Made my night

I'm just sitting here waiting for Spencer to come in and then he does...now, this took me to the FLOOR laughing...this is NOT Spencer...he is SO NOT the guy to go out on a limb and be wild and crazy with his friends...THAT I'VE EVER SEEN...Anyway...crazy boy walks in in his new 70's DISCO outfit. Yes, Josh...those are red VINYL...where in the heck was JAKE to see this? They went to CLASSIC SKATING Disco night and had a blast!!! These are not roller skater dudes--rollerBLADE outside for street hockey maybe... Anyway, SURPRISE after SURPRISE. Now he rollerskates and can't wait to go back next week--Still don't know what her name is :)

Chicken

I use to name my chickens...but its too hard to tell them apart...so pretty much they are all GERTIE or BESSIE. But this dang Gertie is an escape artist. she's been out for 2 days so I wanted to take a picture of her to show Josh I'm still at it...the whole chicken thing that he loves so much :). It got warm enough today that the muck in the pen thawed out and turned to, well, MUCK...I thought I was going to be fast and just chuck in the leftovers....but first Gertie still refuses to go back in and then the feeding pan was all guck and yuck so I had to GO IN with my boots on...and then I'm running round and round the pen trying to get Gertie in and keep the others from coming out...THEN I realize today is day FOUR with NO EGGS...I think they are eating them. My neighbor thinks they are just using all their energy to stay warm and will start laying again when it warms up...it has been COLD...I HOPE that is what is happening. I had other egg eating hens and well, you know what happens to them... you can't keep feeding them if they aren't producing. Well, I guess you CAN, but Don isn't going to go for that!
I hope they keep feeding me when I 'm not producing.
Am I producing? That's a subject for another time obessing.

Drew is Baptized

I love it when we have a family event I KNOW my mom would NOT miss...I Try to catch feelings of her being there. Today the feelings started when we began taking pictures of Drew in her baptism dress...and then again as we waited in the chapel, and as Dad brought Drew down into the font,... and oddly enough as I filled my plate with fried shrimp at Golden Coral..."you've always loved those" she spoke to my heart. I scoop on another scoop as a sign to her that I heard her.
I wonder what she thinks of our lives and all the goings on with each of us. But I don't have to wonder. She just loves us. I looked at Preston standing there with Drew getting his picture taken and I was overcome with love and admiration. She is so beautiful to me. He is SO BEAUTIFUL to me. I really think he is one of the most handsome men on the earth. Must be a sister/brother thing. Preston gets me. I LIKE it when people GET me. You know what...Jeremy does too(GETS ME)...He's another MOST handsome man on the planet filled with loving kindness. OK...now I am thinking it is a FAMILY thing. I LOVE my siblings. Wish we ALL could have been together today.

Preston's only SPECIAL order COLOR tear drop trailer to date has NOT come to pick it up...see how PURPLE it is? You have to laugh. But at least he already has a good down payment and will sell it at a discount. I snapped this pic so you could smile Josh....a purple tear drop!!!

On the way home I slept in the car as Don and Dad talked. I dreamt that I was teaching Drew and Laikyn how to crab with bacon fat at the jetties on St. Augustine Beach...it was lovely...

XCountry Skiing

For our Friday night date night a bunch of the couples on our street went up to Aspen Grove to X country ski. Now, let me say that when Johnathon FIRST sent out the e-mail asking for takers he said we would be SNOWSHOEING so I thought...yeah, that sounds GREAT!...I didn't find out until an hour before leaving that is was the SKIING thing. At first I thought I'd just bow out, and then I gathered myself together and thought "you're not a wimp, you can do this...." Well, let's just say that within the first 10 seconds I was heading DOWNHILL out of control, TRYING to get my skis in a V but they crossed OVER each other, got my pole stuck under neath the ski and down I went. Well, Don helped me up, it was DARK, I fell twice more and on the THIRD hill in the dark with the creek JUST TO THE SIDE OF ME AND TREES EVERYWHERE, I just bummy scooted around the bend and vowed the same vow I vowed the LAST time I had on skis...'I'm never gonna do this again!" We made it back to the head of the trail (less than 2 miles is my guess) and Norene was waiting--Don and Matt headed off to the advanced trail and we headed back to the Lodge to wait for everybody. We swapped African missionary stories ---Josh, Richard was hospitalized as well with horrible cramps, but doing better now.
Okay, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL... no wind, stars like no other, quiet except for the thrilled laughter
of the teenagers on the dark course loving the speed in the dark with their dates. This would be a great family activity ...minus me of course. Josh...definitely a GREAT DATE idea for when you are home. Josher...Jamie is sending you their love, everyone tried to pose for YOU!!!! we missed a bunch of the neighbors who were still getting their skis checked out.

