Halloween scares and slime

halloween has always been one of my favorite times of year. it seems like a lot others share that same fondness of fall, candy, costumes and coziness wrapping up in sweaters. i also love the fun scariness of the season, not the disgusting horror of blood and guts, but the mysteriousness and micheviousness of it. well, yesterday i got a really good scare and thought i'd share it with all of you.
i hate spiders and ALL arachnids (well, mites aren't too scary more just yucky). anyone that knows me has probably already found this out. it is an uncontrollable fear which has created some really funny stories and moments that i laugh about later, after i've sufficiently screamed and cried first. when i say i have no control, it is no stretching of the truth. one night while visiting with ben and jodi, we got to talking about creepy crawlies that are found in enterprise. i'm pretty familiar with insects, enjoy identifying them and jodi was trying to describe a horrible cricket that they have been finding all over the house and yard. just then ben came in with one in a jar, i took one quick glance and suddenly austin was wearing a kelly hat. it turned out to be a sun scorpion. nasty little beasty.
and if you'd like to see more disgustingly frightening pics check out this link:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/category/sand-puppies-sun-spiders-wind-scorpions-and-camel-spiders/
well, yesterday as i was saying i got a good scare. wesley had just gotten home from kindergarten and i was in the kitchen with the other kids. i had my back to him when he walked in and as i turned around i asked him, "how was your day?". in that instant i found a 2 inch wolf spider being thrust into my face by an excited little boy yelling, "look what i found outside mom!!". yes, chaos ensued. fortunately, it was dead. austin had found it a few days before on our driveway and thought he had gotten rid of it for me by kicking it under the bushes. he truly looks out for me, but didn't realize how far a little boy's power of observation and curiosity would take him. after i got wesley to take it outside and i got a hold of myself, i gave him a jar for it (i hate to stifle his curiosity for bugs, one which i share). and it is now safely tucked away in their playground mailbox (that in my opinion would be the ultimate hate mail).
so here's a pick of said spider being held by his proud owner


and halloween slime: this is that time of year for runny baby noses.
it gets all over the couch, the shoulder of all my shirts and all across her face. the bubbles are the best, they get pretty impressive.

for all the scares and slime, i love being a mom

the marshmallow test

if you haven't heard of this yet, check it out. it is so funny. the kids are hilarious and seeing the inner struggle on their faces is to die for. watch out for the little redhead (that's fiona to a t)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_oy9614HQ

going public again

yep, i'm back. i've decided to go public with the blog again. an article in the october ensign really caught my attention again. it was about using the internet for missionary work. since my sister-in-law started her mission, i've been seeking a way to share the gospel more readily and this article turned out to be part of my answer. reading her letters has reminded me of how great it felt to share the gospel, that fire that burns within to share the great joy that you feel. many of you know that i am a latter-day saint, and a return missionary. i love the gospel. it has richly blessed my life and my daily perspective.
the main thing i wanted talk about today is Elder Wirthlin's talk during conference. He was one of the first Saturday morning speakers and he spoke about the influence of the Holy Ghost. "Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly....What may appear initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear."
I have found that as a new mother (i'm still figuring it out so i'm still new at it) i have often had guiding thoughts of inspiration come when i least expected it. those times that i've followed those promptings have led to help and answers that i never would have figured out for myself or only after A LOT of trial and error. i never knew what the Holy Ghost felt like for me until i was on my mission in the mtc. i know that it was leading me as i look back in my childhood, but i'm sure that i missed many precious chances since i didn't know what i was looking for then. i want to make sure that my children are aware of the guidance that is available to us. i want them to feel that 'warm blanket' of comforting love that comes from our Father in Heaven and know that it is Him. what power that is.