This is Halloween

Wayne and I dressed up as Picasso and a Picasso… I was the painting.  It worked great. We all gathered at Add and Bre’s for pics as per usual.. And got to see all of the little grands in their costumes.    We only had 2 families of trick-or-treaters– we always hand out full-size candy bars now since we get so few people.  But it’s okay, we snuggled on the couch and watched a show.  

AHHHHH Halloween is over, and now I can say Happy Holidays!  I like Halloween…and I’m glad my grandkids love it and enjoy All of it. Monson Family is all the Wiz of Oz characters including their dog as the scarecrow.  Addison was a skeleton.  George sings the Nightmare Before Christmas song as, “Mrs. Halloween, Mrs. Halloween…”  It really says, “This is Halloween.”  So Bre dressed up as “Mrs. Halloween.”       Halloween really is a kids dream…and a wonderful way for neighbors to greet and get to know each other.  It’s Alex, Bre’s and Laila’s favorite Holiday and we had gorgeous weather for it.  

Alfie had his dream Halloween night.  He went out with his friends trick or treating and easily hauled in 20 lbs. Of candy.  He got back to his home at 9 pm. and was doing the obligatory counting of the candy with his friends..and then they decided to go back out and go to all of the houses that had bowls of candy out that said , “please just take one”… which they originally did, but now they were going to clean out those bowls!  They were out til 11!  Pretty funny and perfect for an 11-year-old boy.  

   Poppy dressed as Annie for Halloween and ws happy as a clam.  Basically, her ruffle socks and shoes were the whole outfit– that and her curly hair and carrying around a sandy colored stuffed animal dog.  She’s so cute. 

George was not so sure about trick-or-treating.  His parents made him go around and he lasted fora bout 45 minutes ,then he begged to go home and go to bed.  He’s a hoot!

Landon and Alex had Halloween functions in SLC– and they invited Truman to go with them.  They did their Zeus and Hercules costumes.  Truman was one of  the soda Pop boys from K-Pop Demon Hunters… he loves the show too. 

Thoughts on the Ten Virgins

Every year, I give my children a dinner and a musical for their birthdays.  I was taking Landon to the Eccles Theatre in SLC to see Mrs. Doubtfire.  We got to SLC early and enjoyed Mexican food at Red Iguana then it was only 7:05  and the show started at 7:30- so we leisurely wandered over to the theatre.  When we got there, there were no lines at security and the lobby was mostly empty.  I thought, “Man, we are really early!”  We laughed and turned the corner and realized we didn’t get there early.  We arrived late.  It was 7:15 and the show started at 7:00.  WHAT?  When did that change?  Why didn’t I know?  We could have been here on time!  I was so mad.  I wanted to go right in, but the usher had instructions that you can’t go in til after applause from a big musical number.  The door was closed. I was furious.  I was locked out.  How did this happen?

I didn’t read the emails that said the time had changed.  I didn’t read my tickets that said the time had changed.  I thought I was prepared, but I was not.  I had run out of oil. My heart and stomach sank.  My muscles clenched, and my nerves were on fire. I was missing out.

In the parable of the Ten Virgins (found in Matthew 25), we know that ten women were invited to a wedding banquet. They were waiting outside for the feast to begin, to be invited in.  They were waiting for the bridegroom to come.  They were prepared and had oil in their lamps and some had extra oil, so they could light them while they waited. 

 (We brought back from Israel an oil lamp replica that these women would have had.  They are very personal, and on’t give off much light beyond a small circle. ) 

So they all have lamps and they are all lit, but five of those lamps didn’t have enough oil, and they go out.   The five wise say, “ Go get some more oil and come back.”  Why couldn’t they share? It all seemed very selfish. (I understand now that it’s not about oil and lamps, it’s about testimony and faith– which is personal and we each need our own. )

BUT….

I always wanted the five with lamps burning bright and extra oil to say, “It’s okay– come stand by me and share my light, the Bridgroom will understand..  It’s okay.”  And maybe they did. But maybe the five without oil didn’t believe that it would be okay and so they left to get more oil.  

When they return the door is closed and the five-wise with oil in their lamps were already inside, and the other five foolish were stuck outside after having left to get more oil and the Bridgroom (the Savior) says, “You did not know me.”    

I bet their hearts and stomachs sank, and their muscles clenched and their nerves were on fire.  They were missing out!  

I believe Jesus said, “You did not know me”… because had they known him and his goodness, and mercy, they would have stayed and trusted that it was all going to work out, with or without the oil in their lamps.  But they didn’t know HIM…and so they didn’t trust and they left.

I think of being stuck outside of the theatre wanting so badly to go in.  I wasn’t prepared, because I hadn’t read my emails and instructions…it seems the whole rest of the theatre audience had.   I eventually got into the theatre.  I didn't leave. I knew theatre etiquette. My story ended okay.

