George and I attended an Ayyam-i-Ha party in Purdy. It was full to brimming with families, children, and the teachers from the 'Leaves of One Tree' Baha'i School. The school meets twice a month, with an enrollment of about 25 children.
We brought one of the students, Venita, pictured here with her mom and 4 day old baby brother. 
We were greeted by the owner of the home, Tahirih, and her father Jack, pictured here with several of the young students. Tahirih had the home built so that children's classes could occur in her home. She has three levels to the new home, an upper top floor for youth, the main floor for Ruhi adult classes, and the lower level for children. Tahirih is a teacher who now home-schools her own children. All three levels of the home provide nooks and crannies, for books and projects, for music and the arts, for birdwatching and stargazing. 
When George took Venita to the class a few weeks ago, he said, "you've just got to see this environ- ment, Bonita. " He described the rustic wood interior on the main level, with a big fireplace and a wonderful kitchen. I was determined to visit the class as soon as I could. (Baha'i history link for Tahirih here.)
This is Debbie getting lunch ready. I've known her for 19 years. Debbie took me down into the craft room to show me a few of her 11 grandchildren. That is where all the action was, with children experimenting with watercolors, clay, candle decorating, paperdolls, and an enticement of other projects. 
Stephanie is painting faces. She had girls waiting in line for this event. By the end of the party, many faces looked like clowns, with high arched eyebrows, broad smiles and rosy cheeks.
This little guy needed some help getting his hands cleaned. Several teachers supervised the shaping, painting, and glazing of the clay objects. There is a kiln in a corner of the room for firing the clay. A long wall held samples of all the projects.
A pensive young face. I especially like the light defining the contours of her cheek. It looks so incredibly soft. But, I should have sat down by her, to see just what was causing such an expression.Two of the teachers took me around the room and showed me the children's projects, work-books with their photographs on the front, and inside were their prayers, projects, and artwork.
An entire wall is movable with sliding doors, so that all supplies are behind the wall on shelves, and out of sight. They slid one of the doors, so I could see how everything was organized. Crayons, paints, paper, tons of materials were carefully lining the shelves. I sat with a cup of coffee after I filmed this event (video), and enjoyed watching the comaraderie, the fun all the kids were having. It brought back many memories of my own children growing up with similar experiences - the virtues program, with all the leaves on a tree having a different virtue written on them: Patience, trustworthiness, cheerfulness, truthfulness, optimism... one of the teachers came by and we discussed the tree.
She said, "You won't find pessimism, cynicism, skepticism, or the like on this tree." We all know those conditions are part of the fabric of humanity, too, to some degree. I enjoyed my coffee, and the visiting, and thought that this world would be a better place if we could hold onto the sweetness of childhood.
