October Fun in the Sun

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it?" ~ Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery 

My baby turned 18 this year! I can hardly believe how quickly the years flew by. She requested a low-key celebration instead of a party. Kelly and I joined Gillian and her boyfriend, and her dad and step-mom for dinner together. She was showered with lots of love and presents to celebrate her special day, including a dragonfly charm necklace, her first piece of jewelry from Tiffany and Co. Her dad and I wanted to give her a special keepsake for this milestone birthday. Several years ago Gillian gave me a dragonfly necklace as a souvenir gift from a trip she took to Alaska. I hope she'll treasure her necklace as much as I do mine. The Japanese believe dragonflies are symbols of success, victory, happiness, strength and courage. As Gillian enters adulthood, I hope she creates a life for herself that will have plenty of all of those things.

The birthday girl cutting her cake.

A special gift for a special girl.

Me and my girl. 

Over the Columbus Day holiday weekend, Kelly and I were able to get away to Sun Valley, Idaho. Even though it's a short 250 miles from Ogden, I'd never been there before. Have I ever been missing out! It was gorgeous! I think we picked the perfect weekend to be there. The aspens were still full of golden leaves and the weather was warm, clear and sunny. Even though there were lots of people in nearby Ketchum for the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, it was still a very relaxing, calm and quiet weekend. 

On our first full day there we headed out for an 18-mile bike ride. It was my first time riding any distance longer than a mile or two in over a decade! It was fun to be back in the saddle and riding again. The next day we watched the Trailing of the Sheep parade down Main Street in Ketchum as 1,500 sheep were moved to their winter pastures. After that we did a short hike. On Monday we did another bike ride. I was still pretty sore from our earlier ride, so we took a short route into Ketchum and then back to our condo with a detour through the Sun Valley resort property. Our evenings were spent at the historic Pioneer Saloon. Kelly has been going to Sun Valley for most of his adult life, and even spent a short time living there. I now know why he loves it there. I loved being able to share one of his favorite places with him while we soaked up some of the last warm, sunny days of fall. 

Just like Anne of Green Gables, I'm so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers. As the days grow shorter and the cold air of winter starts moving in, I'm holding onto the memories of those relaxing days spent enjoying the beautiful outdoors in the warm fall sunshine. 

Playing tourist with Hope.