Happy Halloween

My friend Melanie has two month old twins, and her husband is out of town working, so I volunteered to watch her three older children for half a day.  Just when she came to pick up her kids, we were going out to milk the cow, so she joined us in the adventure.  :)

Peter was so good to the kids - he and Libby played with them all afternoon.

These are our goats - Lilly on the left and Buck on the right.

These two girls are so beautiful.  They got their hands in there and took their turn at milking the cow!

This is classic.  Both these girls loved being with Bruce.  I totally get that.  :)

The same night, Nic was here editing the Senior Pictures that he took of Mary.  She obviously wasn't helping much.

Libby made the "B" Team for basketball at the middle school.  She is playing the point guard!  I'm not sure how that happened, but that's where the coach has her.  (She seriously has not played basketball a day of her life before this tryout).  They played their first game this week and won in the last 30 seconds.  She said, "That was a great way to start our season, because it builds our confidence."  Way to go Libby!

Mary participated in a Barbershop Workshop this week with hundreds of other high school kids, and then they put on a Concert that night.   (Mary is in the middle of the picture on the 2nd row from the top)

The workshop was conducted by Ringmasters, a quartet of four guys from Sweden.  They were absolutely fabulous!  They first came out on the stage with the Chorusmasters, a local group, who were fantastic in their own right.  They were singing a Swedish love song that was beautiful, and then these guys came out on stage and joined them, singing into the microphones, and my jaw just about hit the floor.  I was spell-bound, it was so stunning.  You know when you are listening to something and think that it couldn't possibly get any better, and then it does?  Yes - jaw dropping.
Ringmasters, you have new fans in our family, that is for sure!

Here is one handsome cowboy, all dressed up for Halloween.

I posted the picture below on Facebook, and got comments like, "Isn't Peter always dressed like that?"  Ha ha!  Libby is an "Elvin Adventurer Wizard".  She modeled her costume off the picture on the front of one the Adventures Wanted book series.  She is missing her staff, but she had one that night at the Trunk or Treat.

One of my jobs at the Trunk or Treat was to hold up the stick with the donuts on it for the "Donuts on a String" game.  Here is Libby and two of her best friends Ellie and Macie, trying to get a bite of a donut.

I asked Bruce to help me hold up the stick, and that didn't go so well.  He would bob and weave the stick around until the children's faces were all covered with glaze, all while the parents and he giggled and laughed at their helpless misery.  He is a TEASE with a capital T. 

And then the poor kids that came by to get a treat had to deal with him too.  "What's it worth to ya?", he would say when they asked for a treat.  Or he would try to trade some of our candy for a better one of theirs.  Or he would eat a candy, and throw the wrapper in their bucket.  Luckily that was to a teenager so they probably weren't traumatized for life.

And here we have the self-titled "70's Ninja Josh"!  I wrote back one line:  THE SOCKS!
Ha ha ha!  He said they were Walker's, his roommate.  Walker dressed up as "Josh on Sunday", wearing a classic Josh suit and riding a scooter.  :)

Jesse and Stephen are enjoying a pile of chocolate here!  Looks like some good Reese's Peanut Butter Cups...

Speaking of Jesse and Stephen, he sent me eight pieces of his that he has composed and two of his mothers'.  Wow!  They were awesome!  Huge variety among the pieces too.  A few classical ones, one that could go on a Yoga video, one that could go a Nature CD, and a beatiful a Capella 8 part mens piece that he and the other men sang for the year-ending rectial for his voice teacher.  All of it was wonderful!  Jesse said tonight on FaceTime, "You think Stephen is perfect."  Well, if the shoe fits... 

Nah, just kidding, but if you like him Jesse, then I like him too.  And we've already established that whatever happens with you two, he and I will still be friends.  So, we're all good.

