Warm weather?

We laughed as we loaded the plane for Hawaii because we flew out of Utah just hours before the biggest snow storm of the season blew in.
We weren't laughing when we landed in Hawaii and saw the amount of rain coming down.

Every day we saw anywhere from a little to a lot of rain.  We were thankful for the days with a little rain.

The first day we had a beautiful morning.  We really lucked out because we had signed the boys up for a zip line tour.  

 Avram and Briggs have never done anything like this before and since it was so expensive we decided to just let them do it together.  Dad and I chucked as we watched everyone in the boys group fly down the line for their practice jump.  Avram and Briggs kept stepping back until everyone had gone.  When it finally came their time to jump we could see the boys hesitantly get hooked up.  Briggs called down to us, "Is this the same zip line that David Adams did?"  We yelled, "yes, and he loved it!"
I think had David Adams not gone on the zip line just two weeks previously the boys would have chickened out.  It only took one jump and they realized they were going to have a blast!

On Tuesday the kids were introduced to the different Polynesian cultures at the PCC.

 Adam performed on stage at the Togan show.  With a little darker skin you would have thought Adam was Tongan.

Adam and I have been to Oahu once so we decided to jump on an inexpensive fight and head over to Maui for two days.  We arrived in Maui at 9 am Wednesday Morning.
After a quick breakfast we took off on the road to Hana.  Because we had such a late start and very short attention spans we decided to just hit some of the top spots along the way.

 I studied out the stops and I also bought and App that performed as a tour guide through out our journey.

 Banana Bread stop

 Black Sand Beaches

 I think this little cave was Ilas favorite part simply because our app told us about a Queen that hid in this cave to escape her horrible husband.  He hunted her down and killed her in this cave.

 We decided to take a hike near the end of the road to Hana.  We hiked a 5 mile round trip to see Waimoku Falls, a 400 foot waterfall.  We hiked through a huge rain storm and a lot of mud but we made it.

 Ila led the way on the hike.  She had her bamboo walking stick and we could hardly keep up with her.

The boys weren't too happy about the hike.

We arrived at the hotel after 10 pm but we had made it around the entire island.  

Thursday morning we found an open spot on a boat for whale watching.  

 Since it is the Whale season we were able to see many whales and some dolphins.

We found a fantastic little restaurant for dinner.  We headed back to Oahu late that night.  

I think the other side of the Island had more sun than the North Side where we were staying.  Friday morning we went to Hanama Bay and enjoyed the beautiful sun shine.  

We saved our trip to the PCC night show for Friday night.  We were hoping to be a little better adjusted to the time so we could stay awake.  

The kids loved the show.

Saturday we went straight to the Dole plantation so we could get some Dole whip before the lines started.  Yum!!!

 We let the kids spend their money at the swap meet and then went to Pearl Harbor.

Sunday morning the fun continued with a visit to the north point of the island.

 Church, Temple, Visitor Center.

 I also took advantage of the opportunity to be in such a beautiful place and I took pictures of Ila for her soon to be 8 year old pictures.

Somehow Monday crept up on us.  We went to a popular Banyon tree where many films have been made.

 Finally we spent our time left in Hawaii on the beach, in the wind and rain.

We would have loved to have had another day or two with some Sunshine.  

It was hard to return to Utah and the cold.  

 Ila made friends with Mom and Dads land lords daughter, Melia.  Melia adored Ila and has already called to talk to her because she misses her.

Im so thankful we were able to go to Hawaii as a family.  It was so fun to see Mom and Dad.  It was a wonderful vacation.  

Its coming

It hasn't happened yet but within the next couple of weeks I am going to be released from the Stake Primary Presidency.  After 2 years as a councilor and 3 1/2 as the president I guess everyone will be happy to see a change.

Even though I haven't officially been released I have started working with the soon to be new Stake Primary President.  I spent 4 hours with her this week going over information.  She has been one of my counselors for the past year and she will be a great president.  

My other counselor, Stacy, found out a couple of weeks ago that her son, who is a friend of Briggs, has Leukemia.   Briggs was shocked to hear one of his friends that is the same age as him has cancer. It is so hard seeing my dear friend and her son go through this.  

Im torn on how to feel about being released from the Primary.  It is really hard because I love the children in the Stake so much!  I have seen many of them go from nursery to baptism.  I have watched dozens of them leave and move onto Young Mens and Young Women's.  I have witnessed dozens of baptisms.  Most of the kids know me.  When I was called to be the Stake Primary President 3 1/2 years ago one morning, on a Sunday, I had a profound and very clear spiritual moment when a love surrounded me that was so powerful it brought me to tears.  I watched the faces of so many children in the stake flash through my brain and an overwhelming love for them seem to explode from my body.  I would have to say it is the strongest feeling of love I have ever experienced.  After this happened I couldn't pull myself together.  I asked Adam to give me a blessing to help me have the strength I needed to fulfill the calling which I had been given.  

