Volleyball Nationals

 Wyatt finished up his volleyball career with USAV Nationals in Dallas. His team did amazing and ended up 10-1. They got Silver in the 18 Club division. He spent his free time in Dallas checking out the JFK Memorial, going to the Dallas World Aquarium, and of course eating barbecue.  It has been wonderful watching Wyatt mature and grow in his volleyball skills.  He really loves this sport.  And I'm going to miss going to his games, cheering him on. 

Happy Birthday Carson

 Happy Birthday, Carson.  He celebrated his 20th birthday in Sequim, Washington.  His companion bought him a chocolate cake from Walmart to celebrate.  Just think, next year, you'll be home!!

Dance Weekend

 I took a quick trip to Utah for the girl’s dance concert.  My day started with a warm (already 70 at 6:30!) walk along my favorite river trail.

I was also able to attend the new Orem Temple.  True story...As I was just going up the steps to go in, Jefferry Holland was being wheeled out!  He smiled, waved, and said he hoped we would have a  great time in the temple.  I commented to the lady in front of me, "I'm from California.  That doesn't happen just every day!"  Her reply, "I'm from Utah.  That doesn't happen every day here either!!"

 And now, the dance concert.  The girls were wonderful.. They are now in the same company, which means they are on stage at the same time.  They have gotten so good., And I'm extremely proud of them.

TreeTrim

 Every two years I have to get the two Chinese Elm trees trimmed. I probably should have it done ever year, but it's so expensive, I stretch it out to two.  The company I use is wonderful.  They are real artists.  They cut a branch or two and then step back to look at their work and see what to trim next.  The difference between the before and after is amazing.

Emma's Hawaii Trip

 

Earlier in the year Emma auditioned for the Southern California Regional Choir and was accepted.  Then she went on to California All State Choir, where she performed in Sacramento.  And lastly, she traveled to Hawaii to perform with the National Honor Choir. She traveled by herself and met new friends (who called her Mama Emma because she planned out what to do every day), performed five times, went to the PCC and Pearl Harbor, did a lot of reading on the beach, and ate a lot of pineapple. What an amazing experience.

Monday's Memory--Westminster Building

 

While I was at the church yesterday for the potluck, I thought back to the history of that building.  It was a member funded and member built chapel.  I remember mom getting dad to agree to donate their tax return to help.  She was so happy.  We had sacrifice dinners and auctions to raise money.  Somehow, we did it!  The superintendent of the project was our bishop, Bishop Woodhouse, and members would go down to help where they could.  Milo helped lay the insulation in the cultural hall.  He and some of his buddies showed up early one morning so they could help with the steeple.  I wasn't much help...but I do remember cleaning windows as the building was being readied for dedication.

Towards the end of the evening, I walked around the building, capturing all of the special places that held so many memories.

The chapel

especially the choir loft

and the sacrament table

where Todd, Johnny, and JJ spent so many
years blessing the sacrament.
 (This picture is from mom's memorial service.)

The bishop's office.  I happened to time it when Bishop Bob
was there.

The RS room.  I taught lot's and lots of RS and
SS lessons in this room, not to mention countless
choir practices.

The cultural hall-so many dinners, parties, ball games,
road shows and talent shows.  The list could go on and on.

The kitchen

Westminster Ward Farewell Potluck

 As I posted earlier, Westminster Ward is no longer.  They announced the changes one Sunday, and the following Sunday we were to attend our new wards.  We didn't get a chance to say goodbye to anyone or to the building.  So, we organized a potluck to do just that.  It was so very bittersweet...mostly bitter.  I have grown up with these people.  They were not just my ward, but truly my family.

I moved into the Westminster Ward in July,1961 just as I was about to enter 7th grade.  We were part of the Garden Grove Stake, going to church in an old packing warehouse on Garden Grove Blvd.  It was adjacent to a train track, and I remember sometimes the building shaking because a train went by.  Classrooms were in the basement and divided by curtains, so you could hear what was going on all around you.  It was a few years later that we were able to build the Westminster building. 

We took some group photos...

All those who had been in the ward 50+ years!

The RS sisters

The Priesthood brothers

The one nearest and dearest to my heart...the ward choir

I had been the ward choir director for most of the last 40 years.  A couple of times I asked to be released because I needed a break...I just didn't have another Christmas program in me.  And then, a year or two later, I'd say I was ready, and they would put me back in.  The funny thing about this picture is Allen King, right next to me.  He was never in choir.  He couldn't carry a tune, but that didn't stop him from asking if he could be in choir.  I always said yes and he's laugh.  But he never joined us.  That became a running joke between us. He still tells everyone that will listen that I babysat him!  He is one year younger than me.  I've know him since high school and I am sure going to miss him and his kidding.  

Tom and Bonnie--Tom was my brother, Milo's friend in high school.  I remember them going to church dances in Tom's VW bug.  I remember him coming home from BYU after his mission with Bonnie.  She became on of my best and closest friends.  Their son, JJ and my Todd were best friends all growing up...they did everything together.  Todd even named his second son Luke Jason after JJ.  Tom was Amy's surrogate dad for church activities.  He was the one who presented her when she earned her YW medallion.  I always sat right in front of them at church.  I'm going to miss that.

Barbara and Bob--I meet these guys as newlyweds, as they moved into our ward.  Instant friendships formed.  Barb and I were pregnant together and I remember sitting in the hot tub at their apartment and comparing stomachs.  And wondering if  these kids would become friends.  Well, they did become friends...best friends.  Todd named his first son Tayson Davis.  Along with JJ, they went on missions together, went to proms, got their Eagles, played ball, and attended endless campouts.  They certainly were the three amigos.  Bob cosigned for me when I tried to by my first car after my divorce and my credit rating was awful.  He was there for Todd and became his surrogate dad.  Barb and I have served on many presidencies over the years, we have enjoyed many shows together, and I have grown to love her as a sister. She has sat with me at church for the last eight or nine years while Bob was serving as bishop.  Who am I going to sit with now?!

Ed and Ann Mitchell-I was actually the camp councilor to Ann when she was in high school.  I have watched her grow up and become an amazing woman. She babysat my kids for a while when they were in elementary school.  I met Ed when he was dating Lori Anderson, now Fronk.  He went off on his mission and when he returned, they were no longer together, but he started dating Ann. I love Ann's sweet spirit and I'm going to miss our heartfelt talks.

My ward family!!!

5K Every Day in May

 5K everyday in May completed!! Bucket list item checked off!! I usually only walk 5 days a week, so it was a challenge to get out there every day. I loved finding different places to walk, the beach being my favorite. Disney World was hard because of the heat and humidity. But I’m proud of myself for accomplishing this goal. Until next year! #123.93miles #thankskathyfortheidea #imnotwalkingtoday