November 2006

My FATHER's BIRTHDAY --

My Father, S. Glenn Smith and my husband, Ken (Smiley) Mitchell share the same Birthday -- October 26th!

My Mother passed away last March and my Father's health has not been good. So all my brothers and sisters decided to come to Utah to celebrate his 86th birthday. (Two of us live in Utah, two in Colorado, one in California and one in Alaska.) Dad's celebration was scheduled the same day as SMILEY's FUN RUN in the afternoon and evening. That's why my sisters were both here in Utah to participate in the FUN RUN. They had come to Celebrate my Dad's birthday as well. Dad knew we were all coming and I had told Ken about it and we were planning to come to Provo that afternoon for Dad's Celebration. That week at my Dad's home -- I stay there 3 - 4 days of the week to cook and care for him -- I had been busy baking and cleaning for the Celebration which was at his home.

My three brothers took Dad to the BYU Football game that afternoon. My Father LOVES sports and especially likes to go to the games with his sons. He will even record the games from the TV and send them to my brother in Alaska to see.

After the football game we all met at his home for eating, visiting and celebrating!!! Here's a picture taken that evening with Dad and his six children ... I'm still wearing my "Smiley" shirt!!!

From left to right, Front row: Dianne, Dad, Susan. Back row: Brad, Derrell, Craig and Me -- I'm the oldest of the six children and we were all born within seven years. Dianne and Derrell are twins and I'm only 16 months older than the twins. Being close in age we grew up being the best of friends -- and we still get along well and enjoy each other. We all have children about the same ages -- that night about 21 grandchildren attended the Celebration and there were 14 great-grandchildren, along with my brothers and sisters and our husbands and wives.

My sisters and I along with our brother from Alaska stayed the night in Provo and attended Church with our Father the next day. His belief in God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been the major influence in his life and it was wonderful to be with him on Sunday and worship with him.

We did SURPRISE Dad with a unique gift -- a special book that my sisters and I developed with stories from most of our family members telling about "Prayers Answered" in our lives. It's very inspiring to read and Dad has read it more than once.

It was AWESOME for me to be able to CELEBRATE the Birthday of my Dad and Ken in the same day!!! In fact, my Father was very supportive of our Top Secret Adventure and gave me the first donation of seven dollars and then he did seven miles on his treadmill, 10 minutes at a time, because he has lost so much of his physical strength.

The celebration for my Dad also added to Ken's celebration, as he drove to Provo to Dad's Celebration with our daughters, Kara and Amy, and had a wonderful time talking to them -- it's a two hour drive. Amy was leaving early the next morning and Kara left early on Monday morning, so he enjoyed visiting more with them.

On Sunday afternoon as Ken and I drove home, we had lots of time for me to share more with him about the Top Secret Adventure, telling him all about the people in China and America who had participated. He was so pleased to raise so much money for the SUNSHINE Project. On his Birthday (October 26th) we were flying to Las Vegas to attend a memorial service for one of his special friends who died two days before the FUN RUN. On the plane I gave him the special notebook that I had compiled all the letters, birthday wishes and pictures from the participants ... he spent the whole flight reading the material and said ... "What a great event!!!"

We both hope that it does not end here --- let's all continue to walk-jog-run to maintain good physical fitness!!!

KEEP SMILING and MOVE IT!!!

The Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving

America was founded by men and women who came to these shores lifting eyes toward heaven.

In England four hundred years ago there lived a group of people we now call the Pilgrims. Their lives were not happy because they were not allowed to worship God the way they chose. When they tried to pray in their own way, they were thrown into prison or driven from their homes and jobs.

Finally, in 1620, they could bear it no longer.

Leaving all they loved behind, they boarded a small ship called the Mayflower and ventured out to sea. Perhaps they could practice their faith in that vast, far-off wilderness called America.

For two long hard months the Pilgrims crossed the stormy Atlantic Ocean. The Mayflower pitched and shook. Its beams groaned and its sides leaked. Men, women, and children grew ill. But at last they arrived in the New World.

They came ashore, fell on their knees, and thanked God for bringing them across the wide and furious waters. At once they began the business of founding their colony. First they built a large house for common use. Then they built smaller houses for each family. They named the village New Plymouth after the city in England from which they had set sail.

It was the heart of winter, and Plymouth Colony was in for a harsh, cruel beginning. The Pilgrims shivered in freezing winds and driving rains as they struggled to build their huts. The earth froze hard. Food was scarce - every night they wondered if there would be enough to eat the next day. And always they knew the Indians were watching. They heard their whoops and calls through the woods and

saw smoke rising from their fires.

Then came the sickness. Many of the Pilgrims grew

weak from lack of food and warmth. They lay in their beds, coughing and gasping for breath. Some-times only a handful of settlers were well enough to cook and care for all the sick. Half of the people died that long first winter. As the living buried their dead, they prayed and wondered if coming to America had not been a tragic mistake. But

still they, placed their faith in God.

