Thanks to my beautiful friend and her husband who has an insanely large watch

I'm not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but I am sure it's a delicious thing! 

Thank you, Shaun & Melissa for introducing me to Malawi's Pizza in Provo. 

So far, my favorite pizza is the BBQ Chicken and the Strawberry dessert pizza. 

Oh.....My......Gosh.......Yum!   

Or, as my daughter would say, "it's D-Vine".

Stay tuned for Next weeks blog post: 
How long does it take at the gym to make up for eating Malawi's pizza. (yes, with a diet coke.)?

I'm not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but I am sure it's a delicious thing! 

Thank you, Shaun & Melissa for introducing me to Malawi's Pizza in Provo. 

So far, my favorite pizza is the BBQ Chicken and the Strawberry dessert pizza. 

Oh.....My......Gosh.......Yum!   

Or, as my daughter would say, "it's D-Vine".

Stay tuned for Next weeks blog post: 
How long does it take at the gym to make up for eating Malawi's pizza. (yes, with a diet coke.)?

Classy & Dignified people dont hurt others

Each morning as I get up and moving, I turn on the TV and listen to the TODAY show.  I like to know what's going on in the world but today one of the stories really bugged me.  This morning there was a report about girls being physically violent. For some reason it really hit a nerve with me.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42355829#42355829

What is the deal with all these stories in the news about girls fighting other girls?! Where are the mothers of these girls?  Don't they understand that children learn what they live?  What kind of mother sits back and does nothing, or even encourages the bad behavior of her daughter?

We teach our children to serve others by serving  ourselves. 

We teach them to forgive by forgiving. 

We teach love and kindness by being loving and kind and we teach  gratitude and appreciation by being grateful and appreciative."  

  

On Our Best Behavior

Wise parents take care not to be models of negative traits or behavior. We need to remember that hate destroys the soul that harbors it, envy sours the character of one who is dominated by it, criticism and harsh judgment destroy friendships, and bigotry diminishes our world of opportunity.

We can be models of good behavior in the face of these temptations. We can choose to teach our children the better way by avoiding grudge-keeping, fault-finding, nagging, sarcasm, contention, murmuring, ridicule, and antagonism.

When we forgive and forget, we give our children the opportunity to experience the miracle of forgiveness.    

Taken from- Becoming Our Children’s Greatest Teachers By Ronald L. Knighton

 http://lds.org/ensign/1999/09/becoming-our-childrens-greatest-teachers?lang=eng&query=teach+example

These girls are going to grow up and have girls of their own and the cycle of disfunction will keep going on and on. 

I cant even imagine how I would explain getting angry and punching someone to my own daughter!

I think you've got to be extremely insecure to use any sort of violence when you feel upset or angry,  instead of using your words.  

What is it going to take to have these girls act like young ladies?   Most girls want to be stylish, right?  

 

Well,  maybe someone needs to let these women & girls know that classy and dignified is always,  and has always been,  in style! 

Each morning as I get up and moving, I turn on the TV and listen to the TODAY show.  I like to know what's going on in the world but today one of the stories really bugged me.  This morning there was a report about girls being physically violent. For some reason it really hit a nerve with me.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42355829#42355829

What is the deal with all these stories in the news about girls fighting other girls?! Where are the mothers of these girls?  Don't they understand that children learn what they live?  What kind of mother sits back and does nothing, or even encourages the bad behavior of her daughter?

We teach our children to serve others by serving  ourselves. 

We teach them to forgive by forgiving. 

We teach love and kindness by being loving and kind and we teach  gratitude and appreciation by being grateful and appreciative."  

  

On Our Best Behavior

Wise parents take care not to be models of negative traits or behavior. We need to remember that hate destroys the soul that harbors it, envy sours the character of one who is dominated by it, criticism and harsh judgment destroy friendships, and bigotry diminishes our world of opportunity.

We can be models of good behavior in the face of these temptations. We can choose to teach our children the better way by avoiding grudge-keeping, fault-finding, nagging, sarcasm, contention, murmuring, ridicule, and antagonism.

