Roots of Optimism

This morning we were off to church once more, and as you can see, we were having try-outs for the bobsled team up there.  We picked some volunteers and they were pretending like the bobsled was careening down the a slippery track.  Of course, we told the audience that this is what they are like sitting on a toilet...

ANYWAY, it was a fun morning there, but we had a deeper sort of morning elsewhere with worship, and prayer for all the kids as they exited the amphitheater.  Here you can see us praying over each child as they return to their rooms.

Similarly, upstairs the adults were involved in a prayer service, a yearly one that means the the end of our twenty-one day fast.  I can't believe it has come and gone already!

We got home shortly after this, and it was time for a dinner with MEAT.  And we had sweets too - Daddy hid away a Crunchie bar for Mommy, and had a candy bar from Christmas saved up for this special day.  Madison was her typical sweet self, getting a York Peppermint candy from KidPak to bring home for Mommy.  She makes the tour around KidPak after each service, giving away pieces of candy to certain adult volunteers and staff members each Sunday.  She gets some tokens for candy, and usually gets enough to give to everyone else, such is her sweet spirit.

One person she gives candy to is Christine Edge, who works with her husband Bart running a karate studio.  We visit there from time to time, especially in October for their Trunk or Treat.  But furthermore, they're tremendous volunteers for us at KidPak.  We love them dearly, and this year, Madison will be able to go to their karate camp.  Today, she was talking with Christine about the camp, and the two of them were actually deciding the theme for that first week.  It came down to a Star Wars theme, or a week where the participants focused on advancing towards a new belt in Taekwondo.  I would have thought the Star Wars theme was a lock, but Madison is intrigued by earning a new belt, also convinced that it would be good to see what it takes to earn a belt.  So, that being said, Madison should be an orange belt rather quickly.  Obviously, the earliest belt is not as much an investment as others, but a belt is a belt, and it will be a nice moment.  Perhaps the first of many, if she's interested.  Already, she'll have a higher belt color than Daddy!

ANYWAY, we were working on a project today, a oratory assignment, I think.  It has something to do with speaking in front of the class, and the theme was "Roots of Optimism."  First of all, "optimism" is a tricky word to say if you're not used to it.  Secondly, Madison and Daddy were tinkering with her speech, and this is what she came up with:

      Where are my roots of optimism?

      My roots of optimism come from my best friend.  We first met in third grade.  I just started talking to her like there was nothing to be afraid of.  Ever since then, we’ve been friends, growing up together.  We’ve always had fun talking, laughing, and playing games. We share so many amazing memories together – it’s as if our story started once upon a time, and has been happily ever after since.  If life was an actual fairy tale, she would be the princess, or the hero.  She’s loyal, sweet, bold, and so much more.

     Saint Thomas Aquinas once said, “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”  And he was right.  Whenever I am feeling down or depressed, my best friend is there to lift my spirits.   She makes me feel much more optimistic about how things can be.  With a best friend like her, I know everything can be okay.

     Cartoonist Bill Watterson wrote, “Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend.”  In my life, I don’t have to be as scared about things, because I have a best friend.

     Can you be a best friend to someone else?  Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.”  When you are a friend to someone else, the future looks brighter.  When that happens, you make the roots of optimism grow stronger.

     She did a good job with this one.  She was randomly looking up quotes, but Daddy spotted that one from Bill Watterson, and we had to use it.  This of course led to a very important discussion about "Calvin and Hobbes," which is essential reading material.
     But as for the speech, Madison has written it down on index cards, and could deliver it tomorrow, or possibly on Tuesday.  We'll have to practice it some more in the morning, but she did a good job with it this afternoon.
     We did a few other things today:  we worked on Madison's ballet shoes a bit, and the word is spelled "pointe" with an e at the end.  Also, we had piano to do, along with some studying for math.  Madison has a big test coming up there.
     After chores and homework, we had enough time to go to Jurassic Park, the LEGO version, at least.  And after that, there was more "research" with the live action version of "Cinderella" from just a short time ago.
     First of all, it's a gorgeous movie.  It separates itself so well from the original "Cinderella," unlike that recent movie version of "Beauty and the Beast."  In that respect, "Cinderella" is so much better.  The environments are so lush, and the costuming so amazing.  It's a beautiful movie, really.  Daddy got a few ideas for a message, as the movie makes some splendid points.
     We enjoyed it with some popcorn, and then it was time for sleep.  We read from the book of John, chapter fourteen, and then from the newest devotional Daddy has written, one about mountains (and climbing them).  Then, we continued with "When the Sea Turned to Silver," which is already such a great book.  The three of us are totally into it from the get-go.
     It's been a full day, and Mommy and Daddy are probably going to bed sooner than later tonight.  But we'll go to bed with a smile on our face, as it's been a great day.  The rain still pours down outside, just as it has all day long.  But that doesn't dampen our spirits.  We're blessed and highly favored!  You could say we're highly optimistic!