Anyone that feels like you can say a prayer in your heart, pray for Jesse this week as she is getting the Prokofiev concerto ready to play for the Concerto Competition coming up soon.  It is an incredibly challenging piece, so she needs all the prayers and help she can get!  But Jesse works incredibly hard, and whatever happens in the competition will be for her learning and good.  I know she will do awesome!

Joseph says good-bye to Tupungato this week!  He has been in the this little town in a valley at the foot of the Andes mountains for the last eight months.  Oh, how he loves the people there and the environs in the beautiful wine country they have there.  Tomorrow we will get the famous "Ode to Tupungato" email.  Every area he has left, he has written an "Ode" to the town/area.  Can't wait to read it!  Here's a beautiful picture that he sent last week.  (The date is in SA format DD/MM/YYYY)

On Saturday morning Bruce and I went on a horseback ride with our friends Dale and Kaley.  It was a ton of fun, except when we decided to run in an open pasture, and Mackee did a little hop step and then a buck, and off I flew, landing hard on the ground.  It knocked the wind out of me, and man, I am sore today, but no injuries other than the thought that I need to learn to stay seated on that horse!!

Right as we were leaving, a cross country meet was taking place, and we got to laughing about all the parents and everybody running around everywhere.  From their parking spot, getting to the race, everyone running everywhere!  It was obvious that this behavior definitely runs in the family.  (So where did Joseph get it from?!  I don't know...)

Mary got her first letter from Chet! I was going to show the picture (of course she took a picture), but it shows their full names, which I choose to leave off of this blog, so you'll just have to imagine it!  She was one happy camper.

I bore my testimony in Church today about the visual I had this morning of the Lord helping to obey commandments.  I sometimes think of Him on the other side of the ailse commanding me to do things, and me trying to figure out how to obey.  This morning as I woke, I saw the scenario switched.  I saw Him at my side, on my team, helping me to figure out how to obey, helping me to obey, cheering me on, giving me aid and comfort and courage.  He's on MY TEAM.

In the same vein, when we have trouble in a relationship, it's not me vs. him/her.  It's me and him/her vs. the adversary.  That's the only enemy we have.  There is no need to have enmity toward any man.  Fellow human beings are on our side.  It's us vs. Satan and his minions.  That's where the fight should be directed, not against our fellow man.  My friend Shauna taught me that, and she was taught it by her friend Sharon.  I love being surrounded by good people!

Being so sore today from falling off the horse, I have been practicing gratitude and humility.  And I'm so grateful for good oils that aid not only in pain-relief but in healing at the same time.  Buyahh!

Flitting About

When I go out of town, Bruce doesn't tell anyone where I have gone; he just tells them I am flitting about.

But before I tell you about my trip, Mary had a Madrigals and Show Choir concert this week.  I love this concert!  Mary performed so well.  She is the president of both the Madrigals and the Show Choir, so she sends text messages to the choir members almost every day, letting them know what's going on and where they are expected to be and when.  She does a great job keeping everybody organized.

Sometimes dog-piles happen on the couch.  This is a "dog-pile" selfie.  Ha ha

Mary said goodbye to Chet for two years on Friday.  This Wednesday, he will leave to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Belgium Netherlands Mission.  We are so grateful that he is going on a mission.  He is going because, as he said in his farewell talk, "Heavenly Father is waiting to send buckets of blessings down on us," and he wants to share that with the people in Belgium and the Netherlands.  He will be missed, and not just by Mary!

In the meantime, Jesse and Stephen have started dating.  This has made me One Happy Mama!

And now, to my trip.  On Friday, I went to visit my Mom and Dad, and took Libby with me.  She and cousin Alyssa got to spend almost two days and a night together, sleeping over at Grandma's.  How fun is that!

Libby had it in her head that she wanted to make bread dough and form it into cool shapes.  We watched a video online of someone doing that, and she wanted to try it.  Thank goodness Grandma was around to help her with that!  Good job Libby!