When we forgive and forget, we give our children the opportunity to experience the miracle of forgiveness.    

Taken from- Becoming Our Children’s Greatest Teachers By Ronald L. Knighton

 http://lds.org/ensign/1999/09/becoming-our-childrens-greatest-teachers?lang=eng&query=teach+example

These girls are going to grow up and have girls of their own and the cycle of disfunction will keep going on and on. 

I cant even imagine how I would explain getting angry and punching someone to my own daughter!

I think you've got to be extremely insecure to use any sort of violence when you feel upset or angry,  instead of using your words.  

What is it going to take to have these girls act like young ladies?   Most girls want to be stylish, right?  

 

Well,  maybe someone needs to let these women & girls know that classy and dignified is always,  and has always been,  in style! 

June, Lisa, Kay & Mark

Laundry & Loin Cloths

 The one good thing about folding laundry is that I can watch Oprah at the same time.  Today, Bo Derek was on her show.  She was married to John Derek who played Joshua in the classic movie-

"The Ten Commandments". 

 If you've grown up in America, you have seen the movie "The Ten Commandments" at least a hundred times.  It’s a classic!  As a young girl I loved the scenes with the character Joshua.  He saved the beautiful Lillian from the bad guy and marks her doorway with blood to save her from that crazy mist thing!  

In the movie, Joshua was covered in mud glistening in the sunlight......Oh my goodness...... when he swings down on a rope to

save the old woman...... my little girl heart filled with the hope and promise of my very own Joshua.  And let’s be very honest........he was all buff and tan and charming....I could hardly stand it.  Two Words..... LOIN CLOTH.  

 At about the age of 12, I made up my mind I would either marry a Joshua or name my son after him.  In 1989,  I finally had a Joshua of my own.  Sure, he was wearing a diaper instead of loin cloth and, he has never swung down on a rope to save an old woman, but he has pulled a boy off a bus for messing with his sister!  My Joshua doesn’t glisten in mud, but he does on the basketball court which is cool if you block out the smell factor after a long sweaty game!  AND, although isn’t real handy when it comes to blood and freaky mists, he did bleed on John Stockton once! 

My very favorite part of the movie is when Lilia starts yelling for Joshua to come help her.  It's the way she says it!  She didn’t scream in terror, she yelled in this "come hither and save me you glistening man" voice. 

I would bet that there was a group girls just around the corner of the pyramid saying "This is the third time this week she has used the "I'm in peril come save me method! Who does she think she is?!"  How awesome would it be if Lilia hears them talking and being jealous, so she walks up to them and says "hate the player not the game."?!   

Should I finish the laundry?

So let it be written, so let it be done.

 The one good thing about folding laundry is that I can watch Oprah at the same time.  Today, Bo Derek was on her show.  She was married to John Derek who played Joshua in the classic movie-

"The Ten Commandments". 

 If you've grown up in America, you have seen the movie "The Ten Commandments" at least a hundred times.  It’s a classic!  As a young girl I loved the scenes with the character Joshua.  He saved the beautiful Lillian from the bad guy and marks her doorway with blood to save her from that crazy mist thing!  

In the movie, Joshua was covered in mud glistening in the sunlight......Oh my goodness...... when he swings down on a rope to

save the old woman...... my little girl heart filled with the hope and promise of my very own Joshua.  And let’s be very honest........he was all buff and tan and charming....I could hardly stand it.  Two Words..... LOIN CLOTH.  

 At about the age of 12, I made up my mind I would either marry a Joshua or name my son after him.  In 1989,  I finally had a Joshua of my own.  Sure, he was wearing a diaper instead of loin cloth and, he has never swung down on a rope to save an old woman, but he has pulled a boy off a bus for messing with his sister!  My Joshua doesn’t glisten in mud, but he does on the basketball court which is cool if you block out the smell factor after a long sweaty game!  AND, although isn’t real handy when it comes to blood and freaky mists, he did bleed on John Stockton once! 

