Hayden's Football Frenzy!

Sacking the Freemont quarter back...1 of 3 times... (Salt Lake Tribune)

Cute Kilie! 

Sweet mullet!

Listening to instructions from Coach Kafentzis (D coordinator)

Team captains: BJ Cavendar (68), Hayden (51), Blake Miller (4), and Taylor Loomis (7)

Taking down a Layton player (Deseret News)

The two linebackers...Hayden and Colton Shaver

Hayden is having an incredible football season thus far!  He was voted a team captain, and is a starting linebacker.  The first game against Freemont he had 3 sacks, and 10 tackles.  He was pictured, and mentioned in the article in the Salt Lake Tribune, and Deseret News.  Last Friday we played against Layton, and the felt "OK" about his performance...funny because he made 13 tackles...not too shabby!  Cute Kilie, his girlfriend is the cheer captain, I have also included pics of here because she's part of the fam!  Go DIGGERS...next up?  Pleasant Grove this Friday night at 7pm...I will keep you posted!

Mission Letter August 25, 2011

"Missionary work is hard.  We're fishin' in the dark.  I've found that we just need to live, and love like Christ did.  I have learned that this is sacrifice, and even more that that...it's charity.  I'm just out here to make people happier.  :)"


President Uctdorf:  "We would do well to slow down a little, focus on the significant, lift our eyes and truly see the things that matter most...strength comes not from frantic activity, but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light.  It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most...diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world."


"I believe you guys (the fam) matter most to me, and are MY truth and MY light.  I love my Brother Jesus Christ.  He is my foundation."


I like to party,


Duke :)  HA HA!

Duke's Mission August 2011

Duke safely arrived in San Antonio, and was so happy to be there!  The very first thing, they were taken to the Alamo, and given a history lesson.  He then settled in to his apartment, and met his companion.  His Companion is Elder Hansen.  Small world moment...Duke had a best bud at SVU (Taylor Savio) and Elder Hansen and Savio were best friends!  Needless to say, they get along great.  Duke has found yummy donuts that put Krispie Kreme to shame, apparently...Red Rock Donuts?!?  It is hotter than hot, and he writes that there have been 67 STRAIGHT days of 100+ degree weather.  "17 straight days over 110 degrees, and 6 straight days over 115 degrees!  It hasn't rained in 5 months...I came at the right time :) HA!  All the grass is dead here but there's a lotta green trees."  


I asked him how people have been responding to he and his companion.  "Every once in a while some people are nice and awesome.  They want us to come back later and hear our message.  I just appreciate when they stop to talk even if only for a bit.  I just want to make people happier if they join our church or not.  If they are happy...good!"


He is working in McNiel which is in north Austin, which is the very north part of the San Antonio mission.  He also misses his family :)  "I love my pic of you guys.  you can send more.  I look at it before I leave and when I get back."

Studying at the MTC

His "Crew" at the MTC

"Cool night time pic"

Apartment...

"Our sweet wheels...we get to drive in this area."

Elder Hansen

Red Rock...ROCKS!!!

"Someone was frying an egg on their driveway when we were knockin' on doors!"

Studying...A LOT!

MTC Update Aug. 7th

Duke sent a few pictures, and letters.  Seems to be adjusting...well...as he puts it, "It's hard to believe y'all live only 30 minutes away cuz I feel like I'm in a whole different...abyss!  You cannot get caught up in here.  But after the first few days I have found the love that I came with and my "own" ways for practicing what I believe.  You know it's hard for me when people tell me what to do but I just smile and say, 'God Bless' :) My faith has grown.  My love for Christ has grown, but mostly my love for everyone has grown."  

He actually ran into quite a few friends from SVU, and was excited to see them.  They were all "The 3rd Floor Mansion Thugs"  Ha!  They called themselves that at SVU because they all lived on the 3rd floor of the original mansion on the school property.  You will see pictures of them, cute boys!  Duke sounds happy, he left this morning for San Antonio, and is so ready to get there and start!

Oh, he was also appointed a "District Leader" there at the MTC and enjoyed that very much.  "I am the district leader which means I preside over my group of dudes.  There are 5 of us going to Vegas, and 5 of us going to San Antonio."  Sounds just like Duke would put it...right!?!

"I have also learned that "Elder" means defender of the faith!  I hate being called Elder Babka, but the title is something that I love."  Really, you just have to ask Duke to defend ANYTHING and he jumps right on board!  He sounds so pumped to go find people who need to find Christ...and what a wonderful thing to do!

The "Thugs" get it???
(Third Floor)

Don't look like "Thugs" as much as cute missionaires!!!

His 1st companion "Elder Donovan Gregory III"
(Duke actually added the "third" part)

I think he's thinking of Hawaii????

His "Buddy Ky"

The Last Supper...well, lunch...

He thought he'd share it with you!  :)

Well, the day finally arrived when we were to take Duke to the Missionary Training Center in Provo.  We decided to stop for a last meal together (his choice).  The winner...Barbacoa for some yummy, massive burritos!

One week down...two to go!

August 1, 2011

Hello All!

The MTC is like a different world. I am enjoying the scriptures and my district. We are all so close and I wouldn't have any other Brothers in it.  My companion is Elder Donovan Gregory, and although we don't have to much in common we have a good time.  I am learning so much and my days are packed! This part of my mission will be rough but I should endure it well. I often pray for the ones I love back home and always remember what they've taught me...LOVE
 
I will send pics soon

Elder Duke Richard Babka

Apricot Harvest 2011

Monkey-man Jack...a HUGE help...even in the kitchen!

Tato Bug with the trusty picker (which saved us!)

Rogan...our
"chief" picker...reaching great heights!

Before syrup production...

After syrup production...barely put a dent in it...
40 some-odd jars later!

Once again...despite the frost...and months of "winter weather"...our apricot tree pulled through with a bountiful harvest!  We picked, climbed, pureed, and boiled to make delicious apricot syrup!  Delicious on ice cream, and my sour cream banana pancakes.  The kids will be having a "stand" on the corner this Saturday to sell our harvest yummy!  So fun, and a great experience for the kids!  (I really had fun too...but don't tell them.)