We had a fun

time at the Trunk or Treat up at the church.  It worked out perfectly for us, as we got to see the neighborhood kids from 5 to 6 pm, and then we drove to Salt Lake to pick up Gary and Lynn at the airport at 7 pm.  We stopped by to visit Richard on the way home, and I thought once again how grateful I am for family. 

Then on the way home, Misty texted that Jackson was at the hospital getting a Cat scan.  He got hit hard playing football and was out for a couple of minutes.  In his facebook message Dan said,
 "Cat scan just got back, he doesn't have any brain bleeding, but the good news they did find his brain:).  We are relieved on both counts.   Here is the accompanying picture:

I don't like seeing my grandson hurt. 

You never

know.  That is what has been on my mind this weekend (besides rooting for the Giants so half of my family can be happy!). 

Richard was in the hospital after a having a fall on Thursday.  He cracked some vertebrae and tailbone and has a bad gash on his head.   He is doing much better and is now in a facility for rehab.  He was in the Trauma unit at the hospital, and that is what made me realize (or more like I was given a reminder) that life as you know it can change in a second.

I observed some parents crying and hugging one another about the injuries of a son.  I saw a husband wheeling a very battered woman in a bed.  She had obviously been in some kind of auto accident.  When I was there, Richard asked me if I hated hospitals.   I told him that I really don't.  But they do serve as a reminder that we are all very vulnerable and not exempt from a life altering event.  

I guess that is where faith, and a belief that we are not alone, comes in.  Because people can experience horrific things and still come out strong.   I was reading about such a girl in the paper yesterday.  She had been hopping a train last year, fell, and the train ran over her legs.  She lost both legs.  Yet here she is a year later and says that she is a better person now than she was when she was physically whole. 

I hope I could be that kind of person. 

I think I must have

needed inspiration the other day when I was driving.  Within a minute's time I received words of wisdom from two different license plate frames.

"Thinking it doesn't mean it's true."

 

and

 

"Just Do It." 

 

On the other hand, maybe I didn't need inspiration.  Maybe I need to quite reading license plates and pay more attention to my driving.   

It's our beautiful

grandaughter's 14th birthday today!

 

We have loved having Lydia visit with us the last few summers.

She is loving, funny, beautiful and smart.

And we love her. 

 

Hugs to you Lydia!

 

We can't wait to give you a real live hug in a few weeks!

 



I've been a little

focused (OK, obsessed) with all things Disney right now.  It is so fun getting ready for our big family event.  Last week I got the "Tickets" out.

I keep telling myself I need to stop, but "stop" is not a word I use with myself when I am obsessed with something.   But I've officially stopped now.  Maybe.  

I can't wait to see those cute faces for real.

We are remaining

neutral with the Giants vs. the Cardinals in the playoffs.  We want to maintain good relations with our son-in-laws and grandchildren.  Apparently there has been a lot of "trash talk" going back and forth between them.  Here's the commentary as of Monday evening. 

Reading from Gary's phone:  Gentlemen, any wagers on the NLCS outcome?

Dan:  Cards in 4!!!

Justin:  Amazing game for the cards last night.  Let the trash texting begin!  Loser buys the winner a jersey

Jackson:  Yeah we all know who's piching staff is better and pitching wins games.

Dan:  Cards win series, Justin wears Cards shirt to Disney.  Jackson wears a Giants jersey if they win.  I take pictures. 

Justin:  I will be there tomorrow (Monday).  Look for us in the nosebleeds

Jackson: Here we go!  How bout the slider that didn't slide!

Dan:  Better empty the bull pin.  Jackson said "there's another slider that didn't slide"

Justin:  Not a good weekend - cougars, niners, and giants all lost.  Good Night.

Dan:  Sorry.  Giants are a great team.  I'm sure they won't go quietly.  Hang in there Justin.  U will have better days.  The giants did make a game of it after spotting the cards 6 runs.  Have a blast tonight (game 2, Monday) Justin.  I wish I was at the game. 

Justin:  Bam (home run).  I'm watching the replay in slo-mo and he got it all. 

Dan:  I am watching Lydia play volleyball.  Is there something else going on tonight?  Lydia won, how's baseball?

Gary:  lol.  Cards just tied it up, 1 to 1 two away in top of 2nd

On the 30th

of September we had our Hall Family Christmas party.  I know, it's not Christmas.  But it seems that the last few years the weather has been so "frightful: on the 26th of December, that we decided to do it when it was "delightful."   We had it at Gary and Lynn's, and the weather was perfect and the setting beautiful.

 

 

 

 

I had fun making these prizes with Hershey's Nugget candy.  I inserted my grandparent's picture in a document and made a background and design.  Then I ran the page off on full page labels.

 

 

  Then I cut them and wrapped them around the candy.

Then I made little gold boxes for them.

 

That was so much fun that I then made some for Bunny Hollow Bed and Breakfast, with a picture of a bunny that looks like Cotty on it.  Next I'm going to make some with Disney pictures.   Then I may have to make some for the Candy store.   I think I'm having a little too much fun with this. 

Another relaxing

conference weekend.   We had our traditional sticky buns, but got to share them with Justin's brother Damien, and family.  I feel very blessed by the families that both Misty and Tiffany have married into.  It has expanded our circle of people to love and be loved by.   

Natalie came over at 10 am,  and we had our second round of sticky buns with her as we watched conference.   There were many wonderful messages this time.

Yesterday, a major change was announced about the missionary program.  They have changed the age requirements.  Young men can now go on missions at 18 (as opposed to 19) and young women at 19 (as opposed to 21).  This has a great impact on so many people and the plans they have made for the future.  They don't have to go at those ages, but it is now an option. 

I haven't talked with Misty yet, but I'm wondering how Jackson is feeling about it.  He's been dedicating so much to his baseball and is in line to get scholarships.   The age change gives him different options on when he could go on a mission. 

This weekend Jackon had a game in Florida on his super league team.  He pitched a 7 inning shutout, striking out nine, giving up only 4 hits, and averaging 85 mph.   He has been so a dedicated, and I'm proud of him.  We are really, really hoping that he gets a scholarship to BYU or UVU, so we can watch him play ball here for 4 years.  That would be so wonderful and fun!

Another party

. . . this time The Princess and the Frog.

 

 

Again, I'll refer to Loralee's blog for the good pictures.  One thing is for sure, throwing a party like this is a lot of work.  And I was only involved in only one day of it.  She does everything right down to the minute detail.    Not very visible in my pictures is the chandelier hanging from the trees, with pearls, feathers, and tulle adorning it.   Very enchanting!! 

I spent today

in a magical place.

 

 

Loralee was having her daughter's party here in Utah with her family, so I helped shop, craft, and set up this beautiful fairy party in the woods.  Once we had it set up, I got to babysit it for a couple of hours while she went home to get the fairies.  She apologized for being gone so long, but I can't think of a more beautiful place to spend a beautiful autumn afternoon.  The fall leaves were plentiful on the ground and the weather was perfect.  If it was magical before, you should have seen it once the fairies came and got sprinkled with the fairy dust!   I'll post the link when she posts it on her blog.