Enlighten ME...

Okay friends...whatcha readin', watchin', doin' that I'm missing out on?

Couldn't resist....

Thinking of Lourdes made me think of this comedian JEFF DUNHAM... this man makes me laugh. We watched his Christmas DVD and then one other...anyway...I don't think I've mentioned him here before...only on facebook. But either way, if you get a chance...try to see one of his DVD's.

YOU are gonna LOVE me

Go to this new blog of my friend LOURDES who is a scream...just go every now and again when you need to LAUGH. Today was her first posting. But I promise...I beg her to steal her e-mails so I could post them and have my own little following. Finally, she believes and started today. Of course, anything she says about me is totally fictitious....I imean...WHO can really remember back that far anyway.......
www.hildoer.com
I have searched for a picture from her visit at Christmas and cannot find it, but then I remembered that she came for dinner the night GrandDad had us help him call the police on us....so maybe there aren't any. You won't need to see her to love her. Just thinking about this woman makes me smile.
Just spreadin' the word that there is a new smile in town.

Letter from Josh 1-26-2009

Hey family!

so ill start with questions again. Mom, my stomach has been feeling fine and if the parasite is still here then its not bothering me anymore, so im satisfied, but it was a good excuse to eat spicy foods for a while. My comp along with most africans (at least from what i have heard) dont like spicy foods. the best of the drink mixs was the white cran peach, by far, the koolaid was good, but not really comparable to that one. There are blankets at the apartment so there is no ned to send one, but i never use them and some nights i go to bed sweating even though i dont have any sheets covering me. i stopped taking the skin meds after my first week here because they werent really helping so i still have like half of them. Also, dont worry about the children here, the vast majority of them are fine, they live in a different lifestyle sure, but they are fine. the ones that would need help are in orphanages or some other facility, but we have those at home too.
As for the distance to the church, yes, it is forever away, but dont write president cause there is nothing he can do about it. the branch is part of the one and only stake here in kenya, and as such bringing a building here is up to them. Pres has tried several times to get them to bring a building here but they wont listen. The stakes problem with bringing a building here is that if they put a building here then they will have to shut the current building down. Most of the members come from here in Rongai, there are only 2 families that come from Langatta. so they would have to send the members in langatta to the upper hill ward (they live closer to that ward then to Rongai). Which in all reality makes more sense then what they are doing now. but the building we are going to was the first building to be built in all of east africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) and the stake takes great pride in that and refuses to have that building be shut down. So once again we see how the universal sin of pride slows the work, but i trust that the lord knows better than all of us and is just waiting for the apropriate time.
Larry is doing well, his baptism is still set for the 7, and we are hoping that his dad will come. his dad has no problem with larry being a member and said that he really is just happy that larry is going to church. but he is also very active in his own church and doesnt want the discusions himself. As far as other people we are teaching, i'll let you know if we get somebody that is serious. We get several return apointments but nobody else has come to church, once again the distance becomes a major problem but its hard to tell which are just listening to be nice and which really cant afford to come. but since they cant be baptized either way without coming to church, we drop them after a few weeks. but you could pray for us to find investigators that will come to church.
This week went by super fast though. we worked hard! our numbers almost doubled from last week in every area except the ones related to investigators coming to church, that one stayed the same, larry came. We started to go farther than normal in hopes that we would find people that would come to church, we will see within the next few weeks if that happens, but the problem is that as we went farther, it got farther from the church as well, but you never know where the faithful are hiding, so we went and will continue to go.
Anyways, i love you all sooooo much! i will talk to you next monday!
Love,
Elder Harris

Josh...just thinking about you ALOT!!!!

