at...Me & My House

Catching Up or Continuing On?

2012-02-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

One thing I have learned and continue to practice as I get older is the art of resiliency. I always have to keep trying. I rarely set my motion and just keep going in the same direction consistently for 5 or 6 years. I usually do well for a season then I get side tracked. So I have learned to think of my resiliency as a mark of consistency. I loved doing my blog, so I want to keep trying. So here it goes again. Catching Up or Continuing On : Whatever you want to call it!!

Finally - Back in the Saddle

2011-10-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

It all started with losing my camera while visiting Audrey in the Spring. All of my interest in blogging came to a sudden halt. It took me so long to finally buy me another camera, and then when I did... I just wasn't in the habit anymore of doing the Blog. So here I am finally stepping back into my Blog World and sharing what's happening here at the Poulsen home.
This summer was fast as usual, but exciting and fun in so many ways. We worked and worked and worked on many projects and in our garden, but we also had some break time for fun, family and a tour with the Tab Choir and Orchestra. Just recently we had a little grandchild born into our home. Little Sterling came into the world on the 15th of September. He was pretty much fine and dandy except for the main arteries in his heart had got switched up somehow. He gave us all a little scare at the beginning but he just wanted us to see how tuff he was by pulling through the surgery and recovery like a Trooper Cooper. He is so precious and just a beautiful baby.
We feel so very blessed in our lives as we begin to approach the season of Thanksgiving. We are grateful beyond measure for our family and loved ones. They are a joy to us and we love each one so very much!

A Hesitant Hope

2011-03-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

Well it's beautiful outside today! Spring has sprung, or has it? I feel like singing, skipping and going for a walk in this beauty; sun shining and the air crisp but warming to the soul. Yesterday was a mixture of foggy, cold, snowy and gloomy. At the end of the day I was confused. Well, as you can see I'm hoping for Spring. But you never know what will happen in this unpredictable climate here in Utah. I'm still not used to this conflict between winter hanging on and spring wanting so bad to arrive, at least in my heart. I'm excited at least for today and that's great! And on those days that shut out the sun I just "kick up heels and say, "The Sun will come out tomorrow, Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, they'll be sun. Just thinkin about tomorrow, clears away the cobwebs and the sorrows, till there's none. " How's that for breaking out into singing ! This hesitant hope for spring is doing my heart good!!

A Fun Trip to San Antonio

2011-03-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

I was able to make a quick trip to San Antonio in March to see Dorothy. We had a really good time. One of the fun things we were able to do was go and see the Broadway Musical "Wicked" together. It was performed in an old Theatre in downtown San Antonio, very ornate and beautiful with balconies that tier above on the second floor that look like they come out of a European Opera House. The atmosphere was just great. Of course she is always the perfect hostess and we did a lot of other fun things as well. One of the things I really enjoyed was getting to go to the San Antonio temple to help clean. It is a beautiful temple with a Texan flair. I really loved it and was happy to share in beautifying it by keeping it cleaned. Dorothy's mom did such a fun thing for me ... she made me an apron. What a delight it was to meet her. She reminded me of my own Grandma Annie Fancher.

A Golden Nugget of Thought from President Monson

2011-03-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes we let our thoughts of tomorrow take up too much of today. Daydreaming of the past and longing for the future may provide comfort but will not take the place of living in the present. This is the day of our opportunity, and we must grasp it."

--Thomas S. Monson, "Treasure of Eternal Value", Liahona, Apr. 2008, 2–7

Recording: The Recording Session

2011-02-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

It is really important to me to use this Blog to share the real things that are happening in my life. We all wake up each day with a new adventure before us; some are unplanned events that catch us off our guard like my pipes busting, and some are scheduled events that we have purposely put in our life because we feel they have special value. Being in the Orchestra at Temple Square and performing with the Choir is a purposeful part of my life right now. This is a time and a season for me to be involved with something that will survive and move forward with or without me, but just because I was lucky enough to become a part of this amazing organization, I now enjoy the adventures that this calling provides.
So what is a recording session you might ask? It's easy enough to give a quick answer, but if you haven't experienced it before it might be a worthy topic for me to spend some time on.

Well.... it's Friday and Seth and I will be showing up along with all other Choir and Orchestra members to begin recording at 6:45 pm. The session will go from that time until 10:00 pm or thereabouts. Last night we didn't even get in our cars to start heading home until 10:35 pm . We had just finished recording "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven. We were all excited and exuberant even though we were tired. This piece just makes you feel that way.
Sit with me a minute and I'll review last night's session. : I'm sitting in stand #5 , 3rd row back from the principal 2nds. Stephanie is my stand partner. We arrive and sit down ready for an evening of recording. Our first piece to record for the evening is: "Wonder" a fun original composition by Matt Wilberg featuring a 4 hands piano part , orchestra and the Choir. It's written in a buoyant happy, modern style that sounds a bit Broadway. Moving from 7/8 to 5/8 time there are probably, I'm guessing at least 30 or more measures before our part will be needed. Quiet in the hall, all telephones off - "completely" not even on vibrate!! Of course all the usual formalities are observed; welcome from Scott Woodbury because President Mack was out of town, a wisecrack about how he hasn't left us to serve as President of the Vienna Boy's Choir, prayer, tuning and we are ready to begin. Many of us place a book in our laps and begin to read because it will be some time before we will be needed.

Back to Wonder............ very rhythmic and happy this piece shares the delight and wonder of all the stages of life, from being born, to being a child, growing to maturity and then becoming old. I am sitting close to the big 10 ft grand piano. Brother Elliot and his wife are playing the four hands and clipping it off without missing a beat. The usual pattern of recording consists of taking a few measures of music and laying down the track, then stopping and consulting with the sound booth to see what they are hearing. Once Mack knows what the concerns are in the sound booth he proceeds to work with the Choir to fix whatever problems there are. The idea being to get the most perfect and flawless performance possible. It is always fun to watch Mack work with the Choir. He has some typical concerns that always seem to be at the forefront: pitch, pitch, and more pitch. He speaks about getting the placement of vowels right because that is what influences pitch the most; and when he talks of placement, he always mentions the "upper shelf". Another big bugaboo about getting pitch in the right place is singing without vibrato. Most of the time when he is talking about that he is referring to the sopranos. It is quite fun to see him demonstrate by using his hands ... swimming them around like a fish in water ... you can see the way vibrato just messes with the consistent pitch that is needed. In talking to the men it's always about getting away from the sound called "profundo". It's really important to lighten up the sound or the pitch will sag, or the quality of sound will be too heavy for what he wants to hear. On the Beethoven it was especially important to say the German words with a lot of diction. The power of the message was enhanced with a strong emphasis on diction and getting the energy up. We all really loved playing the Beethoven. It provides a lot of activity for the Orchestra and so we felt like we were being featured almost as much as the Choir. The other piece that we worked on Thursday was a piece that was used for the movie "Henry the Fifth" called "Non Nobis Domino which means "Not to us, O Lord, but to your Name give the Glory." The movie depicts the battle of Agincourt between the French and the English (part of the 100 year conflict.) The English are greatly outnumbered by the French, it's like 20,000 French soldiers to about 7,000 English. In the end the English win the conflict. As they walk off the battlefield they sing this song, giving the praise and glory to God. It's a beautiful piece written for the men's section of the Choir. Using a Latin hymn text, the tenors begin with one voice and in a stately processional style that begins as though it is coming from a far distant place. This one voice sound builds by adding more voices and swells to a beautiful triumphal finish. Like I said before all of this is happening in small sections. Usually it takes from 10 to possibly 15 takes before you move from one section to another. It is painstaking but carefully crafted to insure that they have at least 2 to 3 good possible takes before moving on. In the end... as you can imagine, it's like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. All the elements are there it's just piecing them together.

