Once again I find myself here at my computer, filled with gratitude! Much happens every single day in our bustling home of many!
Last week B and I drove quickly overnight to support our L in playing in the BYU-I Harp Ensamble. She is beautiful! I am grateful to be her mother!
It was the first time B has taken the opportunity to drive up there to hear her. We are so grateful for Sister Pack and her many contributions to the music program that our dear Liesl loves so much! It was a beautiful concert and I am grateful I got to be there once again. A favorite was the final number that was I Stand All Amazed. I took a bumpy video of that piece, but this blog won't let me upload it. Check the album folder for it. Makes me smile to hear that beautiful music! Thank you Liesl!
We hurried home Friday afternoon because, Saturday morning Elder Corbridge now of the Quorum of the Seventy, formerly the Stake President that sent B on his mission and was our President when we got married, was in St. George to reorganize our stake presidency. Brad's interview was at 9:30 that Saturday morning. I was with the kids preparing the final details for our Jubilee Tree which was to be set up the following Tuesday.
We have not done a Jubilee of Trees tree for a few years, but this year they called asking for help while I sat in the surgery waiting room, waiting for Jed to come from neck surgery with Dr. Fox! How could I say no? I am so grateful for the great hospital that we have in our community that allowed my own son to be cared for by excellent doctors right here! I am indeed grateful for Dr. Clark and his staff, and for Dr. Fox and his staff! Tears! The need this year is to further develop the Neuroscience units allowing them to perform even more specialized work then they currently have the possibilities of doing. I am so grateful for Dr. Fox's Neuro team who were able to put my Jed's neck completely back together! I am grateful! Grateful to our Loving Heavenly Father who watched over our son and protected his spinal column allowing him to continue to hope to enjoy life fully functioning with all parts of his body! Miracles! Thank you Heavenly Father!
So for our Jubilee of Trees tree, I recruited two neighbors, Mindy Snow and Ashley Metcalf, and together we each picked four families to donate a book and three supporting ornaments.
We built this cool old spool bookcase which is awesome in that it gets the train off the floor and up so you can play with it, it gives a place for all the Christmas books around the base of the tree... it is super cool! Mindy's idea! And we also built a super cool wood swing out of old wood we had laying around! It was soo amazing! Here is a glimpse:
This is the finished project with the help of Mindy Snow, Ashley Metcalf and Dianne Fullmer. It was super fun! We had families donated a book and three related ornaments again this year. It seems that everyone involved appreciated being included and loved having a part of it! We won the Foundation Choice award.
On top of all that activity, Brad was called Saturday afternoon to serve as the 2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency. Our stake was divided into two, creating the new South Gate Stake. We remain in the Bloomington Stake. We are overwhelmed, but desire to serve and show our obedience to our Heavenly Father! This week we have been studying this talk by Elder Maxwell titled "Answer Me" which ends: "May we, brothers and sisters, answer Him with the entirety of our lives, sincerely singing, “We feel it a pleasure to serve thee, And love to obey thy command.” (Hymns, 1985, no. 19.)"