Fun Gospel Stuff

Corey and I have been listening to a lot of fun gospel stuff lately. Ward Radio and Stick of Joseph are two of our recent favorites. I loved this Ward Radio on one Abinadi. I listened to it last week on my walk in the rain. I have not listened to that many yet, but I'm starting with their episodes with Don Bradley, cause I like all of his stuff - on seer stones, temple, etc etc. Go listen to Don Bradley here - part 1 and part 2 - those are a good intro to him, his research and his conversion. After that, check out any Ward Radio one with him. 

That's Fu Xi and Nuwa (link there to the Joseph Smith Foundation) in the image above. Ancient Chinese symbols

Don Bradley talking about the Urim and Thumim - Debunking Anti-Mormon Free Mason and Seer Stone Myths feat. Don Bradley.

I still need to listen to these: 

Radical new reading of 1 Nephi

What the Liahona really looked like (3 inches in diameter) 

4 sacred symbols on the temple garment, 3 characters, two repeated, YHWH

Good stuff. And yes they do say "dude" and "vibe" and etc etc way too much, but I think that's their personality coming through and is their brand, hence the name ward RADIO - cause they sound like radio personnel. 

So the other podcast, Stick of Joseph, Corey introduced me to that this year when he shared this link with all of us - Andrea W. | The Hidden Hebrew Wedding Ritual and The Temple. Corey mentioned it to Father David when they went to lunch a month or two ago, and Father D asked for the link. Corey sent it and Father D really really liked it, said he had to keep pausing it to take notes. He loved all the symbolism found in Hebrew Weddings. It inspired a talk he gave to other priests, so that was fun. 

Some of our classics and favorites are Saints Unscripted, Follow Him, Unshaken. I think all these podcasts are a huge blessing that came out of Covid. Another new one (new for us) that we've listened to a few of is Let's Get Real - This one with Jenet Erickson on Stephen Jones is so good. I love the doctrine of the family! Corey's also been listening to news things recently about the declining birth rate in the world, but esp in Asia. This one about China by Peter Zeihan was pretty sobering. 

During bike rides over the summer and beginning of fall, I usually listened to Lili De Hoyos Anderson's Podcast "Choosing Glory" and the Follow Him. Really great stuff. Follow Him is where I first learned about Lili Anderson in 2021. Her D&C 49-50 episode was so good - part 1 and part 2. And of course there are new General conference messages every 6 months! I've been listening to stuff as I raked and as K has been playing outside. 

I try to have quiet time with my thoughts too, but I do really enjoy listening and learning. Going to go do some more work. 

Candy Corn Jello

For FHE today, I made these treats - so festive of me, I know. 

We drove to a pumpkin patch to buy pumpkins, but they were closed, so then we went by another place, and that was closed too. Instead of waiting for next week, we just went and got pumpkins at Smiths. We'll carve them when it's closer to Halloween. After we got home, it was treat time. Abi told me she was thinking about these jello creations all day.

I don't know if they lived up to those expectations, but it was good. Point mom. Corey took this pic of me and Katharine at scriptures tonight. Funny, I didn't realize she was imitating me!

Owen, Daniel, and Peter did not have school again today. Corey took Owen on a ride downhill from Lisa Falls. Corey rode his bike up for his exercise for today, then I drove up there with Owen and his bike to drop Owen off. DPK came with me on a walk around the creek. 

It's so nice to be outside!

We walked around there for a while, then went down to the trailhead and went on the paved paths there. I thought Owen and Daniel would like to just do loops on their bike (Peter) and skateboard (Daniel) but they were too scared to leave me. 

And K was no good, cause it was cold in the shade of the mountain there. So we headed home after just one loop. Abi went from school and picked up Sophi and Natalie and took them to violin today, so that was nice. Saved me a trip. Good day, enjoying these last moments of fall. Weather looks like it will be colder next week.

Cute Katharine

We had Stake Conference today. We didn't have an adult session last night, it was just the 10 am general session this morning. Abi, Lily, Sophi and Natalie had to be there at 8:45 to practice a musical number. They and a lot of their friends from our ward, who also play instruments, performed a musical number "The Spirit of God". We have quite the youth orchestra in our ward: piano, organ, flutes, clarinet, cello, and a few violins. It's fun. We were back home from conference around noon and the girls all took a nap, Corey and Katharine having lunch. 

