Happy Thanksgiving!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

What are you thankful for? Watch this short video and think about it today.

Feasting Upon the Word

Since we just finished reading the Book of Mormon as a family, I made this for a little family home evening treat. This was the first time I had made the marshmallow fondant and covered a cake all by myself. I wanted it to look like an open book of scriptures. I started to carve the cake, and I probably should have carved more, but I was scared to cut too much off! I think if you really had to close this book it would be super fat! Talk about "large print" edition. Also, I did not feel my best as I have a sinus infection right now (also went to the dr. today), so my head was killing me as I was piping on the words! Anyway, it was fun and I have so much respect for people that do this professionally. I have a few wrinkles in my fondant, but that's kind of how the pages of your scriptures get when you read them a lot, right? It tasted good and we are so happy we read through the Book of Mormon again! By small and simple things are great things come to pass!

Young Women in Excellence

Last night we enjoyed the Young Women in Excellence program at church, highlighting the girls' accomplishments in Personal Progress. The theme was The Worth of a 'Sole', so cute! Each of the values were related to a different kind of shoe. Each of the girls displayed something they had worked on this year. Madison displayed her Good Works value project and Gabrielle displayed her Knowledge value project. They received recognition for completing experiences and projects in a value. Madison has completed Choice and Accountability and Gabrielle has completed Knowledge. They are both very close to completing several other values as well. We know they are busy and could spend their time on many other things, so we really appreciate the time and effort they put into this special program. At the end of the evening the girls got to choose a pair of socks to take home. They were all pink and brown knee high style socks. The girls had to wear theirs to school this morning--with capris! We don't hide our light under a bushel, that's for sure. We love you girls! Keep up the good work on your experiences and projects! Thanks to their special leaders that work with them each week, building their faith and testimonies!

David Fans Rejoice!

New Christmas album out from David Archuleta! And it is beautiful! From the liner notes he says, "The main purpose of this album was to share my testimony with all of you my love for this special time of year -- one that we spend with family and loved ones, and what it means to each one of us. I hope you can feel that in the music. Through this album, I share with you something that is very special to me, and I hope it helps you understand more where I come from with my music and as a person. I also hope the music in this album will go beyond anyone's personal religious beliefs as I don't want anyone to feel I am only addressing this to people who believe in a certain way. I want the experience that you feel through the music to communicate to you in your own personal language, and in light of your spiritual or religious beliefs. Music has a universal message that can speak to people of different ages, beliefs, and languages, and can reach beyond the supposed obvious meaning of the lyrics and can allow everyone to feel something special. It is my hope that through this music you can feel something meaningful to you."

A Frightfully Busy Week

Last week was full of activities to end the month of October. Sunday, the 25th was our primary program for church. The kids did a great job, but I am glad it is over! The wonderful primary presidency gave me a bouquet of beautiful flowers. Then it was my birthday on Tuesday, the 27th. We went out to dinner as a family and had yummy Coldstone Ice Cream cupcakes for dessert. Gabrielle made a list of "People and Things that are older than Mom" -- she came up with 25, including the Statue of Liberty and the Gateway Arch. On Wednesday I prepared truffles and other goodies for the weekend festivities. Thursday the girls got their hair cut, Madison especially got more than a few inches cut off. About 10 of us ladies from the ward got together for dinner out that night, celebrating October birthdays. We have several friends with October birthdays, so on Friday night we had everyone over for dutch oven apple cobbler and other yummy treats. It was fun getting together. Got up early Saturday and drove to St. Louis to the temple. Jared had been called and was set apart as a temple worker. Later that afternoon we loaded up the candy and headed to the ward social, "Halloween on Book of Mormon Boo-levard" which ended with Trunk-or-Treat. I loved seeing all the kids (some of them big kids) in their crazy costumes. My favorite was Billy Mays. It is a good thing we got that extra hour of sleep Saturday night thanks to Daylight Savings time. Rest In Peace, October. Now I am ready for November!

Born on the 27th of October

I am proud to say that I share my birthday with Theodore Roosevelt (26th President and winner of a Nobel Peace Prize), American inventor Isaac Singer, poet Sylvia Plath (that one kind of creeps me out), and yes, no other than etiquette maven Emily Post. Pretty cool, huh? Oh yeah, and I have to mention, because I was a teenager in the eighties, Simon LeBon. Happy Birthday to us!