Winter passed. The icy earth softened. One March day, as the settlers stared in wonder, a lone Indian strolled calmly into Plymouth, raised his hand, and

“Welcome!" In broken English he told the Pilgrims his name was Samoset. He had learned their lang-uage from English fishermen who had visited the shores of the New World. He told them that the Indians who lived nearby were called the Wampanoags and were ruled by a wise chief

named Massasoit.

A few days later Massasoit himself strode into Plymouth village with several of his braves. The Pilgrims spread a rug on the floor of an unfinished house and invited their visitors to sit. They ate and drank and talked together. They promised to live as neighbors and signed a treaty that kept the peace between the two peoples for many years.

Massasoit brought with him an Indian named

Squanto, who spoke English. The settlers were amazed to hear this man's story. He had once been kidnapped by a sea captain and taken to Europe to be sold as a slave. Making his way to London, he had lived several years in the Pilgrims' own homeland before sailing back to the New World with English

explorers.

It was Squanto who now stayed with the Pilgrims and helped them learn how to live in this strange, wild land. He showed them how to plant corn. He taught them how to fish, and catch eels in the rivers, and dig in the mud for clams. He taught them how to hunt for deer in the forests. He showed them which berries were good to eat and which ones would make them sick. If not for Squanto's wisdom and aid, the little Plymouth colony may well have vanished.

Summer came. In the warm weather the Pilgrims grew stronger. With stout hearts they went to work in their fields and gardens. God blessed the land with sunshine and showers. The men and women of Plymouth watched the crops push up through the soil and prayed, for they knew they could not make it through the next winter without a good harvest.

The growing season passed and the days grew shorter. Fruit ripened. The pumpkins swelled orange and round. Autumn came in a blaze of glory, dressing the forests in gold and red and brown. The Pilgrims gathered the harvest, stored their food, and prepared themselves for the long, cold months that lay ahead.

They had much to be thankful for. The corn had grown well. The rivers and woods teemed with fish and game. The little houses were finished and ready for winter. The settlers had recovered their health and strength, and they had all good things in plenty.

It was time to celebrate the harvest and thank God for the blessings He had bestowed upon them. The Pilgrims sent a message to the Indians, inviting them to join a feast. Then they set about preparing. The men went into the fields and forests to hunt ducks, geese, and turkeys. The women stood beside the fires kneading, slicing, and roasting. The settlers set up long tables outside and placed rough benches beside them.

King Massasoit arrived with ninety of his braves. They brought five deer, their gift to the feast. Then the Pilgrims and Indians shared the bounty of the land. They ate fish and wildfowl and venison. From the bay there were clams, scallops, and oysters. From the forests came nuts and berries, and from the gardens came carrots, turnips, and onions. They feasted on stewed pumpkin, corn cakes, and bowls of chowder.

They celebrated with games as well. The settlers and

Indians held shooting contests with both guns and bows. The young men challenged each other in foot races and wrestling matches. The Englishmen did jigs for the Indians, and the Indians in turn showed off their own dances.

For three days the feast continued. The Pilgrims knew well that more days of trial and hardship lay ahead. But for now, they rejoiced together over the gifts they had received. They thanked God for bringing them across the stormy ocean and seeing them through the long, harsh winter. They thanked Him for the bountiful fruits of their labor. They gave thanks for their Indian friends. And they gave

thanks for this new land, where they could worship as they pleased.

Every year we in America remember that long-ago feast called the First Thanksgiving. On the fourth Thursday of each November, we rejoice that friends and loved ones have gathered safely together. We celebrate the fruits of our labor. We recall that throughout our nation's past, our ancestors risked their lives so we might be free. We bow our heads in thanks for all the bounty of this land and for the many blessings we have received.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ever since this First American Thanksgiving celebration and feast, Americans would celebrate something like this during the fall. In different states it was observed at different times.

Then, on October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, signed a Proclamation, asking the American people to observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving for the victories and blessings of the year.

The Proclamation begins: “The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added . . .

“In the midst of a civil war of unequal magnitude and severity . . . peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict.”

So from this time forward Americans have celebrated THANKSGIVING on the last Thursday of November (now the fourth Thursday of November). Family members and friends gather together to enjoy each other and give thanks to God for all the things he has blessed them with.

LIVE IN THANKSGIVING DAILY . . .

.

Think for a moment of someone you know who is truly happy. We’ve all met people who seem to radiate happiness. They seem to smile more than others; they laugh more and just being around them makes us happier as well.

One quality that seems to be found in every happy person I know is the attitude of GRATITUDE. Gratitude is a mark of a person of good character. These kinds of people tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable.

A great American Church leaders once said, “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love over-powers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to develop a thankful attitude toward God and man!”