Corey often has a nice big bowl of fruit (oranges and bananas) with greek yogurt and some granola. Katharine is always eager to come have him share with her.

Melodie came up from BYU today, and we were happy to have her. She needed her spirits lifted. Feeling a little down and uncertain about a relationship with a boy... Katharine did a good job cheering her up. 

As Melodie was leaving this evening, Katharine scooted out from her playplace under the kitchen table and gave her kisses

She is so cute and makes us all laugh and so happy! 

Time Outside

Only thing on the calendar for today was a trumpet group lesson for Owen at 11. They are starting to practice their Christmas music. Corey took him to that, and while they were there, I ran to Kid to Kid and got shoes for the boys. Peter and Daniel were both down to one pair, so I got two each, plus a mermaid looking dress for Katharine. After we were all home, Corey left for a ride. We weren't sure how the trails would be, since there had been rain the past two days, with snow in the mountains, so Corey went to check it out. If it was ok, I was going to bring Owen up when Corey was on his descent. I decided to take the car up and go for a walk around Lisa Falls to check it out myself, I met Corey on his climb, and walked/jogged beside him until the parking lot. Then he took the road up for a bit and I went back to the car to head home for Owen. The trail looked ok, was a little soft, but should be ok. I did think it was a bit chilly. I told Owen to get gloves but he didn't. Oh well. Took Owen up and Corey met us at the parking lot. Owen said "Let's do this!" 

He is a good little biker! He knows how to skid to a stop like a hockey stop, and that has really worn down his tires. I told him I'm impressed with his bike control, but maybe don't do that anymore or he might pop his tires. They went down the trail, and I explored a bit more. I think there's enough space in the Techy area to make a few other trails options there... Maybe I'll contact Sandy City about if there's a way to get permission to do that. 

Ok, I just searched Sandy City's website and then was directed to the Wasatch Bike Plan! I submitted a question about making a trail, so we'll see where that leads. So, I explored around there for an hour, trying to hop the rocks across the creek. I wasn't able to get across. I wish there was a bridge. After I had dilly dallied enough, I felt like I should probably get home. Went home, Corey had his car back. Abi had at the van at my parent's - she needs to work to earn money for monster mash - they are going paint balling, and that's $103 for each couple, doh. So Corey left to take Sophi to a friend's house and to work at his dad's while she was there, and kids were fine, and though I surely had had enough time in the mountains, I was still a little sad from having seen bikers pass by that I only walked the trails and didn't bike, so... "Hey Lily, I'm going to go on a ride..." as I flash a guilty grin. I tried to hurry, but no personal bests. After that, I really did have my fil. Got home, cleaned myself up, gave K a bath, made the kids top ramen for dinner. We haven't had top ramen around for months - like I think not since summer break started. But I bought it on Monday when I let Peter come to the store with me when we were getting the Oreos for FHE. When I take kids with me, I always buy stuff I wouldn't if I were by myself. It's 8:30 now. We just watched the BYU football highlights from their game last night, yay! That would have been a nailbiter!!! Now Corey is watching Ender's Game with the kids, Abi is going to go to the temple for baptisms, I'm trying to do a few catch up posts here. I took a bit of time being alone outside today, but I feel like it helped me catch my breath, or center myself again. I feel better than I did last night. That might also be cause I was off last night after over eating during the day and then nibbled on pizza before date night as I waited for Corey - our new Friday schedule has him taking Lily to band in American Fort from 3-7. I don't like eating that late, so I guess I turned to food. I was munching on little slivers of pizza with the kids as I waited, so I wasn't even hungry, but then ate as much as normal on date night too. So yeah, wasn't feeling great last night and that carried over to today. I held off eating until around 1 today - had a few dried apricots and dates before my two little walks, and 2 apples after my ride. I feel better. I might have needed to get out of the house to help with that emotional and food reset. Feeling better now. :)

Corey also took Katharine with him to Burt Brothers to get his flat tire fixed. He had a nail in it and it was always getting low on air. K was happy to have personal time with him. Corey said having K with him helped Burt Bros want to hurry and serve them first, cause she was eating all their hot chocolate packets, ha. 

And she got a new car!

Corey and I have often joked that the way K always wants to be with him is similar to how Corey always wants to snuggle with me, and how suffocating it can be at times. 

So when K was clawing to go with him, and I was insisting she was ok to stay behind, I said "It's a bit much, right?!?!" He joked back "No, it's PERFECT! It's just right! I want to spend all day with her!" and off they went and I was laughing at him. 

