Happy Birthday

Kind deeds of love and service continued!

“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check.  But that is not what I have found.  I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay.  Small acts of kindness and love”.

Gandalf

92....Today Brad took the day off and took to the grill. He lit up both the Big Green Egg and our backyard open pit grill. He did 4 chickens, 3 racks of ribs, 2 tri tips, 18 sausages and a mess of brussel sprouts. He proceeded to smoke and grill them over oak, mesquite and lemon wood. Once he was finished, he made up "care packages" and started to deliver. One went to our chiropractor - his mom is at her end of life stage. He and his wife are keeping her at their home and are delivering 24 hour care. One went to neighbor down at the end of our street. Brad found out they were going through foreclosure and we saw the moving trucks there today. One went to our neighbors across the street - she is in remission from brain cancer. One more will go to our elderly next door neighbor. I shop for her and she does get Meals on Wheels, but they don't do anything as delicious as Brad's BBQ. We of course will get some good leftovers."

93.   From Karen Cunningham:  This last month I have been delivering homemade zucchini bread and chili sauce made from the last successful plants in my garden to neighbors and friends.  I had my grandkids, Kohen and Knox help me deliver a few times.  The best part of these many experiences was being able to spend time visiting with these wonderful people.    Some relationships I had developed while I was serving as Relief Society President years ago and had not kept up as I should have.  I know this doesn't sound like much but when I think of Grandma Cunningham and her special fudge, I realize that her ability to show love and concern for others around her may start with a gift, but ends up with a personal relationship that she continues to cultivate.  It takes a little effort to serve others, but I have witnessed it as a blessing in my life when doing so, and hopefully will be able to help someone in need along the way.  I appreciate so much, Mom's example of hard work and love for her family.  This gal never sits still, she is always working on a project and usually it is to benefit others somehow.  I hope to share true Christlike love as you do for this year and many, many more.  I love you!                                        

94.  Grandma has always been an inspiration to me. She has always had an open heart and shared everything she has with everyone. Her loving and sharing attitude inspired our family to donate some of the items that we have to others that may need them. Now that the season is changing and its getting colder we decided to collect all of the blankets and coats that we no longer used and donate them to The Road Home to help the families in the area that would need coats and blankets for the upcoming winter. It took a little while to explain to our kids why there were some people that didn't have homes and coats and blankets, but once they understood the need others had they were very excited to help. The experience we had was great and we were very thankful we were in a position to be able to help. We're so thankful to have Grandmas loving example in our lives and don't know where we would be without her.

We love you Grandma!

From Travis Cunningham and family

Thanks to everyone who helped on Jo's birthday book!!

“Great things are wrought through simple and small things. Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another.”

― M Russell Ballard

Last Week to send in stories!!

"Be present.  Make love.  Make tea.  Avoid small talk.  Embrace conversation.  Buy a plant, water it.  Make your bed.  Make someone  else's bed.  Have a smart mouth, and quick wit.  Run.  Make art.  Create.  Swim in the ocean.  Swim in the rain.  Take chances.  Ask questions.  Make mistakes.  Learn.  Know your worth.  Love fiercely.  Forgive quickly.  Let go of what doesn't make you happy.  Grow."

66.  Jo (Sister Cunningham) has always been such an example of Love and Service to me.  Her Christmas fudge is always a special treat for the holidays.  I chose to organize a group of Sisters (active, less active and different ages ) to go to Cafe Rio for dinner and then attend the Relief Society Broadcast.  I made arrangements to pick everyone up to be sure that all attended.  We had a wonderful evening of Sisterhood and inspiration.  My goal is to continue this for future Relief Society Broadcasts. Thank you for inspiring all of us, Jo.
Love, Beverly Terry