We all try to make the most of our time while we are there. Just listening can be enjoyable to some extent but the continual going back and forth especially when you are not playing requires some other diversions to keep you awake. That is why many bring books to read while they are waiting. Emily is always good for something fun to do. She brought us a word puzzle this year where you find all the words scrambled and locate them in the maze. It helped me keep alert on the last day. Of course... after we finish up a piece Mack does give us as much as 7 to 8 minutes of break. Once we even had a 12 minute break but he is a stickler for not wasting time. A couple of times he mentioned being so anxious about some of the sounds that he feels like his heart is racing and he's concerned that he may have a heart attack. We of course usually have our Dr. Price around or Jeff Anderson who are both heart specialists. So many talented and capable people in the group.

Seth and I have dealt with a few personal concerns, Sitting for long stretches of time really aggravates my sciatica and Seth has been feeling a little under the weather with a cold, but by and large we have held up pretty well despite getting to bed at around midnight each night and then up early. I really think the Lord blesses you a lot. Many others there are also dealing with aches and pains of every kind. What an amazing group of people!!

I will never forget how on Saturday at the very end of the day the women's voices began to sound like angels. Mack kept saying how beautiful it sounded and was very complimentary. The piece that was being recorded was Psalm 148 by Gustav Holst. The melody that was being used was the one we commonly hear in Church from the hymn "All creatures of our God and King". The words are absolutely beautiful, expressing the highest feelings of praise and adoration to our Lord and Savior. As the Choir performed this piece I couldn't help but think that angels truly were joining in their voices and lifting the performance to the highest level of exultation. It truly reflected the joy we all felt as we finalized this offering of our talents to the Lord for the furtherance of His work upon the earth. This sweet spirit continued to carry over on Sunday morning and for me it was a spiritual feast of beauty as we once again worked very hard to create a new CD. Mack mentioned that they are thinking of giving the new CD the title of "Gory".

A Foxy Feature / Audrey's new rug

2011-02-24T07:16:00.000-08:00

what's cool about it is she bought it at Overstock.com for $165 and only paid $1.00 shipping.

Gathering .....

2011-02-21T10:03:00.000-08:00

For me it is always hard to just start a story from the beginning. It almost seems like you have to set the stage and reflect upon how the events all fit into the abundant life you are trying to create. At Christmas time for example, our narrator suggested that all stories really begin in the middle. As I have thought about that from time to time, I have come to believe that it is really true. And so let me set the stage....
Now that I'm in the middle of my life, as I look back it appears that life just whizzes by from toddlers to teens, from marriage to motherhood, from family all around to the empty nest stage... and then quick as a wink time changes and your full life, brim with activity stops for awhile and you wonder where you are? But that's ok... because it is only giving you time for reflection and for rediscovery. As you deal with all of this and wander a little in puzzlement, you see a glimpse of what it's all about when the family gathers.
Look for a moment at the pictures below and feel the pulse of life all around and then your questioning moves into understanding, and understanding to gratitude, and wrap it all up and you have happiness and love. Few people really understand that "FAMILY" is God's code word for the abundant and happy life not only in the here and now, but in the world to come. Those who do are the lucky ones. No wonder the Lord puts such a huge emphasis on gathering His people. And doesn't it feel good knowing that you always have a place to belong; to be loved and to be needed? As for me and my house.... I'm so grateful for my family!!!

Lauren having fun at Grandma's house

2011-02-21T09:41:00.001-08:00

Lauren and her Mom and Dad came to visit this weekend. We always have such a good time. She is at that stage where she's always full of energy... at least most of the time. This weekend she was pure joy. We played and played hide and seek and she was just tickled beyond silly. She posed with Grandma's glasses and enjoyed being outside for awhile. This morning she thought it might be really fun to pull all the kleenexes out of the box and throw them around: (too bad I didn't take a picture). However, she did have a little bit of a down day at "Jungle Jims"on Saturday though. She was just too tired, and didn't have the energy to get in the mood for all the rides and fun activities. Sometimes our timing can be a little off. For me it was sad to see them leave this morning. The house is quiet now... I can clean up the dis-order, but I miss the squeals. I'm so grateful they came for a short visit.

Good News!

2011-02-17T12:12:00.001-08:00

Seth was out on his own for the first time today. He was a bit nervous, since he's been letting the more experienced agents do the work and he's been sitting by soaking it in and learning. He stayed late last night making sure he had all of his forms and everything that would be needed to do business. So he heads out this morning pretty anxious, but excited at the same time. It was a happy moment when around 11:30 today I get a phone call from Seth to hear the "good news" that he had already made a sale for the day. Congratulations Dear, You are the best! So excited for you...

Those Were the Days! -

2011-02-17T08:37:00.001-08:00

Remember the days we used to work so hard to decorate the gym and make it just perfect for a Prom, Young Women's Evening in Excellence, or a big Stake Valentine's event? I have thought in recent years that those days were coming to a close. The effort is just too mammoth! Well, I have a couple of friends that seem to have the energy and strength to still pull it off. Featured here is "An Evening in Paris" by Kaylma Rohrer from Midway, Utah. Coming up soon will be pictures from Amanda Funk's wedding in San Antonio, Texas. Her mom Dorothy, is a very special friend that does everything with flair. So talented! Both of these sisters are dear friends of mine and have so very much talent and zest for life. ..... Kaylma, is stylin with her fur, such a pretty lady!!
Kaylma and Warren.... you look fabulous!!!
PS Thanks for sharing your talentos maravillosos with .... Me and My House

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-12T15:47:00.000-08:00

Every year the seasons roll around and life provides us with enough holidays to keep us wrestling with our food addictions and our appetite for more excitement. I wonder what our ancestors did without all of this hub bub? I really think in my most adult self that all of these "special days" are a bit much... but then again I can't think of anything cuter than little cherubs and pretty valentines to share with family. I get sucked into it because in a way it's delightful. I think the men in our lives would rather delete many of these special days but when they are married to us women, what can they do, but give in? This year I sent out boxes to little Lauren and family; Joy, Demi and Owen and family and of course Christian. Then I couldn't forget granny and James... and for sure not my sweetheart... so everyone got remembered in my household. I tried to stay conservative, opting for happy and fun instead of expensive. Mom and I made valentine cookies together; that was fun, (even though I'm terrible at cookie decorating). And then I decided to spend some time ironing my husbands shirts for an expression of my love. (Actually that's becoming a weekly activity now that he's a professional). And......... a few other little things that I will not mention here, since it isn't February the 14th yet. But then again, I doubt my husband or children will be checking my Blog so I'm more than likely safe. But most of all... I love all of you bunches, and I'm glad that someone decided to create these pretty little hearts and lacy valentines. You must admit they really are sweet!

Latest Pics of Owen

2011-02-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

Franklin's nickname for Owen is "O Dog" . He says that Owen smiles a lot now and in recent days is even sleeping longer at nights. They are grateful for that. How fast he is growing.

Time Out With the Choir and Orchestra in Sunny St. George

2011-02-07T09:14:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful time this weekend with the Choir and Orchestra as we made our way to St George to perform for the 100th Anniversary of Dixie College and the 150th Birthday Party for the city of St. George. Barry always does such a spectacular job at preparing the accommodations, food, etc. and so we ate way too much and my system feels a little bloated. The traveling is a bit tiring but the time went by so fast. We had a couple of sisters that sat in front of us on the bus from the Choir, Joan Yarrington and Nola Child. They were delightful to talk with and I truly felt in the course of the weekend that I was supposed to learn from these two dear sisters. I came away from this association with a renewed desire to do my best and proceed forward in life with faith.
Seth and I enjoyed being together. It was beautiful in St. George and that was a nice treat from the cold in our area. We all were thrilled to be in the sun and enjoy it's warmth.
The Choir did a marvelous job. One of my favorite pieces was "Song of Democracy" written by Howard Hanson. The text was taken from the words of Walt Whitman. It was a stirring piece and very enjoyable to play. Jackie Coleman was my stand partner for the tour and I enjoyed her fun and enthusiastic spirit. She has recently become acquainted with a young man that is studying architecture. He is presently doing an internship in Washington DC. She was raised in the DC area and so it makes for a fun correspondence with her new friend. She couldn't stop talking about him. It was good to see her so excited. She has had a rough emotional year and so her smiles made me happy for her. The audience was enthralled with the performance of Alex Boye who sang "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me". and also "Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham." He truly engages the audience and is a fantastic performer. We all truly enjoy the contribution he makes and sit enthralled as well when he sing; because he comes right from the soul.
A highlight was our Sunday services held in the old St. George Tabernacle, where Lorenzo Snow taught the early saints about the importance of keeping the law of tithing during a time of great drought. It was wonderful to be there in that old historic building. The talks that were given were uplifting and strengthening. We were truly blessed. I'm so grateful we were able to go.