At Home Fall Break

Hello. Friday is here. I usually look forward to Fridays, and I still do I guess, but last week and this week I've been spinning my wheels waiting for Corey. He takes Lily to a jazz band thing on Fridays now from 4-6. I'm glad Corey is taking Lily, I'm glad that they get to have quality time visiting, I'm not loving the late date night hour. My day starts at 5:45 everyday when I wake up Lily and Abi for jazz band, and today I took carpool, it's like I'm on duty from 6am on, and I'm ready for a break by 4, but I'm still here waiting. I don't want to eat this late either, but I did (India House - butter chicken and peshwari naan) and I ate some of the kids pizza as I was feeling antsy waiting. So yeah I wasn't even hungry when we left. I only did handstands as my exercise today cause I was with kids all day, spring break for ODP. Sophi went to a friend's house after school. After we got home from our date, he left to go work at his dad's while he waited for her. Abi is with friends too, Lily was at band, so it was me and NODPK all of today. Too cold to play outside, so we went over to the church. That was good. 

One good thing is that I forgot my phone, so I used Natalie's to take two pics. The bad news was I didn't have my hotspot to blog. But the good news is: I didn't waste time on youtube shorts and reels (I really like watching Eva Nys's shorts (I want to be a ballerina) and Jane (Love Crunchy mom and Karen lately, so funny) and I also watched a lot of Adam Rose shorts this morning - hmm, sitting around watching reels (even though they're funny (this looks like Brazil), I guess it's still a waste of time (but I'm making teriyaki cucumbers Sunday, and I this last lady represents, I think, what Corey's worried I could turn into)... ok, no more! Reels probably contribute to my feeling in a funk. So good thing I left my phone home. I was able to read the Book of Mormon a lot, I got a little sleepy after a half hour of that, took a 20 min power nap with my hair across my eyes as my eye mask, woke up, changed K's poopy diaper, then read some more while the kids were all still happy playing. They played tag and brought roller blades and a soccer ball and tennis racquets to use in the gym.

The kids liked it. I should probably go over and do that more often. Yesterday was more productive. I snuck away for a walk in the rain to Bells Canyon. It was coming down more than I thought when I started, and thus even though I brought an umbrella, I was soaked by the time I got back home. 

Owen did a good job being in charge. Then we did laundry, helped the boys fold it, we cleaned their room, put away summer clothes and got out long sleeve shirts and pants, and watched Barney and other dvds. K taking a nap with her elephant. 

She is a good mother to her elephant, her baby, and cow. I don't have a pic of cow, but it's one of her toy children. After Abi was home with the van, I took off to the Draper temple for initatories, then a few errands: Costco, DI, and Walmart. I went to the DI to get shoes for Lily. These are her so worn out shoes that she regularly wears - handed down from Abi, and Lily's refused to toss them. But I did today. 

And picked up 4 pairs of shoes that should work for her, cause they fit me. At Walmart I took all of their Rice Dream rice milk (14) and 8 bags of pink lady apples and jello and whipped cream for our FHE dessert on Monday (Candy Corn Jello Cups). I'm ready for the weekend through Sunday. Monday I think we'll go play at the church again, if the key fob works on Mondays.

Second Spring

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower" - Albert Camus

That's a quote for today from a little desk calendar I have, a gift from Jess, our RS Pres, that she gave to me and the two other counselors. I like it. It's supposed to rain tomorrow and be really cold this weekend, so we've been trying to enjoy the nice weather the past few days. Today I took K on a long walk. over 5 miles to walk to the quarry trailhead and back home. Wasn't totally great cause it was mostly on the road (the part I'd rather not even be on when it's faster on a bike, let alone long and slow walking...) but I did look at the mountains and leaves plenty. ...as I listened to the cars and trucks roar by. Katharine just snuggled up and took a nap the whole time. 

I thought she'd wake up and be like "I wanna go home!" but at one point she stirred and assuming I already knew the answer, I said "You want to go home?" And she sighed "No, we got for walk..." and she cuddled herself into the corner of the stroller again. So good! I'm glad she's liking walks a little more!

