Almost hot chocolate weather for us this week - highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's and 50's. The leaves are starting to change and I have pulled out all of my hoodies - I love this, especially when we still get some sunshine during the day.  This is what the sky looked like one evening when I was walking Sendai, and to top it off - this weekend we have had huge harvest moon that makes night look like day.

Wow! Isn't the beauty of our earth just amazing ❤

Between work, school, Church, and various other commitments, is there anyone in the family who isn't busy???

Hollie just let me know that she will be working 54 hours this week at The Broadmoor, including an event for the CIAB (Council for Insurance Agents and Brokers). One of her shifts is from 3pm until 1am, and another is 3pm until 3am.  

She says they make everything from scratch and you know it has to be delicious.  I wish I was learning what she is learning.  How fun to be a pastry chef! 

 Until soccer season is over next month Adam's day starts with early morning soccer practice, and then there are the soccer games - Liberty's, Jakes, and Lily's, and watching over the IEP and 504 kids at school, and being a husband to Cory, a dad to Jake, Lily, Paul, Sammi, and Milo, and then working on his truck(with Jake's help) - not always in that order 😁. He  has a super good helper with Jake when he finds time to spend on the truck.  In this photo, Jake drilled 100+ holes in the steel. I would love to have even 1/8 of his energy and stamina.  😊

Does anyone have any Provo connections?  Sammi is looking for a new job this week - filling out applications and hoping for interviews.  Extra prayers for you this week, Sammi!

I think she could always go into the cookie business - she makes the most delicious chocolate chip cookies.  Remember SPL?  Samantha, Paul, and Lily had a little cookie business going in their neighborhood - Samantha made the cookies, and Paul and Lily did the marketing.  This was years ago, and they went door-too-door drumming up business, and of course, who could say no to those cute faces? 😁 ❤

 Blythe and her friend, Warren, were the only two freshman selected to join a fraternity for students interested in a medical field,  They were among 14 who were selected out of 150 hopeful students.  

 So happy for you Blythe!❤

This has also been a great week for sports!

 Dad showed his Iowa spirit today.  The Hawkeyes beat Michigan 20-19 on Saturday.  With that score, it had to be a great game!

 Speaking of Iowa . . . Jonathan, Kate, and Sayre spent part of the week, including the weekend, feeling lousy due to a nasty cold.  Hope they at least got to enjoy the game.  

AND Chris and Spencer were in the stands at Wrigley Field when the Chicago Cubs beat the Marlins and secured a spot in the playoffs. 

I love going to a good baseball game and have the fondest memories of going to the Oakland A's games with my mom and dad when I was in high school - even made it to a World Series game one year. 😃

OUR FAVORITE MISSIONARY

I loved this letter from Paul this week and hope he won't mind if I share it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet -

Hello everyone! A lot happened this week so here are some highlights. First, we got to go to the temple on Friday and do baptisms. It was super special the members who took us had us do the baptism for one of their twin brothers who had just passed away. We also got to attend a baptism. It was their ward's first convert baptism in two years, so a ton of people came to support.

We had exchanges too, which was so much fun. I got to exchange with Elder Romney, our zone leader, and he had me lead out the area. We saw so many small miracles that day. One of them was getting to fly kites with the youth! It was my first time ever flying one and it was pretty sick.

The last big one we finally got one of our friends to church! This has been a struggling area, so we basically started from scratch in a place that isn't known for baptizing much. So that was a huge blessing. We also had some really good lessons last week and have a lot of faith going into this week!

Spiritual thought: Specific prayers bring specific blessings. On exchanges we prayed for a cool experience before companionship study and I kind of forgot about it. While we were walking to our study, a lady came up behind us and started asking us questions. We ended up walking and talking with her for like 30 minutes, and at the end we got to invite her to church. So pray for specific things and then go make them happen! The Lord will help and guide you along the way, not just do it for you.

Thank you for sending Photos this week, and thank you for the texts and phone calls.  We love you all so much and hope that in the week ahead you will do something that brings you joy! ❤