Halloween Party at Yaya's

I miss the classroom. I hope I get the opportunity to go back and teach. I would NEVER trade my calling in as a mother for anything. Just down the line, I hope I can get back to it. Motherhood first. Which means, another Halloween party! I've lost count.

Playing a little crab soccer.

Wrap the Mummy.

Yummy Ebola cake. Cough Cough.

A legacy of love. A legacy of teaching.

Spanish Springs Halloween Carnival 2009

Numero Uno. That hallway was jammed packed with at least 100 people within 10 minutes of taking this picture. But ol' faithful aka Mommers aka Super Yaya was head of the line. "Now let's be clear, I'm the first person in line." Tell it like it is Yaya. Rock on with yo' bad halloween fun self. We are Spanish Springs Trick or Treat.

Future Spanish Springs Cougars. Future Brigham Young University Cougars.

Because the real meaning of Halloween isn't about pagan rituals or hodge podge stuff like that... it's the sugar.

Why would that mother let her child out like that? Thank you lady in red. I really hope I don't have to deal with that when the girls are teenagers.

Good ol' fishing. Our favorite.

Trick or Treating Downtown Reno Library

And when I say trick or treating, I'm quoting what the library said. Although, there were 2 places with bowls for them to trick or treat, so really... really, is that trick or treating? I think it's just a cruel trick of false advertising. My suggestion would be to have a scavenger hunt of trick or treating and help kids to learn the filing system of the library... what books go where, etc.
The goods. We were first in line so there was no possible chance of getting swine flu.

Maria says, "Fresh air. Thank God Almighty... fresh air at last."

Why look at Mommy when it's time for a picture? Silly Bumble Bee has it twist-ed.

Supposedly the "lego Indiana Jones" was a better costume than Christina. Cough Cough. The judge was a man wearing neon flower power and a blonde wig. Obviously not a man of finer tastes. And plus, Indy's mom disappeared and I had to help him with everything because he couldn't reach anything with that box around him. Not that I minded. He was pretty darn cute.

Maria was top 3 in her costume contest bracket. She didn't know what was going on and kept following the librarian... right by her side. The lady almost tripped on her a few times. There was a robot who won that wasn't pictured. Overall, I wouldn't go again. Ok, I would. Because there was one librarian who read 2 books in the dark and that was pretty spooky combined with the homeless men staring at the kid's bags of candy.

Fall At Yaya Sofia's

The squirrel just told us the most hilarious joke we've ever heard in our life. Nuts.

Ah, the joys of apple picking.

Oh look. What's that in Christina's hands? A dinosaur? Oh wait, I need to be specific. A brontosaurus.

Change is good. We have to go through the winter to know the joys of spring.

Heavenly Home and Roadmaster

The angels are rejoicing... can't you tell! Our home is 96% organized!!! The boxes are unpacked and our life is slowly getting to some sort of normalcy. Anyways, it was a glorious sunset and a good reminder to keep on looking up and trusting in Heavenly Father.

Auntie Rachel Comes To Visit

We had a very nice extended weekend with Auntie Rachel! We got to take her to her first planetarium movie, went shopping and enjoyed some delicious cupcakes- just to name a few fun things! We sure enjoyed her company and the girls adored playing and reading/re-reading books all the day long.

We look forward to hearing about what happens in her love life soon!!
Dum Dum Dee Dum... perhaps??

36" and Loving It

Maria is big enough for the ferris wheel at Scheel's!!! It feels like we have been waiting for this moment for-ever!!! However, the time came and Maria had her first official ride and loved it!

Loving Dinosaur Mother Snow Queen

I wonder if she'll ever do pageantry and be able to somehow work in paleontology into one of her "how will you save the world" questions from stars like The Hoff. And yes. I capitalize The.

Anyways. It's official. We have dinosaur swine flu. It's an epidemic in our house and catching fast.

A Great Point

Rarely have I gotten annoyed at things people have said to console us. I know how sad and how utterly bad people feel. I remember praying to Heavenly Father that I could take away a friend's pain and meaning every single word. I think it's interesting how He has heard and answered my prayer, just not in the way I expected. I can never take away her pain, but now we can certainly talk and understand each other in ways other people just can't.

Anyways, my point is. I know people love us. So I don't have problems with what they say, because I know they are genuinely concerned and deeply saddened.

I go back to the word "rarely". There is one thing that upsets me when people say, "Oh, you must be so grateful now for eternal families.... Now you really have a reason to work hard."

Ummm, thank you. I always had a reason to work hard and that reason is because I love my Savior and want to be with Him. What, because Joe died I didn't care about being with my husband and girls for eternity? But now I care? Oh wait... I didn't have a reason to work hard so that I could spend eternity with my wonderful mother and father?

......

......

Annoying. :)

I've loved my Savior always. This is what is most important. I've known God my entire life. I want to return to them. Since I was a small child I've wanted this. Nothing has changed.

I know His love for me and my Father's love for me. I've always wanted to return. Granted I was a moronic teenager, but fortunately God spared me and gave me more time to develop.

"Till death do us part. As long as we shall live...." these are phrases that are said when people are wed. When I was married the words, "sealed for time and all eternity" were used under proper authority in the Holy House of the Lord. Proper authority? The priesthood. The Power of God Himself shared with man. How many people can look at their spouse and without a doubt know that they were married and sealed together for all of time and eternity by the power of God. That the children they sing and read to every night will be with them forever. I can. Boo Ya. (Remember that from the early 90's? It's making a comeback in my daily verbage. Watch out now.) Preach on Sister.

