Tuesday, December 31, 2013

          It is amazing that this is the last day of 2013.  The last twelve months have been filled with memorable events and activities many of which are landmarks in the lives of our family.  Blessings have been poured over us in rich abundance and I for one am grateful with all my heart for a loving Heavenly Father who has seen fit to bless us with so much.  Where much is given, much is expected; and I pray that we will all “step up to the plate” to give all the service we can, to be obedient in all the Lord has commanded of us, and to love our families and our fellow men as Christ would.

          I hope your New Year’s Eve was peaceful and safe and that you are happy with what you have done with 2013.  One Conference talk told of a young man working with his mother in the fields who wanted to look back over all they had accomplished.  She ignored him until the third request and then told him not to look back, but to look forward to all that still needed to be done.  I didn’t like that answer at first, but the past is behind us and the future is now where our work and focus lie.  So as we put to rest 2013, may we at least remember what we learned last year and stay on the righteous paths we forged.

          We are hearing lots of fireworks again and know that by midnight they will burst wide open. 

          Good night everyone, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Thank you so much for your love and support and all your prayers!  We love you!

Monday, December 30, 2013

          We spent the day getting our Family Home Evening ready for tonight and doing laundry.  It was great to work on it together although Glade gave the lesson since it is always in Spanish.  Glade insisted that I read a scripture in Spanish and it is still intimidating since everyone else speaks the language.  Oh, well!!  However, he was good to give me a break from all the cooking we have been doing and ordered a wonderful meal from one of the obreros who works in the temple and owns a restaurant.  He delivered chicken lasagna, rolls, and a green salad just as FHE was starting.  It was delicious.  I made Rice Krispie treats and we had water and Crystal Light to drink.  It all turned out well.  The following is Glade’s lesson on setting goals for the New Year and approaching them “straightway.”

blog, 30 de diciembre, 2013

Every Monday night the seven missionary couples, which include the temple presidency, have a home evening, rotating the responsibility for the lesson and refreshments.  The Cruzes traded with us because they went home to their family in San Pedro Sula.  We had a meal catered and designed a lesson around New Year’s goals.  We prepared a couple of “paper over the television” power point presentations and titled the lesson “Straightway,” using the scripture from Mathew 4: 18-22.  The Savior chose Peter, Andrew, John, and James and they straightway followed him.

Beverly read the scripture first in Spanish then in English.  I presented the lesson around the principle demonstrated by those disciples leaving their nets and straightway following Him.  The Spanish translation uses the words “al instante” in place of “straightway.”  I discussed with the group in Spanish and English the various meanings of both and their opposite meanings including procrastination.

These include; instantly, no curves or turns, no delays, no hesitations, a straight path.  We talked about the opposite of these words which is procrastination, including; putting off something intentionally and habitually which should be done.  I read the following poem:

                                  

“Procrastination is a silly thing;

It only makes me sorrow.

But I can change at any time;

I think I will tomorrow.

  I translated it in Spanish so it still sounded like a poem, sort of.

We talked about mapping a path after deciding on a goal and the invasion of delays, detours, discouragements, distractions despair, disinterest, and difficulties [see map “D”].  We discussed how procrastination—

·         Keeps us from going “straightway,”

·         Keeps us from receiving power from the Spirit to thwart the

          barrage of “D” invaders, and

·         Impedes us from obtaining our goal. 

One of the missionaries pointed out that in Mosiah 2:24 it says “. . . he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. . .”  By not procrastinating and by going straightway, we will be blessed and empowered with the strength to reach our worthy goals.  [See map “S”]

          I concluded by mentioning that, just as Peter took the first step to straightway follow the Lord, and grew from the disciple who denied Jesus three times to a man who could not be intimidated by anyone,  we also can achieve  unparalleled  growth and improvement in our lives as we follow the Savior “al instante” or “straightway”.

          I know that when we identify our worthy goals, map out our course straightway, do not procrastinate, and have faith in the Lord, we will be blessed with power to reach our goal.  He is there with us every step if we go straightway.

I used several ideas from Elder Marvin J. Ashton’s talk at the April, 1983 General Conference.

Have a Happy New Year and very successful attainment of your goals.

Love, Dad/Grandpa

   

Our group writing their "straightway" goals.

The young blond girl third from the left is the Starkey's daughter Maria who came for Christmas.  She is a civil engineering student attending BYU Provo.

All but the drinks!

Goals are written and it is time to eat!

Maria took a couple of pictures so Glade and I could be seen with our group.

