Please join us
Wednesday
March 30th
6:30pm
at our church
1250 East 200 South, Pleasant Grove (program it into your GPS)
for the awarding of Jackson's arrow of light.
We're planning something phun and unusual, in our regular Phippen-esque way.
22 March 2011
Please join us...
17 November 2010
Requiescat in pace Rex
in the still of the night it catches me
silent
alone
it sneaks in on teardrops
in blue eyes and blond hair
in your child like mine
your king
born the summer of mine
your first son
my last
every mother’s fear unites us
your pain
your tears are mine tonight
as my king sleeps in his bed
and your son’s is empty
such unspeakable loss
unimaginable
at only 3
when everything should be possible
and beautiful
but it is dark
and night
and my heart breaks
“Good night, sweet prince!”
the infinite stars await beyond
I mourn
knowing you count the ineffable moments between now
and when you can be reunited
those moments determined not by your king
but by The King
and we wait
silent
alone
it sneaks in on teardrops
in blue eyes and blond hair
in your child like mine
your king
born the summer of mine
your first son
my last
every mother’s fear unites us
your pain
your tears are mine tonight
as my king sleeps in his bed
and your son’s is empty
such unspeakable loss
unimaginable
at only 3
when everything should be possible
and beautiful
but it is dark
and night
and my heart breaks
“Good night, sweet prince!”
the infinite stars await beyond
I mourn
knowing you count the ineffable moments between now
and when you can be reunited
those moments determined not by your king
but by The King
and we wait
11 October 2010
Singing into the Darkness
Once upon a time life was simple. I was a child, and I worried about childish things, and I worried of simple things. Then, when I grew, my worries grew, and the people I loved grew, and the joys and the sorrows grew exponentially. One of the most spiritual moments of my life occurred in early spring when I took my children to stand with me in the choir room at Orem High. We stood as members of past choirs sang "Go Ye Now in Peace," the quintessential choir song that every OHS choir member learns as the ending piece of all choir concerts (ever).
I had lost my way. I had lost my light. I had lost all hope, all focus, my raison d'etre. I was floundering at sea: "Abandon all hope, for here be monsters" and there we were, standing in the room where I had met monsters, and we sang, I and a group of people I didn't know. We sang into utter darkness. The first time we sang I got through the song, but when they turned off the lights to record the song, I couldn't sing. The words swept me away, and I knew that we were singing into the darkness, and I knew why we were singing into the darkness. We were singing into the darkness to light the way, to illuminate the darkness, to remind ourselves that we create our own light because we carry our own light inside of us. God hasn't left us alone; He never leaves us alone. We sing into the darkness because we are the light under the bushel that cannot be hidden.
The past few days have been dark for me. I have been surrounded by death. My friends are walking separately through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and the shadows seem deep and dark. On Thursday, two of my friends lost children to accidental deaths, one of an overdose, and one to a tragic car accident where her 13 year old was hit at a bus stop. A third friend lost her daughter-in-law to a long fight with cancer. I also lost a fourth former student to suicide. These events weigh heavy on my heart. Separately, they take my breath away. Together, they make me weak and weary.
On a positive note, we got a chance to enjoy a wedding, and we have a friend who has a beautiful new son. I know that everything under the sun has a purpose, and that the Lord didn't send us here to fail. I'll continue to "sing into the darkness" because of the monumental moment I had this past spring. It was a life-changing experience. While I didn't see an angel, standing there with my children was pretty close. I knew that I had come full circle, one more time. I could walk away in peace and that the Lord was "there beside me" in those little people. This weekend, I am again reminded of how lucky I am to have my little people in my life.
Go ye now in peace, my friends. Sing into your own darkness and find your joy wherever it might be.
I had lost my way. I had lost my light. I had lost all hope, all focus, my raison d'etre. I was floundering at sea: "Abandon all hope, for here be monsters" and there we were, standing in the room where I had met monsters, and we sang, I and a group of people I didn't know. We sang into utter darkness. The first time we sang I got through the song, but when they turned off the lights to record the song, I couldn't sing. The words swept me away, and I knew that we were singing into the darkness, and I knew why we were singing into the darkness. We were singing into the darkness to light the way, to illuminate the darkness, to remind ourselves that we create our own light because we carry our own light inside of us. God hasn't left us alone; He never leaves us alone. We sing into the darkness because we are the light under the bushel that cannot be hidden.
