Unintentional Day of Service

Our family had a great day serving yesterday, Saturday, October 22, 2016. Josh was able to help some friends move into their new home, Ceithlinn was able to help at Super Saturday (a craft day at the church), and the whole family was able to work at the Water Station at Light the Night in Seattle. Here are more details...

Matthew by the International Fountain

Josh:  It had been several weekends with lots of miscellaneous errands, chores, and activities, so I was looking forward to a low-key Saturday with nothing planned.  While checking my email at work a week or so prior to this Saturday I came across a reminder email about Light the Night, and annual activity put on by the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, which our family has helped out with for several years.  I was OK with adding that to my day--after all it was an annual tradition, isn't too difficult, and is a way that our family gives back to the community and enjoys time together.  And I would still have the morning to relax a bit.  Then Thursday evening I got the news that our friends had finally closed on their house and were moving that Saturday morning.  We have known the Merwin family for a long time.  I couldn't refuse to help them, even with their last-minute move, so I added that to the day as well.  Turns out that my relaxing Saturday with no commitments became four hours of loading, unloading, and placing furniture, a few hours of things for work, and a few hours with my family passing out water to those participating in the Light the Night walk.  Though I began a little bit grumpy, I gradually became full of the Spirit that comes when one ins serving others.  I was especially grateful to see my family engage fully in such simple service to those who were thirsty.  Especially because Matthew noticed several people in need that I really did not see myself, as I was focused on the water station.  He wanted to make sure that these people had a candy bar or bag of fruit snacks so they wouldn't be hungry.  I am truly grateful that my children are learning to be kind and charitable to others, and we will make sure that giving to others is a regular part of our family activities.  Even if it isn't always convenient.

Ceithlinn: So, originally I wasn't planning on going to Super Saturday because I had enough crafting at home and the project I was most interested in I had no place to put. But at one of my brother's track meets, I ran into Sister Smith. For those that don't know the smiths, they're an amazing family! Anyways, we got talking about stuff and she asked me if I was going to Super Saturday and I told her the circumstances. When I was finished, she told me if I came she'd put me to work. I asked my mom if that was okay and she told me that it was, so I got to go! Yay! Sister Smith had this banner craft that we worked on the whole time. Basically what happened was I traced the outlines of cardboard templates on the back of decorated scrapbook paper while they cut the shapes out. We then found a good pattern and while I made more outlines Sister Smith and her daughter, Allie, folded the cut-outs in half and glued them onto a long strand on twine (this allows the banner to be hung up). It was a lot of fun to craft again! It makes me feel better and helps me get rid of some my stress! As we worked, we laughed and talked and even sang a little. A lot of people (or basically everyone attending) came over to ooh and ah over our project. Some even planned on doing it at their homes!

Light the Night was really cool too! I really enjoy helping out with the walkers. We were able to walk on the Honor Trail before going to our station. The Honor Trail is a little clearing and as you walk it, there are pictures of people who battled or are still battling their cancer. Some who battled were there, helping to support others. Some of them weren't able to do that. Every year as we walk that trail, it amazes me that so many people struggle with things like leukemia, or lymphoma, or any other kind of cancer. You just don't hear a lot about it, especially with children. They even had pictures of babies on the trail. My heart goes out to the families who have to feel that pain. But as my family serves, even just by handing out water along the way, I know I am helping those who are hurting and I know that I'm making a difference to them. I enjoy taking in the looks on everyone's faces as they pass by, walking for  change. It is definitely one of the best traditions ever!

Matthew: I sat in Aimee's baby carriage and it was fun. Aimee got a little upset at me. Her chair is very comfy.

Well, at the Light the Night walk I was giving out water by the dozen, at least it certainly felt like it. First, we were giving out water to the Light the Night walkers, and most of them accepted the water. I normally got lots and lots of water out and held them while they were getting it. I felt happy while serving the Light the Night walkers. I liked giving water to the Light the Night walkers because I like helping other people.

Aimee: My lie, wah-ver (translation: light, water)

Jeni: Light the Night is a walk to support research for Leukemia and Lymphoma put on by the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Three years ago Ceithlinn and I volunteered at our first Light the Night. We have a couple friends who supported her student ambassador trip to Alaska that suggested we volunteer for LLS. It was a beautiful  and moving experience. One of our friends had just lost her friend Kari, and was there to walk in memory of her and to support her family. Every year that we attend I look for Kari's pictures and send a prayer for her family and friends who still mourn her loss.

