Singing with angels

Three weeks ago there was an announcement in our bulletin at church that our stake was being invited to sing with the other stake for the Forgotten Carols. The other stake has put it on for the last several years and it has just gotten bigger and better every year. I told dad that I thought he should go sing with them and it ended up that we are both going. There are others from our ward doing it as well so we have a good carpool to go to Inkom on sunday evening. I feel like I am singing with angels. Many of the people have done this before so it isn't as if we are just beginners and I must admit that we sound wonderful.

Two years ago I went to it the first time they did it in our performing arts center at the school. I was so impressed. It was just as good as the professionals that do it every year with Michael McLean. It seemed even better to me because I knew so many of the talented people that performed in it. Dale Belnap, Brian Burke, Carol Barker and many other friends from my bookmobile days.

We will be performing The Forgotten Carols on November 20 & 21 if anyone would like to come. I can get tickets for the Friday night performance. The tickets are free but you have to have one to get in. This has become a really big thing in our area and it is hard to get tickets towards the performance dates. They have packed crowds both nights. If you would like to see it just let me know.

Once again slave labor

When we did the storage room several weeks ago, Dad said that maybe he would take the duct work from the furnace out to make more room. I agreed it would be nice but didn't really expect it to happen so fast. The very next week he tore some of the ductwork out and made the biggest mess There was black soot everywhere. I wanted to get the shelves out and everything cleaned but he wanted to do more of the ductwork. On Columbus day he didn't have to work but I did. He took the rest of the ductwork out and made an even bigger mess. when I got home from work I took all the stuff out of the room again and with the help of the Shelton boys brought some sheetrock and the old blackboard downstairs and we put it up on the walls of the storage room. I then spent parts of the next three days washing off every can, bottle, shelf and bucket and then put it all back together.


Dad would really like to take out the whole furnace but that is an even bigger job and I don't want the mess again. It would make that room a great storage room but I am satisfied with it the way it is. The wheat grinder is actually inside the furnace in the space dad emptied.

Treasures ( junk) from the dryer

So, the dryer was making a horrible grinding noise and after several times of reminding dad that it was on his to-do list but not on Saturday when I can actually use the dryer, he finally took it apart to find out what was wrong. I expected to find all those missing socks but they must have wasted away to lint. Instead here is what he found.
Kellie student body card 1993-94
Jim lunch card grade 11
Jake Middle school card 1995-1996
Kate Middle school student body card 98-99 8th grade
Jared middle school student body card 2002-2003
Evan Fullmer Preston library card
7 pennies that have slightly melted from the heat and one good quarter.
Now we know where all those cards went.

The dryer makes less of a noise but still doesn't sound very happy about working. It must be mine ;) Maybe John still has a card melted in there somewhere.

From the Newsletter

This picture and article were in the newsletter that I get about every month. Way to go John. We know you are the best.
Marine funny

Soon after being transferred to a new duty station, my Marine husband called home one evening to tell me he would be late. "Dirty magazines were discovered in the platoon quarters, " he said, " and the whole squad is being disciplined."

I launched into a tirade, arguing that Marines should not be penalized for something so trivial.

My husband interrupted, "Honey, when I said 'dirty magazines' I meant the clips from their rifles hadn't been cleaned."

Keep it clean John.

Atta Boy John!!!

I received this letter (Dad said "He has only one parent?) about John's promotion. Way to go John.

6 hours of slave labor

On Saturday dad and I completely changed the furnace room/storage room around. I needed more shelf space so I could really use the small room more effectively. I started moving all the stuff out of the room while Dad did the dishes (yes, without being asked he did the dishes). He then helped me move out the old shelves and put in the new. He moved the lights that John had put in so they were in more convenient places and gave good suggestions on the shelves. My room is now much better and it also made it possible for me to move all the cans out of the cupboard by the bathroom and just use it for crackers, chips, snacks and such. We were both pretty beat by the time we were through and dad's comment was "I suppose you want to do this cleaning and organizing in every room in the house" (He saw my list).

I am so grateful for dad's help. He certainly makes it easier.

It's Finally Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My project that was going to take four days and dad wasn't going to know about until it was all done is finally done--well almost. I need to clean the carpet and get a black garbage can but that will come. Notice doors on all the cupboards.

The new refrigerator that Kimber and LeRoy got us. I love it and it was Kimber's idea for the black to complement the colors.

After my neighbor Willie Lish got involved it became a more professional job but took more time because it became his schedule we worked around. It is so totally worth it as you can see from the pictures. I must admit that under the sink was all my idea and my work. Dad cut the boards but I did the rest including stuffing insulation in every possible place I could under there to maybe keep the pipes from freezing.

Of course, this now makes the rest of my house really need a make over but maybe just a good cleaning will suffice.