Halloween in Missouri

 The biggest change in our Halloween this year was definitely the weather, it was pleasant in the 50s and 60s. We had a trunk or treat at the church on Friday, did some yard work on Saturday, and handed candy out to a few kids who came by on Sunday. Eric did not disappoint in his creative costume ideas. He actually had 5 costumes!  On Friday for the trunk or treat he was the Sample Music folder from Microsoft. 

On Saturday all day he was "a dad". He had on Brian's sweatshirt and pasted on a brown mustache. I didn't take a picture, but it was spot on! Then today after church he was trying to find something to wear while answering the door when the trick or treaters came. He first was a ghost, but that would have been a pain to wear for an extended period of time, next he was Roy from Mario Brothers, and finally he was Fred from Scooby Doo. 

Lucy wasn't able to come to the trunk or treat because she was playing in the band at the high school football game. Our high school is ranked #1 in the entire state of Missouri and beat the team they were playing handily. She was bummed she missed the activity though. Today she was Stitch from Lilo and Stitch. 

Peter was very excited about his costume!  He was Ness from the video game Earth Bound. 

Our Halloween day was filled with church and a few movies we watched together--Disney's Robin Hood, Twitches, and a Disney channel movie, Smart House. 

Side note, Lucy is continuing her diving and improving a ton with each practice. The season officially starts next week. Peter started wrestling practice at the middle school this last week as well and is enjoying it. 

Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai

 Junior Historical Fiction. This may be one of my top reads for the year. It is loosely based on the author's father-in-law's experience in fleeing Afghanistan when the Soviet's took over in the 1970s. It's told from the son's point of view who is around 12 or 13 years old. The author puts this story 30 years after her father-in-law left, right before the attacks on 9/11 in 2001. She describes well the details of their harried escape and the adjustment to life in the states and the family unity that is central to who they are. It helped me get a glimpse into their life, beliefs, and values. 

Recommend: Highly

Lemon tarts, leaves, and Liberty

 

We've been hearing about the amazing Farmer's Market in downtown Kansas City along the Missouri river. It's called the Kansas City River Market. Saturday morning Brian and drove down (it's only about 20 minutes from us) and it did not disappoint!  We bought some great fresh fruits and vegetables and found a delicious bakery!  The Lemon Tart (pictured above) was amazingly delectable. Brian bought Baklava from a middle eastern market and chatted with the man from Jordan since Brian's brother lived in Jordan for a time. We came home with a full carload!  

When we got home we had to tackle our yard. We have 8 very large trees in our yard and they all have about a million leaves a piece. You can see the before and after above, but really doesn't do it justice.  There were soooooo many leaves.  This will be our lives for the next months!

I have the privilege of being involved recently in some community events. As part of our church I have been asked to serve on a committee that works with other non-profits and other denominations in the Kansas City and Liberty area. (I am on the Stake Communications Committee.)  It's been wonderful to see how everyone is working together to make the area better and serve those who need help. Just last week I went to an event where The Alexander W. Doniphan Committee gave their bi annual Alexander W. Doniphan Community & Leadership Foundation Service Award. Alexander Doniphan is a Missouri native and is buried here in Liberty. He was the first Clay County School Commissioner, founded William Jewel College (here in Liberty), is in the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame, and was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as a delegate to the Washington Peace Conference in 1861. He is important in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints because he saved Joseph and Hyrum Smith's lives when the order was given to execute them in 1838 for charges they were not guilty of. 

Frogs, Groundhogs, Far West

 The animal life here is quite different than in Wyoming. I've heard there are deer around, but I haven't seen any yet. As I was working yesterday I looked out the window and saw a smallish shaggy creature that I did not recognize in our yard. I called everyone to come and look and then went outside to try and take a photo, but it was running away. 

You can see it running away from me across the street. We found out it is actually a groundhog and there are lots of them around. Maybe in February we can see if he sees his shadow!

After church we drove out to Far West to see the historical temple site. It was a beautiful 30 minute drive. While we were there we saw a cute little frog. We hear them all the time, but this is the first time we have seen one. 

Things change and stay the same

 After being her in Liberty for 6 weeks or so and attending church with the same group of people we received the news that all the boundaries for our wards were being changed and a new ward was being created since the church is really growing out here. We were put into a new ward with more new people!  They are all very nice and we were invited to have brunch last Sunday morning with some of them. All the kids in this ward attend the same high school so that will be nice for Lucy and Peter. 

General Conference is always a wonderful weekend and we all were very happy to listen to the apostles and prophets speak words of inspiration and light. The kids had a lovely weekend listening and laughing together. 

It's the End of the World as I Know It by Matthew Landis

 Junior realistic fiction. This book opens on three friends that appear to be building a shelter to withstand the end of an epic, end of the world, natural disaster. Derrick, the main character, is obsessed with the upcoming Doomsday, even though he is only in 8th grade. As the story unfolds his neighbor, Misty, enters who wants to help him build the shelter and for some reason Derrick does not want her help. Derrick's sister and father seem to tolerate his obsession, but don't try to dissuade him. 

This was a fascinating story as the reasons behind Derrick's behavior comes to light. I won't spoil the plot by revealing what he and Misty are dealing with, but it is a wonderful story that left me pondering how I deal with hard things and how others can best support those going through difficult times. 

Recommend: Yes

24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling

Junior realistic fiction.  Dusti Bowling may becoming one of my favorite authors. She wrote the two Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus books which I adored. Her books take place in the hot desert of Arizona and address bullying and not succumbing to peer pressure to be someone you are not, two really important subjects for young readers and for adults as well. 

Nowhere is a town in Arizona that tops all the charts: highest poverty rate, lowest high school graduation rate, most likely place to die by cactus impalement among others. Gus is stuck there like most everyone in the town and sees dead ends everywhere he looks, but within a matter of 24 hours hope blossoms in a most unexpected way. Gus discovers truths about others and himself and things don't look so bleak anymore, even though they are in the middle of Nowhere. 

Recommend: Yes.