The past few days have been dark for me. I have been surrounded by death. My friends are walking separately through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and the shadows seem deep and dark. On Thursday, two of my friends lost children to accidental deaths, one of an overdose, and one to a tragic car accident where her 13 year old was hit at a bus stop. A third friend lost her daughter-in-law to a long fight with cancer. I also lost a fourth former student to suicide. These events weigh heavy on my heart. Separately, they take my breath away. Together, they make me weak and weary.
On a positive note, we got a chance to enjoy a wedding, and we have a friend who has a beautiful new son. I know that everything under the sun has a purpose, and that the Lord didn't send us here to fail. I'll continue to "sing into the darkness" because of the monumental moment I had this past spring. It was a life-changing experience. While I didn't see an angel, standing there with my children was pretty close. I knew that I had come full circle, one more time. I could walk away in peace and that the Lord was "there beside me" in those little people. This weekend, I am again reminded of how lucky I am to have my little people in my life.
Go ye now in peace, my friends. Sing into your own darkness and find your joy wherever it might be.
22 September 2010
School Starts, and I'm behind
It's been more than a month since then. I need another hair cut, even.
The kids started school. First Jack and Xandri. Jack has Mrs. Scoville in fifth grade. He's enjoying his reading. He's read his way through many books. He'll have to give you a run-down.
Here are some of the cute photos John snapped on the first day of school on the front porch:
Max is also sad when Asa leaves. It's hard to be the solo-home buddy. After a few days, though, he gets to be OK about being the home-body.
13 June 2010
Oh what do you do in the summer time??
Since school got out, we've been off to the races, the kids and I. We've been freezing our gizzards out (it snowed a bit the last week of school), and since then it hasn't been particularly warm). We've finally hit a bit of a groove thing. We've worked out our music for the game the kids play to get their chores done, and we've got the days of the week figured out:
Mondays are for field trips
Tuesdays are for piano lessons
Wednesdays are for play dates
Thursdays are for staying in
Fridays are free days...
Here are some fun snap shots of things we've done in the past few weeks:
Mr Max looking SOOOO grown up!!
Mondays are for field trips
Tuesdays are for piano lessons
Wednesdays are for play dates
Thursdays are for staying in
Fridays are free days...
Here are some fun snap shots of things we've done in the past few weeks:Mr Max looking SOOOO grown up!!
Asa scoping YOU out...
Memorial Day
Max on Day 1 of potty training (no, it is NOT going well)
Xandri has discovered she can raise 1 eyebrow... and no one else in the family (besides me) can. She's THRILLED. Dad tries, below. She's absolutely delighted.
We spend hours upon hours at track meets with Jackson... ;o)
13 May 2010
The Track Meet
Jack competed in his first track meet. It was rainy and cold, but he did really, really well.
His first competition was on the first leg of the 4x100 meter relay.
His siblings were watching from the top, up by the press box...
We were at MY high school (Timpanogos), so that helped Jack feel familiar. It was rainy and cold, about 50 degrees outside. Our track coach was hosting, but Jack is training with the Pleasant Grove team because we live just half a mile from Pleasant Grove High School (which is a straight shot down the hill).
Jack's second event was the standing long jump. His first jump was 5'2".
His second jump was 4'11".
There's something to be said for those long, long Phippen legs. He's actually training to do the running long jump, but he couldn't compete in that event.
His last event was the 100m.
Where he's shown here finishing 2nd...
Not bad for his very first track meet! Two second places, and an awesome long jump!
His first competition was on the first leg of the 4x100 meter relay.
His team took second place for his age group!
Jack's second event was the standing long jump. His first jump was 5'2".
His third jump was 6'1".
His last event was the 100m.
Not bad for his very first track meet! Two second places, and an awesome long jump!
Jack's Birthday Photos
Here's Jack's birthday party follow-up photos:
The cake... that we forgot to have Costco write on (yeah, that's my handwriting in "dad-frosting" last-minute).
The kids on their hike... And Mark is very disgusted with my description of a sloping hike. I'm pleading the fifth and the fact that I've never BEEN on said hike.
Birthday Jack... He was thrilled. A bit sad that only the Preston family came, but pretty excited that the hike, dinner, and cake went so well. He loved the presents and the cousins had fun, even Maddie who adored throwing rocks in the pond!
Luke, Kassidy, Max stayed behind, and Karlee (who'd sprained her ankle) stayed behind on the hike, too.
