June Letter

 Dear Family & Friends, 

Hi everyone! I don't exactly have a lot of things to talk about this month. I also don't have a lot of pictures. I start the MTC on July 5th, so everything has kind of been preparation for that.

My mom is going to start my missionary book soon after this letter, so this is my last letter from this chapter of my life. I don't know how to feel. Everything is coming so fast. I think I am ready, and I can't wait to see what life holds for me!

    Love,

        Brandon David Barnhisel

May Letter

 Dear Family & Friends, 

Wow. This month has been pretty life changing. Everything seemed to happen this month, and I wonder if there will be enough excitement for the rest of the year. May has taken it all. This month, I took some very important steps in my life as I travel across the bridge that is life. 

It was Mother's Day this month. I love my mom, and I feel so blessed to be sent to her and my dad. She is a great example of unceasing faith to me, and I am very grateful for everything she does for me. I do not deserve such a kind, intelligent, and strong woman as my mother, and I try to make her proud, even though I know she is proud of me always. She is that good of a person.

I graduated Seminary this year! After 4 years, I have been through only 3 of the books of scripture. Because we switched systems halfway through, I studied the New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Book of Mormon twice. This was kind of sad, because I love the Old Testament. Nevertheless, I gained an appreciation for seminary my senior year, and I'm going to miss it. I know that I will go to Institute in college (college seminary) so I am looking forward to that.

I also graduated school! I finished with a 3.96 GPA and a 33 on the ACT. When I return from my mission, I plan to study Aerospace Engineering at Utah State University, where I have a full scholarship. I am grateful for my education, and although the last few years have been rough, I've learned a lot along the way. (I'm glad I can ditch the graduation robe. It was like 95 degrees at graduation.) 

In preparation for my mission, I was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood and received my temple endowment in the space of about fourteen hours. Thursday night I was ordained, and Friday morning I went through the temple. Aside from a glitch where my group was not listed in the temple schedule, it went smoothly and I got the opportunity to do something I have been preparing for my entire life. The temple is truly a house of God. God doesn't need a physical house. But somewhere is needed where we can feel closer to him and receive necessary blessings so that we can return to his presence. I am grateful to live near so many temples.

After such an exhausting week, I was really tired. I am really excited to see where my life takes me, and I know that I can be successful. For right now, I am preparing for my mission, which starts in one month. On June 5th, I will enter the MTC. The first nine days will be online, and then the last two weeks will be in person. I am so glad that the Church decided to open up the MTC so that I can get used to being away from home before I am sent to Arkansas. Good luck in your lives!

    Sincerely,

        Brandon David Barnhisel

        

April Letter

 Dear Family & Friends, 

Hi everyone! It has been a great month, and one of the last in my life before I go out into the world! I can't wait to leave on my mission in July! I think I will come to love the people of Arkansas and Missouri. 

We heard from our prophet and the apostles this month in our General Conference! I have become more and more grateful for these conferences as I have gotten older, especially now that I am set to serve a mission. We had some cousins over for a conference breakfast, and we got to feel the Spirit as we listened to these inspired speakers.

After canceling an Easter party last year, we got to go to one this year! I used to take going to my grandma's house for granted, but I have missed it more and more. It was so fun, even though we failed to catch the stray rabbit in the backyard. It was glad to return to some sense of normalcy after everything that has happened. 

Everywhere was packed for Spring Break (as expected) so we decided to go "off the beaten path". We visited some dinosaur tracks in southern Utah and visited the San Rafael Bridge and San Rafael Swell. It was super fun, and we got to go to a relatively unknown pizza place in Price (which was amazing).

Sam started soccer this year! So far he is still getting used to the sport, but he has scored a couple goals so far! I miss rec soccer, so its fun to watch my little brother beginning his soccer journey. He is a pretty good goalie as well!

I went to my first (and last) prom this year! It just didn't seem to work out in previous years. My date Kate was great! We had so much fun and it was such a great Senior Prom. I don't even like the dancing part of Prom, but Kate made it fun! 

Why spend a ton of money on Prom dinner when you can make a better meal yourself? My friend Calvin and I made tortellini with chicken, bacon, spinach, and sundried tomatoes and it was great! I am so grateful my parents have taught me how to cook.

This is an interesting year. I will take many important steps in my life this year. I hope to receive the Priesthood and my Endowment near the end of May, which is also the time of my graduation. I can't wait for the things to come!

    Love,

        Brandon David Barnhisel

March Letter

 Dear Family & Friends, 

Hello everyone! I have had great March! Some very important steps in my life have been taken. This month we hiked to the Dream Mine west of Salem. It was really cool to visit such a controversial and unique site, and it had a great view at the top!

Sam is 4! When my brother was born, I was in 8th grade. Now, I am in my final quarter of high school. I love my brother (even though he can be a pain sometimes). He has blessed me in so many ways, and there are a lot of lessons I would not have learned without him.

Sam wanted something simple for his birthday: a lightsaber fight with the whole family! It was fun to remember the lightsaber fights we had in West Jordan, and it was great to spend time as a family.

On March 30, I glanced at my phone in second period. I had a text from the church there. It was my mission call! It had only been 8 days since I submitted my papers.

After setting up live videos and inviting over about 50 people to my house, I opened my call in front of around 100 people. I am so grateful that I had so much support in my choice to serve the Lord!

I have been called to the Arkansas Bentonville Mission! The area is actually mostly in Missouri, with the northern part being located 1 hour away from Jackson County. The mission also includes parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and the Cherokee Nation!