So that's mostly what I did today. I wanted to do a ride this evening, but I wasn't able to get it in cause Owen had trumpet at 5:15. I didn't get back until after 6, and that didn't give me time before sunset. Oh well. I was a little sad, but I'll try to be productive here. I need to come up with an alternative stress outlet soon with winter almost upon us. Climbing? I'm ready to start it up as soon as we can. Owen Daniel and Peter have fall break now - no school tomorrow, Friday, or Monday. 

Ferguson Canyon Viewpoint

I texted a friend Sunday to see if she wanted to go on a hike. We settled on today and left around 9:30 . We went up Ferguson Canyon. I mostly wanted to go higher up than we had gone before. It was not ideal today, because I had accidentally left Katharine's backpack carrier in the van, which Abi had at school, but I was determined! So I carried K on my back or shoulders for basically the whole hike. 

After an hour and 40 minutes, we were almost at the viewpoint!

Sweaty neck on me, and K was totally knocked out and snoring! Her little squished face, aww...

Beautiful view from the top!!

K was in good spirits after her nap. I still carried her, once we were at the bottom and the trail leveled out, we took a picture of cute Katharine.

Colors were nice, this was the brightest tree we saw.

I was home at 1, so it was a good 2 hours 28 minute hike. My hips and knees were a bit feeling like they did after the Y hike last week... so I was game to go on a low impact bike ride with Corey at 4. It did help loosen my knees up and the balls of my feet. Corey and I just went from the trailhead to ruins. Almost at the top ~

And selfie at the same spot. 

Still beautiful everywhere. Wes called around 6, so I was late to the emotional resilience class, the moon was so pretty rising as I walked there! Obviously this photo doesn't do it justice. I'm going to watch for it again tomorrow - it looks so big rising in the canyon!

Oreo Spiders

I put myself in charge of the FHE treat tonight. I bought things I don't like to buy, but it's fine. As I was at the store with Peter, Oreos were on sale, so I got two packages of those and googled "Oreo halloween treat" as I walked down the isle to get ketchup and bananas. Oreos helped narrow down our activity and we I decided we were going to make halloween spiders. I helped Katharine with hers.

I opted for Pocky chocolate sticks instead of just pretzels. And Corey and the kids had bought candy eyes last time, and they didn't use them all but they did eat them all, and I wasn't going to spend $9 bucks on candy eyes, so I got white frosting and chocolate chips.

Corey approved of the activity (he's the fun parent) and the kids liked it too. 

Natalie made quadruplets.

Owen concentrating.

After the kids had had time to make their spiders, we gathered them up for the college kids to vote on.

A3 won. The winner didn't get anything other than bragging rights. Abi C1, Lily B1 and Katharine A4 tie for silver. 

Today was the last day of fall break for the girls. The best part of fall break, they told me, was sleeping in. Katharine likes sleeping with Abi more than with me, and I'm ok with that, and thankfully Abi is too, even on school nights.

That's how K likes to sleep still - tucked up in the armpit. The girls slept in, except for K, she came down and had her regular buffet of breakfast choices, but ultimately opting to sit with Corey and eat his food.

Around 11am, girls were finally awake. Abi and I went to my mom's house to help them put their blinds back up - they got a new front room window and back sliding door on Friday. And we vacuumed. I stayed to visit for just a bit longer than Abi while Abi drove home. I was flattered to see my new favorite fall picture up on my dad's computer as the wallpaper photo for both of his screens.

He's cute. I decided to walk home, just to see how long it would take. 4.5 miles in 1 hour 20 minutes. Abi called to see how close I was right when I was walking up the stairs to our house. I like the halloween decorations that Peter made for our door. Cute zombie.

Also I this paper from school was a keeper - Peter is going to be a TeWex for halloween. 

I guess Peter's doing a repeat of 2022 when he and Wes were dinosaurs together. Wes is calling tomorrow. Today was a mission conference or something. His branch president sent me another pic - Wes enjoying dinner after a long fast Sunday. I said "It looks like he's really enjoying that!"

She joked that he was very hungry, but they staged this - putting all their bones on his plate while he ate a bit more. 

Daniel's Baptism

Today was a special day! Daniel was baptized this morning. 

He was very excited to make this promise to follow Christ. He was just beaming, cute Daniel.

Baptism was put on by the stake, even though it was just Daniel/just our family. 