Luke, Kassidy, Max stayed behind, and Karlee (who'd sprained her ankle) stayed behind on the hike, too.
04 May 2010
Birthday Party Invitation...
On Saturday, May 8th, Jackson invites to join him for his birthday at our home. His grand scheme is to take his cousins on a brief hike up to a waterfall nearby. It's not a strenuous "hike" (more a gentle rise,) but you will want to wear tennis shoes and not flip-flops. :o) Smaller children will want to be accompanied by their dads or moms in case they "get tired" or "get scared" and need to be helped along the way. The hike is 1.2 miles round trip (.6 in and .6 out).
Jack says that the hike will begin at EXACTLY 5:10pm.
Of course, there will be chocolate cake. If you don't like chocolate cake, there will be vanilla ice cream.
Sunset is at 8:27pm.
Bedtime is WAY before that, isn't it? :o)
Please come to the house at 5pm. Cake will also be at our home after the hike. If I've missed details, I'm sure John will add them...
Jack's Utah Program
Jack was in the 4th grade Utah program. John took these pictures and I thought was going to write something, but he didn't so for your viewing pleasure...
27 April 2010
Note about Asa
I meant to say...
I think the child LIVES on grumpy and air. Although I think he lies about quite a few things, too... he doesn't eat much. His funny thing is that he always says, "I don't know!" about most things. He also loves playing the computer every day, and he wants to get in "his time" every day with his dad. Okay. Enough said.
I think the child LIVES on grumpy and air. Although I think he lies about quite a few things, too... he doesn't eat much. His funny thing is that he always says, "I don't know!" about most things. He also loves playing the computer every day, and he wants to get in "his time" every day with his dad. Okay. Enough said.
Spring has sprung
It's midterm here at school, and I've finally got my laptop back from the shop. I opened up the grading program on Sunday night to do my grades, and it ate my journalism grades. So yesterday, I spent all of the day restoring them from a paper copy... while I have been doing that, plus giving CRT tests (both of which have a learning curve) the weather has been lovely! I'd much rather be outside than doing testing or grading.
Jackson has been so excited to start track. His first day was yesterday. After days and days of build up, first to find the *perfect* running shoe (a pair of kids Saucony) and then to the count down to the first day of track, we finally got to the first day of TRACK.
John has been counting down to his "fire show" at his friend's Wood Badge course. And when I say counting down, let me just tell you, days and days and days of build up to the *perfect* fire show. Sound familiar? Like father, like son? They are an awfully lot alike, perfectionistic in so many ways. There are so many rules to be followed.
Xandri is loving the spring, and she's been to her first surprise birthday party. I'm not quite sure why her friend needed a surprise party to turn 7 (or was it 8?), but they had an enormously fun time playing hair dress-up with her older sister, and painting their fingernails, and just having a late-night. Of course, she thought it was marvelous and every little girl in the neighborhood seemed to be there.
Asa has mastered the pouty-face when he doesn't get his way. He can be happy as a clam, but the second you look at him funny, he hunches his shoulders, turns on his pout, and his face clouds up. He's quite the poseur. It makes me nuts, especially at the dinner table (as I am quite sure the child lives on grumpy and air). His favorite thing is Star Wars, and he goes around singing Indiana Jones and Star Wars/John Williams theme songs. He often calls C3PO R3PO, which is really funny. It also makes him blush, and sometimes hide under his red chenille blanket.
Maxwell is the sole definition of grumpy. He has his own theme song ("The Grumpy Old Troll Who Lives Under the Bridge"--from Dora the Explorer). He has mastered the scowl and he's ADORABLE, but really, really grumpy. Sometimes, he's delightful, but mostly, he's just grumpy. Max loves Batman, Luke, and anything Asa loves.
That's THIS Phippen Phamily wrap-up for the moment...
Jackson has been so excited to start track. His first day was yesterday. After days and days of build up, first to find the *perfect* running shoe (a pair of kids Saucony) and then to the count down to the first day of track, we finally got to the first day of TRACK.
John has been counting down to his "fire show" at his friend's Wood Badge course. And when I say counting down, let me just tell you, days and days and days of build up to the *perfect* fire show. Sound familiar? Like father, like son? They are an awfully lot alike, perfectionistic in so many ways. There are so many rules to be followed.
