The green eyed monster

I have a big problem . . . I am envious of others who have things I want.  To me there is nothing worse than watching someone get exactly what I want, especially if they don't really want it in the first place.  I know that the Lord is in control and will give me things at the "right" time but it still sucks right now.  I hate giving up control SO MUCH! 

That's all.  Hopefully with that out I can move on and find other things to focus on.  Sigh.

Gary Randall

Just over 2 weeks ago a dear family friend named Gary Randall died.  I want to pay tribute to him a bit and just mention what he meant to me.  Gary was the only home teacher that I really remember from my childhood.  He came each month and although there was a time when he served in a Spanish Branch in our area he was still a constant in my life.  When my parents got divorced and my dad proceeded to leave our church Gary was the one who filled in where there was a void.  I don't know that he was ever asked to or if he just saw the void and did what he could to fill it.  Between he and my brothers I think that, all things considered, I didn't miss out on as much as I would have otherwise.  Even though there was not always a priesthood holder in my home I knew there was one 5 minutes away who would come when ever he was asked.  After I had a bad car accident he was there to give me a blessing of comfort and a chocolate bunny to ease my pain.  I was lucky enough to have him seal my husband and I for time and all eternity and that will always be something that is a tender mercy for me.  My dad wasn't worthy of being there but Gary was.

He will always be special to me.  A second father or sorts or at least a grandpa to me and I will miss his positive influence in my life.  I will be eternally grateful for his love and kindness and how he helped me grow into the person I am today.  I will try to be a better visiting teacher to honor him and his memory.  Thank you Gary.  You made a little girl/young woman's life brighter and happier because you were in it.  I love you!

Nursery Boy

Last Sunday I decided to start putting Elijah into nursery at church during the 3rd hour.  He's not quite old enough but the nursery leader has told me to go ahead whenever so I did.  He had a lot of fun.  He had no clingy tendencies and when I peaked in during snack time he was such a big boy sitting at the table with the rest of the kids.  I'm so proud of my big boy.

Halloween

This year we did a lot for Halloween.  I didn't take many pictures but here are a few of my cute little puppy.

On the Friday before Halloween we went to our church's Halloween party where there was a potluck, carnival games and a trunk or treat.  We had lots of fun and were glad grandma and grandpa Figgins came too.  They got to witness Elijah finally getting good at saying "thank you".
The next day we went to grandma and grandpa Figgins church Halloween party where there was a chili cook off and trunk or treating.  Grandma's "swamp punch" was a big hit.  From the moment the trunk or treating started there was a line up of kids wanting to sample the punch with dry ice and rubber bugs in it.  It was a lot of fun.
On Halloween David stayed home and passed out candy while I took Elijah to a few houses to trick or treat.  He said thank you to everyone and said buhbye to them the entire walk down the driveway while I pulled him on so he didn't try to run back to the house we just went to.  I think next year he will be a pro. 

Oil Ranch

A few weeks after my sister left Elijah and I got to go the Oil Ranch again with his cousin Remy.  Here are some of the fun things we did.

Horseback riding.  Twice!

He LOVED it!

Remy liked it too.

 

We got to pet a sheep and this is Elijah baaing at one.

We got to ride on a little train with Hallie and Remy.

We also went on a hay ride of sorts and fed some cows and went to see a cow get milked.  Elijah was too scared to touch it though.  It was a lot of fun.

Fun with the Stevens

Bonnie reading to her son, Eric, and Elijah.

My sister and her husband came to visit at the beginning of October.  Unfortunately I forgot the camera everywhere we went so I just have a few pictures of when they were at my house the day before they left.


The first day they were here we went to Oil Ranch in Hockley.  It was such a blast!  There were tons of animals to see and pet, horses to ride, the older kids enjoyed playing on a "sky swing" and doing a little put put course that was on site.  There was even a train ride.  I was able to go again with my sister in law a few weeks later so I will post some of those in another post.

I could not get these two guys to stop sharing Elijah's cups with each other.

That evening Dave joined us and we honored my brother in law Jason's mom Linda (who passed away last year at this time) by going to Fajita Willie's for dinner.  I wish I lived closer to Willie's!

The following day we went to the Texas Renaissance Festival and had a blast eating lots of fair type food and seeing lots of shows.  The kids and Bonnie and I spent some time jumping on some trampoline's attached to bungee cords which was a lot of fun.  All in all it was a blast.  I am so glad that even though I don't get to see my family very often I have a sister who comes to Texas at least once a year.