The Universe I Live In

 This morning, Jane and I took Minnie on the most lovely October walk

around Stillestead and along the gravel road that connects

our houses with the neighbors.

I snapped a colored branch off one of the trees to bring home,

and at home we repotted a plant from the studio that needed more room.

Jane and I have the best conversations about everything

while we are walking, working, cooking, or resting,

on work, boys, Jesus, and her bright future. 

Jane is so grounded and sure of what she wants

(especially in a man). I want for all of her dreams to come true.

And you should see her at the studio. 

She is our best instructor and manages the studio beautifully.

  I am so excited for her life ahead,

but also feel a lump in my throat when I think about her leaving.

I especially feel for Minnie, who has fallen in love

with her curly red-headed sister.

For now, we will take walks together and stay up late talking

about everything while I nurse Minnie.

What is this universe I live in??

Happy 20th Birthday, Elder Gigs!

 

Today Gigs turns 20!

I can't believe that Nicholas Jones was born 20 years ago.

He weighed nearly 10 pounds and was as docile as could be.

He's been making me laugh for 20 years, and I miss him.

I couldn't be prouder of him as he serves a mission in the Czech Republic,

teaching people about Jesus. Watching him develop and grow into a

loving, caring man who loves Jesus has been one of the most rewarding

moments in my mothering career.

We celebrated him and went out to get dinner at one of

his favorite restaurants.

We went around the table, and each shared what we loved about him.

Next year, he'll be HOME!

I'm so excited for him to meet Minnie!

Pumpkin Smile

I put up pumpkin lanterns on my front porch, 

and Minnie loves them so much.

She is starting to point and make such expressive faces. 

Eight months is such a cute age!

ALERT:

Minnie is getting a top tooth.

That makes three teeth in her little mouth.

She looks like a little pumpkin!

GC Day Two

Day two of the conference was amazing, as usual.

Jane's amazing mission president, Ronald M. Barcellos, gave the 

opening prayer.  He is a legend around our house.

After conference, we visited some friends and took a drive.

Since it's October, everything is becoming more colorful, especially

today because it rained all day.

Then, I, for the 600th time, stood unbeknownst to me in an ant pile and 

fed an entire ant colony my foot.  It was horrible.

I may not understand everything, but I absolutely believe God

 sees you, loves you, and knows your story—a story 

that is both personal and purposeful!

Your story is personal. So you don’t need to look sideways and ask, 

“How come my life doesn’t look like theirs?”

And it’s purposeful in that it has meaning. Our suffering means something. 

It’s not a detour from the path; it gives purpose to our path.

God is intimately aware of your experience and has a

 plan for all of it—for each one of us, even if we can’t see it right now.

 -Tamara W. Runia

Sweet Rolls

 Today marks day one of the General Conference.

This is one of the Nielson family's favorite weekends of the whole year.

We parked it on the couch and listened to inspired words, counsel,

and wisdom from our church leaders.

Minnie was such a good girl!

I made cinnamon rolls, or "sweet rolls" if you will.

I grew up calling them sweet rolls, but when I met Christian,

he made fun of me for calling them that.

Either way, making these delicious treats really shows my

religious culture this time of year.

If you were to ask another LDS family watching conference, 

there is a really good chance they made them, too.

After dinner, Jane had a date come over and pick her up.

Of course, we were all there to greet him and send them off.

Then I put Minnie to bed, and we stayed up and watched a movie

until Jane came home, and we got the scoop.

TBC

My Velcro Child

Tonight, Christian and I were excited to get all jazzed up

and attend a dinner that celebrated and fundraised

 for our community and its programs.

We left Minnie with Jane and Lottie and slipped away while they were

making dinner in the kitchen, with Minnie in her high chair, happy as can be. 

The whole time I was there, I kept thinking about Minnie.

I wondered what she was doing and whether she missed me.

Sure enough, around 9:00 I got a text from Lottie with a photo of

a sad Minnie.  The text read:

"Mommy, please come home!  I miss you!"

That was my cue.

I showed Christian, and we hopped up and left.

The dinner was delicious, and the ambiance was incredible,

and being just with Christian was amazing, and 

you'd think I'd want a night out, but the truth is, I don't.

I don't need to leave her, and 

I love when she naps on me; I love when she sleeps with me,

and I love taking her everywhere with me.

Maybe a younger Stephanie would have felt different back when 

I was in the thick of raising my babies.

This baby is different, and I'm really happy having a Velcro child.

It's October, Again!

 Happy October!

My FAVORITE MONTH!

As usual on October first, we celebrate the month with donuts and cider,

and we watch The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Disney version).

This is a 25-year tradition and is going strong, especially since we have Minnie.

October is such a magical, gorgeous month.

I have enjoyed it so much more having Minnie around.

Everything is so much more fun with a baby.

Of course Adele is ready for Halloween!

We said goodbye to her back to school frock,

and hello to Adele the ghost.

Mind-Blowing

This evening, Christian and I met up with our good friends, C & E

and we served in the temple together.

The temple is across from Costco, so of course we went there too

to pick up the essentials.

I don't think Christian and I will ever get over the 

fact that we are buying diapers again.

Mind-blowing.

Minnie was adorable at the store, especially with all the Halloween

lights and decorations. Christmas is going to be so much fun with her!

Having a baby during the holidays is the most

magical experience ever.

After the temple, we went to dinner with Lottie

(who was babysitting Minnie) and C & E.

The temple was the perfect activity to do before 

General Conference weekend coming up.

I am so excited!

8:00

 

It was a slow morning.

Minnie and I did the usual morning: feed Kitty, Carmel, Otis & Angus,

eat breakfast, go for a walk, take a bath, read books, eat & nurse.

Usually, I'm still in my PJs, feeling like a slob.

It's not until her second nap around noon that I can slip in the shower.

This schedule is beginning to be our usual routine

and I think Minnie looks forward to it.

When Lottie got home from school, we went and picked out 

our pumpkins!  Nice fat orange ones!

I grabbed several to decorate the studio with, too.

I had left the dishes in the sink the night before because I was

exhausted and didn't have the energy to do it.

Minnie is still attached to me, so when it's her bedtime, it's my bedtime, too.

That's around 8:00.

Goodnight.

I'm A Ghost To Scare You!

A few Halloweens ago, Gigs helped me hang spooky ghosts from

the trees lining our driveway.

Since he's gone, I decided to hang them from the trees in our front yard.

This morning, I put Minnie in the stroller, and she watched intently

as I hung the ghosts.

Then we went across the pastures to see what Christian was up to.

He was in the middle of the field setting up fences for the cows.

We quickly said hi to the cows because Minnie hates it when they moo.

We waved to each other, and then Minnie and I headed back home.

By then, the sun had made its way past the

 tall trees and was shining down on us.

It felt lovely on this cooler morning.

Halloween is going to be sooooo fun with Minnie!

Gigs In Prauge #12 '26

Gigs has officially finished his last September in Slovakia!

Next September, he'll be home!!  Yahooooo!

This month he was transferred from Slovakia to Prague in the

Czech Republic near the mission home.

Technically, he was called to the Slovakia/Czech Republic mission

Slovak-speaking (now he's learning Czech).

He's amazing, and I am in awe of him.

Enjoy September with Gigs:

Gigs with his fellow Missionaries:

Gigs baptizing:

Gigs eating:

(PUMPKINS!)

Gigs playing:

Gigs exploring:

Gigs creating more ties:

(And giving them away)

Gigs calling home:

I love you, Gigs!!!!!