The Dermody Family: Keene, NH Pumpkin Festival

Journals/Blogs

President Kimball said, "People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us—and as our posterity read of our life's experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us. And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted."

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you,
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might that His arrows might go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Kahlil Gibran

Build Wisely

A HOME IS MUCH MORE THAN A HOUSE BUILT OF LUMBER, BRICK, OR STONE. A HOME IS MADE OF LOVE, SACRIFICE, AND RESPECT. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HOMES WE BUILD. WE MUST BUILD WISELY, FOR ETERNITY IS NOT A SHORT VOYAGE. THERE WILL BE CALM AND WIND, SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW, JOY AND SORROW. BUT IF WE REALLY TRY, OUR HOME CAN BE A BIT OF HEAVEN HERE ON EARTH. THE THOUGHTS WE THINK, THE DEEDS WE DO, THE LIVES WE LIVE NOT ONLY INFLUENCE THE SUCCESS OF OUR EARTHLY JOURNEY, THEY ALSO MARK THE WAY TO OUR ETERNAL GOALS.

--THOMAS S.MONSON

Monday, October 19, 2009

Keene, NH Pumpkin Festival

On Saturday we went to Keene, NH for their annual pumpkin festival. Both girls registered a total of three pumpkins. Erin carved two, and Shannon carved one. Other than Bill helping them with the gutting of the pumpkins, the girls drew their own faces and carved them all by themselves. They were a bit disappointed to realize that once registered the pumpkins had to stay at the festival for everyone else to enjoy.
This was an amazing event to attend. Be prepared for loads of people, over 60,000 in attendance this year, and lots and lots of pumpkins. This year there were 29,068 carved pumpkins. It was pretty spectacular to see them all lining the sidewalks of the main street either on the ground, shelves, or huge scaffolds. I would recommend going early with little kids as the crowds get larger at night. You should mark your calendars to attend next year! For inquiring minds, more details can be found here at the official website for the Keene, NH Pumpkin Festival.

4 comments:

Jean said...: That looks so fun!! It has been on my list to go and do....but teenagers have other plans so I may go solo and partake of the spirit of the season. Looks like you had a great family time.; October 19, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Jenn said...: Jean, I think it is over for this year, but I wouldn't mind going for an experience of the festival free from my little peeps. Maybe we should pencil in next year? What cha think?; October 19, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Jean said...: Marked on the calendar sis!! The other one that is on my wish list is to go see the cranberry BOGS the first weekend in OCT. If you want to .....Pencil that one in.; October 20, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Jenn said...: Hey, I do want to do that. I didn't realize that I already missed it this year. Done. It have marked it with my mighty pencil. LOL.; October 20, 2009 at 11:05 AM