Emily: Tugging at my Heartstrings....

2011-02-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

Emily plays in the second violin section of The Orchestra at Temple Square. She is fun, and happy; cheers people on and has a wonderful attitude and spirit about her.

I read your post today Emily. It was a bit sad. The clock winding down for that special segment of our lives when we get to wake up everyday and know just exactly what we are supposed to do. I was up at 6:00 am each morning I put the breakfast together for my sweet family. I always tried to do something a bit different each day. Boxed cereal was not the norm. After breakfast we gathered the family around for scripture study and prayer. Before we turned the lights out and finished the day: we once again gathered around the couch and shared some time together with the Lord. This daily ritual seemed to be the glue that held me together. It seemed to provide peace and a sense of progression with those special people in my life that I loved the most. I knew who I was. I was trying to be the kind of a Mom that was building something to last forever. Childhood days were fun and happy for the most part. There was lots to do: concerts and games to watch, scouting activities to plan for, Christmases that were special, and WORK that was a must!! Daily chores simply must be a part of the routine as well. My children thought that's all I knew, but in reality I was just trying to get them to learn that all of us have duties and we must be responsible and perform them, and to the best of our ability I might add. If they wouldn't have resisted; I'm sure it would have been much easier and accomplished without half the emotion and sometimes stress. Life goes on... the children grew, I must say; the teenage years were rather turbulent. I wasn't as laid back and fun as you appear to be Emily, but I was quite determined to be the best Mom I could be and I prayed over my little flock with great faith and zeal. I made it through the rocky times and lived to see my children move forward, progress and do amazing things. My boys all served missions and made me proud. My daughter, well, she is a powerhouse of strength and talent. She can do anything! I have been simply awestruck with what they can do and the strength that is within them.
But one day... the clock winds down. Pretty soon you wake up and wonder: what am I supposed to do now? Maybe for some the answer comes quite readily. Maybe some Mom's have been gloriously awaiting that day when they can pursue some goal that they had postponed when family came. For me: I suddenly didn't even know who I was! On top of that, I was going through that weird season of a woman's life they call; "the change". So for a few years now my identity has been a bit foggy! But time passes on and one day you're a Grandma. Well, that's an identity word, you think? I held on to that one for dear life. Sweet little children once again come into your life. It's not the same as motherhood, it doesn't seem as personally directed to you, but it's real and it feels good. Everyone knows that Grandma's are very special! I'm happier now and doing quite fine. You move along and struggle, but you discover that there are "things to do, promises to keep, and miles to go before you sleep". Your life is still very needed! There's a lot of adjusting but in the end you never really put yourself back together. You just keep creating; you have new things to do in the building of that wonderful family that will last forever.

Poulsen Pipe Disaster: right here at... Me and My House

2011-02-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

As you all know the temperatures up here have been extremely low. Yesterday especially was almost more than you could stand because of the wind chill factor. I was supposed to take Mom to a Dr's appointment, but when I woke up to the howling of wind I called her and told her we better cancel the appointment for today. It was a good thing. When I went out to check on her, I could hardly keep the car in the road because the wind was so strong.
Well today, I was out and about early because I had a dentist appointment. Afterwards I went by the store and got a few things and then I went over to visit with Mom. I was there a couple of hours and then headed home. I was planning to take a short nap and then do my housework and dinner. However, when I arrived at the house I was greeted by the gushing of water from the downstairs ceiling. I knew the house sounded like a tub was overflowing when I hit the door. As my family can verify; I at first become a bit panicky when I am faced with a surprise attack of any kind. I couldn't get Dad on the phone, and so I tried to collect myself. I finally figured out how to turn the water off... called the fire department to stop by and assess the situation, and received the gracious help of Debra Eaves a neighbor across the street to help me get as much water out of the room as I could with the use of shop vacs. Seth didn't call any too soon so I took it upon myself to get a plumber here to fix the pipes. By the time he got the message and was headed home, the water was back on.
So ... as you can see. We are now up to our ears in a new project. Furniture from downstairs is all crammed in my upstairs family area. All the carpet pad is up, and wet carpet is sprawled out everywhere. James came in the door all smiles and assessed the situation by saying: "Oh well, it keeps life interesting!"

My Three Little Poulsen's / Latest Pics from Frank

2011-02-02T19:58:00.001-08:00

Aren't these three little munchkins just darling. I just love it how Owen is beginning to have his own little personality. When they are tiny babies it's hard to connect with them. Now he has his eyes open a lot more and he's such a doll. Fits right in with the family.

Owen Christian Poulsen's Blessing Day

2011-01-30T17:52:00.000-08:00

Today was Owen's special day! What a beautiful sight to see your sons and husband with other righteous priesthood holders standing together in a circle; united to give a small infant a name and a blessing. Franklin did a wonderful job and the sweet spirit of the Lord attended. We were so grateful to be able to spend time with Franklin and Sara and their beautiful family. Afterwards we all shared a meal together. We had haystacks, fruit and cookies for dessert. It was yummy.
Owen had relatives from the Poulsen family as well as Sara's family attending. Included in the picture below are: Sara's grandmother Althea, her Aunt Liz, her brother Chris and Renae, Sara's sister Brianne, Dad and I, Christian, James and of course Sara, Frank, Joy, Demi and little Owen. It was a wonderful day!! Just for remembrance sake: Owen was wearing the little outfit that Grandma Poulsen made for Frank when he was blessed. The blanket was also crocheted by Grandma Poulsen.

Enjoying the Spoken Word with my boys

2011-01-30T17:47:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I have participated with the orchestra at Temple Square. The problem with my ribs and my Mom's needs seemed to necessitate a small break that was needed. Next week I begin again and we have a tour that we will be doing on the weekend to St. George. I really enjoyed being there this morning with my boys. We were heading down south afterward for our little Owen's baby blessing. So we linked up with Seth so we could all go down together.

Life's little unexpected detours .....

2011-01-25T10:38:00.001-08:00

Today I started my day out early so I could take Mom to her Dr's appointment. I wasn't really quite mentally ready for what I saw when I left the house and got out into my car. Immediately when the garage door opened I was greeted by flurries of snow falling rather rapidly, but softly to the earth. I made my way over to help with Mom and had a wonderful morning with her; first at her Dr's appointment, then the bank and finally a trip to Costco. For being her first day out and about since her pneumonia, it was quite an adventure to say the least. I had planned on taking her for lunch afterward, but she was pooped and cold so I dropped her off, took her things in and headed home. Snow sometimes puts you in a day dreamy mode and so i wasn't paying enough attention and accidentally took the wrong exit for getting off at Farmington. I was a bit put out with myself for a minute until I looked up and saw such beauty around me. I decided to settle in and enjoy the detour. It didn't take long before I wanted to capture a few things on camera but I realized people were in back of me and sudden stopping in the snow would never work. So what you see here is from the car window. It was a little detour that wanted to stop for a picture.

Home Again.... on the street where I live

Congratulations Seth !!

