Too Many To Count 2: there's something about Halloween

Monday, October 16, 2017

there's something about Halloween

Sierra almost 2 and Dani 5 years old

That I just love. I know it's not the most wholesome holiday but it's just a lot of fun. When I was a kid at home I remember loving it. When I was a teen I'd gather the troops and we'd make ghosts and bats to hang in the hall way and that was a lot of fun. I liked dressing up and the candy, of course.

When I had kids it became even more fun. I loved dressing them up. Every Halloween we visit a pumpkin patch. We trick or treat and trunk or treat and we often have a party. I used to decorate a lot more, I still do but now it's more subtle.

Dani 2 years old

I had an urge to look thru old Halloween photos and just really enjoyed reminiscing over the cuteness.

I really need to live nearer my grand kids so when Grace is gone I won't be an old lady wandering around a pumpkin patch by myself!

Tatum 3 years old

Yesterday we had stake standards night. It was really excellent. There were a lot of speakers but none of them were super long and all of them were really good. Paige spoke and she did an awesome job. Next was a young man named Jesse. He was baptized a year ago with his mom and sister. His dad was a newly reactivated member and was able to baptize them all. He was funny and sincere and I enjoyed his conversion story so much. He spoke with great gratitude about the blessings in his life since his baptism. Two things that really touched me were that he and his dad are so close now. Before he said his dad just went to work, came home and went to bed, and they didn't do a lot together. Now they do church stuff and discuss the gospel and he is so grateful for that. Another thing he said was he has goals now. He said before he was baptized his biggest goal in life was to find his name on a coke bottle :), now he has real goals. I loved his talk.
Kara Henderson and Dave Richardson went next (not together). They are our stake YW/YM presidents. They both did great. Dave started out talking about when he was a kid and he'd go to the grocery store with his mom and he'd see the toy that came in the cereal box and he'd really want the toy so he would beg for the cereal...even though he didn't necessarily love the cereal. Then at the exit there was a gum ball machine and he'd always always beg for the gum ball. After he got it the gumball would taste good for a minute but then the flavor would go away, the center was hollow and his jaw could hurt because it was so hard to chew. Even though he knew this he'd ask for it time after time. He made the analogy that it's easy to trade what is good for something that has a temporary appeal...like the gumball or the trix submarine (that never really floated).

Penny 1 month old

After him the Alius' spoke. I love them both. They are soft spoken and sweet. Sister Alius is Ethan's seminary teacher this year and he loves her. I am so glad. I hope hope hope she will stay the whole year because so far she's just been subbing.

Hannah as the "we can do it" girl

Next came President Crawley and the first thing he did was call Ethan and Noah up to sit on the stand. Then he spoke about Samuel Smith, the church's first missionary He's a great speaker and story teller so he is always fun to listen to. Then he invited the boys to share their experience with giving away a Book of Mormon. Both boys did a really good job. They were poised and articulate and spoke with great clarity about their feelings and their testimonies. I was so proud of them!

Grace was Malificent one year

The evening was very uplifting. After I had a chat was P C that wasn't that fun but important. It takes a village to raise a kid and I am always so grateful for my villagers. We have been blessed to have great friends who have taken an interest in our kids lives and have played important roles in their growing up. Hopefully we have, likewise, done the same for others.