The Best Thing I do:

 This is the best thing that I do all day:

Each day Lottie picks a pile of Halloween books 

and together we snuggle on the front porch swing and read.

I could do this for hours and hours and hours and probably more hours.

It's my favorite thing to do as a mother.

Favorite Halloween books:

-The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

by, Linda Williams

-Scary, Scary Halloween by, Eve Bunting

-Too Many Pumpkins by, Linda White

-The Widow's Broom by, Chris Van Allsburg

-Where's My Mummy? by, Carolyn Crimi

-In the Haunted House by, Eve Bunting

-Snowmen at Halloween by, Caralyn Buehner

Happy Birthday Gigs!

 Celebrating my birthday boy on his 14th birthday included:

* * * * *

-Presents first thing in the morning:

-No school.

-Recreating a 14-year-old photo:

-Watching movies during the day.

-Pet store to pick up mealworms, dried cockroaches,

and some kind of peanut-butter looking goop for Fern his hedgehog:

-Dinner on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill:

-Birthday cake (my famous better-in-3-days chocolate cake):

-Games around the table:

And I was even able to squeeze in a Barre3 class because

 it was next to the pet store.  

That worked out nicely!!

Happy birthday to my little big boy!

Happy 14th to Gigs!

 

Happy 14th Birthday to my Nicholas Jones Nielson!

Today 14 years ago my big boy came into the world silent as a mouse.

No crying or screaming followed his delivery.  

He plopped out on the bed and looked around calm and content.

To this day he is still very calm and content.

(Gigs & me 2006)

Yesterday morning Gigs came to the office where I was preparing school 

for the day and he said, "I did it."

 "You did what?" I asked.  

"I finished The Book of Mormon."

And he plans on reading Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision today.

Joseph was also only 14 when he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ.

14 is a very special age.

Nicholas is named after a long line of righteous commandment-keeping

men who held fast to their covenants and promises to God.

He has big shoes to fill, but I know they will fit him fine.

He too is a righteous commandment-keeping boy who honours 

his Priesthood duties.  He is dedicated to his church service,

and is personally trying each day to grow up to be a strong healthy man.

He is kind, gentle, and respectful.

And he likes bugs.

Today I am cancelling school and we are headed to the pet store where

I promised him I wouldn't rush him.

He can look at every last dog bone, check out the critter terrariums, 

the cricket habitats, dive deep in the hedgehog sweater bin, 

and read all the ingredients in the ferret food.

I don't know what Gigs will be or do when he grows up,

but I can tell you that it's my privilege to raise him.

(Gigs and Christian, 2006)

190th

This weekend we pulled out the air mattresses, our coziest blankets, 

and we stocked up on treats in preparation to

 watch the 190th general conference!  

It's one of our family's FAVORITE weekends!

We love the counsel and guidance we hear from our

 wonderful 96-year-old Prophet, and other Church leaders, 

including our dear friend, MATT HOLLAND!!

Before the Sunday morning session, Christian and I made our

traditional Ebelskivers complete with all the delicious toppings 

including homemade syrup

(which I only made because at the last minute I realized we 

didn't have any).

(On the April Sunday morning session, I make German Pancakes).

The women's session was a little different this year. 

 Instead of meeting Paige and her girls for dinner pre-conference, 

(because she moved and because of COVID), my girls and I 

dressed up and together and watched the conference on the couch.

There were several times I looked at my beautiful girls

(this was Lottie's first women's conference!) and I nearly lost it

because I was feeling very emotional and overwhelmed with gratitude.

I thank God every day for these strong lovely women who

I get to call my daughters.

Mr. Nielson and the boys had left when the conference began so it

could be just the girls at home for this special experience.

Right before the closing prayer was said the boys walked in with

pizza from our favorite spot and we ate and shared our favorite

talks and what touched us.

It will be such a memorable women's session, and one

I don't think any of us will forget.

Then the Nies all hopped in the hot tub and Mr. Nielson and I 

went to bed.  We're old.

In between sessions we always take a drive.

The weather this weekend was killin' it:

It's October!!

Last night we enjoyed our "Welcome Fall"

 dinner and party.

This is what we ate:

-Kale sweet potato salad with pears and avocados 

topped with maple dressing and pumpkin seeds.

-Penne pasta in a pumpkin parmesan sauce

-Warm bread & cheese board.

I put Mr. Nielson in charge of picking up the doughnuts for dessert 

but this year in addition to picking up our usual dozen at Krispy Kreme,

I also requested he pick up a dozen of my favorite Duck Donuts because

I am a sucker for a good cake donut with sprinkles.

As it turns out, the girls like Duck Donuts more, and the boys like Krispy Kreme.

Also, I am conflicted because is it "donuts" or "doughnuts"??

(I'll use both spellings in this post).

I made cider with anise and cinnamon and we enjoyed a fabulous night

with the back door wide open.  (Come on cold weather, I'm waiting for you!!!).

I couldn't stop thinking about Topher.

Halloween will ALWAYS remind me of him; the home movies

he made with us, the costumes he helped us put together

for the trick-or-treating, HIS amazing Halloween costumes,

and the scary movies he'd make us watch.

I missed him a lot.

(2017/Topher was flying ace)

This weekend is a very special one for our family-- as well as all

members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This weekend we will hear from our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson

and other wonderful church leaders at our 190th General Conference.

My family has taken the week off of all social media

 (games, IG, Pinterest, Facebook, Minecraft) to prepare ourselves

to hear the word of the Lord.  

COME LISTEN, COME JOIN US!

(what is General Conference? Find out here!)

President Nelson said:

Dear brothers and sisters,

A pandemic cannot and will not stop the Lord from embracing us. 

His love is constant. He never stops watching over us.

 He has promised that He will be on our right hand and on our left,

 that His Spirit will be in our hearts, and that even 

His angels will surround us.

You and I have a special opportunity to feel His love 

during the upcoming general conference on October 3 and 4. 

I pray that you and your family are preparing to hear the words

 the Lord will speak to you through His servants.

I also hope that you will prayerfully consider inviting friends and family,

including those of other faiths, to watch general conference

 so that they too may feel the Lord’s embrace.

Sincerely,

President Russell M. Nelson