My very favorite part of the movie is when Lilia starts yelling for Joshua to come help her.  It's the way she says it!  She didn’t scream in terror, she yelled in this "come hither and save me you glistening man" voice. 

I would bet that there was a group girls just around the corner of the pyramid saying "This is the third time this week she has used the "I'm in peril come save me method! Who does she think she is?!"  How awesome would it be if Lilia hears them talking and being jealous, so she walks up to them and says "hate the player not the game."?!   

Should I finish the laundry?

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Elijah Benjamin Sansom

I've never been to a funeral quite like the one I attended on Tuesday.  Funerals seem to bring the reality of what is really important in life, crashing down on us.  But when it is for a child, the sadness is at a whole different level.  My Brother and Sister in law lost the sweet little boy she was carrying a few weeks before her due date.  He was a beautiful perfect little boy with two cute as can be big sisters waiting in the wings.  They were able to come home to Utah for the  funeral and burial. 

 

What an experience it was.  The funeral was at a church just up the hill from us and I know none of my children will ever forget it.  It didn't take long before I had not only gone through the 4 tissues I had brought, but Brian's as well.   I cant imagine how anyone gets through the death of a loved one without believing in a greater power.  I am so blessed to know that Families are Forever.  I watched my dear sister-in-law as she handled the death of her child with strength and grace.  I looked around the room as she and her husband sang and I saw tears run down the cheeks of each of my children.  I listened throughout the hour to those who spoke and sang, and as I held my sweet husbands hand, I was reminded of just how blessed we are.  I married into an amazing family.  People who are examples to my children, especially in times like this, of what real faith looks like.  It was a sad, but beautiful day.

I've never been to a funeral quite like the one I attended on Tuesday.  Funerals seem to bring the reality of what is really important in life, crashing down on us.  But when it is for a child, the sadness is at a whole different level.  My Brother and Sister in law lost the sweet little boy she was carrying a few weeks before her due date.  He was a beautiful perfect little boy with two cute as can be big sisters waiting in the wings.  They were able to come home to Utah for the  funeral and burial. 

 

What an experience it was.  The funeral was at a church just up the hill from us and I know none of my children will ever forget it.  It didn't take long before I had not only gone through the 4 tissues I had brought, but Brian's as well.   I cant imagine how anyone gets through the death of a loved one without believing in a greater power.  I am so blessed to know that Families are Forever.  I watched my dear sister-in-law as she handled the death of her child with strength and grace.  I looked around the room as she and her husband sang and I saw tears run down the cheeks of each of my children.  I listened throughout the hour to those who spoke and sang, and as I held my sweet husbands hand, I was reminded of just how blessed we are.  I married into an amazing family.  People who are examples to my children, especially in times like this, of what real faith looks like.  It was a sad, but beautiful day.

See you in 18 months!

Tyanin Howard

comes to Utah,

visits the

Haskell Family

& enters the MTC

Tyanin Howard

comes to Utah,

visits the

Haskell Family

& enters the MTC

Sister Howard - Day 2 in Utah

After a long day of running around town, I think we have finally got Sister Howard everything on her list! 

Right now she is re-packing her bags to accommodate today's purchases

while eating

Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream. 

She is one happy lady. 

When we left this morning the light rain was turning to a very light snow, which is nothing to us but you would have thought she had just won the lottery! 

It was so fun to watch her get excited about things like a tiny bit of snow, shopping at Wal-Mart (which she loved) and all the cool stuff at Deseret Book. 

OH, and when I showed her the Disney store she screamed. 

  We took her to lunch at Olive Garden and then drove up to the MTC.  She didn’t have her official schedule on when to arrive so we went in and found out what she needed to do tomorrow. 

 

I'll be right there taking as many photos as I can to forward on to the Howard family!  She is sooooo happy, and excited and even a bit nervous.  

Josh was talking about what to expect at the MTC today and Lindsey asked her what she was most worried about.  She told us her biggest worry is that she won’t be able to remember a scripture or won’t know an answer to a question. 

