Melissa Clark for City Council--Campaign Video

A part of running for City Council is putting yourself out there to meet people.  Eagle Mountain has 34,000 people and 13,000 of those are registered voters.  It would be impossible to personally meet everyone, but through the miracle of modern technology, I can reach residents with a video.  My neighbor Nicole has a killer camera and we got a little help with editing from another resident of Eagle Mountain that donated his time.  I think it turned out pretty cool.  You can see my video on my facebook page too. In less than 4 days the video has been viewed 2.7k times.  Melissa Clark for City Council

Hannah is quite the Baker

Our oldest daughter Hannah has become quite the baker.  She made some bread to go along with dinner tonight and it turned out gigantic.  Sara called it "Jesus Bread" because "it would feed 5000."

Melissa Clark for City Council--Politics and Pizza

I was invited to participate in a political event with Tom Westmoreland and Donna Burnham on Monday night.  We had the privilege of welcoming Stan Ellsworth.  He was the host of BYUtv's American Ride.  He has a voice like butter, it is a very distinctive storytelling voice.  You can check out my website at www.melissa4EM.com

It was a fun night meeting and talking with residents of our city and other political leaders.   My dear friend Bre came and face painted for us.  She is super talented.

Melissa for City Council--Waving Signs with the Littles

Hannah is our city's new youth Mayor so while she was at her council meeting, we were waving signs.  The girls love getting honks and waves.

Saying Goodbye to Grandma Shirley

Raw moment: just over a week ago we laid my grandma to rest. When we were driving home to UT I remembered something that happened when I was a teenager. When I was a senior in high school I would sit for hours and sing, that came naturally to me, playing piano on the other hand, was hard. I had to practice a ton to be able to play one song. I had a hymn book and made a goal to learn all of the songs in it and worked my way through it. I plucked out every single song over and over. I remember one time my grandma Shirley was visiting and heard me playing one of the hymns. It was a Traditional Swedish melody. I am sure it was sung by her father or in a hymnbook of her youth. She came to me and said "Oh I just love this song. It is my favorite hymn, make sure they sing it at my funeral. " I circled the song in the hymnbook and wrote Grandma by it.

That hymn was "Children of our Heavenly Father". I wish I could have remembered in time to honor that request. Instead you get unrehearsed, no make up, funky hair, and a horrible mp3 as my accompaniment. I can't believe I am posting this because I always cringe when I see posts of people singing, but this is for Grandma.

"Neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord his children sever.
Until them his grace he showeth, and their sorrows all he knoweth."

There were reports of possible weapons at the local high school today. I asked Hannah about it and we discussed a few options including a communication plan if something like this does happen. She is annoyed because she has stuff to do at school, songs to practice, and friends to see. I dropped her off at school and told her I loved her. Then I brought my Littles to their school and decorated Eliza's classroom door. Life goes on, we can't live in fear, but we can be prepared and aware.

Hang in there when your heart feels like it is failing

If I were reading a book of my life and the lives of the people around me, this would be a page turner, that I would hate to set down because we are at the part where the reader is dying for some resolution.

If I were watching a TV series, I would know that is was sweeps month and all of the crazy stuff is happening for better ratings.

Because this life is neither a book or a TV series, I know that this "stuff" that is happening in everyone's lives is the crappy resistance that tries each of us. The world is growing darker, and the adversary to that which is good is upping his game. Some say that the end is near, and conversely some say that the future is brighter than ever, either way there is no denying the contention, the fighting in families, in neighborhoods, at work, as couples, as siblings, as parents and children.

We have to stop and ask where is this coming from? Why am I allowing my life to be torn apart? We have to stop and remember that there is hope and light ahead regardless of how hard our present circumstances are. We have to hold on, we have to have faith, we need to seek to grow our faith. We have to remember that there is one who is in charge and He knows the ending to this story.