2011-01-20T13:43:00.000-08:00

Seth has been studying the past week to take the Life and Health Insurance Test with the State of Utah. He will be starting a new job working in a company called American Senior Benefits this coming Monday. He really thinks he will enjoy working with the elderly. The market of those 65 and over is growing fast because of all the baby boomers coming into their retirement years. Once he decided that was the route he was going to take... he just put himself to the task of studying and in just a few days... he's accomplished what would take some people weeks to do. He passed the exam today with an overall score of 86%. You are amazing dear! Great Job!

Trees right next to Mom's Condo

2011-01-20T13:32:00.000-08:00

Trees right next to Mom's house that flank the field between her Condo and the factories. Once I was just going over to visit with her and I saw this... I thought it was beautiful!

2011-01-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

Mom was such a sweetheart. Her last couple of months have been very hard for her. She's been sick pretty much non-stop since Thanksgiving, but a few months back she decided she was going to make some tea towels for her kids. All of us got a set. All of them were embroidered by hand and she did an awesome job. As you can imagine, when you don't feel well, she really had to push to get them finished for Christmas. I'm amazed at the tenacity she has to accomplish something once she sets her mind to it. We all love our Tea Towels and are grateful to have this gift that represents so much sacrifice and caring.
Thanks MOM we love you.

.... how the year is flying

2011-01-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it is already the 17th of the month. Where has the time gone? Here are some pics of our visit to Midway. The little town sits in such a beautiful pastoral setting. One really nice thing. When you get into the Park City area... the sky is blue and clear and the pollution is gone. It was foggy in Midway but no mucky inversion like you see here on the Wasatch Front.

Kaylma and Warren in their home. She had just served us a warm lovely meal that she had put together. It was yummy. Especially the raspberry pear pie.

Our Newest Pics of Little Lauren

2011-01-16T17:29:00.000-08:00

Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

2011-01-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

Like I said, I'm trying to improve the quality of my cooking. Seth and I are needing to go low fat these days and so this recipe came up while I was searching for ways to use cabbage:

1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 sticks of celery cut up
1 zuccini
about half of a cabbage shredded up
raw cashews (unsalted)
soy sauce
1 cup of brown rice

Optional Ingredients:
frozen peas and corn
snow peas
Herbs (basil, oregano, parsley)
4 chicken thighs
1 stick of celery
1 onion
1 clove of garlic

Directions:
cut up one onion and a stick of celery. Place into a large soup pot with some water. This will be to cook up your chicken and afterwards will be saved as a broth to make chicken soup. Do not discard Bring to boil and cook chicken. Remove from pan and let chicken cool down
Meanwhile at the same time cook up 1 cup of rice. 1/2 cup of rice to 1 cup of water and a little salt. Bring to boil then turn down on low and simmer for about 20 minutes. It will make 1 cup of rice. If you want to use this time to cook up more rice to be used at a later date that's great too.
( so now you have the chicken ready to go and the rice. ) Shred up your chicken when it cools down and have ready to mix in with the stir fry.

Cut up the onion, carrots, zucchini and garlic and stir fry in wok with a little olive oil. Be sure to cook until the onions are not crunchy or else your stir fry will taste of mainly onions.
Then add your peas/corn and celery into the mix. I use a half of bag of frozen peas and corn. Stir fry for a little while then add the cabbage. Then when the cabbage is beginning to get pretty done add the chicken and rice and soy sauce. Remember you can use any of the herbs you like as well. When you serve be sure and add the cashews to only the portion you serve up. If you have remaining stir fry... the cashews do not do well if you keep them in the mix overnight. Cashews should be a fresh and crunchy tasting part of the meal.

Enjoy. Will last for two meals for a group of 4

mom went back home today.....

2011-01-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

Grandma packed her bags and left us today. She was anxious to be back in her own little house. I called her tonight and she seems very happy and snug in her chair wrapped up in her blanket watching Lawerence Welk. She was missing the sounds of her cuckoo clock and the train going by early in the morning. We will miss her. I will be stopping by to check on her regularly in the coming weeks.

Tuna Cakes

2011-01-15T21:29:00.001-08:00

So I'm trying to work on my cooking and learn some new recipes for the new year. Here's one I've tried recently:

2 can (6 oz. each) light tuna in water
1 pkg (6 oz) Stove Top stuffing mix for chicken
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese ( I used shredded carrot (
3/4 cup water
1 stalk of celery cut into very small thin pieces
3 T minced onion (I added this, because I love onion in almost everything)
1/3 Cup mayonnaise
2 Tb sweet pickle relish

Mix all ingredients:
Heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat
Use ice cream scoop to add approx. 1/3 cup portions to the heated skillet
Flatten into patties with a spatula. Cook 3 minutes on each side .

Makes approximately 16 to 20 patties Wonderful to eat with a salad and some fruit.

Grandma's Tidbits - Thinking of Little Owen

2011-01-14T16:27:00.001-08:00

We are all so excited to have Owen in our lives. Babies bring their own special spirit into the world and once they are here we can't imagine how we ever lived our lives without them. I've had a chance to see Frank and Sara a few times now since Owen was born and each time they have a few words to say about how little sleep they are getting these days. Last weekend on Franklin's birthday they mentioned that the night before they were up every hour on the hour with their little one. They actually did look a bit exhausted. I thought of the many hours that parents sacrifice for their children. Obviously, much of what they do goes unnoticed and unrecognized by the very little ones they do it for. Today I was talking to Frank and asked about our little Owen. " So is he sleeping a little better, I asked"? Franklin responded that he was doing a little better but that there was still a lot of room for improvement. I loved his positive approach to the question. How grateful I am for families. Children truly bring new life and value into the world. They strengthen our love and commitment to one another. They affirm the goodness of life and give all of us opportunities to share in the giving and receiving of love - the love we give to them and the joy they bring to all of us. What a marvelous plan. I truly hope that I will remain faithful and committed to this wonderful plan of happiness that the Lord has designed for all us. I know that families are truly central to the Lord's eternal plan of happiness for His children. How grateful I am for my wonderful family and for the little ones that are strengthening us and increasing our joy.
PS. It's kind of funny though. When we are around little Owen he seems to be sleeping quite nicely.

Mom and I Sick Together

2011-01-13T17:28:00.000-08:00

Updating Christmas Memories 2010

2011-01-13T17:02:00.000-08:00

This year Christmas was fast and furious and almost too much for me. The Christmas Concert was held the week before Christmas and we had guests here visiting us during that week from AZ. My sister came and Audrey's inlaws were here. We had a great time but I was huffing and puffing to keep up. Hopefully they enjoyed themselves regardless of my own deficiencies. The Concert was beautiful and most everyone that comes has such a marvelous time watching it that it makes up for everything else. So this is a picture of Mom and I with Marsha, and Dad and I leaving to go to our Christmas Banquet with the Choir.

My Daughter/ at Living Foxy

2011-01-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

I had no idea 30 some years ago that I was birthing a gorgeous and beautiful girl that would be absolutely "Foxy" . In case you are wondering if I'm prejudiced... just take a look at her Blog at Living Foxy.com and decide for yourself. She's all about helping others put together just the right look, as in fashion or in home decor. Check it out.

Happy New Year - It Doesn't Hurt to Smile !!

