Coloring Contest Winners

It's that time of the year again, the local grocery store coloring contest. Cooper was selected as first place winner in the 10-13 age division.

Porter was selected as Grand Prize winner in the 10-13 age group.

The boys were taken to different aisles and told what to choose from: soda, chips, cookies, and gift certificates ($5, $10).

Miller was happy to help pick out the cookies.
Sawyer sulked a little because his wasn't chosen, but he enjoyed the rootbeer later on.
Great job boys!

Porter's Talk: Remember Who I Am

My grandfather, Rufus Porter Glass, fought in the Civil War. He enlisted in the 19th regiment of Maine, fought in Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, including Pickett's Charge. He was captured and taken prisoner to Andersonville. He survived those wretched conditions and when released, missed riding the steamboat that exploded and killed thousands, by one day. My parents know that he was watched over and protected because he was my grandmother's great grandfather, and she was the first in our family to join the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My parents want me to remember the heritage he left our family, and who I was named after.

Helaman tells Nephi and Lehi how their names invite them to pattern their lives after their forebears, in chapter 5, verse 6:

Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

We all play parts in today's world. We represent our family, Jesus Christ, and we are heir to all that our Heavenly Father has. We are children of God and we need to remember this and live our lives worthy.

Tricks and Treats of Halloween

Not everybody counts and tallies their Halloween candy.

Or organizes it into piles.
Porter and his little buddies did.

Place your order now, there's lots to share!

Super Friends Finale

Have a SUPER Halloween!

Super Friends, Part II

Mr. Incredible

Green Lantern

Flash

Super Friends, Part I

Superman

Captain America

Batman

Happy Halloween!

I've been avoiding THIS kind of mess for a few years.

Long enough to venture back into the world of carving pumpkins, roasting seeds and cooking pumpkin.

(Noah is referred to as my 7th son, as he's always wanted here, and was kind enough to help Miller.)

Sending happy Halloween thoughts your way!

Friday Night Fun

Hunter.

Reading The Communist Manifesto.

That is NOT my gene, all Dad's.

Flying High

It was a beautiful fall day today, and some of the boys pulled the kites out.

I was watching them struggle to get them in the air, running, throwing, succeeding for short periods and then to try again.

It made me think of the boys and how, if they're like kites, my only wish for them would be to fly on their own: To know that their Savior lives, what His plan is for them and what they need to do to return to live with Him again. These are the things that need to give lift to their wings.

Fairland Dragons Student of the Week

Why am I always surprised?

Student of the Week

Considering there are only 25 weeks or so of school, the odds aren't high that he'd be picked. Two years in a row.

He likes it because he gets a gift card for a free pizza.

Congratulations, Porter!

A Memory from the Past

One of Jarrod's favorite childhood songs...

Up in the air junior birdman
Up in the air upside down
Up in the air junior birdman
Keep your noses off the ground

When you hear the grand announcement
that your wings are made of tin.
Then you know that Junior Birdman,
has turned his box tops in.

For it takes: 5 box tops,

4 bottle bottoms,

3 coupons,

2 wrappers,

and one thin dime!

Demolition Derby - Redneck Style

We happened upon this scene, while driving through town, and discovered the local volunteer fire department was sponsoring a fundraiser.

Most of the competitors had to be towed off the field when finished.

The winners!

Something I'd never see in Boston.

Sawyer's Soccer Season

Sawyer is in his first season of soccer, and has improved tremendously.

He gives everything he has when he plays.

Goal 1

Worried competitor coaches.

Goal 2

Slightly annoyed competitor coaches.

Goal 3

He actually scored a fourth goal, and the coaches were so upset, one walked off the field.

And he only played two of the four quarters.

Go Sawyer!

We call him the slip'n slide soccer scorer.

(Try saying that five times fast!)

Porter's Talk

There is a song in the hymn book called, Joseph Smith's First Prayer. Some of the words of this song are,

"When within the shady woodland Joseph sought the God of love.

Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing--'Twas the boy's first uttered prayer--

When the pow'rs of sin assailing filled his soul with deep despair.

Suddenly a light descended, brighter far than noonday sun,

and a shining, glorious pillar o'er him fell, around him shone,

while appeared two heav'nly beings, God the Father and the Son."

