Happy Halloween!

First I like to have a Halloween outfit on while out and about for the day.

And black lipstick. I really look forward to wearing my black lipstick on Halloween.

Meanwhile Dan and Chad dressed up as Wayne and Garth at work and 

took 3rd place in the costume contest!

I piggybacked on his idea and wore the Wayne costume for trick or treaters.

Nick and friends were frat boy skiers

He had quite a few other friends over too. And girls.

I'm not sure how he felt about that... but at least it wasn't quiet and lonely here!

I bought 100 nerds ropes and 100 sour sprays to be on the safe side.

Then I decided to buy some real candy (Reeses peanut butter cups and licorice) for back up and to snack on throughout the night. 

We used about 170 again -- and that was giving the last groups of kids one of each.

Still a good turn out in spite of the cold!

Courtney and Michael dressed up as each other!

And does it seem too anti-climatic if I took Halloween down 

while we sat and waited for trick or treaters? 

On to Thanksgiving... the Christmas!!!

Men in Black

It was a record-breaking cold night tonight -- 23*.

The coldest night in October since 1894.

So the ward Trunk or Treat was held indoors and was a a blast.

Our class leaders were Men in Black and the girls were aliens.

We decorated with glow-in-the-dark stars and plastic aliens.

We turned off the lights and the children got to shoot nerf guns at our aliens.

The girls made it really fun.

(Notes for next year: We used 200 pieces of candy!)

Nick's class dressed up as basketballers. 

I was happy he let me take a photo!!

Friends Family Night

We went bowling with the Hoggans tonight for Family Night. 

We're getting creative to make family night a bit more fun for Nicholas.

It worked! We all had a great time!

Costumes and Carving

I've had at least four people ask to borrow stuff for Halloween costumes. 

Chris' black turtleneck, Chris' lifeguard costume, Sheree borrowed princess bride, Harry Potter robes.

But I still haven't figured out how I should dress up. Having a back-up plan of a cute wig, tights and a witches hat is always a good back up plan.

Yesterday we hosted our ministering group for brunch right after church. 

When the Elder's Quorum gave input on ministering groups, they suggested we arrange it by people we're already neighbors with. I know this was inspired, because it gave us the opportunity/excuse to get together with our neighbors and have dinner rather than put it off. I'm so glad we'd made these connections, especially considering Paul's death.

So brunch turned out great and it was fun to be together -- all ages. 

We're going to plan for it once a month after the holidays. 

In the evening, we went to Sheree's for dinner and to carve pumpkins. Marty, Lizzie and Morgan joined us too! 

And I thought this photo of mom and Dimitrios was really cute. I screenshot it so I could send to Christopher.

Mission Moms of Sigma Uce

It's kind of hard to believe that I never really met or talked to many of Chris' best friends' moms (or dads) until we started going to their mission call openings. 

We texted, of course, mainly because one mom organized mission prep for them once a month at each of our homes their Junior and Senior years. It was super cool for the boys to have mission prep and hear stories and testimonies from each of the dads and some of the moms about their missions. Every single parent LOVED their mission and loved sharing advice and their testimonies and the boys loved seeing the spiritual sides of these parents who they loved so much.

Some of the parents I've known for a long time and others I saw more often, but at least four or five I had only met in passing once or twice!

It started to become a thing to attend all the mission call openings. The first one we debated whether we should go or not, but then one mom said she was going and a few more chimed in they'd like to and then it turned into a thing that both the moms and dads showed up at each one. It was super cool.

Pretty soon we decided to have a moms lunch. 

Then with all the mission prep and graduation we started texting a ton. (Where did you get shirts? Ties? Someone found a good deal on luggage, etc.)

We had dinner this week and talked and laughed and swapped missionary stories.

They spent so much time at each of our homes, they feel like they have 11 moms and dads.

Clara, Monet and Mia Maids

Tuesday I had a great Peloton bike ride, but later wasn't feeling great. 

The cool thing is, even when I don't feel good, I always have energy or don't notice my slump when I'm visiting with Clara. It's kind of a testimony to me that my visits with her are important and I'll be given energy and feel good so I don't miss our visits.

She wanted to go to the mall but when we got there she wasn't feeling so great either. 

We had to stop three different times to walk the length of the mall.

(She's been on the hunt for a new bra and it's been next to impossible to find just what she wants.)

Would you believe I took her to Victoria's Secret? It was a last resort.

And the lady helping us was wearing just an open jacket and bra. No shirt.

Clara said it was really hard to keep her mouth shut, but she didn't want to offend the girl.

So. Glad!

Wednesday was Monet's State X-Country meet at Sugarhouse Park. 

I was so excited to have an open calendar and time to go cheer her on!

And extra excited when Diane wanted to join me too!

We met up with the entire Winger family and raced around the park so we could see the runners as they passed by at different locations. Lone Peak took 1st! It was awesome!

