Austin's Latest Favorite Activity

A Season of Thanks

Years and years ago when I was much younger, I once asked my dad what his favorite holiday was. I remember being surprised when he told me it was Thanksgiving. I liked Thanksgiving, but it just didn't seem as exciting to me as the other holidays. My favorite holiday at the time was Christmas, which brought with it a season bursting with magic and excitement.

I think that my feelings at that time are shared by many people today. From what I have seen, Thanksgiving for many is just a day to eat a lot of good food and/or a great day for football. There are many who can hardly wait to get through Thanksgiving so they can start Christmas celebrations. Many don't even want to wait...they are ready to start the Christmas music and sometimes even the decorations in November. It isn't hard to find radio stations here playing Christmas music starting the day after Halloween.

However, since I asked my dad that question so long ago, I have developed a different understanding and appreciation for Thanksgiving. I love the Christmas spirit of good will and cheer, but I also love the Thanksgiving spirit of sincere gratitude. I love the wonderful strains of Christmas music, but I also treasure the less known but equally beautiful hymns and songs of thanksgiving. I love the magic of Christmas, but I also love the gentle humility of Thanksgiving. I love the spirits of both seasons, but I think it is sad that the sweet and humble spirit of Thanksgiving is so often brushed over in a rush to reach the seemingly more dazzling spirit of Christmas.

"Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God." - Bonnie D. Parkin, former Primary General President

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues." - President Thomas S. Monson

"All our discontents about what we want appeared to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have."
- Daniel Defoe

It is so refreshing to have a season and a holiday to specifically focus on everything that I have been blessed with. I think that in a way Thanksgiving is the perfect precedent for the spirit of love and giving that so often is associated with Christmas. When we are sincerely grateful for what we have, our love is increased we are even more inclined to turn around and share with others.

I know that when I am pondering upon the blessings I have been granted, it is much more difficult to feel depressed and unhappy. Remembering the blessings I have has helped me carry through the rough patches in my life. And truly...there is just so much in my life to be grateful for. Every time I start to think of things I am blessed with, the more things I remember I have to be grateful for.

And Thanksgiving is one of those things I am grateful for.

Our Halloween Celebrations

Last Friday Nate, Austin, and I headed down to my parent's place for my family's annual Halloween party. We enjoyed dinner, pumpkin carving, dressing up, doughnuts, and the movie The Spiral Staircase.

 Nate and I carved the bird cage jack-o-lantern. My brother Allan carved the "lantern," my two aunts carved the cat, and my parents carved the demonic looking pig.

This year Nate and I dressed as tourists and we dressed Austin as a shark. It took me while to make his little costume, but we think it turned out pretty well. We decided the scariest costume though was worn by my brother Nathan, who dressed as an Occupy Wall Street protester.

Saturday morning my dad, Allan, Nate, Zipper and I hiked along the Curly Springs trail that goes across the front of Big Baldy. The height of the fall colors was over, but things were still very pretty, and there were a lot of nice views along the trail.

 

Battle Creek Fall

Saturday evening Nate, Austin, and I went to our ward's Halloween dinner and Trunk-or-Treat. It was alright, but we are hoping that if they do it again, they figure out a better way to serve the dinner so that people are not stuck waiting in line for 45 minutes to get their food.

Not much happened here Monday evening. We only got a handful of trick-or-treaters. Not very many kids live on our street, and only a very few seem to make it here from the surrounding neighborhoods. I am looking forward to taking Austin trick-or-treating when he gets a little older though.

The Homestead

A while ago, on the 14th and 15th of October to be exact, Nate and I were able to take off on a short getaway to The Homestead in Midway while my parents generously agreed to watch Austin for us. With all the time Nate has had to put in at work, we weren't able to get away much this summer, so it was nice to have a break.

The timing of our trip was perfect. The weather could hardly have been better, and the fall colors in the area were at their peak brilliance. We enjoyed riding bikes, swimming in the crater, playing games, eating a couple relaxing meals, sleeping in, and going on a hike.

Unfortunately, our GPS information about the trails got lost, but if you want more information about them, there is still some posted on the hiking blog.