Saturday, December 31, 2005
CD for Christmas
I wanted to talk about the CD we gave you for Christmas. No, I am not pushing religion. I am actually bragging. Check the credits. Davis sings with the Youth Choir on this CD. You will also see my name.
We belong to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in north Phoenix. We have been participating in the music ministry for four years. Our Music Director is Eleanor Johnson, my boss, and the Bells Director is Betsy Donovan. Both ladies have been in this music department for about twenty years. Eleanor and Betsy do the real magic. Eleanor is full-time staff and there are three part-time staff - Betsy, Kristen Cole, Music Librarian, and myself. We have about 170 people in 130 families participating in eleven choirs. We work with age four to age ninety. We have four traditional choirs, one contemporary choir with guitars, five bell choirs, and an orchestra.
Davis is in the Youth Choir (grades 2 - 6) and the Chimes Choir (beginning bells). James is in the Cherub 2 Choir (grade 1). They learn how to read music, sing on pitch, bible lessons and some fun. I figure free music lessons and these are the people we spend time with at church and school.
I am the Music Secretary. I get paid for a few hours a week and then it rolls over into the "volunteer choir mother" category (a lot). My job is to get the people to rehearsals and performances, keep parents in the information loop. I do weekly email updates. I did emails from Salt Lake City this summer. I do most of the computer work and I gather parents for volunteer assistance.
Eleanor is pretty ambitious about new challenges. They made a Christmas CD a few years ago. I think I sent you one. Last year we did a Mardi Gras concert. A few weeks ago, we did a Christmas carol sing-along. Every spring, the older children go on a long weekend to southern California. Sometimes they even sing in a church there. But it is mostly fun. We do a one week music camp in the summer. There is always something in the works.
Yes, we are busy and we do enjoy it. George even goes to church when both boys are singing. Hope you enjoy the CD.
Love,
Ellie
We belong to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in north Phoenix. We have been participating in the music ministry for four years. Our Music Director is Eleanor Johnson, my boss, and the Bells Director is Betsy Donovan. Both ladies have been in this music department for about twenty years. Eleanor and Betsy do the real magic. Eleanor is full-time staff and there are three part-time staff - Betsy, Kristen Cole, Music Librarian, and myself. We have about 170 people in 130 families participating in eleven choirs. We work with age four to age ninety. We have four traditional choirs, one contemporary choir with guitars, five bell choirs, and an orchestra.
Davis is in the Youth Choir (grades 2 - 6) and the Chimes Choir (beginning bells). James is in the Cherub 2 Choir (grade 1). They learn how to read music, sing on pitch, bible lessons and some fun. I figure free music lessons and these are the people we spend time with at church and school.
I am the Music Secretary. I get paid for a few hours a week and then it rolls over into the "volunteer choir mother" category (a lot). My job is to get the people to rehearsals and performances, keep parents in the information loop. I do weekly email updates. I did emails from Salt Lake City this summer. I do most of the computer work and I gather parents for volunteer assistance.
Eleanor is pretty ambitious about new challenges. They made a Christmas CD a few years ago. I think I sent you one. Last year we did a Mardi Gras concert. A few weeks ago, we did a Christmas carol sing-along. Every spring, the older children go on a long weekend to southern California. Sometimes they even sing in a church there. But it is mostly fun. We do a one week music camp in the summer. There is always something in the works.
Yes, we are busy and we do enjoy it. George even goes to church when both boys are singing. Hope you enjoy the CD.
Love,
Ellie
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
No Pony
It looks like I won't be going to USAID. They got a big budget cut this year and their chief has gotten out there fast. They still want to hire me, but they don't know when that could happen. So I'm starting to look around for another job.
That means I can get out to Salt Lake for Christmas and see you all there.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
I Walk the Line
We saw the Johnny Cash show yesterday. It was great. It made me think of Mom and the albums she used to have.
Max :):):)
Max :):):)
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
lights
Well, the Christmas lights are up outside the house. George and the boys worked on that last night. I wouldn't say it is a specific design, but everyone put in their thoughts and there are string of lights on everything (trees and cactus) in the front yard. George even thinks we need to go buy more!
So, that's my que to get the inside stuff done. I have all these great ideas on presents and decorations, but not enough time. We need one more weekend before Christmas.
I love the Christmas letters and cards. Max and Whitey already got theirs out! I am working our picture, not much of a letter.
We love you,
Ellie
So, that's my que to get the inside stuff done. I have all these great ideas on presents and decorations, but not enough time. We need one more weekend before Christmas.
I love the Christmas letters and cards. Max and Whitey already got theirs out! I am working our picture, not much of a letter.
We love you,
Ellie
Monday, December 05, 2005
Family
Hello everyone:
Yes, life seems to get very busy for us all and we forget to keep in touch somehow. Which is what the blog is for in this high tech world of ours and yet we still don't get much on board there.
I have read over Kay's and Dad's thoughts about family more than once and thought about it - and thought about it - and didn't want to put something down until I knew it sounded it ok. Seems silly I know but I wouldn't want to sound like a snob or no it all or as I'm criticizing anyone's choices.
