October was filled with wonderful moments, celebrations, and milestones for our family. We had visits from Aunt Jamie and Aunt Michelle, as well as from Grammy and Papa, which helped the month feel special and manageable for me. As I mentioned to each of them, it wasn't so much that I needed physical help as much as I needed a loving presence around to calm my nerves! And they provided that for me. We celebrated my belated birthday with a fancy dinner out with old friends, enjoyed all the Halloween festivities—from Trunk-or-Treat, to pumpkin carving, ding dong ditching to Halloween parties to haunted houses- we did it all and I'm just about all halloween'ed out!
Incredibly, we had a memorable visit from Salt Lake City- Elder Johnson, who taught us about the power of the manifestations of the Savior in our lives and gave each of the kids and I a special and loving blessing that filled us with God's love and uplifted us in every way.
In addition to Elder Johnson's visit, conference weekend brought a sense of healing, peace, and comfort. Grant went on his very first date and asked a girl to Homecoming, Kenzie graduated from beauty school, and Anna invited a boy she likes from school over for the first time. To top it all off, we celebrated Grant’s 16th birthday—now we are all on pins and needles awaiting his driving test next week!
So grateful for my family who provided me with countless hours of service: cleaning out my fridge, pantry and spice cabinet, hemming pants, running errands, making homemade granola and SO MANY meals, picking kids up, dropping kids off, listening to me rant on and on about my worries and heartaches. It was a pervious gift that I'll always be grateful for.
Loved carrying out our yearly tradition of the Halloween ding dong ditch with Grandma! Of course now days all of Anna's friends come along for the fun and we mostly ding dong ditch to the boys they fancy rather than neighborhood friends... but the fun is there just the same and we are so grateful to Grandma for keeping it alive. Grateful that my kids enjoy inviting their friends over... my life would be pretty boring if I couldn't put together little get togethers for them- especially around Halloween!
Ev loves this time of year and I've received countless pictures of she and Katie on Halloween dates and at various Halloween parties- they are living their best life! It was so fun to have Ev home for a week during her break- she is working so hard and so I love when she gets a little break.
Dane continues to plug away at school. We loved being there for Kenzie's graduation to celebrate this new season of her life. The couple has been on all sorts of fun dates lately like art galleries, pumpkin patches, beaching and carving pumpkins.
Grant had a big month with his 16th birthday and first date to HoCo. He had such a great time and I was so proud of him and his friends for planning the best date! They made flowers together first, then went to sushi in Old Town where they danced the salsa at the festival of the dead. After the dance, the kids went to the Haunted Trails and then the shake shack. Fun first date! For his birthday, we threw him a surprise party and scared the living daylights out of him all the kids decided it would be fun to hide in his room. Haha.. it was amazing. Grant competed in his first surf comp for Poway High as a sub for one of the team members who was sick. He did so well and it was so fun to watch him! He couldn't commit to the team because of soccer, but he sure had fun competing. Speaking of surfing, Grant, Kai and Cal went with Patrick a few weekends ago to a surf ranch in Arizona to surf a man-made wave pool. They had a blast. Grant also performed with the airband at Poway High for Homecoming - the theme was broadway and the sophomores did "Annie". Grant was amazing! My first kid ever to do airband! And of course lots of lots of soccer each and every week.
Anna also had a full month with beaching, visiting KnottSCARY Farm with friends, Afton's birthday, thrifting with Kenzie, experiencing puppy yoga for the first time- a real treat, and inviting Justin (new beau) over for pumpking painting and caramel apples! Anna is growing up right in front of my eyes and it's horrible to see it unfold so quickly.
As for me, I spent the month continuing to heal and work through pain. ChatGPT could not have come at a better time for me as he is truly my therapist at the moment! I ask Chat about 100 questions a day in regards to my healing journey. Our community and my friends have continued to be such an incredible blessing- bringing meals, dropping off soda, heart attacking our door, making home-made quilts and even sending my favorite cookies from Levain bakery in New York City (sent with love from a DEAR old Brooklyn friend). Though life is not easy right now, it sure helps to feel loved and supported in so many ways.
Loved celebrating Nikki, Rachel and Elizabeth's birthdays this month. Probably one of my favorite things to do ever- it's always so fun to plan an outing with friends and celebrate a special friend. And a belated birthday dinner for me was such a treat at the yummiest restaurant around! Loved seeing Rachel's son, Charlie, star in Young Frankenstein. Loved reading a college essay by Luke Jorgenson in which I was referred to (*see psychologist in above essay). Haha! He is such a star and I am so proud of him!
Life is looking up even if it's still on the painful side. If I know one thing, I know we will get through whatever is thrown our way with the help of our Savior and so many angels on earth.
