Wild Wednesday

Wednesday is a busy day for me.   I normally teach piano students in the morning beginning at 7:15 a.m.  I finish up at 8:15 and head to BYU-I where I teach the Music 158 students their piano lessons.  Depending on the semester, I usually finish up in the early afternoon.  I return home to a couple more piano students, walk our neighbor's dogs for 40 minutes and then begin thinking about dinner.  This evening I also had our Young Women's activity.  In my ward, I currently am serving as the president of our Young Women's group.  I was sustained in September and since then have been kept quite busy on Sunday and Tuesday night.  This evening we attended a pep band performance of one our Laurels, Runae Smith.   She attends South Fremont High in St. Anthony.  Her mom teaches at the school so they have chosen to attend in that district.  It was fun to go to a small town basketball game especially because they were playing a big rival. Sugar-Salem.  Tracey Wynn, our laurel advisor and two of our laurels, Catherine Hinck and Laura Spencer attended the game with me.  I love the laurels.  It is fun to associate with young women that are on the brink of becoming young adults.  They show a lot of maturity and are also just so enjoyable to be around.

Trudy Budge

I have been hoping to get back into the record keeping mode.  So I am making an attempt here on Feb. 11.  When I checked my face book account this morning, I noticed that a high school friend had posted a video memorializing a classmate who had passed away on Feb. 9.  The acquaintance was Trudy Hatch Budge.  She was stricken with a rare form of cancer.  In high school, she was bubbly, pretty and an outgoing cheerleader.  I guess I never had any classes with her because I just didn't know her that well, but I did watch her fun, spirited personality as she cheered at games and participated in other high school activities.  She married another class mate, Carl Budge.  This video encompassed an explanation of who she is and put her in real situations with her family.  She described her children's personalities and talked of how much their family had been blessed as the disease took it's toll on her body. She discussed the atonement and how she came to understand the significance it plays in each of our lives.  Today, I have thought nonstop about Trudy's experiences and the strength and love displayed by Carl and her.  It has given me much to think about and ponder.

The link to the video:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=475711329199767&set=vb.474457292658504&type=2&theater

I'm Back!!

We had our first snowfall Friday evening/Saturday morning.  It was perfect timing because the high school has been performing the musical, White Christmas, this past week.  I always love the first snowfall.  For me snow is quiet and peaceful.

A few events of the week include:  Kirsten turned 22 in Washington  DC.  She is doing an internship with the Federal Judiciary Center for the fall semester.  It is one of the few paid internships that they offer.  So she has been happy to be earning money while seeing the sights of DC.   President Obama waved at her from his limo on Veteran's Day while they were attending the ceremony at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  She was thrilled and was sure that the wave was personally to her.

Camille moved to SLC this past Wednesday.  She starts her new job at the U of U Medical Center tomorrow.   She is nervous but also very excited for this new chapter.  Already she has enjoyed city life.  She attended the symphony on Friday, the ballet on Saturday and is going to Michael Buble on Tuesday.  I think she is going to love the activities of a bigger city.

Sarah is majoring in elementary ed. at BYU-I.  She loves her practicum class where she is given the opportunity to teach in a real life situation.  I think she has found her niche in life.  In fact the teacher whose classroom she recently taught in asked to add Sarah's lesson plan into her teaching curriculum.  She also is kept very busy working at the bridal shop.

Catherine has been an awesome tap dancer in White Christmas.  I have to say that I love the message of this show. It focuses on the giving spirit of Christmas.   The music and dancing are great.  I recommend seeing it if you ever have the opportunity in the future.

Spencer and Matthew are excited for Christmas.  In fact Matthew insisted that we draw names for Christmas so we can start considering what we will be giving.  

Today, our lesson in YW's was on gratitude.  We reviewed the parable of the ten lepers and considered why the nine didn't give thanks.   Probably we all can identify with why at times we forget to show thanks.  Maybe we forget, or maybe we are too busy, or maybe we assume that people already feel thanked.  So my message to the YW was to be thankful for the small things and to express thanks often to those people in our lives.   

