Today is a beautiful, sunny Sabbath. I love the sunshine and I am so grateful for it today. I also love the Sabbath. I am really grateful for the opportunity for 'rest from my labors'. Barton is at the church serving in his calling as 2nd counselor in the Bishopric. We have the 'graveyard shift', as he calls it, for our block (1:00 - 4:00). I go at 12:15 to accompany the ward choir. I have a new calling as the ward chorister. Mr. Seare (the choir director at the high school where I accompany) has been called as my replacement as ward organist. He is a true organist where I am a pianist who can play the organ. So, it's nice that someone who really knows the organ and how to make it great, is playing it. I am enjoying directing the music again. I also serve as Relief Society pianist.
Cori attends the singles ward that meets in the Fairview church. She serves as her ward chorister, also. We are enjoying having her home from BYUI for her 'winter break'. She will go back to Rexburg for summer semester from mid-April thru mid-July. She is working at Pepperidge Farm in Richmond. She is part-time, temporary, so she isn't guaranteed work each day, but so far it has been enough to keep her busy and will definitely help with her college expenses. She enjoyed a blind date last Saturday to a formal dance at the Institute in Logan. She is keeping up on her piano study and is taking singing lessons. She has had the opportunity to sing several times since she has been home. She is a sweetheart and we love her tons!
We are excited about Kendall's engagement to Jessica. She is a great young lady and we are looking forward to lots of fun times as she joins our family. They are planning a wedding for April 12th in Salt Lake. He met her at CEU last fall on the first day of school. Kendall will be having a jaw surgery in Provo on March 12th. He needs a surgical correction so he can have a functional bite. They will do both an upper and lower correction. He hopes to recover enough over his spring break to be back in school on March 24th and then have the wedding on April 12th. We are praying all will go well.
Barton is truly in his element living his 'dream job' as an electronics/communications technician with Rocky Mountain Power. He is involved in several upgrades in this area. He loves having an 'office with a view' and gets some great photos from the mountain tops. He loves being back in his beloved Idaho, after spending 16 years in Emery County, Ut.
This is my busy time of year. I am putting in an extra 20+ hrs. a week since I was hired to accompany Preston High's musical, "Once Upon A Mattress". We will open on March 21st and run the 22nd, 25th & 26th. I'm excited because I get to play with the orchestra. It is amazing and fun. For my regular job as accompanist for Preston School District, I put in around 20 hrs. a week on the piano bench with extra time for concerts. I play for the Jazz choir, mixed chorus, ladies ensemble, and A cappella choir at the high school. I also put in hours at the Junior High to accompany Bel Canto (7th/8th auditioned choir) and the 6th grade general music classes. I really enjoy it and I am amazed and grateful that I can make a wage utilizing my talents that Heavenly Father has blessed me with. Right now, I am on the verge of being overwhelmed but I've had that feeling before during the musical and I know I can do anything temporarily. So, that sees me through the extra stress. I know the musical will be over soon and it will be a great experience and then life can go back to normal stress. I really appreciate having Cori and Bart's support and help at home. Bart gives great shoulder and neck rubs and Cori can take over with dinner! I'm enjoying teaching eight piano students at the moment. Perrin and Connor are two of the eight. It is fun to teach my own grandsons. They are doing well.
Recently, Mom's cousin, Josie Peterson Condie passed away. She was living at the Nursing Home in Preston. I would get to see her often as our choirs would perform there and our ward would take a turn there for church meetings. I loved chatting with her. She was so amazing. She was upbeat, positive and had such a keen mind. At her viewing, I thanked her son Spencer for his book; "God of Comfort, God of Love". In telling him how much I enjoyed it and that my favorite quote came out of it, he quipped that he didn't think anyone had read it! I said, "Oh, yes. Do you want to hear the part I love?" And I quoted: "Faith is antithetical to fear, and harboring fear is, in large measure, a refusal to be comforted. When we subdue our fears our faith can flourish, and it is then that hearts can be softened and deliverance is nigh. We worship a God of perfect love, and "perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18); [pg. 133-134]. I told him when I read that in his book, it pierced through me and as I pondered it, the Spirit helped it sink deep into my heart. I decided that I never wanted to be found 'refusing to be comforted' by the Savior. He smiled and said thanks. I am so grateful in my life for a righteous heritage and a righteous posterity. I love the Savior. I know He lives, loves us, comforts and heals us, and forgives us.
feeling! Everyone asks Cori if she is sure she wants this braid cut off. She says, "Yes! I'm ready!"
