Psaltery organ and song

On a recent visit, Jacob inspired Ben to practice the piano to get good enough to play for priesthood meeting.  He might reach that goal in a year or two.  He still uses the same excuse he used many years ago-- his hands don't work right together.

His playing got me thinking, so one evening when I was restless, I sat down and started to play through the entire hymnbook.  Here are some interesting things I've noticed.

--There aren't many hymns I don't know, but there are many hymns we never sing.  Sad!!  Many that are sung around here are newer, cool songs, but some really good old, old hymns are never used.
--we don't do a very good job with the dotted notes.  We tend to slide over them, making them more equal and less syncopated.
--some of the authors of the songs have awesome names.  I have my favorite.  Which is yours?

When we went to Aberdeen for Grandma's  birthday, I sat by my brother Forrest in sacrament meeting.   As the first hymn started, I leaned over and whispered to him, "Rene always asks me why I don't need or want a hymnbook to sing."  He leaned over and said, "I always ask my wife why she needs a hymnbook after all these years!"

Now, a little quizicito:

Name that hymn:

I cannot go to rest but linger still, in meditation at my window sill...

Wastes rise in verdure and mingle in song.

And righteousness bring in, that Saints may tune the lyre...

When I am filled with strong desire and ask a boon of him I see no miracle of living fire, but what I ask   flows into me.

Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.

And for bonus points, name my favorite hymn and for double bonus points, name my favorite Primary song.

And here's Russell playing the piano.

Songs of the heart

I've noticed that ever since Logan died, I've had trouble saying goodbye to the people I love.  I guess his death reinforced what I already knew--that life is fragile and can change in a heartbeat.  You may have noticed it, too, since I'm usually blubbering well in advance.

So, being all together for our reunion in Nauvoo was bliss, but saying goodbye was so hard.  On the way home, I was thinking about something Uncle Forrest said at Grandma's 80th birthday party.  He said that although we were not terming her party a "reunion", it really was because we were all there and were happy to be together.  He reminded us of how happy we would all be when we are all reunited with Grandpa and others gone before (including Logan.)  I started thinking of this hymn:


Oh, what songs of the heart
We shall sing all the day,
When again we assemble at home,
When we meet ne'er to part
With the blest o'er the way,
There no more from our loved ones to roam!
When we meet ne'er to part,
Oh, what songs of the heart
We shall sing in our beautiful home.

Although I hope it's doesn't come too soon for any of us, it will be wonderful when we can meet "ne'er to part!"  In the meantime, visits and Skype will have to do.

Here are some random pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Keeping Sadie entertained at Macey's dance recital.

Macey's pre-school graduation

Scoresby family June 2013

It's been a quiet month since I last posted.  I spent a lot of time lying on the couch trying to feel good.  Here's a quick synopsis of what else we did:

Mother's Day--Ben and Shannon and the girlies came up for dinner.  It was nice and relaxing, probably because Rene did all the work.  Earlier, we went to their house for Ben's birthday.  It's hard to believe he's 32.

I babysit Macey and Sadie a couple of times.  One time, as I was getting ready to go home,  Macey said to me, "Grandma, will you babysit sit us when Mommy and Daddy get married?"  Somehow, she had gotten into her head that you had to get married before every baby that you have.  How nice to know that she and Sadie and their unborn sister are all already sealed to their Mommy and Daddy!

Janet and Jacob came up for Memorial Day weekend.  I think Rene really enjoyed having a buddy to do stuff with.  I enjoyed having a buddy to lay around with.  Janet beat Rene's high score on the Bubblet game on my Ipad.  Here's the proof:

We went to church in Stevens Point, had a cookout for Memorial Day/Sadie's birthday, the boys went to the shooting range, etc.  It's always sadly quiet when they all leave.

We are being overrun by wildlife.  A bear has been raiding Rene's beehives.  Last weekend, he put up an electric fence around them.  Today, I think we have another loose mink in the yard.   And the mosquito population has exploded.  They are supergood at getting in the house any time anyone cracks a door open.  I'm not planning on spending any time outside anytime soon. 

I'm super happy that I won Janet's challenge!  Yay me! Can't wait 'til I get my stick of gum.

Here, there and everywhere

Over the past several months, we have attended church in a variety of places besides home.  It's nice to be able to go anywhere and feel at home.

