Wrapping Up October 2025

October 2025

Happy 76th birthday to my beautiful mom. She had lots of family and a couple of friends stop by on her b-day weekend with cards, gifts, and balloons. I don't think she was particularly interested in any of it, but we were interested in celebrating her. 

Bri and I gave her these cute green striped pajamas, and this picture is one of my favorites of her from this month. I love that she is busy taking care of her baby and folding laundry. In Alzheimer's meetings, they always mention trying to provide activities your loved one used to enjoy doing. She knows, from all her years of love and sacrifice, how to be a good homemaker and mother. It's nice when she has moments of clarity, usually in a couple of 5-minute stretches per day, where she can enjoy loving and serving her family.

My great nephew, Lincoln, turned 8 in September, but we didn't get to celebrate as a family until early October. His great uncle, Adam, is also his bishop. Bishop Bird gave him this baptism book to help celebrate this special birthday.

Lincoln is ALL about the BYU Cougars. I made him a jersey in early September, and I was so excited to give it to him for his b-day. It was killing me that the family birthday celebration kept getting pushed back because I wanted him to be able to wear it on game days. He loves his new jersey, and Adam says he wears it every single day.

After watching (well, really half listening to while Bryn, Derek, and Brian watched) the first BYU game of the season on August 30th, I went with #11, Parker Kingston's number. I kept hearing his name being announced. Since then, I've watched him make huge plays and score so many touchdowns. I appreciate him not letting me or Lincoln down on the number representation.

And can we just say RISE AND SHOUT?! BYU is ranked #10 in the national polls, and our record is 8-0. It's such a fun year for Aubrey to be on campus. She has been able to get tickets to every home game but one. Parker has driven up from Rexburg for two of the games. Ironically, Parker, who goes to BYUI, was able to attend the BYU vs UofU game, which Aubrey watched with a group in the dorms. She was jealous.

After the win against Utah, a ton of the students stormed the field, and Park loved being part of the action.

Next weekend, Tanner and family have tickets to the BYU/Texas Tech game in Lubbock. Brian and I are feeling the FOMO, but our schedules weren't open. (I'm helping with my mom while my dad is in Utah, and Bri has to work that weekend.) I've been teasing Erin because she will be cheering for Texas Tech instead of BYU. She just sweetly smiles, shrugs and says, "It's my school." (And I LOVE that for her...so proud that she was accepted into the nursing program.)

My weekly mornings with Kaide are going strong. One of my favorite days this month was when he talked to me about all the things he was looking forward to doing the next day together. "It will be so fun on Gigi and Kaide day. We play animal game and go see monster house. We do ostacle course (obstacle)." Made my DAY that he knew what our special day was called, and he was looking forward to it.

Our ward was in charge of putting together a zone conference lunch for 45 missionaries, and I was tasked with heading it up. Food is not my strength, but after serving the past decade in both ward and stake Relief Society presidencies, I have learned a few things along the way. I know some good go-to menus and serving suggestions that make things easier, and even more importantly, there are always amazing ladies who are willing to help. 

These ladies are the best. They are all my friends, and I really appreciate them answering my plea for help on our ward RS Facebook page. I am currently serving in the Odessa 1st RS presidency with Debbie Carlston.  Airi Billings, Emily Ormsby and I served together for a number of years in the 4th ward RS presidency. We put together a baked potato bar with mac and cheese and grapes for the side, and ice cream bars for dessert. Even though we kept it simple, it was still so much work. We had a lot of fun visiting together while we served our hard working elders and sisters.

Airi, Debbie, me and Emily

Lucie is in the Red Sox shirt next to me.

Speaking of missionaries....the super sweet Lucie Packer stopped by with her family. She was released from the Texas Lubbock Mission in February, and she was traveling with her family to visit all of her areas. She is good friends with our niece, Lindsey, so it was really exciting when she was assigned to serve in our ward. She and her companion helped us decorate for Tanner and Erin's wedding and serve at the reception. (Here is that blog post.) We enjoyed catching up with her and getting to meet her family.

Also, I have had the chance to visit with Chris and Ang a few of times this month, which has been great. Once Chris FaceTimed me, and the other two times, I just happened to be at my parents. We miss them. Parker, Brian, and I are looking at going back to Parker's mission in Ghana this April, and we will fly to Senegal or Cote d'Ivoire and visit them too. It's exciting to think about.

An evening walk with my guy. I always try to show Kaide the shadows when we go on walks, but usually our walks are in the daytime. I thought this was one pretty cool and sent it his way.

Confession...I took some illegal pictures during church one Sunday. The opening song was "I am a Child of God," and when Kaide heard it, he broke into the sweetest smile and then began to sing.

The Primary program was last week, and Kaide was pretty interested, especially when he saw his two friends on the stand. (Noah Vore-cousin and Emi Norton). They both were waving at him at times throughout the presentation. Kaide earnestly told me, "I want to sing." I think what he was really saying was, "I want to be up there with all of the other kids."

It was so cute watching him longingly watching the Primary children.

Also, Tanner left at the beginning of the meeting and never returned. Later, I asked him where he was. He noticed a friend of theirs from the other ward struggling to watch their daughter in the program because their one-year-old child was fussy. Tanner took care of their little boy in the cultural hall. It was very thoughtful of Tanner, and it made me proud. He's always been a kind friend.

And to wrap up October, here are a few Halloween pictures.

The cutest three bears: My nephew Joseph and his wife Kate with their brand new baby Wells.

Spidey! Almost every picture I've seen of Kaide from Halloween, he is glancing sideways. There is so much to see for Halloween.

Noah (his cousin on Erin’s side) and Kaide

Adam and Megan dressed up as Chris and Ang--epic!

Bryn went to her elementary school as a flapper, and Derek went to his high school as a judge.

These beautiful girls were cheetahs. Aubrey is on the far right.

Parker, far right, and friends went to Lagoon to celebrate Halloween.

I’m grateful for another month full of family time, service, and sweet moments with the people I love. I feel so blessed for all the ways I have to keep in touch with my family members who aren't living close. Life is good.