New words

 We had an amazing District conference for our Jail/Prison district.  We are so blessed to serve as missionaries here. The conference was filled with really vulnerable stories of people that had one life of drugs, or prostitution, or abuse or addiction and then turned to God and now have another life filled with Jesus and the gospel.  Truly so marvelous. God is good!   ONe man named Mikey has written new lyrics to the song, "Because I have been given much" and sang to us with all of his heart.  His eyes were closed as he sang and emoted and it was stunning.  Here are the words:

 Michael Patience's song at District Conference

Because I have been given much, I too must give

Because of thy great mercy Lord this day I live.

I can't deny your love for me,

Sweet tender mercies that I see

I humbly give my will to Thee

Because I have been given friends who love and care

A place where I can go and feel your spirit there

Because my Savior's love for me

Returned me to my family

From bondage I have been set free

Because I have been given much I sing for you

To look into your eyes is one more dream come true

I can't deny His love for me

All of this beauty that I see

Right here is where I choose to be

Right here is where I choose to be

Baby trees destroyed!

Our two little trees that we planted last summer in our drive- strip are destroyed. 

Someone destroyed them!  Hacked them down! It's happened twice since September.  

I can't believe someone is going around vandalizing my trees. 

It seems no neighbor's trees are hurt, just my baby trees.  

Wayne and I are nice people.... we don't get it?...who doesn't like us?  

I was so bummed about my tree, and I lost faith in humanity.  Why are people so mean?

We contacted our neighbors to be on the lookout for someone who is attacking our trees!  

Well, come to find out. It was not a person at all. It was DEER! We expected deer living on the bench in Bountiful, but we live in the flat lands of Layton-- but close to Kays Creek and fields, and it's, evidently, a deer alleyway. Deer who are trying to shed their velvet-- LOVE small, young trees with thin, pliable bark to rub against.  It's called a buck rub. We will try again with new plants this spring.

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's 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 kid's dream…and a wonderful way for neighbors to greet and get to know each other.  It’s Alex, Bre, 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. 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 was 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 for about 45 minutes, then he begged to go home and go to bed.  He’s a hoot!  He says next year he, "wants to be a bat-- but not a scary one, Mom will be a sign, Alfie a house, Poppy a heart because she loves hearts, and Dad a button."

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.