In January I picked a "word of the year" (well, I picked a phrase) to focus my goals: "Just Do It!" Although, I am actually altering it to be: "Do It Anyway" based on a fabulous article by Orson Scott Card. That, combined with an impending feeling of "something is coming" (can you hear the music playing from "West Side Story"?) led me to take on a new challenge this year.
A friend of mine is running for School Board. I very much support his choice to run since he is an amazing man. Very honorable, very smart, very good for the job. He sent an email asking if we could talk about the opportunity of me helping "significantly" in his campaign. I teased Brian that he must be fundraising and is starting to hit on friends already. Well, after our chat, I almost wish he was just soliciting a donation. Ha!
He asked me to be his campaign manager. It took me a weekend of really considering if I want to take on this sort of time commitment. I prayed, talked to Brian about pros and cons, and we had a family meeting. In the end, I am very willing to put my time and energy to make sure a good person is put into this position. I'm actually very excited about all I will be learning, and the opportunity of getting involved in the community on a real level. I'm not looking forward to any ugliness that may come when working in politics. I'm hoping school board is under the radar since the city is also having their mayoral race (which promises to be much more juicy!).
So, I'll start now: Vote 4 Davis!!! Check out his website: davis4pusd.com. Let me know if you have any comments or concerns about his platform.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The BIG 4-0 !
This weekend has been so fun to focus fully on Brian and celebrating his big day! His birthday was Friday. He celebrated with Brandon on a scouting camp out. The boys got to learn some rock climbing skills. They had a blast!
The only thing that Brian really wanted was to go to a Brazilian BBQ. He's been wanting to go since he moved here ... over 16 years ago. We just have never done it. So, we invited some friends and made the reservation.
At one point, the music got REALLY loud and a new visitor came to our area. Brian had no problem getting up and dancing with his new friend.
At the end of the night, he didn't seem too sad to go home with his "tried and true" friend.
It was a great night, with comfortable friends. Just what Brian wanted! A perfect way to celebrate!
Aubrey wanted to try out cake decorating and was thrilled when Brian gave her the okay to make his cake. She worked on it for hours, using 2 different types of frosting. She played with tips, colors, and filling. I think she did great.
It was a great weekend, celebrating a great man! Here's hoping that there are many more birthdays to celebrate together!!!
The only thing that Brian really wanted was to go to a Brazilian BBQ. He's been wanting to go since he moved here ... over 16 years ago. We just have never done it. So, we invited some friends and made the reservation.
At one point, the music got REALLY loud and a new visitor came to our area. Brian had no problem getting up and dancing with his new friend.
At the end of the night, he didn't seem too sad to go home with his "tried and true" friend.
It was a great night, with comfortable friends. Just what Brian wanted! A perfect way to celebrate!
Aubrey wanted to try out cake decorating and was thrilled when Brian gave her the okay to make his cake. She worked on it for hours, using 2 different types of frosting. She played with tips, colors, and filling. I think she did great.
It was a great weekend, celebrating a great man! Here's hoping that there are many more birthdays to celebrate together!!!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Snow Days
We have only taken the kids skiing one time in their lives, and they LOVED it! I'm still scared to get out there, but the kids ask to go every year. Our school district gives the kids an entire week off of school for President's Day (it all has to do with getting more money ... doesn't it always?!), so we set off for a trip to Utah.
The first day was rather "ify" since the kids didn't get lessons this time. They just had to try to remember all the tricks. It only took them 2 times down the mountain to get the hang of it.
While we were in Utah, we got to visit a few special friends and family ... of course, we didn't actually take pictures ... DUH! We also went ice skating. Since I didn't ski, Jon made me promise I would skate. Man, it's been a long time. I stayed pretty close to the wall while the rest of the family went zooming around. We went with our good friends, the Chuns, and even got to chaperon their 16 year old son on his very first double date ... so cute!
The scary part of this day was watching Brian escort Jon off the ice with blood dripping from his hand. He had fallen and another skater went right over his finger. We rushed off to the Emergi-Care only to be told he was lucky they were rental skates and very dull. Otherwise, he could have lost his fingers. As it was, no stitches were needed, and they didn't even charge us for the visit. Gotta love Utah for that one!
While the kids & Brian skied, and during every down time, I worked on the computer. Just before our vacation, I was asked to help co-produce a musical fireside for the youth in our stake. I got to work with some of my favorite people, and it promised a lot of opportunity for learning. We had over 100 kids (ages 12-18) participate. We only had 6 weeks to prepare, and it looked a little sketchy when the weekend to perform arrived.
They performed the music of Janice Kapp Perry and her son Steven called, "Let the Morning Come" (a musical celebration of Joseph Smith and the restoration). The lady in charge of costumes really out did herself. Even the boys were wearing corvatts. I didn't think that was going to happen, but they all looked really good! There were some minor sound issues (that caused many tears and much frustration), but still the spirit of the program was very special. Listening to the testimonies spoken of Joseph Smith, Jr. What a great man and Prophet he was. It reminded me of how grateful I am that Heavenly Father still provides prophets in this time to understand His will. So glad I was given the opportunity to be part of the production ... and relieved it will be 2 years before they put another show like that together. Ha!