Everyone loved the food that Brother Velaquez prepared and it quickly disappeared.

Map "D" showing deviations on the path to obtaining a goal.

Map "S" showing how we can receive power and strength to block the "D" detours  of procrastination by going "straightway" toward the goal. 

Sunday, December 29, 2013

          The bishop in our ward presented certificates of achievement to several Primary children in Sacrament Meeting who had memorized the Articles of Faith—or at least some of them.  A few of the little ones had learned five or six of them and the older children had learned them all.  They were so adorable as they scurried to the stand when their names were called.  There were some very little kids up there who looked to be about four years old.  After their certificates were given out, they took turns at the pulpit reciting each Article of Faith in turn.  The Spanish just rolled off from their tongues and was so delightful!   They spoke right up and gave excellent recitations.   A few older girls repeated the last one as a group.  Then they all sang “I Am a Child of God” together.  It was so heart-warming!

          Last week I was asked to play for a 30-voice missionary choir at a Christmas event created by the mission in this area for missionaries and investigators.  I had no idea what to expect from this meeting and was pleasantly surprised at its magnitude!  The chapel started filling up 30 minutes before start time and eventually six large buses brought people from all over the mission.   By 4:00 o’clock, the chapel and overflow were filled to capacity, and several minutes into the meeting—which started right on time!—the Mission President came to the pulpit and asked the missionaries to assist the newest arrivals in finding seats.  Close to 25-30 missionaries in the audience rose to help out and about 20 of them remained standing against the back wall during the rest of the meeting.    

          There were video clips depicting stories from the Savior’s life, music from the missionary choir, testimonials from four recently baptized couples (one of which was from our ward baptized on November 30) and messages from the Mission President.  It lasted only an hour and was a great meeting.  People milled around outside everywhere and weren’t anxious to leave.  Glade said it would be so exciting to be a missionary and have your investigators come to an event like this one.  He would love to do his mission all over again and share the Good News of the Gospel.  

Saturday, December 28, 2013

          The last three days have been the busiest we have seen since being here.  I love it when we see the patrons returning for consecutive sessions and consecutive days, and love participating with them in one aspect of temple work after another.  They become fast friends, and the smiles of recognition and warm hugs express the unspoken bonds created in the joy of doing temple work for them and their families in the Lord’s holy house.

          As I finished assisting one sister after a fairly lengthy routine, she stood in place and started telling me about something in Spanish.  I tried so hard to understand her words, but understood her feelings better.   I placed my hand on her arm as tears started and she cried as she finished sharing.  All I could do was listen with my heart and then embrace her.  She hugged me tight at length, and then recovered, dried her tears, and we parted with smiles.  It was a short encounter and may seem insignificant, but it was a tender moment that gave the day something special for me—and for her, too, I hope. 

Friday, December 27, 2013

           Today was largely a repeat of yesterday—very busy with the number of patrons superseding capacity.  Two beautiful brides in their wedding finery were posing for pictures in the front courtyard of the temple as we left our shift.

          The weather is surprisingly cool here and very breezy most days.  It is certainly not like the weather that welcomed us last April.  The temperatures don’t actually change that much, but the breezes make quite a difference.  It makes for good walking weather and we are grateful it isn’t hot.

          We are still pondering our goals for next year hoping to make them more meaningful and attainable. 

          Enjoy your week-end, love your families, and follow the Prophet! :)    

Thursday, December 26, 2013

          For some reason we assumed temple attendance would be fairly light right after Christmas, but we were wrong.  There were lots of buses here and the residence house is full of people.  The sessions were full, there was a wedding, and there were even a few baptisms.  There were people here for the first time including two sweet sisters who had tears running down their cheeks as they began their experience.  I was privileged to help them and felt their joy.  Three handsome little brothers age (about) ,4,6, and 8 came into the temple all dressed in their white pants, shirts, and ties, ready to be sealed to their parents.  They looked so adorable and again, I just wanted to hug them.  The parking lot is still teaming with people tonight and it will surely be busy for the next two days.  It is so great!!!

          Since Glade is going to give the Home Evening lesson Monday, we have been thinking about “New Year’s Resolutions.”  He is creating the lesson from an Ensign article called “Straight Forward”—which is the opposite of procrastination and is used in the scriptures.  We need a new perspective at this point in our lives.  The same things are still important to us, but newer and deeper motivations are on the drawing board.  We want to make it our best year ever!

