Gratitude!! So far today we have watched several Junior Jazz Basketball games. This has caused me to reminisce a bit. We spent most of our winter months for many years following our own children all over Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah as they participated in basketball games, ranging from peewee basketball at the AJ Winters School to the State Championship at the MiniDome in Pocatello. We tried to support our kids in all of their activities, even if it meant splitting up, Iris going to one game, and I to another, when the games were scheduled at the same time, but in different places. We loved doing it and it made the long winter months go by more quickly. We were not alone. Most of our friends had children playing and they supported their children also. It gave our children a sense of belonging, taught them the meaning of team work, how to follow directions, and the importance of being physically fit, among other things. Those days and years sometimes seemed hectic, but looking back, they are filled with a flood of wonderful memories and fondness. It wasn't so much about the score of the game, or the wins and the losses, as it was an opportunity to focus in on things that bind a family together, and to learn from our experiences, and to be there for each other. These games and trips also served as a springboard for teaching and learning. Many were the teaching moments that came about because of all of this activity and our involvement in this way in the lives of our children. There were, of course, many other aspects of living and raising a large family for which we are grateful, but the sound of a boisterous crowd, cheering on the home team, or the sound of a buzzer going off to begin a new game, or close one just finished, will always have a special place in our heart. Below are just a few pictures of some of our grand kids as they participated in their games today. We were blessed and we continue to be, and we are grateful.