Ever since that day I can not explain the deep love I have for each primary and each child as I visit them in their wards.  I have Young Women come up to me and hug me and tell me they miss me, because I have spent so many years watching over them and teaching them.  Im scared that when I am released from my calling the love I have for these children will be lost.  Im sad that soon the kids will forget me.  Im going to miss hearing their testimonies.  Im going to miss the primary programs.  It has truly been an honor to serve in this calling.  I have made friends through out the stake that will be my friends for forever.  (And I've offended a few people that may never forgive me too)

While I have been working with the soon to be Stake Primary President this week and she is still finalizing the people for her new presidency; I got a visit from my Bishopric.

They told me they have been waiting for months for me to be released and they have been holding a couple of callings for me.  They have asked me to be the Scout Committee Chair.  I actually somewhat volunteered for this when Adam became scout master.  This is a calling I am happy to have and help Adam.  The 2nd calling is to be a sunday school teacher over Avrams class.  Currently they have a couple teaching Avrams class.  They want to call the Man to a new calling so they asked if I would co-teach with the wife.  This individual is struggling a little bit in the church with her testimony so she needs some extra support.  She just happens to be my visiting teaching companion also.  I told them I would be happy to work with her and I am very excited to be a sunday school teacher, I have never done this before.  The bishopric said, "We will just wait until you are released over the pulpit and then we will officially present this to the ward."  I must admit, I am excited about my new callings.  

On another note Briggs is half way done with his play performances.  On Saturday Adam and I took a lunch to the entire cast, 40 kids.  Jules likes to make sure these kids are fed a healthy meal before the performance.  We will be feeding the kids again next Saturday.  

This is Briggs playing around before the show.  Jules was reviewing some parts with the lead characters.  Briggs was running around the stage playing the role of every other part.  

Ila had a 12 hour stomach flu bug this week.  So far no one else has caught it so hopefully we will be able to move past that.  

Smile

If I haven't praised the name Jules Snarr in my blog Im going to do it now.  We have a theater director at Briggs charter school that is priceless.  She not only has professional experience in theater, but she is a great teacher and she is amazing at bringing out the best in our children.  She has changed Brighams life!  

She puts together the most amazing productions with elementary and junior high children.  When Briggs transferred over to the Charter school I made him go to a play try out before he was even in the school.  I had heard so much about this lady that I knew she was the answer to my prayers.  

Briggs is a quiet, shy, laid back, easy going, indecisive, low stress child.  These characteristic translate into a boy that really doesn't care about much, but he is a good boy.  

I needed to find something that would challenge, motivate and push Briggs.  I needed something that helped Briggs find good friends and feel included.   I needed something that would bring out the best in my boy.  

Jules has done all those things for Briggs.  He has worked with her for 2 1/2 years now.  He is actually in her Advance Musical Theater class which is not an easy class to get into.  Only 6 kids in the 7th grade made it into AMT this year.  Briggs was one of those 6 kids.  

After hours of practice and time the Theater class is putting on their show.  This year it is The Little Mermaid.  I am especially proud of Briggs this year because he over came a big challenge.  He had to learn how to tap dance for this play!  He was ready to quit when he first began the tap dancing lessons but with extra classes and a lot of work he can now say he even enjoys tap dancing.  

For the play Briggs is a Seagull, A Sailor, an urchant (Urselas creature), a Chef, and a Crab.  His biggest problem is not loosing his costumes.  

 

 Briggs is the seagull on the Right in front.

 Don't tell Briggs but I wanted to post this picture because he "likes" the girl with the Green Hair.

 Briggs is in the yellow shirt and the red crab hat.

See that cute Sailor in front...Briggs

 Briggs is the 3rd one in from the left

 Briggs is on the left

 How cute is this boy?  He is right next to the seagull with the red vest

 Briggs is in the yellow shirt and red crab hat

 Briggs is the chef in the red shirt, the 2nd one in from the right

 Cute Briggs with the telescope

 Briggs is the Urchant on the right

 Briggs has such a funny face in this picture.  He is amazing at becoming the character.

A couple of evenings back I was waiting for Briggs after the play.  I heard some people talking about the play.  I over heard them mention Briggs so I started to listen a little more carefully.  They were talking about how entertaining Briggs is on stage.  The director was talking with them and she kept agreeing with them about how good Briggs is on stage.
Lets put it this way....he is good enough that she is willing to deal with his grades and him losing things all the time.  You gotta love that boy.

Parenting Pay off moments

There are so many heart breaking stories about people, kids, families loosing their way.  I think I sometimes take for granted the tender moments, accomplishments and little blessings that pass by.  

Avram is becoming such and amazing young man and a great teenager.  Obviously we have our moments.  I feel like the Lord has blessed me so much to give me such a great young man that tries to always do what is right.  

