How-To's on a Boating Trip

How to make an eleven year old happy on a boating trip:

Give her some skies and a wild ride on a tube!

How to make a one year old happy on a boating trip:

Give her a tootsie roll pop and a comfortable spot to sit.

How to make a 39.9 year old happy on a boating trip:

Give him a wakeboard !

How to make another eleven year old very UNhappy on a boating trip:

Realize that the only life jacket that fits him is a purple Hannah Montana model.

How to turn UNhappy to happy:

Ask friends on other boat if they have another option.

Thanks to great friends for a fantastic weekend!

Inner Beauty

July 24 is a big holiday around these parts. It is a day that we celebrate the Mormon Pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley.

During the month of July there are all kinds of fun activities going on throughout the community. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to take the kids to Family Fun Day at This is the Place State Park. We had a great time touring an old pioneer village and making crafts, not to mention that it was an all you can eat popsicle party.

They also had a Mini Days of '47 pageant that kids could try out for. The winners of the pageant would get to ride on an old fashioned fire truck in the children's parade the next week.

That caught the attention of a certain 11 year old. Rachel waited in line for a turn to interview with the adult royalty who also happened to be the judges.

When she came out she said, "I think it went pretty well."

Later that afternoon they had a program to announce the winners of the pageant. Lincoln put an arm around Rachel and said, "You're going to win, I know it!" He was more like a nervous father than a twin brother.

They announced the two attendants and then the queen.

Linc was right! Rachel won!

I was in the very back so I quickly scrambled up to the front to snap some pictures.

Rachel received a pink, sparkly cowboy hat with a tiara on it and a bunch of gifts

wrapped up in cellophane.

As Rachel exited the stage, she had a sad expression on her face. "What's wrong?" I asked.

She nodded toward a little girl. I looked over to see the girl sobbing in her mother's arms.

Instinctively, Rachel walked over and sat down next to them. She put an arm around the girl and gave her the prizes. Then she said something to the girl. They hugged and Rachel left.

"What did you say to her?", I asked.

"I told her that it didn't really matter who won, and that she is very beautiful and she should try again next time."

A few minutes later, the girl, her mother and little sister found us.

The girl had dried her tears and with a sweet smile, she said to Rach, "Thank you for making me feel special." Then she gave Rachel another hug. As they were walking away, the baby sister ran back and threw her arms around Rachel's legs.

That moment in time was one of the highlights of my life so far. As we walked to the car I told Rachel that I am very happy for her. Being the queen is a big deal and it will be a fun memory. But the kindness and sensitivity that she showed is what matters most to me. Tears rolled down my face and I did not apologize for them.

Last Saturday was the big parade. We had a cheering section for Rach and I know it will be a memory she will never forget.

When Rachel looks back on summer memories, she will remember the hat, the parade, the fun.

I will remember the tenderness of a moment when inner beauty was the real winner.

Backflip

Backflip noun

A generic term for an acrobatic sequence of

body movements in which a person starts from a standing position,

Leaps in the air,

Completes one backwards revolution while still in the air,

Lands on his or her feet.

CAUTION: Most persons 40 and over should not attempt without training from a professional.

Don't ask me how I know.

See Sam Chapter 4

See Sam. Sam is an artist.

Like most artists, Sam likes to be creative with color.

Sometimes Sam colors on paper.

Sam makes beautiful pictures.

Other times, Sam colors on things like Sister's bedspread.

"Hmmm", says Sister.

Sometimes Sam colors on clothes, like the time

she wanted orange polka dots on her shirt instead of white.

Sometimes Sam wishes she was old enough to wear make-up so she colors on her face.

"SAM!", says mom, "You must color on paper, not on things!"

"Yes!" "Yes!" agrees Sam. "Me's color on paper!"

"Good job!", says Mom.

The next day mom walks into her bedroom....

"Oh dear", says mom when she looks at the window

.

"SAM", Mom calls.

(Sam is in the kitchen having a snack.

Drawing on windows has made Sam hungry.)

"Sam, did you color on the window?", asks Mom.

Sam nods.

"Oh Sam", Mom sighs.

"You will need to clean up the window."

Sam cleans up the window.

Mom reminds Sam to color on paper next time.

"Yes!", agrees Sam. "Me's color on paper!"

"Good job Sam.", says Mom.

Happy Sam.

Happy Mom.