In Luke Chapter 21 we read about how the Savior knew this would happen. He knew that the world would be in commotion and that men's (and women's) hearts would fail for fear. If He knew that 2000 years ago, don't you think He had a plan for it? He understands your hurt, your pain. He knows why you are frustrated and angry, He knows each sorrow. Turn to Him.

We will be hurt, we will struggle, we will want to give up, but we just can't. Just keep going, just keep trying, just keep believing. There is a bright, bright future ahead. This is a great video that reminds me not to give up.

The Rescued becomes the Rescuer

On Sunday we had an awesome lesson about the Savior's admonition to "feed my sheep". It occurred to me that at different points we are each sheep and also shepherds. We all have times when we need to be 'fed' by others and also times when we know we have "feed" His sheep. This story popped up in my news feed from 3 years ago, it is about the rescued USS Nevada becoming the rescuer. 

I am grateful for the USS Nevada. (I went to a fireside tonight and learned about this amazing story of change.) During Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the battleship USS Arizona was destroyed, and the USS Nevada, despite a valiant fight, was struck by several bombs and left burning on a beach near Hospital Point.
While the USS Arizona remained in Pearl Harbor, the USS Nevada was recovered and repaired. It was re-outfitted with the latest technology and returned to sea. In time, the battleship USS Nevada became the flagship for the Normandy invasion.
The Nevada was the only ship that was present at both Pearl Harbor and Normandy. It went from beached and burning to one of the most effective and modernized battleships in the fleet. The rescued became the rescuer.
We all know individuals who are beached and burning, their lives in shambles, their spirits destitute of hope. Whether they have illness--mental, spiritual, or physical or have been hurt or betrayed. Some people may lose a spouse to death, or a parent, or lose a job, or suffer from an addiction. Some people allow themselves to be destroyed and sunk. But then there are people who are like the USS Nevada and literally rise from the ruble and allow themselves to be rescued and repaired. I know that the only one that can rescue and repair people is the Savior through the Atonement. Then there those that after being rescued and repaired turn and reach out to others and offer their lives in service and become examples of Christlike love and offer hope. They have become battleship USS Nevadas. Rescued to rescuer.

Lots of Changes

I have not posted on our blog for over 2 years, but so much is happening, I really need to record it.  In looking back on years past, some of our sweetest memories and difficult trials were recorded here.  I need to get back at it.

Sara and Emma will graduate from Preschool next week.  Next year they will be kindergartners! They started at our local school in a special needs preschool just after they turned three.  So much has happened since then.  When they first started they could only speak a few words, they couldn't go up stairs without help and they had so many things that they couldn't do like "normal" kids. They have had the most amazing teachers who love them so much. I will forever be grateful for how they helped me help our little girls. Being a mom to two special needs little girls has been humbling and magical at the same time. I love how sweet and innocent they are about things. I pray every day, usually several times a day, for God to show me what I am supposed to do to help them. I know that with His help I, we, can do this.  I just marvel at how far they have come in the last two and a half years and know that He has been helping all along.

Family Home Evening: Cultural Awareness

(Early on this year, Nathan and I decided to do FHE's that would expose our children to different cultures. Hopefully it will blossom into visiting festivals and other diverse experiences but for the time being we are having a cultural family night the first Monday of every month.)
We start the evenings by singing a neat song Holding Hands Around the World. You can listen to the song or see the sheet music here. Then we open the gathering with a prayer
Then we learn about the country. What its flag looks like, how to say "hello" in their language, what it is like to be a child there, and other exciting details.
Eventually we will learn a dance or some other custom from that country but for now with 2 three year olds we will do these basics and then try the country's foods.
We sing a closing song and then we close with a word of prayer.

This month we are learning about Greece.
population: 10.6 million
Money: Euro
Language: Greek
Hello: Kalimera
Pronunciation: kah-lee-MEH-rah
Then I am loosely tying it to a story about the Greek philosopher Socrates called the Triple Filter.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance that ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students called Plato?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the "Triple Filter Test".

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first Filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the Filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student is something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?" The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though,
because there is a third filter - the Filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True, nor Good, nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.