Cheerleading, Columbine & Easter

Last week the balmy spring temperature dropped overnight, it was immensely pleasurable to lie in bed and hear the rain on the roof.  It hasn't rained in Colorado for many, many months and this did cause a little bit of excitement!  We awoke to snow in the morning!  It was a fairly decent fall, but by lunchtime it was all gone! I'm glad I took some photo's because I love how snow transforms everything.  It really is a very beautiful sight.  Spring snow is heavy and wet, so the grass actually starts to green up with all the moisture, and gutters and creeks flow fast with the melt off.

Just before 6am, as Sarah headed out!

The flash has captured the big, wet snowflakes

Snow covered tulips & daffodils. 
The snow on the paths is melting quickly as the ground is fairly 'warm'.

The past week has been full of routine.  We are counting down to the Summer Break now, which is only about 6 weeks away.  We will have 3 months to fill with the sights and sounds of America, and are planning!!  I have had a quieter time painting, only producing one on yupo paper.

Watercolour on Yupo paper: 'There appeared a great light'

Last Friday I was taken on a tour of part of the city with a couple of other Aussies.  We spent some time in Boulder.  This is a university town north west of Denver, it is so much larger than I expected and full of character and history.  We enjoyed wandering up and down the street mall that is about 5 blocks long.  It reminded me of Rundle Mall a bit, with it's character and life. We were able to get a greater sense of the layout of Denver which is enormous and vast.  There are such great distances between 'suburbs' with the highways being about 6 lanes wide.  I am feeling comfortable in my local neighbourhood now, and am starting to branch out into greater Littleton and am getting my bearings slowly of the city.  It's taking a while..

Large frog, rabbit, turtle & snail in the Boulder Mall.  Chloe & Zayla would like a climb on these!

The displays of tulips are very pretty, also in the Mall..

Meanwhile, Tom continues to work at 'Tan Time', and part-time school, and Sarah has been trying out for the Junior Varsity Cheers!  This has taken a lot of focus with clinics running after school all week.  Last night she had the official 'tryout' which is in itself very intense.  But she was put through the paces and qualified for the team of 25.  She is so very excited!! This has been a goal of hers to experience American Cheerleading firsthand eversince coming to the States was a mere possibility!  So, the dream begins (or nightmare!) There will be training sessions 3 mornings a week at 6am (I see some catch up seminary happening!), followed by workshops and then of course the cheering at school games.  The JV team she is in, is not as instense as the 'Varsity' squad which have the more experienced girls who ulimately aim for the national competition early in the new year in Florida and sounds exactly like the movie 'Bring it On'.  Too intense and expensive!!

This week we experienced the anniversary of the Columbine HS shootings that occurred on the 20 April 1999.  The school was closed for the day in order to avoid any copycat occurrance.  We learned that this is the first year only Columbine HS closed, all other schools in Jefferson County were open as usual.  However, late morning, our local shopping mall Southwest Plaza was evacuated and closed due to a bomb scare in the food court.  The local schools all went into 'lock out' and the area was swamped with police, fire services and media.  The Plaza is about a 4 minute drive from our home.  It turned out a man did place a pipe bomb there and a suspect has been publicly identified.  This is a very jittery community and very sensitive at this time of the year, every year.  The incident at the Plaza has been related to Columbine as students  go to this foodcourt everyday for lunch, just as the cafetaria was involved 12 years ago.  The drama has brought back to this community the memories of that day where the trauma has had a lasting effect.  The people who live here, all knew somebody who was involved.  Even my neighbour this morning, was telling me her son was friends with one of the boys responsible and had been out with them target practicing the day before...  It's very close to home for so many. We took the opportunity to visit the Columbine Memorial at Clement Park which is right next to the High School and gained some further insight to the tragic events of that day.  Hopefully, it will never happen again, but it does seem that Columbine HS is always the focus of any similar event or gun debate along with Virginia Tech.

The Columbine Memorial at Clement Park Lake:

There is an obituary for each person that died at Columbine HS 20 April 1999

Tom viewing the memorial.  The far wall has tributes and quotes from students, parents & teachers expressing feelings from that day.

