One of Those Weeks

Houston's final week of high school was a hectic one for the Heimulis.

Sunday, May 31, 2015, was Seminary graduation. Houston was the speaker and he did a fantastic job. As a member of Bountiful High School's Seminary Council, Houston's talk centered on this year's theme, Doctrine & Covenants 6:36, "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." 

With fellow seminary graduate Bruce Tukuafu. 

Houston and Bishop Croft at seminary graduation. 

Alyssa, Helam, Houston, Hevynn and Harrison

Monday was the awards banquet. It was long. We were already 39 minutes into the program, but only 1/3 of the way through just the first page (of 6 pages!) when I got this text from one of the award recipients sitting up on the stage:

He is so funny. 

Graduating seniors who received athletic scholarships.  

Thursday was high school graduation. How lucky we are that Houston has the best siblings in the world, and awesome grandparents, cousins and family members. 

Gotta love those signs by Helam and Hema. 

Tongan leis by Aunty Maile. Money leis by Grandma Murray and Aunty Keala. 

Houston with Eliza Smith. She's beautiful. 

One of Houston's best friends, Brad Quick, will also be serving in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission. Love this guy!

Then today was probably the best day of all as Houston put his high school days behind him and received his endowment at the Bountiful Temple, in preparation for his mission. Again, we are so blessed to have the best family in the world. 

Helam, Alyssa, Houston, Hevynn, Norma and Hema in front of the Bountiful Temple. A beautiful sight. 

Love these kids!

Elder Quick

An amazing young man, and one of Houston's best friends since junior high school, opened his mission call last night. Brad Quick is a very special person whose character and spirit have been refined through his trials over the past 8 months -- the types of trials teenagers at Bountiful High School aren't usually called upon to bear.

Houston was at Helam's Weber State Football banquet in Ogden at the time of Brad's opening, but immediately heard where Brad was going...thanks to social media. Houston stopped our table conversation and said, "Guess where Brad's going?  Indiana Indianapolis!"

Wow.  Brad will be an incredible missionary -- one who will be able to easily connect with others who have experienced the struggles of daily life -- and the people of Indiana will LOVE him for it. 

Elder Quick reports July 29th.  We are so proud of him and excited for him and Houston to serve in the same mission!

The Call

It's been a busy month for Houston.

He's still a senior, very busy with high school life.  On February 4th, he signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Stanford after his mission.  Here's just one of many articles on the subject:

 

Meanwhile, his mission papers had been in since February 3rd, accompanied by this handsome photo.

His call arrived on February 19th.  Last night, Houston invited family (Dad/Mom, Hema/Norma, Helam/Alyssa, Hevynn/Bo, Harrison, and Rod/Deirdre Nordfors -- with Haley Johnson and extended family members on FaceTime) and a few friends over for the opening of Houston's mission call.  When I say "a few," I mean about 50 people...

A few (haha) of Houston's friends came over to watch him open his call.

The Squad of good friends and even better young men!

LPA (Legacy Preparatory Academy) reunion!

Hevynn, Meghan Francom & Houston

Houston & Mitch Halverson (who signed with SUU!)

Houston basically grew up on social media.  Here's a peek at the buzz regarding his mission call. First, Twitter...

And on Instagram, apparently, he is the 50th Polynesian missionary to receive a shout-out from lds_polynesian:

INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS MISSION!  Reporting to the Provo MTC on Wednesday, June 17th, 2015.  Gonna miss him but he'll do great work!

Here's a bio on Elder Heimuli's mission president:

Kip S. and Steven C. Cleveland

Steven Cornell Cleveland, 61, and Kip Susan Perry Cleveland, three children, Foothill Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont North Stake: Indiana Indianapolis Mission. Brother Cleveland is a high priests group instructor and former high councilor, counselor in a stake Young Men presidency, counselor in a bishopric, elders quorum president, gospel doctrine instructor and missionary in the England South Mission. Basketball analyst, ESPN/BYUTV. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Robert Cornell and Betty Jane Cleveland.  Sister Cleveland serves as ward Relief Society meeting committee member and is a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Primary president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women adviser, Sunday School instructor and Primary achievement day adviser. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Robert Lamar Perry and Carol Mae Thompson.

Bo, Hevynn & Madelyn Welling

Dad, Mom & Elder Heimuli