Our Provo college kids were running late, but we didn't wait for them. We probably could have waited?  But felt a little of self imposed pressure to get it started and so as to not take too much of the bishop or the stake people's time, so we started as soon as Wayne arrived cause close, compared to Mel, Ethan and Bella who were 30 minutes away, coming around the point of the mountain. So they missed the baptism, but were there for the confirmation. And Bella gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Wesley said he forgot but he gave a call tonight to congratulate Daniel.

Before his younger siblings hijacked the video call...

Hyrum tuned in via fb messenger... H listening to LSN musical number (could have practiced a bit more...)

Joseph and Eliza weren't there but they said hi tonight too. It's all good. After the baptism, people who wanted to were invited to come over for some ice cream, berries and bananas, and vanilla wafers. Daniel had invited a friend from across the street and we were so happy he and his mom came. After the baptism, Ethan and Bella had to head back to Provo, but Mel was able to stay for the day (took the frontrunner train later). Corey decided to do something with the boys and Mel. I went along too, we went up Millcreek Canyon close to the Porter Fork trail, and took a little ride on Pipeline. We listened to the BYU game on the radio on our drive. BYU vs. Arizona. Abi was at a Lyceum recording all day (10-5) Lily and Sophi wanted to stay home, and said they'd clean the whole house, Daniel was over at his friend's house, so it was Corey, Me, Mel, Natalie, Owen, Peter, and Katharine for the ride. Kids were a bit mopey (well, just Natalie and Owen - they wanted to go to grandpas to watch the BYU game). After I was tired of their sulking we turned around. 

Peter was having a great attitude. 

Natalie and Owen led the way as we went west on the trail. I was behind them, but would pause to check on Peter who was behind me with Mel watching him, followed by Corey and Katharine.

To help N&O stop being "bored", Corey told us to not wait for them, so we took off and didn't get very far - there are so many places where the trail has a total cliff off of one side that I had a hard time enjoying it, as I was concerned for my kids, and they were a little scared, and still wanted to stop, so I gave in and after just a few minutes of going ahead, we turned around and headed back. Them Mel, Natalie and Owen took off back to the car, and I stayed with Peter. He and I we walked along the steep scary parts. Corey and K left us to go catch up to MNO and load up the bikes, then he came back to help us. We were coming slowly but surely. Soon we were back at the car and went to Waynes. Mel did her taxes and we watched the BYU game.

I'm not sure they knew what was going on, but they knew to cheer for a touchdown. BYU won 41-19 over Arizona

I wasn't interested in staying, so I snuck away to Park City for a ride while they watched the game. Went up Armstrong and HAM, then down Seldom Seen.

Most of the leaves had fallen, but there were still yellows. It was still lovely and beautiful. I listened to the 1st session of Conference, I was beaming when the 3rd speaker Karl Hirst spoke about the mountains!

"When we don’t feel the warmth of divine love, it hasn’t gone away. God’s own words are that “the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but [His] kindness shall not depart from [us].” So, just to be clear, the idea that God has stopped loving should be so far down the list of possible explanations in life that we don’t get to it until after the mountains have left and the hills are gone! I really enjoy this symbolism of mountains being evidence of the certainty of God’s love. That powerful symbolism weaves into accounts of those who go to the mountains to receive revelation and Isaiah’s description of “the mountain of the Lord’s house” being “established in the top of the mountains.” The house of the Lord is the home of our most precious covenants and a place for us all to retreat and sink deeply into the evidence of our Father’s love for us."

So I was loving it up there. I saw a few hikers but there were no other bikers on the trail I was on. I enjoyed myself for that hour and 13 min. Turned on tunes for the descent. Had to take a photo of my favorite part of HAM! You turn the corner and get to go rolling through the pines twice, this is the second corner. 

Corey and the kids finished watching the game, and Abi picked them up on her way back after the Lyceum recording, so the I just headed home. I had all the bikes on Corey's car, but only had a lock on his. Thankfully none of them were stolen, yay. Wes called on the ride home, got home and helped with dinner, Corey finally got to leave to get some work done as I tagged him for being the parent on duty. Giving kids baths and ready for church tomorrow. 

Now it's 11pm - I've been blogging, Corey's cleaning his office. We're still up cause we get to sleep in on Sundays, and cause we're waiting for Abi to get home after asking to Monster Mash. I just did 3 chin ups, starting from a dead hang, and doing all of them from a total hang! I did 3! I didn't know I still had that in me! I still have callouses and I've kept my upper body strength from climbing better this time than I did last year after our summer break. Excited to start climbing again, hopefully in a few weeks!