I believe that many people are unhappy because they have not learned to be grateful. Some carry the burden of bitterness and resentfulness for many years. Some pass their days as though suffering a deep sadness they cannot name. Others are unhappy because life didn’t turn out the way they thought it would. If only we look around us, there are a thousand reasons for us not to be happy . . . if we focus on the things we don’t have, the more unhappy and more resentful we become.

However, one thing is for certain, happiness does not depend on the amount of money, fame, or power a person has. These outside conditions do not necessarily make a person happy. THOSE WHO LIVE WITH A GRATEFUL HEART ARE USUALLY AMONG THE WORLD’S HAPPIEST PEOPLE AND THEY MAKE OTHERS HAPPY AS WELL.

We develop a “grateful heart” by being “thankful” everyday for the good things in our lives. This habit will enrich our lives and the lives of those we love. Here are three suggestions to help us “Live in Thanksgiving Daily”:

OPEN YOUR EYES: Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote, “The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.”

“Our minds have a marvelous capacity to notice the unusual. However, the opposite is true as well: The more often we see the things around us—even the beautiful and wonderful things—the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted (“take for granted” is an idiom which means to ignore or not recognize) the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds and even the people we love. Because we see these things so often, we see them less and less.” When we open our eyes and give thanks for all the beautiful things in our life, we are “living Thanksgiving daily.”

The second thing we can do is OPEN OUR HEARTS. We must let go of the negative emotions that bind our hearts and instead fill our souls with love, faith and thanksgiving.

Anger, resentment, and bitterness hurt or cut down the growth of our soul or character. “Would you bathe in impure water? Then why do we bathe our souls with negative and bitter thoughts and feelings.?

“Forgive others who have offended you. Don’t waste another moment feeling self-pity. Every day drain from your heart the feelings of resentment, rage, and defeat that do nothing but discourage and destroy. FILL YOUR HEART with love and those things that encourage and inspire.

The third thing we can do to live in thanksgiving daily is OPEN OUR ARMS. One of the best ways we show our gratitude is by blessing the lives of those around us. When was the last time you told someone you love how much he or she means to you? When was the last time you expressed your gratitude to someone who has always been there for you, someone who has sacrificed for you, someone whose heart has always been filled with hopes and dreams for you? When was the last time you unselfishly reached out to help another in need.

Every time we cheer another’s heart, every time we help someone in need, every time we lift a weary hand, we show our gratitude. The blessings that come from opening our arms to others are among the choicest this earth has to offer. When we serve and help others, we are most happy - - a Chinese student told of using his time at noon to get some things to help his girlfriend. There was no time for a nap, but he felt so good that he was not tried during the afternoon classes.

As we OPEN OUR EYES, HEARTS AND ARMS, our step will become a little lighter, our smile will become a little brighter and the darkness that sometimes broods over our lives will become a little lighter.

Be grateful. Every day is a new opportunity for us to be grateful and happy. One of the great leaders of our time, who I respect and admire, Gordon B. Hinkley, has said, “My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we ‘accentuate the positive.’ I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort.”

Don’t wait to start. Open your eyes, open your hearts, and open your arms. I promise that as you do so, you will feel greater joy and happiness. Your life will have a new level of meaning.

Remember these BE ATTITUDES: BE THANKFUL . . . . BE GRATEFUL . . . . BE HAPPY!! That’s how we LIVE IN THANKSGIVING EVERY DAY!

WORLD KINDNESS DAY!!!!

November 13th was World Kindness Day all around the globe. To encourage my Grandchildren to join people around the world on this day and commit random acts of kindness, I sent them the following famous story (Aesop Fable) to read and learn about KINDNESS:

There are many simple ways to celebrate World Kindness Day. Read the list below. Choose one thing you could do. Draw a picture or write a sentence about the action you pick.

* Be generous with your smile!

* Give 10 hugs in one day!

* Start a conversation with a new student or someone who looks lonely.

* Smile at people who look sad.

* Write a nice note to someone.

WHAT IS THE LONGEST WORD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE???? __________________________ (The answer is SMILE, because there is a "mile" between the first and last letter.)

KEEP SMILING and always have a happy song in your HEART ... it's so easy to be KIND to others when you are feeling happy yourself.

TOP SECRET MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Dearest Friends ...

Sorry to have been silent for so long, but I've been away from home and was unable to post things on my blog until I returned to my home in Logan, Utah.

Our TOP SECRET ADVENTURE was a great success! As I've reported, we SURPRISED Ken/Smiley the morning of September 21st at the Logan River Golf Course and about 25 people (family and friends) began our RUN together ... most finished the 7 miles that day ending at our home (Ft. Smiley) on 700 North.

