Every once and a while an opportunity comes along that one must truly consider, weighing the costs and the options. Tonight I find myself in a little hotel room in Anaheim CA with Liesl. For more than 4 years now I have sought out someone every fall qualified to teach the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens to our teens in St. George. Some 4 or 5 years ago, I walked into the Franklin store and asked the manager at the time Aaron Bunker if he would teach this class for me. With a number of exceptions, and my continued prodding, he and his darling wife Ashley came to my home to teach the class. They did a great job! By the next fall he was no longer living in the area, and couldn't make the trip to teach the class - I was left trying to find someone who could. I learned that there was no one in the Southern part of Ut qualified to teach this class, and began a correspondence with Franklin Training people to pursue an opportunity to get trained so I could facilitate this training for my young people. Last fall Brad and I jumped off, and offered an evening review of the book - not sanctioned by Franklin Covey because we were not "trained" but a fun evening - despite the cramped quarters because of the wonderful response of people seeking this kind of training. I was surprised that night to learn that among the adults in the room that night - and there were several- that less than 10% of them were familiar with Franklin Time Management principals.
I took it upon myself to call and try to find a way to be trained so we could offer this class with permission, and with authority. That is why I am here tonight. As I understand it - this is the only Teen training for the 7 Habits that has happened since August when I began seriously pursuing this avenue, and at present, they don' t have another one scheduled for this year. I feel so privileged to be here learning! I find myself amongst many well educated people - many of whom teach/lead in public schools. I am to say the least intimidated. However, I smile as we have spent two days learning about the 7 habits, to know that these are principals that I have taught my family. These are principals that we practice in my home. These are not new ideas to me - they are familiar, and I believe they are powerful tools we want to further utilize. I am grateful to Angie Witzel & Rob Collins for their help in getting me here, in organizing a training, and in allowing Liesl to come with me to a training that is really for adults to learn to teach.. students like her. She is beautiful, and as we have learned about relationship bank accounts, self-esteem, win-win agreements, we have focused on quadrant II, and have remembered once again those things that matter most. I am grateful for a few days to get away wit her, to build a better relationship. I love you Liesl!
Tonight I missed Sam's first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. He has been so excited for tonight I felt sad that I would miss it if I came for this class. Last week together we cut out his car. He has carried it everywhere with him for the last week! We went to Hurst together to choose a color - he chose with pride Gold! Saturday while Sr. team and Brad were away at the Book of Mormon Read-a-thon, Sam and I hung his car up in the backyard, and painted it a beautiful Gold! He put little stickers on it, labeling it "Ocho" - "53" like Herby. Despite his hard work, excitement, and pride, tonight his wonderful little car now with quarters on the top, and weights mounted carefully in the bottom, never crossed the finish line. Something was wrong with the alignment of the wheels, and it never did make it to the finish line. Brad was upset and frustrated, but Sammy seemed to be in good spirits! He told me proudly tonight over the phone that he won the "Richest Car" and that he has placed it carefully on the shelf in his room right under the sign that reads "No other like a Brother." He is so precious. I am sorry to have missed tonight with him. I love you Sam! Thanks for being such an outstanding young man to carry your head high even when you don't win!
I also miss Brinley, Sara, Jakob, Chandler & Jed! Brinley cried when I left "Who will help me comb my hair?" Oh I love her! I am so grateful to have the privilege of combing your beautiful hair Brinley! I will be there soon to help you! Thank you for being my daughter! xoxoxox She tucked a darling little valentine in my bag when we left. She was so excited to give it to me, before we made it to CA she was asking over the phone if I had found her note yet? Bless her heart for trying to serve the way she knows how!
Chandler too tucked a note into my bag. Talk about precious! He wrote "...Thank you for being such a good motivator for me to earn merit badges and to read the Book of Mormon. I am so glad that I get to be your son and that I get to tend. I am so glad to be an Aaronic Priesthood holder. Thank you for being such an example. I know that Heavenly Father will help you get through the District Banquet and I know that you will have a great time in CA. Enjoy it!...." I love him so much! Thank you Chandler for your beautiful willingness to help, your testimony, and your love! I love you!
Sunday night while Liesl and I drove to CA, Jed was asked to Preference by Haven ?. She got caught by Chandler & Brad (one at the front door wondering who was there, and Brad in the garage when she ran trying to escape Chandler who was leaving to go feed Liesl's horses.) She left frantically a box of matches that said something like "We'd be the perfect Match if you would go with me to Dixie's Preference Dance." Then the match sticks were colored, and some had letters spelling... I'm not sure how many were written, but it was more than just her name. Jed had dropped into bed already, and was too tired to wake up and figure it out. He woke up early on Monday to try to unscramble the letters and figure out who it was. I am so grateful that he gets to go and be a part! Tonight he is trying to come up with something clever to answer her. I think he should get some marshmallow sticks (4), a bag of marshmallows, some chocolate fudge striped cookies, and tie them together. I think he should get some firewood, and newspaper, and then write "I'm excited to put these matches to work, and have S'MORE fun! I would love to go to Preference with you!" Then I think he should build a little fire on her porch - WITHOUT lighting it, and leave the package! I wish I was there to help him tie them together beautifully. I am grateful to know that I have taught him how, and he will be a gentleman about it, and do a good job! I love you Jed! See you soon!
