Quiet Acts of Service

In an effort to recognize the quiet acts of service those around me consistently perform, and to gain further appreciation for them, I am going to keep as up-to-date a list as possible of their many excellent, benevolent actions:

Father: 1/15: worked on family history. 1/16: did the dishes, served the family sparkling cider, and kept the fire blazing in this negative-degree weather. 1/18: helped me tirelessly with my college application. 1/19: took Carly and me to Provo - Thanks!!!!! 1/21: Cleaned the kitchen, organized family meeting and viewing of an excellent, much-needed program, and fed the horsie. 1/23: Spent 2 days working for our familial financial welfare, then attempted to cultivate our familial political welfare in watching the democratic response to the State of the Union. 1/25: Helped me get gas at the finicky station in Spring City. 1/27: Took the family to the temple and then to Los Amigos! YUM. 1/29: Dad faxed my paper to me and then helped me begin on family history work. 1/30: Took Jake to his friend's house. Thanks for being an awesome Dad!

Mother: 1/15: prepared an excellent breakfast and dinner and helped Carly and I with the dishes. 1/16: awoke extra early to make her children breakfast burritos (yummy! deliciously home-made) [hehe - that entire last comment could be a very hilarious pun] and served the family butterscotch pudding. 1/18: arranged campus tour and our family's stay in England. 1/21: Proponent of going to choir practice, which was incredibly enjoyable. 1/24: Mother spent much of the day in finalizing my application to BYU! Thanks!!!!!!!! She paid for my application (thanks to Dad's service in working for our family) and arranged for college transcripts to be mailed. 1/26: Got gas for me - filled up the tank! 1/27: Listened to the awards ceremony at Speech and Debate Invitational when I couldn't and brought me a list of needed items for the temple. 1/29: Helped me get an herbal tea starter kit! 1/30: Met Carly and me at Wal*Mart and capitalized on an excellent dvd sale! LOTR forever! Thanks for being a great mom!

Carly: 1/15: gathered firewood (literally... :) and when she saw Mother cooking, offered to feed and water the pony and clean the dining room. 1/16: Was patient when she had to stay after school with me today, and cheerfully submitted to doing homework in the Eccle's Center while I had my cello lesson. 1/21: Proponent of going to choir practice, which was incredibly enjoyable. 1/22: Did the dishes without one murmur of dissent - and they were not few in number... Incredible attitude, really. Thanks for the example, Carls! 1/23: Joined me in speech and debate practice after school (although she couldn't stop laughing at my oration.... is that a subtle hint?) and dished out pie a la mode for everyone, the sweetie! 1/29: She agreed to work on my p.p.p with me! 1/30: Made doughnuts for us! Carly, thanks for being an excellent sister!

Jacob: 1/15: made a chocolate-marshmallow cake to honor civil rights day. 1/16: shared a blanket and seat with me when we watched Sherlock Holmes. 1/23: Offered me his DS Lite and games for free...! Is there a catch, you amazing brother? 1/28: Was singing all day, and really cheered me up - a bright ray of sunshine, he was! 1/30: Was a friend to a boy who needs one. Thanks for being such a sweet bro, Jake!

Cooper: 1/19: volunteered at the hospital. 1/23: Once again, Coopsie volunteered at the hospital. She also had a pleasant attitude most of the evening and was actually acquiescent and reasonable. That is service in her situation, I must say! 1/30: Played a game on the wii with me. Thanks for being the cooooooooooolest sissy ever, Coopsie!