Award assemlies

With the end of the school year fast approaching comes the music concert art shows and award assemblies. It so fun to see all the accomplishments the kids make through the year. Both Samuel and Eliza are very talented artists. Samuel took on a new medium this year, stained glass. He picked a very hard piece to try for his first attempt . He did an amazing job

 He also is very talented at pencil drawings. Mrs Hardy wants him to use there pieces for a profolio

 

 

Eliza won several art awards for her art. This is the same art competitions Samuel won last year and now Eliza won it. I think we set a president.

 

 

 

These are other drawing Eliza placed with

 

Eliza also got several awards at the academic award assembly.

 

 

Eliza got a Physical science award,art award,English  academic excellence award, Mathematics award, and of course Honor roll all four quarters. Eliza is also number one in her class. The awards were giving out by each individual teacher who picked a student that excelled in their class had leadership and worked hard. I am so proud of both Samuel and Eliza for how well they do in school, but even more them that the kind of people they are.

 

 

This is Eliza before the award assembly. Samuel was at work so I wasn't able to get a photo of him. He is such a hard working kid.

 

" Lets Google it"

I find myself more and more saying "lets Google That" whenever myself or someone else has a question about anything. It seems like the Internet has the answer to EVERYTHING. I can get ideas from pinterest, new recipes to try, how to solve a math problem.I use Google map to find my way. I can't think of anything that the Internet doesn't have an answer too. I'm in aw of all the help and information that is available. But am I always turning to the right source for my answers, and help? I Know of a place I can go that knows more then the Internet, I know of a place that always has the right answer for me. I know of a place where I not only can find the answers of my heart but I can also find peace and love. It is on my knees talking to my Heavenly Father. When I have a problem, a question or need peace, before I google for help, or ask for my Friends opinion on
facebook, I need to pray for help because that is were the real answer is.

I struggle at times with being organized. I have been studying about order lately to try to gain a better perspective. I have come to the conclusion that order starts in your heart and mind. If I put God first I will have order in my life. Not necessarily always organization but I will have order. Sometimes taking time with others is first matter of order before having a neat clean home. (Remember the story of Martha.) If I put God first each day I will have everything in proper order. If I put my to do list before the spirit promptings I might be organized but not necessarily have everything in proper order. Not to say that I should have no goals for the day. Goals keep me on track and help me grow, but I need to try to always be open to the spirit to guide me as to what needs are most important and should be put first. Here's to a day of first things first.

get to geather for Isaac

Before Isaac's Leave was over I wanted to have a party for him. The Day came with a lot of rain. Hamilton park where it was planned to be was now a swimming pool, full of mud. It was one of those hard Midwest rainstorms, or should I say waterfalls. I became an e-mailen,phone calling fool to change the the date. You can just imagine my joy when so many Friends rescheduled and fit us into their busy summer,family, pageant filled lives to come.
Eliza and I put up decorations, and Isaac got the fun job of blowing up the balloons.
The two of them made me laugh. Isaac found a few balloons with holes in them. He told Eliza that if it had a hole in it you had to set it free, so he would blow them up and then let them go and they would fly high and buzz around as the air rushed out of them. After letting two balloons free the third shot straight to the ground without flying at all. Eliza looked at it and said. " That balloon has no dreams" It was pretty funny how she said it and we all laughed. What she said kind of made me think though. When Isaac was little I held onto him tight as I tried to fill him with love and to teach him. Then came the day when I had to let him go and let him fly. It has been fun seeing which way he goes and the goals he has accomplished and the goals he has set. I am so happy he has dreams. I am so proud of him!
Once the decorations where up it looked very patriotic, down to the red white and blue silverware and straws. We had "All American" hot dogs and root beer floats then the rest of the food was potluck. Man it was really yummy. If you are going to have a potluck it is a good idea to invite good cooks.Everyone had a good time visiting and spending time with Isaac. Even the kids got into the fun playing at the park and tossing the balloons around.Thank you everyone who came and for the support, love and friendship you give Isaac and my family.