We enjoyed our experience so much that the next year we volunteered as a family. The best place to put a family of 5 (especially with baby in tow) was the water station, the half way point in the 2 mile walk. It is amazing to see the lanterns coming. It is beautiful to see so many people coming together for a common cause.


I need to paint a picture for you. Our station was across (originally in front of the EMP (Experience Music Project) Museum (http://www.empmuseum.org/). We could see the walkers as they approached the crosswalk. Once they crossed Matthew and Ceithlinn would start yelling, "Water for Light the Night walkers." Then as they got closer would hand out water and smiles. Aimee wasn't so sure was going on for a little while, but once she figured it out she would join the yell with her own version, "Wah-ver, wah-ver." Often I would need to tell walkers they could take the water from her. Some who had said no thank you to the other kids, couldn't say no to the two year old. They would often say thank you, she would sometimes reply, "Tay-too." (Thank you) She still hasn't figured out how to say you're welcome.

A few highlights from this year's water station... Matthew at one point saying enthusiastically, "I LOVE my job!" as he was picking up more water and waiting for walker to cross the street, seeing genuine joy on Ceithlinn's face, and holding Aimee as she passed out water, and at one point she decided one of the walkers needed a hug after she was given water.

This is a wonderful family tradition. It is an easy way to serve. It is also a good reminder to me to be grateful for our health. Being a part of this helps put our struggles and trials into perspective of me.

For more information about this event you can go to either of these links. http://www.lightthenight.org/what/faq/#faq1
 http://www.lightthenight.org/wa/

 

Cemetery

(As told by Matthew)

My mom and I were able to participate in a scout activity with the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) on the Friday before Memorial Day 2016. We put flags on grave markers of ex-military people at the Sumner Cemetery.  I could feel their spirits there, in other words I felt happy. I thought about what an honor they did to their country.

The VFW said we were to look for a raised cross on the grave markers or the name of the war the veteran had fought in. When we found a veterans grave we were supposed to inject a large poker in the ground to make a hole, then put a flag in it.

My favorite part was that it was an honor to service and recognize the veteran's that fought in wars. We even saw inside mausoleum. It was kind of amazing to see the things inside of them. (things like urns and photos) We found a crypt for a general.

I really wish I can do this again because it was kind of amazing because you can see graves of people who served in our armed forces.

I wondered what the veterans had done and how they had died.

(Placing a flag)

 

 

(Wondering about the lives of these veterans)


 





(The Sumner Cemetery with the flags honoring our veterans)

Summer Tans and Good Things

(Told by Ceithlinn)


So, school's almost starting, I've got basically everything I need, and I'm prepared for the Freshman open house. Everything's perfect! Except for one thing: My summer tan. I mean, it's great that I actually got out of my room this summer and got a skin color other than pasty-white, but it isn't even a 'Farmer's Tan'! For any of you who have also sported it, I feel your pain. It is not the best look. What's worse is that no matter what I do, how many shorts I wear, how much sunscreen I avoid, I cannot make my legs darken at all! So while my bottom half puts vampires to shame, my top half can melt an entire ice cream cone in thirty seconds. I guess it's not that bad, I'm just not used to my skin being a 'normal' color. Most of my family is from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England, so I basically have no pigment. But I'm also a Washingtonian, so I live without sun pretty much all year round. So, as you can see, my pigment-less skin has even less pigment. That being said, it's a great reminder of all the things we've done this summer!

At the beginning of summer, just a few weeks after school was out, my mother ran a Cub Scout Day camp. I was really proud of the camp shirts, since they were based off of my original design. My job during that was to make and pass out volunteer thank-yous and to watch Aimee. Between all the time playing with her, going out with the thank-yous, and washing and packing everything up, my arms and face were red with sunburn. With the help of aloe vera, it quickly healed and faded into a slight tan.

Final product

My concept

About a week later, I went to my church's Girls' Camp. It was a lot of fun to hang out with friends and learn new skills! I also loved the beginning and end of day meetings. Our 'Security Dudes' made their own skits and parodies to sing during roll call and they were always funny! Almost everyone was nice. When I got home, my skin darkened into the tan I have today.