          We hope your post holiday days are peaceful and that you love this time with your precious families.  All our love to you!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

          Merry Christmas, Everyone!  We hope you had a wonderful day.  It was very quiet here with only five couples in the entire residence building.  We met together for a Christmas dinner at 1:00 in the cafeteria and had a very nice meal together.  I made Idahoan Potatoes from Lewisville, ID, and they were great—creamy and cheesy—pumpkin sheet-cake with cream cheese frosting, and cookie-pudding salad.  Others brought rice, chicken, ham, scones, and apple pie.  There were alterations to my recipes since all of the ingredients were not available, but everything turned out fine and it was good to share a meal with these friends.  We walked our three miles this morning and should have walked again tonight after eating all the yummy food available at dinner. 

It made our Christmas to Skype with our kids and was fun to do it in a group.  We love and miss everyone, but know that the blessings are flowing and it was so good to talk and share in person.

          Glade and I played Yahtzee tonight and are ready to turn in a little early since we go back to the temple early in the morning.  There is already one small bus here and at least one other excursion is scheduled to be here tomorrow through Saturday.  It will be “business as usual.”  Good Night!   

We walked outside just before midnight and looked out over the city.
The fireworks started early in the evening, escalated to their peak about midnight,
and then tapered off in the early morning hours.  

Starting the food line for our Christmas dinner.
Glade went to get a pillow for his back so didn't get in the picture
and then I forgot to take more.

 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

          “But it’s December the 24th; and I am longing to be up North---I’m dreaming of a White, Christmas; just like the ones I used to know; where the treetops glisten, and children listen to hear, sleigh bells in the snow.  I’m dreaming of a White Christmas; with every Christmas card I write.  May your days be Merry and bright; and may all your Christmases be white!”

          It was a great Christmas Eve day although very different—quiet and peaceful.  No scrambling to get cooking and cleaning finished, no moving furniture  to make room for lots and lots of chairs, no wrapping those last presents for games and exchanges, no making cheesecake or a last minute run to Broulim’s, no anticipating a house full of company, the family band, the family nativity, meatballs and pizza.  We have grand memories that warmed us and cheered us and hope you all did, too.

          The family who invited us for Christmas Eve picked us up about 6:00 p.m. and drove us to their house which is about 10 minutes away.  It was a little eerie to leave the compound in the dark; but we prayed for a peaceful evening while we stood in the parking lot waiting for them and listened to the fireworks (at least we hoped that those sounds were fireworks!).  They had a few relatives there as well and a family who are fairly new converts.  A missionary from Mexico stopped by and used their computer to Skype his family and had to do it right in the middle of the all the noise and confusion of lots of people on Christmas Eve.  He talked loud, though, and so did his family; and you could tell they were all so happy to be touching base and talking to each other.  It was awesome to see how happy they were and he was unaffected by the chaos. 

          The food was wonderful and everything was very casual.  We ate chicken baked in Italian dressing, rice, a potato dish, sauteed veggies, and baked and sweetened squash.  A huge piece of pork was cooking in the oven but wasn’t done yet.  The meal was informal and we ate first with the hosts.   Most of them were waiting for the pork.  I took part of our pumpkin sheet cake and the cookies for the kids to frost.  We loved the feeling in their home and they were so good to us.  It helps me that they speak English—especially Lupe.  “The Grinch” played in the background and the kids were in and out playing with balls and cars and “notebooks.”  The kids seemed to love their gifts and all in all it was a great evening.  They brought us back around 8:15 and then returned to spend the rest of the night eating and celebrating.

          I can still hear fireworks and assume we will hear them all night.  We miss you all and hope you each have a beautiful Christmas.  All our love to you!

           

Elder Reyes Skyping with his family in Mexico

Part of the "feast."

Our hosts--Angel and Lupe--with Glade

One of their friends on the left and Maloree--Lupe's daughter--on the right.

Like I said above--the "Grinch" was playing in the background, but no one was really watching--except for me.  It was all about nostalgia and memories of all my little kids, and big ones, and grand kids, watching this every year

Their home has a concrete patio area outside the front door that is enclosed by walls, bars, and gates.  It happens to be big enough to house their enclosed trampoline.
The children have a little room to play there with their balls and trucks.

The dad, Angel, is holding Darwin in the back and is standing next to Lupe.
Marloree and Moroni are in the front.

I couldn't decide which photo to use, so I just inserted both of them.:)

All of us together!!

Lupe's Christmas tree.  

Monday, December 23, 2013

          This was a restful and peaceful day with all the practices and programs finished.  There was a great station on Jango radio that played wonderful nostalgic Christmas music and created a perfect background for baking roll-out cookies. 

