Shakespeare and Reunions

This has become my favorite weekend. Last year was Mackenzie's first year as a competitor at the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City.  It's almost unheard of to be chosen your Freshman year. I was fairly impressed :0)
She was chosen again this year and she was even better! Her monologue was Queen Katharine from Henry VIII. Her last judge commented on her "regal-ness"...she was beautiful.

This would be fantastic by itself, but there's more... Kim comes up from Flagstaff and this year the whole family came!! It was so great to see everyone, I have really missed them!

The judge in Kenzie's second round was Mr. "Vest".  He was a slender thing and he had a SillyBandz. Need I say more?

 Not sure which one it was, but Vanessa would have loved to trade with him :0) He had the kids all hold hands and talked to them about enjoying the realization of all their hard work. He said the audience could not touch their faces or leave. Kian and Maddy were like statues, but it turned out neither one of them felt good.
Kian ended up going to the hotel with Doug and falling asleep at 8:00 p.m.  Poor Maddy had to stay with us, but was pretty miserable.  So was Bruce if I'm being honest :0)
While waiting for Kenzie's last round which was incredibly late in starting, Kim and I decided to try to learn how to take better (or even good) photos of ourselves with our cell phones.

Yeah, we were really bored, but Kim has the BEST mugshot...I'm sure she will never share, but I have seen it!  This is what the "kids" were doing...

Mackenzie's final round finally began and she was terrific! Bruce and Maddy had to leave early to go to the car since they were both feeling awful. I think the judge, who had zero control of the room, really liked Mackenzie's performance. I know I did.

Then we finally got to go eat and out of respect for tradition, we chose Applebee's.  We will be starting a new tradition.  Kim and I ordered Strawberry lemonade and he brought one that was the end of the lemonade mixed with strawberry and one that was mixed with Sprite, which was really Sierra Mist. Kim refused that one and when I tasted mine it tasted like fruit punch.

Sierra Mist is NOTHING like lemonade, am I right? When I told "Talon" (yes, that was his name) mine tasted like fruit punch he said "Yeah, we used to have one that was really good, but then they changed it to a cheaper one and that's what it tastes like".

Mallory and Savannah...we were all REALLY hungry!

After Kian slept for 12 hours he felt much better and today we met the Spotts' at their rental cabin in Duck Creek Village for a picnic.

It was SO much fun...I somehow forget how much I miss my friend and it was wonderful to see her girls and their personalities.  They were so good to Kian and it certainly was a memorable way to spend his 7th birthday.  

He did get Birthday Brownies from Day's Market and a watch.  He asked first thing when he got up this morning, "Mom, do I look like I'm 7?"

On our way back to Provo we saw SNOW!!! It was actually a beautiful drive.

Then we went to the mall so he could get the "marble game" for his gift. He'll have his party next weekend and for at least 2 more years his birthday will unfortunately get pushed to the week after because the Bard will wait for no kid's birthday! Can't wait for another YaYa subset reunion!!

Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis

How I love this movie! It has to be in my Top 10 and maybe even Top 5.  I have always loved Marilyn Monroe for some reason.  It took me a little longer to appreciate the genius of Jack Lemmon whom I adored! Today we lost the last of this brilliant trio, Tony Curtis.  My Mom watched tons of old movies and I grew to love them too. I can't remember my first Tony Curtis movie, but I have always had a crush on him :-) SO handsome!!
Now they are together again and my Mom is loving it...Enjoy Mom and save me a seat!

Where is Compassion?

Recently a friend of mine posted on Facebook, "Where is the compassion in America?"
I thought a lot about this as I wasn't sure compassion had totally left our society at all. I was, however, thinking that compassion is a relative term and it is fairly individual. As a person who has longed for compassion many times while my husband was out of work for approximately 2 years, I think I have a real idea of what is and is not missing.  Interestingly enough another friend posted a note later that same day. She graciously has allowed me to share...

"My oldest son, Eric and his wife, Brittney are trying to adopt children.  After 9 long years of trying for children in various ways, with countless disappointments, it looks like they may be adopting 3 children, all siblings. We already love these children, even though I haven't met them in person.  I love them because Eric and Brittney love them.  I love them because they will be our grandchildren.

Today is Eric's Birthday.  When I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he promptly replied, "I just want money to get my kids".   He went on to explain that they will need not only money for the legal fees, but also beds, dressers, clothes, etc.  I've been trying to think of ways to help them.... selling furniture, holding fund-raisers, starting a "family adoption fund", ect... I've been worrying about it alot, mostly laying awake in the middle of the night, struggling for sleep.

