycia is excited to be living in the dorm this fall. We are working on her decorations. We bought storage boxes and fabric yesterday. In the afternoon, we made the cover for her cork board by the desk. We have enough fabric to do one for Ashley, her roommate, and then to make covers for both of the headboards. The rooms are quite dark with dark wood and dark carpet so all of the fabric is bright colors. We also bought fabric to make a blanket. Light denim on one side and a flannel print on the other. It will be a warm blanket. We have also made a couple of jewelry bags. They are basically a circle that is divided to put jewelry in separate pockets then it gathers to tie closed. I'll include a photo when it is completely done.

Deric's latest news

Deric's latest news is that he has managed to ruin a shirt and two ties. A red pen exploded in his pocket and then he dripped ice cream down his front. He wants new ties because the 8 he took are just boring. I found ties on the internet and had them shipped directly to the MTC. Six new ties should be okay for now.

Apparently, they have ugly tie days at the MTC. Deric is disappointed that he has been unable to participate because he only has nice ties. Aunt Cristi is going to Deseret Industries and to the Goodwill Superstore to see if she can find any ugly ties. We'll get them to Deric as soon as possible.

More Fun from the Reunion

Cooking hot dogs, marshmallows and breadsticks over the fire pit

Dakotta wanted her turn to drive the 4-wheelers

Looking for shells at the resevoir - swimming came later

Felycia and Sara with the .22's

Trailers with 4-wheelers, a canoe, and supplies

At the park in St. George - Reid and Jerrald showing the kids how to play

Water balloons

Felycia and Sara were in charge of filling all the water balloons

College Days are Coming

Felycia went to her Freshman Orientation on Monday. She met lots of people and got all registered for classes. She is taking a Math class from Uncle Paul Brooks, an education class, Music appreciation, and a freshman studies class. We went to the Institute and met Brother Campbell. We got to look at a dorm room so we know what to expect.

Felycia's roommate is Ashley Wainscott. She is from a small town in Kentucky. The suitemates are both from small towns in Utah. Felycia is the 'city girl' of the group. They already have a few things in common. They are texting and e-mailing back and forth and planning who is bringing what for their room.

While we were in St. George, we stopped at Staples to look at computers. Felycia bought a laptop. It is a really nice one. They were out of stock, so the store in Cedar City is sending it right to our house in Las Vegas.

Another thing Felycia did in St. George was go to a job interview. She got word last night that she got the job. She will be teaching a tumbling class at a dance studio in Washington. It's only a few hours a week, but it's a good start until she gets her schedule down. We will have to make a trip back to St. George to fill out paperwork and to learn the ropes for the studio.

New adventures await!!!!

Larkin Family Reunion

Last week we were at our Larkin Family Reunions at Little Creek Ranch outside of Paragonah, Utah. We had a great time. We played games, rode ATV's, did some skeet shooting, played with the water balloon launcher, went to the resevoir, and ate lots of good food.

Deric and Josh are both serving missions right now so they weren't at the reunion. We were able to remember them by drawing a picture of them and hanging it up. Josh is on the left and Deric is on the right. They even have their missionary name tags. Josh is wearing a long sleeve shirt and a paisley tie. He has a CTR ring. Deric is wearing short sleeves, an orange and blue tie, and an HLJ ring. Josh is in Calgary, Canada and Deric will be going to San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Missionary News

Deric's latest letter lets us know that he had a little bit of a cold. (Probably thanks to Felycia because she was sick for a whole week before we dropped him off.) The bed is not so great so he isn't sleeping well. He says it feels like there are 40 hours in a day and only 4 hours in a night.

He is enjoying his studies. He can bear his testimony in Spanish and he prays in Spanish. Deric says that his prayers feel more powerful in Spanish. That's always what Great Grandma and Grandpa Brooks said, too.

There were two Devotionals in Deric's first week at the MTC. The first one was Elder Holland. More than half of the Quorum of the Twelve were there. On Sunday, June 28, there was a special Sacrament Meeting for the New Mission Presidents who are being trained right now. Fourteen of the fifteen member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve attended.

Deric has let us know that the food at the MTC is okay going in but then strange things happen. He told us to read Jeremiah 4:19 for a glimpse at what he means. When we read it, Aunt Cristi and Conrad both remembered this as the cafeteria scripture during their time at the MTC.

Deric has had a chance to see some of his high school friends who are also at the MTC. Elder Greg Bayles is going to Ukraine. Elder Jeremy Anderson is going to Italy. Greg and Deric had honors and AP classes together. Jeremy and Deric were in orchestra and volleyball together.

Deric says he is doing fine and learning lots. He loves us and misses us. We miss him, too, but know he is doing the Lord's work.

A Letter from the MTC

ElDeric's first letter came on June 29th. He told us that his companion is from Ogden, UT and his name is Elder Stevenson. He has two instructors and they were interviewing the new elders while Deric was writing his letter. Deric said that as he walked through the doors as we drove away, all of his nervousness and anxiety went away and were replaced with peace. He bore his testimony that he is right where he is supposed to be and doing what the Lord wants him to do. What a relief to us here at home.

The news coming out of Honduras this past week has us a little bit concerned, but we know that the safety of the missionaries is important to the church. He won't go to a place that will be unsafe for him. We trust the Lord to direct things in the best way.