We have been invited for Christmas Eve dinner to the house of the lady who took us shopping last week—the young mom who grew up in Utah.  I am taking the cookies to their house along with frosting (chocolate since we couldn’t find food coloring) and some sprinkles that I borrowed from Sister Bassett.  I thought the little kids would have fun frosting their own.  I made snowmen (from an acorn cookie shape—just added “heads” to the top of the nut) Christmas trees (from an oak leaf—just shaped the trunk and straightened it out a little) and then maple leaves that just stayed maple leaves.  It felt good to do a little baking and it smelled like home.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

          Today I played a piano solo in Church.  It was a Christmas medley including Away in a Manger, Silent Night, and Beautiful Savior arranged by Marshall McDonald.  His arrangements flow so beautifully and it was fun to play.  After the meetings, the choir director said that the stake president had asked me to play for the special Christmas program which was to be held in the afternoon.  This was the same program that the choir had been practicing for.

Choir practice was held at 3:00 p.m. and lasted until 4:30.  (The program was scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.)  It was held outdoors in the parking lot so the temple could be seen in the background.  Members carried all the chairs from the church and arranged them in the parking lot for the audience and the choir.

A big truck pulled up and unloaded electronics which included microphones, giant speakers, a booming sound system, screens for video clips, and lighting, etc.  It was so impressive and I know people could hear the sounds a mile away.  A podium and staging area were set up in front with really nice chairs for the speaker and those presiding!

          Finally, about 5:00 o’clock, they started.  There was a big crowd.  Some of the wards use buses to bring their members to church activities and there were some here tonight.

I had put scotch tape in my purse and was glad since I had to tape some of the music (photocopies that I had to re-line and notate) to the piano to keep the breeze from lifting it away.  It doesn’t take much breeze to stir sheets of paper.

Darkness descended before the program was over and Glade held my phone-flashlight on the music with one hand and steadied the music in the breeze with the other to get me through and enhance the light from the spotlight behind me. 

(Alexis did the same thing last year at the end of November when the power went off during sacrament meeting and I was supposed to do a musical number.  I was on the stand and went to the piano wondering if I could see to play and caught her eye.  She held up her phone with a questioning look and I nodded!  She came up and sat beside me on the bench and held the light on my music so I could play.  It was awesome—and we knew just what to do tonight!)   

An electric piano from the YW room was brought out for the choir.  I told them that doing a special number on that piano wasn’t going to be very effective.  They said, “Oh, we’ll plug it into the PA system and it will be fine.  Well, you know how much interpretation you can get from an electronic piano—almost none, and I was a wreck trying to decide what to do because I knew it would be a huge let down.  We were looking around for the piano bench when I turned toward the chapel and saw nearly a dozen men carrying the piano from the chapel out to the parking lot where they placed it next to the choir.  I don’t know who made the decision to get the “real” piano, but I didn’t even feel guilty—just so grateful!!!  It made the whole experience so much better.  The choir did about ten numbers plus some for prelude and postlude, so it helped the choir and it helped me!!

Just as the closing prayer was said, it started to rain.  The choir did two of their four postlude numbers and then it was too wet—the keys were getting slippery and the breeze was blowing my music out of control.  We all went for cover while the men rescued the piano, and suddenly there were people everywhere putting everything away and out of the rain.  That is the fastest “clean-up” work we have seen in a long time.  Then the rain stopped and it was all very peaceful.

It was a beautiful program and I know Heavenly Father was attending us and providing what we lacked to make it wonderful.  The video clips were so touching and the choir did great!!  It was really different to have it outside, but it worked! 

Setting Up

The sun is still up!

Choir getting ready--on the left, the choir director and a "helper" are trying to get sound from the electric piano.  In the top left corner is the Christmas tree that has been in the chapel foyer for about a month.  They moved it outside for the program.

Getting  some of the electronics set up--the best screen ended up being the side of the white equipment truck which was much bigger than this screen. 

This was the electronic piano.  It is very nice for the Young Women's room, but out here, it didn't quite make the grade.  The choir director is on the left in the gray suit and ponytail.

I asked Glade to get a picture of the sunset, and he included me.  Bless his sweet heart!

The choir--at least the front row.

More of the choir and the "real" piano.
          You can see the podium and staging area to the right next to the big white truck.

