General Conference Saturday Edition

Matt had to work today so I got out of bed ten minutes before conference started, tried to wake the girls and went downstairs.

It was so quiet for more than half of conference and then Brittan joined me.

The session was so good. 

By the second session everyone was downstairs.

Corban made a MAMMOTH smoothie.

 He drank almost all of it himself. 

After the second session we took Corban to town to meet his dad so they could go to the priesthood session and the girls and I went shopping. 

We tried on some Halloween costumes at Target and then went to Fred Meyer to get stuff for our tradition of Conference Nachos. 

 When we got back home I went to the lake to rescue the kayak that floated away.

Brittan joined me.

It's beautiful down there tonight. 

I love autumn.

I'm glad we still have some. 

 

An Incredible Day

Today Esther, Amy and I hiked to Reed Lakes. 

The weather was supposed to be sunny, but we got clouds instead.

And I think that was perfect. 

I'm sure we would have been overheated with clouds.

I thought it would be really cold in the mountains as well, but it was so nice.

We got sprinkled on a little and by the time we got to the second lake we got snowed on, but it was such needed nature therapy for my soul. 

We talked about serious things and fun things.

But mostly we were just overcome with the beauty that surrounded us.

Amy found a patch of blueberries and we sat and ate for some time.

They tasted so, so good. 

I am amazed at the handy work of God. 

Coming back was a little sketchy.

We had some shaky legs, hurting knees and ankles.

But we made it all together.

The last hour or so we mostly hiked in silence.

I loved that part too.

It gave place for my thoughts.

I firmly believe that life is not easy for any of us, but all our experiences are helping us to become what we are meant to be.

Lucille Creek Trailhead

Have I mentioned how it takes 30 minutes to get to town from the farm?

That means that when I go into town I try and make the most of the trip. 

Last night I had to take Makenna in for her Young Women activity and so I tried to make the most of the trip. 

I remembered that I hadn't gotten any exercise in since I had been packaging lettuce for a good portion of the day, so I determined to go walk at the indoor track.

But autumn was calling me! 

Once I got to the track I decided that instead I would walk outside along the roadway.

As I started I noticed a trail head and decided to do that instead.

I had no idea how long the trail was so I sent this message to Matt-

"Just so you know if I come up missing. I was walking on a trail back behind the Menard Sports Center." 

It was a lovely trail.

Most of the leaves are gone from the trees now though.  

I also saw a homeless camping area.

And I didn't come up missing.

It was good to be outside and smell the wonderful smells of autumn. 

 

Pickling Cucumbers and Zucchini Bread

After homeschool today I roped Corban into working in the greenhouse with me. 

We picked the last of the pickling cucumbers and then pulled all the plants out. 

Then we pulled all the squash plants out as well. 

It was a beautiful sunny day to do it. 

I might have even been sweating a little bit. 

I am going to make more pickles. 

I also picked some more zucchini and decided to make some bread today.

It is really, really good! 

 

Pumpkin Harvest

Unfortunately, we have run out of time. 

This afternoon I went out to see if I could find some brussel sprouts and check on the pumpkins. 

Most of the leaves on the pumpkin plants were black. 

That means at some point they froze.

So all the pumpkins had to be picked.

There were probably about 50 of them.

That is pretty dang good since we lost almost every single plant earlier in the spring and had to replant.

I picked them all and put them in the greenhouse to get orange. 

We will have some really great ones for Jack-O-lanterns this year. 

I also did find about two serving of brussel sprouts so that was exciting.

There were a ton of them but most had been eaten by slugs.

Stupid wet conditions!

I have been constructing this idea in my head for quite sometime.

I would love to live off of what we grow or only local foods for a period of time. 

I'm not sure my family would be completely on board but I do believe it would be a cool experiment. 

In the mean time I am excited for the first pumpkin to turn orange.

Happy Sabbath

I looked over at Corban this morning before church and I was just impressed with how much he has grown up in the past year. 

Then I asked him to do his famous stink eye. 

He obligued and then I found the picture of him doing it when he was three and put them together. 

I laugh every time I look at the picture. 

I laugh even as I write this post. 

He was so stinkin' cute when he was tiny.

He's still cute but just in a different way. 

I can't believe how fast these kids grow up.

That is such an old person thing to say. 

Church was fabulous.

I had an incredible spiritual experience where Heavenly Father blessed me to help someone else. 

It was pretty cool. 

Then I came home and made the first pumpkin dessert of the season.

The house smelled so, so good! 

Pumpkin pecan lava cake with coconut cream. 

I ate too much! 

 

Women's General Session

One of my favorite times of the year is Conference time.

This afternoon was the Women's session.

Me, Bri and Kenna gathered on the couches and watched together. 

We had some technical issues with the tv but technology is so cool that we just watched from my laptop.

I'm extremely grateful for those blessings.

The messages were beautiful.

Reminders that our worth was determined before we came to this earth and we always have it but our worthiness is something that is achieved through obedience. 

That we choose our destination.

That we can become repairers of the breach by simply loving honestly and through that love relationships are healed. 