2 Weddings and a Graduation

It is time to update.  We have had a momentous couple of months.  The highlights include two weddings. We were delighted to attend my brother Allan's wedding in Logan, Utah.  He married the beautiful Marta Freitas from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  We gathered in Logan to witness the marriage in the Logan Temple and celebrated afterwards at a ring ceremony held in a reception center in Logan, Utah.  It was a joyous occasion full of many good memories.  We had such a fun time visiting with family and friends.  I love my wonderful family.

Kirsten returned to BYU after the weekend to put in a work week at the BYU bookstore.  She stayed with Suzanne as she sold many a book to the women attending Women's Week.  Most popular book---"Forget Me Not" by Elder Uctdorf.  They sold upwards of 700 in less than a week.  I returned to Utah to pick her up and bring her back to Idaho.  My first solo trip of that distance.  I enjoyed spending some time with a few dear people.  I went to lunch with Mary and Anna Thompson, had dinner with Suzanne Boren, lots of one on one with Kirsten, visited with Sara Jane Thompson, listened to a great stake conference with my parents and attended Jaimie Finlinson's Jr. recital.  I really enjoyed myself as I traveled to Provo and back again.

Next was Trevor Smith's farewell.  Trevor is my good friend Alisa Smith's eldest son.  He has been called to the Buenos Aires West Argentina mission.  He now is in the MTC learning Spanish and how to teach the gospel. His farewell was on Mother's Day.  What a nice mother's day present.  They celebrated with a big dinner on the evening before.  To help, I made bowls of yummy homemade, fresh salsa.  It was quite delicious.

That same weekend Sarah attended the commencement dance with her good friend Christopher Bressler.  He invited her way back in February.  They had a memorable night concluding it with latterns, ("Tangled" style).    She looked beautiful in her blue formal and he handsome in his tux.

Taylor Dalton, daughter of Dixie and Layne was married on May 18th in the Manti temple to Spencer Palmer.  We drove down to Provo in the dark of the night, stayed in a hotel, arose at 6:00 a.m. and traveled onto Manti.  We enjoyed a few hours viewing that area of the country, including attending the temple, taking pictures and enjoying a luncheon.  We returned to Santaquin where a reception was held.  We had such a nice time visiting with Dave's family.

On May 20,  Sarah graduated from the Seminary program.  She was asked to perform a last minute viola solo for the program.  She did nicely in spite of having little time to prepare.

Sarah graduated from Madison High School with high honors on May 24, 2012 in the BYU-I Center.  She participated by singing the National Anthem with the women choir members and also performed in the big musical number with our orchestra and the Bel Cantos choir.   She celebrated at a school sponsored all-night party that evening in the high school.  And currently is on her way to Disney Land with the orchestra.

A special moment for Dave and I as we watched our four daughters dance together in Sarah's senior solo at her dance recital.  They performed to "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas.  Catherine and Sarah worked together on the choreography and Sarah and Kirsten sewed all four costumes.  It was a wonderful experience for us to watch our daughters perform together.  At the same recital, Sarah and Catherine had the opportunity to dance in the ballet "Alice in Wonderland"  Sarah performed as Alice and Catherine as her sister.  They have worked hard to develop their talents and danced beautifully.

Spencer and Matthew have been busy with baseball.  Spencer's game has really improved this year.  He is hitting!!!  In fact, he hit his second home run a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately, both home runs that Spencer has hit have not been cheered on by family because we have been attending the year-end orchestra concerts.  Luckily friends have cheered him on.  Matthew has also showed good improvement and in fact pitched one inning a few games ago.  Not bad!

My Own Personal Angel

There are no words to describe my mom.  She is more than amazing, fabulous, wonderful, or incredible.  My mom is angelic and beautiful in every way.  Inside and out.

She is the MOST caring person I will ever meet in my entire life.  She goes out of her way to make others feel loved and of worth.  She never hesitates when someone is in need.  She will stop things she in doing during the day to help a neighbor or friend.  