2011-01-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Life is a bit hectic right now. It seems to me that the stress that surrounded all the activities I had going in December have left me a bit ragged and unprepared for the newness of a New Year. We certainly can't predict when someone will get sick in our lives or even when we will have some illnesses to contend with ourselves. So today I'm sitting here in my computer room and am looking at a bunch of papers that are strewn all over the desk. I look in my family room and there are still Christmas boxes to put away and cleaning to be done. My laundry basket is full and there's really not much I can do about it. Poor me, I've had a hitch in the ribs get me down! Let me explain:
I have been so grateful that Mom can be here with me and that I can watch over her. But I was quite taken aback last week when a turn of events really caught me off guard. I was experiencing some pain in my neck and thought to myself that maybe I ought to try out a new Chiropractor that had been referred to me by a friend at Christmas time. I already think my present Chiropractor is great but my thinking was that I could go a couple of times and see how this other guy did and if I liked him better then I could maybe make a change. His rates were less and money is a big deal for us right now. Well it only took one adjustment for me to see that he will never do. Nothing short of a moment in time, a quick jerk, and a crunch, crunch, and pop my ribs were out!! I told him I really felt something move, and it wasn't comfortable. He assured me that he had just put my ribs back into place. Ha Ha!! I think he meant out of place. So my experiment with Chiropractors was to be short lived. I have been in pain ever since!! It hurts to breathe, cough, sneeze, lift anything at all and to turn over in bed is torture. There isn't hardly one thing I can do (including type on the keyboard here) that allows me to be pain free. So I'm back to my trusted Chiropractor and he's wondering what I did to myself. ( I don't have much to say. ) But I am so frustrated to think that right now, when I want to be a strength and support to my Mom; here I am dealing with my own pain. This is not supposed to be happening. The only thing I can do is do the best I can and move forward with a smile - (Oh that's one thing that doesn't affect my ribs - Great! I better take advantage of that movement) So... the New Year has begun regardless if I'm ready for it. No breath taking strides forward... just keeping on keeping on. And regardless of the pain of it all...

... Life is good, It doesn't hurt to smile!!

Having Mom With Me

2011-01-11T18:49:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone. I had a breather on the Sunday after Christmas and then on Monday we knew we had to finally find out what was going on with Mom. She had already been taking antibiotics for what we thought was a sinus infection. The Doctor ( her primary care Dr. Freestone) had put her on a 2nd round because the first didn't do the trick. Now here we were at Christmas and she was on a completely new antibiotic. Poor thing. She came and enjoyed a few hours with us on Christmas morning but she wasn't well at all and it was all she could do to be with us. Now all of our activities were over and it was past time for us to buckle down and figure out what was wrong with Mom. She was able to set an appointment for Tuesday morning at 9:00. We went in to see Dr. Stock her allergy Doctor. He could see that she was suffering and decided that he better take an x-ray of her sinuses to see if they were still the problem. They were clear. So he sent us up to the hospital to run some tests. To make a long story short... she was dealing with a bad case of pneumonia. Her left lung was filled with a liter of fluid. She was admitted that day and stayed in all week. She was released to my care on Saturday. She's been here with me now for a solid week and going into the 2nd week. She is doing better but still very weak. I am so grateful that I can be here to watch over her. She is a wonderful lady and we are so grateful for her in our lives. Hopefully we can keep her health up and strong throughout the coming weeks with all this gunk in the air from the inversions. We will have to be very careful with her.
PS She has won every game of pinochle that she has played with us during this time. Looks like no matter how weak she is - her mind is still pretty sharp.

Our Fun and Wacky Christmas/ 2010

2010-12-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

We were so blessed to have everyone home for Christmas this year. Our smaller house seemed a bit cramped to me, but it was cozy and we all had such a wonderful time. Mom wasn't feeling too well and so we didn't have her with us until Christmas morning. We had a fun time in the snow Christmas afternoon with the little ones. We all had a great time and the time just flew by. One special treat was having Audrey and Andy and Lauren as well as James and Christian join us for Church.

We have always enjoyed our Christmas Eve programs throughout the years. When the children were little we had them dress up and depict the wondrous scene of the birth of the infant Jesus Christ. With a seeming spontaneity and recognition of the importance of this event, our children gathered together of themselves and depicted this beautiful experience once again, using adults and the children. Demi was Mary, Joy was the Angel, Lauren was little Joseph and of course the baby Jesus was our little Owen. The older children were shepherds and wise men. I was strengthened in this experience to know that our children believe in the story of the birth of Christ. Their testimonies were evident in this simple and evident expression of their faith. It was a beautiful evening.

Just Look at our Little School Girl

2010-11-20T21:40:00.001-08:00

Our little Joy is really growing up. She is the first grand daughter to begin her school experience. She is doing Kindergarten this year. It is amazing to see her progressing in her life. She is smart, capable and fun loving. She is our little drama queen. Ever since she was very little she has been so good at pretending and acting out parts from musicals that she has seen. We sure love her and think she is precious.

In Case You're Wondering If Dad Had a Life?

2010-11-13T08:46:00.000-08:00

So fun to look back and see Dad from this youthful perspective. Someone was around taking pictures. Audrey your love of taking pictures will bring even more joy someday as you reminisce with family and friends. Thanks to Debbie Clonts Lane or her mother we have these treasured takes of Dad. Too Fun!

Our cute little family for an overnight stay

2010-11-11T12:14:00.001-08:00

Our cute little family when they came to stay last week. I think I was downstairs on the couch sleeping. They all left me conked out down there. *pictures by Lena

The Gift of Today

2010-11-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

Well today I'm not going to put any pictures in. I just want to express my gratitude for a special Sabbath Day. It is always such a blessing for all of us when we live a day in such a way that life just seems right. You seem to notice that even the outward surroundings are in harmony with what is inside your soul and you just feel a sense of peace. I suppose there are many things that come together on a day like today. Maybe it helped that I was fasting. Or maybe it was because I just felt at peace talking to the Lord and believing that all would be well regardless of our circumstances. Maybe it's because I enjoyed being at church and hearing from others and their experiences with the Lord. And then maybe it's because I was able to bake some pumpkin pies and prepare one for Seth to take to our daughter on his way to AZ. (Mom's love to do for family) It's more likely that all of these things together contributed to the feelings of joy and peace and serenity. But, be that as it may. I am grateful - especially for family and for my caring and loving friends. And most of all I'm grateful for the Lord and His kindness to me and for knowing that He lives and loves me. Today was a day when that knowledge seemed real and strengthening to me. It isn't hard to believe on a day like today. Deep inside your soul you just know that God is real and that life has meaning. You just seem to soak it all in and just BE. And so as I watch the beautiful autumn world around, with all it's gorgeous reds, oranges and golds. As I see the leaves falling to the ground, leaving the branches bare. As I feel the nip in the air and sense that winter is coming soon. As I come to the close of day and feel that this moment in time is slipping away and soon I will lay my head down and rest. I want to express with all my heart Gratitude for Today - because it was a gift that I would like to remember.

De Ja Vu - Little L or Audrey?

2010-11-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

Looks like a picture that was taken yeas ago of Audrey. Couldn't resist putting this one on my Blog

Audrey, Andy and Little L

2010-10-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

Here's some Halloween pictures from Family.... Oh so cute.

Halloween's a Comin !

2010-10-26T07:33:00.001-07:00

Family Home Evening: Carving Pumpkins

Someone's getting ready for Halloween. She's a sweet cat!

2010-10-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Two Nights of Performing on Temple Square

2010-10-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been busy to say the least. I finalized two weeks of rehearsals and practicing with the Orchestra at Temple Square. We performed this Friday and and Saturday and I was blessed to have my Mom attend with Seth on Friday to watch and support me in the performance that night. Saturday night Frank and Sara came as well as james and it was good to have them. The pics below are from the two performance nights. Friday with Granny and I ... and then on Saturday frank took this fantastic picture of the moon just to the side of the temple spires. It was a beautiful night.

Our little girls in Provo on Primary Program Day

2010-10-25T08:06:00.001-07:00

We had such a fun time Sunday being with our little girls in Provo. They participated in their Ward's Primary Program, and both were selected to give short messages. Joy later gave a little talk by herself and did so well. She spoke clearly without hardly any help from her Daddy. Seth and I were so proud. Their little Primary did such a good job and the spirit that was there was so sweet and good. Later we went over to Frank and Sara's and shared a meal. It was so good to be with them. Autumn is here and winter is coming on. The day was a bit rainy and cold. Leaves had fallen and covered the walkway into their apartment. The air was crisp and these little student families had their doorways lined with pumpkins. It was such a sweet and happy sight. Sara fixed us such a nice little meal and we enjoyed being with them so much. It is such a blessing to have these wonderful children in our lives. We are so grateful!