All 120 students, teachers and workers at the Chinese school, which changed it's name to Gao Chun Special School, because they now have 38 mentally disabled students along with the 55 deaf students, participated in SMILEY's FUN RUN on Saturday, October 28th. A report of this event from Weina Hua, a Nanjing University professor and one of the leaders of the SUNSHINE PROJECT, who traveled to the school that day and participated in the event with the children, follows this article.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to all the participants from the Gao Chun Special School as in five weeks they have walked/jogged 2884 miles and together with their special guests jogged 150 miles during their FUN RUN!!!!

We have more than reached our GOAL of 7,000 total miles in seven weeks.

American Team: 3850 miles

Chinese Team: 4550 miles

TOTAL MILES FOR THE PROJECT = 8,400*

*We'll have more miles to add to the project when Richard and JoAn Criddle report the miles that the people in their Church were doing on their FUN RUN, October 28th. When I get that, I'll update this report.

It has been fun and heart warming to see the different ways that people got their miles: My 86 year old father contributed 7 miles by walking on a treadmill 10 minutes at a time; a friend on a cruise walked around and the deck counting the laps, which totally 24 miles; some families and couples worked as teams; one friend organized her family and friends into a team they called, "The Striders" and they did 1,465 miles for the American team; our son's dog, Pingle, walked/jogged over 60 miles with me; many of our Chinese friends "jogged" to work and others walked or climbed mountains, beaches and even ancient city walls!

Donations are still coming in from both China and America, but at this time we have almost $3000 American dollars. When the American dollars are exchanged for RMB or yuan and added to the yuan collected in China, there be more than 24,000 RMB. That amount of money is VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT in China and will really "make a difference" in the lives of so many special Chinese students.

THANKS to all who participated --- there were over 200 people involved! ... it's always amazing to see what can happen when people work together!!! MANY, MANY THANKS!!!

It was really GREAT to surprise Ken -- he did not know a thing about the project until that morning at the golf course. Here are his feelings expressed in a letter to our family:

Dear Family,

How do I express my soul to each of you for the "Smiley Spectacular" you all pulled off last Saturday? Please know that your love touched my heart and soul more than I can express.

Becky, thank you for doing it the "right" way...If it must be done it was so gratifying to know that those daef children at Gao Chun will benefit. With that in mind it's not so bad turning SEVENTY!!

Speaking of "seventy" the only parts of me that feel like seventy are my heels!! But I can still play hoops and golf!

Amy, McKay and Kara, you are so kind to make the trip. (Amy and McKay flew in from AZ and Kara from Boston). K.C. and Holly, thank you for doing your "miles." (in Las Vegas) Brady, Jason and Missy thank you for your help. You just got caught being 'handy' for Becky's 'plans!! Scott thank you for your support in so many ways.

"A day to remember" for sure and I'm very humbled and grateful that each of you would support Becky in this celebration. I won'd mind if you do it again in TEN YEARS!!!

Sincere love to each...a lot of love was expressed and that's the important results...

Ken, Dad, Pappy, Smiley, Move It

Our challenge to all of you now is to continue to MOVE IT -- walk, jog, run, bike, swim, whatever you like to do to stay healthy, fit and active your whole life!! And with your "moving it" .... KEEP

SMILING!!!!

Sincere THANKS and LOVE,

Miss Becky

SMILEY's FUN RUN at Gao Chun Special School

On Saturday, October 28th, some of the SUNSHINE Project leaders and students from Nanjing University traveled to the Gao Chun Special School to help the children with SMILEY's FUN RUN that day.

Hua Weina, Nanjing University teacher and one of the leaders of the Sunshine Project, along with Yang Hui and two of her deaf classmates (I love their SMILES!!!!) who have already graduated from this school and are now attending college in Nanjing. Yang Hui was one of the oldest children at the Gao Chun school when the SUNSHINE Project was started. She returned that day to visit with her friends, see the new campus and to participate in SMILEY's FUN RUN!!!!

Weina Hua, sent the following report and pictures:

"IT IS A WONDERFUL DAY. The Gao Chun Special School (the school changed its name since there are altogether 38 mental disabled students and 55 deaf students) has a new campus. It is much bigger and good in teaching and living condition. More teachers now in school.

"All the kids took part in the Smiley's Fun Run and had running games after the line running. The school had sound now with the mental-disabled students shouting 'Come on!' The kids were very happy today. And they were even happier to have the prizes with candy, balloon, toys, bouncing ball, and so on from Becky and JoAn."

The school in YELLOW today!

The youngest students are off and RUNNING!!!!!

Jin Jian (Jane), Sunshine Project leader from NJU leads the way as everyone "runs"!!!

Some of the children needed help in the running.

After the line running, there were running games! (I LOVE the sign!!!)

Jane plays the game!!! Look at the SMILES!!!

Here comes Weina ... she's a good player too!!

