Catchin up

I have decided I need to blog more often. I have wanted to add lots of pictures and make it look so fun but I decided to just write for now. I last blogged about Thanksgiving. I am going to recount some of our December. Ken and I were able to go visit Wendy, Mike, Kenneth, Shannon and Vanessa the first week-end of December. It was so much fun because I was able to see their wonderful family and their house all decorated for Christmas! The children were wonderful and we went to their Stake Conference and even sang in the choir that Wendy directed. She is a wonderful director and it was nice to sing with all of their Stake choir members.

On Deceber 16th Ken and I flew into SLC for Katie's wedding. It was a very fun week-end and we were able to go see the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert! It was a very cold night but the music warmed our hearts! The next night we drove to Orem to listen to Sarah sing the Messiah with the Deseret Chamber Singers directed by Tim Workman. I love the Messiah and we enjoyed listening to the beautiful voices. Heidi came also and afterwards we went out with everyone for ice cream on that snowy night. Saturday we attended the temple and it was a beautiful ceremony. The Sealer spoke about this life and the importance of families and how the sealing power that binds us all together is why this earth was created! It was so nice to be reminded of that eternal truth. That night we attended Katie's beautiful reception. Weddings are a giant family reunion! We love all of our Utah family and miss them. The next day Sarah and I sang "Oh Holy Night" in her ward and Heidi accompanied us. I love to sing with Sarah and any or all of my lovely daughters. It is delightful to make music with such great musicians. Ken, Heidi and I all flew home that evening to California.

A few days later Sarah, Jeremy, and Eli arrived and we celebrated Christmas. One day I picked my mom up and brought her to our home. We had invited some people over from the ward and our good friends the Conover's for dinner and singing. It was a fun evening of friendship, food and music. Music is what makes me feel the spirit of Christmas the most. My niece Trace was so sweet to take my Mom home for me. She has been so kind to my mom and helpful with her. Steve was able to come up for the evening as well. It was nice to have three of our children home for the Christmas season.

The day after Christmas Sarah, Heidi and I sang "I wonder as I wander" in church. It was a nice arrangement that we had to modify it for SSA. Again I have to say how much I enjoy singing with my daughters. Everone commented on how mature and beautiful Heidi's voice has become. I totally agree! We were so sad to see Sarah and Jeremy go home. Little Eli brought a sparkle to our home. We enjoyed out short visit from them and were grateful they could come.

I have to say at the end of this post how much I love my family. I get so sad sometimes thinking of all four daughters so far away and I miss the grandchildren. I am thankful for Steve being close and enjoyed going out to lunch with him a few weeks ago. We had a nice talk afterwards. When I am sad about everyone being far away I remind myself of all of our blessings. We are so blessed to live in a time when communication is so available. I love to talk with everyone on the phone, read your blogs, receive your emails and texts. The world is getting "smaller" and it makes the distances easier to bear.

I have been reading the book about President Monson. I have been so touched by the love that he has for the Lord and all people. I am reminded of something that was said to him. There are three things that really matter in this life...Love for God, love for family and love of friends. I am so thankful for our Lord, our family and our friends.

Thanksgiving 2010

I am going to write a quick blog on our wonderful thanksgiving. My niece Trace Flores brought my mom up to visit and we had such a great time with her. She looked beautiful and we enjoyed her company so much. My brother Larry and his wife Mary came as well. We also invited some friends from the ward. Gil and Debbie Chateuvert, Nyle, Melanie and Tanner Keller, their relatives John and Rose and children and we had Stephen and Heidi with us. Ken cooked the turkey with his signature dressing and gravy. We had lots of delicious food. Heidi made a pecan pie, I made a Berry/nectarine pie and Gil brought apple and pumpkin. We had many side dishes that I thought my mom would enjoy. I made her green jello salad, the broccoli salad, my sister's recipe for the fruit salad and the spinach gratin recipe we got from Wendy (after having enjoyed it at Amy's house last year and being inspired by Sarah's menu for this year). We enjoyed some beautiful music by Heidi and had fun visiting with everyone. It was a very nice day.
I want to mention that I have so many blessings to be thankful for. I love the Lord, my dear husband and my family. I am thankful for good health and a righteous posterity. I am thankful to be able to serve and help people. I am so thankful for good friends who influence my life for good and I am thankful for the talents the Lord has blessed me with. I have been very busy and involved with a production with the youth of our Rocklin CA Stake. We put on Act one of "The Savior of the World". It was a wonderful experience. We had started last spring with auditions for the main cast and started rehearsing the Angel Chorus in September. It took many hours of rehearsing and we had six performances done the week-end before Thanksgiving. I have to say it really helped me feel the Christmas spirit. The beautiful portrayal of the Savior's birth and the music was very tender. I felt the spirit every night and was grateful to be part of such a wonderful production.

I love my family!

I know that I need to add all the fun pictures of the last five months but I decided to just write some things down. I am headed down to visit my mom today for her 91st birthday! I am taking her out to lunch and hoping to cheer her up and have fun day together. She is a great mother and has taught me so many things. I feel she has always been there to nurture me, guide me and love me. It has made me reflect on the joy of family. I love my husband and feel so blessed to have him as my eternal companion. I love each one of my five children and am in awe of their talents, strong spirits and they make my life so happy and complete. I feel so blessed to have eight lively and fun grandchildren! They are a joy and I am grateful for the fun times when they come to visit.

I have been so happy with my decision to "retire" this past year from teaching part-time at the High School. As much as I love teenagers and teaching music I felt it was time to come home and be free to help out with the family. Even though none of our grandchildren live close by I have been able to help Wendy out twice and have visited Amy three times since last August. I have been to Utah three times and it has been fun to visit Sarah and Heidi there. Steve came home this past week after completeing his training with the Air Force. It was great to see him and spend some time with him.

As I am writing this blog entry I realize how I wish I was a great writer like my children. I love to read all their blogs and feel their strong spirits, learn about their good and crazy days, get tips on cooking and Heidi is so funny! I love them so much and am thankful that as we are far away we do have these modern conveniences that make us feel closer.

I am enjoying being an empty nester with Ken. (I thought I was going to have a terrible time :)Ken is such a great husband and we have fun together. He is a good sport and goes to Pilates with me sometimes. He is so thoughtful and kind to me and I feel thankful to have a husband who loves the Lord. He is always busy with work and church but still takes time to be a husband. We feel so thankful for the many blessings which we have in this life. I am grateful to the Lord for the beautiful earth that He has created for us. I am thankful for the atonement that allows us in our imperfections to have the chance to come back to Him. So in closing this blog I have to say I love my family!

Many trips and not enough blogging

Hi family I realized that I have not posted since Christmas! I have been on so many trips to see everyone I haven't had time to blog. I get discouraged because I am so far behind but I am determined to catch up soon. I thought I would set the goal and let everyone know there will be more postings to come.

Steve coming home from the Air Force 2009

Steve has been away at Basic Military training in Texas. He completed his BMT and is home visiting for Christmas.

Steve and Heidi

Steve and his girlfriend Sharlyn.