Saturday was the State Championship Basketball games for Firth & Shelley.  They were at the Idaho Center in Nampa.  Ashely performed with the Drill Team Thursday and Saturday, Mom and I stayed home to hold down the fort.  It was a good day for both Firth and Shelley as they both brought home State Championship trophies.  Firth had a nail biter on their hands, Aberdeen played very well but we beat them by 7 to claim the 3rd title in a 3 years, an almost unheard of feat for High School basketball in Idaho.  We will have a very good team returning next year.  Shelley played Fruitland for their championship game, it was unique because of the number of 3 point shots scored.  There were 23 tre's between the two teams, Shelley scoring 14 of those.  More points were scored with 3 pointers than 2 point field goals.  In the fourth quarter Fruitland had not committed a foul (everyone was shooting from outside, thus no fouls) and due to falling behind and needing to foul to get the ball back had to commit 7 quick fouls before the 1 & 1 went into effect.  It is strange to see how big a rivalry there is between Firth and Shelley and yet for the Shelley game which was immediately following the Firth game, nearly all of the Firth fans stayed to cheer for the Russetts.  Shelley prevailed and also brought home championship hardware.  Ashely got home around 11:00 PM and was very tired.  She had a good time with the Drill Team, Cheerleaders and student body that were there. 
Mom and Ashley are napping this afternoon.  We are looking forward to next weekend in the Boise valley for Ashely's Pacific North West (PNW).  It will be great to see Andrea, True, Kimber and Liberty.
    Yesterday Mom and I attended a convert baptism in our ward.  Cloe Hampton, a young women who has been active the past two years and finally received permission to be baptized.  All of the young women in the ward have reached out to accept, fellowship and love her.  She has really changed her life and her testimony has grown.  Our teachers quorum has a young man in the same situation who has been attending Deacon's quorum the past couple of years.  Last Sunday he told us that he was fasting for his parents to give him permission to be baptized.  His parents speak only Spanish so it has been a little challenging. 
    Today was Ward Conference, Bishop Wilding spoke about the difficult times we find ourselves in and what it will take to get through them.  He emphasized living within our means, following the prophet's council and making sure that we were putting our family first.  I know that he has been called at this time to lead our Ward.  The Lord is always aware of our needs, he loves us and we need to trust in his guidance.
Dad and Mom