Something old (friends), something new (pvc's)

Those of you who get Bob's journal are already aware of how we spent our week: Monday, the ER; Tuesday, the cardiologist (the dreaded stress test); Wednesday, the Holter monitor for 24 hours; and Friday, the cardiologist who is the arrythmia specialist. To make a long story short, nothing here is life-threatening, and there is a very simple procedure to fix the problem of too many PVCs. It's called Catheter Ablation, and is done as an outpatient procedure, except that Bob will have to stay one night in the hospital. There is so little urgency about it that we are going to put it off until the next edition Mission Memories is off the press and in our hands (since he can't do any heavy lifting for 2 weeks after the procedure), so about the middle of May is when we'll do it. It will be good for me as well -- since he won't be able to lift my mobility scooter components in an out of the car, I'll just walk and use my cane. I think I can handle it just fine.

We had a lovely time this evening with Phill and Pat Catherall, old friends from Simi Valley, who took us out to dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. It was their first exposure to this place as they don't have any in California, to the best of my knowledge, but they have them all over the Dallas area and we were sure glad to be back inside one. Aside from the delicious food, it was so wonderful to get caught up with old and dear friends. To quote my husband: "You have cool friends!" I do indeed, and so does he.

Life is good and we are happy!

The milestones keep shifting!

A big one just shifted for us this morning, and as of a week from tomorrow, we will have reached what missionaries fondly refer to as "hump day;" the half-way point in our mission. Yep, we have added 4 months on to our service. They've never had as good a photographer as Bob in this slot before and they are loathe to let him go. He President Halverson) would like for us to have extended 2 years but was willing to settle for whatever we could give, and he would still have given us time off for our trip to Hawaii. But now we're leaving the mission at the end of September, so we'll still go to Hawaii with the Smiths, and it won't kill me to miss a flute convention. I've done it before.

It was lovely to hear Bob so fulsomely praised by such a taciturn individual, but I know that he meant every word he said, and Bob has done some beautiful work for the mission. It solves a dilemma for us, because while we were anxious to see our home (and piano) again we hated the thought of leaving "the bubble" we've been living and working in. But now the suspense is over and we know our future course and direction. I may even get my job right one of these days!

We would have had to endure the entire winter here regardless, and we are a tad less than thrilled about going to the Little Theater in the freezing rain this afternoon to sing with the choir for a family history devotional. It's worth it to hear Richard G. Scott, though, so we only feel like complaining when our teeth begin to chatter (which they do on that particular stage).

So that's all the news that's fit to print at this moment. We haven't quite absorbed it yet, and hope that everyone is okay with it. We love you all dearly!!

Here's some music on a different plane --

Here's a link to the devotional we had Monday morning. At about 50 minutes in the Women's Choir sang my arrangement of "My Redeemer Lives," with yourstruly on the piano: http://stream.lds.org/fh/devotional/missionary_devotional_12jan_09_engish300asf
We've really been quite busy this January. I was hoping for a little letup after December, but our new publishing deadline is looming and there seems to be much to do. The snow is almost all melted away, to my relief, but it's still plenty cold. I'll sure never complain about Texas winters anymore (I reserve the option of complaining about Texas summers). We're greatly looking forward to my brother and sister-in-law visiting in March and would sure welcome any other company that felt the urge to visit. We'll be heading for home the end of May as far as we know, but we have an interview with the mission president next week and we may re-think our options after that. I confess to being a little trunky, as much as I love it here.

Here's another link for any of my kiddos who may be interested: my cousin Nannette is about to publish a book, and has a blog about it. Here's the link:
http://www.comeautumn.blogspot.com/. She told me several months ago that she based her main romantic character on none other than Deane, so you may be sure that I'm very anxious to read the book. I would be anyway but that seems too good to miss.

Update and apology: I just tried the link and it got me to the player, but refused to play the video. I have no idea what will happen if you try it. Sorry about that!

Aha! Eureka! Ho ho! We dunnit!

Thanks to Amy and Matt, I was able to condense the files and upload the video -- actually it's three videos in one. Oh, I hope you enjoy this as much as we did! I wish you could see them better. They're such a good looking family, even the Dad. The youngest son is 12 and the fiddler is the only unmarried one besides the boy on the mission and the 12-year-old. He's so cute he won't last long. Happy New Year!

Okay, I know what happened --

The files were too big. I can only upload 100 megs and my smallest file was 193. So instead I'll post a picture of the cutest little family Suzuki group I've ever seen or heard. These little rascals were good, on their tiny little instruments. The littlest one was just a mere beginner but she had all the fluorishes down pat. I really enjoyed them! We had lots of entertainment going on the day after Christmas, including our own concert in the evening. But I'm bummed that I couldn't share Mama's Boys with you.

And a Happy Cotton-Pickin' New Year to All!

Our New Year's Eve celebration may have ended early, but it was GREAT while it lasted. There was entertainment at the Assembly Hall and in the lobby of our own workplace, the Joseph Smith building, from 5 o'clock on. The Mama's Boys were scheduled at 6:30, and we got there at 5 to be sure to get a good seat. We love those guys! I think Bob and I have both mentioned them before because we went to see them at a dinner theater in Pleasant Grove shortly after we arrived here. I'm going to try with all my might to embed a video so you can enjoy them as well -- hopefully with earphones or a good speaker system. It's a father and his sons (well, one is a nephew because one son is on a mission) and in one instance, a grandson who couldn't be more than 3, and they do the best blue-grass music I ever heard but they also sing beautifully and have some great arrangements of other kinds of music as well.

It's been a wonderful year. I can't even begin to count all the good things about it but I surely do appreciate them. This music kind of perfectly illustrates our mood right now -- upbeat.

* * * * * * * *

Guess what. I waited about 15 minutes while the video uploaded, only to get an error message that told me to contact somebody or other and give them a string of 25 or so numbers. Ain't gonna happen! You'll have to take my word for it that you would have loved them, and Amy would have wanted to adopt the fiddler. Oooh, I'm so frustrated!

Anyway . . . Happy New Year! We love you all and miss you and can't wait to see you!

(Hey, Amy -- how do I change the appearance of the blog? I can't figure it out with my own tiny little mind. We seem to be beyond Christmas, and even as we speak they are taking down all the Christmas trees and lights. So sad.)

"More"

I haven't posted for quite a while, but I think Bob's journal covers the ground better anyway. December was a wild month -- everything was "more." More socials; more luncheons and dinners; more shopping and cooking; more sweets and goodies; more rehearsals and performances; more wonderful concerts, both major and mini; more time with extended family; more correspondence with family and friends; a visit with dear friends who are just like family; more reasons to be happy and to love and enjoy one's co-workers. Also more sadness as we said goodbye to some friends who left the mission field and will be missed. And some major ambivalence about snow -- beautiful as it falls from the sky and piles up on trees and other objects, but much less beautiful as it turns to dirty brown slush and ice, making scootering impossible and walking downright tricky.

This was a very different Christmas for us, being away from our families for the first time ever. But it was a sweet morning, especially as we counted up all the blessings that have come to us through this mission. We have managed to contain our envy for those of our friends and associates who either had family come and stay here, or who went home for the week. We'll get our turn! It's very heart-warming to know that our families love and support us in what we're doing and are praying for us daily. And any time our spiritual batteries need re-charging we only have to walk a half a block down the hill to Temple Square, where the lights and the decorations are beautiful and everything is Christ-centered. How grateful we are to be spending this particular holiday in this particular place!