We don’t know what happened with the five foolish in this virgin story…..but, I’m sure God’s merciful hand was extended to them and they are with Him at the banquet now.  

More football

 More U of U football. This time it was Addison and Alfie going to support Andrew in teh band and watch the game of course.  Addision could care less about any sport-- but ALFIE loves it!  Alfie was involved the entire 4 hour game-- he jumped and cheered and was so excited to be there.  HE even got up on the JUMBO tron-- he siad, "it was my life long goal."  (He's 11)

Costumes

Halloween Costumes this year are very WICKED themed.  We had two Elphabas- with Sophia and Lady.  Tayla was Glinda as a student at RIZZ University.  Elsie was Dorothy and Andrew was a flying monkey.  Monson was the Cowardly Lion and Lexi the Tin man.... we were just missing the Scarecrow.   Alfie was a Sports guy and Poppy was Annie with her dog Sandy.  George was Grogu- Star wars and little cousin- Nelson's daughter Lilly, was Princess Leia.    Landon was Zeus and Alex was Hercules.    

Witch's Brunch

 we had a Witches Brew at my friend Bonnie Benedict's home.  She prepared brunch foods. Bonnie is a really good cook-- she did her amazing cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole and yougurt parfaits. 14 of us gathered then she taught us how to make carmel and cinnamon carmel..and sent us all home with some.  Bonnie is such a fun person.  In attendance was- Bonnie, Me, Erin Perkins, Kathleen Blake and her sister Fran, Diane Lake, Nan Bruske, Angie Smith, Myken Crowell and her sister Shannon, Janet Webster, Leslie Leger, Jan Hedberg, Kristi Webb and her daughter Janie.  I got all dressed up in my usual witchy attire– make up and hair included.  I love having a reason to put a costume on. 

 

Kathleen Blake, Jan Hedberg, Fran (Kathleen's sister)

Janet Websteer, Me, Leslie Leger

Myken- Sister Shannon, and Angie Smith

Me, Bonnie Benedict and Diane Lake

Erin Perkins, Angie Smith, Kathleen Blake, Bonnie Benedict, Nan Bruske, Melinda.. Back row;  Fran, Myken, Leslie LEger, Janet Webster, Kristie Webb, Diane Lake, Shannon 

Cross E Ranch

Cross E Ranch was gorgeous! We have had so much rain every weekend since September… that this was the best, driest day to go– so there were a lot of people with the same idea. Monson family, Addison family, Wayne and I went.  We ate the obligatory apple cider donuts, and did the slides and pig races, and saw the goats and chickens and played in the corn.  It feels like a Hallmark movie just walking around this place. 

Grandkid Game night- Dismal Dinner

Grandkid game night was fun– we had Alfie, George, Tayla, Lady, and Elsie.  It was our Halloween Dismal Dinner and I told the kids to wear dismal colors:  black, brown and gray clothes and that they had to have bland, expressionless faces.  They all did great– and once in a while we had to cover our mouths up cuz we were smiling and giggling behind our hands. 

We ate blood, guts, and brains for dinner (ketchup, nuggets, and ramen), and then they had to draw a scary face and name it, and introduce their picture in a spooky way.  It was a hoot.  We got a variety of names:  Bob, Puddle Duddle, Dead Fred, Frankenstein Welch, and Skibbidi Toilet.

We tried to do the “eat sour candy and see if their faces could remain expressionless game”, but I couldn’t find Warheads candy, and the sour patch kids weren’t sour enough.  The kids just liked them and had no effect.  We will try this game again with more sour candy.  Wayne made soft ice cream with his amazing machine. These kids LOVE ice cream.

We did a monster/mummy dance and Alfie played “This is Halloween” on the piano.  We played card games and watched a bit of Sonic 3 then the parents showed up. 

October happenings..

Addison, Bre, Alfie, Poppy and George had tickets to Disneyland's Spooktacular one weekend and they showed up in style as Roger and Anita from 101 Dalmations.  Poppy was Cruella Devil.  Alfie and Geo were Star Wars characters....Luke Skywalker and Grogu

 Waynea and I traveled down to Vista, California over conference weekend to spend time with Laila and Markus and to check out their new apartment-- with washer and dryer in the apartment-- it's really awesome and close to lots of stores and restaurants. We ate churros and Sushi, did masks and walked around their neighborhood a lot.

Laila uses A Bountiful Kitchen cookbook by Si Foster as her go to for many recipes.  She's getting the ingredients for her butternut squash soup.  

Andrew is busy playing in the Utah Pep Band.  They play for football games, volleyball and basketball games.  It's a lot, but he loves his trumpet section.

Monson and Lexi were also in California conference weekend.  They stayed at Jake and Celeste's house and Monson too Lexi to a favorite band concert...Bilmuri.  

