Homegrown Fall Decor

My favorite thing I grew this year was definitely the pumpkins. We planted both big ones and mini ones, and both are doing so well! We picked our first big one earlier this month, and we were all pretty excited. That sucker was heavy! 

I put all our little pumpkins on the media center to decorate it for fall. I even threw a couple little spaghetti squash up there. What do you think? I'm pretty excited that I spent zero dollars on fall decorations this year. We put up last year's dollar store decorations along with the pumpkins from our garden and voila! Homegrown fall decor!

I'm also pretty in love with these sunflowers. If I remember correctly, the one on the left is red velvet and the other is autumn. They are so pretty!! My pike's peak sunflowers are still growing out front. They are taller than me, and they've got flower buds! I really hope they bloom!

Do you ever actually cook your pumpkins? I've been debating whether or not to try it. I might make some pies in the future...

The Bread and Water of Hope

I read this article today and really liked it, so I thought I'd share a tidbit from it:

Depression and emotional suffering are not spiritual failings. And living the gospel won’t always prevent pain and sorrow. But when we turn to God, even in small ways, the light of His love can refresh and renew our souls. “Even though we may feel lost in the midst of our current circumstances, God promises the hope of His light,” taught Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He also observed, “We learn to cultivate hope the same way we learn to walk, one step at a time.” On some days, the steps we take toward God’s light might be small. But each prayer offered, each commandment kept, and each scripture read is a victory. These acts of faith will nourish our souls and help us “abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost”

The Bread and Water of Hope