Life's Lessons

A year ago, we hit a family low point when Willie didn't make the junior high basketball team. It just didn't make sense -- big kid, pretty good skills, lots of experience, . . .

It was a difficult process to work through, but we did it, and we all lived to tell about it.

This morning, I drove the boy to school, entered the forbidden parking lot, parked in a visitor slot, told the boy to go in the school and check the "list", I waited. I waited. I had this sick feeling in my stomach. I waited. It seemed like and eternity, at least 50 students walked by and entered the school. Then I saw him, he came out the far south door, no indication of anything, I was sick inside. Then, I saw a sign, right arm thrust upward with conviction, and the right thumb pointing up! He made it! He made the final cut! He is on the basketball team! Yes!

January 2009, brought a new junior high basketball season. Willie participated in every open gym/intramural basketball activity. He prepared, every day, to do his best at the upcoming tryouts. He worked hard, made himself known, did his best (with prayers and faith), and then added some intensity. Behind the scenes, he prepared himself mentally for both a good or a not so good outcome. He knew before the first cut that he had given his very best. And he told us he felt good about tryouts either way. He definitely knew how his friends felt who didn't make the first or second cut.

Well, I am pleased to report that he made the first cut, then the second, then the third. He made the team! We know Willie is very blessed on or off the team. We're excited he can move to a new level of play -- new coach, new team members, new environment, new gym, . . .

The whole process has been a good learning experience for all of us --

Happy Birthday, Grandson!

You are a funny little boy and you make me laugh. I love to listen to you talk -- it's a language I'd never heard until you began speaking it, and I understand nearly every word. Thanks for knowing who I am and calling me "MaaaMaaa!" Your giggle is infectious, and it doesn't take much to get you going. You have great parents and other family members who love you so much!! What a lucky little boy you are! And what lucky people we are to have you in our family!

Happy Birthday -- #2!

A great day for the USA --

On a day like today, it doesn't matter much who voted for whom. All of the USA and the world celebrated the transfer of power from one President to the next without a hitch. It's called democracy. And, in the middle of all the pomp and circumstance was an incredibly powerful and inspirational inaugural address.

President Obama delivered a pretty significant speech -- at least it impacted me. But, I must say that the following was most compelling, personally:

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

I have a dream . . .

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

. . . And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

I was in eigth grade when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated -- April 4, 1968. Kids growing up in the sixties saw, heard, and experienced a lot of terrible and violent events. Little did I know then of the now infamous speech, "I have a dream." I was barely nine or ten when it was delivered on the steps of Lincoln Memorial. Some years later, however, as a young teenager, we had frequent firesides for the young people in our church/ward. One of the leaders had access to the entire Granite School District film collection (no videos -- not yet invented). It was common on Sunday evenings after sacrament meeting for all the young people of the ward to gather in the multipurpose room behind the chapel for a film fireside. We saw all kinds of films, but one that impressed me above all others was of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech. It impacted me then and now some 45 years later the speech is ever inspiring.

I have included with this post only a small excerpt from the original speech. But in this excerpt includes the most resounding message of the entire speech for me, personally. Repeated:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Wow!

I am pleased that we celebrate this brave man by honoring his birthday as a nation.

My kids ----

Their ages are -- 14, 28, and 30. I never imagined that I would have three children when I was a young girl, let alone three incredibly great kids. We spent some nice time together over the winter recess -- no school or crazy work schedules. Time with my kids (and other family members) is priceless! I love to listen to them because they have important things to say. I love to watch them because they do great things. They have straight teeth and sharp minds -- what else could a mother ask for?

A beautiful day . . .

Yesterday was just about the most beautiful day I have ever seen. It snowed well into the late night Friday, early morning Saturday. It was so cold Saturday morning that the snow stayed on the trees all day. About 3:00 p.m. I left to run some errands. As I turned the corner to head east on 4100 South, I couldn't help but be energized and happy by what I saw. The snow sparkled everywhere. The valley was covered in it's snowy glory. The trees were naturally flocked, and the sky was the most impeccable blue! I couldn't keep from smiling as a drove along. What a beautiful day!

How SWEET it is! Sugar SWEET!

The Utah Football Team ripped the Crimson Tide of Alabama tonight in the Sugar Bowl! It was absolutely awesome! (Willie and Karl attended all but one of the Utes home games this season and what a season it was!) It was such an exciting game tonight -- both offense and defense played the best ever! My favortie player is Paul Kruger and he played as tough as a hard nose kid from Utah can play! Congratulations UTES!