Sweetheart Contest

Hanna was nominated by the JV Girls Basketball team to be a contestant in the Sweetheart contest. She told us she didn't want to, but Austin and I thought she should. A few of her friends were also nominated and didn't accept. She thought that was lame so hopefully she was glad she did it.

She had to create a poster, have an interview with the judges, and then have an escort introduce her and share a talent at the assembly.

Taylor Barfuss was her escort.
He wrote a poem for her:
Now where to start.
From her endless joy to her heart.
Hanna Jane is one nice gal.
She's even willing to accept any of you as a pal.
But she loves her family most of all.
Which makes her cool for the long haul.
She enjoys spending time with those who are in need.
Watching her do so is really quite a sight to see.
She seems to always get straight A's
And she even tutors, that's pretty good, wouldn't  you say?
I've never seen anyone work so hard.
By doing this, she will never be knocked off guard.
She excels at most everything especially basketball and rodeo,
On the court or in her saddle she can put on quite a show.
Now Hanna here is a running for sweetheart queen,
By doing so I find it quite keen.
Because Hanna here is the nicest girl you'll meet.
Her selflessness and compassion and outstanding kindness
Makes her pitch complete.

 For her talent, her friends helped her and they did a synchronized swimming talent. Lucy and Carly held up a tarp and they pretended to be synchronized swimmers. It was so funny.

Feeling Emotional

Just sharing why I have felt a wide range of emotions this week -

A dear sister in our ward passed away on Saturday and had her funeral on Thursday. Francoise Coombs was diagnosed with 4 types of cancer just after Christmas. She was the librarian at the junior high while Austin was the principal there for 4 years. Someone called Austin on Thursday night and said she was dying and he meant a lot to her. So at 10 pm he put on his suit and went to her house to say good-bye. She held his hand and said, you are a good man. She was raised in France so her accent was classic. This is the perfect description that Coralee Williams posted about her on Facebook:
She was grace under pressure with a razor sharp wit. Oh, how I will miss her classy and sunshiny ways.

Doug and Emily had a baby boy on Saturday, February 9, 2019. Doug and Emily battled infertility for 12 years until they had their first baby, Hazel just days after their 12th anniversary. 2 years and 6 weeks later, they had a baby boy, Henry Fenton Waite. Henry will likely be the sole carrier of the Waite name since Doug is my only brother and Henry is his only son. In his first day and a half of life, he is calm and healthy! I am sure Emily is glad to have him come out to play. Pregnancy is not easy for her, but thank goodness for invitro.

These three girls are all leaving on missions this month. They are a year older than Hanna, but she played basketball with them and was friends with them throughout the years. Annie Soper, Ava Hardy and Haylie Holland. Today was Haylie's farewell. She gave a fantastic talk. I am mostly emotional about good friends and influences on my kids and that my kids are also growing up and will be leaving (plus Jill who is in her second year of college).

Hanna is halfway through her senior year. I don't think it is going to be okay to let her grow up and leave. We are starting the firsts of the lasts - last basketball tournaments, last school dances, last rodeos, etc. It has all been such an amazing experience and I am so thankful for the character and spirit that Hanna has. After her tournament in Edmonton this weekend, she decided to stay Saturday night with the team instead of driving home with us since it will be one of her last trips with the team.