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! ❤