{ Smiles }

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure but, scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”

~ Joseph Addison

{ True Friends }

In 1918 Brother George Goates was a farmer who raised sugar beets in Lehi, Utah. . . . An influenza epidemic . . . claimed the lives of George’s son Charles and three of Charles’s small children—two little girls and a boy. In the course of only six days, a grieving George Goates made three separate trips to Ogden, Utah, to bring the bodies home for burial. At the end of this terrible interlude, George and [his young son] Francis hitched up their wagon and headed back to the beet field.

On the way they passed wagon after wagon-load of beets being hauled to the factory and driven by neighborhood farmers. As they passed by, each driver would wave a greeting: “Hi ya, Uncle George,” “Sure sorry, George,” “Tough break, George,” “You’ve got a lot of friends, George.”

On the last wagon was freckled-faced Jasper Rolfe. He waved a cheery greeting and called out: “That’s all of ’em, Uncle George.”

When they arrived at the farm gate, Francis jumped down off the big red beet wagon and opened the gate as [his father] drove onto the field. George pulled up, stopped the team, and scanned the field. There wasn’t a sugar beet on the whole field. Then it dawned upon him what Jasper Rolfe meant when he called out: “That’s all of ’em, Uncle George!” . . .

This man who brought four of his loved ones home for burial in the course of only six days; made caskets, dug graves, and even helped with the burial clothing—this amazing man who never faltered, nor flinched, nor wavered throughout this agonizing ordeal—sat down on a pile of beet tops and sobbed like a little child.

Then he arose, wiped his eyes, . . . looked up at the sky, and said: “Thanks, Father, for the love of these dear friends.”

Vaughn J. Featherstone

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The Clean Water Movement

Just wanted to show you the sweet little article that Mindy Harward wrote in the local newspaper about a handsome young man that I know.  Now, I must say that I’m pretty darn proud of this fellow. As many of you know, he started a “give up your birthday” campaign over at Charity Water and it has really caught fire. In fact, this campaign has already committed life changing clean water for over 50 people —for life!

It’s been so fun to watch the generosity of friends and family and even total strangers when they realize that literally– our pennies– can change the world and bring clean water to the people that have never known such a thing. A few days ago Justin Bieber announced that he would be giving up his birthday to Charity Water as well–and within hours–his fans raised an incredible $40,000!

Of course, our goal is a bit more modest–we’re shooting for $2,200–before the end of March and we’re exactly half-way there!

Thanks everyone for your sweetness to our cause. It and you–mean so much to us.

Read the article: The Ultimate Birthday Present

Watch Dane’s video: My Birthday Wish

Check our progress or Make a donation

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Help PartyLand Utah get to 500 fans!  Like them right HERE.  :]

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