Before I could even answer, Josh told her that as long as she has the spirit with her, she will be okay.  He said to remember "...you don't need to know all the answers, just where to find them" 

So true. 

 I believe what makes a person a good missionary is the commitment and determination to do whatever it is the Lord asks, especially when it's not easy to do so.    Sister Howard will be fine because you can’t help but like her.

  She is one of those people that make you stop and think that "..No one is really like this, are they?!"  but then you get to know her and you find you find yourself trying to be a better person when she is around.  Our family just loves her so much and so will the people in Boise. 

Howard family:
 First, Brother & Sister Howard, you have done a great job as parents. We really love her and want to help if you ever need anything from our end. 

    



 Second, Thanks for sharing her! She sends her love. If you guys go to Dearelder.com

 you can send her an email today and they will have it printed up and given to her that same day.  It might be cool for her to get a letter on her first day.  





The secret is out!



I was almost done typing this up so her family could get an update when our cute Sister Missionary walked in and showed me the stockings she had just purchased. 

   

 

For some reason one leg is a lot longer than the other.  So funny, I had to get a picture.  We decided it must be some weird fluke but then she yelled for me to come back and see the second pair of stockings was just the same. 





She said,  “I figured it out!  This leg is sewn to the wrong pair and that leg was intended for this other pair." 

 



I just told her all American women secretly haveone leg that is shorter. 

After a long day of running around town, I think we have finally got Sister Howard everything on her list! 

Right now she is re-packing her bags to accommodate today's purchases

while eating

Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream. 

She is one happy lady. 

When we left this morning the light rain was turning to a very light snow, which is nothing to us but you would have thought she had just won the lottery! 

It was so fun to watch her get excited about things like a tiny bit of snow, shopping at Wal-Mart (which she loved) and all the cool stuff at Deseret Book. 

OH, and when I showed her the Disney store she screamed. 

  We took her to lunch at Olive Garden and then drove up to the MTC.  She didn’t have her official schedule on when to arrive so we went in and found out what she needed to do tomorrow. 

 

I'll be right there taking as many photos as I can to forward on to the Howard family!  She is sooooo happy, and excited and even a bit nervous.  

Josh was talking about what to expect at the MTC today and Lindsey asked her what she was most worried about.  She told us her biggest worry is that she won’t be able to remember a scripture or won’t know an answer to a question. 

Before I could even answer, Josh told her that as long as she has the spirit with her, she will be okay.  He said to remember "...you don't need to know all the answers, just where to find them" 

So true. 

 I believe what makes a person a good missionary is the commitment and determination to do whatever it is the Lord asks, especially when it's not easy to do so.    Sister Howard will be fine because you can’t help but like her.

  She is one of those people that make you stop and think that "..No one is really like this, are they?!"  but then you get to know her and you find you find yourself trying to be a better person when she is around.  Our family just loves her so much and so will the people in Boise. 

Howard family:
 First, Brother & Sister Howard, you have done a great job as parents. We really love her and want to help if you ever need anything from our end. 

    



 Second, Thanks for sharing her! She sends her love. If you guys go to Dearelder.com

 you can send her an email today and they will have it printed up and given to her that same day.  It might be cool for her to get a letter on her first day.  





The secret is out!



I was almost done typing this up so her family could get an update when our cute Sister Missionary walked in and showed me the stockings she had just purchased. 

   

 

For some reason one leg is a lot longer than the other.  So funny, I had to get a picture.  We decided it must be some weird fluke but then she yelled for me to come back and see the second pair of stockings was just the same. 





She said,  “I figured it out!  This leg is sewn to the wrong pair and that leg was intended for this other pair." 

 



I just told her all American women secretly haveone leg that is shorter. 

Sister Howard

We have a visitor from Sydney, Australia! 

Sister Howard has been called to the Boise Idaho mission and will be entering the MTC on Tuesday.  

 We got to know her when we lived in Sydney and in no time, we all thought of her as one of the family. 

She is going to be an amazing missionary!

We have a visitor from Sydney, Australia! 

