Foster High

Last night was the Cross County Banquet, it was really great. Our school, Foster, is so different from Bountiful. It is estimated that there are over 30 languages spoken!! Really.

Anyway, last night was to honor the students on the CC team. Catherine was on the Varsity team and was able to letter!! Then the coach gave out a few special awards and Cat earned one of those too, Most Inspirational!!!

The coach is amazing, he was able to talk individually about each and every team member, it really came from the heart. He made them each remember why they chose CC and what they did for the team, he did not do any reaching or filling time. It truly was heartfelt, inspiring and team building.

After the coach gave out the awards, all the students that were not graduating got up and talked to the Seniors, thanking them on the example they had been to them. After that the Seniors all got up and tearfully thanked the coach for all he had done for them, individually. WOW it was great! Big boys do cry! :)

This is new to us as parents, our girls have never gotten this into any sport before, at school. Brad and I were just very impressed.

Pictures to come...

Christmas is on it's way...

Thanksgiving was great! Jessica was gone, but she was able to do a lot of catching up for us by going home to Bountiful.
She spent time with the Family, Grandma, Grandpa and everyone else.
She held little Penny, John and Amy's darling new baby.
She took pictures of Bountiful.
She took pictures of the lights at temple square.
She snooped at our house, yes we still snoop!

Dinner here was full of good food and lots of laughter.
The next day we promptly go going on Christmas decorations.
We waited for Jess to get home to set up the tree, Sunday night.
We got the lights on the outside of the house quick while it has been sunny.
Now we just need to make some cookies...
And shop...

10 things to be grateful for...

I gave a talk in church yesterday. I remember when I used to just freak out when I had to speak in public, I am so glad that I don't get all worried about it anymore. I actually enjoy it, well I like the research most. I talked about Gratitude and Thanksgiving, my favorite!! I talked about "the hiding place" by Corrie ten Boom and her story about being grateful for Fleas. If you have not read this book, I suggest you do!

Corrie and her sister were prisoners in a concentration camp with wrenched conditions. They had already survived so much, but the conditions of the final barracks were well beyond what they thought they could bare -- including a thick infestation of fleas in the straw they were to sleep on. Corrie turned to her sister and cried, "Betsie, how can we live in such a place!" Immediately Betsie began to pray and soon the answer came to her. They had read it in the Bible just that morning "Give thanks in all circumstances." Betsie was sure this was the answer. Because they began from that moment on to thank instead of complain, they had positive attitudes and became a very positive influence on the others in their barracks. As their world grew blacker with evil outside the barracks, their world inside (even with the fleas) became brighter until it became as a literal Heaven on earth despite the conditions.
Normally these barracks had surprise inspections where their precious Bible that brought so much light and strength would normally have been seized. Miraculously, they never had such inspections. Much later they found out it was because their barracks were so flea infested that the guards dared not enter. The fleas allowed them to have God's Word for their strength and their hope. Upon learning this, Corrie very humbly knelt and truly thanked God for the fleas!

Here are some of my favorite quotes on gratitude:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
— Melody Beattie

James E. Faust said this about Gratitude:"Gratitude is not only an expression of faith it is a saving principle... it is more than a social courtesy, it is a binding commandment."

Cicero said this about Gratitude in 54 BC: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues it is the parent of all others.”

10 things, that I am grateful for:
1. Jesus Christ
2. Family
3. Friends
4. My Kitties
5. Nature
6. My Label maker
7. Liquid soap
8. Chocolate
9. Technology
10. Humor

War Protest

I never really thought I would see the day when TWO of my girls would be in a "walk out" from school. I am proud of them, when I was a kid there wasn't any war to protest. The men and Women who are sacrificing and serving our country for our freedom are very appreciated and honored by our family.The sacrifice is immesurable. They are Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Friends and the list goes on...I am glad that the Tukwila Police Department stayed close by, I wanted things to stay safe. The city was crazy with police everywhere watching out for kids not in school. The students met in the front of Foster High School, then walked from there to the overpass for I-5, then to the city office buildings and down to the Mall. I followed for a bit and got a few shots. At 1:00 a big group of students from all over are going to meet in Downtown Seattle to have a rally. Cat and her friends are doing that, Liz is staying closer to home. Here are some shots...

November

I can't believe that it is already November! Fall has always been my favorite time of year, and this has been a beautiful Fall in the Northwest! Brad and I went on an amazing Saturday drive to see the North Cascades Highway, I recommend that it was amazing. The fall colors and smells were intoxicating to say the least. I felt like a hound dog, sniffing up new smells everywhere! This time of year is my favorite because of the holiday that it shares with us, Thanksgiving. This holiday gets overlooked more and more. With each year the media put more focus on Halloween and Christmas (the money makers of the year). I love how simple Thanksgiving is, it is what it is; a time to give thanks.

I have so much to be thankful for. Life, strong amazing hubby, fantastic daughters,loving supportive family, friends and then all the little things that we take for granted. The little things like a washing machine, I can not imagine life with out one. Liquid body soap, not the yucky old lye that my grandmother had to use. I would say down comforters, but they have been around for centuries, I am grateful that I have one though.

Thanksgiving will be different this year, last year was stressful. I want to make this year wonderful, happy, abundant and full of great memories for my daughters. Jessica will be back home with friends and family, away from us. But it will be good for her to recharge and come home to us after the short holiday.