Sundry Items

Well, it looks like Prop 8 is going to pass by the skin of it's teeth. I'm sure that means it's not over yet, though. The opposition is not going to let this baby lie. If they push long enough and hard enough, I think that eventually they will win. Call me a pessimist. I just see too much apathy in people these days. But for now we can breathe a little easier and be happy for our results.

I read a good article in Meridian Magazine that seems to have been taken down (I can't find it anywhere and I wanted to re-read it). It included this Quote:

---

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years
ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he
will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to
halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many
years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the
Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or
political life.'

"This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society
which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being
ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the
prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when
such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious
imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions
grow out of religious convictions.

"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the
institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....
Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes
will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the
choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic
counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems
probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by
what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a
slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was,
till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put
forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us,
let us not then complain of the heat."

--- Elder Neal A. Maxwell

1979, Elder Maxwell
A more determined Discipleship

On other topics, since Hannah has been at school this year I have not taken as many pictures of her as I normally would and I feel like this has turned into the Brynne, Logan, and Kenna show.

Hannah had an exciting week this week (and it's only Wednesday!). On Monday she received an "Excellence in Scholarship" award at a school assembly. The teachers nominate students from their class to receive a varying assortment of awards. She was very excited to be nominated AND win.
The week before she had "auditioned" to perform a piano piece in the talent portion of the assembly. I think the auditions are more of a clearing-house to make sure that kids aren't just doing silly things. But every 8 weeks when they have this awards assembly there are a few children who read poetry, sing, play music, or otherwise share their gifts. Apparently a girl that had been chosen to read some poetry forgot her poem and so they asked Hannah (scheduled for the next assembly) to play her piece. Which she has memorized as she memorizes all her music. She was very pleased. She had been very upset about the audition because she said she messed up a bunch and having other people in the room stop their work to listen had bothered her. But she said that at the assembly she played her piece perfectly!
I have included a video of her playing her piece - a Halloween piece about witches.

Brynne has her final soccer practice today - which is actually going to be a little party hosted by our team sponsor. Lucky for us, they are the local burger joint so we will get fed! Hannah has a fun 4H doll-making class today also. Should be a fun day!