Another beautiful Fall week in   Colorado - lots of sun, cooler temps,   and an occasional raindrop - just enough to keep the grass green and my flowers alive. 

 It has been a busy week, and I am so grateful for a Sunday, a day of a little bit of rest.  This just might be the reason why the blog is a little late today 😊. 

We had our Primary Program today, and our kids were so great!  They said the opening and closing prayers in Sacrament Meeting and led the music.  I loved the songs we sang and love my class.  One of my little girls gave me this note after class. (her Mom said she loves to write notes)  ❤

I think it has been a busy week for everyone - Lily and Hollie participated in their high school  homecoming celebrations - Lily at Palmer Ridge, and Hollie at Fountain-Ft Carson High School.

Such beautiful girls and I love them so,so, so much!!!😍

WATCH OUT COLORADO . . . Hollie has her driving permit!

I am 100% confident that she will be an amazing driver (I learned this in my Statistics class 😊)

North Liberty, Iowa, finds Kate and Jonathan busy with work and Sayre being a fantastic 2nd grader!  Tonight, he wanted eggs for dinner, so he prepared them himself.  

  AND we have ANOTHER Goal Keeper in the making - Sayre is following in the steps of Adam and Jake, defending their goal ⚽ - 

 I know Adams decided not to coach soccer this year because he and Cory have such a busy family with kids going in every direction, but I do miss those chilly Fall nights cheering for Liberty.  

Adam shared a sweet story with me this week that involved the Liberty Soccer Team.  Liberty's current Registrar, Courtney, has a son, David in 6th grade at Timberview (he happens to be in one of Cory's Math classes). David has been diagnosed with brain cancer, and his parents are currently at the stage where they are hoping he can be part of a trial test.  This past week, the Liberty Boys Soccer Team honored David by making him part of their team and included him in their game.  

Adam got to be there and took these photos.  It is always so heartwarming to hear of young people going out of their way to give someone less fortunate than they are a happy moment and reason to smile.

WAY TO GO LIBERTY BOY'S SOCCER TEAM! ❤❤❤

Kim and I made it through week #3 of our classes!  Only 4 more weeks to go!!!

Kim and Chris are doing their best to keep up with Blythe, Spencer, Grant, and Max. Blythe is busy with school, college applications, and preparing for Homecoming next weekend.  Grant is on the go with work and his college classes.  Spencer is looking for a new apartment in the City, which would be exciting for him, but he made it over to help Kim make banana bread this week.
Rumor has it that Max is going back to Chicago next week for a few days and then he might find his way to the Air Force Academy for a football game😃

GO AIR FORCE!

DAD is going to be as good as new, according to his doctor, after his surgery on Friday.  

 Everything went well, and he had the best nurses who took such good care of him.  He spent Friday night in the hospital, and I brought him home early Saturday afternoon.  They sent him home with oxygen because his levels were low, but they are much better today.  One of his nurses told us that the anesthesia is metabolized through the lungs, so it is not uncommon to have a low oxygen level after surgery. 

 Thanks so much to all of you who called multiple times to check on us 💖 

 And to those who stopped by for a visit.  Thanks so Adam and Chris for giving Dad a blessing before his surgery.  Thank you to Samantha (who looks so cute in her scrubs) who came over on Friday with her lunch, Eilis who stopped by to check on Sendai, and Paul, who was at the house when I got home from the hospital Friday night. You all are amazing! 

THINGS THAT MADE ME SMILE THIS WEEK 😁

THEN there was my favorite video of the week 😂

YESTERDAY, when I was on my way to pick up Dad from the hospital, I was listening to Sister Runia's talk from last April's General Conference.  I always love going back, rereading, or listening to them again because I find there are always things that I miss the first time around. These are just a couple of thoughts that I thought were so important - 

"It saddens me to admit this, but I used to measure my relationship with the Savior by how perfectly I was living. I thought an obedient life meant I would never need to repent. And when I made mistakes, which was every single day, I distanced myself, thinking, "He must be so disappointed in me."

"That's just not true."

"I've learned that if you wait until you're clean enough or perfect enough to go to the Savior, you've missed the whole point.  I testify that while God cares about our mistakes, He cares more about what happens after we make a mistake."

"In Alma's soliloquy,"O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of my heart and cry repentance", he wasn't trying to shame us by pointing out our mistakes. He wanted to cry repentance so that you and I could avoid suffering in the world. One reason Alma hated sin is because it causes us pain.

"Your worth isn't tied to obedience. Your worth is constant; it never changes. It was given to you by God, and there's nothing you or anyone else can do to change it. Obedience brings blessings; that is true. But worth isn't one of them. Your worth is always "great in the sight of God"; no matter where your decsions have taken you."

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK AND REMEMBER YOU ARE LOVED ❤