My BYU class is well underway this term and has kept me super busy but I love it!  I am taking a higher-level course, Family and Child Advocacy, and will be learning how to advocate for families and children and hopefully help them make changes in their lives for the better.  I don't have any aspirations of becoming a counselor or family therapist, but I do love what I am learning and hope you don't mind if I share some of my thoughts with you.  One of the things I love about taking classes through BYU is that you get to see "both sides of the story" so to speak - perspectives from professors at BYU and perspectives from educators who are not of our faith - and how these can work together.  This coming week we will be reading from a book called The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt and discuss how and why politics, religion, and current social issues can be so divisive.  It should be an interesting week! 😃   

 Yay! This week we got to see Sammi 💗.  She needed some help putting air in her tires and JiChan was only too happy to lend a hand.  We don't get to see her too often so it was fun to visit with her.  She just got a job working at Lifetime Fitness and has been busy with house and pet-sitting.  

  Even though Josh used to beg me to read the Harry Potter Books years ago, I just never really developed an affinity for them.  I enjoyed the first book, but didn't get beyond that.  I think I probably just don't have a good enough imagination for that genre  - BUT look who does . . .

Jonathan and Kate read to Sayre every night before bed and Kate was excited this week when they started Harry Potter that he loves them.

I am always looking for a good book to read so maybe I should give them another try -

Paul texted us on Friday and wanted to go with us to get some Gelato - We could never turn down Gelato (and we could never turn down Paul 😁). We love the little place we found not too far from our house, and the people who work there are so nice to us (probably because we have been there so often).  My favorite is a small cone with a scoop of chocolate (sometimes they have a Nutella chocolate if it's not gone before we get there) and then a small scoop of salted caramel on top.  YUM!!!  If you are not familiar with Gelato, it is creamier than ice cream but made with less sugar, and if there is anyone out there that would like to join us for a trip to the Gelato shop just let me know - our treat!

Thanks so much for the Sunday Selfies!

 

       💖

 

I just wish I could see everyone every day 

RECIPE FOR THE WEEK

  Can there really be anything better than peanut butter???  I found a recipe for peanut butter energy balls last week and they are so good - satisfies the sweet tooth without refined sugar - so I wanted to share the recipe.

 2 cups old-fashioned oats

 1 cup natural peanut butter (I like the crunchy kind)

 1/2 cup honey

 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

you can also add flax seed, cinnamon, dark chocolate, etc.

Mix everything together in a medium-sized bowl Roll the mixture into 1-tablespoon-size balls, arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Using parchment paper helps make cleanup a breeze! When the balls are firm, place them in a resealable container in the refrigerator. Once they are cold, it’s fine to layer them on top of each other.

TO MAKE YOU SMILE 😄

I love going through the videos and especially watching the ones when the kids were little - have fun with these -

I hope you all have a wonderful week and be aware of all the blessings we have and how the Savior gives us strength to get through the tough days.  I love this thought from President Nelson - "the Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, “doubting nothing.” Do the spiritual work to seek miracles. Prayerfully ask God to help you exercise that kind of faith. I promise that you can experience for yourself that Jesus Christ “giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Few things will accelerate your spiritual momentum more than realizing the Lord is helping you to move a mountain in your life".

 We are so sad to say goodbye to our Gracie girl today.  Affectionately known as Janet, or sometimes, the professor, in the Ellsworth family, she will definitely be missed!  Losing a pet is so hard - they really become part of the family and worm their way right into our hearts.  I'm sure she is teaming up with Claiborne, Bailey, and Alley now and they are sharing all kinds of family secrets 😀

 Extra thoughts and prayers for the Ellsworth family this week.  

  Max traveled back to his mission area in California this weekend so he could attend the Temple with a sister from the Vietnamese Branch who was going through for the first time.  It is so great when you can love and appreciate people of a different culture and recognize their goodness, humility, and faithfulness, even when times are hard. He and Lyndsay (who is adorable - I can tell by the photos Max sends) continue to enjoy Provo in the Fall. So far I think I've heard - long walks, hiking, long talks, Costco pizza, and studying in the library.   Also, Max just started a new job this week at Lululemon.  

