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.