This morning they were searching Craig's list for used bunk beds.  They came across a set and called.  The older lady who answered the phone sounded reluctant, but invited them over to view the used beds.  When they arrived, the sweet older gentleman explained the bunk beds were built by him for their boys.  The woman was tearing up and was having a rough time selling the beds, but realized they were no longer needed. 

When they asked Eric and Brittney how many kids they had and why they were interested in bunk beds, Eric explained their story of  infertility, and how they quite possibly may be adopting 3 children in just a few weeks! 

The couple glanced at each other and with a slight nod to each other, they told Eric that they would like to GIVE the beds to them, as long as they allowed them to pray for them.

As they prayed, they asked God for many more blessings to fall upon Eric and Brittney."

This is compassion at work in America. 

 Compassion must come from the heart, not the government. Compassion must be freely given, not legislated. Compassion must be individual or it ceases to have meaning. Compassion is a gift we give one another and it never ceases to amaze me how much compassion there is in America. I have enjoyed compassion from family, friends, neighbors, strangers and once when I was young my family was shown compassion even by the Hell's Angels.

It is here, it is all around us and I am grateful to live in a country where it is given and felt by so many.

Jessica's "Daily Affirmation"

I cannot tell you how much joy I get from watching this!! I laughed like crazy when I saw it and I will use it on those days that are just too hard to get through...I need to enjoy my life like Jessica does!

Sunday Burnout

Last night as I was preparing Sharing Time for Primary and thinking about  writing the Children's Sacrament meeting program for Primary, I was over whelmed! I was thinking about burnout...I have only had this calling since February I thought to myself.  Then I realized I had this calling for two years in Indiana before this. Yes, it feels like I have reached my limits, but I believe the Lord is there to help me and I will continue to serve until He feels that there is some other way I can serve.
Then today as I looked around our congregation (AFTER my sharing  time was finished) I thought of all of the children and here I will even say, my favorites. Sweet and her brother Jake. Drew who is so well behaved and handsome each week. Wesley who always adds a dimension that I hadn't thought of. Little Rosie who is so  friendly and smiley. I love Elyssa and Hannah who are quiet, but are listening. I don't know how they feel about me, but I know that it is my job to teach with the spirit and to love each of them. I know their families are the foundation upon which all their learning is based, but I feel a great responsibility to each of them and I realize that when my time is finished, I will miss these little ones. I will miss what I learn directly from them and what I learn as a by-product by preparing my lessons for them.

Yes, I have been in Primary for a long time, but I do love it and after Sunday, October 24. I will again feel as it there is no other calling in church I could love more!

Edgemont South Stake Young Women's Run to the Temple

What a great idea! 200 young women from our church ran/walked 1.7 miles from the high school to the Provo temple! They all had pink shirts from their summer camp and it was a terrific visual of a personal goal--to strive for an eternal family starting with the temple.

These girls did more running that walking!

Kenzie has a cold so she did all walking.  Kian and I left  from our house to meet them at the finish line!

She was a little sarcastic about her excitement!

Mackenzie and the temple

                                                    Everyone who finished got a medal. Thank you Elizabeth!


 The front has a picture of the Young Women's medallion and the date. On the back is a quote from Ezra Taft Benson: "God loves us. He is watching us. He wants us to succeed. We will know some day that He has not left one thing undone for the eternal welfare of each of us. If we only knew it, heavenly hosts are pulling for us, friends in heaven that we cannot now remember, who yearn for our victory."

Happy finishers!! Even Kian got a medal, thanks Debbie!

Yay! We made it! We even walked back home, everyone else drove :-)

Kian's Purple Belt

Tonight was Kian's belt promotion at Bobby Lawrence Karate.  He  has been working SO hard and he has now earned his PURPLE belt!
He is on his way to BLACK belt :-)

It was a packed house tonight so I got the best pictures possible.

Working with his partner on his self-defense.

Bowing to Miki after his showtime kicks.

Running by the bleachers waving his new belt!

The Fourth Student creed:

What are we?

We are a Black Belt School!

We are dedicated!

We are motivated!

We're on a quest to be our best!

We are AWESOME!!!

Miki actually tied on his purple belt after a pretty cool belt ceremony.

I think it's time to move on to Leadership!!

Way to go Kian! We are SO proud of you and all of your practicing. You ROCK!!