October

October started out with a hike up to Timpanogos Cave with my friend, Rebecca, from my old neighborhood.  I have missed walking and talking with her like we did several times a week for nearly two years.  So we arranged to meet in Lehi, and then we drove up American Fork Canyon to the trailhead.  It's a steep but short one and a half mile paved trail with an elevation gain of just over a thousand feet.  The leaves on many of the trees had turned colors and was gorgeous.  We had a great time catching up on all that had gone on in the two months since we had been together.  We decided to meet up once a month for a walk or hike.  

Here's Piper at her first pumpkin patch.  She is so cute and looks so grown up.  She had a great time in Oregon with her other grandparents.  Misty beach days, sunny pumpkin patches, and smoky sky park days.  She had it all!  

We got Emma's home MTC office painted and all ready for her to begin her service.  She was set apart on October 6th.  She was given a beautiful blessing by our new stake president, and the next morning, she began online training with her MTC district and companion, Hermana Flake.  She has been working hard from morning until night.  Her spanish has improved so much.  We love to hear her speak it with her brother and sister.  She is going to be a wonderful missionary for Jesus Christ!  

On October 18th, late at night, Chelsea and family arrived back at our house after spending six weeks in Oregon.  It was so fun to have them here for a week as they prepared for their big move to Michigan.  They closed on their new house while sitting at our kitchen table.  We are so excited for them to begin this new adventure of home ownership and grow as a family in a new place.  During the week, they packed up all their belongings into a semi truck and then watched it drive away hoping to see it again the next week.  It's a little unnerving to trust strangers with all the things you own.  I enjoyed playing with Piper here at home and at the park.  I love to hear her say "Gra-me".  She is learning and growing so fast.  She's quite independent and strong willed.  A couple times she told me to go away, but I didn't take it personally.  I'm really gonna miss her.  All of them.  

The evening before they left for Michigan, Emma was able to go to the Provo temple to receive her endowment.  It was a beautiful experience to have all three of our children together with us in the temple.  I wish I could have taken a picture of all of us outside of it, but it was already dark when we arrived at 7:00 pm.  My parents, Megan, and one of Emma's roommates also attended.  It was an extra special thing to know that the temple was open that night especially for Emma.  Nobody else was there.  Such an unusual time we live in right now.  But how grateful we are that temples are open on a limited basis.