Celebrating, Serving, Performing, Jumping
(in other words...a Photo Update!)

(We've had a very busy several last couple of days--so much so that I have sworn to not step foot out of the house today; I refuse to go anywhere else until I am caught up with my laundry and my DVR-ed tv shows!--but the days were wonderful nevertheless. I thought I'd share some photos of the activities, so you can "experience" it all with me.)

We had a wonderful Martin Luther King Day with my friend, Tina, and her two kids. I really love the fact that MLK Day is recognized as a "day of service" and I think it's just the perfect way to honor King's legacy. So, we decided to celebrate the day by both celebrating his life and then also doing some service projects in our community.

We first visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and 16th Street Baptist Church...

Those two places are powerful reminders of where we've come from. Our past is filled with many injustices and atrocities, and by remembering thoses sad moments in our history we can go forward and be more loving, mindful people (and teach our children to be as well!).

The Civil Rights Institute also reminded me of the many amazing words of inspiration that Martin Luther King gave to us.

Just a few that struck me on this day were...

"The time is always right to do what is right."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

and

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"

With that last quote in mind, we spent some more of the day at the United Way headquarters doing projects for different agencies. I was really impressed with the set-up because it was designed with children in mind--they were very easy projects that kids could relate to.

They made friendship bracelets for kids in homeless shelters, bandannas for dogs at the Humane Society, "hug" wrappers to go around blankets for the elderly, placemats for the Ronald McDonald House, and "I have a dream" signs to be displayed at one of their agencies...

(Things like this--Delaney wrote "make a difference" on what her dream is--make me think that maybe I'm making a difference myself.)

Our other big activity from the last several days was attending McKenna's first Winterguard competition of the season. It was held in Tennessee, and the girls did so great.

I love seeing my girls enjoy something so much, and when it's a creative activity (like writing, or singing, or painting, or dancing) it makes me especially proud.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of their performance (and then of McKenna and the squad)...

And then, of course!, since we were in a hotel we had to do some Bed Jumping. And, personally, I think that Sydney was involved in one of the first great bed jumping pictures of 2010...

What have you been up to lately? I'd love to hear all about it...and have a wonderful rest of the week!