67-68.   "Even though I'm not in your ward anymore, I still think of you often and how wonderful you are at remembering others and doing nice things for them.  Service is my middle name and I was excited to do something in your honor.  I don't usually tell people what I do.  I just see a need and do it.  So in your honor I did a couple things…
First, there is a home on my street owned by a retired couple.  This is their second home.  They live in Idaho.  It is not easy for them to get down on their knees and pull weeds.  So while they are in Idaho, I maintain their yard.  I pull weeds, trim bushes and ix water leaks.  They served a mission recently in Omaha, Nebraska and my boys and I were able to go see them on their mission.  While they were serving I would pull weeds and think of their service to the Lord and I was honored to be serving them.  Now when I work in their yard I think 'there's one less weed they have to pull…there's a leak they won't have to fix'  I leave it in tip top shape so when they come back down, their yard is ready for them.
The Second act of service I did and am currently doing is for a boy in my ward who comes from a family that doesn't have a lot of money.  He doesn't have much in the way of toys and uses his imagination quite well.  He has an older brother who constantly yells at him.  This boy is so sweet and struggles a little with feeling accepted.  So I started teaching him piano at no cost.  I wasn't sure how he was going to do because he can't sit still.  However, this young man who is11 is doing well.  He pushes himself and wants to get the song right.  He likes a challenge and always comes to lessons excited and ready to learn.  I am so proud of him."  Happy Birthday Jo!!

69-71.  Sage, Ethan and Haven came over while they are visiting their Grandpa Dave and Grandma Kris.  They wanted to do something to help Grandma Jo.  We have had some wind with the last few storms, so Grandma had them collect the pinecones that have fallen from the trees.  Now Ann has enough for decorations for the ward Christmas party!

72.  We have found that our acts of service and kindness come back around full service to bless us.  Mom gave one of her containers of fudge to the driver of the delivery truck who brought most of our doors and windows.  We looked out the next day and the Burton Lumber truck was back with our front door which had been delivered to the company later.  The driver just stopped by with it and didn't charge a delivery fee because she has been so sweet to him.

Real Happiness!

"To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves.  As we look heavenward, we will inevitably learn of our responsibility to reach outward."  Thomas S. Monson

51.  Related by Bruce Cunningham…From my friend Nia Avalon:

My HERO for the day. I had to go to Walmart (I'm poor) to get an umbrella, some undershirts for Joe, and especially some treats for my students as rewards for doing well. I was $9.47 short when I checked out. I had been telling the clerk what all that was for, and then the guy (young, cool!) behind me in line said. "It's okay, how much are you short?" She told him. "Cool, I'll cover the difference, it's fine!" I was astonished! I hugged him and told him he was awesome. He said, "It's cool, just pass it forward by doing someone else a favor." I promise!!! YOU ARE AWESOME! You better believe I will return that great karma ten fold!! I don't know his name or where he's from and it doesn't matter. Humans Are MAGNIFICENT So pass it on! Do something kind, just because.  (For Mom)

52.  From Dacia Weese:  Donated some of my bonus from my new job to a friend in Sweden so she didn't lose her apartment…she was out of work for 6 weeks because of a work injury, and lost her job because she was gone for those 6 weeks!

53.  Helped at a bake sale and donated $50 for a friend's sister who gave her kidney to a total stranger!  (Dacia)

54.  Gabe and Josh Weese have gathered a large box of books for Kristina Hart's library that will be shipped this weekend.  Happy Birthday Grandma Jo!

55.  From my friend Kim Dunn in Mountain Home, Idaho…(Dacia's friend who wanted to contribute)
"I have always noticed a lady in my town walking everywhere and it has been unusually hot this summer.  I stopped yesterday and asked her if she needed a ride anywhere…It turns out she walks to the store every day because she cannot carry home more than a day's groceries.  I took her on base with me to the commissary where we could stretch her dollar a little more and got her fridge and pantry completely filled.  I also got her set up with the bus from the senior center so she can get to the store and her appointments a little easier"  

56.  From Dacia's friend Karen Malone in Seaside Heights, NJ…  I sent a huge box of books for Kristina Hart's library.

57.  Karen Malone and her daughter also have a food drive every year for the local food pantry.  This year they did it in Grandma Jo's name and tried to collect 91 lbs of food.  They will deliver it soon.

58.  Grandma Jo and I were at the post office today and a lady ahead of us said to her…"Please go ahead of me.  My package is for my daughter in Belarus and it always takes a long time to get it mailed."  (See…it doesn't have to be a big thing!)

59.  From Martha Baker:
"Josephine, you are one of my heroes!  I truly look up to you as a great example of how I should live my life.  Thank-you for being you and being someone I can look up to.  I have been thinking about what service I could do on behalf of your upcoming birthday.  My in-laws have been serving a 6 month mission in Wyoming at the 6th Crossing Handcart Site.  They just returned home yesterday from their mission.  While they were gone, our family had the opportunity to look afar their home, take care of the yard work, and get their mail every few days.  It was a great opportunity for me to work so that they could spend time serving the Lord.  It was not always easy or convenient to get their large lawn mowed each week and to take care of what needed to be done for them, but it was worth it.  Our family was blessed for seeing them while they served on their mission."  Happy Birthday Jo!!   