Xandri is loving the spring, and she's been to her first surprise birthday party. I'm not quite sure why her friend needed a surprise party to turn 7 (or was it 8?), but they had an enormously fun time playing hair dress-up with her older sister, and painting their fingernails, and just having a late-night. Of course, she thought it was marvelous and every little girl in the neighborhood seemed to be there.
Asa has mastered the pouty-face when he doesn't get his way. He can be happy as a clam, but the second you look at him funny, he hunches his shoulders, turns on his pout, and his face clouds up. He's quite the poseur. It makes me nuts, especially at the dinner table (as I am quite sure the child lives on grumpy and air). His favorite thing is Star Wars, and he goes around singing Indiana Jones and Star Wars/John Williams theme songs. He often calls C3PO R3PO, which is really funny. It also makes him blush, and sometimes hide under his red chenille blanket.
Maxwell is the sole definition of grumpy. He has his own theme song ("The Grumpy Old Troll Who Lives Under the Bridge"--from Dora the Explorer). He has mastered the scowl and he's ADORABLE, but really, really grumpy. Sometimes, he's delightful, but mostly, he's just grumpy. Max loves Batman, Luke, and anything Asa loves.
That's THIS Phippen Phamily wrap-up for the moment...
26 April 2010
Track
Who knew track could be do hard!
But who cares!
It's not all that bad.
It still is fun.
-Jack
jackson.phippen@gmail.com
But who cares!
It's not all that bad.
It still is fun.
-Jack
jackson.phippen@gmail.com
22 April 2010
20 April 2010
Great a Storm
I wish it doesn't storm tomorrow. Right after the nice weather. This sucks.
I hate rain. It's stupid. (sigh) Oh well.
-Jack
I hate rain. It's stupid. (sigh) Oh well.
-Jack
Flat Stanley, afterthoughts
What I learned from Flat Stanley, a rant:
1. Children learn nothing when they don't do the project themselves.
2. Teachers don't care much, either, as evidenced by the fact that neither Xandri nor her teacher bothered to read all letters that were returned.
3. Xandri had no idea when the project was due, nor did she really care. She is 7.
4. One letter was just as good as two. However, there are 7 days in a week.
5. Doing something well and doing something very well only matter if you care, because no one else does. Keep your own score.
6. Xandri's teacher doesn't actually read all of her email because I never did get my password for grades.
7. Word Perfect is a superlative product to OpenOffice.
8. Word Perfect X4 does not print with Windows 7.
9. Word is not included with Windows 7. Windows is a racket. Damn you, Bill Gates.
10. Flat Stanley is a project for others, not a suitable homework assignment for first graders.
The end.
1. Children learn nothing when they don't do the project themselves.
2. Teachers don't care much, either, as evidenced by the fact that neither Xandri nor her teacher bothered to read all letters that were returned.
3. Xandri had no idea when the project was due, nor did she really care. She is 7.
4. One letter was just as good as two. However, there are 7 days in a week.
5. Doing something well and doing something very well only matter if you care, because no one else does. Keep your own score.
6. Xandri's teacher doesn't actually read all of her email because I never did get my password for grades.
7. Word Perfect is a superlative product to OpenOffice.
8. Word Perfect X4 does not print with Windows 7.
9. Word is not included with Windows 7. Windows is a racket. Damn you, Bill Gates.
10. Flat Stanley is a project for others, not a suitable homework assignment for first graders.
The end.
Flat Stanley
I have just completed a HUGE Flat Stanley project at school. Flat Stanley went to visit Grandma Phippen in Salt Lake; Aunt Barbara printed him and sent him home with Grandma Max in Canada, and today I took a Flat Stanley adventure to school. My mom was the first one to send Flat Stanley on Facebook.
~ From Xandri
For those of you who haven't noticed...
Jack has begged for a blog... so I set him loose on mine. The blog's title will now change. I'm going to rename it so it will best represent that it's coming from the two of us. I guess it's now Jack and Jill who are speaking and not just the Queen who has Spoken, since Jack is doing most of the talking. Wow. You give a kid a bit, and he starts chatting up a storm! Perhaps I should have given him his own blog!
:o)
:o)
Another School Day
Great it's anonther school day. (sigh)
I wish I have a little more fun at school.
But who cares, right?
Oh well.
-Jack
I wish I have a little more fun at school.
But who cares, right?
Oh well.
-Jack
19 April 2010
18 April 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)