We feel so blessed to see grandchildren often!  Paul came by on Thursday and had lunch with us.  I love when they drop in to check on us.💖  His homecoming dance was this weekend and he went with his good friend Maren ~

I didn't get to see Hollie this week but I did get to talk with her and I love it that they all have our phone numbers and will call or text during the week.  Hollie is enjoying her cosmetology class and she said next semester they will learn how to give perms.  

That reminded me so much of when Kate was little and I got brave one day and gave her a perm because her hair was so fine and straight.  I loved the curls!

Fun Jake stories this week ~ 

 The normal version of a smore is roasted marshmallows, Hershey's milk chocolate candy bar and graham crackers on the top and bottom.

 Jakes version is roasted marshmallows and Hershey's milk chocolate candy bar on the top and bottom 😁.     

We got to spend a day with Jake this week because he wasn't feeling well.  So fun to have around, even when he's not 100% life is still exciting!

I was able to go to the Family History Center this week and do some research into Helen's family.  Mike loves genealogy so when I told him what I am doing he jumped at the chance to help me.  We have found that some of her brothers and sisters need to have sealings done, and one brother died when he was just 13 from meningitis and he needs to have a baptism completed before the other ordinances can be done.  It is fascinating to me to read the old obituaries and notes that have been added to Family Search.  Hollie found some old family photos in a storage unit they were clearing out so hopefully we will get back to the Family History Center this week and get them scanned.  

Kevin and I will be flying the friendly skies next month to see Francie for her birthday and spend a few days with Mike and Barbi.  Hopefully, Ruthie can come for Francie's birthday and then we can all be together - I think the last time we did that we met in Napa, and that seems like ages ago.  We are hoping to take Helen's family names to the Feather River Temple where Mike will be able to help with the sealings.

Love you all so very much and want you to know we pray for each of you every day💕

  For some reason, this time of year always reminds me of my time in Provo at BYU.  I have such fond memories of walking home from classes in the coolness of the late afternoons, the change in color of the leaves from green to bright yellows and oranges, hiking, and taking the tram to Bridal Veil Falls.  I had wonderful roommates and I loved my Family Home Evening - we did so many fun things together.  

Here is Max on a hike with his cute friend Lindsay.  She is actually the daughter of Ken and Lynda Jensen, some of our very favorite people in the the world.  When we first arrived at the Monument Ward, Ken was there to greet us with hugs and made us feel so welcome. 

 Hope you have lots of fun adventures!  

Kate and Sayre were able to make the trip to the Nauvoo Temple yesterday.  Their Ward had made reservations and took some of the youth to help watch the younger children.  What a great idea!  Jonathan wasn't feeling well so he stayed home, but Kate made the drive without any drama unfolding.  The Primary children were able to walk into the foyer area, and Sayre said it made him feel good to be in the Temple.  The Nauvoo Temple is beautiful but there are very few places to stay or eat, and the drive there can be rough, especially during the Winter months.  It will be much easier for them to go to the Des Moines Temple once it is completed - driving time will be about the same, but freeway and easy access to food and lodging will help.

 This week I have enjoyed browsing through some old photos and this is one I forgot that I had.  It is a picture of my favorite aunt Arthel (she was known as AuntieThel) holding Adam and Josh, and Helen.  Helen came to live with the family after my Grandmother passed away at a young age.  She took care of my grandfather and helped raise the children.  When we lived in Tokyo we took Helen's name to the Temple and were able to do her work.  This week, however, I had been thinking about her and when I checked on her family in Family Search it looks as though none of the work had been done for her brothers or sisters.  I am hoping Mike can help me figure it out and we will be able to take her family names to the Temple.

I love that Sammi has a cat named Stevie!  However, Stevie has made herself less welcome in the family home because she continues to bring in dead, or half-dead mice (and then finishes the job after playing with it).  According to Cory, a few weeks ago she brought a bunny into the house that definitely wasn't dead.  With Jake's help, they were able to trap the bunny and shoo it back outside.  I would have loved to have seen this!

Thank you Kim, Chris, and Blythe for the Sunday Selfie!  I miss you all and hope we can see you soon! (before Blythe grows another inch 😀)

                      Hope you all have a wonderful week!