Hey buddy... I got the icky mucas factory crud on Wednesday and have been battling it ever since...so I don't have any fun pictures. But I printed this one out for me today since it has all 3 of you who have absconded and left your mother. MEGAN and MICHAEL BOTH forgot that SUnday dinner is not optional today.
THank heavens michelle and the boys showed up...can you BELIEVE how huge Bronson and Laddie are? I swear they grow inches everytime they come.
My talk is OVER and I will be able to sleep better now. I'll send it you somehow. I sent your package on Tuesday since Monday was Martin Luther King Day and the post office was closed. The inauguration was beautiful on Tuesday and they played the Quaker song I love...Tis a gift to be simple....and it has that phrase from my talk "till turning and turning we turn about right." Guillianna maddox and Gae Olsen are my new visiting teachers and they came right in the middle of it...I didn't mind so much...who could mind if Guillianna came to visit? She brought me fresh Biscotti...and wanted to know everything about you---although she ALREADY knew everything from Dianna. Everytime I would go to tell her something she would say "Oh, I know that, you should...." She sends her love. She is a perfect Grandma. I couldn't find my camera...it was in the car or I would have gotten her picture.
Marissa Smith sang at the fireside tonight...Josh...that is an amazing girl. Read whatever you want into that. Marry her. MARRY HER. I'll save this converstaion for a few years. I guess you can hear her sing the song she sang tonight on the church's website a BRANDNEW YEAR...have you heard anything about it?I just tried to go there so I could put her on here so you could see...but you know me and computers...i couldn't even find it on the site....but it IS missionary approved...I'll have it figured out for you by next week.
Michael is still looking for a job but feels pretty hopeful about an interview he had at Schwbach's jewlers in the mall. Megan is still floating on her high from the Ohio boys visit and party weekend. Last night she and Braiden went to Los Hermanos...he got into Berkley...but still undecided as to WHERE he will choose for school. Still can't really tell if anything is going on there or not. Spencer is tortured not golfing. It's wierd. He has the family obessive gene. He hits/swings in the garage until he can't move his fingers. Then he drives down to Unita golf store and hits a few in their cages until he feels uncomfortable. He may well have to break the 60 minute radius momma rule if he is going to be happy through winters. Sam is SAM...killing it at basketball. I went to his ward game on Thrusday and he doesn't even care that he is on an all YOUG teacher team while they had to play an all priest team that were smearing them...he made most of the points for his team. Then on Saturday, his Jazz team were the slaughterers and it got so WE were cheering for the other team when they scored because they just could NOT make a shot. Oh yeah...larry Miller the owner of the jazz and all the auto dealerships had to have his legs amputated at the knee due to type 2 diabetes. Sad.
Next Sunday is the Super Bowl and the boys are READY.
Drew might be being baptized on Saturday in Logan...I'll head up there if she does. Her birthday was last week and she turned 8. They are ALL growing up too fast.
Not much on GrandDad. He isn't anwsering his phone...but he does when Olive calls...weird because there is NO WAY he can know it is me...he dosen't have caller ID. He did NOT go to the Dr. this week like was scheduled. The Doctor may have to make a house call. I feel split in two...half of me says, let him just stay there and die in some stupid accident...it's what he wants. The other half of me thinks how irresponcible,what if he HURTS himself and lays there for days... The farmer Ray I have told you about is keeping an eye on him as well as Olive.
We've had more snow today and will tonight. Crazy winter. I'm tired of feeding the chickens in the cold.
How is your stomach?Do you still think the parasite is gone? How is the companion? Which of juice mixes did you like best? Hot Chocolate is on the way. Anything else you might have thought of that you'd like? Is it chilly enough for a blanket? You've never said if you'd like me to send one. How about your skin? Do you want me to refill your perscription? have you noticed an affect from it in the sun? Raquel Berrett sent me some photos from her trip to Nairobi yesterday and I couldn't help but cry. I WISH I COULD HELP THE CHILDREN.
Jake is still a lost soul wandering in and out but not near as frequently. March 8 is marching nearer though. I'm sorry I don't get Greg's letters till late afternoon on Monday's so that is why you get them a week late.
Are you able to SEE the pictures I load or usually does it take too long for them to download?
I love you Lovey. I pray for you MANY times every day....and your companion and the people in your area. Your goodness WILL make a difference. I wonder alot how you are REALLY doing. Thank heavens for pictures. I just keep opening my computer files to see your smile. I know I'm your mother...but you are BEAUTIFUL to me ...in EVERY WAY. Keep on keeping on. I know I'm not suppose to say it...but I do ALOT of things others think I shouldn't... I MISS YOU. With all the love in my heart, I wish I could just scratch your back or make you something to eat or watch you horse around with Greg and the guys....but I'll be patient.
See you in my dreams...I'll be the mom on every street corner...but if you decide to meet me at the zoo...I'll be on the Carousel...waiting....to smother you with kisses.
XXXOOOOXXXXXXOOOOOOXXXXXXXOOOOOOOXXXXXXOOOOOOOXXX