60-63.  Yesterday John & Ann Ribera and Dave and Jo Cunningham went over and cleaned up the church.  Even though she came with us for our work, we decided to dedicate that service to Mom.

64.  Camry Johnston, a young woman in our ward came last night to deliver 2 doz. cookies to Mom.

65.  Brother Hirschi and his son, Michael also came last night with pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  It was a cookie day!

Generally Speaking

"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others…by and large, I have come to see that if we com pain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves."  
Gordon B. Hinckley


42.  From MJ and Brad Bakove:
     I usually take a bag to pick up trash on my beach walks.  Brad and I went to Hendry's Beach Sunday morning to take in the day.  We must have been the first ones on the sand after the big party Saturday night.  I counted 4 fire pits with coals still warm.  We picked up 40 bottles and cans and filled 4 bags with assorted trash, small pieces of plastic, cigarette butts, bottle caps, & clothing.  Don't need to add more to the Great Pacific Plastic Gyre.

43.  From the Eric and Suzanne Cunningham family…
The kids prepared and took flowers to their teachers this week.  An act of kindness for Grandma!

                                                       Grandma and the Wolf!

44.  Brenda Poulsen reported that James Ribera showed up at their new house ready and willing to paint.  His unexpected help was of great benefit to Brenda and her family.  Good job!!

45.  From Alyssa Shrout:  My sister-in-law was having a rough couple of days so I ordered flowers and had them sent to her at her massage school to brighten her day.  It worked!  Happy Birthday Grandma!

46-50.    "Tonight the Mia Maids (of the Washington 9th Ward) spent their evening doing a service reject for Mrs. Mann's Story Time at the St. George Library in honor of Sister Josephine Cunningham.  Due to the recent flooding, most of Mrs. Mann's supplies and resources from over the years were ruined.  Her bean bags, that she frequently uses for a variety of activities were destroyed.  The Mia Maids took this opportunity to serve by sewing and making her new bean bags!  The night was full of smiles and good laughs as these daughters of God served in honor of Sister Cunningham.  The Mia Maids hope to be as awesome as her when they are 91!"

The Good that we Do!

"There is no end to the good that we can do, or the influence that we can have with others.  Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative.  Let us pray for strength; let s pray for capacity and desire to assist others.  Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us.  Miracles can happen when there is kindness, respect, and love.  Let us reach out in friendship to everyone, it is a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ."  Gordon B. Hinckley

38.  Teresa Olcott sent in her act of service.  

Oprah and Deepak have come up with CD sets consisting of 21 days of meditations centering around different values and themes.  After each meditation, there area 4 questions associated with that day's meditation.  I am typing up the journal questions for Alyssa Shrout, so she can participate too!  

39.  Kayla Hart began school this week at BYU-I.  There were many acts of kindness to get her there.  Jonathan and Diana let us stay at their home after picking her up at the airport.  Diana then took her shopping and treated us all (including Joe's family to dinner).  Grandpa and Grandma Ribera then drove her to Rexburg, bought supplies and groceries and helped her get settled in.  It was lots of fun!

40.  Grandma Jo (not to be outdone by all of you), while putting up 30 quarts of peaches today, stopped and made a cobbler for a friend she heard hurt her back.

41.  The general public has no idea that they are helping on the 91 acts of service.  Today John was out front trying to cut down the 15 plus foot trees at the end of the driveway, that died this last winter.  The chainsaw (as usual) was not working, so he began sawing with a tree saw.  After an hours work in the hot sun and not making much progress, a truck from Classy Lawn and Yard Care stopped.  Shane, the owner and his assistant jumped out and said, "Can we help?"  Zip sang, the trees were down, limbs hauled to the pile and they happily drove away with two containers of fudge…of course.  Thanks, guys!

Random act of kindness!

The Bucket List

     In the movie "The Bucket List" 2 questions are asked of those who are passing over to the other side…dying.  Have you felt joy in your life?  Have you brought joy into the lives of others?  Josephine Cunningham is certainly one who brings joy into the lives of others each day.  Now it is your opportunity to do the same!

31.  Heather and Geoff Cunningham report that "we invited some neighbors for dinner tonight.  They mentioned they couldn't come because one of them was sick in bed.  We decided to just bring the dinner to them so they wouldn't have the worry of making dinner and could concentrate on taking care of their sweet Mother and wife."

