Stuff. Stuffy, stuff, stuff, stuff.

There was a school shooting in my best friend's town on Friday. The shooter targeted a specific group of people, shot several of them, and then killed himself. Two girls have died, one of which was very close friends with my friend's daughter (when they were younger). Others are still in critical condition. The senseless violence is just sickening. My friend was so grateful that her daughter attended school at a different campus, and they were also relieved that no youths in their ward were shot. (My friend's husband is the Bishop in their ward.) I cannot imagine all of their grief; I'm praying for them all.

This world is getting worse. I know we can't live in fear, but it scares me every time I let my kids go to school.

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I cleaned the house for 9 hours on Saturday. It feels good to be slightly ahead for once, as opposed to constantly behind. The nesting instinct is starting to kick in, and I have plans for massive organization, the entire house over. If you're bored, dear reader, you could always come over and help me! I'll let you do the heavy lifting!

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Hindsight is hard because it teaches me that I was being prepared for certain trials coming my way. Foresight is hard because I simply cannot see which way the road turns on the horizon and I can't read God's mind. I do know, however, that I need to remember this:

Also, this:

And this: 

And this scripture: 

"...we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

And patience, experience; and experience, hope..."

Romans 5:3-4

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My amazing #1 is making our family's Halloween costumes. I plan on helping her (of course!) this week, but I'm grateful she's more interested in it than I am. I do not sew, I am not good at crafts, I don't really care about elaborate costuming. Halloween is fun, but it's not my favorite. *shrug* Our costumes? Wizard of Oz!

My lackluster Halloween prep also means we didn't make it to a pumpkin patch or festival or hay ride or orchard, or whatever. Yes, I know that's crazy, seeing how we live in Pumpkin paradise! But we also have a lot of people in our family. And everything costs money. And Brandon has a crazy work schedule. And I'm tired. Maybe I'll do a better job next year? At least I can comfort myself by going to a local farmer's market stand to purchase the pumpkins for our annual pumpkin carving FHE tonight! That's something...

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Next week marks one year since we moved to Pennsylvania. It feels... odd. I'll write more about it, then.

Happy Monday! (I think. I'm still deciding...)