That night the we had the Teachers and Mia Maid classes 

(how will we get used to using different names?) over to carve pumpkins. So fun!

These Things Shall Give Thee Experience

The phrase from D&C 122:7 has been running through my head today:

 “...all these things shall give thee experience and be for thy good…” 

I think these chapters in the D&C of God speaking to Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail are some of the most poignant in all of scripture. They are so personal and remind me that God knows everything we are going through. He doesn't only know his servant and prophet, Joseph Smith. He knows each of us intimately.  

I used to think of it as scriptures that applied to the trials we go through. However, now I see that sometimes the "jaws of hell" are from choices we've made and consequences we've brought on ourselves. BUT, even poor choices can be for our good if we learn from our mistakes. And can help us understand others when they're going through similar circumstances. Perhaps we'll even be grateful for our experiences which will give us the opportunity to empathize better and be a blessing that will help someone we love.

 “...all these things shall give thee experience and be for thy good…” 

The other thing I like about verses 7-9 is I feel like we can hear God's pain as well. In the way he describes each and every hurt, getting harder and harder until even the "jaws of hell shall gap open after thee," then reminding us that his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, descended below them all. And asks the rhetorical question, "are we greater than he?" To me it sounds like a parent getting frustrated at a whining child; then comforting him in verse 9 telling him God will be with us forever and ever. Very much like what he teaches just one chapter previously in 121:43. "Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved..."

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the ^apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; 
if thou be cast into the ^bdeep; 
if the billowing surge conspire against thee; 
if fierce winds become thine enemy; 
if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to ^chedge up the way; 
and above all, if the very jaws of ^dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, 
know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee ^eexperience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The ^aSon of Man hath ^bdescended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
9 Therefore, ^ahold on thy way, and the priesthood shall ^bremain with thee; for their ^cbounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy ^ddays are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, ^efear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

Remembering

We went to church in Pagosa this morning. I enjoy attending other wards and being reminded that the gospel is the same wherever you are. The speakers shared lots of personal stories of how the gospel has blessed them in their lives which made their talks great to listen to. 

But what touched me the most was the sacrament. I have to admit I've been lazy about reading scriptures and praying while we’ve been on vacation. Especially considering I read "fun books" for two days straight while the boys were fishing and golfing. So why didn’t I take time to read my scriptures?! 

There are so many benefits to daily scripture reading and prayer: ask for the spirit to be with me so my mind will be open to inspiration, guidance, protection and peace; ask for blessings on the people I love; feel the love of my Heavenly Father and Jesus.

But during the Sacrament prayer when they said, “...that they may witness unto thee, O God the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him…” I remembered that there’s another important part of praying and reading scriptures — to show God that I remember Him and His Son and the sacrifice he made for me. 

I've been lazy on vacation, but that’s not the person I want to be. I want to be someone who says  “I remember” every single day.

We arrived back home this afternoon, and I made a better use of my Sunday 

with scriptures and uplifting spiritual music.

Also, I didn't realize until now that in the Gospel Library App under "Sacred Music"

the Youth Theme music was available to listen to. 

It's brought a sweet spirit into our home and into my heart this evening. 

So when I read this scripture, it felt especially pertinent:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

--Colossians 3:16

Fly Fishing

The boys had a fishing excursion today with two guides.

After 56 days of no rain in Colorado, it poured all day!

However, the guides had gear and everyone stayed relatively dry and warm enough.

James came to town to fish yesterday too. 

He's a true expert already and was the only one who actually caught a couple of fish

and outlasted the rest of the group by several hours!

While they were in the pouring rain, I bundled up with two space heaters,

my magazines and John Hodgman's new book and read for hours.

And laughed out loud.

The boys got back late afternoon and we headed straight to the Hot Springs to warm up.

We came back home for Papa Murphy's for dinner and watched the Yankees game 

then Daddy's Home 2. Fun vacation.

Pagosa in Fall

Pagosa in fall is so beautiful!

We drove up to camp, rode the ATV's around the new site

and up to Sally's Overlook.

Fall Break

Headed out on Fall Break.

So happy for a vacation with these kids!

Wildlife with Nicholas

 Nick made his squirrel in 

To be used for pulling the racks out of the oven.

One from Christopher and now a match from Nicholas.

Nick and Kershaw caught a deer chomping on the roses.

One was on our side and several others were across the fence.

Nick carefully walked out to tempt him with a rose in hand.

The deer wasn't concerned at all. He just walked closer to the fence and kept eating.

Then hopped the fence as easy as anything.

Nick also hopped the fence to see what was happening next door. 

He found five deer eating leaves.

Cornbellys!

I so love this tradition!

Love having Marty with us again. Look at how our families are growing!

Glad Kristin and Curt could join us too.

Funnel Cakes are Dan's favorite!

And ButterBeer!!!!!!!!!