I remember our childhood family life as very happy and close with us doing almost everything together, even once we got into college for awhile. I do find it curious that we don't seem to have much in contact with each other unless there is an event - like Dad's bday or something as such. I sadly wonder if when Mom and Dad are gone if we will see each other much. I know that is the way many families are so I'm sure we are not atypical but still find it a bit sad. Even though we may not totally see eye-to-eye or have our current lifestyles be different (i.e. some people may be more into sports or religion than the others, some people may party more, or want to relax/read/kick back more, or discipline their kids differently (that Dr. Deek can really act up sometimes). But I think we should still remember that family should be the most important thing. I think we should remember that life is short and who knows when someone may not be around. So at least to make the effort to stay in touch as individuals. It was so great to have Larry come through here. Or it has been so great to get phone calls from people since we've been back in the states. I have wished there were a few more.
I guess the above is a bit of rambling (which is why I hadn't put anything down previously) but these are just thoughts.
Love to everyone -
Hope you all are having a good December getting ready for the holidays.
Max
Yes, life seems to get very busy for us all and we forget to keep in touch somehow. Which is what the blog is for in this high tech world of ours and yet we still don't get much on board there.
I have read over Kay's and Dad's thoughts about family more than once and thought about it - and thought about it - and didn't want to put something down until I knew it sounded it ok. Seems silly I know but I wouldn't want to sound like a snob or no it all or as I'm criticizing anyone's choices.
I remember our childhood family life as very happy and close with us doing almost everything together, even once we got into college for awhile. I do find it curious that we don't seem to have much in contact with each other unless there is an event - like Dad's bday or something as such. I sadly wonder if when Mom and Dad are gone if we will see each other much. I know that is the way many families are so I'm sure we are not atypical but still find it a bit sad. Even though we may not totally see eye-to-eye or have our current lifestyles be different (i.e. some people may be more into sports or religion than the others, some people may party more, or want to relax/read/kick back more, or discipline their kids differently (that Dr. Deek can really act up sometimes). But I think we should still remember that family should be the most important thing. I think we should remember that life is short and who knows when someone may not be around. So at least to make the effort to stay in touch as individuals. It was so great to have Larry come through here. Or it has been so great to get phone calls from people since we've been back in the states. I have wished there were a few more.
I guess the above is a bit of rambling (which is why I hadn't put anything down previously) but these are just thoughts.
Love to everyone -
Hope you all are having a good December getting ready for the holidays.
Max
from Kay
Hi everyone- just checking in! It's great to hear everyone's updates here and there on the blog about their lives. We had a nice Thanksgiving here- Don and Marion here, Mom and Dad made it over, Charley got here with Luke and Gwen. We were sorry that Lynne was sick- and couldn't make it. Even with our mess and chaos of remodeling- it was great to focus on the day.
I have been busy- last night (Sunday night) as I tried to get to sleep- I felt like we had just RUN OUT OF HOURS from the weekend. It seems there is never quite enough time to get things done. We are trying to finish up our remodeling- we are almost into our new bedroom and family room- almost...
I am trying to do my current class- a six week course- in five weeks. We are leaving for Mexico 19th and I am missing the last day- so I've convinced my Learning Team and the instructor that we will do our final presentation in week 5- which puts two other assignments into week 4...
And then I got sick last week- which was not in the plans! I took tons of Cold-Eeze and Zicam for several days but it still really hit me hard on Weds, Thurs, Friday- but then it was just gone. It's true that Cold-Eeze and Zicam do shorten the duration of a cold.
So- we are looking forward our time to get away- This is a trip we have talked about for a long time- when we thought the girls seemed old enough to appreciate it and enjoy it- and with our busy schedules- it's exactly what we need this year.
Megan was announced yesterday in church by Mom as a candidate for Confirmation. Mom is her Sponsor. Megan will go through a series of classes up to April when she will do the Confirmation. Mom will share in that process- we think it's very cool for them to share that.
So- did anyone else have any comments on family dynamics/relationships? Anyone? Anyone?
Well, I'm off to get a run in- I didn't get anything in last week because of being sick. It is freezing outside (18degrees!)- but I'll perservere!
Love to all of you- Kay
I have been busy- last night (Sunday night) as I tried to get to sleep- I felt like we had just RUN OUT OF HOURS from the weekend. It seems there is never quite enough time to get things done. We are trying to finish up our remodeling- we are almost into our new bedroom and family room- almost...
I am trying to do my current class- a six week course- in five weeks. We are leaving for Mexico 19th and I am missing the last day- so I've convinced my Learning Team and the instructor that we will do our final presentation in week 5- which puts two other assignments into week 4...
And then I got sick last week- which was not in the plans! I took tons of Cold-Eeze and Zicam for several days but it still really hit me hard on Weds, Thurs, Friday- but then it was just gone. It's true that Cold-Eeze and Zicam do shorten the duration of a cold.
So- we are looking forward our time to get away- This is a trip we have talked about for a long time- when we thought the girls seemed old enough to appreciate it and enjoy it- and with our busy schedules- it's exactly what we need this year.
Megan was announced yesterday in church by Mom as a candidate for Confirmation. Mom is her Sponsor. Megan will go through a series of classes up to April when she will do the Confirmation. Mom will share in that process- we think it's very cool for them to share that.
So- did anyone else have any comments on family dynamics/relationships? Anyone? Anyone?
Well, I'm off to get a run in- I didn't get anything in last week because of being sick. It is freezing outside (18degrees!)- but I'll perservere!
Love to all of you- Kay