Off to the races

Samuel and I have stared " Training "for the Nauvoo grape festival 5k. We have 13 weeks to whip ourselves into shape and build up our endurance enough to run and not have to stop and walk part of it.OK I know what all you great athletes out there are thinking- " whats the big deal? A 5k really is not that hard ANYONE can do it." Well it is a big deal for us. It will be the first race either of us have ran, and our first 5k. Samuel is doing great and I am sure he will have no problems running it,but for me I need a little more work. We have been attempting to run every day and are slowly making improvements. If anyone out there would like to run it with us we would love to have your support. It should be really fun and the more the merrier I always say. If I start slowing down or falling way behind always feel free to give me a push ( I just might need it) The race is on Sat Sep 5Th at 08:00. It Start in the Nauvoo state park, goes along the highway, south, to the Comm. of Christ church, then turns there and goes to Main St., then run all the way down Main until you get to the grain elevators. We turn around there, and then follow back until the st. right after the Gun shop, turn left and finish after you cross the hwy into the State Park. If you don' feel like running with us you can always come and cheer us on. Well I think I better lace up my shoes and get running so I am not left behind.

David graduated

David Is so excited to have "finely graduated". What do you mean "Finley"? To me the time has flown by in just a blink of an eye. I remember hearing "Old" people saying over and over how time goes so fast you better enjoy every min. Well I guess I am now officially getting old because I truly feel like time is flying. The Graduation was really nice. His graduating class was 45 so it was small enough to be really personal. They made a video with each individual graduate on it. It had each of their names, then some photos all set to music. It was so fun to watch, and it made the whole graduation very personal for each one of them. Then after the talks they announced the two young men who would be joining the military and the whole audience gave them a long wonderful standing ovation. It was so wonderful to feel the support of our community for these young men. I felt grateful that we lived in a area that truly valued our freedom and those who serve our country. After the choir sang " Lean on me" and band played the graduating class received their diplomas. I am so proud of David and his Friends. What a happy day! ( and yes, It did flyby very fast)

Eliza's concert

Music flowed through Hamilton the other day. The sweet tunes were wafting from the elementary school. Flutes, trumpets, and all sorts of musical instruments played in tune as parents smiled with pride, at the angelic children producing the music.OK I admit it wasn't quite as perfect as that. In reality boys dressed in Sunday best acted as if they were forced to ware some sort of medieval torture device. Girls fussed over their hair and dresses as they rushed about nervously making sure every sheet of music was placed just right upon the music stands.Little faces were distorted as cheeks puffed out and lips pinched on reeds and mouthpieces in an attempt to produce a tune from their instruments. There was an occasional off note but over all they did very good considering they had been playing for less then a year. Eliza did look beautiful. She has been so consistent on making sure she practices every day ever since her clarinet had become a permanent fixture in our home.I am very proud of how well she plays.It might not have been a perfect concert but the music was perfect to my ears. Great job Eliza!

Davids art show and awards assembly

I just busted a button I am so proud. David is such an amazing person. How did I ever get so lucky as to have him for a son? As we strolled through the Gym and admired the art work on the walls and tables I was truly impressed. Boy David was good! I mean really good! I had seen some of the drawings he had been working on at home but a lot of his art he had created at school. I was just blown away at his talent. As I stood in front of one of his pencil drawings holding my camera up so I could get a photo, I heard a voice ask if I was Davids mother. When I turned around I was greeted by a smiling Lady about my age. She said she had been impressed by his art. Her son had been talking about how good David was all year long but when she had seen his work she was blown away. David has won several awards at different art shows this year, including some pretty big impressive shows. I hope he will be able to continue to develop his talent. I pray that he is led towards people and opportunities that will guide him and mentor him in sharing this wonderful gift. Time flew by and soon It was time to take our seats. First the coir sang then the awards where given out. David won first place for his oil painting. He really deserved it, I thought. It was exquisite. The shading and mixing of colors was wonderful. and no detail was left out. the back ground had just as much attention payed to it as the main subject , an oriental boy. When we had been admiring his painting earlier in the evening David had explained some of the ticnieices he had used. He had mixed blue and black for the shirt and then brown and black for the sleeve so that there would be definition . How he mixed and shaded colors showed how talented he really is.He also received several other award. I was still marveling at how blessed he was to have such talent when the high school band began to play. After only one song the program was cut short because of a tornado warning. As we rushed home the sky had turned its dark Eire shades and the rain was pouring as it dose when a tornado is coming, But my mind wasn't on the weather it was thanking God that David had been so blessed and hoping he would have an opportunity to bless this world with his talents.