Both Tom and Sarah have been learning the guitar at school.  Tom plays very well and sounds so accomplished to me.  Sarah has been struggling a bit, but this week mastered some chords!  She is so pleased with herself, and with Tom's help has been playing and singing for a good part of the week, particularly songs by Taylor Swift!  Happiness is: accomplishing something that was hard to do!  Good work Sarah!

Tom encouraging Sarah on the guitar.

It is Easter!  Today is Good Friday and it is the first time in his working career that Rick has gone to work.  There is no public holiday for this season of the year.  It is a normal weekend!  Nevertheless, it still remains Good Friday, and there are discussions on the radio regarding religion and practices.  It's interesting to listen too.  We observe that even though religion is clearly separated from State, and therefore education, the population in general seem to be far more religious than Australians. 

For myself, I have been reflecting on Easter and the atonement, death and resurrection of the Saviour.  Good Friday concentrates on the atonement and death of the Saviour.  I don't dwell on the crucifixion, because I believe the Saviour is resurrected.  We believe in a living Christ, which is why you don't find any crosses on any of our chapels or Temples.  As I have been reflecting on the Atonement, I cannot comprehend the depth of what the Saviour went through, but I am grateful He did, so I don't have to suffer the same.  And because of the Atonement, my pains and sufferings can be taken away.  Particulary at this time as I have struggled with the death of my brother Andrew, and some difficulties in my family, I am grateful for the enormous inner peace that comes with prayer and my belief in the Saviour, Jesus Christ.  I know He does live, and loves me enough to take away my pains.  I just wanted to share that...

Enjoy a happy and very safe Easter.

http://www.lds.org/

2011 High School Prom

Well, along with Saturday, 9 April, the Prom finally came.  A truly authentic American High School experience not to be missed!

It begins with finding a partner.  A pleasant option, but not critical, for Tom who is a Senior and could go without one.  This is a pleasure he didn't wish to forego, and so he asked a young lady who also works where he does at 'Tan Time'.  Her name is Laurann and Tom was VERY pleased with his choice!!

Sarah on the other hand, being a sophomore (Yr10) could only go if she was a date of a Junior or Senior.  So the hunt for a candidate began.  A couple of weeks went by and no success, so she told Tom he was fired from the job, and took matters into her own hands with the assistance of friends.  She related the story to me as something like this:  One day at lunchtime the Friday just before Spring Break, when the cafetaria was very busy, two guys namely Kibbee and a friend come up to Sarah's table and started singing using a guitar.  The cafetaria goes completely silent and all are watching including the teachers table.  Sarah is made to stand up while they sing this ballard which tells her she is beautiful!!  Then Kibbee asks her to go to the Prom with him as he gives her a bunch of flowers! She is quite anxious not to miss out and of course says yes.  (Also, the fact that Kibbee is a good friend with one of hers, and also Tom's, was a good recommendation.)  The cafetaria erupted in clapping and cheering which Sarah found a tad embarrassing.  Her friend Kelsie recorded it on movie, which was on Face Book for a time, but which I don't have permission at all to include here!  Oh well, hope I painted a good picture instead!!

Lovely flowers for Sarah - You're going to the Prom!!

There is quite a task in preparing to go to Prom.  Tom already has a lovely suit, but began a hunt for a specific shirt and tie.  He finally found what he was looking for with Rick one day shopping in Utah.  He had them both ordered from different places in his size, and sent to our address here in Denver. 

 Both items arrived in a timely manner the week before Prom.

Sarah and I also went Prom dress shopping while we were in Utah.  Now, Utah is the place to find modest formal wear.  There are several shops devoted to modesty.  What a dream, no sewing or altering!!  However, Sarah wasn't looking for a solid colour dress.  She really wanted to wear something different, preferably with a pattern.  (Sigh.......) So we continued from shop to shop, with me being as open as I can to adjustment possibilities.  Thankfully, before long, we found a couple of options in a shop called DEB.  Her dress was a good price, and I ended up removing the sash ties and using them to make shoulder coverings (not really sleeves) that not only held up her dress, but covered her shoulders.  She was thankfully,really happy with the result. 

On the Saturday morning, she had her hair done at the hairdresser in an 'updo'.  I loved it. I thought it was very elegant!  She wasn't so sure, but had some lovely compliments.  Her hair lasted 3 days of sorts, so that turned out to be value!  From the hairdresser, she met up with Lauranne and the girls had their make up done.   I am always a bit sceptical about having make up done, especially right before an event.  Sarah's was a bit heavy I thought, but she was happy with it and arrived back in time to dress and for Kibee to pick her up.  Meanwhile, Tom was also  scrubbing up and looked very sharp I thought.  They both left about the same time in different directions, so that was a busy time, quick photo's etc, then 'phew' then silence! They were gone!