Sister Howard has been called to the Boise Idaho mission and will be entering the MTC on Tuesday.  

 We got to know her when we lived in Sydney and in no time, we all thought of her as one of the family. 

She is going to be an amazing missionary!

That happened at CHURCH?!

A few years ago, after crazy Sunday at church, Josh and I searched online for "when testimony meetings go bad" and we found this site. We've seen some weird & funny stuff happen at church. 

One Sunday, during the last talk in Sacrament Meeting,  I began hearing muffled laughs.  I looked around and saw that it wasn't just my kids laughing.  Brian was in the bishopric and was sitting up on the stand. 

I told my kids to stop laughing but all that managed to do was change the muffled laugh into a half laugh/half snort thing. 

That's when I looked up to see what Brian was thinking about this awesome example of reverence coming from his family.  There in the middle of Brian's forehead was the red dot coming from a laser pointer.  It would move a bit over his brow, disappear for a second and then go back to the forehead.  Yep, it was Joshua that had been entertaining the youth of the ward.   True, the laser on the forehead  was a bit  funny.  For me, its just impossible to discipline kids if you yourself are finding the situation funny!  I have to tell myself not to even crack a smile or I'll start laughing.  Brian was just thrilled when he found out he had spent a good 10 minutes sitting up on the stand with a red laser dot  on his face.  Goodbye laser pointer, hello family night lesson on reverence.

When we lived overseas we didn't have the luxury of watching General Conference at home like we do now.  We would drive to the church and watch the satellite broadcast.  One year, we watched conference on a big screen in the chapel.  There were lots of people there so we ended up in the over flow area but towards the front of the gym.  There were TV monitors on each side of the overflow so everyone could see.  Just as the first speaker was starting his talk, a lady jumped up waving a big teddy bear around her head yelling "This is the prophet!  Listen to this prophet!!".  She then took off running around the chapel and just kept yelling.  The bishop stood up and went to talk to her but as soon as she saw him she took off in the other direction.  A few other people tried to help and then it became the world's most messed up game of "keep away".  All the while, waving the bear and yelling "this is the prophet!"  The woman ran past our seats yelling and Brother Green, who was sitting next to Brian & I said "Should I go restart the broadcast?".  Before Brian could answer I noticed Brother Green's tie tack.  It was a gold teddy bear!   So, I said "Bri, you'd better go do it, she's smuggled in one of her followers." 

------------------- 

In our ward in Australia we started to sing the opening song when all of a sudden the woman leading the music waved for the organ to stop, walked to the pulpit and yelled in the microphone "Wake up brothers & sisters!  It says to sing it JOYFULLY!!  That was not joyful!  Now lets do it again and do it right this time!"

It was way past bedtime on a Saturday night and my kids had been thinking of every reason in the world to keep getting out of bed.  It had been almost an hour of "I need a drink" "We need a song" "have to go to the bathroom" and so on. 

Finally after I was down to my last bit of patience, I tucked my two children in bed and warned them to stay in bed! 

Less than a minute later, Josh appeared with a huge grin on his face.  He very smugly announced, "We have to have prayers!"

We had done family prayers, but had forgotten to listen to their personal prayers, but it was to late!  I yelled "NO! We are not doing prayers now! Go to bed!"   The next day during a sharing time in primary, about prayer, the teacher in charge ask the children to raise their hand if they wanted to share something about prayers in their home.   When she picked Joshua his reply was this.....

"We cant say prayer at our house or our mom yells at us".   Awesome.  Thanks Josh.


What is the craziest or funniest thing you've seen at church?

A few years ago, after crazy Sunday at church, Josh and I searched online for "when testimony meetings go bad" and we found this site. We've seen some weird & funny stuff happen at church. 

One Sunday, during the last talk in Sacrament Meeting,  I began hearing muffled laughs.  I looked around and saw that it wasn't just my kids laughing.  Brian was in the bishopric and was sitting up on the stand. 

I told my kids to stop laughing but all that managed to do was change the muffled laugh into a half laugh/half snort thing. 