Nothing comes easy for Avram.  He has to work hard to accomplish so many of the things that come easy for most people but he doesn't know a different life or a different way so he battles through so many challenges.  His grades are doing well, not perfect, but always improving.  Socially he makes little steps and the young men in our ward are great with him.  I actually pulled aside a handful of young men in church a few weeks back and told them how thankful I was that they have been so good to Avram.  A mother later talked to me and told me how much that young man appreciated my comments and he really does enjoy being with him.  

Avram is taking advice and interaction from Adam in basketball (I know this sounds weird to write but with Avrams challenges it is really hard to take critiquing) Avram has improved so much in basketball this year and he is by far the superstar of the JV team.  Even more than being the superstar he is great at helping his team mates succeed.  

One of the most touching moments in Adams life happened a few weeks ago.  As you know Avram attends a school for kids with Autism.  Avram if extremely high functioning and he has improved every year.  Sadly not all kids are that fortunate.  Because every boy on Avrams team has Autism they are a horrible basketball team!  They loose every game.  There are some boys that can't dribble the ball, others that can't shoot, some can't run, and most never really understand the rules.  But if they have a desire to play, they are on the team.  Because of the skill level on Avrams team, it could be really hard to pass the ball because he really can't depend on any help.  This year Avram has done a fantastic job at shooting, passing, defense, and most importantly helping his team mates.  

Anyway, back to Adams touching moment.  One day Adam walked into Avrams school to watch a basketball game.  One boy that has severe Autism walked up to Adam (this boy has been on Avrams team for the last 3 years but because of his Autism he really doesn't have the coordination to be able to play sports)  The boy, Ben, said "Are you Avrams Dad?"  Adam said, "yes." Ben continued, "Avrams says I am a really good basketball player!"  (now as a side note, you would expect any child to say that to a boy like Ben, but a child with Autism rarely thinks of others feelings and they are often painfully honest.  Much like a 2 year old child.)  When Adam realized that Avram had thought of Bens feelings and told him that he was good tears began to fill Adams eyes.  He could see how happy Ben was because the best player on the team had told him that he was good.  Ben ran off and Adam pulled Avram aside.  Adam began to tell Avram how proud he was that he had complimented Ben.  Avram looked at Adam and said, "it no big deal Dad, you don't have to cry about it."  

Lastly I wanted to share that Avram was just called to be the 2nd counselor in his teacher quorum.  Avram is one of the youngest in the class.  He is taking his calling very seriously and he is being very active and involved in young mens.
Im so thankful for Avram and the growth he has made and the choices he is making.

All Aboard

This weekend I was involved in my 5th Stake Activity Days.  This year we had a train theme:

The girls checked in at the ticket booth to pick up their future temple recommend. 

We divided the girls up into 4 groups.
One group went to a room and learned about Family History and Preparing for the temple.

 We had made a temple passport book to give them in this class.  The book contained information about all the temples in the world and it had pictures of all the temples in Utah.

 In another group they played a game which contained info about the Article of Faith, The family Proclamation, The Faith in God requirements and Baptism.

They each got a train rice crispy treat after that class.

The 3rd class was making temples with a little note that said, "I'll go inside someday."

 In the 4th group they made little charm necklaces with a temple charm, mirror charm and train charm.

At the end I did a little wrap up and then the girls got some temple cookies and a luggage box with cute little items inside the box.

 This is Lori my secretary.  She is the creative one that really pulls this together.

 This is my presidency.  They have been so amazing to work with.

This was a huge project and a lot of work but we saw so many tender mercies as we planned and executed this activity.  

 Can you believe all a dollar had these cute mirrors?

We made some chocolate temple treats.

Im going to list few of the tender mercies we experienced:
1.The train charms were given to my secretary.  She is a teacher and a parent just walked up to her one day and said maybe you can figure out a way to use these.
2. The huge mural was lent to us from a woman in another stake that bought it for an activity.
3. One of the cute handouts we gave out in the luggage box was given to us from a woman that had made copies.  She wanted to order 100 copies and accedently ordered 1000.
4. The woman that made the temple cookies for us use to work down town at one of the church shops and made temple sugar cookies all the time.  She still has connections so she was able to bake all the cookies quickly and easily.
5.  The temple book was my main project for the activity.  Friday morning I needed to go make copies but I had miss placed the USB drive that contained all the information.  I looked everywhere for the USB without any luck.  I finally gave up and said a prayer.  Immediately a thought flashed in my mind.  I went to check and there was the USB.
6. At the copy center I was stressing because the price of copies was going to be so much.  I was there for a  couple of hours making copies and cutting pages.  When I went to check out I asked the lady to apply a coupon to the order.  She couldn't get it to work.  She fiddled with the register and accedently cut the price in half.  She tried to correct the mistake and couldn't get it to work so she just said, "you can just have it at this price."  I about fainted when she gave me the copies at half price.
7.  The little wooden temples were cut out by a gentleman in the stake.  He happily cut out all the temples and bases.  Then he felt he needed to bevel the edges of the bases and stain them for us.