I LOVE love.

God Bless AMERICA

When I was in Elementary School in Melrose Florida in the late 1960's early 1970's.... I remember that the black children lined up at one water fountain and the whites at another. I remember watching roots and crying and crying and not being able to finish watching the series
after the slave was whipped. I remember people calling my black friends Niggers...
BUT TODAY...Today will overshadow all those memories. I am an AMERICAN!!! I am a proud AMERICAN. May God bless t his man and his vision. May WE choose to be apart of blessing this nation and our children by DOING our part.

A holiday is a holiday....

Okay...this may look like a candy fest...but REALLY this is SERIOUS POKER business!!! Spencer and buddies in the basement have a day to remember. I LOVE listening to their laughter and bantering. I LOVE the CHIP system...you can see each piece is arranged by how much they are worth. :) Another happy moment today was when McKay and his Dad stopped by to pilfer my fireworks stash on their Daddy/Son date...McKay LOVES FIREWORKS!!! I so thrilled I have these on hand!
Got to spend the day with Haven, ELle and Graham and it was LOVELY to just sit and play play doe, legos, color, race track....I really was meant to just be a stay at home mom....GrandMOM. No pressure children...I'm just sayin'.....and I've got nieces and nephews.

A Mother's thoughts...

WHY IN THE HECK WOULD THE CHURCH PUT MISSIONARIES 1-3 HOURS WALK AWAY FROM THE NEAREST CHURCH BUILDING??????????????

Letter from Josh 1-19-2009

Hey!

This week has been good. we have continued to work hard and the days have flown by, but sadly, it seems to no avail. i hate the church being so far away! there are very few people that will actually listen to us and not just invite us in to be polite, and among those that do listen, there are few that want to come visit the church, the rest of them say something to the effect of "believing in christ is the most important thing, so what church i attend doesnt matter, as long as i believe in christ" then the few (by few i mean one out of two to three hundred people that we meet) that want to visit our church cant afford to pay for the matatoo and arent willing to walk the 1-3 hours it would take to get there depending on what part of rongai they live in. We had to move larrys baptismal date back because we still have to finish the lessons with him since he was up country for too long to finish them before yesterday, but he will be baptized the 7 of feb. Zone conference was good, i still like the weekly district meetings better, and as forthe interview with president, he is very long winded and repetitive,two of my favorite things, so it lasted about 15 minutes and i think all i said was that i am excited to be with elder baloyi. Pres is a good guy, but, not the most fun to talk to. the good news is that i got the christmas package at the zone conference! and by the way, i have used the whoopee cushion countless times since, thanks spencer and sam! and whoever had the idea to put the powder juice mix stuff in there is a genious. i got a bunch of letters from the old people in the ward as well, it was very nice of them, but i honestly didnt know who any of them were except for the one from brother oakes. Dad,there have been baptisms in my zone, but not my district/ward, so i havent been able to be there for any of them, but larrys is coming up so that will be good.
so every morning in comp study we are suppose to share what we learned in our personal study, the problem is that elder baloyi isnt satisfied with just sharing one or two of the verses and what they meant tohim. so a few days ago we read all of jacob five as it was his turn to share, yeasterday we read 3 nephi 24-28, and this morning as we got to verse fifteen of 2 nephi 2, i stood up, told him to let me know when he finished his personal study and walked into the other room and started my laundry. not the kindest thing i have ever done, but a half hour later he came and told me he had finished and then shared a few verses that stood out to him. he then went on to admit that he hadnt been doing his personal study for the last few months cause he is "getting tired (he leaves at the beggining of may) and his old companion would just sit and listen to him read whatever he wanted during comp study, so he started to use that time for personal study as well, he was still mad at me for walking out, but i figure that it was for the best.
dad asked for a story, so here it is: the other day we were tracting, and we ran into a guy that told us that this church was of the devil, we bore our testimonys and were about to leave when he started yelling to people not to listen to us. very quickly there was a crowd around us and this man. he then pulled out a copy of the book of mormon and said "this book is absolutely untrue,none of this ever hapened and i can prove it" we asked him to prove it. he said "i spent ten years in central and south america trying to find a basis for this ancient people talked about in this book, but there was nothing to find, and therefore, none of this could be true." his neighbor then said "you have never been out of your home longer then ten days, and you forsure have never left kenya." by this point everybody in the crowd was laughing at the guy and saying other stuff about he was crazy and nobody should trust him. This made the man angry and he walked away, we then answered a few questions and made return apointments for this week with most of the people that had been in the crowd. We will see if any of them are serious or not this week, and i will let you know next monday.
anyways, i love you all, i cant wait to hear from you again next week,
Love,
Elder Harris