Lauren is moving along

2010-10-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Lauren has taken up reading these days... seems a bit odd that she still hasn't figured out how to let go of her binky. Oh well... all things in due time. She needs to get her reading down first.

Garden Clean Up

2010-10-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

So, as I said I'm trying to do the fall clean up for the garden and get it ready for a long winter's nap and then hopefully the flowers will wake up bright and cheery for a joyful Spring Celebration of color. Well, at least that's the idea. My geraniums were so lovely, I decided to dig them up and pot them so I can plant them again in the Spring. Mom came over and helped me last Saturday and it was so fun to do the job of transplanting together. She has always loved flowers and enjoys being in the garden so much. Hopefully it didn't hurt her back too much. The beautiful Rudbeckia below has become a new love. I plan on using it in my Spring garden. I saw this one up in Mendon at a fun nursery there. Anyway... this weekend will be another garden time. I will be planting some bulbs and doing some further clean up of the beds.

Recapturing the Moments

2010-10-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

Life is simply a series of moments that we live. It's amazing when you keep a diary or make a frequent journal entry how full our lives really are. We shouldn't have any cause for boredom when you think of it. Even those occasional down days are probably good so we can rest and regroup for yet more exciting times ahead. As I look back on the last few weeks I marvel at all the happy and joyful experiences I've had. I was able to go to California and visit my sister and see the beauties of the High Sierra Mountain ranges where June Lake is nestled. There are actually many lakes around there and many mountainous regions to explore. We only took in a very small amount of all there was to do there, but it was fun and a new adventure for me and I enjoyed it greatly. When I got back home it was only a short time and Dorothy came to visit and spend a few days. The main emphasis was watching and enjoying Conference together, but we did a few other things as well and just seeing her was a treat. When she left we made a quick trip to Az to spend time with our family. Andy's mother passed on and so it was a time to reflect upon Allene's life and see all the good and to support our dear son-in-law. Back home again and now we are doing the fall cleanup in the garden and I'm practicing away for our Fall Orchestra Concert. (My shoulder and my sciatica has been stressed to the max... but I'm enduring) The Concert will be tonight. So... I'll share a few pics from my experiences. Life is good and I'm enjoying the moments of my journey.

Conference morning with Dorothy

Fun at the Farmers Market

Hiking and enjoying the great outdoors with my sister JoAn

Participated in the Freedom's Light Constitution Days in Bountiful. I always do the Ellis Island

a visit to Tremonton to participate in a Merrill Reunion. Uncle Bill is getting up there.

Spooky Creations by Leslie and Audrey

2010-10-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Audrey and her step mother in law are having a wonderful time using their creativity in putting together a SPOOKY HALLOWEEN party for their family. This project has been in the works now for about a month. They are really going to town with it. So much talent! I wish I could be there to participate and enjoy. Stay tuned for the finished project come HALLOWEEN TIME!

The Price of Peace

2010-09-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

I like to try and keep up with things happening in our Country and around the world and stay informed. Sometimes it is difficult to keep a positive and optimistic attitude when you see all the conflict that is going on everywhere. I find myself praying more frequently for peace to come to this earth. Here is a quote that came through my little nuggets of thought today. I couldn't help but think, "at this rate we may still have a long time waiting", but I know the Lord will have His hand in it and so I hope I can at least be a person of peace.

"The price of peace is righteousness. Men and nations may loudly proclaim, 'Peace, peace,' but there shall be no peace until individuals nurture in their souls those principles of personal purity, integrity, and character which foster the development of peace. Peace cannot be imposed. It must come from the lives and hearts of men. There is no other way."
Ezra Taft Benson

A Tribute to My Friends

2010-09-08T17:31:00.001-07:00

I must have some of the best and most special friends in the World. Just want to express my love and gratitude to all of you. Sincerely, DEB

What did I do to my garden?

2010-09-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

Time for Fall Planting. I took out all of the petunias and the garden looked so bare. I'll be putting in the pansies soon. Hope they grow fast.

Staying Overnight with Grandma and Having Fun!

2010-09-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Too Cute - Wearing Granny's Birthday Gift

2010-08-14T14:17:00.001-07:00

Spending time with Family

2010-08-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

Just returned home from a fun week in AZ... We were able to spend time in PV where we stayed the evening with Brent and Kathy Motierth. We were able to see Pam and her family and Brendon and his little family as well. We also had the fun surprise of seeing Reed and Beck Cooley who came over and shared dinner with us. Brent and Kathy were so hospitable. The next day we ate lunch with Alice and Dave and had a good visit with them. Of course we had a lot of work to do besides but the visits made it really fun and memorable. When we got to gilbert we shared a wonderful meal with Mark and Gretchen, saw my sister Wanda and her friend Bernie, enjoyed lunch with Gary and Corrine, and of course had wonderful time staying with Audrey and Andy and our little grand daughter Lauren. It was a great trip and we got a lot done besides.

Memories of our Home in Prescott Valley

2010-08-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

Seth and I have built a few homes in our life. Our first was in Snowflake, then two in Prescott Valley, and now we're here in Utah where we have renovated a couple more. Our house in PV was the biggest we had built for ourselves and it had a walk out basement. For some reason we have always felt like the next house would be our last one and so we built it to be the place we would live till we died. When we recently spent a night with Kathy and Brent in our home in Prescott Valley, it really tugged at my heart-strings. The trees have all grown so tall and the backyard is perfect now for just relaxing and enjoying family. The garden boxes that Seth built with pecky cedar are a'brim with vegetables and everything just looked wonderful and homey. So many memories there. I couldn't help but feel nostalgic and a bit wishful that I could just turn back the time and slip right back into our home as though I could turn the clock back. That isn't possible so we just move on and look for the next adventure. I think I'm getting too old for starting over.

Lauren's Fun Birthday Party

2010-08-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already been a year and Lauren is now 1 years old. She reminds me so much of her mother at that age. Audrey invited mainly family and just a few friends to celebrate her first birthday. She picked a fairy theme and so the little cousins all came in fairy outfits. It was a fun little party. Lauren just smiled and acted happy. She really responded to a few of her gifts. It was a happy time to share with her. Seth and I enjoyed our time with them.

her little birthday cake... the ceramic little girl on the top was Audrey's

Here she is in her cute little fairy outfit...

FRIENDS ARE THE BEST!!

2010-08-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

I have some wonderful friends that help me keep my life "upbeat". How grateful I am for all of them... just thought I'd share a special quote from Dorothy.

"Don't worry about searching for who you are; focus
your energies on creating the kind of person you want to be!
You will discover that as you pursue that journey you will not
only find yourself, but chances are you will be pleasantly
surprised and proud of the person you find along the way"
Joseph B. Wirthlin

Some Happy News

2010-07-27T19:26:00.000-07:00

Our Frank and Sara and their little family had some great news for us today. Sara just went to the Dr. for this months checkup and they found out they will be having a little boy... sometime in the middle of December. We are all pretty happy around here. This will be great to have our 4th little grand child and our first little grand son. Joy and Demi were so excited!!

A Day at Cherry Hill

2010-07-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

Dad was our photographer so I don't see any pics of him. He was there though. We really had a wonderful time.

We have a place called Cherry Hill not far from our home here in Farmington. I give it a 4 star rating for enjoyment with little children. They apparently used to have a cherry orchard there and so there are lots of lofty trees that keep the area shaded. There is a whole grouping of water activities for adults and children alike. They also have a mini golf, batting cages, and a pie store. It's very cute and well put together and affordable too. Our little Joy and Demi really enjoyed the experience. Joy especially loved the big water slide - she must have gone down it at least 5x with her Dad. All of us spent the day together except for Christian and Grandma. Christian had to work so he wasn't able to come.. we really had a good time.

