Life update:

It has been a busy summer, and life is proving eventful and busy as ever. But all is well, and we are healthy and happy.

We took the kids to Disneyland last month. The video is in the last post.

Michael and Becca are growing up so fast. Michael is catching up to Becca in his talking, and it makes for quite the conversation in the house. Becca told me the other day that Daddy and I were going to get married in the temple. I told her we were already married. She said, "Yeah, and I'm going to marry Michael!" So she's half-way there - we just got her to stop thinking she's going to marry Daddy. But it's so cute.

I am getting ready for a couple of exciting things. First, I get to sing in the choir for the general RS meeting at the end of September. We had our first practice last week, and it was amazing - it felt like a singing, grown-up version of girls' camp. Sister Allred was even there - just to be there! So it's fun and exciting. I'm also getting to start and direct a city children's choir for Clearfield City. Here is the chain of events that led to that: Mike volunteered me to sing in Sacrament Meeting for ward conference; a counselor in the stake presidency heard me and told his wife, who is the stake choir director; she invited me to sing in the stake choir; I went to practice and told her about myself and how I enjoy conducting choirs; she told the mayor about me; the mayor talked to me at stake choir (he is the stake organist) and asked me if I'd like to start an auditioned, city, children's choir; I said, "Of, course!" and am now working with the city activities department to get the information out and hold auditions in two weeks! The mayor even bought a new piano for us to practice with :) And he showed up at my house last Sunday just to talk things over. It is really exciting to get to do it, and to get to know the city officials. We are all hoping for Carnegie Hall in a couple of years...

Mike continues to work hard at work and many other projects. He has a long list of things to help friends with on top of our own yard that still has a long way to go. But he is working hard and is sweet to help me around the house, too.

Thought for the week ahead: Sister Allred spoke very briefly at our practice to us, and there were a couple of neat things she said. First, she explained how picky they are about the music they sing at general church meetings. She said they try to pick hymns that are familiar to all who will hear them - and some countries have only a small number of hymns. Hence why we hear the same hymns a lot at General Conference. She also said because they do choose familiar hymns and the Spirit of the music, it is often the only thing that is understood by those in other countries - the meaning of the spoken words may be lost in translation, but the Spirit of the music is felt by all who hear it. She also really encouraged us to up our scripture study and prayer in preparation for Conference, and talked about how Satan will be working extra hard on us in the coming month. I think that is applicable to everyone. So watch out for Satan this month and put up your guard!

Disneyland

I know this is long overdue - but here is a video of us at Disneyland last month. Hope you enjoy it!