That's when I looked up to see what Brian was thinking about this awesome example of reverence coming from his family.  There in the middle of Brian's forehead was the red dot coming from a laser pointer.  It would move a bit over his brow, disappear for a second and then go back to the forehead.  Yep, it was Joshua that had been entertaining the youth of the ward.   True, the laser on the forehead  was a bit  funny.  For me, its just impossible to discipline kids if you yourself are finding the situation funny!  I have to tell myself not to even crack a smile or I'll start laughing.  Brian was just thrilled when he found out he had spent a good 10 minutes sitting up on the stand with a red laser dot  on his face.  Goodbye laser pointer, hello family night lesson on reverence.

When we lived overseas we didn't have the luxury of watching General Conference at home like we do now.  We would drive to the church and watch the satellite broadcast.  One year, we watched conference on a big screen in the chapel.  There were lots of people there so we ended up in the over flow area but towards the front of the gym.  There were TV monitors on each side of the overflow so everyone could see.  Just as the first speaker was starting his talk, a lady jumped up waving a big teddy bear around her head yelling "This is the prophet!  Listen to this prophet!!".  She then took off running around the chapel and just kept yelling.  The bishop stood up and went to talk to her but as soon as she saw him she took off in the other direction.  A few other people tried to help and then it became the world's most messed up game of "keep away".  All the while, waving the bear and yelling "this is the prophet!"  The woman ran past our seats yelling and Brother Green, who was sitting next to Brian & I said "Should I go restart the broadcast?".  Before Brian could answer I noticed Brother Green's tie tack.  It was a gold teddy bear!   So, I said "Bri, you'd better go do it, she's smuggled in one of her followers." 

------------------- 

In our ward in Australia we started to sing the opening song when all of a sudden the woman leading the music waved for the organ to stop, walked to the pulpit and yelled in the microphone "Wake up brothers & sisters!  It says to sing it JOYFULLY!!  That was not joyful!  Now lets do it again and do it right this time!"

It was way past bedtime on a Saturday night and my kids had been thinking of every reason in the world to keep getting out of bed.  It had been almost an hour of "I need a drink" "We need a song" "have to go to the bathroom" and so on. 

Finally after I was down to my last bit of patience, I tucked my two children in bed and warned them to stay in bed! 

Less than a minute later, Josh appeared with a huge grin on his face.  He very smugly announced, "We have to have prayers!"

We had done family prayers, but had forgotten to listen to their personal prayers, but it was to late!  I yelled "NO! We are not doing prayers now! Go to bed!"   The next day during a sharing time in primary, about prayer, the teacher in charge ask the children to raise their hand if they wanted to share something about prayers in their home.   When she picked Joshua his reply was this.....

"We cant say prayer at our house or our mom yells at us".   Awesome.  Thanks Josh.


What is the craziest or funniest thing you've seen at church?

EYE LASH PERM?

Last week while getting all my hair chopped off, I found out there is a lady not far from my house who was offering a special price on eye lash perms.  Yes, I said EYE LASH PERM.   Having been a child in the 70's when perms were going strong, and being from a long line of family members who became victims of bad perms... I am not even tempted in the least bit to perm my lashes. 

So I wondered, how on earth do they do it?  I'm sure there are women that just love it but I'm usually the one to end up with the freaky one-in-a-million result. 

Uh.....No thanks. 

I'd rather have normal dull lashes than risk an eye lash-perm malfunction. 

Last week while getting all my hair chopped off, I found out there is a lady not far from my house who was offering a special price on eye lash perms.  Yes, I said EYE LASH PERM.   Having been a child in the 70's when perms were going strong, and being from a long line of family members who became victims of bad perms... I am not even tempted in the least bit to perm my lashes. 

So I wondered, how on earth do they do it?  I'm sure there are women that just love it but I'm usually the one to end up with the freaky one-in-a-million result. 

Uh.....No thanks. 

I'd rather have normal dull lashes than risk an eye lash-perm malfunction. 

The Sweetheart Tree

 

My dad used to sing this song to me. 