Ready to go, Brian Kibbee & Sarah



All ready, have fun Sarah!

Laurann & Tom posing for an official photo!  Looking Good!

Going off in style, a stretch limo of course!!



Both went out in groups to dinner at different places.  Tom's group went in a limo to dinner and then onto the Prom.  The Prom was held at the function rooms of Invesco Field, a sports arena. They both really enjoyed it. It was a good night, with all the trimmings complete with Prom King and Queen (as Sarah says: "Just like the movies!").



The Prom was followed by After-Prom which sounds bigger than the Prom!  It was organised by the Columbine HS AfterProm Committee.  This event is months in the planning and was staged at the High School which was transformed, so not to look like the High School eg the lockers were covered, one room was turned into a 'Vegas' scenario, a movie theatre and so on. There were copius fun activities and extreme sports options that were designed to keep the kids busy in a safe environment until 5am!  Our two didn't last that long, loved it but arrived home very exhausted.  Both were so glad to have had this experience, which is a very big event in the school social calendar.  Well done Columbine High. Oh, and I believe that is another 'tick' checked off from the 'America-Must-Do List'.  Yaay!!!





Utah and General Conference



Alpine, Utah looking out from the Welch's front door

We ended up leaving at 5.15am and got to Utah mid afternoon.  Sarah and I were able to pick up our tickets to attend the Young Women General Meeting.  What an incredible experience to actually be in the Conference Centre for the first time.  It's an amazing building and filled with 20,000 young women and their mothers!  We had excellent seats, about 20 from the front.   The speakers were of course, exceptional and we both loved it.  Big colour banners were outside, in the foyer and inside representing the Young Women Values of: FAITH, DIVINE NATURE, INDIVUAL WORTH, KNOWLEDGE, CHOICE & ACCOUNTABILITY, GOOD WORKS, INTEGRITY AND VIRTUE.  This was a wonderful experience to share with Sarah!

Lining up at the Conference Centre Ticket Office



In the foyer in front of the Value flags



We Believe...



How fortunate to be so close!



So many Young Women all in one building..



We are just so excited to be here!!



After the meeting outside the Conference Centre

We stayed for 6 nights with Pam & Ross Welch and their family.  They lived for nearly two years in Adelaide 11 years ago, so it was really nice to catch up with them all again and remember old times and compare notes on living in each others country!  While staying there, we were able to have a good look around the Salt Lake Valley and the Utah Valley.  These are so big, surrounded immediately by mountains that rise straight up from the valley floor on all sides.  Pam gave us a great tour of the local area.


Mt Timpanogas, this is up the 'hill' that connects the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys.  (Huge homes!)



The Draper Temple, there was a wedding party at the front..

A house under construction near the Draper Temple.  Harry Potter's?

The Salt Lake Valley basin

The Welch's live in Alpine, in the Utah Valley and have this amazing view from their back deck of the valley, mountains and Lake Utah.  This area is populated by 90% Latter-Day Saints.  Pam drove us around her ward boundaries which consisted of about three streets on their hillside, and pointed out two homes that belonged to people that are non-members, but which they all know and are friends with!!  Crazy!  I had heard about this density, but to see it was quite an experience.  The local high school and businesses are likewise.  From the balcony, Tom counted 11 chapel steeples and 2 Temples, with most chapels having 3 congregations meeting there.  Driving around, it is not unusual to see at least  3 steeples in your line of vision!!  We got used to that after a few days, but it had to be seen to be believed!!

Looking out towards Provo and Lake Utah

The base of Mt Timpanogas with its various canyons.

We were able to go to the basketball to see the Utah Jazz play.  This game got very exciting at the end of time, with the score dead even. The Jazz had a chance of a shot in the final seconds, missed and the game went into overtime.  Five more minutes, but they lost against the Washington Wizards.  Great game!

We toured Welfare Square, an operation of the Church that provides assistance to those needing food and clothing.   We visited the Bishop's Storehouse, which was like a supermarket with no checkouts!  We saw the warehouse stacked with 3-6 months supply of  bulk foods depending on demand, passed the bakery, which bakes 2000 loaves of bread every day for those who might need it and the cannery was producing jam when we toured it.  It was very interesting to see the processes and products produced to assist the needy and to make up emergency kits ready to go at a moments notice. These emergency packs vary for different cultural needs. We saw the Diary, and cheese was in the final stage of preparedness.  Huge blocks made on site.  We had a tasting of very delicious chocolate milk, cheese and bread (that wasn't sweet).  Very good!!  Deseret Industries, also on site, is a big thrift store where anyone is able to go and buy what they might need.  Clothes are also sorted and packed ready to send to emergency areas of need.  There are trucks ready to go with supplies if an area of disaster occurs, for example, when cyclone Katrina hit Georgia, the church was one of the first on the scene with relief supplies.  We heard in General Conference that 750 tonnes of supplies were sent to Japan to aid the relief effort there.  It's very impressive and good to know what happens to the funds we regularly pay in. 

We went Prom dress shopping! And fortunately had success!   Sarah was determined to find something different, and is very happy with what she found.  So that was good shopping, and photo's will follow detailing the Prom in the next entry.  The Prom is this coming Saturday night, and both Sarah and Tom have dates, now this will be a very American experience for them!

After dress shopping, we met up with Pam & Ross in Provo and visited the Carl Boch exhibition at the BYU Museum of Art.  There were many paintings of his there, all original from Europe.  Many of them were enormous altar pieces, and all depicting the life of the Saviour.  Many of his art pieces are used by us today, with copies perhaps even hanging in our homes!  I really enjoyed seeing this wonderful exhibition.
Afterwards, Ross gave us a personal tour of BYU.  Both he and Pam went there, it was really wonderful to see this famous university first hand that I have heard of all my life.  There was a time, I dreamed of coming here. We were able to see also the Missionary Training Center (from the outside) and drove past the Provo Temple.  I imagined what it was all like when Jonathon was here a couple of months ago, but of course it looks completely different!  Thanks Ross, that was excellent!

Altar Piece: Healing at the pool at Bethesda (1883)

Rick, Pam & I climbed Ensign Peak.  Sarah unfortunately, was unwell for a few days, and spent time sleeping in the car or happy to just limit her activities.  But what a nice climb!  It didn't take to long, but once we reached the summit, we were afforded an amazing panoramic view of the Great Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Valley.  There is history in this spot.  After two days of the pioneers entering the valley, Brigham Young and others climbed the peak and planned the layout of the future city, with extra wide streets, schools, businesses and of course the Temple, which in the end took 40 years to build made of granite carved and transported from the mountains.   The Temple is the centre point of the city, but is now surrounded by high rise city buildings.  From this Peak, Brigham Young waved a banner tied to a walking stick as an ensign to the world, to fulfill prophecy in Isaiah that Zion will be built on the mountain tops as an ensign to the nations and many nations will flow to it. (Paraphrased roughly!)  

Ensign Peak. Behind us is the city centre of Salt Lake, find the shiny roof of the Tabernacle and then you see the Temple!

Meanwhile, Tom was well looked after by  Michael Welch who took him snowboarding and shooting!!  He had a great time.  Tom and Sarah also went to the school dance on the Friday night.  They loved it, the gym was full of over 1000 students, mostly all LDS!!  Sarah was bemused by a school having dress standards for a dance!! (Nice..!)

Tom trying his skills at target shooting with Mike Welch

Rick & I were able to attend the Mt Timpanogas and Salt Lake Temples.  This was particularly good for me as the week before I was struggling emotionally.  I always feel a deep sadness when I think of Andrew and my family, but I am feeling more at peace now, and am so grateful for the peace and comfort, and answers to prayers that comes from attending the Temple.  We also took Tom & Sarah to the Salt Lake Temple, and all of us spent time in the baptistry.  The beauty and craftmanship of this Temple is simply stunning!  To see what the pioneers were able to build is amazing.  Original paintings and details still grace the whole building.  I love the history it tells.

We toured the Church History Museum which has some fascinating artifacts and historical paintings and pieces.  The woman who greeted us at the entrance must be given the quote of the week when she realised we came from Australia and said "YOU DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH GOOD!" (What the...?)

A dreary morning, but happy to have attended the Mt Timpanogas Temple with Rick.

We had a lovely time staying with the Welch's and thank them for their kindness and hospitality.  It was excellent to be able to reminisce a bit and renew our friendship.  We will see them again while we are here in the States.

On Friday, we had a game of miniature golf, good old putt-putt!  I am pleased to say that after a slow 

Self portrait - nice, Sarah!!

 start and a couple of appalling holes, I made a come back and won by one point!!  Well, as you can imagine, that was an upstart, so we played another round to make Rick & Tom happy, this time Tom won by a tiny margin and I came gracefully third!  The weather was beautiful, and that was really fun!! (winning, that is!!)

 On Friday, we also went and stayed with the Jensen's.  The Jensen's served a mission in Adelaide and were ready and waiting for us.  They sure spoilt us, and were so kind and generous.  As Sarah was not feeling well, she and Tom gave their tickets for the Saturday sessions of conference to the Jensen's who were very thrilled, and Tom caught up with Ben Crosley.  It's actually nice having a cousin here in the States!  They met us downtown in time to go to the evening Priesthood session.  Meanwhile, Sherry, Sarah and I went to Ladies Night at Deseret Book where they had authors book signing and prizes as well as discount on purchases!  That was fun but soo many people crushed in there, that we didn't stay long and went somewhere else cosy and had a bowl of soup.  The weather had turned cold and wintery again.  We had a lovely chat about all sorts of things.  The same thing that happened with Andrew happened to Sherry's son, it was really good to be able to talk about things with her.  I am constantly amazed at how people are placed in our lives when we need them most.

Sister Sherry Jensen, it was so nice to be 'mothered'

What can you say about General Conference?  It was an amazing experience being in the Conference Center with 20,000 other people listening to the Prophet, Apostles and other speakers.  We belong to a worldwide church of over 14 million, and to feel just a tiny part of that was wonderful.  We travelled in by train on Saturday, and drove on Sunday.  The train was full of people going to conference!! It snowed overnight, so the spring flowers were blanketed by heavy snow.  The branches on the trees were also adorned by snow, and everywhere looked amazingly beautiful..  We trekked a couple of blocks from our parking spot through the slippery ice to conference and in between sessions, we ate then lined up again to get back inside - it was cold!!  So many people, and such a pick-me-up.  I will always remember this experience of attending conference, especially standing as a whole congregation of 20,000 singing at the top of our voices "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning' and 'I Know That My Reedeemer Lives", what an incredibly moving experience! What a great priviledge, one I didn't ever think I would get to do.  I just loved it.  To view the sessions online, please visit http://www.lds.org/

                                Snow that looked like tiny polystyrene balls!

Tom & Sarah also caught up with Sevy, who also served in Adelaide.  They managed some bowling time, and Sarah after some tips from Sherry, mananged a few strikes!  Good Work Sez!
Sherry cooked us 'an authentic American Turkey dinner' as she discribed it, and also taught us 'Chicken Feet' a game variation of dominoes.  Good fun, thank you Sherry! 

Bro & Sis Jensen - thank you!

We drove back to Denver on Monday, which took about 9 hours.  I really enjoy driving through the Rockies, the scenery is ever changing, and with snow still about, it's very beautiful. We had a slow climb down the hills after the tunnels due to road works, so it was very nice to get 'home' again.

The past few days have been spent preparing for the Prom by Tom & Sarah, and with myself painting and painting.  I enjoy it so much and find much satisfaction in seeing a piece, work out pleasingly! Sadly, the last watercolour class was held this week until Fall, so Chuck can prepare for an exhibition, but I have learned alot from him and will keep on painting.  Bette took me out for lunch after art class and we had a really nice couple of hours 'visiting'.

Chuck demonstrating, while we observe very carefully!

South West Scene -  use of bold light & dark

Colorado Bear -  a lesson in fur!

Morning at Currumbin Beach (repainted).  I'm happy with this one!

School and routine has returned which is good too. The weather is warming up, and although there is still possibilities of spring snow, the bulbs are coming up. I have tulips, daffidols and other unidentified flowers popping up.  Hedges, grass and trees are turning green.  It's very nice to see green grass and colour again.. I must away now, to finish work on Sarah's Prom dress.

(movie to be added)