Relief Society Choir

I had a remarkable experience of singing in a Relief Society Choir, made up of 360 women from 6 stakes in the Kearns Region for the annual General Relief Society meeting Sept. 25 in the Conference Center. We began weekly rehearsals August 15 at a Kearns stake center, and had to memorize four wonderful hymn arrangements (Count Your Blessings, Carry On, More Holiness, and The Spirit of God). We were provided cd's to rehearse to, which we all did as we drove to and from work each day. The music was easier to memorize than the words. See if you can memorize the three verses of "More Holiness Give Me"!
Sept. 18, we had a dress rehearsal in the Conference Center, when all of the photos below were taken. The green badges were our security clearance to enter the building that day, and the day of the meeting.

I sang 1st alto, one of four parts. I am at top left among both 1st and 2nd altos. Kearns High choral director, Alyce Mutter, is the lowest person in photo.

Small, but you may be able to click on it to make it larger...I'm just above center.

Our marvelous, inspiring director, Carol Jolley, who has done this before.

Tabernacle organist, Linda Margets, accompanied us.

Our General RS President, Julie Beck's, 5 nieces and their sister-in-law(far end) sang a verse of "the Spirit of God". Carol Jolley was their voice teacher. The lady in red is arranging us and checking attire as we rehearse. She ALWAYS had a smile, was cheerful and uplifting, and though she didn't sing in the choir, she sang along with us as she went about her business.

Two flutists also accompanied "The Spirit of God".

The amazing three women who played french horn to "Carry On!" Days before the meeting, their parts were rewritten, but they had no problem. They are members of the Orchestra on Temple Square.

I can't begin to tell you how many times the Spirit touched me and every one of us involved in this glorious experience. Being in company with the general Relief Society presidency and board members from week to week, and then in the presence of our prophet and his counselors, up close and personal, will remain with us for a life time.

End of September 2010

While Von and I were in Fresno, we had arranged for Rosie to paint our bedroom. She did a nice job and it has a new look. Just two walls painted light blue.

We took a couple fun hikes, around Silver Lake again.

Lexi fell asleep on a grueling hike up the mountain with her dad Geo caching.

Another hike along the Jordan River Parkway.

A fun afternoon of swimming at our favorite outdoor pool.

Camron and Tyler playing some flag football. Their first time with team sports.

We treated outselves to a Hale Theatre musical, The Pirates of Penzance, for Jon's birthday.

Jon now 28.

A recent discovery of a hornets nest the size of a volleyball in our backyard bush!

Birthday Vacation

Von and I made the annual trek to hometown Fresno, to visit longtime friend, Cece, and her mom, Lois. We made the drive over to Pismo Beach for a couple days, and although it was foggy, we still had fun walking the beach, swimming in the pool, sight-seeing, eating, and reading like we always do.

The first time we found a whole clam!

Stop at Morro Bay to feed the gulls and squirrels. Von wasn't too happy about being a parking spot.

Von, Lois, and Cece at Morro Bay stop for lunch at Blue Skye Cafe.

Von and I were able to take in a temple session at the Fresno Temple on my birthday. Wanted to do this for several years. Got my wish.

Cece's turtle, old Pedro, still getting around at a fast pace, preparing for hybernation.

Marie Callendar's peach pie and cinnamon bread from Cece, and flowers from Von. Doesn't get much better than this!

Stop-over in Bakersfield for lunch with sister Jane and family...Nathan (2) was acting up, so got put by a wall away from the table for a few minutes.

Nathan's dad, Jeff, niece Julie, and Jane's other half, Bill.

My little sis, Jane, niece Erin, Nathan's mom, Emily.

Back home in Utah with my family for more celebrating. Good times!

Thanks everyone!

Happy 86 years, Dad!

My dad had another birthday Aug. 21st, and I posted the most recent photo of him in a July post when he and mother came to visit, but here is another good one from a couple years ago.



Thought I would share a few favorites of his earliest photos, back in the 40's when he was in his 20's and had hair on his head!

Fly boy during WWII while dating my mother in NC (mother's dog, Cyrus)

Dad's WWII glider. They were beasts! He trained to fly these gliders, but the war ended before he got to fly one of these overseas.

Just another date at the beach...love this one!

One of many photos of dad doing a handstand. I'm pretty sure he still can at 86.

He also performed on the trampoline and tumbled with the YMCA for many years. I can remember going to YMCA circuses as a child and watching him do clown acts on the tramp. He also could dive and snow ski, and our family took a few ski trips, learned to dive, and sat through many diving meets.

He had his own trampoline in his back yard for a few years, but now he just swims and does a few dives off his own diving board. He's a man of many talents....does his own landscaping, built an addition to our home, made dressers, desks, wooden toys, put together a tandum bike for Christmas, and still uses the table saw he bought in 1953! He's very frugal. Paid cash for the few cars he had, and knows how to save and spend wisely.

Besides swimming and diving, dad is still active in a chorale that performs a few times each year. He has sung in a barbershop quartet and chorus, and has attended the national convention for years. Not enough room here to list all he has done and does!

Love my dad!

Happy Birthday Captain Dave!

His RJ 135

Sure love this flyboy. He loved airplaines and flying from the very beginning, and comes from flying stock. Grandpa Twogood flew during WWII, Von provided ground maintenance on several aircraft and flew on many deployments throughout his military career, and now Dave. With two sons, who knows?

At age 10, he was checking out pilot exams from the public library. At 15, he took a pilot groundschool course through community ed. and took his first flight. At 16 he soloed from SLC to El Centro, CA and back in a cessna. The night he proposed to Jenn he was planning to take her up, propose, then turn off the engine and dive until she said yes! That didnt' work out, but sounds like something he'd do. (Airport was closed when they got there.)

He graduated in Flight Tech from Utah State University, joined the Air Force, and became a pilot. He is now an aircraft commander with a deployment or two each year overseas. It's been tough leaving his cute family behind for long intervals, but the reunions are wonderful, and they take advantage of the time they have together.

Our bundle of joy

up in his blue yonder

Brother Dan

He'll probably moan when he sees these, but hey, he's my only brother, and I'm very lucky to
have him. Dan was my first and best bud, and we did a lot of things together growing up. Today, he and Willy (Dutchborn), reside in Apple Valley, CA. where "Dr. Twogood" practices chiropractory (is that a word?) Happy Birthday, bro!! I love you!