Kathy - I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Go ahead and grieve and cry. Those are very earthly emotions for us. In the bible the shortest verse is in John 11:35 "Jesus wept." When Jesus learned that Lazarus had died, he wept even knowing that he was going to raise him from the dead, he still wept. Weeping and grieving are earthly emotions. If Jesus wept having the knowledge that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead then we shouldn't feel bad about weeping even though we have the knowledge that we'll see our loved ones again. I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job of writing your father's eulogy and life history. Your father will be very near to you and guide you through what you should include and how you write it. Even if your father's passing was expected due to a long illness it's still hard to lose a parent. I'm sure your father will be proud of the piece you write for him. With love - Melody

Dear Kathy my prayers are with your family I know what you are feeling both of my parents have gone home to be with are Heavenly Father. My Father was never baptized but after my Mom went home one yr later I had her work done and we are a eternial Family I know what a joy that brings us all knowing that. Love Saralan

Dear friends, Its been awhile since I have posted. I have been in Pocatello Idaho the last 2 months helping my mother take care of my ill father. This past Thursday my father passed away and it has been a whirlwind since. He went peacefully but it still hurts tremendiously. I am so thankful for the gospel and the plan of salvation. I know I will see him again and that is a great comfort for me and my family. Today I have the task of preparing his Life history and eulogy. I am feeling so many emotions right now and my mind is being flooded with so many memories. I hope that I can prepare and present this task with the tender spirit of the Holy Ghost. I was wondering if you all could say a prayer for my mother and my brothers and sisters for comfort and strength. I will get back to the forum as soon as I return back home to Montana, Thanks Kathy

Our ward does a fun party every Halloween...done tonight on the 29th...each auxillary takes a different room and makes a game...bowling, bean bag toss, cardboard boxes in a maze.....etc...each family brings candy and it all gets tossed into a box and passed to the rooms to give out after the kids do the activity. It's a blast and the kids had so much fun. Tomorrow we are going trunk or treating with my SIL's ward, then a family party at her house for a few hours. We'll meet at 4pm for soup dinner, then the trunk or treat, then back to bob for apples and each mom has made several gross recipes I've found on the internet. Kitty Litter cake, witches fingers, old man toes, deviled egg eyes....I have several jello molds (google it for some samples) of a brain and a severed hand...the kids love that...we mix blue koolaid and OJ...it makes a green drink like slime, then we get dry ice at Albertson's......so fun. I got some creepy bowls, party favors, and it's going to be alot of fun. We will stay home Sunday...and I won't feel one bit sorry to them. They've had a fun fun weekend, and gotten to do plenty. Maybe you can start a family tradition to make a "gross out" party....I can share my recipe collection and web sites. Something we make that is soooo cute, and we hand them out as classroom favors, and the twins plan to give them in class Sunday... Take a small M&M bag, (the body) and 8 tootsie rollls.....hot glue the tootsie rolls in lengths of two, and glue them to the M&M bag like arms and legs.....flip over so they are on the back....and add a chocolate punkin face candy, tie a yarn or rafia belt.....they are so cute. OK....I gotta go.

Melody, I am still so aghast that in IDAHO they would have a problem like this. I live in Ohio and NO town or county in our area is havng trick or treat on Sunday. It is either Thursday, Friday or Saturday. We aren't even in the bible belt. Although we do have a lot of churches in the area and many people are very involved in civic issues such as this. We are having a ward activity on Saturday night - Trunk or treat and chili cook off. The little ones enjoy this so much it is just as fun as going out on the street. I am sure your family will be blessed for keeping the sabbath day holy. Hang Tight and I hope all your challenges go quickly! Jane