Our walk to the Garbage

Yesterday I decided to take some pictures along the walk that Alden and I take every day to go to the garbage. It is really beautiful right now with all of the leaves changing colors and falling off the trees.
Alden's favorite part of the these walks are the ducks that always come up and say hi, the turtles that always jump off the log when you walk by, and the wonderful worker guys that always say hi to Alden and give him rides on their golf carts every now and again.

Wonderful Wicked Wenesday!

Yesterday was an exciting day here at our home. 1st... Alden got his violin!! Someone I teach had a size too small sent to them so I said I would buy it from her.
Alden tries playing it with the bow but when that becomes difficult he reduces to plucking. I am excited, because now everyone in our home has a violin!

Alden also got his Halloween costume yesterday but pictures will be forthcoming.

And the other exciting thing is that Michael and I went and saw "Wicked". I have wanted to see this play for a long time. I have listened, danced to, cleaned to Wicked songs since just after I started College 6 years ago. It was nice to have a date with my ever so handsome husband!

"Safe Journey" by Elder Pace

I recently finished reading "Safe Journey" by Elder Pace and I would have to say that I absolutely loved it! It opened my eyes to a whole new world.
My knowledge of history and ways of life (especially where the church is concerned) is pretty much centered on things that have or do happen here in the United States.
I have heard little pieces of things that are happening in Europe or in South America, but rarely and I would say almost never do I or have I heard about life in Africa. I was amazed to hear about so many strong and wonderful saints, and to hear of the very different and difficult life they lead.
These are some of the things that I have taken away from this book...

1. I am very blessed to have everything that I have here in the U.S.A. Some of those things being all of the modern conveniences and that I feel quite safe here. The biggest blessings though would have to be the knowledge and blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to have so many temples so close.

2. This book has helped me see even more that this life is "but a small moment and if I endure it well it will be well with me in the mansions of my father". It really has helped me see life with the big picture.

3. It has brought me closer to the saints and people in general in Africa. It has helped me understand who they are, what they do, and what they live through. (I have sometimes thought that it would be fun to travel to other countries, but I would want to travel to come to know the people, not just to see the sites. You see the sights on pictures and usually they still look the same, but the people are what a place really is, they make the place what it is.) This let me visit Africa like I would want to visit it, getting to know the people.

4. Last but not least, it has helped me in my study of Isaiah. I did not think that it would help me as much as it has, but it has given Africa a place in my mind, and Isaiah has a number of prophecies on parts of Africa, mostly Egypt, it being so close to Israel. As I have studied Isaiah, I feel as though the more I learn about anything an mostly about what is happening in the world right now, helps me understand more of what Isaiah is saying. He truly was a very inspired prophet.

All in all it was a wonderful book, so I thought I'd share. I have just started reading "The History of Joseph Smith" by his mother Lucy Mack Smith. Which seems to be pretty good so far, so I will let you know how it is when I finish. (Just to let you know, that will be a ways in the future, I am not exactly what they call a fast reader. :) )