Hey Lovey...a little LOVE from Kylie...she says NOT to forget WHO your girlfriend is. She and all the people who went the cruise with Megan came over for dinner tonight since Matt and Alex flew in for the weekend...they have been staying with us since Thursday. Both have serious girlfriends at home, so they really are just Megan's FRIENDS here for a fun weekend. Yesterday they got they big idea to go to Vegas...they all left here at noon and just got back at 7:30 tonight in time for dinner. I just did soup and rolls and spinach salad. I swear, I can't cook without thinking of YOU and how I wish I could get you some. The Picture under Kylie is Matt and Alex.
Remember that family that moved in on the corner in the Ivory Development? ---He always wears the red suit coat? They called him to be the choirestor in Senior Primary and we LOVE him!!! Such a breath of fresh air. I had already set up the chairs in the primary room. THEN, I came in after Sacrament mtg and found them like THIS...it actually was GREAT!!! ALL the kids could see...the only people they could poke was their immediate neighbor, but best of all, NO ONE was poking...everyone was attentive. Today he brought in his electric guitar... the kids were mezmorized and learned the new song in like 5 minutes. We just hope we can keep him a secret and all will leave us alone to let him continue to work his magic.
Sam was SO HOT at his Ward Basketball game the other night...he said he'd send you the details. But I saw him in his Jr. Jazz game on Sat. ---he scored 13 points. These pictures are lousy, but PROOF that I was thinking of you. My battery died after these 2 so I couldn't get any more. I am still taking him to baseball tryouts at 6 am MWF and 6 pm T and TH. He thinks his life will be over if he doesn't make it.
Took this picture of Edginton's last night...we LOVE them. They are so fun to be with. We went to California Pizza Kitchen and I had that to die for THAI crunch salad...MMMMmmmmm. They asked us to send their thoughts and love. Landon will be home Feb. 5th...2 and 1/2 weeks. And then Stacey will be done...no more missionaries for her.
I took a couple of VALENTINE shots for you ...those cherry sour things are back...oh yeah...wE LOVE YOU. I'm sending your Valentine's package in the morning. (Jan 19) I hope to heck you get your christmas package.
I was crazy busy with Real Estate this week, but no contracts...maybe THIS week. I've been running in 10 and 12 degrees and I'm thinking I'm old. WHILE i'm running I'm ok...but when I'm done, I get the shakes I get so chilled. Sure hope the shakes burn AlOT of calories.
Jake came by about 11:30 the other night to finish watching some game with Spencer. He needs to get out of here. He MISSES YOU. He brought me this hugh round rock of chocolate.
Michael came for dinner with a roomate tonight. He is still looking for a job... but LOVES living on his own. He brought me his dirty laundry mid week and I just smiled. Less than a year ago I would have PAID to do that boy's laundry. Wish I could do yours.
Bro. Vella 2 doors down slipped on the Holyoak's driveway and broke his neck and is now paralyized from his neck down. Been a hard thing for the neighborhood.
GrandDad is not anwsering his phone. He is suppose to go to the Dr. tomorrow where we hope he will get meds or SOMETHING will happen to help us. For now, poor farmer Ray is checking on him everyday and digging him out of the snow. Olive says they are broken up, but she keeps checking on him...I'm so grateful.
Nate's girlfriend McKell is engaged. I know. Unbelieveable this fast. My heart is broke for him.
I speak next Sunday, so send a few prayers this way...I"ll send you a copy.
I love you buddy. I'm praying for you and think of you throughout every day. Keep SHININ"!!!!!
I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!!!
MOM
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