We celebrated Tayla's 10th birthday with a giant CandyLand-themed birthday party in our backyard.   25 kids!  Tayla was so happy!

The next day Lady got her tonsils out!

Wayne likes to support any young kid selling something.  These are the Dove neighbor boys up our street.  They were selling pencil pets.. basically little pieces of paper they drew a face on that you tape onto a pencil to keep you company. Wayne gave them $2.00- for a little piece of paper.  

Another party.... This time a Hogwarts one that our friend Janessa Zech puts on in her grandma's mansion of a house in SLC.  Bre loves Harry Potter so this was for her birthday..  Then we celebrated the next day with a family dinner, "Crocktober" style and pumpkin pie.

October birthdays:  Tayla, Bre and Poppy

I got to gather with some ladies to teach them about my Director play style-- which means I love to plan and follow through on gatherings.  We had a pot luck at Wendy Inkleys' home and had a a great talk.

We are officially 1/2 way through this month.  It's rainy and cold outside and I'm already missing Summer.

Come Unto Jesus

"Come Unto Jesus" is one of my favorite religious paintings.  This mural, painted by Michael Malm, hangs in the LDS Conference Center.  There is a replica of it in the chapel at the Layton Temple.  I love to go early, before an endowment session, and look at this painting and find myself, my children, and friends in it. I've picked out Wayne,-- Guy blue shirt kneeling to the left of the Savior.  Me -- Woman far right, barely in the painting, looking up.  Monson and Lexi family-- down center right... Monson, with a beard, is pointing out the Savior to Lexi, who has her hair in a bun, with children around them.  Addison and Bre--kneeling in front of the Savior-- man blue shirt, Lady red shirt. Truman farther way left side coming up from the sea in a white robe with both arms up like he's saying, "hurray!"    Laila and Markus on the left side of the crowd walking from further away to the Savior.  Landon and Alex, far left - two men at the corner of the painting... looking up and looking down with an arm on a woman's shoulder.    Anyway, it's a fun exercise for me....

My favorite part is looking at the heavens and seeing that the clouds are really ANGELS.  I believe in Angels and know I see my parents, grandparents, sister, and loved ones in those clouds.  

I love being a believer!

I am a better person when I choose to believe in God.  I make better choices.  I’m happier. I serve more, I love more. I seek better connections with people. I think in bigger-picture, higher-purpose more.    I believe by engaging in faith and hope more, I am more useful in helping, carrying on, engaging in, pushing forward, and changing the world.

Faith is what gives me this light and this drive. 

There is so much data and science that the human brain does better when it believes in a higher power. Children do better when served a value structure that includes this.  So much science backs this up.  

I know religious trauma is real and questioning is constant and also there is so much data to support how much better it is for identity, belonging, safety and confidence to give kids and ourselves something to hold on to.    

You can decide not to…. I tried it for awhile….but it’s more fun to believe.  It doesn’t always feel easier to believe. It’s not popular to believe. But it’s more enjoyable to hope in something, to trust in something, to believe in something.

September Stuff

 Some fun things that happened in September...

We went to see Andrew play in the University of Utah Band.  He's in the trumpet section and has marked in yellow the following two pictures of where he is located.   It was very fun-- we won..and it rained!

We had one of our members at Water Tower get Re-baptized.  It was very special.  Bill Cromarty is such a great guy.  We only know these guys at this point in their lives...not as felons.  We don't know the victims and the heartache in their families-- so it's a balance....But I believe in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that repentance is real and we get chance after chance.  

I took Kathleen Blake, Erin Perkins and Kim Johnston to dinner and a concert at Layton Amphitheatre--and we had a great time. I'm grateful for friends.

And I took Kathleen Blake and Bonnie Benedict to see Little Shop of Horrors at CPT.

We had both our kids' Primary programs at the same time on the same day, so I went to Addison's kids and Wayne went to Monson's girls.  It was all very nice.   Alfie sang in a small group and he also played a piano solo.  George was exactly George-- it was hard for him. He did not want to be there and came dressed like a game show host in a sparkly silver lame jacket, a striped shirt and shorts.   Addison is the primary song leader-- so I watched him a lot too.  Poppy was perfect.

Our Band continues to play about 3 gigs a month at various Rest Homes around the Wasatch front and we still enjoy this ministry so much.  We love singing songs of the 50's, 60's, and 70's to old folks.  They are so complimentary and remember lyrics to songs when they can't remember much else. 

We got our band shirts!!!

Sophia decided on a Saturday morning that she was going to go with a group of girls to Viewmont's Homecoming dance.  So we had to find a dress, shoes, do hair etc... in just a few hours.  She had a blast and it was totally worth the crazy.

Grand kid game night was a highlight of the month... we didn't get Andrew and Sophia ( they are too busy for this now) but the other littles just love getting together and this night Wayne broke out his new soft ice cream machine!