It's almost over and the rain would soon shower us.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

          Three buses were added this morning to the four that were already here and the grounds were a beehive of activity.  There were newly married couples posing with families for wedding photos, happy little children running and playing having been freed from the confines of the bus ride, restless teenagers waiting to do baptisms, and adults lined up for temple ordinance work.  Busy, busy, busy!

          Our ward had a Christmas program and dinner tonight, but we were too tired to go and just went home to eat together and relax.  Two sweet temple workers have invited the couple missionaries to their homes for a dinner during the holidays—one on January 1^st and one on January 4^th.  Hummmm . . .

          Have a great week-end.  Hug your kids and love your spouse—second only to loving and serving the Savior, this precious consideration is important above all else.  Love to you all.

              

   

Friday, December 20, 2013

          Patrons from four large buses kept the temple busy again today.  Tomorrow will see them pack up and head for home leaving everything here quiet in the downtime when the temple is closed for Christmas.  It will be closed after Saturday until the day after Christmas, so we will have a short break.

          When we sat down to eat a bite before bed tonight, Glade scrolled through the few English channels we have—basically the networks—and found “It’s A Wonderful Life”!  I was so excited--Glade, not so much--oh, well :)    It was half over, but the best half was left and still brought warm and happy feelings at the end.  It was a touch of Christmas away from home and is such a classic with a great message.   Hope you all get to see it this season!! J      

Thursday, December 19, 2013

           The temple workers were in short supply today, so we did double duty all afternoon and evening.  The best days are the ones that keep us really busy.

          Enjoy your last week-end before Christmas.  We pray for you always, but especially now with travel, activities, and inclement weather challenging your days.  We send you all our love and warmest wishes.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

          There was a problem with the water today and about noon it completely disappeared from our housing and the temple.  It was quite interesting to work all afternoon and evening with no water, but adjustments were made and it was—carry on as usual.  There was even a youth group who chose to stay and do baptisms even though they couldn’t shower afterward.  The water was restored about an hour before the day ended so we could at least start all the laundry from the baptisms, etc.  I think we are going to buy more bottled water for our apartment!!

          Communication is still hard, but it is not so stressful now.  I am trying to speak more, but most of the time the recipients don’t understand me and I don’t understand them, but at least we are talking.  Then we smile and shrug and try to work through it.  It will probably always be like that because of the nature of the work and the schedule which limits practice.  However, I feel really good about doing the things in Spanish that are required of me and it gets easier all the time.  That’s a plus I’m very thankful for.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

          It’s hard to believe that Christmas Eve is a week from today.  This is the first time in nearly 30 years that we haven’t hosted the Family Christmas Eve Party at our house.  Wow—we will miss it and all of you.  Perhaps this is a good year to be away since it has been so cold.  I hope it warms up for next week.  The Christmas hymns playing in the temple today were more nostalgic than ever, but it was a warm cozy feeling and I loved hearing them.

          Three large buses and two smaller ones were here this morning so it was another busy day of temple work.  People just keep coming and coming and it is so great.

The palm leaves surrounding the our nativity dried up and blew away and were replaced by these beautiful poinsettias

Monday, December 16, 2013

          A sweet sister in our ward offered to drive us for groceries today so that we didn’t have to take a taxi.  Two of her children were in school and the two-year-old came with us.  She is of Mexican decent but moved to Utah with her parents when she was two years old and was raised in Salt Lake where she attended West High.

          Of course her English is great since she was raised in Utah, and we had a delightful morning.  She stopped at Little Caesar’s Pizza on the way home and treated us to pizza for lunch.  While we were there, she shared her story with us about how she and her husband ended up in Honduras.  It is rather lengthy and some of it is terrifying, so it is hard to know just what to share. 

          Her husband is from Honduras.  They met in Utah after his father and family, who had a thriving cheese-making business in Honduras, were robbed, threatened, and his mother kidnapped for days and then just left along the roadside.  This woman managed to survive.   Just prior to this experience, the husband was able to get a gun away from thieves who were robbing tithing money from the Church.  They made terrible threats against him.  After his wife survived the kidnapping and beating, he gathered his family and fled to the United States where they developed a good business but did not get citizenship. 

          After the young couple, who met at West High, married, they had three beautiful children, a home, and a good job.  Both of their families were close by and all seemed well.  However, her husband encountered some difficulties—texting while driving—and after swerving his car, was arrested for a DUI and sent to jail for three months.  No one would believe he wasn’t drinking—a little racial profiling perhaps.  It was a terrible time for them.  She had to work two jobs and take care of her children and worry every day about what would happen to them.