32.  Last night a large contingent of young men from the ward (scouts) showed up to clean up Mom's yard.  After the last windstorm, the large pine trees dropped lots of dead pine needles.  They raked and moved everything back to the mulch pile.  They cleaned up trimmings and trash and this morning it looks really good outside.  It was a blessing to us all…especially the guys who spend dawn til dusk working on the house and don't have time for yard work.

33.  From Bridget Cunningham…
"One day the sister missionaries in our area were short and needed a companion.  I put off what I was doing to go with one of them to an appointment to teach two young girls.  They were baptized the following Saturday and it was a blessing to be a part of their conversion process."

34.  From Joan Morey, a friend of Mom…What I am "giving" Jo for her birthday.  I like to share the purses, aprons and pillowcases that I design and sew.  I already give them to family and friends, and give them randomly to people.  I am currently (for Jo) sewing items to be sold to raise money for the Primary Children's hospital in Salt Lake City.  Happy Birthday, Jo!  Love, Joan

  35.  Today we bought new work gloves for the young men working on our house.  Theirs were pretty torn up, and Mom donated to the Wounded Warriors Project when we were shopping at Albertsons.  It is hard to keep up with her!

36.  The Day family in the neighborhood keeps an eye out at Deseret Industries for "Christmas Tins" for Mom to use to fill with fudge for Christmas.  Yesterday two of the granddaughters brought down their latest "finds" and visited for awhile.  Very kind of them.

37.  Joe and Karen Cunningham took Mom out to dinner at Entrada.  So sweet…yes, the rest of us tagged along!

Running out of time! 1/3 of the way there!

"Your most powerful testimony is how you treat others after the church service is over"  (anonymous)

Well, it's September, family!  Send me your acts of service!  john.ann.ribera@gmail.com


25.  Nola and Wes Waters, dear friends of Mom, stopped by today to visit during their quick stop in St. George.  They brought her fresh tomatoes and peaches from their garden and stayed for a chat.  Then her neighbor, Tawnee, invited her to come over and pick as much squash as she wanted.   How sweet to remember her.

26  Isabelle and Steve, Mom's neighbors behind us offered us their air compressor to use in our construction project.  Three weeks and counting.  How kind.

27.  Grandma Jo did her own act of kindness today.  She was in charge (with one other person) of the presentation during the last hour of church on Family History.  She worked on it all week, with 2 great handouts and gave an articulate and interesting presentation.  Way to go, Mom!

28.  Dan Evans came back today and before we came over had Mom's lawn mowed and trimmed.  He said he was so grateful because Mom was one of the only ones in the ward who ever remembered his wife's birthday.

29.  The Hirshi family stopped by last evening with a plate of hot chocolate chip cookies.  It is nice that Mom is benefiting from so many of these kind acts of love and service.

30.  Jonathan and Diana Ribera loaded up their truck and brought us furniture that was sent north with theirs by mistake.  A long hot trip by them saved us one.  Now that's love!

Finding Your Gift

                  The meaning of life is to find your gift.  The purpose of life is to give it away.
                                                                                                             William Shakespeare

Grandma Jo and baby Oaklie Cunningham

Grandma Jo spent yesterday making cupcakes for the 2 families who had missionaries leave this week.  They were so thrilled since they did not have time to bake for themselves.  

21.  Our dear friend, Sara Trimble, from Alabama sent us a message yesterday.  She wanted to know if anyone could participate.  Of course!  She said her husband, Mark, had stopped and helped a lady change her flat tire that day.  Thanks, Sara!

22.  Kristina Hart was shocked this year as school was about to start to find out that her funding for her Iowa middle school and high school libraries had been cut.  In desperation she posted on the internet and the call was taken up by her Uncle Bruce and cousin Dacia and Aunt Jolaine.  Books began pouring in and so far 5 people have sent books for her library to use.  We love the power of the public.

23.  Dave and Kris Cunningham invited us (John and Ann) to an outside concert in the OC Tanner amphitheater to hear the Utah Symphony in Zion's National Park.  It was a delightful evening and truly an act of kindness to us to share their tickets.

 

24.  This last weekend we spent some time looking on our Family Search website and Family Tree.  We are so thrilled with the incredible work done by John R. Cunningham.  He is taking all of Mom's family photos of ancestors and relatives and putting them online along with identifying who they are!  Some we have never seen before.  It is taking a lot of time and effort.  Thanks, John!                

