2nd Sunday

2nd Sundays bring us to Sheri and Aaron's home,

or them to ours, for family dinner.
We enjoyed having Grandpa with us this week.

Memories being made...
...and memories being remembered.
Wonderful food, THANKS!
Games to be played.
Dad and Gavin.
Eliza and Sam
Emma and Clarissa
Jeremy loves girls, oops, the girls.
finger lickin good
Sam was remembering this Sunday going to
Aaron's house in Orem.
He remembered that when he was little he LOVED
going to Aaron's.
Once I told him we were running errands,
by the end of the day he was in tears,
"Why didn't we go to Aaron's house,
you said we were running aaronds!"

2nd Sundays, for memory making and remembering.

The Stonecutter

Sam's class at school did a town meeting last week. They choose a story, a book, a theme; then as a class they write a play. The music teachers work with them on music, the theater teacher works with them on dialogue, on actions, and on costumes. The dance teacher works with them on dance routines. Then as a class they do the scenery. It is generally a large production and at the end of the semester each class does a town meeting. This semester was Sam's production. They do one per class per year.

His class chose the story of the Stonecutter. The story, in a nutshell is portrayed on the video below, which has been used for institute course viewing, etc.

A couple of the thoughts at the end of the production [which Sam's class learned from the story] I found particularly profound.

They came up with that the spirits of the mountain turned the Stonecutter back into a stonecutter because he had learned wisdom on his journey. He had learned that the most powerful thing that you can become is to become yourself. And that within each one of us is the power to do the most good, and that the strength that we have in being ourselves is more powerful than anything we might encounter.

They learned that to be content with being yourself is the most valuable lesson and carries the most wisdom. I love the thought that was put into this production, and truly wish I was a videotaper, because nothing will ever be produced that will have as much heart as I saw these 9 and ten year old children produce. Great job, Sam. I hope that I myself will learn to be more content with what is within me. The power of being me. Love you buddy.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not save the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that others won't feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. As we let our light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." --Marianne Williamson

Are you onry?

Clarissa's Veterans Day program honoring
those who served in the military.
Clarissa was a greeter.
She asked the attendees if they were honorees
and gave them a special chair cover as they arrived.

One veteran did not have his hearing aids.

He heard, "Are you onry?"
"No, I'm not onry."

"I'm sorry," Clarissa said,
"I meant are you an honoree?"

He replied again: "No, I am not onry today, I am just old."

Her dance teacher said,
"Maybe you should just ask if he is a veteran."

Clarissa: "Are you a veteran?"
Honoree: "Oh, yes, of course, I am a veteran."

George and Maureen.
George was not onry today either.
A very pleasant veteran of the Vietnam War.
Thanks George. We love you.

Fred Jackson and Mike Cullis
Fred is a Vietnam Vet; our friend.
He has two purple hearts
from his service.
Mike Cullis is our cousin.
Also a vet of Vietnam.

Brian and Marion Lawrence.
Grandma Lawrence is a veteran of WWII.
She was a Marine.
She was so proud of her granddaughter.

The Wasatch Color Guard.

Clarissa respectfully pondering the meaning
of servicemen and women.

Aunt Leila, Grandpa, Grandma Kathy

Looking at Gavin's Personal Exploration on Noseart.
He interviewed Grandpa, as a pilot in WWII,
The display was enjoyed by veterans today.

The Gustafson family.

Clarissa and Grandpa Cecil.
Grandpa played Taps,
and represented the Veterans
during the flag folding ceremony.

Grandma Lawrence and Clarissa.

Playing with Emma, Eliza, and Zoe.
They loved dancing on stage.
Definitely Grandmas girls.

Thank you, from Clarissa,
to everyone who came to her program.
And, Thank You Grandpa, for playing Taps. I love you.

The program was full of beautiful dancing, and
wonderful singing, remembrances of those
who served, those who didn't come home,
and sacrifices made for our freedom in America.

[I wish I had pictures for you of her dancing and singing,
and during the theatrical portion of the letters from home.
She was beautiful, and did a wonderful job.
Due to being respectful
to the Veterans they were honoring,
they asked us to refrain from taking pictures
during the program.
I was so pleased to show my respect
and not take any pictures,
although, I can think of three I will cherish in my mind,
as well as hearing my Grandfather play taps.
It is something I will never forget.]

Clarissa also honored Grandpa Adamson,
who served in Korea;
Glen Burr, who served in Iraq;
and Grandpa Lawrence, who served in WWII.

awards...