Consider the Lillies

I love this picture of Miller at his cousin Ben's funeral.

The flower is so alive, as is Miller, as is Ben.

Having this perspective is as beautiful as the picture.

He clothes the lillies of the field,

He feeds the birds in the sky.

And He will feed those who trust him,

And guide them with His eye.

He clothes the lillies of the field,

He feeds the lambs in His fold

And He will heal those who trust Him,

And make their hearts as gold.

Roger Hoffman

The Art of Creating

The gifted conductor Leonard Bernstein.

Tanner's art assignment was to show movement.

Opening Season

What could happen when you play catcher for Tanner, you're not using a catcher's mitt, and the pitched ball moves too much.

Good thing his glasses were on.

Three cuts, one needing stitches.

However, after being sent to the local ER to watch "Leonard use the bathroom 9 times in 30 minutes," "Emma, Charlie, Rose and Edward" use the pink basins more than we wanted to count, and "Kathy" the nurse cough in her hand and examine the wound without gloves, we were happy to leave early with a bigger scar, and no stitches.

"So I Can Look Good"

Good thing he's so handsome.

No one will ever notice he cut his hair.

All by himself.

Shark Bite

Although I would rather have paintings of flowers, it is nice to see him FINALLY painting again.

Eagle Scout Award

The Tri State Council had their Eagle Scout recognition dinner for the Eagle class of 2010.

Hunter and a guest were free.

Sawyer's ticket came from his brothers' generosity.

$11 for three others.

Having family to cheer you on: priceless.

But, the evening was more than priceless when they met this man, shown shaking President Truman's hand.

Herschel Woodrow "Woody" Williams, a local Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipient.

"His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment and aided vitally in enabling his company to reach its objective. Cpl. Williams' aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."

Thanks Hunter, it was a FINE evening.

Family Time

In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Scholastic Art and Writing Award Winner!

Tanner loves to write poems as a way to relax. He found a contest where poems (or writing or a huge variety of art) could be submitted. Out of 12,000 regional writing and art entries, Tanner is a "gold key winner" and will be advanced for a chance to compete in "nationals." The Battle for the Hill" is my favorite! Here's a big thanks to our Scholastic friend, Kathy, whose love of children, especially boys, is why Tanner was able to enter.

The Astronomers
Oh that I might view the stars!

To touch the golden spheres.

That eyes of mine could read the light

which warms our hemispheres.

How I'd sing to hold the sky,

And gaze upon the moons.

Yet bound by earth's design I standand stare beneath the ruins.

I pray to see a galaxy,

Or meet a nebulai.

Though ground below is kind to me,

With wings I'd rather fly.

To see a million stars or more;

To soar is what we seek!

Feet our only carriers though,

remind us we are weak.

And so I'll from this hilltop wait

while heaven doth beliemy vision;

and my dreams will wait

to touch the starry sky.

Inquire Within
What, you ask, do I possess?

What is in my hand?

Where upon this earth doth sit

my house upon the land?

A cabinet, sir, do I own,within its drawers my clothes.

And perched on top its solemn chest,

A tissue for my nose.

A closet, sir, I also own,

To place within my shoes.

And suits and ties and custard pie,

But nothing else to lose.

My house doth slant top craggy rock.

Its doors refuse to close.

To take a bath just once a month

I use the garden hose.

So if good sir my life desire,

Do please inquire within!

My door is always open

And I am always in.

The Battle for the Hill
The clover all was crying:

the flowers were at war.

The daffodils were neutral

and the roses beaten sore.

The bluebonnets, conceited,

mocked the roses' reds;

the daises had retreated--many'd lost their heads.

Victorious, the sunflowers

did lift above them all

and move their swaying, seedy eyes

to watch the flora fall.

Nature's Inquisition

Oh flower who sits beneath the bows of trees and waits for light!
The sun is but a mystery an’ your day is but a night.
I would that I might set you down upon a spread of grass more free.
That you might bask in Helios’ light and whisper to the bee.
To see you on a hilltop fair; with your own and quite uncovered.
Among a thousand daisies dancing and petals quite unsmothered.
But death I’d cause to you should I pluck from under ferns.
Your petals and your stem must wilt to seek the warmth it yearns.

I Am the Bridge
I am, but the grass among two oaks; a carpet joining the mighty tread of two colossi.
Joining the roots of one to another and proving a canvas to spread their mixed shade.
I am, the moss raised between two solid slabs of concrete, each laid to connect the path of children and their thoughts.
Rounding what were once sharp boundaries and joining them with a bridge, soft underfoot for ants and men alike.
I am that poet desired by Mnemosyne[i] to sing melodies into the world’s ear.
A being whose only pain arises from miseries viewed hostage from Privilege’s window.
A light, lost among the lost; Hope’s own link in the fragile chain forged from generations.
Man to boy; boy yet man.
And when a man, pray I am still a boy.
Even one who gazes still at unreached celestial glories
With newly awakened eyes.
And stops awhile
To rest among beds of grass.

[i] Greek goddess of memory; akin to Moneta and mentioned in Keats’ “The Fall of Hyperion.” The line “sing melodies into the world’s ear” is also mentioned in this poem

Sick Days

First it was Sawyer.

Then Cooper and Hunter.

Then Cooper, Hunter and Porter.

Now Miller and Tanner.

What do you do when you're 18 and your tummy is ill?

Play zhu zhu hamsters with your partner in porcelin.

With a bowl close by.

Under Pressure Science Project

Hunter's science project involved building about eight different bridges, or trusses, out of popsicle sticks, and then determining which design was strongest under weight and wind.

He's moving on!
He's soooo excited (not).
But we're proud of his efforts.