springdellgirl

Thankful Day 16

I am thankful for kids who get involved and do good works. This last week we have had the opportunity to really watch our two older kids shine. Kameron and Reilly have done some great things lately.

Kameron:

1.)

He earned his Faith in God Award.

This is a program that is started at the age of 8 and is completed before kids turn 12. Kids learn to keep their gospel standards, work on goals in areas of: Learning and Living the Gospel, Developing Talents, Serving Others, Preparing for the Priesthood/For Young Women's (for girls). Kids log in hours of service and devotion. They work on accomplishing these goals for years. These little booklets I keep under lock and key because they all get signed off, dated, and what the project or service was...if one was to be lost...I don't even want to think about it. Earning this award is quite an accomplishment and this is in addition to completing all his Cub Scout Requirements and earning his Arrow of Light Award and completing his 11 year old Scout Requirements to earn his Tenderfoot. It is so imperative to a child's development that they learn to set and accomplish goals.

2.)

As one of the 6th Grade leaders at his school he had the privilege of being one of 4 students participating in the Veterans Day Assembly. Kam had the main part...he was conducting, welcoming veterans, and narrating the assembly along with his friend, Aidan. Kam's best friend, Jonathan, was another one of the 4 participating students and was one of the readers of the Veterans Day poem.

Aidan, Kameron and Jonathan

 Kameron did such a great job!! He really has such a love and respect for Veterans Day especially since he was born on it and has tried to learn as much as he can about this special day. If any of the kids had family members who were veterans they could invite them to attend and all the kids submitted names of family members who had ever served in the military and they flashed on the screen throughout the assembly. I was so touched to see the names Frank Ellersick, John McKinnon and Joel Erickson up on the screen. All such good and honorable men.

From farther back

Mrs. Antonio (Kam's teacher from last year and his all-time favorite teacher) came and sat by Tyler and I and said "How great is our boy?!!" Love her.

3.)

Then, of course, last Sunday when he was made a deacon and received the Aaronic Priesthood and sustained in Sacrament Meeting. He was so excited about that. He passes the Sacrament for the first time this Sunday. :)

Reilly:

1.)

Reilly had Young Women in Excellence last week. She had to do a talk and presentation on the value of Individual Worth. She really took the time and effort to write a great talk and to do such a good job...some girls just sort of winged it...but I was impressed with the thought she put into it. She also quoted me. Ha ha. So somewhere in between all that texing and surly behavior a few things are getting through to her. The bishop asked her to give her talk again in Sacrament Meeting that Sunday.

2.)

Last Sunday, not only was Kameron called up to the podium, but so was Reilly. She was recognized as now being a Laurel. This too is a stab in the heart. I swear it was yesterday that she was one of my Activity Day girls. Both the bishop and her Young Women's President had some really nice things to say about her.

3.)

At Young Women in Excellence, the Young Women's President was sharing with the parents how hard the girls are working on Personal Progress etc. and she said that there was one particular young woman who had completed her Personal Progress and already received her Young Womanhood Award and was starting all over and doing it for a second time. I leaned over to Reilly to ask who was doing that...and was absolutely shocked when she said "Hello!! It's me." Wow. That is the girls equivalent of the Eagle Scout Award and she is going to do it a second time. Go for it!!

4.) She also serves on our Stake's Youth Council.

It really does a mother's heart good to see her children accomplishing goals, serving others, doing good works, and getting involved in things that they are passionate about.

Love these two kids!!

P.S. Ailey and Bryn are awesome too. (They didn't want to be left out.)