With the leftover dough, Grandma helped Libby and Alyssa make homemade pizzas.  They were delicious!  I posted this picture on Facebook, and you wouldn't believe how many comments people made about my Mom - how fun it was to see a picture of her, and what good memories people have of being in her kitchen and cooking with her, etc.  From old friends, other grandchildren and nieces.  My Mom is well-loved!  :)


We also got a great visit from Craig and Jennette and their children.  Hello Grant!!

The next day, I went to a Christ Centered Energy Healing Conference, and I really enjoyed the day and what I learned.  I came away with some great information and a ton of new leads for books I want to read.

That night I got a ride over to Rexburg, and I got to watch Josh play soccer in a scrimmage game.  He's the one playing defense in the long black pants and red penny (sp?) over a green shirt.  He plays on a team with some old high school buddies - Dane, Curtis, Calvin, Josh, Paul and Braiden (although Braiden was sick that night so I didn't get to see him).  Josh's roommate Aaron also plays with the team.  I sat on the sidelines in some warm wool blankets and watched the game.  Josh played defense and did a great job!  He hustled, was in the right position, passed well and was having fun to boot!  Afterwards, we went to a little shack and got a specialty hot chocolate - it was yummy!

 

Josh borrowed Aaron's car and took me back to Rexburg, and Josh got to see Grandma, Grandpa, Libby and Rodney, my brother-in-law, who was helping Grandma fix a door lock.  I love this picture of my Dad and I!

On our drive, Josh told me all about his date with Elizabeth the night before, and his date with Christina to the Piano Guys Concert.  So fun!

The next morning Libby and I got to see our old Bishop and his wife Glendi!  They now live just a few blocks from my Mom and Dad, and we were in the same Sacrament Meeting with them on Sunday morning.

I had a great talk with my friend Karen G., coming and going.  Later in the afternoon, after we got home, Bruce was showing the kids the pictures and story that Aunt Michelle sent of the trip Bruce's family took when he was eleven years old back to Nauvoo.  Mary took a screen shot of this family picture that was taken around that time.  Classic!

Oh, and among all this hulabaloo, Bruce and Peter went up hunting again on Thursday at mid-morning.  It rained and rained and rained, and they didn't see a thing.  So Friday morning they packed up and were home by the afternoon.  They did go over to Larren and Tiffany's and process the venison meat into hamburger, so now we'll have some new meat to try!  Never had that before.

When I got back half of the leaves, or more, on our big Autumn Blaze maple tree out in front had fallen off.  Does anyone besides me have this sad feeling when they see leaves blow off of a tree in the fall?  I do.  But I don't let it stay there.  I go inside my space between stimulus and response, acknowledge the emotion, and then choose my response, one that is filled with gratitude for the seasons of life, and the opportunity for growth through the winter.  And then peace fills my soul and I feel to acknowledge the great goodness of our God.

A Heavenly Home

I took these two pictures of our home the day after the Cider Festival.

We borrowed the tractor and the wagon from our friends Lane and Tammy.

We are very grateful for our home and love living here in this wonderful neighborhood.

Having said that, though, it's not the house that brings happiness.  It is convenient, and gives us opportunities to grow and serve in many ways, like the Cider Festival, but it is not the source of our happiness.  I have lived in adobe houses with no indoor plumbing, taking sponge baths instead of showers for months, and been as happy as I have ever been in my life.  When we got married, Bruce often remarked that he didn't have to worry about where we lived, because I would think anything with hot running water was heavenly.  I have seen both extremes, and know that happiness comes from knowing I am a daughter of God, living up to that heritage, and keeping my covenants with my Father - that brings happiness.  Everything else is icing on the cake.  I already wrote about that here.  And I look forward to mansion above, the Heavenly Home, that I know my Father in Heaven is preparing for our family!

Peter's football team won their District Championship, and then they played in the Inter-Valley District Championship, and they won that too!  Peter's # 7.