 I love that President Nelson will be 100 years old tomorrow!  I love his sense of humor, his wisdom, his counsel, and his testimony of the Book of Mormon.  It is a testimony to me that he became our Prophet just two years before we were hit with the Covid epidemic.  Over these two years, he implemented the the Come Follow Me program that emphasized home-centered gospel learning.  I think my favorite counsel from President Nelson is that we need to be better at showing kindness to everyone.  

Thinking about this week, I didn't have to look far to find some great acts of kindness by all of you ~

 Jake fed a little puppy at Lily's soccer game yesterday.

 Grant has been cooking up some great dishes Kim said - coming home from work and not having to worry about what you are going to fix for dinner is such a wonderful kindness. (Although I think he could use a new apron 😁

 Eilis made a trip up yesterday while we were at the Temple to check on Sendai for us.  She then came back a little later and fed her.  She also stopped by after work one day and joined us for taco rice. Thanks so much Eilis!

Getting old is not fun!  Cory and Lily helped to pull me up a steep, rocky hill at the dog park on Monday. What you don't see is Adam is behind pushing me - it takes a village 😆 Thanks for your kindness!

 I love the kindness these girls show towards each other and the way they take such good care of Ben.

 And I can truly say that Spencer is one of the kindest people I know.  We don't get to see him often enough, but when we do he is always so thoughtful 💖 

 Blythe is also kind to everyone.  One night on our trip this summer, her friend Cora was ill, so Blythe spent the night pushing the water, meds, and anything else that might help her feel better.  

 Sammi and Paul are always stopping by to check on us - Sammi with an elixir in hand, and Paul with amazing hugs! We love and appreciate your kindness so much ~

 

You can tell I needed a lot of help at the dog park this week.  Jake helped me cross over the creek on a small log bridge - thankfully it was short 😊 

I could go on and on about the kindness I have seen in each and every one of you.  Thanks so much for being the amazing people that you are!  You inspire me to be better every day 💕

 DON'T WE JUST LOVE OUR DOGS!!!!!

Case in point . . . I asked Kim to send me a dog photo and she sent me three 😂. Gracie is such a character and a true "mama's girl".  She loves her pillows and blankets and is always ready to eat. 

 Amos just makes me smile!  He is just like a huge puppy - loves to play and eat. His tail goes a million miles a minute so sometimes I have to move anything glass out of his way.  

Poor Clementine has been forced to wear a cone this week.  She has sensitive paws that sometimes become irritated and then she licks them which only makes them worse.  She is so sweet and it makes me sad to see her miserable. 

 If Gracie is a "mama's girl" then Milo is definitely a "dad's girl".  He loves Adam.  He is so cute and such a good friend to Sendai.  Sendai followed him all around the dog park on Monday. 

 

Sendai has always been so resistant to getting her feet wet so at the dog park she kept skirting around the creek.  However with encouragement from Jake and Lily, a little push here and there, she finally made the plunge and decided cooling off in water was not such a bad thing after all. 

The peach season is just about over and I think I will be making the last of the peach cobblers this week.  I ordered a box from my friend at Church who gets them from a fund-raising program in Palisades.  I found I could freeze them which was great because I couldn't use them up fast enough.  You can slice the peaches up, mix them with a little lemon juice, and lay them in one layer on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.  Put

them in the freezer and once they are frozen you can put them in a large baggie - use a straw to suck the air out of the bag and then put them back in the freezer until you are ready to use them.  

Kim's recipe for the best peach cobbler -

Noteworthy achievements from this week - 

Adam sent me a Sunday Selfie - Thank you!! If you think Jake and Lily are looking older, it's because they are growing up so quickly ~

Also, Adam's soccer team is doing great. They tied their first game in Denver, won their game last week, and this week they will play Discovery Canyon Campus.  

Kate and Jonathan made it through a busy week while getting over the effects of Covid.  The educational system, whether University level, high school, middle, or elementary can be frustrating.  But thank you all who work to make it better!  

Kate was able to hang some of her art this week, and one frustrating day she put this sign on her door 😁

Kim bought a pair of pants this week!

You go girl!!

Have a wonderful, wonderful week, and remember how loved you are.  We pray for all of you everyday ~