Getting Organized

2010-07-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

Mom and I worked really hard this past week organizing the storeroom. Most of the cans that have dry pack in them are not in this area, but we can now see where our canned goods are and rotate them. I've been trying to use storage everyday since we did this project. Hopefully we will do a much better job of using what we have now that we can see it. Another step in getting prepared.

This Can Give Us Hope

2010-07-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

Last night I was at a meeting with a Sharon Slater, a woman from AZ who came and spoke with us about "Standing for the Family." She has been actively engaged in recent years at the UN where she has used her influence along with other like minded individuals to ward off the ultra feminist agenda that is being promoted worldwide presently. Some of the things I learned are simply horrendous and should cause great concern among those who value the traditional institution of marriage. We need to be informed and aware and stand up and act in behalf of the family. The influence of one can have a tremendous impact. We can and ought to do something. In reading my little nugget today I did take some comfort in the words of our beloved President Hinckley. I know the Lord will help us in this fight... but we also must do our part as the brethren have counseled us.

I too believe that God will always make a way where there is no way. I believe that if we will walk in obedience to the commandments of God, if we will follow the counsel of the priesthood, he will open a way even where there appears to be no way."

--Gordon B. Hinckley, "If Ye Be Willing and Obedient", Ensign, Jul 1995, 2

A Day With Glenn Beck

2010-07-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

Well today was another busy day. Glenn Beck was in town and so I was at the Energy Solutions Arena from 10:00 in the morning until around 5:00 in the afternoon. It was fun to see Kris Kimball, Dalane England and Diane from the forum. The program revolved around the three concepts of Faith Hope and Charity. Glenn does such a wonderful job of bringing us back to our American roots and understanding the role of God in our Society and His right to rule in the affairs of men. He brought as his guests David Barton, David Buckner, and Judge Napalitano. They all did a fantastic job. A favorite quote from the day's events:

Hope is born of faith.... Grounded in Truth........ and Expressed in Action.

Our Annual Pioneer Day Concert/ Celebrating 100 Years of Recording

2010-07-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

I have had quite a full week. We practiced Tuesday night as well as Thursday night this week and then did our annual Pioneer Day Concert on Friday the 16th. I think Concerts are pretty fun. There is an adrenaline rush you get when you perform that is different than just practicing. These pictures feature some of my fellow 2nd violin partners, Marilyn, Jackie, Blair and Tiffany. To my left I quite often have a cameraman perched on the floor waiting to take a shot. Sometimes they get so close while I'm playing that I have hit them with my bow. This year's Concert celebrated 100 years of recording for the Choir. It was amazing to see how the history of the Choir pretty much parallels the history of the recording industry. It was fun to see the old pictures of the Choirs from the past and technology as it has advanced. Seth and I had a good time participating.

The words of our Prophet in commendation to the service of Choir and Orchestra members throughout the years.

“As I have listened to tonights performance one word has come to mind…wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
We are richly blessed by this magnificent Choir and Orchestra. In their dedicated service they stand shoulder to shoulder with the choirs above in singing the praises of a just God. These are men and women who say their prayers, who serve in their church, who sacrifice.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has inspired innumerable individuals throughout the world. They indeed have sent forth the message, “Hark all ye nations, hear heaven’s voice, Thru every land that all may rejoice.

I like that. I heard that hymn, “Hark All Ye Nations” first sung in Italy years ago. When I went to Germany, I told the Saints that the Italians had a good missionary hymn. They said, “Oh, yes, the Italians stole it from us!” The same hymn is also sung by the Maoris of New Zealand in a slower tempo.

When we were completing the new hymn book in 1985, I made sure that song was included. I was impressed with its missionary spirit and its call “To every land and people we’ll go.” That has been the work of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from its pioneering beginnings. As we have heard tonight, their recordings have taken the word of God into homes around the world.

There would be no way to measure all whose lives have been touched, whose hearts have been lifted by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. No missionary effort of the Church has brought greater spirit to the work of the Lord than the singing of theses saints behind me and the tens of thousands who filled the Choir seats before them. Tonight we praise our music pioneers.”

Loving Makes Life Livable !

2010-07-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

From time to time I receive in my inbox a little item called "LDS Nuggets". I open them up and discover some wonderful little gem of wisdom that can give a little umph to my day and help me stay positive and joyful amidst the challenges of life. All of us deal with some obstacle. I think even the rich and famous no matter how we might perceive their lives, are dealing with problems and situations that cause them discomfort, frustration or unhappiness. Today as i opened up my little nugget I found these words by Elder Uchtdorf.

Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn’t just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."

--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "You Are My Hands", Ensign, May 2010, 68–70, 75

None of us are as good at showing love as our dear Savior... but each day we live, we can practice with a sincere heart. Our little attempts at showing love are really the big things that help us all keep moving on. I've already been lifted today many times by family and friends doing little things for me. A phone call from audrey, Christian helping me out in the yard. James making fun of me. Chris Snyder calling me and telling me about some coupons for a fun day with my grand kids. And Dorothy sending an e-mail with a big hello. Life is good!! Loving makes life livable.

In Case You're Wondering

2010-07-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

Many of my siblings have asked to see pictures of our home since we moved to Farmington. It was sad to leave our nice home on the hill where we enjoyed the beauty of nature all around us, but we are trying to create a cozy feeling of home here. The Lord was so kind to us in helping us get our asking price for the home on the hill and so we were able to make a few improvements to this house as well. We are clean out of money now and so we are going to sit back and enjoy. Most of the furniture is the same as i had in our other home so I just tried to make things work. The downstairs basement area is the present "bear den" for my two sons who are here for the summer. I give them full rein over the space down there and haven't done much to the area at all. When I finish decorating the bedrooms upstairs I'll post them as well. They are my "bed and breakfast" rooms. I have always loved the feeling of a Bed and Breakfast and so it is a fun creative outlet for me to put together these rooms. Pictures have a way of making space look bigger than it is. Our home is Bountiful was 5000 sq ft. which is massive for an AZ girl, but the home here is right at 3000 sq ft, (still massive) but much smaller and typical of Utah. If they didn't have the sq footage spread between 3 levels it would give a greater sense of space. What we are creating therefore is a sense of cozy.

2010-07-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

Just as you enter our home you will see a stairway leading up to the 2nd level. At the top of the stairs is our newest family picture taken by my sister-in-law JoAn Poulsen when james returned home from his mission. We were in transition at that time and staying at my mom's home. It was fun to have our son back home and be together as a family.

A work in Progress

2010-07-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

The past few months have been so busy for me... especially physically. Just trying to get moved, the house in order, clear out (most of the boxes, not all) start the job of helping my husband with all the secretarial work, getting my garden done... it's just been crazy. This past weekend Mom and I had a yard sale and sold a bunch of things and then took the rest to DI. It was fun to work with her and sit and chat while we greeted the people as they came by on Saturday. I still have some sorting out to do but it will all get done in due time... I just need to be more patient. The goal for me now is to establish a better routine and progress along with a little more balance.

Some inside pictures of our home in Farmington

2010-07-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

The furniture is possibly a little big for the space but I wasn't about to go out and completely buy new furniture so everything would be in perfect scale, so i did the best i could. I think it looks nice. There is a lot of things I had to get rid of but it was all good.

This is the fireplace and bookshelf addition to our Family Room

2010-07-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

2010-07-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy the way Elder Holland views things. He seems to capture the essence of the everyday ordinary things we do and lifts them to an Eternal Perspective.

My Roses

2010-07-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

Catching Up a Bit

2010-07-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a while since I have posted on my Blog and so a lot has happened since Thanksgiving. Without going back as far as Christmas... I'll just show a few shots since the first of the year. Suffice it to say. I really want to get the Blogging going again so here goes... scroll down to view older to newer posts.

Before and After Shots

2010-07-05T14:11:00.001-07:00

The top pic shows the re-model and the bottom shows what the front of our house looked like when we bought it. Quite a difference! Next post I'll show the finished look in our family room with new bookshelves.