The first day was rather "ify" since the kids didn't get lessons this time. They just had to try to remember all the tricks. It only took them 2 times down the mountain to get the hang of it.
While we were in Utah, we got to visit a few special friends and family ... of course, we didn't actually take pictures ... DUH! We also went ice skating. Since I didn't ski, Jon made me promise I would skate. Man, it's been a long time. I stayed pretty close to the wall while the rest of the family went zooming around. We went with our good friends, the Chuns, and even got to chaperon their 16 year old son on his very first double date ... so cute!The scary part of this day was watching Brian escort Jon off the ice with blood dripping from his hand. He had fallen and another skater went right over his finger. We rushed off to the Emergi-Care only to be told he was lucky they were rental skates and very dull. Otherwise, he could have lost his fingers. As it was, no stitches were needed, and they didn't even charge us for the visit. Gotta love Utah for that one!
While the kids & Brian skied, and during every down time, I worked on the computer. Just before our vacation, I was asked to help co-produce a musical fireside for the youth in our stake. I got to work with some of my favorite people, and it promised a lot of opportunity for learning. We had over 100 kids (ages 12-18) participate. We only had 6 weeks to prepare, and it looked a little sketchy when the weekend to perform arrived.
They performed the music of Janice Kapp Perry and her son Steven called, "Let the Morning Come" (a musical celebration of Joseph Smith and the restoration). The lady in charge of costumes really out did herself. Even the boys were wearing corvatts. I didn't think that was going to happen, but they all looked really good! There were some minor sound issues (that caused many tears and much frustration), but still the spirit of the program was very special. Listening to the testimonies spoken of Joseph Smith, Jr. What a great man and Prophet he was. It reminded me of how grateful I am that Heavenly Father still provides prophets in this time to understand His will. So glad I was given the opportunity to be part of the production ... and relieved it will be 2 years before they put another show like that together. Ha!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Something to Smile About
This week has been a hard one. So many things happening in the world to hurt little spirits and make tears flow from even the strongest.
The earthquake in Chile has brought so many sad moments. The areas where I served as a missionary seem to be the ones directly hit. Either by the quake, or the tsunamis that followed, or the prisoners escaping due to the jails crumbling down. The information has been slow getting out since power and internet has not been available. The big city of Concepcion seems to have had so many problems with destruction and looters that the officials can't get to the small towns that have literally been wiped out.
The miracle I have seen in both the Spanish and English speaking groups is the love! The unity! The blessing of technology. There are facebook pages where I've been able to communicate with dear friends in areas where there isn't even running water yet. The spirits are high. Chile is a strong country and the people are good, hard workers. They will unite and get past this. Fuerza Chile!!!
Last night Aubrey slept in our room for the first time in many years. The discovery of the body of a teen age girl who had been missing since last week really bothered her. She said she kept seeing Chelsea King's face whenever she closed her eyes. She said she was scared of the bad guy who did this and sad for the family of the girl. My heart aches that this sweet little girl has to know about these evil things. My spirit yearns to reach out to the King family. No parents should have to know their daughter died in such a violent way.
My family needs laughter and a loving reminder that things are okay, even when things go very, very wrong in the world. Our spirits need that peace to help mend us and give us strength to reach out and help others. Though it will take more effort than it usually does, we must seek to find something to smile about!
The earthquake in Chile has brought so many sad moments. The areas where I served as a missionary seem to be the ones directly hit. Either by the quake, or the tsunamis that followed, or the prisoners escaping due to the jails crumbling down. The information has been slow getting out since power and internet has not been available. The big city of Concepcion seems to have had so many problems with destruction and looters that the officials can't get to the small towns that have literally been wiped out.
The miracle I have seen in both the Spanish and English speaking groups is the love! The unity! The blessing of technology. There are facebook pages where I've been able to communicate with dear friends in areas where there isn't even running water yet. The spirits are high. Chile is a strong country and the people are good, hard workers. They will unite and get past this. Fuerza Chile!!!
Last night Aubrey slept in our room for the first time in many years. The discovery of the body of a teen age girl who had been missing since last week really bothered her. She said she kept seeing Chelsea King's face whenever she closed her eyes. She said she was scared of the bad guy who did this and sad for the family of the girl. My heart aches that this sweet little girl has to know about these evil things. My spirit yearns to reach out to the King family. No parents should have to know their daughter died in such a violent way.
My family needs laughter and a loving reminder that things are okay, even when things go very, very wrong in the world. Our spirits need that peace to help mend us and give us strength to reach out and help others. Though it will take more effort than it usually does, we must seek to find something to smile about!
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