Fall Fun

This week I had fun playing in the leaves
with my niece and nephew.

It brought back a lot of memories. At the house we lived in until I was 11 there was a big maple tree in the front yard. I spent many hours in that tree. There was also a large walnut tree. So when the leaves would drop in the fall we would have huge piles in the front yard. We used to make "leaf houses" and play in them for hours. We also used to give each other rides in the wheelbarrow so it was fun to see the kids doing that too.

My niece wanted me to bury her in the leaves.
Don't you love that smile!
When the time came to clean up the leaves we had to put them in bags. The best part (as the kids discovered this week) was sitting on the bag to squish the leaves in. So fun!

I found this picture of me with my sisters in our old front yard.

I was almost 3 in this picture (I'm on the left).
I also used to climb up the light pole you see in the background
on the left but that's a story for another day.

The Oak Tree

Tonight Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke for the CES fireside. One thing that stood out to me was when he said that if we look around at the world there is so much turmoil but that we still have so many reasons to optimistic and happy! The truths found in the gospel of Jesus Christ help give us a strong foundation that nothing can break if we hold strong and endure to the end. I know I'm not saying it like he did but it really affected me as he spoke about getting back to the basics of the gospel. I liked the poem he used to illustrate his point and I wanted to share it here:

The Oak Tree
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree's leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You'll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I've found, with thanks to you
I'm stronger than I ever knew