Here the children open their prize bags of smiley-faced toys, candy, pencils, balloons, etc.

Weina says, "The kids sent gifts to US grandparents, most of which are picture with greetings. Among them a box from a boy with four chocoletes. It would be no surprise if it came from our students. But it is from a boarding school deaf boy, who maybe thought it is very valuable and he sent to grandpa across the ocean and hope he would have a fully recovery (they all know that Ken had a heart attack before). And another box with 4 paper folded cranes also meaning fully recover soon. And some students wrote English meaning Missing You." (The Director, Teachers and Students of this school have always shown such great appreciation for what we have been able to contribute to their school.)

Eating lunch in the new dinning hall --- much nicer and so light! Weina reports, "There is some space in the school to plant vegetables

for their lunch. It is also very good!"

Yang Hui communicates with the students in sign language.

Weina ends her report with these special words about the teachers at the Gao Chun Special School: "We are much moved by the teachers' work. These teachers are really the contributers to the kids, especially those who are responcible to the mentally disordered kids. I couldn't explain very well in English, but I should say they are greater than us university teachers." The characters painted on the walls at the school show the spirit of the teachers and leaders there:

Body Disabled Gives You Special Potentials

Special Education Helps You Have A Unique Life

I'm sure the teachers at the Gao Chun Special School are most wonderful and dedicated to their students. BUT all of you leaders of the Sunshine Project are excellent teachers too and give so much of yourself not only to your students but to the students at Gao Chun. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your work and effort in making SMILEY's FUN RUN such a special experience for everyone at Gao Chun Special School. TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER -- Working together we can really accomplish WONDERFUL things!!!

SMILEY'S FUN RUN -- Logan, Utah - October 21, 2006

TOP SECRET ADVENTURE REVEALED . . .

On Friday, the day before the BIG SURPRISE, Ken was assigned to officiate a high school football game, a long way from our home. That was really good because Ken left town early in the afternoon and did not return home until late that night, allowing family members to gather in Logan to prepare for the event. Our daughter Kara flew in from Boston that day and daughter, Amy and her son, McKay flew in from Arizona. McKay was so excited about coming that he called to tell me that he was about to get on the airplane, but Pappy (Ken) answered the phone. McKay asked to talk to Nana (that's me) and Pappy told him that I was in Provo and to call my cell phone. When Ken asked McKay how come he was calling in the middle of the day, shouldn't he be in school -- McKay made up some story that he was on his way to school late that day because of a Pep Rally or something. Often McKay will call and talk to us as they are driving somewhere, so Ken was not suspicious AND Ken later said he really didn't understand what he was saying about a "pep rally" ... but then he often does not understand the grandchildren when they are talking on the phone.

The morning of October 21, 2006 a layer of fog lay on the floor of Cache Valley where Logan, Utah is located ... the valley is surrounded with mountains. The fog was due to the cold temperatures and the mositure in the air, as it had rained all day and most of the night before our FUN RUN.

The layer of fog covered the lower part of the valley that included the Golf Course where we intended to start the RUN. This picture shows the Temple, a special landmark in our city. It is in the middle of our town, on a hill so you can see it from all points in the valley. Our RUN took us past the Temple, which is over a 100 years old. The Temple is a very special place for us and four of our five children were born in a hospital that was located just across the street from this place at the time. That hospital was removed when a new one was built about 20 years ago.

Here is Lindsay, a niece; daughter, Kara, my sister, Dianne (mother of ten children); Emilee, niece, Katie, niece holding her baby and son, Brady. These three nieces are all Dianne's daughters. We are gathering at the Golf Course for the start of the RUN ... the fog still in the air and you can how cold it was.

The sun arrived before Ken did, but you can still see the fog coming off the water areas and the frost on the grass in the shadow of the Club House. It became a beautiful fall day in our valley as the sun touched the earth the frost melted quickly and the fog was gone so we started SMILEY's FUN RUN in the warmth of SUNSHINE --- so fitting for the SUNSHINE to come out as we "ran" for the SUNSHINE Project!

A friend picked Ken up following a basketball meeting and drove him to the Golf Course. We were all waiting in the parking lot and Ken just stared at all of us, wondering what is the world we were doing. I came and opened the door of the car inviting him to get out. He was surprised to see me as he thought that I was in Provo at my Dad's home.

At first all he saw was a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY sign and lots of people singing Happy Birthday to him -- there were four of our five children, a daughter-in-law, four of our eight grandchildren, Pingle, our dog, several nieces and cousins from Salt Lake City, my two sisters from Colorado and California, one brother-in-law and several friends and neighbors. At first he was a little embarrassed, because he does not like to draw a lot of attention to himself, but when I told him about SMILEY'S FUN RUN to not only celebrate his 70th birthday, but to raise funds for the Sunshine Project, he was really pleased and touched.