Discovering a Green Thumb

2010-07-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

With the help of my friend Barbara Nish from Centerville, (by the way we were going to buy their home), I am creating a flower garden of my own. I didn't like the landscaping of the flower borders in the front of our home so I re-designed it and put this garden together. It has been a lot of work, but it is starting to take shape. My little grand daughters Joy and Demi have been my little helpers. Demi wanted to try out her new suit that Audrey gave her, so she told me it was alright to get wet. She took a few sprinkles herself as Joy and i were watering the flowers.

2010-07-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

2010-07-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

2010-07-05T13:46:00.001-07:00

Seth and I finally took a two day break, after months of moving, helping others move, re-modeling, fixing up a home to flip, landscaping the front etc. etc. We are still tired but it was fun to getaway and enjoy the beauty of Bear Lake

Bear Lake Getaway

2010-07-05T13:43:00.001-07:00

Some Shots Thanksgiving Day

2009-11-30T19:22:00.001-08:00

A Memorable Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T19:14:00.000-08:00

The Close of Day

2009-11-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

Family Fun Raking Leaves

2009-11-30T18:57:00.000-08:00

We had a fun time together sharing in the work and then joining in the play. We have so many leaves around here that it provides a lot of frolic as the girls jump into the pile of leaves

Life is a Sea

2009-10-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Life is a sea upon which the proud are humbled, the shirker is exposed, and the leader is revealed. To sail it safely and reach your desired port, you need to keep your charts at hand and up-to-date. You need to learn by the experience of others, to stand firm for principles, to broaden your interests, to be understanding of the rights of others to sail the same sea, and to be reliable in the discharge of your duty."

--President Thomas S. Monson, "Great Expectations", CES Firesides for Young Adu

Another Full Month

2009-10-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

As you will see from all the pictures below. I have had much to occupy my time and my talents. I have enjoyed the opportunity to help Chelsea with her wedding and to see so many people come and support her on her special day. I had a wonderful excursion with my grand daughters, performed in the Orchestra's fall Concert and am helping with the election for Jeff Novak. I look forward to seeing Audrey and my sisters at the end of the month. Dad and I are doing great an enjoy our life.

Helping my Sister Move

2009-10-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a sad parting. Marsh and Vince moved away from Pleasant Grove last weekend and left us. Gary and Corrine had already left a month before. It's just Seth and I and Grandma now. What's up with this?

Playing our Fall Concert

2009-10-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

This past couple of weeks has been a whirlwind of practicing. The Orchestra at Temple Square performed last night and Friday night. We did the Italian Symphony by Mendelssohn, a Wagner piece Vorspiel and Liebestod from the opera Tritan and Isolde, and then Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major. A 13 year old boy from Hong Kong performed and did an absolutely amazing job. I feel like a novice at the piano after listening to this young man. His name is, Aristo Sham. I had the chance to visit with him a bit when he was waiting back stage. Everything about him seemed like a young kid... until he played. Wow!

Autumn Thanksgiving

2009-10-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

Leaves fall freely,
trusting completely.
Beauty lies all around.
Soon all will be bare,
and the silent sound of snow
will fall gently,
covering earth's bounty.
It is time for winter peace.

I love Autumn

2009-10-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

2009-10-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I was able to go with the girls and Sara to Gardner Village. It is an amazing place and is so cute that I just love being there. During the month of October they have ghosts all around and it is just an Autumn Wonderland. The Ghosts are flying through the air on bicycles, plastered to the wall at Archibald's restaurant, standing all around and some are even using the hoolahoop. It makes for a very fun place to take grand children and we can't wait until next year when Audrey and Lauren can join us. This is hopefully going to be an annual tradition with Grandma. At least I hope so!!

Fun at Gardner Village

2009-10-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

2009-10-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

Demi loves little dolls and had such a fun time in the Doll Shop. She is having such a fun time holding them and telling them she loves them. You're so sweet Demi!

A Fun Time with Joy, and Demi and Sara

2009-10-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Joy - you are sure cute - sitting by that big, green witch. You look like a fun little guppy. Love Grandma

A 12 Mile Hike

2009-09-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

Dad and I and Kaylma and Warren Rhorer, our friends from Midway were able to go on a 12 hike mile hike into the high Uintah Mountains last weekend. We really had a wonderful time and felt so exhilerated by the experience. We actually bit off quite a bit more than we were up to... but our attitude of high adventure carried us through. Kaylma and I actually hiked for approximately 10.5 miles while the guys finished up with the last leg of the journey going on up to Amethyst Lake. We stayed behind at the meadow. We were pretty tired. We actually did the right thing, because by the time we finished up we just barely made it back to the car before it turned dark. We had a wonderful time and Seth and I hope to be able to continue our hikes at least once a month. The Lord really has given us a beautiful world to explore.

Our Hike into the High Uintahs

2009-09-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

It Was Beautiful!

2009-09-27T17:04:00.001-07:00

Recording Session

2009-09-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

Dede was my stand partner for the recording session. She is such a fun person and I enjoyed sitting by her. I sat with her today for "The Spoken Word" also. I'm getting to know my of the violinists all the time. Dad and I during a break.

A Week of Recording and An Experience of a Lifetime

2009-09-13T11:49:00.001-07:00

My children will relate to the many times we have listened to Josh Groban and Charlotte Church sing together in the famous rendition of "The Prayer". Well last night after a week of recording for our new upcoming CD we were priviledged to have Andrea Bocelli come and his producer David Foster, (the composer of "The Prayer") We were video-taped with Andre Bocelli for his upcoming Christmas special in the performance of the Lord's Prayer. Then the Choir and Orchestra performed for them and their entourage of people "Come thou fount of every blessing" The spirit was very strong in this rendition. Our final project was to video tape with David Foster in the performance of "The Prayer" (He played the piano part) I can honestly say that after listening to the score many dozens of times that it was a thrill to be able to play the same orchestration with the composer himself. I believe that we literally lived the music. It was an unforgettable experience.

Famed Adrea Bocelli Films in the Tabernacle

2009-09-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

News from the Choir

When world-famous, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli walked into the Tabernacle on Temple Square on Saturday, September 12, it was his first visit to the historic structure and his first face-to-face experience with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. A few weeks ago when the Choir recorded “The Lord’s Prayer” for his upcoming Christmas album, so taken was Bocelli with the sound of the 360 voices recorded in the renowned Tabernacle, he determined to film a portion of his upcoming PBS television special from there as well.

He found what David Hurley of The King’s Singers, veterans of Tabernacle performances, described: “The Tabernacle seems to have this wonderful sound that contributes to the lovely sound that the Choir makes. It isn’t just the singers; it’s also the space within which they perform and the history of the choral singing there over many, many years.”

David Foster, acclaimed Canadian musician, composer and conductor accompanied Bocelli on the Tabernacle’s legendary pipe organ. Foster is a celebrity in his own right having produced 15 Grammy Award-winning albums including three for producer of the year.

Bocelli, who has sold more than 60 million albums, began his career “singing for relatives.” He learned to play the piano at age six and added flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, harp, guitar and drums to his repertoire. But it is his voice that distinguishes him. At age 12, a soccer accident left his already weakened eyes blind. He initially turned to the law for his life’s work but quickly shifted to follow his passion – music.

Our little Lauren is Born

2009-09-08T14:53:00.001-07:00

August was a busy month of sharing in the joy of Lauren's birth. I was able to be there for three differnt visits and enjoyed spending a week with Audrey and Andy when Lauren was born. Audrey and Andy were so happy to have little Lauren here that they just radiated from their faces the whole time. Andy was anxious to learn all he could - changing diapers, getting bottles ready, burping etc. Audrey just kept exclaiming how happy she was to have her little girl finally here with her. She was always commenting on how cute she was and how delighted she was to look at her. I am so grateful for this new little bundle of joy and am so blessed now to have three beautiful little girls grand daughters to watch grow up.