FROM ONE PUMPKIN TO ANOTHER

A woman was asked by a coworker, 'What is it like to be a Christian?' The coworker replied, 'It's like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all of the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all of the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'

That little message was printed on our Relief Society handout on Sunday. I had never read that before and I really enjoyed it. So although many of you may think I'm weird, I thought I would share my pumpkin carving experience with you. First the kids decided what they wanted the end result to be, and carefuly drew their faces. It was fun to see their creativity. Then as they cut into the top to start taking all the seeds out, this thought popped into my head and I couldn't help but start to imagine what it was like in Heaven when Heavenly Father started the process of "picking" us. He picked us at just the right time. He knew what he needed us to do for him, so he went to work, creating his masterpiece. As my kids started digging inside to remove "all the yucky stuff" I was overwhelmed with the spirit as I realized how often I turn to my Father in Heaven to remove all my "yucky stuff", and how greatful I am that he is willing to do it time after time. Every time he does, it seems that he always puts "a new smiling face" and a brighter "light to shine". Carving a pumpkin takes time and patience. Two of which I dont seem to have much of. I am so thankful for this experience.

As my kids worked on their "masterpieces" , again, I was overwhelmed with the idea of them being creators, and working toward their own eternal glories. I love the Gospel and the simpleness of it! I love the fact that we have such a loving and forgiving Father in Heaven who is always there to watch over us and to help us keep his light shining within us for all to see. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Always want what you cant have!

Kailey is absolutely obsessed with having straight hair. She is always begging me to straighten it, but I hate to do it. Not only because it takes FOREVER to do, but because I dont want to damage her hair. So very rarely do I do it for her. However, she is so freakin cute!!

I was really surprised as to how long it really is. With the curls you cant tell because it just bounces right up around her ears. She is so funny to watch when she has straight hair though. She's always flinging it around or tucking it behind her ears. It's just so cute!

I personally still love the curls!!

UEA Weekend

We had a pretty fun weekend over the UEA break. My kids had Thursday, Friday, and Monday off of school. I told them that if they where on their best behavoir and had all their chores done before I got home from work, we would go have some fun! On Friday Jennie and I got together and took them to the Scarecrow festival. There where lots of fun things for the kids to do. We started off with the slides. Kailey was a little scared at first, but when she climbed up the big castle, she quickly realized how much fun it was! From there the kids wanted to go to this bunjee jump thing. When we got to the line we had someone tell us that they had been waiting for 2 hours and they where only half way through the line! We decided to bag that!! Even the kids where game for moving on to the next thing. So we went over to the Barn and rode on a tractor pull, then we got more knowledge then we needed as we watched a cow be violated! I dont think you would want anymore detail than that!! Next all the kids took their turn at climbing the wall! I was really impressed with how well they all did!! We took a short ride around the park on a little train and where about to call it quits when the kids begged to go back to the slides for just one more slide!! It was fun!

On Saturday we went to Gardner Village for the Witch Festival. The kids where quite bored with that I think. We snapped a few pictures but it was so crowded that there weren't very many photo oppertunitys without having a bunch of people in the background. It took a lot of coaxing to get the kids to pose with this witch, Preston and Landon didn't want anything to do with that! It was really funny cause you could totally tell that they were not having fun at all, but when we said we where leaving they all whinned about not wanting to leave. Jen and I where through though. So we told them we would go to the gas station and get a treat! That was all it took!!

Fall is finally here!

I love the Fall. I love the crisp cool nights, the changing leaves, building fires, cuddling up in warm blankets. I just love the change the season brings.

One day Kailey and Preston came running in from the backyard wanting me to come to the back to see what they where doing. They had been back there raking up the leaves so they could jump in them. That is one of the fond memories I have of fall and being little. I LOVED jumping into the biggest pile of leaves I could. That is EXACTLY what they where doing! There wasn't very many leaves they could rake up, but they sure had fun with what they could gather.

I love the look on her face in this first picture. Every picture I took of her running to the pile of leaves she has her tounge sticking out with pure determination. It was so cute!

Preston is all boy!! He had a blast jumping in the leaves over and over again. Later that night we broke in our new fire pit J bought. We roasted Hot Dogs in our own backyard. I think I'm gonna love having it!!

Computer Stupid!

It has been a long time since I have blogged, but if any of you have been checking it lately you will have noticed that it has gone through several changes. I had been trying to make it all cute like everyone elses but because I am the most computer stupid person I know, I was failing miserably! Well I think I may have it figured out, So now I can post a few things. Hopefully I dont mess things up again!