pumpkin carving.

The day before Halloween, we gathered on the front lawn and carved the pumpkins we'd picked up at the pumpkin patch. The kids were all pretty grossed out by the pumpkin guts, except for our fearless daughter, who happily dug in to her pumpkin's innards.

I put together a little video of our activity, down at the bottom of the post!

You might notice that we did not finish our pumpkins. Unfortunately, somebody ended up with a cut on their finger, and we never made it back to the pumpkins after stopping to take care of that. But that's life.

my favorite Christmas video

How can I make Cristmas more
Joyful.......
Enjoyable..
Spiritual....
Uncluttered
Significant.
?

:: birthday zoo trip ::

at the elephant enclosure:

Don't give up.

It's been a while since I shared a Sunday though, but I want to share one today. Sure, I'm a day late, but this is a powerful message that I think can apply to anyone.
(If you're currently struggling with something, and even if you're not, you just might want to have a tissue or two handy...)

"Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. ...For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of 'good things to come.'”

"Even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the very source of the light you seek. He does love you, and He knows your fears. He hears your prayers. He is your Heavenly Father, and surely He matches with His own the tears His children shed."

“Don’t give up... Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead... You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.”

"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come”