So even though it may not be greatest looking tan in the world, the memories attached to it are worthwhile. Wow. That actually sounded really weird. Anyway, have a great day and be happy!

11 Year Old Scout Camp

(Told by Matthew)

The Scout Camp was 2 days long. Dad went with me. The camp was at Camp Thunderbird in Olympia, Washington. I had a fun time doing their activities. 

What I did there was I set up a tent. Well, the setting up the tent was hard. It took us almost the entire day setting up the tent, because we couldn't figure out how to set it up. It was dirty and it had a piece broken on one of the poles. The arch holder hook thing-a-ma-jiggy was missing. So, the pole wouldn't stay in an arch pattern. We got it set up by literally pushing the pole in the ground.

I figured out how to do flags. Well, unfolding the flag is easy, it's the folding the flag that is hard. Folding the flag it kept being hard because I couldn't figure out how to put the white end with the metal circles in the triangle. But I figured out how to stuff it in. On the last day I raised the Washington State flag during the opening flag ceremony.

 

I also tried swimming, but I failed. I was supposed to swim 25 feet in the cold lake after jumping in. The water was over my head so I started freaking out. Dad jumped in and stood 3 feet away to make my hopes go up, but it didn't at all. 

Ready to jump in the water

So, I went paddle boating instead of swimming. Well, it was fun and hard at the same time. First off it was hard because Dad is way heavier than me. So, the paddle boat was hard to steer, and he had more leg strength than me so I kept losing my paddle. We saw 10 ducks out there, all grouped into one. We went toward them, but Dad's weight steered away from them. It was a fun time in the water.

 

I also did some lifeguard training. I threw a safety ring into the water toward somebody who was pretending to be drowning. I also put a pole in the water to get somebody who was pretending to be drowning. 

 

Me throwing the ring -- I'm glad Dad took a photo while I was throwing it.

I also did a scavenger hunt and I found everyone so I sat down near the flag poles. 

Me, chillin' in the breeze

I had a lunch. I had a breakfast and another lunch. Oh, I forgot to add dinner. The food was amazing and we had two desserts in the same day. We made breakfast burritos in a bag. First, you turn on the propane stove with a pot full of warm water. Second, you crack two eggs into a quart-sized bag, and add bell peppers, cheese, and sausage. Then you close the bag and mix up the ingredients with your hands. Then put the bag in the now boiling water for 15 minutes or until eggs are to your liking. Finally, you take the bag out of the water and put the ingredients on a tortilla and fold it up like you would with a bean and cheese burrito.

Me, eating lunch

Me, sleeping and smiling at the same time

Holding a rake

Getting ready to do a service project -- my job was to take the hay out of the wheelbarrow.
We prepared a hill for a giant slip n' slide (10 yards)

Me, sleeping on the way home

A Hello From Ceithlinn

Hey! Ceithlinn here! How y'all doing? So, some things to know about me. I'm currently fourteen and will not be attending Bonney Lake High next year. I'll be attending Sumner High School instead (more on that later). In the past six months I have read all of the Percy Jackson series and most of 'The Heroes of Olympus' series, so now I'm part of the fandom. I probably would have read them faster (I'm a very avid reader), but it's been a crazy busy summer!

I also love Ninjago. We really need a new punctuation mark in our society. I say this because on one hand, I want to shout out my love of Ninjago with an exclamation point, but on the other hand, I think a period is supposed to go there instead. So maybe if we had a mark that was a cross between the two, I wouldn't have this problem!

Anyways, about Sumner High. It's a better fit fit for me than the other high school. It's got more of what I want to do. I can't wait to take the drama and art courses they have there! It's the best in the district! I'm also really looking forward to seeing some of my friends and making new ones, too. The people I've met there have all been really nice! It's a bit crazy that I'm going to be a Freshman this year though. I feel like I just started middle school! I mean, it was going to happen sometime, but I just thought it would be later.

Aimee's a cute little two year-old, which is good because it makes up for the two year-old attitude! I guess I'd have a bit of an attitude too, having to learn so much and the world being so much bigger than myself. I don't remember much about it, but I understand why she'd have a meltdown over a toy. She has also decided that she's old enough to climb things, things like bookshelves, toys, and boxes. I have no idea where she learned to do this, since we don't climb much. I love her and can't wait to see what she does in the future!

Well, I'm going to go. Have a great day and keep smiling!