I am so grateful for the example of my parents in their missions. Even though I might not be going to Southeast Asia like they both did, I cannot wait to go to a place so rich in both past and future events. I am going to a place where people love Jesus Christ, and for that I am so grateful. I can't wait to learn to serve the Lord and grow my testimony stronger than it has ever been!

I leave for the MTC (either online or in-person) on July 7th. I can't wait to start this chapter in my life! I have kept my grades high, and have been throwing javelin for the track team. Soccer didn't work out this year. But that's okay, because all trials are administered for our good, even if it takes us quite some time to realize it.  

Sincerely,

        Brandon David Barnhisel

February Letter

 Dear Family & Friends, 

Hello everyone! I have had an excellent February! This month we went to Saint George for soccer tournaments. Kyle and I both played in these games. I was glad to have a chance to get out of the house and get some sun (except for the game which had lightning and hail). We did a lot of hiking while we were in Saint George per the Barnhisel tradition. Even Sam was climbing on large rocks and walking on rock ledges.

Saint George had a cool area with several caves in the side of a cliff. We enjoyed the hike, and we also enjoyed climbing the cave walls. I am so glad to be blessed with a healthy body and a family who so often participates in physical activity.

As I have gotten older, it has become more clear to me that soccer will not be my future. That is okay though, as I have many other dreams that I can't wait to pursue! That being said, I still enjoyed the chance to get some exercise and go on vacation this month.

As this last month of big snowstorms ends, we will get less of this happening! Chowder loves the snow, and routinely comes in coated in a shell of snow and ice, which we have to break with warm water and air. I love my puppy and am very grateful that our parents let us get him. Hopefully, his first full summer will be enjoyable for both him and my brothers.

My mom had another birthday! I am so grateful for my mother and all that she does for our family. She is the best mom in the world, and I thank God that I was blessed to be sent to my mother and family.

I have put in my missionary papers! I can't wait to serve the Lord and give back even the smallest part of what I have been given. I am scared but excited, and I know I will be blessed in my life for sacrificing two years to spread Christ's gospel! Also, I need a haircut.

I have some big choices and events that will take place in my life soon. I will be graduating on May 27th, and I should receive my mission call even earlier than that. The world might be scary, but I intend to face it head-on. I have been achieving good grades in school and preparing for my mission by strengthening my testimony! I miss you all, and can't wait for the mask mandates and quarantines to be lifted!

    Love,

        Brandon David Barnhisel

January Letter

 Dear Family & Friends, 

Hello! I have had a pretty slow January. We got some snow in the mountains this month, and we took Chowder on lots of walks up to the water tower by our house. He loves the snow, and often comes back to the house totally frozen inside a shell of snow. I am so glad to live in this winter wonderland!

We have spent a lot of time indoors lately, as a result of the cold weather as well as the partial lockdowns still present. It has now almost been one year of "15 days to flatten the curve". My family and I love to play card games and watch movies together, and I am glad for the strong family relationships I have been blessed with. 

We have also been on a lot of walks this month, both on trails and in our own backyard. I am grateful for the new area we have been fortunate enough to move into. I am equally grateful for a healthy body so that I can exercise and have fun without difficulty. 

Life has been kind of crazy lately. Everything seems to be coming fast. I will be putting in my mission papers around March, I have a potential summer sales job in Long Island, and I am dealing with scholarship referrals. I don't feel ready to be an adult, but I am excited to be independent and start my own journey. I love you all!

Sincerely,     

    Brandon Barnhisel

December Letter

 Dear Family & Friends, 

Hi everyone! We got some much-needed snow up in the mountains. Unfortunately, even the smallest amount of snow can cause ice to form, so we shoveled every time it snowed. We had lots of time because we were off school (and we never went consistently before Christmas break either because of the virus). We love the Winter Wonderland we live in.

Christmas morning was a little different this year. The year has just been so weird, so Christmas felt just a little bit different than usual. I am so thankful that I get to spend this one last Christmas at home. I'm also happy the world survived until Christmas! It was great to get to such a Christ-centered time of year when the world has become so wicked and stressful. It's a breath of fresh air to serve others at CHristmas time.

My parents got me an awesome luggage set! I think its because they can't wait to ship me out, but I will definitely make use of it on my mission and college years. You know you're old when you're excited to get luggage. It is a three piece set, and it is blue, which I think is a great color.

My brothers and parents got me some great presents this year (mostly clothes and gift cards, which is all I need). I've realized that I actually like giving presents more than getting them. I had so much fun shopping for my siblings and parents.

Every New Year's Eve, my brothers and I have a "cake war". We all decorate cakes and see who can make the best looking and best tasting cake. However, I decided to change it up a bit this year. I decided to make my cake from scratch! No store bought mix for me. I made an Andes Mint/Dark Chocolate Drip Cake.

I don't know why I look so young in this picture (probably the lighting). Anyways, you can see why they call it a drip cake. Chocolate ganache is placed around the edges of the cake to create drips down the sides of the cake. I am glad I was able to make my first drip cake and learn the necessary techniques to do so. I am grateful to my parents for making my brothers and I cook and bake so that we can be well-rounded in our skills.

Finally. 2020 is over. This year has been hard for me, as learning from home has really taken a toll on my quality of education. However, I was able to lock down a scholarship to USU, and I can't wait to go to college in 2023. Next year is going to be life changing for me. I am going to go on my mission, and maybe work a little bit if I have time before my mission starts. It's going to be scary and new to me, but I can't wait! Hope everyone has a great 2020.

    Love,

      Brandon David Barnhisel