She has taught me so much in life.  I wouldn't be the person I am without my mom.

Mom, I love you because of...

• Your beautiful piano playing 
• Your smile
• Your strong testimony in the gospel
• You support me in everything I do
• Your cooking
• Your creativity
• Your patience
• Your sense of humor
• Your laugh
• When you kiss me goodnight and tell me you love me
• Your good advice
• Your willingness to drive me to school on many occasions
• Your good listening skills
• Your hard work 
• Driving me to dance, violin, to friends' houses...
• Your sense of style! So classy, I love it!
• The mothering skills you teach me
• Your sensitivity
• Your hugs
• Your forgivingness
• The support you show our family
• Your teasing when it comes to my boy life :)
• Your ability to raise such beautiful sisters that I get to have
• You married the most amazing dad I could ever ask for.
• Raising such fun, adventurous brothers

              The list could go on and on...

Mom, though sometime I don't show it, I love you with all my heart!  Heavenly Father has given me more than I deserve.  You are beautiful and I love you so much!  Thank you for all you do for me.  I am so very proud I can call you my mommy.

You have done so many great things in my life and are the perfect example for me. 

Don't ever forget that I love you!!!

Happy Mothers Day!

You are an angel sent from heaven just for me!

Mozart Requiem

The Idaho Falls Symphony performed last evening in the Idaho Falls Civic Center.  As part of their concert, they invited three local high schools to perform the Mozart Requiem with the symphony.  Madison High school was included in this opportunity along with Bonneville and Hillcrest High Schools from Idaho Falls.  It was a great opportunity for the students to prepare such a large, glorious work for the communities.  Sarah and Dave performed together with about 150 other performers.  The conductor is new this year.  His name is Thomas Heiser.  He displayed great energy, musicianship and innovation as he led the participants in the concert.  Catherine and I were in attendance.  We enjoyed the beauty and emotion of the music.  Catherine wasn't sure that she would enjoy it as much as she did.

Spring Break

On Friday morning during our Spring Break we woke up to 4 inches of snow.  It was quite a surprise.  Our spring break began on Thursday and will continue through tomorrow.  Today (Easter) has been a lovely day with a lot of sunshine and melting snow.  We attended church where I taught the eight year-olds an Easter lesson.  Dave taught his Sunday School class focusing on Enos, Jarom, Omni and the Words of Mormon.  He teaches about fifteen16-18 year olds.  He says they are a good class and participate willingly.

We enjoyed an Easter Dinner consisting of Cafe Rio Salad and a rejected cake from our neighbor's home. Kirsten feasted on a dinner provided by her ward at BYU.   It was testimony meeting in our ward.  I really enjoyed hearing a collection of testimonies directed towards the Savior.

On Friday evening, Camille graduated from BYU-I with an associates in nursing.  We attended the Commencement meeting where Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke and then we attended the convocation.  Camille accompanied a group of nurses as they sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".  She graduated magna cum laude.  Both grandparents were in attendance as we celebrated this occasion.  She will now continue forward to obtain her Bachelors in Nursing with only 19 more credits to earn.  Her plans are to have one more graduation in December where she will receive that degree.

Sarah has decided to be a student at BYU-I starting Fall semester.  She gets to live with Camille in the same apartment for one semester.  They are excited to spend a bit of time together.

I accompanied a pretty intense cello senior recital last Tuesday.  Together we played the Frank Sonata and a speedy, jazzy tango.  I enjoyed the experience very much.  It is fulfilling to me to build upon the talents I have spent many years developing.  This past winter semester I accompanied three senior recitals which consists of a good amount of music.   I am getting to know a lot of string repertoire as most of my accompanying is for string players.

Sarah is sewing ballet costumes for her final ballet recital.  It is quite an undertaking as she is putting together a costume for each sister.  The sisters have danced together in their senior solo each year one has graduated.  This year they are dancing to Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas with brightly colored costumes.  Should be a good memory!!