Autumn.

 Fall. Oh my goodness. It's gorgeous around here. Jeff and I took our Friday night treat up the mountain with lawn chairs and just enjoyed the sunset and beautiful valley. We talked about how it seems like since we started spending more time outside, we've gotten to really love where we live. We are so spoiled. 

We are NOT good selfie takers! 

 The sky is a deep, deep blue.

 The bushes look like flower arrangements.

 We did steal one frame of honey from our bees, maybe next year we can track down a spinner we don't feel dumb paying to rent. With only 7 frames full we couldn't justify renting a 9 frame spinner. Next year...

 I just cut and slow -melted the one frame's worth of honey. 

 I love my babies more than I love running and autumn trees, but it seems like I never post pictures of them. I have three little readers. I wonder where they got that from? 

Kai has a few good buddies I'm really grateful for. All of our kids are very settled in our little town. Here they are on another mother's roof --probably good I wasn't around, but I'm glad they had a little adventure. 

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Little Jerusalem.

 Jeff works with the youth in our neighborhood --our local church's "Yong Men" program. Recently they had an amazing activity. One of the men in our church works for the movie department, and let all of the Young Men, Young Women, and their leaders go out to visit the movie sets where they film movies about the life of the Savior. Lucky Jeff got to go with our girls. 

 They've constructed what looks like a real stone city out in the Utah desert. 

 Jeff took almost 5 dozen pictures. There were a bunch of sunset shots as they arrived in the evening. It made for some pretty dramatic lighting.

 As I looked at the pictures, I saw that a number of leaders brought their other kids. Kai and I should have stowed away too! We had a nice evening together at home, and took a walk together, but this would have been a blast.

 It was neat to see scenery that I recognized, like the balcony where Pilate stood,

 Porticos where the sick were healed,

 Massive temple columns,

 Steps where he stood and preached.

 Fantastic, mind blowing architecture.

 Twisted ancient trees for Gethsemane.

 Seeing what was meant to be Calvary at sunset was particularly poignant.

  

 Can you make out the dome in the background?  

 It impressed me how much trouble and expense was put into this enterprise. Nothing but the best when filming such an important subject I suppose.

 I'm jealous, but someday maybe Kai and I will have our turn.

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Goodbye summer.

 It's hard to think school starts this week. I feel like I missed most of summer being gone from Utah in July. I know I'm spoiled, and I don't deserve to say that, but I can't help feeling that way anyway. Utah county especially is vintage Americana at its finest in July. Kids and fireworks and parades and pioneers, carnivals, and corn, it all happens in July. At least I got the leftover piece of August that the school district didn't pilfer from us. I've never thought going back to school in August was fair or even moral. September is fall, fall is back to school. Duh.  But we savored.

 Barbecues with friends...

 Cousin and family fun nights.

 Roasting marshmallows.

 Badminton --may be the only time I've played in my life.

 Watching the fields turn gold and shiny platinum blond.

 Clouds of harvest chaff.

I'd drive by this field every morning dropping Tia off at driver's ed, and every morning something new would be happening. One day a little black and white cat was out there hunting and made an amazing picture with the gold, black , and white. I DIDN'T STOP. I'm still kicking myself for not taking that picture. I talk about it so much Tia suggested we kidnap the neighbor's cat and throw it in the field so I can take its picture.

 Best time of year in my yard. 

 These shots were all Tia's. We get a lot of hummingbirds and butterflies around these bushes. Last weekend I actually went and looked at a house in a community with tiny lots and shared parks because I've had it up to my earlobes taking care of my yard. We decided it would be dumb to trade in for less land (for the same prices!) even though I was tempted. Kai said .."wait, we could take our butterfly bushes with us right? ...and our fruit trees? and our strawberries?" Sigh. We're not moving. At least I know he likes it here.

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Something special about those littles.

Last Friday, I served as a guide for the open house of our new church building about 8 blocks away. I wasn't too excited about this job, which consisted of standing in a room and greeting people for an hour and a half, but quickly realized I was in for a good time. On a rolling bulletin board, the Primary kids had all drawn pictures of their families. In between chatting with many friends who came through that night, I looked at these pictures and was touched by so many of them. 

Look at this one where the Dad carries the baby on his shoulders. Look at the smiles, the big hands and many fingers everyone has. This kid feels happy and powerful --thinks his family is powerful.

Not a lot of detail in this one, but one thing this child felt important to include was everyone holding hands. So sweet.

The sun is big and hot, there are also clouds to deal with, but this family is awfully close --bet they can handle it all.

Lot of kids in this family, guess who makes the biggest impression on him (or her)?

I also loved these happy arms, thrown out wide to take on the world.

There were other displays in the room that were wonderful. I truly believe this: when the Lord teaches, peace follows. Hopefully what we do in Primary (our children's group), and at home, helps facilitate this teaching.

I thought about treating my children like Christ in this picture (instead of yelling and nagging like I do when they need to do their dishes or clean their room).

Sunday I visited three congregations' Primarys. In the last one the children sang a song about families. They were a little shaky on the verses, but the music leader encouraged them when they got to the chorus: "now I know you guys know THIS part", and they did. Those littles belted out the words:

 "God gave us families, to help us become what he wants us to be. This is how he shows his love, for the family is of God". 

The 3 year old girl in the front row couldn't keep in her seat, and jumped up putting her hand on her chest singing at the top of her lungs the words which she got a little wrong: "for the family's from the heart." --at least her song was. I got a little choked up. 

Something about watching the innocence of these little people and their feelings for loving families can't be substituted for any other experience for me. It's a privilege to be around.

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