Ken starts SMILING and LAUGHING as he realizes what is happening. Here he hugs our daughter, Kara, who flew in from Boston the day before. Ken had returned her phone call the night before and Kara had thought it was a friend calling her and when he asked where she was, she answer she was in Utah!!! Realizing her mistake, she quickly said something like she couldn't hear him well, her phone had a bad connection, so she would call him back. She waited a while and called him and told him that she had taken some medication that had made her confused and she was not feeling well, so she would talk to him the next day. Ken believed what she said because he knew that she was suffering some bad backpain and was seeing a doctor about it. When Ken saw her that morning, he said, "So you really were in Utah!" That is why she is laughing so hard and he SMILED as he began to understand it all!!!

We gave Ken a shirt and here he is with Richard Criddle, his golfing buddy, who had brought him to the Golf Course. Richard had his jacket zipped up covering his FUN RUN shirt when he picked up Ken.

Here's Ken with the Birthday sign we made for him and it was the first thing he saw with all the people at the Golf Course. McKay and Baylor, our two oldest grandchildren, are helping to hold up the sign.

Turning the Birthday sign around, we see the FUN RUN sign we made the night before. McKay and Baylor are still the sign holders, while Ken/Smiley talks to our daughter, Kara and our son, Jason who had been at the basketball meeting that morning earlier with Ken. Jason left the meeting called us to let us know the meeting was over and our friend went to get Ken, as he had asked Ken to help him with a project that morning and had told him he would pick him up after the meeting. Then Richard drove Ken to the Golf Course!!!

The FUN RUN begins on the Golf Course Road with the children leading the way. Pingle, our dog is really pulling Kayla, a niece, along. After we got to the first corner, we rolled up the sign, as Baylor and McKay wanted to "run" ... the rest of us "walked and talked" and had a great time.

The course of the FUN RUN to covered seven miles ... Starting at Ken's favorite Golf Course, where he LOVES to play golf and "hunt" for lost balls, to finish at Ft Smiley, the name Ken gave our HOME some years ago!!! Our FUN RUN would take us pass most of the special places in Logan where we and our family had spent time and had many special memories of.

We first passed a park where Ken and our children had played ball games, then a small Zoo, where a bull elk was bellowing and charged us, but ran into a fence before he reached us. You can see the fence was just before this row of trees!! It was exciting for the children, they loved seeing such a big animal so close.

Our son, K.C. and his family who live in Las Vegas did the FUN RUN there that morning, shirts and prizes for the children had been sent ahead of time.

As we were "walking" along K.C. called my cell phone from Las Vegas to report that he had completed his miles that morning -- K.C. and his wife, Holly, each completed 70 miles for our project. Ken/Smiley talked to him on the cell phone as we walked and told him how surprised he was -- he had no idea about what we had been doing. OUR TOP SECRET MISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED!!!

While K.C. ran his wife took their little girls, Allie (1 1/2 years old) and Savanah (four-years-old) to the park where Savanah rode her bike and Holly pushed Allie in the stroller getting some more "miles" for our project.

The Las Vegas Mitchells had finished their FUN RUN before we had completed the first mile of our's in Logan. In this way ALL of our children and grandchildren participated in SMILEY's FUN RUN...that was REALLY special to Ken!

Our walk took us pass many interesting places and several different friends along the way including these horses:

Two of our granddaughters who love "horese" and are taking horse riding lessons and had to stop and pet the horses.

We walked pass the Logan High School Football field where our sons played high school football and Ken has officiated many football games, including several Little League games (for younger boys) just two Saturdays earlier. This is the school where Ken currently coaches basketball. Then into the center of our town we stopped for some water and snacks.

We did not have time to stop at Ken's favorite bakery, which he finds hard to pass on his way home from golfing!!!

This building, the Tabernacle, is located on the Main street in the middle of our town. It is a special place where all our children were baptized and we have attended many church, community meetings and concerts there.

We had "walked" for over two miles, when my sisters and their children turned around, returned to the Golf Course to get their cars and headed to Provo for a Birthday Celebration for my Dad that day.

It had really warmed up and we were enjoying a beautiful fall day.

Many of the streets are lined with trees in our city and it was fun to walk in the leaves that had fallen on the sidewalks.

Our two oldest grandsons along with our daughter Amy were "running" most of the route and way out ahead of the rest of us. The two grandsons wanted to "win". I had already told Baylor when he asked what the "winner" would get, that everyone in the FUN RUN was a "winner." Everyone who finished the SEVEN miles were winners!!! That was a really big challenge for the children. All the grandchildren received a bag of "smiley-faced" toys, pencils, notebook, candy, etc. when they finished, just like all the children at the Gao Chun school will receive when they finished their FUN RUN the next Saturday on October 28th.

