I love Neil Diamond!!!???

So we were given 4 tickets to the Neil Diamond concert tonight. Omar gave up his ticket to a friend of ours who loves Neil Diamond and we had invited another couple to come with us. Omar was more than pleased to give his ticket up since he did not know any of Neil's songs. I was not quite sure of any of them myself.
The concert...I am torn what to think. I did not know any of the music except for 3 songs...Coming to America, Sweet Caroline, and one other. He was so OLD - he has been doing this for 40 years, but he was still pretty limber for how old he was. I did find the whole thing to be a little bit of a bore, but at the same time was extremely pleased. I find it very refreshing that there are musicians in the world who do not have to have foul and offensive music or language in their music. I thought it was really neat how he talked about the victims from Hurrican Ike in Texas and proceeds from any of the concert items would go to help build homes for people that lost them.
I must admit that the last song I fell asleep. I guess his low voice was too soothing for me. I woke up for him to say "Goodnight Jacksonville." I was shocked. But then he came back for an encore singing "Coming to America." All in all, no complaints for free tickets and to experience something new. Maybe I do love Neal Diamond.

The Air Show: Featuring the Blue Angels

Omar and I went to the Navy Airshow this past weekend. It was a free event and it was really neat at what a huge event it was. There were tons of booths, activities, planes, and information about the Marines, and Navy. We had awesome seats...here are the videos that Omar took...he was so excited about it. Each video does not last very long...some are only like 5 seconds.

F-15, Mustang, and F-16

Shock Wave Jet vs WWII plane

2 F-14 planes

F-14 Takes Off

Inverted F-14

Fat Albert (his jet pack can only be used once - he was created the same year as the famous show Fat Albert)

Blue Angel Finale

Big Brothers Big Sisters Newspaper article - hilarious!

So last week the newspaper article that I had been trying to have done was actually in the paper. It was the most interesting interview ever! The columnist came to the house of the Little (the child who was matched with a mentor) and the Big (the mentor) and the Little's mom was there with me. He hardly asked any questions and he took only a few words of notes. He took 2 pictures and left. I was able to ask him how long the article would be right before he left and he made it sound as though it would be a paragraph. The whole point of the article was supposed to be that Big Brothers Big Sisters in Clay County is in dire need of male mentors. The columnist emailed me a week later and asked me a question to where I wrote a huge paragraph back so that he could understand more about the programs - that is what is the huge quote in the article. Hilarious. I called him last week to ask him when the article would come out or if I had already missed it (since he said it would be so small). He had no idea who I was! He asked me if I was the lady that had a son that wanted to swim and had no legs. Weird! He then emailed me the next day and told me to check the paper the following day on page 1 for the article. So here is my front page article!

'Big Brothers' make a difference

Leo King | October 24, 2008



By Leo King

Staff Writer

ORANGE PARK – Tyree Thomas is an 8-year-old who bubbles with happiness. He’s a kid who loves to mug for a camera, and does well in school. So well, in fact, He was a recent winner in the Orange Park Fire Department’s ongoing "On Fire for Literacy" program. He’ll soon get a ride on a bright, shiny red fire truck for reading more minutes than any other child in his second grade at Montclair Elementary School.

A big part of his success has been having a "Big Brother."

When he talks about his Big Brother, Love Harris, Tyree describes him as "cool."

"He’s really cool. Saturday we went to Skate Station [on Blanding Boulevard] and he helps me with my homework."

His mom, Kristi Williams, 37, is originally from Jacksonville, lived in Cleveland, Ohio for a while, but came to Orange Park where she said she has family.

"While I was in Cleveland, I waited more than a year to get him a Big Brother. I never did, but I did here almost right away."

They live in King’s Tree Apartments on Kingsley Avenue.

She said Tyree’s father has "not been in the picture since he was an infant."

Big Brother Harris, 28, lives on Half Moon Circle in Middleburg where he, his wife and two children also reside. He’s in the Navy at Jacksonville Naval Air Station where he an electronics technician, "so I can stop off here on my way to or from work."

He is an easy-going man and he and Tyree interact well.

Kate Spilsbury is the caseworker for the Williams family, and she is also the Clay County area manager for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northeast Florida. She’s a newlywed as of last March, so there aren’t any "little Kates" running around yet.

She explained that "We try to help boys between 5 and 14, but if a parent is incarcerated, we’ll extend it to age 17."

