Friday, May 31, 2013

Summer Inspiration


As summer comes I look forward to the warm weather, camping, barbecues and spending time with family and friends.  As I anticipate this summer's activities, I also reflect on stories from past summers.  The following story continues to inspire me.

Brighton Girls' Camp is a camp run by the LDS church for girls who are 12 to 14 years old.  The camp is staffed by young ladies who are typically 16 years old to their mid 20's.  Brighton is located in Big Cottonwood Canyon in Utah, nestled among the trees, hills and boulders.  It is beautiful, but not the easiest location for a young girl who is confined to a wheelchair.  

In 2012 the leadership of Brighton was asked if there was a way they could accommodate a young lady in a wheelchair at camp.  The request was that she be able to enjoy one day at camp.  As it was discussed, they were determined to find a way for her to not only join them for one day, but the whole week.  They knew that they could find a way.

When her week came, she did stay the whole week.  The girls in her group were happy to help her and all of the staff was there for her as well.  She was enjoying a week of being a Brighton camper.  Near the end of the week, her counselor asked who in their group wanted to go on the sunrise hike.  Nearly everyone in the group raised their hands, including this sweet girl.  The hike is tough.  Girls have to get up hours before dawn in order to make the climb to one of the highest peaks in the canyon to view the sunrise.  Hiking  in the dark with little sleep is hard on even the strongest girls, but how would they accommodate a girl who was confined to a wheelchair?

Her counselor, other staff members and the camp president discussed it.  They knew it was the right thing to do and they had to find a way.  The staff knew what they needed to do, "We will carry her."  And they did.

They trusted in each other and in their Heavenly Father to get them and this sweet girl up the mountain.  When one's strength would start to fail, another would step up and continue to carry her.  They didn't let her feel like she was a burden, but a blessing.  The joy they must have felt when they reached the peak!  They said that the joy she radiated was amazing and lifted them and gave them enough strength for the trip down the mountain.

While watching the sunrise, she was free.  She was able to sit at the peak, crawl to her own special rock and view God's masterpiece.

Every time I see this picture, it touches my heart.  Yes, that is her out on the rock, enjoying a view she never thought possible.  I can't imagine the courage and faith it must have taken for her to even raise her hand the day before.  And the faith the leaders had as they said yes.

"Don't limit yourself and don't let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities. You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith." ---Thomas S. Monson

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

What One Kid Can Do...

Well,  today has been one of those days at my house!   We started out the day with one child having an allergic reaction to a bug bite, and ended it with a flat tire on the way to a school concert. If I had list of favorite days, today probably wouldn't make the cut! 

In the middle of the whirlwind, though, I spent some time at my kids' school reviewing the  service projects of some pretty amazing sixth grade students.  Each student spends 30 or more hours on a project of their own design, serving in a way that they consider to be important.  I agreed to take on this endeavor five years ago.  When I first approached various charities, looking for things that an 11-12 year old kid could do to make a difference, I met a lot of skepticism.  I heard a lot of talk about minimum volunteer ages, liability, and other obstacles that seemed nearly impossible to overcome.  As I look back over that road, it is hard for me to believe what these kids have accomplished since those first discouraging days.  This year the group of 53 sixth graders and 5 honors ninth grade students has completed over 2800 hours of self-directed service.  I thought I'd leave you with a list of some of the little miracles I have witnessed over the last five years.


What one kid can do:


One kid can fill a truck with clothes and supplies to send to families on a Hopi Reservation.
One kid can make enough dog treats to pay for the training of a police dog. (The dog is famous now.  You can find him here: http://www.wvc-ut.gov/index.aspx?NID=1137 )
One kid can make six dolls and 23 doll hospital gowns for doctors and nurses to use in communicating with kids about procedures at the children's hospital.
One kid can sell enough handmade earrings to raise over $800 for the local Women's Shelter.
One kid can earn enough money to support the education of a child in Guatemala for a year.
One kid can gather over 200 books for kids in homeless shelters to take with them as they move into more permanent housing.
One kid can develop a club to help younger girls develop self esteem and positive social skills.
One kid can knit and sell enough hats to provide an entire Christmas for a family of five whose parents were both stricken with cancer.
One kid can clean the grafitti from neighborhood parks and fences.
One kid can perform much needed yard work while reminiscing with a local veteran.
One kid can gather over 140 pairs of shoes to be sent to Haiti.
One kid can volunteer for the Dyslexia Center of Utah because she has struggled with dyslexia herself and knows how important it is.
One kid can  gather used sports equipment to be sent to kids in South America.
One kid can sew pillowcases for  25 children with cancer.
One kid can  begin a robotics program to teach engineering skills to kids whose parents have been incarcerated.