          Well, he was turned over to immigration and given eight months to get the family’s affairs in order and then return to Honduras.  Neither of them had U.S. citizenship even though this mom had been raised in the U.S. since age two.  So, two years ago, they came to Tegucigalpa leaving behind their families and the life they had known.  It was especially hard for her because she had never lived here.  He works for the Church here as a contractor and serves as Elder’s Quorum President in our ward.   They are a beautiful little family. 

          This is an extremely dangerous country where people are threatened, robbed, etc., etc., every day.  Law enforcement does little to help and gangs are rampant and ruthless.  Even here her husband has been threatened and she is afraid to let her children play outside.  They ask to go to the park like they did in Utah, and she has to say no.  It has been so hard for her. 

          She has an amazing attitude and we were so impressed by her strength and great outlook, knowing that she can still help people here and serve the Lord.   Her patriarchal blessing has given her great peace about their situation.  I know she is homesick and misses her family and her life in the U.S.  But she showed no anger or bitterness as she told us her story.  She is a patient mom who loves her children and will raise them in righteousness. 

          The kids, Moroni--7, Malorie--8, and Darwin--2 helped her make chocolate chip cookies tonight and they brought us a plate about 8:00 p.m. and sang “We Wish you a Merry Christmas.”  I finally had kids to hug tonight, and they had “stand-in grandparents” to share their cookies with.    

Darwin warmed up to me and I finally had a child to hug!

Scenes like this still amaze me.  It is like this all over the city and I'm surprised the whole city doesn't blow-up!

This is Lupe--the friend who took us to get groceries today and shared her story.

Our FHE group went to the City Mall and had dinner together.  This is only part of the group.  The van that was hired to take us all together didn't show up, so we had to come in shifts in smaller cars.

How did that elf get in there!

Still not everyone, but--oh, there's that elf again!

This is one huge tree.

There are the elves!   These were fun decorations.

Sunday, December 15, 2013                              Blog 15 de dic, 2013

Wednesday morning when I was out exercising Arjeni, one of my security guard friends, asked if I could make arrangements for him to attend church.  I said, “Si” and met him at the door today.  After a great Sacrament Meeting I mentioned Sunday School was next.  He asked if he could attend.  I said, “seguro que si.”  After an exceptional Gospel Essentials class, I told him about Priesthood Meeting. “Can I come?” he asked.  “Ciertamente,” I said.  Again he listened intently to a very good lesson after which he told me that his boss has  given permission for one or two of the guards to come to church every week.  He asked if I could meet them at the door.  “Por supuesto,” I said.  Arjeni is the one who, seven months ago, asked me if I would say a prayer with the guards every morning and one month ago he asked how he could become a member of our church.  Missionary work here is so hard.  I had to use four different versions of “yes” to answer his questions today.

Love, Dad/Grandpa

Mom-Bev’s Paragraph:

          This afternoon was Sister Cazier’s long-awaited music recital.  She has worked very hard to bring music experience to as many ward members—young or old—as possible.  She taught a class after the Sunday block for months giving basics in music conducting, reading notes and time values, and playing the pipes in her “bells” choir.  She and her husband purchased five or six keyboards from the distribution center and lent them to anyone who wanted to practice.  They faithfully carried them to and from Church every Sunday and patiently helped anyone who was interested in learning music.  The recital was very organized and moved over 40 participants through the program very efficiently.  It was great.

          After the recital, it was time for the Stake choir to practice, so I took something soft to sit on for the piano bench and stayed for another stretch.  It was so fun—they had photocopies of “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” “Deck the Halls,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and some I had never heard of before.  They were pretty poor copies and I had to do some quick notation, but it was great fun to hear them sing all these songs in Spanish.  They did one verse of “O Holy Night” in English and it was really good.

Children in the Music Recital tonight.   Sister Starkey took the photos and sent them to me.
 Most of the 42 numbers were piano, some were vocal, some were ensembles.
Glade sang in a men's quartet.

Sister Bassett made bow ties for all of the men and boys.

This is the Navas family and they own the bakery where we buy our yummy bread.
Their family sang a song together.

Pre-Program time.

Glade was a little abandoned here, but not for long.  There wasn't a capacity crowd when the recital started,
but before too long, the chapel was full!  I don't understand why people don't come on time :)

These are people from our ward and are not from the same family.  The young man in the center spoke in Church today and is leaving this week for a mission to Peru.  His mother is on his left next to Sister Starkey.  

Sorry, but I couldn't make this work.  Maybe I will get coaching and try again tomorrow or the next day.