Thank You Marvene

A few days ago, Mark and I visited a friend who is dying of cancer.

It was a bitter sweet experience.

I am hesitant to admit that I had a bit of anxiety about our visit.

What do you say to someone who is approaching the end of her life on earth?

Our friend has struggled with cancer on and off for the past twenty or so years.
She has truly fought for her life with every single ounce of strength she possesses.

She has battled back against all odds before and her family was hopeful that she might be able to do it again. She endured a recent round of chemotherapy in a last effort of hope but her body was unable to take anymore treatments.

Time is short.

As I have thought about her life, I have wondered how one could experience so much adversity and yet be so determined to press forward.

Around the time of her first diagnosis of cancer, Marvene's son died in a plane crash. She told me of the unmatched heartache, anguish and deep sorrow that comes from losing a child.

"How do you keep breathing?", I asked her.

"If you get too focused on the negative, you miss a lot of the joy.", she answered.

That pretty much sums up the way she has chosen to live.

Losing a son and battling cancer would make most people want to throw up their arms in anger. Marvene, dropped to her knees in humility and prayer.

She is centered on the good, the lovely, the joyful.

She knows who she is and more importantly she knows who's she is.

She has a very personal, intimate relationship with the Savior.

She has turned to Him and in that process, she has come to really know Him.

I know a lot of good, Christ-like people but none more than Marvene.

She is very near perfection in my eyes.

She is compassion, strength, tenderness and pure love.

So what do you say to a friend who is dying?

The answer for me was simply two words:

Thank You.

Thank you for your example in living.

Thank you for the lessons I have learned by watching you.

Thank you for your charitable heart and rock solid testimony.

Thank you for your friendship.

Thank you for being you, Marvene.

May God bless and keep you.

Grace

Rachel's middle name is Grace. We named her after my great grandmother, Grace.

Little did we know how fitting that name would be.

As soon as she could balance on two feet, she was twirling and tapping.

She loves to dance and dance has always come very easily for her, until this year.

Last summer we sat down to go over the schedule for the coming year.

We noticed that her regular ballet class was taught on Monday evenings.

In our church, our leaders have asked us to set aside Monday nights for Family Home Evening.

This is a night where families spend time learning about the gospel, playing games or other activities and then having a treat together.

We have been promised great blessings in our families if we will strive to make family night a priority. We believe those promises and we can't afford to go without them.

So when we saw that ballet was on Monday evenings, we had a dilemma. Rachel and I talked it over and agreed that we just didn't feel right about her being away from home on Monday nights. I thought she might have to take a year off ballet, but it is her love, and taking that away from her didn't feel right either.

That night as I was going to bed, a thought came to me....

We could see if they would allow Rachel to move to the 7th - 12th grade class. They met on Mondays right after school. I called the owner the next day and she agreed with the idea.

When fall arrived Rachel started 5th grade in school and 7th - 12th grade at dance.

It was one gigantic, challenging, overwhelming jump.

She felt out of place with the older girls.

The combinations and barr work were much more difficult than anything she had done before.

Pointe shoes were hard to figure out and she came home with blisters and sore feet.

She went from being a confident dancer to being unsure and hesitant.

Sometimes when I would pick her up, I could see big tears in her eyes.

The lowest point came when they got their placements for the spring recital. Rachel was in the back corner. She has always had prominent positions in the past and this was very humbling for her.

One night she choked back tears as she admitted, "I don't know if I can keep up".

Mark took her in his arms and said, "Sweetie, it doesn't matter where you are on that stage, my eyes will be on you." That was the perfect thing to say. That seemed to be a turning point for Rachel.

The next day, she told us that she couldn't give up. That would be wrong.

I noticed she started writing messages to herself on the white board in her room.

They said: "I can do this" "I believe in myself" "I am a great dancer".

A determination came over her.

She practiced and practiced and practiced. She even found the courage to audition for a solo part.

A few weeks later, her pointe teacher commented to me that Rachel had caught up with the other girls. Her regular ballet teacher sent me an email saying that she had called on Rach to do some spontaneous choreography for the class and that Rachel had done it beautifully.

Last month was the spring recital. Yes, she was still in the back corner but that didn't matter at all, she danced with such beauty and poise. Tears trickled down our cheeks as we watched her.

She even received a nomination for most improved dancer of the year!

What great lessons she has learned about working hard, being humble yet confident and not giving up.

After all, these are the things that make up true grace.