Last night my son had the opportunity to sing in the Hope of America in Provo.  He was a part of a live flag.  I don't know how many students participated, but the whole student side of the Marriott Center had students in Red, White and Blue and yellow for the top and bottom borders.  It was AMAZING!
There were many wonderful performances and songs sang by these Elementary School age children.  I sat there in amazement at the talents these children have and are willing to share.
There was a group of women from 50 - 92 that came and danced as part of the show and then the 92 year old stayed out and did a solo with kicking her leg up in the air and then finishing with the splits.  I thought to myself, "What does it take to be that healthy at 92." 
I also thought about the teachers that took an evening out of their schedule and lives to come and give these students this experience.  There are always so many hours that go into putting things like this on that I am sure there were many outside school hours to do this.  It will be an experience that they will never forget.
The lessons learned by these students and the audience of patriotism were very touching.  It caused me to reflect on the things that I take for granted and for my many blessings.  We may not have a job right now, but do I have blessings!  Wonderful children, committed teachers at the school to provide these type of experiences for my children, a committed husband who doesn't give up. the gospel, a knowledge that I am not alone in all of the things I go through, loving extended family and many other things, but most of all freedom and people who are willing to protect our country and sacrifice for me and my family so that we can have the right to do these things freely.
As a challenge, take time today to thank someone for something.  Even if it is the person who checks you out at the store.  Thank them for being efficient and doing their job well.  You can even say thank you by slowing down and letting a car switch lanes and waving to them.  The small acts of service will make you and the other person have a great day!

This week at our elementary school is Faculty / Teacher Appreciation Week.  I love this week!  I think it is a great time to say THANK YOU for all that our faculty and teachers do for us and for our children.
I know that it is commonly called Teacher Appreciation Week, but after being PTA President for 2 years and having close interactions with several of the aides, custodians, lunchroom staff, special education department, office staff, etc. I have to say that I think it is really important to thank EVERYONE at the school.  Just think what it would be like if the custodians weren't there to clean up after our students.  What if the lunchroom staff didn't come REALLY early in the morning to be prepared to serve our children lunch (and in some cases breakfast)?
Today we did a breakfast for all of our staff.  I wasn't in charge, but I loved what they did.  They did Pancakes, ham and fruit toppings for the pancakes.  It was a HIT!  The faculty (everyone) was given a gift certificate for a local restaurant (which it doesn't hurt to see if businesses will help and sponsor things like this or even meet partial way - which is what happened at our school).  The local business gave us a 30% discount off of the gift certificates which made it GREAT!
While the faculty was in having breakfast parents were covering classes and having the students decorate their doors.  The lady in charge had asked ahead of time for people to do the other faculty doors.  I did three of them and it was fun.
Also, during the week they have had fun theme days for little things to be brought in to the teachers from the students and then parents and others made sure the rest of the faculty got little treats.  The days were:
Fruit Day
Flower Day
Supply Day
Treat Day
Note Day (write a note of thanks)
Anyways, I think it is great!  I will say that there have been years that things haven't been perfect with different teachers with my children, but I know that I am not in there teaching and don't really think that I have the capabilities to do it and am grateful for their efforts.  There are ALWAYS great things in each individual that is willing to teach.  
Need ideas for Posters or thoughts of appreciation?  I will be posting on my website in the next few days several ideas.  Watch for them.

So, last week on my facebook account I put the following, "Life is interesting. Sometimes when you think the doors are opening and the nice comfortable breeze will be coming soon and you are really prepared for that the breeze comes up and SLAMS the doors shut. That is how I feel today, but I am sure there will be another day when a door or a small crack of a window will start to open."
I was starting to feel like life was piecing together.  We were going to lose unemployment completely, but the company my husband worked for had hired me to do some writing for them.  My thought was when one door closes another door opens.  I was thinking that things would move forward with my husband's job and now I would start working and life would start to smooth out after almost 10 months of unemployment and then part time job.  I had figured I would start last week.  My nerves were starting to calm a little bit.
Then. . .
On Tuesday I was very focused on what I needed to get done while all of my children were at school.  I pulled in the driveway, came in and sat down at the kitchen table and started working on the laptop.  About 20 minutes later I hear footsteps and a chair move upstairs.  Scared the daylights out of me!  I grabbed my cell phone and house phone and for some reason went out the front door instead of the back door (that was only a couple of steps away from where I was).  I was thinking, "Oh my gosh, I am being robbed.  There is a stranger in my house."  As I was about to dial 911 I looked up and realized that our car was home.  Then I realized that Rick was home.  I had to laugh at myself that I didn't notice the car in the driveway.  I came back in and yelled upstairs for Rick and asked him what he was doing.  He said, "Packaging ebay, because I have nothing else to do."  Oh my goodness, you guessed it, he was laid off.  He was the new boy on the block and they had to do alot of layoffs.  The confidence that I had that we had finally gotten an in at a company was gone. 
What was even crazier was that I stayed calm and told him that things would work out and that this was another stepping stone for us.  Look at all of the possibilities and we would be fine.  I actually believed that and had confidence that we would be blessed. 
So, here we are.  I am finally getting my husband to help me build out my website that I have envisioned for 2 1/2 years.  It's kindof like the contractor's house is the last one built.
On Friday night, I started to have my light of hope dwindle a little bit.  The weekend was rough, but here we are on Monday with my checklist in hand and many things to do. 
I am reminding myself to DO MY BEST TODAY and the Lord will take care of the rest.  That is what I am doing.