                                                             Small Acts of Kindness

                                        "There is no such thing as a small act of kindness."
                                                                                         Marjorie Pay Hinckley

It is so interesting how when you start looking for the simple, kind things people do, they become more noticeable in our lives.  Today, Grandma and I were picking up bags of ice at the gas station for the construction workers laboring on our house.  After purchasing 2 bags, the gentleman behind me in line picked up the two bags and carried them to our car for us.  How very sweet he was.

18.  John and I paid for tickets for 5 dear friends to go to the "Best of Beethoven" concert when we recently performed in Logan.  I don't think they could have gone otherwise.  Hopefully they enjoyed the beauty of the evening as we did.

19.  Our elderly next door neighbor Billie is suffering from a lung disease. It has progressed enough she is now on supplemental oxygen. She was taken to the hospital recently so when Brad & I went to visit her we probed to see what we could do for her. She never married and her closest family (a 2nd cousin & his wife) live about 30 minutes from her. We now take care of her weekly trash, green waste and recycle, hauling out the cans each weekend. Whenever I go to the store now I call and see what I can pick up for her. She doesn't eat much so food tends to rot in her fridge, so when I stop by to chat I've been cleaning out the kitchen. Just looking for ways to ease her burden as she is becoming unable to take care of herself like she used to.  (MJ & Brad Bakove)
(editors note…we are counting these acts of kindness as one, although many that have been reported in this blog are ongoing instances of service, like the one above.  Bless you all)

20.  So what exactly do 100 roses look like?  This…

Angelina Borden's family sent 100 beautiful yellow and orange roses to Grandma Jo.  Angelina said it was 100 thank-yous for all the wonderful things she has done for them.  Starting the birthday celebration a little early…yes?   Actually, it is never too early to start celebrating 91 fabulous years on this earth.  Her home is filled with a beautiful aroma. 

Aug. 8

"There is no age barrier when it comes to Christlike service…As we look beyond our differences in age, culture, and circumstance to nurture and serve one another, we will be filled with the pure love of Christ and the inspiration which leads us to know when and whom to serve"
Bonnie Oscarson

Coming home from the market today, Grandma Jo spotted a neighbor who had been ill walking down her driveway with her walker.  Mom "sprinted" into the house to grab a big stack of magazines she had been saving for her and then helped Dorothy back into the house and got her settled.  That was after making another batch of fudge for lucky birthday people this week in the neighborhood.

From Kristine Cunningham:

9.  As I told you, I did my service for the math teachers at my school.  I went in early and/or stayed late to copy worksheets for each 8th grade math teacher for the first month of school.  (Ed. note…they have moved into a new school and this was done in the middle of moving and organizing classrooms!)

Here is Nathan's (Cunningham) family report on the service they've done:

10.  Michael and I did 3 hours of yard work at the home of a single mother in the neighborhood. We weeded her yard and flower beds, removed garbage, sprayed weeds growing on her fence, and tilled her garden.

11.  Michael, Jessica, and I performed various yard work services for another single sister in our ward for about 2 hours.

12.  The whole family participated in a neighborhood cleanup for about 3 hours. this included planting gardens, hauling garbage to the dump, mowing, weed whacking, and assisting with a neighborhood swap meet.

13.  Michael and I helped a family move out of their house for about 1 hour.

14.  I helped another family move out for about 1 hour.

15.  Michael performed 3 hours of service at scout camp chipping wood to make walking paths.

16.  In November, Jessica and I will volunteer at the Cystic Fibrosis Taste of Utah event for about 6 hours. (still counts as is planned before her birthday!)

 This is what we've done in her honor.

Thanks!  I'll let you know of others as they come in.

Kris Cunningham

17.  My sister and her husband bought a house that needed lots of work, especially the yard. Then she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and gave birth to her 2nd child at 31 weeks pregnant. Needless to say, they have not had a chance to do much yard work. So for our family reunion this year, we went to her house and spent the day removing weeds and lava rock from her flower beds. With so many workers we were able to get a lot done in the short time we were there!  Diane Rawlings Ribera

Elijah and Hailey (in blue)

Joe Ribera and Hailey

Keep up the good work, folks!  We are making a difference in the world, and setting an example of Christlike service for our children, like Grandma does for us each day.