The Kinds of Things that Make My Day

Laughter:  Monday night I was putting together all the things I needed to be ready for the morning.  Clothes were  ready.  Lunch was ready.  Running gear was ready.  Phone was charging.  I said, "What am I going to wish I had tomorrow morning?"  Without missing a beat, Spencer said, "More sleep."

Friends:  I had a meeting yesterday on my friend's floor, so I stopped to visit with Karleen.  Carol joined us, and we spent 15 minutes visiting and expressing love and laughing.  Best 15 minutes of the day...  Until Karleen had to come to MY floor, so she stopped to visit with me.  Two visits with my amazing and lovely friend in one day--plus Carol.  Glorious!

Teacher's Pet:  Dave just came to my desk with an apple and three pears from his trees, announcing, "An apple for the teacher!"  I love the fruit.  Even more, I love the friendship.

Autumn:  It is darned cold in the mornings, but I love watching the leaves fall from the trees.  It's just therapeutic to watch each individual leaf float down, until the ground is strewn with yellow, orange, or red.  You should stop and watch the leaves.

Happy Fall

The best part about fall is the colors.

Wouldn't you agree?

Beautiful, Happy Fall!

Happenings:

Briana got a hairCUT! Isn't it adorable? She loves it, too. AND she won't have to pull her hair up to give massages.

Spencer and Briana finished their first quarter of school with flying colors! We are thrilled with how smart Briana is. And finding her niche is a huge, wonderful thing.

Jenny and Heather came over for massages this week. Jenny pronounced Bri's massage as the best she's ever had. Woot!

This is National Novel Month (or something like that). Tay's only assignment for the month of November in his creative writing class is to write a 50,000 novel. Don't do that math--it's 100 pages. He's busy. He's also a very good writer, so I'm anxious to read the finished product.

West Jordan High School's production of "Aida" is in two weeks. Ashtyn is busy.

As a family, we spent two hours doing yard work yesterday. We mowed the back lawn; poop-scooped; put away the trampoline; cut back the irises, mum, and climatis; blew all the leaves out of the gutters and planters; raked and bagged the leaves; weeded out some areas; and washed three of the four cars (Bri did hers earlier this week). Spence and the kids took Bella across the street to play with the wolves (she was worn out the rest of the day). Then gave shaved her and gave her a bath. I got groceries at Macey's and "stuff" at Walmart (including some items to work on Christmas gifts). We did lots and lots of laundry. Since winter is scheduled to come on Thursday, it felt really good to get all of this done. However, more than half the leaves are still on the Hauptfleisch's oak tree, so we'll be doing more...

I have had one doozy of a cold. I feel OK, but my nose is running like crazy and I have a terrible, terrible cough. I opted to stay home from church again today (2 weeks in a row!). Jen called this morning to see if I could sub in the nursery. Bummer!

Briana and I are being sustained as new Relief Society teachers today. We will team teach once a month. Doesn't that sound fun? She is my visiting teaching companion, too--my favorite I've ever had!

It's a beautiful time of year!

Things That Make Me Happy

One could argue that nothing can make me happy--it is a choice I must make. OK. I'll buy that. But humor me for today:

1. Spencer and I got to have dinner with the Ulches last night. It was heavenly and happy and fun. Thanks, Bob and Stacy!

2. Today--in spite of the fact that I do not consider myself a runner--I ran 7 miles. Count them! 1--2--3--4--5--6--7! Isn't that amazing? Me!

3. Taylor dusted the ceiling fan yesterday. (Find joy in the small stuff.)

4. It is a glorious, perfect, beautiful fall day!

5. Tomorrow is a regional broadcast (Stake Conference). So while I get to dress up and go to church, I do not have to sit alone through Sunday School or Relief Society. AND we will be home just after noon. Woot!

6. Did I mention I just ran 7 miles!?

:)

It's a good day.