Music in the Park

Thursday night in Naperville there are free outdoor concerts. The bandshell is a few blocks away. So we made a picnic dinner of chicken salad sandwiches , chips and root beer topped off by fresh pie bought at the event. A short concert little over an hour - top offed by the 1812 Overture, A fun nights activity.

Let The Party Begin

The revelers are gathering.
The invitation is to all
The bunting has been hung
The beds have been made
The Costco runs have started
The porch sitting commenced

You - yes you - come join the fun
and
Let the weekend long party begin

VolleyBall and Team

The following was written about Mackey's volleyball team, which I thought appropriate to share while she is out of town at nationals

  You all already know what a special group of girls we have in your daughters who are on the SPVB 16 Blue Team   As individuals they show what is exceptional about the female athlete in 2011.  Each one has worked extremely hard, at great personal sacrifice of time and energy, to display poise, athleticism and drive.  I am certain that a 16 year old girl would much rather enjoy what most 16 year old girls enjoy (friendship, fun and free time).  Our daughters, as individuals, are each special in their own way.  Everyday they take a part of themselves and share it with the others.  I fully believe at this time that is a rare and special gift when most athletes are driven to achieve only for themselves.

Our daughters, as a collection of individuals, are a “TEAM” in the greatest sense of the word.  Each of them brings something special to this group and each looks to the other for strength and sacrifice on behalf of the concept of “our team”.  This team truly is one of a kind and, together, they have achieved more than I believe any of them felt was possible when they were individuals hoping for a spot back in late 2010.  There is a reason that this group ended up together and for that, as a parent, I am very grateful.  They have achieved so much more than wins and losses.  They came together as individuals, completely believed in the concept of teamwork and excelled beyond what they imagined.  I trust they all, as a group, understand that they have been part of something special.

Last night they were recognized by the Sports Performance Volleyball Club for what they already believed in.  SPVB 16 Blue was given the 2011 Christine Federico(C-FED) Team Spirit Award.  As Cheryl Butler said so well last night, this is the first time Sports Performance has recognized an entire team with a spirit award at the awards banquet. In light of the sadness of the reason the spirit award now bears the name of an exceptional former player, coach and mother, it makes the recognition that much more special and truly defines what this group of girls achieved together. They are a team that overcame all obstacles, learned from an exceptional leader, motivator and coach and became greater than when they won or when they lost. They learned what can happen when individuals come together, support and defend each other and never give in; never give up.  I look at the picture below and take a sense of great satisfaction that my daughter ended up in this place, at this time with this exceptional group of young women working for one goal…..OUR TEAM!  I hope you share our thoughts with your daughters as we are so very proud each of them and feel very lucky that we were part of this exceptional season.

And so I am grateful for a daughter of integrity and courage who also happens to play a good game of Vball

Come To Nauvoo

Many early Saints considered Nauvoo a sacred place, and they passed down their memories to their children and their children’s children. My Dad is one of those deeply imbued with the Spirit of Nauvoo. Missionary efforts originating in Nauvoo led to worldwide church membership. “My own ancestors were living an ocean away,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said.  “But as a member of the Church, I claim with gratitude and pride this pioneer legacy as my own.”  Through this spiritual ancestry, every member of the Church can feel kinship to the early Saints and experience the blessings of Nauvoo 

Our Stake went this past weekend for a youth conference at Nauvoo. And once again, nauvoo was a spectacular place to be and a place to feel the kinship.

Nauvoo was founded , in part, as a quest for peace. Physical peace through escaping the extermination order and persecution of Missouri and the spiritual peace through the relentless pursuit of building a Temple. The latter pursuit superseded the former and in fact provides one with the strength, insight, and serenity to survive the lack of physical peace In 1839 they fled and left behind Babylon in their quest for Nauvoo  "But I had laid my idols all upon the altar." (Priscilla Staines) "We had the spirit of gathering so strongly that Babylon had no claim on us" (Robert Crookston) - 

Then in 1946 it came to an abrupt ending. The early saints flocked to the Temple and cherished the learning they received. Sarah Rich expressed the feelings of nearly all the recently endowed Saints when she wrote: “If it had not been for the faith and knowledge that was bestowed upon us in that temple by the influence and help of the Spirit of the Lord our journey would have been like one taking a leap in the dark”

 They then walked down Parley Street to cross the frozen Mississippi. The  Walk Down Parley Street  - the Trail of Hope - applies to any Ancestor who "left the World, to follow the Word of the Lord." They may never have been in Nauvoo. Their "walk" may have begun 150 years ago, or it may be happening now. Today we do the same, we leave Babylon, sacrifice on the altar our issues and strive for peace.The challenge is to find your own story leaving the world and finding peace while in the Temple. Then clinging to the Spirit of the Temple to see you though the challenges of the world.

I love Nauvoo and what it causes me to remember.

Happy Father's Day

Great things to get for Father's Day
1) Clothing - ^ Got it

2) Cards - ^ Got it

3) Phone calls from kids - ^ Got it

4) Book - ?? Got it ??

An interesting yet mildly hilariously sad book

Girl's Camp

We love girl's camp.
What we really love is Julie going to girl's camp.
Ok, what we really, really love is having Eden & Dean (oh yes and Duncan) coming down for the better part of the week to party and play with Grandma in naperville while Julie goes to girl's camp.

They are delightful squirts.

The Vortex

Symbolic of the upcoming additions to naperville we enjoyed eating out on the deck tonight with Michael, Mari-Lynn, Robert & Laura and kids, Eden & Dean. Its great to stop in and share meals with family - last sunday Evan & Me with SJ and Dale at Brad & Mari-Lynn's; Brigham mid-week dinner with Brad in DC, and this upcoming sunday Mackey & Rindy dinner at Matt & Honor's. Its  a small world afterall

Belated Birthday

Mackey , Evan and I went to Minnesota for the weekend to wish my mom a belated happy birthday. It was great to see and visit with Mom. She had moments of great wit and I enjoyed sharing family prayer with her at night. Added treats were being able to attend Medicine Lake Ward and catch up with many a friend; and spending a couple of nights at Brad and Mari-Lynns.

Of things Illinois

As you can tell from the accompanying photo I have crossed a major bridge in my life. One part of me was living in denial of having moved and I fed that portion of the inner me by not getting a Illinois Driver's Licence. I am reconciled and moving forward now.

As a side I found it interesting the high degree of angst I suffered  in having to take the written test. With vivid memories of a new neighbor from New Jersey horribly failing the MN test when they moved to MN I studied and studied. My nervousness yielded a 100% but I was concerned.

As a side note if you cut me I still bleed maroon and gold not orange