Periodontics

It's been three years since my father passed away. He lived 91 years on this beautiful planet and though not here in body today, he is here in spirit often.

On our way driving home from his funeral three years ago I received a phone message from one of the sweetest voices ever. I hadn't heard it for a few years as we'd moved to a new city and I was busy raising the twigs and serving with Scout and Primary Leaders but I never forgot it. It was Jill, from my favorite Periodontal Office, asking if I might be willing to work for them again.

My first thought was "Thank you, Father, and thank you, Father."

I started the next week and can't express the gratitude I feel for this blessing. I'm grateful for amazing people who bless my life with their stories of struggles and joys!

My co-workers are filled to overflowing with wit, generosity, kindness, and genius. I adore them!
It was Whitney's birthday a few weeks ago and every time we'd start to talk about her she'd somehow get the limelight off her and change the subject. That's how they are.

Paul in Philippians 1:3 said it best..."I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

Spirit of NUAMES...

The hallways were crowded with students and parents, some waiting in lines, others making their way to the next room at our first NUAMES High School parent teacher conferences when we heard this bubbly voice making it's way down the hall. It was too tiny to see above the crowd but the voice was coming closer and as it did we could tell people were being hugged by it. When it reached us it called our brand new, wet behind the ears, High Schooler by name and introduced itself to us. Deb Hefner, the Director of Business Operations for Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science, entered our lives and hearts that afternoon, and we're the fortunate ones.

Later that year her dear husband would pass away. Our hearts ached for her and her beautiful daughter. At the next school dance, our oldest twig happened to see Ms. Hefner and asked her to swing dance. It was a dance to remember as all the students circled around this adored woman and cheered for her always celebrating the moment. These two had a standing agreement to dance together from that night on, including a dance at Ms. Hefner's daughter's wedding reception.

True to her huge heart and giving nature, Ms. Hefner and her daughter (who was in Armenia this night) gave the first "Jim Hefner Spirit of NUAMES" Awards and Scholarships this year to two students in honor of her late husband. How proud he must be of his girls!

How blessed we are to know Deb!

Swing dancing till the cows came home...

The nicest people you'll ever meet own this fabulous barn and allowed our youth group to come and dance the night away, all for the price of some good muscle power by the guys and their leaders a few weeks in advance. Sounds like it's still a gift of kindness on the part of the owners if you ask me - no slight intended to all those muscles.

The night of the dance, a very creative dance teacher in the neighborhood used the "chocolate, vanilla, strawberry game" to have the youth all switching dance partners and lining up in dance position pronto! Then it was time to swing dance. They were jump jivin' and jailhouse rockin' till the cows came home (actually the cows were already home, just outside the barn).

There were more dedicated leaders outside, cooking dutch oven cobbler while the kids were learning how to pretzel, spin, and dip. Thanks leaders!

What a blast to have enough youth to pull off an activity like this. Good times - thanks everyone!