This is for YOU Sheri....

Okay...there will be no order to this...just as the pictures appear if i can make it match up. I believe in having an aersonal to pull from and then it makes the prep and presentation easier. Mostly kids just love surprise and participation. The apron below is just one of 3 different aprons I have...each with different sized pockets...one has huge pockets that I stuff with puppets or the actual song visual or aid for them to pull out. The grab bag is used the same way...build suspense and then let them take turns pulling out the stuff. I have a few puppets that I use as meters...if they sing good the turtle will come out of his shell, or the Frog will jump and croak or the mice will peek out of the box...
























I use this apple--with a green sock WORM to help teach them to lead the music and help me.... and I made an elephant with a grey sock for the trunk...they are braver when they have the visual to hide behind to give it a try. The container with the red and green yarn strips I use to help with learning the words. Once I have been over it a few times, we sing the song while a child pulls out the string...when it is green they sing the words when it is red they hum...or whatever other action you like. They really like it if you add...stand up on red, stomp your foot on green when you start to sing..twirl, clap etc. Tne next poster is just for the idea that I take interactive pages from the friend or other kid magazines and blow them up at Kinko's poster size and have them HELP do the activitiy---like that one is CONFERENCE themed...there were hidden pictures of objects in the picture...when they found one then they could pick a song, or lead the music or Hide the Object. They NEVER tired of Hide the OBject ...no matter how much they disliked the song. One child goes out of the room while another hides an object...when the child enters, the children in the room guide the searching child to the object by
singing
loud or soft depending on how close or far away they are from the object...great for word repetition. I like to use and make visuals where they put their heads or hands in them...it helps them to keep still and not cut up while helping...plus they get a kick out of it. The kids also LOVE when you use photos of them ...I would use my ditigal camera and have them pose for a word or hold a picture of a word or draw a picture for the words in the song, take the picture and then print them just on reg paper in black and white. I've also tried to have someone photographing different singing times of when kids have been PEREFECT singers and put them on display..smiling, SITTING in their seats. One of my favorite phrases a real music teacher taught me is"EVERY song begins with SILENCE"...so you teach that to the children and after I while they learn you can't start the song until you have their attention and SILENCE. If you go to a teacher supply store you will be in heaven. I bought a pair of these blow up yellow dice that I have the kids roll...on one will be a song to sing and the other will be who or how to sing it, i.e. hum, boys only, fast, choppy, talk it
teachers only.. . I found that with the little ones not being able to read, the more PICTURE cues the better...but I would also try to help them MEMORIZE a word while teaching a song...you'll be AMAZED that those 3 year olds will be able to tell you that that word is OBEDIENCE even if you just write it on the board next week...and the BIGGER the picture the BETTER. I like to mix it up...but i found that putting the visuals on paint sticks made it easier for the little ones to keep the pictures high enough for the others to see...no so much bulk or two handed co-ordination needed. THe big SPINNING flower will come out at Michael's in Spring...I just put the song choices on there and let them spin...another favorite!Anytime you can use water, dirt, fire...you've got em'! I fill up my large tupperware bread bowl and let them choose a duck like the carnival game with the songs on the bottom...fun way to start teaching them DUCKS IN THE POND. I use a remote control car to weave in and out of the aisles towards those singing the best...sometimes I let THEM use it to help me pick the next helper...or I have songs on the wall and they drive the car to the one they want to sing. I 'm big on teaching them how to lead the different beats...you can see my jar of "batons"...let them choose, and often had several leading at the same time with the different sticks. The flyswater, sword and big butterfly are usually the