HAPPY HALLOWEEN THIS WEEK!  I do love Halloween, I think, because it brings back so many fun memories of when I was young.  There were no "Spirit Halloween" stores then, but everyone just used something they had from home, and sometimes a sewing machine was involved.  We would walk the neighborhoods, usually in groups, and sometimes we were invited into homes for a cup of apple cider.  I remember our Halloween nights in Okinawa, where it seemed like every year the kids were trick-or-treating in the rain, and when we were at Yokota, the high-rise apartments were the prime targets for collecting candy.  I wish I had photos of our Halloweens, but I couldn't seem to find any.  HOWEVER, I did find some treasures of the grandkids 😁

Could there be anything cuter or more fun than this???

 

Mike and Barbi, and Kate and Jonathan are great examples of never being too old to celebrate Halloween!  Any suggestions on what Dad and I could be next year? 😁

COULD THERE BE ANY BETTER WEEKEND THAN THIS?

(only if Lily, Jake, Emma, Eilis, Hollie, Ben, Spencer, Grant, Blythe, and Sayre were here too)

 Max made it over the Rockies for a very short weekend, but we had a fun lunch with Samantha and Paul before Sammi had to head off to work, and Max to meet his friend Levi.  We finished off our lunch by making our way over to our favorite Gelato shop, where we each had a scoop (okay, maybe two scoops) of deliciousness.  Hoping next time Max can stay with us for more than just a couple of hours.  

Wouldn't it be a great idea to have one more "Grammie Camp" - you know "then and now"?  Max might not be afraid of the train at Santa's Workshop, and Spencer might not get sick on the tilt-a-whirl.  Emma, Elis, and Hollie could be our zoo leaders, and Sammi could get us access to Lifetime's swimming pool, where Grant and Paul could be our lifeguards. Blythe and Jake could be in charge of the yard sale because, after all, they could talk anybody into anything.

Finally, Ben and Sayre could lead us in a Minecraft Tournament, and Lily could divide us into teams, teach us some soccer basics, and then referee our game.  

 I think this would be AMAZING!!!

NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK -

With a week off from classes, I thought I would spend my time cleaning out closets and my sewing room, but Ben also didn't have school, so he called and asked if he could spend 6 days with me 😁.  We decided on 3 days and 2 nights because, on Thursday, "he really needed to get home and see his Mom".  

  We kept busy raking leaves and carving pumpkins. We took the dogs on walks after dark, so Ben could guide the way with his newly acquired flashlight. We read Yertle the Turtle, and Ben was able to connect with Sayre a couple of times for a Minecraft game.

He helped me shop for a birthday gift for Francie - the Hallmark store was a little bit of Heaven for him with all of the knick-knacks they have on display, and he and Dad watched Bluey.  Thanks, Ben, for keeping me company this week ❤.  Also, he was constantly asking me to play "My Own Sacred Grove", which he has memorized. That's my favorite Primary song too! 

 I sent Francie a Tiara for her birthday this week with a card that said, "you are never too old for a tiara", and Jenny sent me this photo.  I talked with her a couple of times over the last few days, and she sounded really good.

 On that note, we went to see Shannon yesterday, and her decline seems to be steady. Kevin received several phone calls this week from the hospice nurse who visits her regularly.  She had a couple of days where she didn't want to eat anything, but yesterday, while we were there, she ate a good dinner.  She has also become less steady on her feet, and her walk has turned into more of a shuffle.  However, she reminded me in her own way that she needed some more peanut butter M&M's. 😁

Adam and Cory spent part of this past week at High Trails, we got to babysit Milo.  He just makes me smile and he and Sendai are so cute together.  If one of them runs out of the house barking, the other is right behind, not sure what they are barking about, but still barking.

SUNDAY SELFIES ~

Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre went on a nature walk this afternoon, and Sayre "needed" to wear some ski goggles 😂

   Max sent me this photo from the wedding reception he went to last night in Fort Collins.

Come back Max!

Also, couldn't resist this photo Kate sent me of Clementine.  Think she might be a little dramatic? 🐶 😂

 Each Wednesday, the missionaries assigned to our ward stop by for about thirty minutes for a quick visit and spiritual thought.  This week, they asked us to read or watch again Elder Stephenson's conference talk, "Blessed are the Peacemakers."  It was one of my favorites because there has never been a time in our society when we have needed this more.  Elder Stephenson gave us a one-week peacemaking plan that I wanted to share tonight - 

1. A contention-free home zone: When contention starts, pause and reboot with kind words and deeds.

2. Digital bridge building: Before posting, replying, or commenting online, ask, Will this build a bridge? If not, stop. Do not send. Instead, share goodness. Publish peace in the place of hate.