That we can be distinct and different in happy ways and that will make a difference in the world. 

And that the gospel is the way to joy, safety and peace and we need to ignore those who mock. 

Add to all that a strawberry shortcake from the berries I picked this morning and the whole experience was AMAZING!  

I LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I love council that brings the Spirit which testifies to me what I need to do. 

And I love strawberry shortcake. 

 

No Pictures

I didn't take any pictures today.

Thursdays are crazy busy. 

I teach seminary at 6 am, come home and get Corban up and we leave the house by 9.

We stop and grab him some lunch and then I drop him off for specialty classes.

Then I run errands.

Today it was the DMV, my sister-in-laws house, post office, bank, and Value Village to find pants for Corban. 

I also did grocery shopping after I picked Makenna up at 215 and before that I walked at the indoor track to get my exercise in.

Once we picked Corban up at 4 pm, I was done.

We got gas and headed home. 

I did find this great picture of Matt and my Dad on the front porch the other day. 

I love front porch sitting.

There is something simple about that life. 

I love the simple life! 

Especially after a crazy Thursday. 

Listening and Meditating

Matt and I are currently doing a healthy living challenge called Game On. 

One of the things we had to decided was one habit we wanted to start and a bad habit we wanted to get rid of. 

Because there is often a million things running through my mind at one time I knew I needed to get rid of my bad habit of not fully listening to people when they talked to me. 

Then I decided I would make a new habit of meditating since I have been wanting to try it anyway. 

I downloaded a meditation app and we started the challenge almost two weeks ago. 

I have noticed something interesting. 

#1. I suck at meditating

and

#2. People want to talk to me a lot 

But the habits of listening and meditating are going hand in hand.

I am learning to be more mindful of what is happening at the moment. 

It's been really good. 

Today I went to the lake and sat on my favorite orange bench over looking the lake. 

I decided to be mindful about everything around me.

I heard birds singing and the fish jumping.

I heard an airplane fly by and the dog barking.

I heard the neighbors rooster crow and the leaves rustling in a breeze.

It felt calm and peaceful.

I am grateful for moments of solitude where I can just be.

 Then I went inside and made potato salad for dinner using the pickles I made from our cucumbers.

That was awesome

and yummy!

Hiking in the Clouds

My car said it was 38 degrees outside this morning as we headed to seminary. 

Winter is knocking on our door.

We decided that we needed to get at least one more hike in.

Cory and I picked up Makenna after school and headed to Hatcher Pass.

We wanted to hike our hidden lake but the gates were closed so we went to April Bowl.

The clouds were thick as we hiked but the weather wasn't bad at all.

We had a good time. 

 

Corn

On Saturday my neighbor texted me to see if I wanted to come pick corn and offered some of it to us.

I got there in enough time to help her wrap up the picking and she sent me home with a big garbage bag of it.

Today as I finally got to processing it, I was just so grateful for her and that she shared her harvest. 

I bagged up a gallon size bag with kernels and two gallon bags with cobs.

Then for dinner we ate some of it.

It was seriously so good! 

 Also, sweet Afton came and played today.

He discovered that he can fit into the china cabinet.

Just like all our kids did. 

Then he took a nap on my chest for awhile.

I love him! 

 

The Sabbath

As I opened my eyes this morning I heard Matt say, "The sunrise is beautiful" and I rolled over and saw the golden trees and agreed.

Today we went to the Colony ward because Austin was giving his farewell talk in sacrament meeting. 

It was a good talk. 

That boy knows the scriptures and knows his way around explaining them. 

It was pretty cool. 

Brittan, Christy and I took a #sundayselfie in Relief Society too.

 Then we went and hung out at Garic and Christy's and had family dinner. 

Basically, besides hanging out with my family, my favorite part was the pumpkin cookies my Mom brought. 

They were SO good! 

 Here are some other fun pictures taken-

 

Autumn wonders

It's been about a week since I gave a farm update. 

I walked out to the pumpkins today and was so excited to see that they are starting to turn orange!

The forecast says that the first frost will be on the 25th.

That is ten days.

The pumpkins will not be ready but that's okay.

They will all come into the house and orange up. 

Also, I went to see if there were anymore strawberries and there were so many I only got through about 2 rows before I called it quits. 

 We are in full autumn mode here.

I have been aching to make hot cocoa, but haven't had time yet. 

Soon.

Very soon!

One Step Closer

Last night was wonderful. 

I love being in the temple with family.

I especially love being there with a family member that is going for the first time.

Last night, my nephew, Austin took out his endowment.

It was so cool to be able to be there with him.

They showed one of the newer instructional films and I loved sitting next to Marissa and seeing her excitement over the differences.

We were both loving it. 

I love that Austin has chosen to go on a mission.

I love that he is trying to be more like our Savior. 

He is now one step closer in his journey. 

I'm sad the lighting was so bad on these pictures but at least we got something. 

 Also, remember how I mentioned about that painting in the women's locker room HERE?

I took a picture of it since I couldn't find it anywhere on the internet.

I just love this print!