Mirror Mirror

Yesterday morning we woke up and decided to go fishing. We wanted to rent a boat and go out on the river but they were sold out. It turned out to be a blessing because we had the best fishing day ever at Mirror Lake!!!

We fished for trout and slayed it!!! I think we caught about 20 fish between us. It was such a beautiful day too. 

Micah definitely caught the most fish. He pretty much caught one on every cast. 

Micah told us that he wants us to all go fishing the day after he dies. He wants us to all tie and bait our own hooks so we’ll really miss him. He’s for sure the MVP of all Woods family fishing trips! 

This butterfly really liked Micah. He kept landing on him and just hanging out. We also saw a river otter! He was so cute. 

Here’s Cole with a catch. I think Cole mostly liked eating sunflower seeds but here’s proof he fished too. It was a great day!!! 

After awhile Crocodile…

This is a blog I didn’t really want to write. I’ve known it was coming for a long time but for some reason that doesn’t make it any easier. Maverik left for his mission to Brazil on Wednesday July 3. We woke up early that morning to drive him to the Little Rock airport. It was a pretty somber drive but we all did our best to be positive and keep things light.

After our hugs and goodbyes we stayed and watched until Maverik got all the way through security and we couldn’t see him anymore. We kept smiling and waving. It was hard. 

We helped Maverik pack his suitcases the night before. He was nervous they’d be overweight but they were just right. We really packed things tight in there! The toughest thing to get in was the pop-up mosquito net but we really wanted him to have it just in case. We also loaded him up with deodorant. We heard they don’t have the good stuff down there so we tried to send him a 2 year supply. Micah took this picture and I think it’s really great.

Micah took this one too. I love it. Before we left for the airport Maverik gave me a blessing. It was really beautiful and hard for me to sit through. He gave one to Micah a few nights earlier that was also really great. It’s hard to say goodbye knowing you won’t see each other for 2 years. I’m glad we’ll all be able to talk on the phone but it’s not the same as being with each other. We are so proud of Maverik but we will really miss him. 

Home MTC

After Maverik got set apart as a missionary he started at-home MTC for about a week and a half. 

On his first morning he decided to make his own breakfast. He totally burned his toast. We just laughed and thought it was a great start to his mission.

He sat through a lot of classes on our table. It was fun to hear him practice Portuguese. He also got a fantastic MTC companion!!! We heard them laughing all the time. One day they had to give a fake lesson to someone. I could hear them from the front room. Mav taught about the atonement and bore a great testimony of the Savior. After he was done his companion hopped in and said, “So Jesus is a pretty awesome dude, huh?”. I started laughing so hard!!! The best part is he was so sincere about it. I’ve been quoting that line ever since. 18 year old boys are just so funny and great! 

For Maverik’s P-Day we went to the Bentonville temple. Here are Micah and Maverik after the session. 

I printed off a name for Maverik before we left. This is the name that came up.

It was my 6th great grandpa and so Maverik’s 7th. Both Micah and I come from pioneer ancestors so we almost never get someone in our direct line. I thought it was probably wrong but we were in a hurry so I just brought it. I texted my dad and asked if he thought there was any way it could be right. He said he thought it was! He told me that the line had been stuck for a long time and that it looks like someone had found more family.  I just thought it was so cool that Maverik got to go through the temple for a grandpa. 

Here’s me and Maverik. I’m a lucky mom.

It was a great way to spend Mav’s P-Day. I don’t have a picture but after this we went to get Cole some new shoes. He was a trooper and spent a few hours just hanging out at the stake center waiting for us. 

The night before Mav left Renee and Phillip Carr brought him an incredible gift! Phillip made this little football table! Maverik absolutely loves it. He asked me to take this picture of him curled up on it. 

And here’s a better picture of the table. So many people have been so supportive and kind to Maverik! We are so grateful for the love we have felt. 

Branson

The day after Maverik’s team won the state championship we met up with John, Jill, Parker, and Paisley in Branson. 

John and Jill took the kids to Silver Dollar City for the tree lighting. 

Parker and Mav have been friends since birth. They’re always happy when they get a chance to hang out!

They had fun riding rides and running around the park. They also said they had fun smelling candles when they needed a break.

We decided to go to the play Esther. It was awesome!!! I’d been wanting to go for awhile and I’m so thankful George and my mom could come with us! 

We are always so thankful when family comes all the way out here to see us! This was a great and memorable weekend for so many reasons. 

The After Party

To say that everyone was excited after the game would be an understatement!

Here’s Cole with some friends just being high schoolers!

The whole team with the trophy!

The fireworks were unbelievable!!! They went on for about a half hour. It was super overkill and awesome!!! That whole place was rocking!

Here’s Mav with Precious. She was one of the managers and she’s been a good friend to Maverik.

It was so fun to watch Maverik play all season!!! He gave both me and Micah a big hug after the game. We were all just so happy.

I love this picture so much!!!

Here’s Maverik with Coach Andy. Andy Tinkle coached Maverik during his pee-wee years and Mav still calls him Coach Andy. When a team or person wins something it always goes way back. It starts somewhere and the people in the beginning or along the way rarely get any recognition. We are so thankful for all the people who have helped Maverik get here!!! We have seen the hard work and sacrifices made by others on our behalf and we really are grateful. 

Mav hugging his friends. I love Lorelei’s big smile!!!

Lorelei, Hannah, Haley, Mav, and Ellie. These are great girls!

Here we all are after the game. I love that Cole carried his saxaphone around.

And one with Grandma and Grandpa. We were really happy they came!!!

Maverik with Tawni and Eric Orton. They are his Sunday School teachers and they came to several games. The Carrs were also there that night. Our branch has been really supportive of our family.

Mav with his friend Trevor Downs. Trevor plays basketball but that’s really his only downfall 😊

Maverik with Moose. These boys have been playing football together for years. We’ve loved watching them play together!!!

I just love these 2.

Proud parents.

After the game we went to Pizza Inn where they played “We Are the Champions” on repeat.

It was a really great night and one that I think we’ll all remember!

Game Time

I have so many thoughts on the actual football game. I know I’m a little biased but it was an amazing game!!!! So freakin’ exciting!!! 

It started with this classic sign! Mountain View is not known for its academics.

Here’s Moose leading the team on to the field for the last time.

The entire game was close! 

We haven’t really been behind all season but this game was different. Corning came to play!!! We were down by 10 in the 4th quarter and we just couldn’t get anything going offensively all game. 

In the 4th quarter Mav got a penalty for a late hit. It was not a good penalty to get but it didn’t give them a first down and we got the ball back by playing great defense. The crowd was dead all game. It was a home game but there was just no energy. The Corning crowd was fantastic. They were loud and into it. I’m not saying Maverik’s penalty was good but it completely changed the game. After that penalty the entire crowd was on their feet and they never sat back down! It was wild!!! Total pandemonium!!! We scored 20 unanswered points in the last few minutes! It was the most fun I’ve ever had at a game!

This is final score. It was actually way closer than the final score would suggest. Every time I think about this game I smile. The boys on both sides played their hearts out and it was a complete joy to watch!!! They should all be proud!!!