The Three Mile marker was right in front of the Temple and then we continued walking pass Adams School, the elementary school that all our children attended, which had been built the same year that Ken was born! Up that street led us to the foot of Aggie Hill, the top of that hill is the campus of Utah State University.

This is the "Aggie Hill" ... the letter "A" is on the top of the tower on Old Main (the main administration building on campus -- President's office is in this building as well as teaching classrooms.) The small building on the left-hand side of the picture is the "Media Services Building" where Ken's first office was when he was hired at Utah State University to be the Sports Information Director.

We "walked" across the campus, pass all the buildings that Ken had worked and played in ....

This is the Field House, which has an indoor track, basketball and tennis courts, fitness and weight-lifting equipment, etc. This is where Ken would play basketball at noon most days when he was working at USU ... the group he plays with call themselves the NBA -- Noon Basketbal Association. Even after retirement, Ken returns at noon to play "hoops" at least three days a week.

This is the USU Football Stadium. Ken's job included serving all the media or press people at the football games -- notice the "Press Box" at the top of the bleachers -- that was where the press/media people would sit, broadcast the games from and Ken would see that all their needs were met. This location was the FIVE MILE Mark in our FUN RUN. Our daughter, Kara, rode in a car because of the pain she could not walk ... she would meet us at each MILE marker and give each child a "smiley-faced" sticker for each mile they did.

We headed for the Finish Line (Ft. Smiley) and passed our first home when we moved to Logan.

When we moved to Logan we only had one child and this small home was just right. It was located on 600 North. After the birth of two more children, we needed more room and moved to a larger home just a couple of blocks away on 700 North. That is the home we have lived in ever since.

Our son, Jason pulled a red wagon giving the children turns to ride and take a little rest. Ken talked with some friends who were not able to come to Logan for the event.

Pingle, the dog, in her shirt, completed the whole seven miles, walking at the end with Ken.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED --- The Finish Line . . . Ft. Smiley ... 149 East 700 North ...

Baylor and McKay were the first to arrive, with Amy very close to them. It worked out well, as Amy is preparing to "run" in a race in Las Vegas in December, so she really wanted to "run" more than "walk", so she stayed with the boys. They were sooooo excited to have been first -- a tie -- they jumped up and down and wer giving each other "high fives", my neighbor reported who was waiting and watching for us to come. She helped put out the water, fruit and muffins for people to eat when they arrived. Some neighbors and friends stopped by to see us along the way and others came to our home giving us donations for the Sunshine Project.

Here are the GRANDKIDS: (from left to right: Jake, Baylor, Kayla, Gwen, Britt and McKay) celebrating their accomplishment -- note the "smiley-faced" stickers they got at each of the mile markers. These were my special "Secret Agents" in our Top Secret Adventure ... they all did some training miles to prepare, helped me make the signs, blow up the balloons, prepare the shirts for shipping, and more AND kept it a SECRET from Pappy-Ken-Smiley!!! After the race I paid them eacn $1.00 for every mile they had completed, including the 7 done that day. Each of them put some of their money in the donation box for the SUNSHINE Project.

It was truly a wonderful project for our family and we did have lots of FUN!!! That afternoon, Britt said, "I want to have a FUN RUN for my Birthday." When I asked her how many miles she wanted to do for her FUN RUN, she replied, "Nine. Because I'll be nine years old." I hope that they will all continue to be Active and Healthy and Fit because it will all so much Happiness and Joy to their lives! That is also my hope for all the children at the Gao Chun Special School.

A special THANKS to EVERYONE who helped us accomplish our Top Secret Mission -- over 200 people participated and no one gave it away -- MANY, MANY THANKS. Ken/Smiley was completely SURPRISED and TOUCHED that so many people in China and America participated. As we "walked" along on the FUN RUN I told him about each of you and what you had contributed. I'm making a special "Birthday" book for him with your pictures and information. The thing that made him most happy was being able to help the special children in China that we both love!

SMILEY's FUN RUN in Logan was a WONDERFUL, SUNNY DAY, full of LOVE and JOY; FAMILY and FRIENDS that will remain in our HEARTS forever.

Share a little SUNSHINE!

The purpose of The SUNSHINE Project is to bring SUNSHINE (light, warmth, happiness, hope and love) into the lives of deaf and disabled Chinese students by sharing our friendship, love and resources to help them gain education and training to become positive, happy, contributing members of society.

The SUNSHINE Project was started with the efforts of Nanjing University teachers and students, member's of Miss Becky's NJU 4-H Club and BYU Teachers; Richard and JoAn Criddle, and Ken and Becky Mitchell.

How we bring SUNSHINE to students of the Gao Chun Long Xiao School:

1. Provide money to pay the tuition and/or boarding fees for students whose parents can not afford to pay.

2. Purchase needed teaching equipment, such as scanners and printers for their computers, projectors to use in the classroom, provide Internet service, buy milk for all the children's morning snack and started a library of books for the children to use outside the classroom.