My Mom is so wonderful! She didn't learn that I was leaving for this training until Friday, but Sunday night as I drove to CA, she drove from SLC to take care of my little ones. The girls were excited to learn that she was coming! Thank you Mom for being a part of their life! Thank you for caring for and loving my little ones! They love you and so do I!
Bradley is a hero! Thank you honey for encouraging me to come, for picking up all my responsibilities at home willingly so I could come! Thank you for working hard so we have the finances to have this option! Thank you! I Love You! xoxoxoxo
I took it upon myself to call and try to find a way to be trained so we could offer this class with permission, and with authority. That is why I am here tonight. As I understand it - this is the only Teen training for the 7 Habits that has happened since August when I began seriously pursuing this avenue, and at present, they don' t have another one scheduled for this year. I feel so privileged to be here learning! I find myself amongst many well educated people - many of whom teach/lead in public schools. I am to say the least intimidated. However, I smile as we have spent two days learning about the 7 habits, to know that these are principals that I have taught my family. These are principals that we practice in my home. These are not new ideas to me - they are familiar, and I believe they are powerful tools we want to further utilize. I am grateful to Angie Witzel & Rob Collins for their help in getting me here, in organizing a training, and in allowing Liesl to come with me to a training that is really for adults to learn to teach.. students like her. She is beautiful, and as we have learned about relationship bank accounts, self-esteem, win-win agreements, we have focused on quadrant II, and have remembered once again those things that matter most. I am grateful for a few days to get away wit her, to build a better relationship. I love you Liesl!
Tonight I missed Sam's first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. He has been so excited for tonight I felt sad that I would miss it if I came for this class. Last week together we cut out his car. He has carried it everywhere with him for the last week! We went to Hurst together to choose a color - he chose with pride Gold! Saturday while Sr. team and Brad were away at the Book of Mormon Read-a-thon, Sam and I hung his car up in the backyard, and painted it a beautiful Gold! He put little stickers on it, labeling it "Ocho" - "53" like Herby. Despite his hard work, excitement, and pride, tonight his wonderful little car now with quarters on the top, and weights mounted carefully in the bottom, never crossed the finish line. Something was wrong with the alignment of the wheels, and it never did make it to the finish line. Brad was upset and frustrated, but Sammy seemed to be in good spirits! He told me proudly tonight over the phone that he won the "Richest Car" and that he has placed it carefully on the shelf in his room right under the sign that reads "No other like a Brother." He is so precious. I am sorry to have missed tonight with him. I love you Sam! Thanks for being such an outstanding young man to carry your head high even when you don't win!
I also miss Brinley, Sara, Jakob, Chandler & Jed! Brinley cried when I left "Who will help me comb my hair?" Oh I love her! I am so grateful to have the privilege of combing your beautiful hair Brinley! I will be there soon to help you! Thank you for being my daughter! xoxoxox She tucked a darling little valentine in my bag when we left. She was so excited to give it to me, before we made it to CA she was asking over the phone if I had found her note yet? Bless her heart for trying to serve the way she knows how!
Chandler too tucked a note into my bag. Talk about precious! He wrote "...Thank you for being such a good motivator for me to earn merit badges and to read the Book of Mormon. I am so glad that I get to be your son and that I get to tend. I am so glad to be an Aaronic Priesthood holder. Thank you for being such an example. I know that Heavenly Father will help you get through the District Banquet and I know that you will have a great time in CA. Enjoy it!...." I love him so much! Thank you Chandler for your beautiful willingness to help, your testimony, and your love! I love you!
Sunday night while Liesl and I drove to CA, Jed was asked to Preference by Haven ?. She got caught by Chandler & Brad (one at the front door wondering who was there, and Brad in the garage when she ran trying to escape Chandler who was leaving to go feed Liesl's horses.) She left frantically a box of matches that said something like "We'd be the perfect Match if you would go with me to Dixie's Preference Dance." Then the match sticks were colored, and some had letters spelling... I'm not sure how many were written, but it was more than just her name. Jed had dropped into bed already, and was too tired to wake up and figure it out. He woke up early on Monday to try to unscramble the letters and figure out who it was. I am so grateful that he gets to go and be a part! Tonight he is trying to come up with something clever to answer her. I think he should get some marshmallow sticks (4), a bag of marshmallows, some chocolate fudge striped cookies, and tie them together. I think he should get some firewood, and newspaper, and then write "I'm excited to put these matches to work, and have S'MORE fun! I would love to go to Preference with you!" Then I think he should build a little fire on her porch - WITHOUT lighting it, and leave the package! I wish I was there to help him tie them together beautifully. I am grateful to know that I have taught him how, and he will be a gentleman about it, and do a good job! I love you Jed! See you soon!
My Mom is so wonderful! She didn't learn that I was leaving for this training until Friday, but Sunday night as I drove to CA, she drove from SLC to take care of my little ones. The girls were excited to learn that she was coming! Thank you Mom for being a part of their life! Thank you for caring for and loving my little ones! They love you and so do I!
Bradley is a hero! Thank you honey for encouraging me to come, for picking up all my responsibilities at home willingly so I could come! Thank you for working hard so we have the finances to have this option! Thank you! I Love You! xoxoxoxo