Saying Goodbye

I have just returned from So. Cal. where I played violin at a funeral. I must say that I usually don't like to do so, but this funeral was for the father of my oldest and dearest friend Bevan and it was wonderful to be with her and her entire family. It was a great day, one inwhich we remembered Merrill Swenson and reviewed his life according to his children and grandchildren. Excellent talks were given, beautiful music rendered and a real sense of love and closure touched all of those present. It was just beautiful and I'm glad I was part of the day. One thing about Mormon funerals is that there is a sense of happiness and the knowledge that we will all be together in the eternities. That hope helps us to endure our life here while looking forward to seeing our loved ones again. I remember when my Mom died and I missed her so bad it physically hurt. Now, years later, I can say I miss her still but know that we will be together someday.

I'm happy to be home!!! I love teaching Violin, it's what I do best!! I'll be soooooooooo happy when this election is over! It has been very draining!!

Sunday Allergies

Today was Stake Conference for the Morgan Hill Stake. Since there was going to be a change in the Stake Presidency EVERY ONE was in attendance! Our visiting authorities were Elders Cordova and Gonzales from the Seventy. They are wonderful! What marvelous talks they gave, both last night and today. The Conference was very uplifting and spiritual. There was only one problem: my eyes!! I don't know what the heck I'm allergic to, but when the weather is hot and dry my eyes just burn and water like the dickens!! People who were sitting near me probably thought I cried through the whole meeting but not so, I only got choked up once in a while not the whole meeting. I'm really not used to this and I hope the weather changes soon! But Conference was wonderful! Our Home Teacher, Kort Jensen was called as one of the Counselors  and we support him with all our hearts! We have gotten very close to the Spanish Branch since  the young women meet with our ward and Cassie is best friends with several of the girls. On Friday night we took them to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and they had such fun.We know this because, since we weren't allowed to sit with them, from our table near by we heard  their happy voices. We feel blessed that she has such good friends. So, today has been good! Keep a prayer for me that I will get my job back in the  School District at my regular pay. I've been living through a nightmare of gigantic proportions!!

Here are some new pictures from our Tour. Only they were taken the day after we got home! They show my granddaughter MaCall, Cassie and myself in clothes we bought in Europe, namely Dirndl's from Austria and Cassie's dress from Hungary. We had such a wonderful time! When I can figure out how to put some pictures of concerts up I'll do that!

It's October!

Well, I'm sure not very good at this, but I just read all my children and Grandchildren's blogs and decided to get going again!!
It's past midnight and I can't sleep! Today is Cassie's 15th birthday!!!! It sure doesn't seem like she is that old but all I have to do is look at that beautiful little girl to know that she is growing up. I feel so blessed to have Cassie. I was 44 when she was born. The pregnancy was dreadful and I was so sick after she was born but we are so lucky to have her! At this time in her life she is the only child at home, everyone else has moved on! She misses her brothers and sisters a lot. She misses her neices and nephews and would love to have everyone home for her birthday. But we will do our best to have a great day for her.
So much has happened since I last wrote but instead of recapping it all I'm just going to go from here!
Love to one and all!

Omgsh

IT IS A HUNDRED AND TEN IN GILROY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's About Time

For the past several months my blog has just sat here being very lonely. However, with school over for the year I have a few more moments to tell about my interesting life.
You probably know by now that this July I'm taking a group of Tour Students to Hungary, Austria and Germany. We have six concerts scheduled and we are all primed and ready to go. It has been a long, hard year dealing with all the travel arrangements, getting students prepared, dealing with..... well, you know how it is when 75 people plan a trip together! My hair is a bit grayer and I have a dozen more wrinkles, but, HEY, I love this! Now with 7 more weeks to go, I'm hoping that I can slow down some and mentally, physically and spiritually get ready.
As always, I keep a good book handy and presently I'm reading an old, 1936 Newbery award winner by Ruth Sawyer called Roller Skates. I spied this book in the school library while I was teaching and had to check it out. While at BYU and majoring in Education, I tried to keep up on all the Newbery books, but here was one I never read! Well, it's a far cry from anything my children and grandchildren read now-a-days, but you might be as captivated in it as I am. Old fashioned fun, that's what it is!
Well, back to my Tour. This is my 4th Tour and this time something really wonderful will be happening. This will be the first time that my family will be performing with me! My youngest daughter Cassie, who is 14, and my oldest granddaughter MaCall,13, will be joining me as performers. I am so proud of them! It has made a world of difference to me and for this reason I'll love this tour more than ever. Since I've been suffering with tendonitis my personal practice time has suffered, but hopefully with more rest and the Physical Therapy I'll recover someday!
Summer Camp is my next big project BEFORE the Tour. This year I'll try to add photos.(Cassie, will you help me?)
I'll keep you posted on the progress of the music we make over here!!