Giving Thanks (by Janis)

One of the best things about this time of year is that it provides us with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the year and its many developments. Some have been trying and difficult, others have been new and challenging, and some things remain the same. Whether trying, new or just the same, there are always many things to be thankful for.

I've been pondering this lately. I am thankful for many things including family, good friends, relationships, good health, medical miracles that are sustaining lives (including saving mom's sight, extending Phil's life, monitoring babies yet-to-be-born, and more!), time spent together, watching loved ones grow, ongoing personal growth, a chance to stay connected with this blog, beautiful sunsets and love. I hope for continued peace progress all over our ever-shrinking world (am I sounding like Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality??) ... and that I can remember to keep an open mind and heart and to better observe the "gifts" that I should be thankful for on a daily basis.

...You?

Hey everyone it's Kelly!!!

My dad told me about this site and I just had to come and post somthing for you guys!!
I miss you all so much!! I hope to see you soon!!!

Well mylife right now is great!!!! Highschool is fun, but unfourtunatly I'm moving here in a few weeks to Temecula. I see my dad often and we hang out and have a good time.

Well anyway there's a recent picture of me!!

I'll try to put a more recent picture of me up soon!!

I love you all so much!!!!

Take Care, bye for now.

A Young American
~ Janny

Here is a picture of me (3rd from the left) getting ready to take a bow after a performance. Being part of The Young Americans was one of the most important things I have done in my life, for many reasons. I learned to cultivate and share my heart and talents in the hopes that others would feel joy. Living on tour, traveling for months in busses and planes with 30+ young people from all around the country provided the backdrop for learning how to live, side by side, with my "tour family" in a daily routine of acceptance, unconditional love and with the greatest of respect. Being on stage and in the limelight was not our only responsibility. The process would begin with months of focused rehearsal and preparation. While on tour, we unloaded semi trucks (daily) filled with risers, speakers, monitors, sound boards, costumes, and staging equipment that we also set up for each performance, then after each performance, we would re-pack the trucks, sleep a little, and travel to the next town. We were given the opportunity to spend time with celebrities and world leaders. Equally important to me, we met people our age in each town, where we grouped together for a time of sharing a little about ourselves while learning, first-hand, and a lot about people all over the country. Not to mention keeping up with school work and assignments from back at home! These combined experiences provided a basis for things like a strong work ethic, perseverance, compassion, respect, appreciation, utilizing God-given talents, a sense of humor and other skills and perspectives to last a lifetime. Some I practice daily, others I have pushed aside and need to bring back in the limelight.

Today's Young Americans are much, much more sophisticated than we were back in the '70's. The group is making an impact all over the world, providing 3-day workshops to schools and other groups that culminate in a combined group performance on the final day, but what occurs in the 3 days is an indescribable experience. I just watched a 30 minute DVD featuring one of the workshops, recently held in a men's youth prison in Germany. The dual and profound impact, for both the prisoners and the Young Americans, is a beautiful tribute to hope, unity and unconditional love.

I am honored (and very humbled) to have been part of the Young American's beginnings. I would love to share this DVD with you sometime. Well, that's my story ... Thanks for listening. I would love to hear your story, too.