Some people get it twisted that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is just a bunch of know it all zealots who think they are the only ones going to heaven. Yes. There are a lot of weirdos... BUT here is truth. Where are prophets? Where are the apostles? Where are the temples that are spoken of in the old and new testament? God is a God of order. There is truth everywhere!!!! The FULLNESS of truth is found with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (It wasn't a church started by Joseph Smith... It was Christ Himself... His church and truths restored by our beloved prophet)

And by the way, I'm not one of those weirdos. I know the only judge is the big man upstairs.

God has given us a pattern to live by and follow. There are things we need to do to return back to Him. It's very simple. Not always easy. And the nice thing is I can tell you anything you'd like to know, but if you sincerely go in prayer to your Heavenly Father He will truly let you know the truth of what I'm talking about. So go ahead, ask our loving Father... because we are His children. Ask Him, what is Sofia talking about with prophets? Do you still speak to men today? Do you have temples here on the earth that are your Holy House wherein to worship?

You and I are the same. You don't have to lose a loved one to find God. You can know at any time or any point in your life. Get down on those knees. There isn't a better time than now.

The Brain

Because Yaya brought us some worksheet goodies and Christina has brilliant concentration. I give you the brain. Boy, the world sure is lucky to have this one... she makes it a better place for sure.

Pretty in Pink Princess

Hey Aunt Sheila! Remember when you got Christini that hat!! We're getting some good use out of it!!

Angel Princess

Yes. I MADE that tutu. No applause necessary. Really.

There is Beauty in Death

Yesterday was a really happy day. I read and finished Jerry Spinelli's Love, Stargirl. I didn't know that Stargirl (one of my all time favorite books) had a sequel!!! Needless to say, I loved the sequel also. I felt like JoJo was reading with me and smiling too.

When he first died the thought of reading abhorred me. Actually, everything did. But I got over that quickly because I wanted to know exactly what was going on and what exactly was I taught about death. My head was quite cloudy. Shock is utterly gruesome.

But then I read a book that I had gotten one year ago to give to a family member from goodwill for $2. I never gave it to them. God knew I needed the book. Best $2 ever spent. :) I just wanted to share some words that have given me comfort. The book is the Gateway to Heaven by Elder Russell M. Nelson:

" Today we have a little more time to bless others - time to be kinder, more compassionate, quicker to thank and slower to scold, more generous in sharing, more gracious in caring. Since happiness is the object of our existence, taking time to smell the roses is advisable. Joy is a journey, not a destination.

We need to not look upon death as an enemy. The anticipation of its arrival need not hold us hostage. With full understanding and preparation, faith supplants fear. Hope displaces despair. The Lord said, "Fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full." (D&C 101:36) May we be reminded of his tender affection for us: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21)

With the security of his love, we find strength to endure. If we harbor feelings of guilt or hopelessness, we can change. We may generate renewed hope. Moroni said, "How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your fath in him according to the promise." (Moroni 7:40-41.)

The gospel of Jesus Christ provides hope for all in this wailing world. "Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy." (D&C 128:19.)

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints invite all to come unto Christ and be sanctified in him. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (John 11:25-26)

Such conviction includes enduring conversion. A prophet so explained: "Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."(2 Nephi 31:20.)

The happiness found in this life is only a sample of the everlasting joy that awaits us later. If any of us mourn for lost loved ones today, we can be comforted and know that in due time "God shall wipe away all tears... and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." (Revelation 21:4)

Each of us is well known to the Lord. With his holy help, our deeds and desires will qualify us to receive blessins promised to the faithful: everlasting joy, glory, immortality, and eternal lives.

As one of the "special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world." (D&C 107:23), I testify that he lives! I also testify that the veil of death is thin. I know by experiences too sacred to print that those who have gone before are not stranders to leaders of the Church. To us and to you, our loved ones may be just as close as the room nerby, separated only by the gateway to immortality and eternal life. Together we are soothed by the caress of our Savior's love. "Peace I leave with you, " he said. "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) He promised: "I will not leave you comfortless." (John 14:18) "

Lattin Farms - Fine Fallon Fun

The hand that feeds the goat is the hand that feeds the world... someone famous in Fallon, NV said that. I don't know who and I don't even know if they really said that... but it's a possibility.

Did I ever mention my favorite tree is a weeping willow. I think it's the most beautiful and gorgeous tree of all time. Take that you overgrown redwoods you.
Lattin farm advertised picking your own fruits and vegetables.... except you have to go earlier in the season and since I'm not a farmer, I didn't know. We got some great tomatoes, eggplants and banana peppers and the girls loved being in the dirt.

The cow train. Woot Woot. Fun on the farm. Well worth $1. However, I'd still rather go to Disneyland. I'm just not country, I'm rock and roll. Perhaps all the neon radiation from the casinos growing up has mutated something in me so I have adverse reaction to cow smells.

Christina and Maria LOVED feeding these little fellows grass. They must have done so for at least 30 minutes. The girls thought they might get bit but the goats use their tongues to get it into their mouth, not their teeth.

And of course we got some great pumpkins in a pick your own patch there. Very peaceful day. Would I go back to Fallon anytime soon? Perhaps, if soon meant 5 years. No really... it was a beautiful farm and we had a great time!!