Celebrations of Life: 4 Birthday parties and 3 funerals

I've been pondering about the beautiful lives we each have been given. Life is truly a gift.

This weekend our children have been running here and there to different birthday parties for their friends. Birthday's can seem fairly routine--like an everyday occurrence, but they are a reason to celebrate! Each individual is unique and has been given a unique family and circumstances to grow and develop.

This weekend we have also attended 3 funerals for 3 special people.

First, Monique White who at 9 years old had completed her mission on this earth. She was a special child totally dependent on others for care. She has a very special family who loved her so much and it seems her presence affected the lives of so many. At church, we will miss seeing her brother Jacob push her in her wheelchair to sit by their family and her primary class will miss having this special child in their class.

Kathy Williams was a wonderful wife, mother and new grandma who was an inspiring woman of faith. She led a life full of service to her children and to others. When she became sick 8 months ago, she never complained and her faith grew stronger. She was an inspiration to all who knew her and will be missed by many.

Eric Allen was a young man who was a teacher and football coach at Lincoln High School. For several years, he lived life to the fullest even as he suffered from brain cancer. He inspired his students in the game of life: "This is why I coach, to teach the kids that life is more than football. There are going to be hundred of challenges in life and you have to be strong enough to get through them. If you can handle football, you can handle those challenges."

Roger and Veronique White summed up their feelings very sweetly:

"During this difficult time our family testifies of the reality of the resurrection which is a gift from our Savior Jesus Christ and are filled with an overwhelming sense of love and hope. We take strength in a sure and peaceful witness that our Father in Heaven loves us and has prepared a way for our family to be together now and throughout all eternity."

I am also thankful for my knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that we will be reunited with loved ones again after we die. I know that we were given this life to learn to be obedient and to serve and to love. Each day of life is truly a gift and I am thankful for it.

Birthday Odyssey

Happy 6th Birthday Preston!

We all had a great time at Odyssey 1 celebrating Preston's birthday...it was the easiest birthday party for me and the kids all had a blast. Preston had a fun 60 seconds in the Birthday box where he tried to gather as many tickets as possible to exchange for prizes. Friends include Hannah, Hailey, Caleb, Jacob, Caeden, Quincy, Carson, and Janette.

Numbers

Preston is obsessed with numbers. Every day and every where he asks questions...what year will it be when I turn 80?....how many days old am I?....what is 80 plus 80 plus 80 plus 80?.....on and on. The other day he was studying the scores of a college basketball game on TV--score was 61 to 63, University of Washington was ahead...then he said, we need 37 more points and then we'll be at 100. We were impressed. Last night he was asked to say the prayer before dinner. He folded his arms and bowed his head and instead of starting the prayer as usual, he started counting...1, 2, 3... He got to 3 before he realized what he was doing! What a hoot, this kid is number crazy! He's getting math workbooks for his 6th birthday and I wouldn't be surprised if they were his favorite gift.

Acappella Time

Last weekend Mike and I had a great time with the Curtis Acappella choir on their trip to Portland Oregon and to the Oregon Coast. It was so much fun to be with Mr. D, Christian and the rest of the choir kids --they are the best!

We visited beautiful Astoria and the Astoria Tower.

Below is the whole group overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the Astoria Tower Park. The kids loved climbing up the tower and we had a 360 degree view of Washington, Oregon, and the Columbia River as it enters the Pacific Ocean. The kids had great fun singing in the tower and throwing planes from the top.

We spent several hours in Seaside...at the beach...at the arcade and

singing at a Retirement Center.

We sang at a Lutheran church in Gresham. The acoustics there were so amazing and the congregation loved hearing the kids sing.

One night we attended a special musical program in downtown Portland--we heard the group Spectrum from Las Vegas sing with the Portland Symphony--they sang favorites from the past such as My Girl and Rubberband Man. The title of their program was Motown's greatest and every song was entertaining and musically amazing. The kids enjoyed this so much and by the the end the whole group was dancing in the aisles!

We also enjoyed a performance at the beautiful downtown Portland Mall and then a couple hours of shopping.

Singing at the PLU choral festival in Lagerquist Hall before heading down to Portland.

Christian and Ben having fun with friends......and with bus driver Don who was a fun part of our group and helped us get around safely and efficiently.

11

February 23, 2010

We celebrated Hannah's 11th birthday!

She had to fight Preston to keep him from blowing out her candles. But with her usual easy goingness, she laughed and was a good sport.

Everyone loves Hannah, she is our sweetheart...growing up too fast!
One of her birthday surprises was a newly decorated room complete with couch and comforters. She loves to snuggle up with her pillows, her robe and read a good book. Right now she is on the 3rd book of Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites.