A Mother's Love

Every year in the Shawnee Mission school district there is this contest. It's called Reflections It's an opportunity for students to submit creative work in 3 different categories; literature,photography, and art. The entries are judged and then the winner goes on to the district competition. This year Sean decided to enter in the literature category and he won that division for the school. This is what he wrote


A Mother's Love

Sharp thundering booms filled the night sky with flashes of light and short glimpses of black clouds. Lightning shot cloud to cloud scoring the god's ocean with pixies only to live and breathe and grow in a second’s glance. Wind sails flew through the skies, writing and breathing through to the torrents of cloud. The winds played as they snaked through the vapor ocean, chasing each other in circles, ignorant of the terror, excitement, and destruction their playfulness caused. Children huddled with mothers in their underground caverns, filled with the loud banging of fire breathing monster, spawn of Hell's furnace; giant creeping crawling bugs made of shadow, threatening to devour them whole, and their heroic mothers vanquishing the foul beasts with soft caring words or warm, embracing hugs, or exciting stories of mythical lands, brave conquerors, and fantastic battles. The stories filled the darkness, dressing the child with his most potential weapon: imagination.

Ah, but alas, the stories could not last, for the biggest and most terrible monster came to pass. Its roar was louder and far more frightening than one hundred fiery demons, and its shadow large enough to swallow armies of shrouded night crawlers. The beast fell upon the mother and child's hideaway, tearing apart their home. The child terrified in fright reached for his mother's protecting hand, the hand that gave him strength and courage, but it wasn't there. When the monster tore away the home it smiled a wicked smile. Swirling and twirling it spied the mother and child, and greedily it reached with its monstrous hand and snatched away the child's mother and hungrily ate her up. But hungry it still was and reached for the child, and brave the child tried to be, brave the way his mother told him to be. But the monster was bigger and scarier than anything he had ever seen and fear filled his heart, making him cower into the deepest darkest corner, trying to run away from the terrible beast, but it found him. The child was too scared to look, the world felt so cold, so lost was he without his mother and her protective arms, her wonderful stories that made him so brave. What was he to do?

“Mommy!” he cried, tears fell from his face. Where was Mommy? The monster reached for the child; the world felt colder than ever, colder than winter's day where he and his mother would play in the snow for hours.

“Mommy!” But it was vain to try; nothing could be heard over this monster's roar, and his mother was to far away to hear him. He was so scared.

“Mommy!” he whispered in such a soft voice, like a butterfly's wing flapping in the breeze. Suddenly the world was warm and bright, the fear left, and the monster's roar was silence. He could hear birds singing and felt the sun warm his back— it felt like a hug from his mother.

“Jasper,” came a voice. The child knew that voice, a voice he loved so much. He looked up and saw his mother standing there with a warm smile where there once was a grinning monster.
He cried out happily, “Mommy!” and ran to her and hugged her legs.

“My little hero,” she said so lovingly. Her voice rang like a choir of angels and was more beautiful than a thousand harps. She put her arms around him. But this moment, too, could not last. Gently she pushed her son away and knelt down to both knees, as she looked into his eyes, his beautiful eyes she loved so much.

Jasper gasped, “Mommy, you're so pretty!” She seemed to sparkle and glow, perfectly flawless, like an angel. She smiled at his words, so innocent and honest.

“Jasper, my love, please listen” Her voice was so unfamiliar, but he knew it was his mother's voice, so he quietly stood there and looked back into her eyes and listened. “The monster is not gone yet, and you must defeat it on your own.” Her voice was filled with sadness hidden behind a mask of strength.

“Mommy, no.”

“Listen, Jasper.” She said sharply and softly. Jasper listened sadly. “I cannot be there, but I will be with you. I will always be with you.”

She gave him one last hug, and when she let go he was wearing a breast plate that felt like his mother's hug and made him feel brave and strong. “This will protect your heart and body from any monster or beast that may wish you harm.”

Upon his head she placed her last kiss, and from it grew a helm pointed and proud. “This will protect your mind from fearful and doubting thoughts.”

She held his tiny hands a final time and pulled away, leaving a majestic sword and a powerful shield with a butterfly painted along its broad bough. “Trust these to protect you and you will conquer the most frightening of monsters.”

And she said six words that were the last words she would ever tell her son in this life. These words filled him with understanding and wisdom, and the knowledge that he was never alone.

And when his mother left, and he returned to face his foe, the monster that so greedily stole his mother from him. He was a boy no longer, but a man, a man wise, strong, and brave, the fear in his eyes replaced by steel. And in one swift, powerful stroke he felled his enemy. And never again would he be frightened of any beast, for his armor, sword, and shield made from a mother's love never left him.

But the most powerful of the few precious things his mother left him were the six last words she told him with a smile impossible to forget. They stayed with him, giving him a reason to keep on fighting all the monsters, demons, and beasts that haunted the world that frightened child, teen, and adult alike. He fought bearing his armor and sword and the six words until his final breath, and when he died he saw his reason for fighting the terrors of the world. They embraced each other warmly, and the hero of the world told his mother:

“I love you mom.” And while still in the embrace she replied with the six words she said to him before she left the Earth, the words that fueled his drive to defeat the creatures of darkness, the words that defined his existence.

“I love you, my little hero.”
by Sean Fackrell 2010

Feeding the Masses

Earlier this month I had the wonderful opportunity to help with feeding missionaries at a special zone conference. Elder David A. Bednar came to our stake conference and during part of the weekend had a zone conference for the missionaries. It wasn't just the missionaries within my stake, but the all the missionaries in the entire Missouri, Independence Mission. That's a lot of missionaries. We made 300 sack lunches for all those hungry Elders, Sisters, and Senior couples. The Stake Relief Society spent the entire morning at Ruth Gardner's home assembling the meal. It was so much fun. After making the sandwiches and filling the sacks, we took them to the Stake Center and served. One of the perks was to listen to the tail end of Elder Bednar's remarks to the missionaries. I so enjoy being able to serve in my calling. The best part of it all though was getting to have a picture taken with my missionary. He has less than a month to serve so this was probably the last chance to get a picture of him on his mission.

Good Food, Good Times

Nina, Sara Capener, and Violeta

Jenny Staggs and Gab Bumatay enjoying the festivities.


Violeta the master chef of the evening

As part of my ward's Relief Society we have a cooking group as an Enrichment Activity. Of course this group was started before the change in the Relief Society program in September. This month was the first time I was able to attend the group. The demonstration was on making Guatemalan Enchiladas taught by Violeta Soubie. It was a fun evening and the enchiladas were scrumptious. Now if only I can remember how to make them. I think everyone had a good time except poor Liam.


Nina Soubie and Liam, Nathan, and Eli Staggs joined the activities until Liam got sick.


Ashlee Dunlap with her darling daughter Ella


Melia Penrose and Traci Bozick watching Violeta cook. Billie's chopping parsley.


Billie Platt, Nina Soubie, Katie Wheeler


Billie, Violeta, Melia, Sara, and me.


The finished product, tasty.

Masterworks Concert 2010

Bekah is standing where the conductors elbow is.


Bekah front and center

The Masterworks Concert is a tradition every year at Shawnee Mission South. It's to showcase students at their best. The separate choirs combine to sing. In my opinion, the song chosen was not a good selection. The kids sounded fantastic, but the song itself was awful. The symphony orchestra sounded great as did the band. Each of the different music groups had soloists performing during the evening that were very good. Unfortunatley it was extremely difficult to hear the vocal soloist. Either the sound system was off or they didn't have it turned up enough. It was a bit disappointing.

Camille Larson front and center

Another Year Older

I don't think Sean wanted his picture taken.

My lovely Linda


Party people


My three favorite angels and me.


Nathan celebrated his 23rd birthday by having a video game party. Since I was babysitting the Capener girls that night I took them with me. They were so excited to go to a party.


Bekah and Celeste


Bekah and Nathan

three of my favorite people

Angels on Earth

I have had the wonderful opportunity for the past year and a half to become acquainted with an absolutely wonderful family the Capener's. They have blessed my life so much. I can't put into words how much their friendship means. Every once in a while I get the fantastic chance to tend Sara and Richard's two adorable little girls. This particular day I got them the whole day! Richard and Sara made an excursion to the temple together hence the all day babysitting. I had so much fun. Those two little girls are quite entertaining. Jocelyn is so smart. She's only three years old and is reading. Not just books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, but books that are probably at a 1st grade level at least. Not only does she read them, but as she reads sometimes she will sign what she is reading. She truly amazes me. Karlin is just as bright and is always wanting to help. These two little angels are like my granddaughters and I love them just as much.



Part of my entertainment was watching J and K go to the "Zoo" Jocelyn is a great big sister including her in her games. It was so cute to watch these two together.

Pageturners Celebrate 15 Years

This is all of us. Me, Mary Ellen Naylor, Darci Evans, Leslie Frederickson, Maria Miller, and Stephanie Bishop. We celebrated with a delicious dinner at Leslie's home. Here's to at least another 15 years ladies.

2010 marks the 15 year anniversary of the book group I am in called The Pageturners. I have blogged about this before, but here I go again. We have been together for 15 years as a group. Since we started we have had two members leave and two new ladies join us. Though we don't see each other often during the rest of the month when we get together it is so much fun. Many changes have occurred during these 15 years. Some had babies and some had babies get married. We have all gone through difficulties and I personally have been grateful to have these wonderful women there to support me when I needed a shoulder to cry on. I don't know how much I really contribute to the group, but my life would be emptier without them.


Darci Evans, Maria Miller, and Leslie Frederickson looking at scrapbooks of our escapades over the years.


Leslie

A Change in the Air

Finally I can blog this. I have been waiting for 3 weeks to put this in, but because of the crazy weather we have been having it kept getting postponed. I have a new calling that I am excited and anxious about at the same time. Excited because it's something I think I can do, but anxious because the sister doing it before me was just fantastic and it's going to be hard to fill her shoes. Plus there are some other things I feel anxious about too. I'm "the new kid on the block" since the rest of the presidency has been together for about 2 years now. I've been called to be the Stake Relief Society Secretary. I don't see it as being a lot different than a ward secretary, just more meetings. I had a good idea what the calling was going to be when Br. Aulick asked to meet with me. That is after I looked on the church web-site to see what his responsibilities were on the high council. When I saw Relief Society, I thought hmm, what could it be? I then thought to myself I'll go look at Hickory Hills ward site and see if Michelle has a new calling. Sure enough she did, so then I about 95% sure what Br. Aulick wanted to talk to me about. I'm so glad for the change. I had been the VT Coordinator and was really struggling with it. I was feeling even more like a pariah than I do anyway. It was just not good for me. I have never had a calling that I liked so little. That was very frustrating for me.

Out of a Hat

December 31, 2009 a pleased momma moment for me. Rebekah, Sean, their cousin Travis, and Chris Davis a friend of theirs have formed a band and they call themselves Out of a Hat. Tonight was their first (and maybe only lol) gig. They played a few songs as part of the entertainment at the youth New Year's Eve dance. I know Sean really wanted to do well and would be in his room practicing on his guitar. Today he decided to warm up by playing Rock Band. I don't know how much that really helps in the playing, but maybe it helps get mentally prepared for performing. Playing the guitar is something Sean has had an interest in for quite some time, but I never knew it until about 2 years ago when our former bishop called me with a proposal for Sean. His son Jonathan is a very accomplished musician and had agreed to donate his time in teaching Sean the basics of playing the guitar. I give all the credit to Jonathan. It was through his kindness and generosity that Sean was able to develop this talent and it is something in which I will always be grateful. I know there were many other ways for Jonathan to spend his time, but he was willing to take the time and effort for months in teaching Sean. I don't know of many people who would do something like that for someone in my family. It means a great deal to me. In the band Travis and Sean play guitar, Chris Davis is on the drums, Brandon Bishop joins occasionally for vocals, and Rebekah (the only girl in the band) plays bass. She's mostly self taught but had a few lessons from her special friend Nathan Hunt. I wasn't able to attend in person, but I got the next best thing. It's not often I brag on my kids, but I think it's okay this time. (Sorry the picture quality isn't that great. It's not a very good camera and the lighting was awful.)

This is just a partial clip of the performance. For the entire song click on the following link (you'll need to click, drag, copy, and paste the links. I can't get them to work.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VKzit8eRuc"
This link is for one of the other songs the did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfWxVvYolyA
Sean is playing acoustical guitar and Travis is singing with Bekah providing back-up.

Winter Fun

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman. Once there was a snowman tall, tall, tall...


Daryn is a kid at heart. It doesn't take much to make him happy. Give him 12" of good packing snow and he's a happy camper. With the recent snowfall he decided to buid himself a "snowman". I don't know how he got it as tall as he did, but I had to take a picture of it. Daryn is about 5'10".


As fun as it is to build the thing, it's even more fun to knock it down.

The Working Man Spends his Money

Okay Bubba isn't really playing the drums, but it was fun taking the picture.


Drum man. Intense concentration required.

Sean got a job about a month ago with a market research type of company. He likes getting the paycheck and decided to buy a gift for the family. Yeah right, more like for himself and we just get to sometimes enjoy it. I did get to use it with him today and it was kind of fun. He bought himself oops I mean the family Rock Band for the X-Box. Of course it shows really well on our new TV, which means we get to watch play Rock Band instead of movies or TV shows. That might not be such a bad thing, but the jury is still out on that. He really gets into the game too.


Yes the jump/kick helps.


Sean with his best rocker face.

Christmas 2009

What pretty noise.


Celeste playing Christmas songs at the cousins' house Christmas Eve.

Christmas for our family was very low key. We did one large family present and then gave the kids cash for the rest of their gifts. Most of the gifts I received were gifts of service which was a nice change of pace. We went to John and Diane's for Christmas Eve. Didn't get too many pictures of anyone else except Celeste. Big surprise there, not. It was an enjoyable evening spending time with family. Of course with the snow storm we were pretty much tucked in for the weekend. Celeste didn't get to open her presents until Sunday evening. I was hoping they would stay a little longer, but Nathan wasn't feeling well so they left soon after. Even with all the wonderful time spent with family it was still a struggle for me. The Big Blue Monster has been in full force this entire month so, no it wasn't a good Christmas this year.


Celeste with her presents. She wasn't too sure about the penguin.

Pageturner's Christmas Party 2009

One of the gals, I won't say who made this fun bookmarks and gave us all a pair of reading glasses. Now when we read each other's books, we can mark it with the "mini me" of that Pageturner.


Just the girls.


John Naylor had to join in the fun.



Getting ready to open presents.

January 2010 marks the 15 year anniversary of the Pageturners. I can't believe it's been that long since we've been together. We have some pretty fun times when we're "discussing" the book of the month. It's a privilege for me to be a part of this group. The women I get to associate with are all great examples to me. I learn from these wonderful ladies all the time. It's a party every time we get together because we have so much fun together.

Xmas or Christmas?

This time of year one hears so much against the word Xmas. People say don’t take Christ out of Christmas. While I agree that is a valid point, I don’t think that is the intent of the word. In Germany back in the 17th and 18th centuries, in old parish records, when a birth, christening, or death was recorded and a person had the word “Christ” as part of their name, many times the scribe would replace that part of the name with an X. The X was recognized as a symbol of Christ. It represented the cross upon which He was crucified. This I believe was done in an attempt to not take the Lord’s name in vain with too much repetition. In other words it was a sign of respect. So now when I think of the word Xmas I view it in a much different light. Not only is it keeping Christ in Christmas, but it ties in the resurrection and the Atonement of the Savior with the celebration of his birth. At least, that’s what it means to me.

The Calm Before the Storm

Wheeeeeeee!!!!!


Swing me Mommy

I want to play with the ducks.

Some of the ducks had some very unique markings. Of course my photography skills don't have much to be desired.


Watching the ducks.


Love those ponytails.

I am really late in posting this. The last few weeks have been a struggle to get anything done. Sorry about that. A few weeks ago on Nov. 28 the weather in KC was absolutely beautiful. Cool, but not cold temperatures, sunny, and just right for enjoying the great outdoors. It was a day to be spontaneous. The perfect day for a picnic so that's what we did. We got KFC, the perfect picnic food lol and went to Antioch Park for spending some time together. Linda, Nathan, and Celeste joined in the fun too. I was with people I love. The sad thing is, the blue monster was in full force. I tried so hard to at least appear to enjoy the day, but it was a struggle. It was fun to see Celeste watch the ducks and go down the slide.