 

 

They say there's a tree in the forest,
 A tree that will give you a sign;
Come along with me to the Sweetheart Tree,
Come and carve your name next to mine.
They say if you kiss the right sweetheart,
The one you've been waiting for,
Big blossoms of white will burst into sight
And your love will be true evermore.

 

My dad used to sing this song to me. 

 

 

They say there's a tree in the forest,
 A tree that will give you a sign;
Come along with me to the Sweetheart Tree,
Come and carve your name next to mine.
They say if you kiss the right sweetheart,
The one you've been waiting for,
Big blossoms of white will burst into sight
And your love will be true evermore.

Roadshow Buddies

For almost a year now, my amazing daughter has spent one evening a week working with a special needs group in our area.  Her cousin Abby goes as well and they both have been paired up with some great girls and were made their official buddies.  

Tonight I got to go watch the Road show they have been working on over the last month.  I was lucky enough to have my niece Mary come along and we got to watch the show together.  Mary is one of my favorite people, but that is another post. 

I cant even think of the right words to explain what it was like to watch these two girls.  I watched Abby & Lindsey throughout the night.  It was easy to see these two girls are already starting to become the kind of young ladies that any mother would be proud off.  They were so happy and full of love & compassion for these new friends they had made. 

I saw boys and girls running up and giving each other hugs, big HI-Fives, thumbs up and showing off their costumes.  I watched as Lindsey met the parents of her buddy.  I listened as they thanked Lindsey and told her about all the wonderful things they have heard about her.  I moved out of the way as Abby's buddy ran to hug her goodbye.  Mary & I laughed as we watched one of the "stars" of the evening, showing "the ladies" his dance moves.  It was such a fun, happy atmosphere, so I was a bit taken back when the microphone was handed to a young man with down syndrome in the front and he began the closing prayer. 

I could make out most of what he was saying but it wasn’t the words that I will remember.  As he began his prayer, it was like a wave of some invisible force washed over everyone and  filled the room.  There is something that happens when a prayer is given from such a pure and sincere place.  The spirit was amazing and you just knew that for a very short moment, you had been given a tiny hint of what it is like to sample heaven. 

 I was so proud of my daughter, my niece and all the young people who have committed a year of their life to serving others.  If you ask her, Lindsey will tell you that it is her that has been given far more than she ever gave. 

For almost a year now, my amazing daughter has spent one evening a week working with a special needs group in our area.  Her cousin Abby goes as well and they both have been paired up with some great girls and were made their official buddies.  

Tonight I got to go watch the Road show they have been working on over the last month.  I was lucky enough to have my niece Mary come along and we got to watch the show together.  Mary is one of my favorite people, but that is another post. 

I cant even think of the right words to explain what it was like to watch these two girls.  I watched Abby & Lindsey throughout the night.  It was easy to see these two girls are already starting to become the kind of young ladies that any mother would be proud off.  They were so happy and full of love & compassion for these new friends they had made. 

I saw boys and girls running up and giving each other hugs, big HI-Fives, thumbs up and showing off their costumes.  I watched as Lindsey met the parents of her buddy.  I listened as they thanked Lindsey and told her about all the wonderful things they have heard about her.  I moved out of the way as Abby's buddy ran to hug her goodbye.  Mary & I laughed as we watched one of the "stars" of the evening, showing "the ladies" his dance moves.  It was such a fun, happy atmosphere, so I was a bit taken back when the microphone was handed to a young man with down syndrome in the front and he began the closing prayer. 

I could make out most of what he was saying but it wasn’t the words that I will remember.  As he began his prayer, it was like a wave of some invisible force washed over everyone and  filled the room.  There is something that happens when a prayer is given from such a pure and sincere place.  The spirit was amazing and you just knew that for a very short moment, you had been given a tiny hint of what it is like to sample heaven. 

 I was so proud of my daughter, my niece and all the young people who have committed a year of their life to serving others.  If you ask her, Lindsey will tell you that it is her that has been given far more than she ever gave.