Grateful! Grateful! Grateful!

President Monson gave a great talk yesterday about being grateful. I am truly grateful for many things. I am grateful for my family. Paul, Jackson, Cody, Danielle and Lander, and I suppose even our dog Sadie. My husband is hard working, disciplined, loving when not grouchy and understanding (I know this may come as a shock). Our children are healthy, happy & try to make good choices. There is always food on the table, a warm bed to lay our head at night, there is beauty all around us and freedom to do all the things that fill our day. We come from good families who love us and take the time to make memories with us. Because of the gospel that we follow, we know where we have been, we know why we are here and we know where we are going. It brings great peace to me to know that I can be together with my family, forever.

Spent the weekend at the ranch, and looking forward to getting back this weekend to carve more pumpkins from the garden and eat more of the veggies that Denado & Armarillo planted. So grateful for their labors in taking care of our place out in Duchesne. It is nice to have a garden. Sunday, Oct. 3rd, our dinner was from our ranch. Thanks to Alejandro, we ate wonderful lamb, and thanks to Denado & Amarilo we ate potatoes, tomatoes, squash, onions, corn & cucumbers. I felt like a rancher, well a kept rancher with all the help.

Jackson's team beat Hillcrest by a lot. He got to go up against a guy that is 4 inches taller and out ways him by 30 pounds. He held his ground and protected his team. He is improving every time he steps on the field. Baby steps with this kid. Patience dear Paul.

Cody' s team lost by 1, should have scored that extra point. Cody did not get to touch the ball much this game, but his defense was very good. Hang in there buddy.

Dani plays a lot of volleyball and was happy to be on her horse this past weekend. This girl could be happy in a dungeon. Very optimistic outlook about life!

Lander is in his last week of soccer, about time, and he has a football game today. He doesn't even realize that his team stinks because he loves it and carries the ball a lot. Paul is frustrated with his performance, surprise, but hey, he is 6.

The reds and oranges are starting to fade, but the yellows are beautiful. Especially up against the green pines. I drove through Little Cottonwood Canyon & Wolf Creek Pass last week, one word

SPECTACULAR !

I took aout my endowment. It is a very different world from what I know, as it should be. It was nice to be in the walls of that beautiful place and even better, Thomas S Monson was there with all the apostles and the seventies. Carol was emotional, Maureen was happy and my father was touched. I look forward to many more days in the Lord's temples. Side note about temple blessings, they are immediate. For the first time ever, Paul watched an afternoon conference with me and the kids. I think he actually enjoyed parts of it. Answered prayers.

So very grateful!

"Glorious,

just

Glorious!"

Everybody's a Winner, HAPPINESS!

I caught Jackson's great play on my camera Oct. 7th at Pleasant Grove. His guy got away from him and just as the lineman was going to tackle the running back, Jackson recovered and finished him off by knocking him off his feet (sweet), allowing Brighton to score. They easily won and have only two games left. Looking forward to his game at home tomorrow at 4 PM.

Jackson is looking forward to UEA break for some R&R in Idaho with his cousins. We are going to Kai's & Kekoa's game on Thurs. at my high school. It will be different to sit on the visitor side & not cheer for my alma mater. Good luck boys!

Looking forward to seeing my nieces play volley ball as well.

Cody had another good game with two TD's against Toelle. He has had a humbling year of being switched around on offense, playing a new position, only carrying the ball 1 time per game and was taken off starting defense at the beginning of the season. He dug in his cleats and earned a defense starting position back, but offense is still the same. I was upset, but in the end, it has made him become more disciplined and he has learned to work hard, have a good attitude and persevere. There is always an upside to any frustrating situation. He chose to fight. Good boy CO-CO's. Starting to grow up!

Dani loved Thriller, by Odessey Dance Theatre. She would love to be a zombie that gets to creep out the audience. Dani would love to dance, paul says no way, no how, and I think she would be great to watch on the stage for dancing, acting and singing. She is a natural. I told her yesterday that she would be great at whatever she chooses to do. The problem with her is to choose. Now she wants to play soccer, what? Soccer, Smoccer. The second problem is getting her parents to let her choose what she wants. She is truly fantastic at whatever she does. "Bless-ed Child", as Grandma Barton always says.

Lander had a great weekend at the ranch with his two buddies.

Picked & carved pumpkins, rode horses, shot a muskrat and a rabbit. Skinned both, but only ate the rabbit. Tastes like a wild chicken. Lander was crying every night from exhaustion of happiness. Still the baby of the family. I am not sure he can speak without whining.

Mark was the king hunter with a giant elk. The boys are allowed to hunt on Chops land in Tabiona. Paul and Cody have tried it once with no success, I think they will try this weekend. I pray the elk get away. It is a shame to shoot such a majestic animal.

We went to the movie Secretariat. A great family movie. Made you feel good all over. If I got chills, I would have had them. Paul was all smiles and Cody said, "There was nothing bad about that movie." Dreaming of the day that a Barton Thoroughbred horse takes us to the Derby.

The Utes game was awesome. They handled Iowa easily. Watch out TCU! Can't wait for the game on Nov. 6th. We are going thanks to Dewey. I think it is BLack Out night. Never have done that before.

Go Utes!