Thus began the restoration of the gospel. We have the sacrament as a remembrance of our Savior, and his sacrifice and suffering for our behalf. We have the Book of Mormon as a remembrance of the sacrifice and suffering Joseph Smith endured to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth again. I am grateful to have the gospel in my life. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon. I'm especially thnkful for Joseph Smith and the important role he played in restoring the gospel.

Quiz Bowl

Quiz Bowl has begun.

Porter made the combined 7th-8th grade team, and today was their first match.

He was SO excited when he made the team, and then when he found out he would be starting, ecstatic doesn't describe him with justice.

Here he is hanging with other 7th grade boys. In front of the clickers and lights. Waiting to begin.

Here is the 2010 team. Aren't middle school kids charming?

Hunter left a large legacy last year, and Porter is stepping up to fill big shoes.
His least surprising answer? What church developed the genealogical website www.familysearch.org?
His most surprising answer? Is Borneo south of, north of or on the equator?

Bountiful Harvest

I read an article in the newspaper that said a load of farm produce would be distributed to those interested. There was an income scale that was very generous, and was used to determine if you qualified. We needed to make less than $7,000 a month to qualify. Wow.

So I went. And waited in line. Almost a mile of cars. I almost left thinking I didn't need this as much as others, but my friendly car neighbors said otherwise. It was an interesting people experiment in that some were willing to cut in line, disobey traffic rules, and other rude things to ensure their place in line. Others went out of their way to be kind and generous. I appreciated those in the latter category, and came away with a renewed sense of community. As well as a truckload of produce. Workers found out I had six children, and doubled and tripled portions. I think the onions were quintupled.
I love finding treasures in the newspaper!

Cooper's Talk

"There is a song called, I Know That My Redeemer Lives. Some of the words in this song say, 'He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my Savior still the same. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives.' When my cousin died in May we were very sad. Because of this gospel we know where baby Ben is. I know I'll be able to see my cousin again, as well as my Savior Jesus Christ. As we are baptized and work to return home to Heavenly Father, we can live together as a family. Including my cousin."

An Optimistic Evening

Jarrod was sworn in as president-elect at the local Optimist Club.

We like the yearly elections because it's a free dinner, this year at Logan's Roadhouse.

Meeting and dinner can make for a lengthy evening.

Cooper entertained himself with rubbings.

Sawyer loves to try everybody's fare.

Porter tried reaching everybody's drinks.

Tanner found out he had won the district Optimist senior scholarship, and was asked what this means to him. He told them that the $250 award would be used to pay for an on-line calculus course through Stanford University, since his high school didn't offer what he needs.
Hunter?

It's all about the food.

Fall Discoveries

Inside my 50 lb. dog food bag.

Four of them.

Good thing the bag was almost empty.

Im a Child of Apalachia Writing Contest

Hunter was chosen as Lawrence County's 8th grade winner for the 2009 I'm a Child of Appalachia writing contest. He found out in July, but his published essay just arrived. This contest is for 6th through 9th grades, and involves 31 other counties. His teacher was awarded a $500 curriculum grant as a result.

Recently, my family and I moved to Lawrence County, Ohio. Although I have had my fair share of moving around, I was extremely nervous and anxious. After doing some quick research on Google, I was beginning to worry.

Eighteen hours of driving brought us into Lawrence County. Nothing could have prepared me for moving here. I thoroughly enjoyed residing in Texas, but could not have predicted the joy I would experience living in Ohio; the tri-state area felt like heaven. Before our family had time to unlock the front door, neighbors from up and down the street offered to help unload our U-Haul moving van, cook dinner for us, or anything else that might help us. Appalachia Ohio had already moved me.

Only three days later, school started. My nervousness had returned. Once again the area residents helped me feel right at home. Nobody ever stopped trying to assist me. These experiences have motivated me to this day.

The influence this area has had on me is huge. Because of others lending a helping hand to me, I want to help others. Before moving here I could have been considered selfish. Now I try to go out of the way to aid others. I am trying to replicate the service that others gave me. They invited me to join clubs, participate in sports and sit with them at lunch. It did not end there. If I needed a ride to anything, my new friends and inspirers would go out of their way to assist me.

I think that because of the service that was given willingly to me, I should never stop trying to help others. I can volunteer at charities, at hospitals or schools. I can help the next new kid at school. I want to inspire, motivate, and make a change now and in the generations to come, just like I was inspired and helped.

Applesauce Sauciers

It's all the help I had.

And it was enough!