Spilsbury, 25, pointed out Clay County has own Advisory Council and its own fundraising, and is pursuing other grants.

"Thirty boys are waiting to be matched in our community-based program, and that does not include our waiting list of boys to be interviewed." She explained there are 25 active community-based matches.

"We’re not taking any more interviews" until they can find mentors for the kids on the waiting list, she added, and explained it this way:

"They ‘age out’ at 18, meaning that when they graduate high school or turn 18, they are no longer eligible for the program. We will not interview a child that is older than 17 because the program requirement is for a year and it takes time to match them. That is only for children with incarcerated parents ‘Parent’ is loosely defined. In my experience, I find that it is rare to find a child at that older age who is interested in the program, meaning that I have never interviewed a child older than 14. Typically, once a child enters the program, they generally stay matched with their volunteer as long as they possibly can and we have had older children in the program, but they typically start at a younger age."

She added, "I am searching for male volunteers. I currently have 30 boys on the waiting list – that is, not including boys on the waiting list to be interviewed."

There are some requirements for potential Big Brothers, Spilsbury said.

"The commitment is for one year, and they have to meet with the child six hours a month, or at least twice a month. If there are guns in the home, they have to be locked."

They started a site-based program at W.E. Cherry Elementary School this year, and they are growing their "Mentoring Children of Promise" program.

Jill Johnston, press officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville, said in an email that "Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest youth mentoring organization in the U.S. and has been serving the Jacksonville area since 1915, and in Clay County since 2001."

The organization currently serves Clay and six other counties. Growth in matches and revenues has doubled in the last two years.

In 2007, Johnston said, the Northeast Florida organization "was recognized as one of the top 30 performing agencies of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, which has over 450 affiliate members. Often referred to as "BBBSNEFL," it currently serves more than 1,600 matches through professionally supported one-to-one relationships.

"Regardless of race, creed, economic status or family situation, our mission is to provide a mentor for each child in Northeast Florida who needs and wants an adult friend in their lives," she said.

lking@jcpgroup.com

Orlando Florida LDS (Mormon) Temple - Mormons

Festival Latino 2008

It was a year ago, this weekend (I believe) that Omar and I first "met" and spent time together. Of course it was "celebrated" by going to the same sort of event that we first did together - an international night for Latinos at our church. We had helped them set up starting on Wednesday night. What a huge set they had for the activity. We went down to Orlando on Friday for Omar to see his Godson and to do some other things as well. While we were down there I got a call from our Branch President asking me if I would sing the National Anthem the following day at the festival. I of course don't ever say no and so agreed. You can watch me singing the National Anthem. Everyone was standing for it - so the film quality is not the best. I was accompanied by a flute and piano.

Our battery ran out on the camera and so we were not able to get many pictures past the first cultural dance - bummer. Everyone was dressed so awesome!

Over 300 people came to this big event.

Free Food Galor!!!

First of all I dedicate this blog entry to Sarah Allen, who says that all I ever have on this blog is pictures of food (therefore no pictures included). So this past week Omar had the opportunity to eat lots of free food...got to love that. Thursday night we went and ate at Chipotle for a private pre-screening before their grand opening the following day. I remember my first day ever going to Chipotle. I was in Denver, Colorado on an excursion to say good-bye to my roommate for 3 years who would be serving a mission (Julia Carlson). Good times. So Chipotle was invitation only this time and we walked through the line, ordered whatever we wanted for FREE! Then we went through the line again and took some home with us. Yum!

Second meal was Friday night at 3 Sisters - this newer restaraunt in Downtown Kissimmee. My mom treated us...it was all of our first time - it was pretty good.

Third meal. I was going to go out with some girlfriends and Omar was going to drop me off at the location of thier choice which happened to be a Pei Wei. I think that the only other time I had eaten at a Pei Wei was in SLC Utah...I think that my old friend Mike Danley took me there. So Omar pulled up to the restaraunt and there was a lady bodyguard outside. There was a sign that read "Grand Opening Monday October 20". I realized that it was just like Chipotle "invitation only" day and the grand opening later on. Bummer. Omar being the good sport rolled down the window after we sat there for like 5 minutes and asked. What a good sport - she told us that she would let us both go in whenever we were ready to exit the car. SWEET! So then we asked her if our 4 other friends could come in with us. She was hesitant, but then I pointed to them as they pulled up and she said sure. She let our party of 6 have 2 free appetizers and one free drink and entree each! Awesome! That was free meal #3.