And a hug from the Momma.  Good job, Peter!  (I love this picture)

After the game we went out and brought in the hay from the Farm.  Peter's friends Tyler and Taylor came to help us.  It's so nice just having to do the lower field!  Saves a ton of time!

Chet, Mary and Libby went to the Temple and took the traditional "group" selfie.  I love this picture too!

Mary, Chet, Nic and I went out to do some more senior pictures for Mary.  We had a great time, and we'll post more later.  Mary's friend Nic is an excellent photographer and I can't wait to see his work!  He certainly had a beautiful subject.  Thank you Nic for your great work!

Peter and Bruce went hunting this week. They didn't see any elk, but Peter shot a deer.

And here's the DOOZY of a bruise that Bruce got from "sighting" his gun before the hunting trip.  Sighting the gun means you shoot it a few times (he shot it five times) to make sure the "sight" you look through on the gun is lined up right.  When he came home form that, his shoulder was swollen up like a baseball.  When he came home from hunting 3 days later, this is what his arm looked like!  That is quite the bruise!  I have been applying Lavender and Helichrysum essential oils - they will help heal up the bruising quickly.

Peter and Bruce got home a day early, and we were so excited to see them.  They had a really hard time the first day.  Strawberry, one of our horses, got a bad cut on her foot in the trailer on the way up, so they weren't able to hike in and set up camp like they wanted to.  Instead, they tied up the animals and then took off hunting.  It was cold and snowy, and they went up and down thousands of feet of elevation.  When they finally got back to camp, which Bruce said was no small miracle, they pulled out their sleeping bags and slept in the back of the truck.  They didn't have the wood stove burning overnight in the wall tent, so their clothes were still frozen in the morning.  Bruce said he almost broke his pants getting into them in the morning.  I ask them all the time, "Now, tell me why you think this is fun?"  But they came home in one piece, with some deer meat to boot.  We're grateful for that!

Chet's farewell was today!  A farewell, in Mormon culture, is known as the Sacrament Meeting in which the missionary gives a talk before going out on his mission.  It is usually attended by a lot of family and friends, although his/her speaking is not the center of the meeting.  It is a regular Sunday worship meeting, and the Sacrament is the most important part of the meeting, and the missionary speaks on a gospel related topic, so the meeting is not about the missionary, but it is really fun to hear him or her speak and bear their testimony right before they leave to serve a full-time mission!  Mary and Chet sang God be With You for a musical number, with me accompanying them.  When they told me that's what they were going to sing, and they were singing together, I thought it was an extraordinarily bad idea, but then Mary told me that Chet felt a prompting from the Spirit that that should be the song, so I honored that.  And then I listened to them sing and gauged if they could really pull it off without getting emotional (or being sappy), and I concluded that they could.   And they did!  They sounded great, and brought the Spirit in.  And then Chet tied it in with his talk at the end, so that was cool.  Chet gave a great talk!  He said, "The Lord is waiting to pour down buckets of blessings on us."  I loved that imagery!  He delivered it so well - no stumbling on words, or external phrases, or mumblings.  I felt his love of the Lord and the work.  He will be a great missionary!

We also had fun FaceTiming with Joshua - meeting his roommate Dan, and talking with Walker.  I treasure every time I can hear Josh's voice, or see his face and talk to him.  After two years of not being able to do that, it is wonderful every time.

And we got to FaceTime with Jesse and her friend Stephen twice this week.  What a miracle FaceTime is, and other forms of video communication.  I'm truly grateful for it.  And grateful for the wonderful friends that surround my children!

I hope the end of this Sabbath day finds you happy and filled with hope.  I was blessed in a special way today, to experience the meaning of turning a problem over to the Savior, and having Him take my burden.  I was different from one moment to the next.  I know the Atonement in real, and that we have a Savior who loves us and wants to help us carry the burdens we are called on to bear.  It is REAL!  I testify of that, in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  He lives and He is real.