 It was not many days ago that I last heard someone comment on how the next generation has a sense of entitlement and no work ethic.  For some kids, that may be true.  Mixed in among the masses, though, are some incredible kids who are changing the world one little problem at a time.  It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity of standing at the sidelines and cheering them on. I'm still waiting for one of them to offer to change my tire for me, but in the meantime I am grateful to know that where it really counts,  one kid can change the world.

-Debs

Video-bombing

Even if you aren't a baseball fan, these guys are sure to put a smile on your face.  And for those who love baseball and a good video bomb, it's a bonus. Enjoy!  (posted for Pam)

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Memorial Day Snowball Fight

I am switching it up a little today.  The news this weekend was full of car accidents and tragedies.  Unfortunately, our family did not escape the trend of accidents this weekend.  Pam's son, Isaac, was in an accident.  Luckily he and his friends walked away without any serious injuries.  The night and the accident were full of miracles.  I will leave you in suspense and let Pam post more information when she is ready.

As for the happy post, I thought I would give you a peek into our lives and what we enjoy doing as a family.

Growing up with 5 siblings, we didn't have money for extravagant vacations.  Instead, we would pile all of the kids in the truck and camper and head to the mountains or down to our family farm in Fremont, Utah.  We grew to love the beauty and peace that can be found in the mountains.  This love has continued and we are now passing that love on to our children.

For most of our family, Memorial Day was spent in the mountains this year.  Pam and Debbi spent time with their kids up at Snowbird.  My youngest, Whitney, went hiking with friends.  Brian, Chelsea and I headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  We decided to go for a walk around Silver Lake.  As we got to the north side of the lake we had to walk across snow.  Being one of those obnoxious moms who always has her camera out, I had Chelsea pose for a picture in the snow.  The snow was a little too tempting for my adventurous 21 year old.  Next thing I knew, a snowball was flying over my head, straight at her dad!  We had a great time hiking, unsuccessfully looking for moose and enjoying being a family.

We concluded our trip up the canyon parked in the Brighton Bowl looking for my ipod.  My dear husband decided that a good hiding place was in the compartment that covered the lighters/power supplies in our truck.  Unfortunately, when the cover is closed, it works kind of like a laundry chute, sending my ipod into the vast unknown behind or under the dash board.  Our search was unsuccessful.  Fair warning:  never try to store anything in said compartment.  You will have much more success using compartments that are actually meant for storage. :)

Have a great week!  If you have any good news or happy stories you would like to share, please send them to us.  We are always happy when others share their "lemonade" with us.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

A Real Lemonade Stand

I saw my first lemonade stand of the season yesterday.  I was dropping my son off at his friend's house when we noticed some kids we know from school with their card table and sign.  We waved and I continued on to our destination, telling my 16 year old that he and his friend should visit the lemonade stand.  On the way home I picked up a couple Otter Pops from the kids.  A screaming deal at 25 cent a piece.  They may or may not be sitting melted in the car.  I still haven't decided which was best, their happy faces when I stopped or my happy heart when my 16 year old texted me to say he and his friends had paid them a visit.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Good Samaritan meets Love Story

So this couple is hiking in Washington State when the wife looks over just in time to see another couple together on a mountain ridge, sharing a moment they will want to remember forever; their engagement.  As the guy drops to one knee the onlookers pull out their camera.  Lucky guy, she says yes.  Even luckier, Geoff  had his camera handy.  Once he had the picture, Geoff knew he needed to get it to the couple.  Thanks to social media, one friend told another friend until the couple was found and their special moment was theirs on film- or disk.  You know what I mean.  What's better and a Good Samaritan story crossed with a love story?  Not much! (Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2329204/Photographer-stumbled-couples-mountaintop-proposal-tracks-pictures-special-moment.html)        Once in a lifetime: Geoff Parker stumbled across a man proposing to his girlfriend on a mountain ridge and captured the moment. He has now tracked them down to give them the pictures                                                       She said yes! The couple had no idea Parker had been there until they saw the pictures on Facebook

A Little Good News

Today was a sad news day.  Again.  So Becky had this brilliant idea that we should start sharing some good news or something uplifting with the world.  Well, I know a good idea when I hear one, so I got on it tonight - possibly to avoid the Board training I'm supposed to be doing.  And I volunteered Debs.  Lucky girl.  So here we are and the good news is hard to find, but it is there, all you have to do is look.