"Every morning we read scriptures around our kitchen table before we go to school. My father always asks me to get our scriptures, find where we're reading, and read a few verses, usually four. We take turns reading. Right now we're reading in the Book of Mormon. I like reading about Nephi's family because they had six boys, just like our family.
Porter's science fair board, sporting his favorite color, and his project won him a second place ribbon and a chance to go on to regionals.
And the salt that dehydrated most quickly was sea salt.
Cooper's basketball season is over.
He's a cute player to watch.
He always has to guard the BIG guys.
But when he gets excited, sometimes he still "skips" down the floor.
A package from Norway is a suprise,
It's fun to listen to quiz bowl questions, and determine whether or not you'd be an asset to the team. Tanner's the anchor of the varsity team.
Hunter's the anchor of the junior varsity team.
As it is, they know each other's strengths and weaknesses,
And when obvious misses or even no buzz ins occur, the looks begin.
I have my own personal puffer fish...
It was a snowy day, school had been cancelled, and there was nothing else to do!
The exotic colors, sizes and shapes of the fish were exciting...
...and otter pelts for training dogs...
...all creatures great and small!
Sawyer was amazed that there was a chinchilla!
Miller hunted a long time to find Nemo,
and finally found one!
Doggie diapers?
It was a zoo experience in a free and small scale way.
"Fairland forced 35 turnovers and only allowed 10 second-half points in an 83-34 win over Wayne in the Blue Bracket consolation game of the 34th St. Joe Invitational at Veterans Memorial Field House." Herald Dispatch, January 22, 2011.
Tanner's art teacher's latest project was drawing a portrait using words.
He chose Jimmy Stewart, one of my favorite actors!
That's who Miller was named after.
Jarrod helps out every Martin Luther King holiday with the Optimist basketball tournament, especially held for the Boys and Girls Clubs.
This year there weren't as many entrants, but it's fun for the boys to tag along and join in the fun.
Some of the sad comments he heard from participants at registration, when asked information about their parents, were "I don't know my Mom's name, I've never met her." Or, "I don't my Mom's address, she's in jail."
The bikes were given away in a drawing.
Those Optimists make a difference, a local club at a time.
Hunter received a varsity letter in golf this week!
(Early golf ball made by taking a top hat full of feathers and shoving them all into a pouch.)
(This is actually a trophy presented to Jack for being golfer of the century!)
(The coveted green jacket for winning The Masters. Any player who makes an eagle, two under par, is awarded a crystal cup, engraved with the hole number and year.) 
We're proud of you Hunter! You excel at the game of golf and life.
Creating Our Own Beloved Community
From the beginning of civilization to now, people have dreamed and attempted to create their perfect community. We have heard the legend of Atlantis and El Dorado. However, there are many more. Since the book Utopia was published in 1516, it has given rise to thousands of dream residencies. Bacon published New Atlantis and Novum Organum as a portfolio of some of his ideas and predications. Voltaire had his character Candide visit a utopian place in the famous novel of the same name. From Tony Garnier’s and Ebenezer Howard’s Garden Cities of Europe, to Bruno Taut’s Chrystal City, the pinnacle of their dreams is still evolving. 
It is my personal belief that with the reversal of three common aspects of life we see today we can create Dr. King’s dream - “a Beloved Community” in 2011. The three aspects I write of are choosing ignorance, having no ambition, and lowering standards. These three are infinitely intertwined. If as a community we turn around and cultivate our weaknesses into strengths, we will achieve a beloved community and become a people of wisdom, ambition, and value. First, by ridding ourselves of ignorance, we learn to place ideas over material possessions and power. With ideas and ambition we can transform any crime ridden, impoverished place into a piece of heaven. Schools have the job of fully educating children, the leaders of tomorrow, not just stuffing heads with facts. A college education can open new doors. Mostly we need to have the ambition and passion to enlighten ourselves and not fall prey to racism or other growth stunting beliefs. We should always seek to learn. Education does not end after graduation. Reverend King furthered his belief by regularly reading the Bible. We can easily do the same. History has proven that only educated nations survive. As Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power.” He is right. With knowledge we have the ability to rid ourselves of injustice. Also, the experience of simply living life cannot be overvalued.
In conclusion, we can create our own beloved community and continue to spread it to the rest of America. By adhering to these three aspects of life, wisdom, ambition, and values, we can become a beloved community, a place where justice is everywhere and injustice cannot be found.
