Wednesday, November 4, 2026

      Time to catch up now that October has officially come to a close! What a month it has been. Between birthdays, reunions, family adventures, Halloween festivities, and meaningful spiritual experiences, there has certainly been no shortage of things happening around here.

      I had a wonderful birthday, and it was filled with so much love. I got to celebrate with Jacinda's friends, who had come down for a mission reunion. They went all out decorating the house and even prepared a birthday meal for me. I loved every bit of it, especially the birthday banner stretched across the TV. It's the little things that make a birthday memorable! I also got to enjoy lunch with my lifelong friend, K. Bangerter. I always love spending time with her. My only complaint is that I wish we managed to get together more than once in a blue moon. Life gets busy, but good friendships are worth making time for.

My life continues to be a whirlwind of work and teaching Institute. I absolutely love interacting with the young adults. They are in such an important and influential season of life, trying to figure out who they are and who they want to become. I love seeing them do their best to follow Jesus Christ. It gives me so much hope for the future.

     I also continue to love the Book of Mormon and its teachings about Christ, especially the importance of His Atonement, His sacrifice, and the incredible gift of His redeeming blood. One of the things I treasure most about the Book of Mormon is how it speaks to me differently throughout my life. Depending on the season I'm in, different verses seem to jump off the page and speak directly to my heart. There is something sacred about that book. I truly believe the Holy Spirit lives within its pages.

      Tim is living his best life, working on his physique through exercise and healthy eating. His current food favorites seem to revolve around cabbage, turkey, and yams. I think he could happily eat that combination for the rest of his life! He has also taken up a new hobby: finding Total Gym exercise equipment at thrift stores and giving it away to people who promise they will actually use it. Apparently, Tim has appointed himself the personal trainer and equipment distributor of the neighborhood. I love that he finds joy in helping people get healthy, one thrift-store discovery at a time.

     Tim also took McCabe on a weekend getaway to Southern Utah. They spent their time hiking and fishing, although the weather eventually decided to rain on their parade. But the best part wasn't the hiking or fishing anyway. It was the windshield time. There is something special about sitting in a car together, watching the scenery go by, and having uninterrupted conversations. As our kids get older and start preparing to leave home, these little opportunities to connect become increasingly precious. We want our children to know how much we love them and that no matter how old they get or where life takes them, we will always want to spend time with them.

     My dear friend Sara Seager Mumford became a grandma during October! She flew all the way from Ohio to Utah to visit her new grandbaby and was kind enough to stop by for a visit. I loved catching up with her. Sara has always been such a thoughtful and kind person. I am so grateful for people like her in this world. They really do make it a better place.

      Teagan received his patriarchal blessing this month, and it was such a special experience. The entire family was there, which made it even more meaningful. One of my favorite parts was having the opportunity to share with the patriarch some of the qualities we love and appreciate about Teagan. It was wonderful to pause and reflect on the person he is becoming.

     Something that really surprised me was listening to the beginning of his blessing. It sounded remarkably similar to my own! His blessing was different from those of the other kids, but his was the most like mine. I couldn't help but take that as a little confirmation that he is indeed my son and very much like me. I am so grateful Teagan is part of our family. He brings so much joy, intellect, and personality into our lives.

     I honestly feel like the luckiest person alive when it comes to friendships. My life is so rich with wonderful people. I had dinner with some of my high school friends, and it was hilarious to discover that they all work for the state, just in different departments. Becky has been there for nearly 35 years! She is getting close to retirement and will soon be able to enjoy those benefits. I love Becky, Blake, and Jolene. They are such genuinely good people. I am grateful they took the time to get together and catch up. I love hearing about their lives, their experiences, and where they are on this earthly journey. No matter how much time passes, these friends will always have a special place in my heart.

     Xadia had a fantastic birthday, celebrating the big 1-7! We spent the day doing some serious thrifting and collecting birthday freebies from various stores. It's hard to beat a day of shopping, free treats, and finding treasures. Xadia came away with some new clothes and an awesome digital camera. She was especially excited about having her own camera so she could take as many pictures as she wanted without having to borrow one from her parents. Apparently, we have officially been relieved of our camera-sharing duties. She absolutely loved it!

    Tim traveled to California for Linda's 82nd birthday and got to celebrate with his siblings. Linda requested something a little different for her birthday present. Instead of asking for things, she wanted stories about her children. I thought that was such a wonderful idea. What a meaningful way to celebrate 82 years of life and all the memories and people that make it special.

     My cute neighbor Tiffany Pergler was busy making skeleton cupcakes for Halloween. They were so adorable that I had to take a picture! And as if the cupcakes weren't festive enough, Tiffany was wearing the cutest Halloween sweater. I absolutely love her enthusiasm for the holidays. Some people just know how to make an ordinary October day feel like a celebration, and Tiffany is definitely one of them.

     Our annual family Halloween dinner was another success! Jacinda and Teagan helped frost pumpkin- and ghost-shaped cookies, and we made bone-shaped rolls. I dusted the rolls with Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese, and they turned out delicious. The dinner table was quite the Halloween production. We had ribs, sausage, Frankenstein guacamole dip, cheesy witch brooms, and even a mandarin orange pumpkin patch. I love how creative everyone gets with holiday food. It's almost too much fun to eat the decorations!

     Jordan Hill, one of Jacinda's friends, was also able to join us for dinner. It was such a fun evening filled with good food, laughter, and plenty of Halloween spirit.

      Xadia and Teagan headed out trick-or-treating with their friends and had a great time. Xadia did come home a little disappointed, though. Apparently, she only managed to collect 35 pounds of candy. She had been hoping for closer to 50 pounds! I don't know what to say about that. Thirty-five pounds seems like an outrageous amount of candy to me, let alone 50. I guess the Halloween candy economy has changed since I was a kid!

      And finally, one of the most meaningful experiences of the month happened last night. Jacinda was officially released from her mission. It was such a spiritual and touching experience. Our family was there (except McCabe, who was away at school), along with her sister missionaries. We had the opportunity to listen to her share her testimony and feel the spirit of the experiences she had during her mission.

     I am so incredibly proud of Jacinda for serving a full-time mission and completing it honorably. She has grown and blossomed so much. Watching her become more confident in her testimony, her faith, and who she is has been one of the great blessings of motherhood. I know she is going to make a wonderful wife and mother someday.

    One of the sweetest moments was when Xadia gave Jacinda a letter written on the back of her picture. It was such a thoughtful gesture. I love seeing the friendship these two sisters share. They have each other, and that is something I hope they will always treasure. There is nothing quite like watching your children love and support one another. It warms my momma heart more than I can express.

     As I look back on October, I realize how full my life is. There were birthday celebrations, old friends, new memories, spiritual milestones, family adventures, Halloween treats, and a whole lot of laughter. Life is busy, sometimes chaotic, and occasionally involves 35 pounds of candy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

     I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by people I love. If October reminded me of anything, it is that the richness of life isn't found in the big accomplishments alone. It is found in the people who show up, the conversations along the way, the traditions we create, the faith we nurture, and the memories we make together.

What a wonderful life I get to live!