3. Nanjing University teachers and students will carry out a variety of fieldtrips and activities at the school with the children, sharing love, fun and friendship giving them experience with the outside world. Each semester at least one activity day is planned and carried out at the school. This fall, SMILEY's FUN RUN at the school will be that activity day. T-shirts for each child have been sent AND a bag of "smiley-faced" toys, candy, balloons and other surprises will be given to each child when they complete the RUN that day!

Here are the Teacher and Students Leaders of The SUNSHINE Project, from Nanjing University.

From Left to Right, Back row: Gao Fenghua; Jin Jian - the treasurer; Zhou Ying (Candice) student leader; and Weina Hua. Front row: Li Xin (Bola) student leader; Miss Becky and Jing Hong Yang. Picture taken at a planning lunch/meeting before we visited the School in the Spring of 2004.

These wonderful Chinese leaders have kept the Project going and growing since Ken and Becky Mitchell AND Richard and JoAn Criddle, BYU Teachers in Nanjing, returned to America, after working together to get the Project started.

Here is JoAn Criddle with some of the younger children the first day we visited the Gao Chun School. Richard and JoAn have continued to contribute money and support the project, just as Ken and I have, since we returned, because we know how important it is to these special children.

Richard and JoAn have been a great help in the Top Secret Adventure -- I could not have surprised Ken as we did without their help -- in fact it was Richard who brought Ken to the golf course where we started our FUN RUN. Richard and JoAn also sponsored a FUN RUN for the people in their Church to raise money for the Sunshine Project AND to promote good health and fitness!!! They are also the leaders of a great project where they take donated eye glasses to third world countries, conduct educational clinics and give glasses to those needing them... I'll tell you more about that project later on my blog.

The SUNSHINE Project is a project of LOVE. One who visits that school can really feel LOVE there. The director, teachers and workers REALLY LOVE the children and work hard to serve them well. The children LOVE being at the school where they have friends, can learn and have fun. On the wall of the school is this symbol.

This is the painting on one of the walls at the Gao Chun School. In Sign Language this hand sign says "I Love You". This symbol was on the back of the t-shirt that we used for the FUN RUN. I hope it will always remind us of the importance of LOVE.

Thank you for the LOVE you have shown by your participation in the Top Secret Adventure:

1. LOVE for the students and teachers at the Gao Chun Special School ...

2. LOVE for Ken/Smiley and giving him a Birthday surprise, never to be forgotten ...

3. LOVE for your own health and fitness

Your LOVE has added warmth and SUNSHINE to the world --- YOU have made a Difference!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Miss Becky

P.S. "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

KEEP SMILING AND HAVE A HAPPY DAY!!!!

WALKING -- JOGGING -- HIKING!!!!

Walking is very enjoyable exercise and is not only good for your physical body, but good for you mentally and emotionally as well.

I LOVE walking, jogging and hiking during the autumn time of the year. I've been able to do around 180 miles in the seven weeks of preparation for SMILEY's FUN RUN. I LOVE being outdoors and the fall time of the year is so beautiful in Logan, Utah. Here are a few pictures so you can see what it's like in my hometown during the fall time when the leaves begin to turn into pretty autumn colors.

This tree is right in front of our house, which Ken calls "Fort Smiley".

This is the same tree from the street side, our house is behind the tree. Some parts of our home are covered with natural wood, but most of it is "yellow." When we purchased our home, many years ago, it was a gray color. We chose to paint the house "yellow" because it is such a "happy" color. Ft. Smiley will be the finish line of SMILEY's FUN RUN here in Logan, Utah.

This is the tree lined, street we live on (700 North). I like to walk up toward the mountains. Utah State University in located at the top of the hill. The mountains in the background are not far away. We live in a valley, meaning that it is surrounded by mountains. Logan is located very close to the mountains on the east side of the valley. It only take about 5 minutes by car to arrive in the mountains.

It's FUN to walk through the fallen leaves. My grandchildren love to play in the leaves. Last week they raked all the fallen leaves in the neighbor's yards and brought them to our front lawn so they could make a huge pile of leaves to "play" in.

Since August, I've spent a few days each week at my father's home in Provo, Utah helping him. His home is also very close to the mountains.

When I'm at his home in Provo, I like to drive about five minutes to the mouth of Rock Canyon pictured here ... it's a great place to hike.

The trail can be very rocky in places, but it the rocks and trees are beautiful and and the trail is a steady incline so you get a good workout.

Rock Canyon is a good name for this place -- see all the rocks on the trail. The fall leaves add to the beauty of the season.

It fills my heart with JOY and makes me SMILE everyday to live in and enjoy such a beautiful world. I LOVE the mountains and University campuses, as I've lived near them both all my life!!!!