3. Repair and reunite: Each family member could seek out a strained relationship in order to apologize, minister, repair, and reunite.

Several weeks ago, Lily and I were in Costco, and I took a small cup off of a tray from one of the vendors, and the lady literally bit my head off.  I didn't realize she was still organizing her tray. I felt terrible and continued to apologize, but she was just rude.  Sometimes, circumstances like that make it easy to be rude in return, but that rarely improves the situation and leaves neither person happy.  Just be kind.  Kindness can change hearts (even the hard-hearted ones). 

Love you! ❤

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF OUR OCTOBER BIRTHDAY PEOPLE!

 We will be celebrating Jonathan on Tuesday, Oct 21st.  We love how you love your family.  You are an amazing husband to Kate, and dad to Sayre.  A wonderful and thoughtful son-in-law.  

 We love you and hope you have a fabulous day ❤

 Happy Birthday to my sister, Francie, on Friday, Oct 24th.  She is fun and funny, and I always wished that we lived closer.  One of my favorite stories of Francie happened when we were meeting Ruthie and Ken in Napa.   

On our way to dinner one night, Francie and I were sitting in the back seat of our 2-door rental car (I think it was a Mustang), and when Francie started to get out of the car, for some reason she put both her feet out first and then, of course, the rest of her slid to the floor of the car and she was totally stuck.  None of us could help her because we were laughing so hard. 

This past Thursday, we celebrated my Dad's birthday.  He loved his ice cream every night - sometimes asking for a second scoop if Mom wasn't listening 😄.  He loved his cowboy movies, John Wayne, a good steak and a good hamburger, his lemon trees, and most of all, he loved our Mom.  It makes me a little sad that he didn't get to meet all of our grandchildren.  I know he would have loved you all so, so. much!  His mother was killed in an automobile accident when he was just 8 years-old, and his youngest brother, D'rr,  died just six months later when he rode his scooter down a hill and couldn't stop it before went into the street and he was hit by a car. 

  My aunt, Arthell,  told me a story one day about my dad and how much he and D'rr loved to play cars (like matchbox cars only they were wooden) and would spend hours lining them up and playing with them.  Arthell said that after D'rr died my Dad lined up the cars in the room where they would play, and then never touched them again 😥.  

I wish I had more stories of their younger years, but I am so grateful for the memories of times we had together. 

  Speaking of a walk down "memory lane" . . . Blythe reminded me this week of our first Grammie Camp.  We had such a fun time!  I remember the yard sale we had to make money for Santa's Workshop, our service project, and swimming at Villa Sport.  

I am sad that Grammie Camp only lasted for 2 years - next week I will post some photos of our second time around 😁

FAMILY NEWS ~

Paul has a new job, working at Lifetime Fitness as a Lifeguard. He is also in the process of college applications as well as finishing up his mission paperwork.  I think this week he is applying for a visa.

Kim and I finished our classes for this term and have a week break! Yay!!!

Mike and Barbi's grandson Hunter was baptized this week.

Blythe spent Saturday testing (ACT/SAT).  She is finishing up her college applications also.  She sent me these cute photos of she and her mom

Adam and Cory took Dad and I on a wonderful ride up in the mountains this week.  Adam wanted to look at some property for the Hopkins Family Compound.  The property was amazing with a small pond, a dock that was just the right size for someone who wanted to sit outside in the sun and read a book, and some beautiful rock formations.

I could just see Jake having the time of his life riding his dirtbike over and around all of the rocks.

  Hollie spent the night with us last night, and this afternoon, Angella dropped Ben off for a little bit while she ran to the ER to have her knee checked.  While Ben was here, he went outside in the backyard and had the best time raking up our leaves, and then jumping in them.  I think he may be back later this week, and I know exactly what I am going to have him help me with 😃. (Angella is looking at knee surgery in the future but has to have some physical therapy before the doctors will schedule anything.)

Dad is doing well.  He is driving!!! and working on his computer again.  He will be teaching an Institute class that starts in another week.

LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK ❤