first ones chosen. I also took at cheap straw hat from the dollar store with a bunch of strange objects to hot glue gun on to the hat. Each week, the best participating class got to choose and object for me to glue on the hat and then THEIR teacher would wear it during singing time the next week and then we'd pass it on the next....at the end of the year it was WAY gooped up...the wierder the objects I could find the better...we invited the Bishop in on the last Sunday in December and presented him with our BEST hat. The tubes are BOOM WHACKERs...you will LOVE THESE!!!! They are like chimes, except you have to hit them on your HEAD to get them to make the tone...yes, it can get a bit irreverant, but when they leard you are serious about not bringing them back if they get crazy...they get GREAT FAST. They are SO EASY To use because the whackers are marked and co-ordinate with the guitar chords at the top of each bar of music. I love to hide things under their chairs. ANY Game can be converted and used...liked JINGA or KERPLUNK...and I can pretty much pull ANYTHING into a gospel theme...so if you are stumped call me. The bowling, soft darts, basketball hoop...all boy favorites. I learned quickly that if you can cater to the boys the girls will still LOVE it and it will help with order. For senior it is fun to write the song on a poster--all words and then take strips away...or to have a puzzle for them to solve underneath the word strips like that old TV show....any crossword , word seek and find...you can google those and then print them big and use them for theme and concept reinforcement. I use bean bags and they have to pass it like a hot potatoe each person saying ONE word of the song as he gets it and then passes it. You can divide them into 2 sides and see which side can make it all the way through the song with no mistakes the fastest. Have teachers only learn the song while the kids watch...then the kids end up knowing it by the end...make a few teachers do solo parts for phrases and invite the bishop in to solo as well. THis works especially well if you have a new song with rythyms that need to be clapped...you can even let the kids clap with their teachers to help them. Singing time BINGO if fun but alot of work. I'm for simplify after you have your arsenal.
If you can still find one of those dancing flowers that is fun to turn on when they sing so they can see how their volumne affects the dancing. For the little ones as much hand action as you can include will help...keep those mouths and hands AND feet busy...busy is happy. OH...I am so envious...I love my calling right now...but CHOIRESTOR will be my favorite forever. I have some more stuff...but I couldn't get to it in the basement...if you run out and want more call me and I"ll go drag it out.

Family night with Torgerson's

Marta was sick sick sick on Monday and we made a trip to the emergency room...she has something wrong with her liver that we'll find out more about later this week...but it was fun for a little bit for us when her percocet was strong...She was saying STRANGE things. I remember after my c-sections how hard it would be to talk when I was on percocet.
We had her kids come join us for dinner and Family Home Evening along with the Torgersons...Danielle took an unexpected trip to visit her mom and dad in Atlanta. I thought I was helping out, but I think the kids were sad they missed out on another night EATING OUT with their Dad. Ron told us stories about his trip to Brazil and his experience going to the Temple.


































I'm in charge of the VIKING OF THE MONTH AWARDS at the High School for PTA...this week we had some AMAZING kids...a sophomore who has just now been declared 5 years clean after brain cancer, a girl who moved here unexpectedly after her Dad died in California so her mom could start a buisness here...all the kids are recognized for some outstanding service or/and scholarship. It's like my warm fuzzy for the month that people so young are shining so brightly for their goodness. Right after this awards meeting, I had the stark contrast of attending another PTA meeting where we learned of a boy in school whose mother had blamed him for HER syringes and the multiple times he had spent wrongly in Juvinelle Detention. And another bright kid whose parent doesn't want him, and will have to filter into the foster system...its a crazy world.

Josh...this snowman is for you...Look at the steps to see just how large it is. Largest snowman in the world. Imagine how big those TREES are for his arms!