Fourth meal. Well this meal was partly not really free as we had to bring in our own food for everyone to eat. It was the Festival Latino - where there was food from different countries and then cultural dances from different ones too. Fun times.

Check Out Our Cute Nephew

So Omar and I are only an aunt and uncle to one...Jayden Spilsbury (Omar's brother Eddie's son). He is adorable...
Check him out!
http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4e5441794d6a6b304d5877354f4445794e54517a0d0a&sb=1

Nature Pals - Teaching Individual Worth

I was trying to figure out what to have my little Beehives do for an activity to teach them about individual worth. I was looking online for fall crafts and found this cute one on Disney.com - The directions for how to the do the craft are posted below. I had them create a nature pal for whoever was not there that night first. After they made a pal of themselves and of someone else I taught a lesson. The lesson I shared scriptures of how we all are of worth even though we may be different on the outside and even have different styles. I also talked about how so many others did not know who they are and what they are worth and it is our job to help them - that is why we made a pal for the missing girls. I talked about how our joy will be great if we bring ourself into God's Kingdom, by realizing what we are worth...but how much more joy it will be if we bring someone else too. I think the girls really enjoyed it. (more of my lesson plan is below)

Personalized Nature Pals
This take on a classic camp craft inspires your family members to create versions of themselves with natural treasures from your own backyard.

Prep Time: Under 1 hour
What you need:
Sticks and twigs

Hand pruners (a parent's tool)

Hot-glue gun

Flat stone

Colored pencils

Small objects from nature, such as pinecones, pine needles, pieces of bark, acorns, and leaves

8-inch piece of twine (optional)

Seasons: Summer
Materials: wood
Instructions:
1. Trim the sticks with the pruners and hot-glue them together to form a body with arms, a torso, and legs.
2. Draw a face on the stone with colored pencils, then glue it to the torso.
3. Glue on the other features, such as pinecone feet, an acorn cap, bark pants, or a pine needle skirt.
4. Once the glue has set, you can hang your project5 by tying the twine into a loop, then gluing it to the back.


LESSON PLAN
What does this activity have to do with individual worth?
D&C 18:10, 16 (talk about how that one soul is themselves)
Isaiah 13:12 – we can’t figure out who we are and see what we can become without the Lord’s help
Why do you think I asked you to make one for the YW missing first?
Mosiah 28:3; Alma 31:34-36 – teach the stories; teach them that we should feel this way towards the other young women who are not here
D&C 18:16 (then tie it in that if they can bring others with them, how much more joyous)

7 Months Happily Married

This past Wednesday marked 7 months for us to be married. We actually went out and celebrated - after we were with the youth at church. The couple we are with it was their 2 month anniversary the same day. We went to this restaraunt called the Athens Cafe. I had never heard of it, but Jason said it was good. It was good - it should have been for the price! Ouch! We had fun.

Omar's Birthday - BIG 2-7

Omar was down in Orlando for almost a week working. I drove up late Friday night after Big Brothers Big Sisters large fundraising event Margaritta J'Ville. The following day we went to the temple, Fuddruckers, and then Omar went to Hallowscream in Tampa. His birthday was actually on Sunday.
I made him breakfast in bed for his birthday - he was so tired after Hallowscream
My mom made him some yummy pot roast for dinner and then we had his favorite thing in the whole world - a Pepperidge Farm Butter Loaf. He always tries to sneak these into the grocery cart at the store. Lets just say no one helped him eat his cake.

Soul Food Festival 2008

Me with my little set-up...we ended up buying a tent that morning and the wind kept blowing over the display so we placed it on the ground.

Me with some of our local matches in the parade
The parade was really long - we were sort of at the beginning of it.
We had a good time together.

For work with Big Brothers Big Sisters I participated in the 7th Annual Soul Food Festival in Green Cove Springs (which is actually where my mom was born...funny). I had no idea what to expect, but it was a lot of fun. Omar came to support and took pictures of the parade - it was a pretty big parade - if we would have had some snow we could have been in New York for the Macy's Day parade. There was lots of food at the festival we ate chicken and ribs and beans and funnel cake. Yum! The festival had all sorts of activities - but mainly we hung out at the tent recruiting volunteers. It was a great event.