I have now attended church in Sarah and Brian's ward 5 or 6 times.  I like their ward.  It's a very ethnically diverse ward and  humble ward.  There are two things that I have really enjoyed when I've gone there.

There is an older gentleman who plays the organ for sacrament meeting.  His name is Bert Robertson (and his wife is Roberta--yes, really!).  He reminds me so much of some of my Allred uncles.  His playing isn't always perfect.  Whose is?  But I really like the way he plays.  Everytime I go to church there, I feel so happy when I walk into the chapel and see him playing.

The gospel doctrine teacher has now been released, but I enjoyed him very much.  I don't even know his name.  He's a guy (obviously), so he teaches like a guy.  There are no pictures or fancy handouts or even elaborate illustrations on the board.  But he is obviously well prepared.   When we were there last April for Janet's graduation, the lesson was on Mosiah 2.  I would imagine that all of us have read that chapter several times.  I know I have.  But the questions he asked and the discussion that followed, sank deep into my heart and touched me personally in a way I'd not considered before.

A couple of Sundays ago, we were in Aberdeen, SD, to celebrate my Mom's 80th birthday.  Alan Johnson was the High Council speaker and did a great job.  Mom was the RS teacher.  Although she was very nervous, her lesson was great.  Kudos to those who serve diligently, but quietly, in the church.  I feel sure that they will be among the sheep, not the goats, in the last day.

Mom and her nine kids

 

Back from Beantown

I'll apologize in advance--this may be long.

What a fun time we had in Boston!  We're so glad we could go visit the kiddos, big and little, and see Hull and the area.  Here's a quick synopsis in pictures of our trip.

The beach--since Hull is a peninsula, one is never far from water.  We walked down to the "beach" near the Franzen's home, but it's mostly rocks and the tide was high.  We also went to the beach at the very point of the peninsula.  Everyone but me threw rocks.  We looked at the Boston skyline across the bay.  Preston found me a live periwinkle in its shell.  He wanted me to take it home, cook, and eat it, but I declined. 

 

 

There is an area of Hull near the nice beachy beach that used to be an amusement park that rivaled Coney Island.  All that is left now is this awesome old carousel.  All of us plus Auntie Gail went and rode it.  The Easter Bunny was also there for pictures, but none of us wanted to do that.

We drove south to Plymouth.  The Mayflower is put away for the winter, but we saw Plymouth Rock.  I was expecting something on the order of Independence Rock, but this is what we saw.

 

 

 

 

Easter--lovely time to be together, attend church where Lauren sang with the Primary in sacrament meeting and to have a lovely meal afterwards.  Beautiful kids, beautiful family. 

 

I love this picture of me and Andrew.  It looks like he's thinking, "Who is this crazy person and what is she doing with me?"

Rene went back to Chicago on Sunday evening.  The rest of the week consisted of normal family activities.  We took Lauren to Backyard Bunch.  We went to the park.  We shopped, cooked, mended, played with kids.

Thursday, my plane left late in the day, so we took advantage of going to Boston to walk about half of the Freedom Trail.  We saw Paul Revere's grave, old churchs, Boston Commons, Fanueil Hall, Paul Revere's home and the Old North Church.  We stopped in a little bakery and bought some authentic Boston pastries.

 

 

It was interesting to see and feel a place so different from our own midwestern sensibilities.  We enjoyed our trip and are thankful we could go.  We're most thankful and proud of our kids and grandkids.  They are dealing with the challenges of grown-up life in wonderful and happy ways.

And happy birthday, Andrew!

Whirlwind weeks

Wow, it's been a quick and whirlwind month.  Here's what's been going on:

Janet and Jacob came to visit!  The 7 months since we saw them at their reception in Delta had been the longest we'd ever gone without seeing Janet.  Needless to say, we were happy to have them here.  While they were here we went to the art museum, played lots of games, the boys had some male bonding time, and celebrated my birthday.

 

 

Joanna and Ben came over to visit while Janet and Jacob were here.  Ben was only here a day, but Joanna and Russell stayed for a week.  Then Ben came back and picked them up.  It was great to have company and Russell was pretty entertaining.

 

 

Shortly after they went home, Rene left for a long business trip to Malaysia, Thailand and China.  During this same time, Brian was gone for eight days on a business trip to Las Vegas.  Sarah and I pooled our resources and I went out to Utah to spend that time.  Even though I had some days when I didn't feel good, it was nice to have someone to talk to.  I enjoyed seeing Camille every day and I think she got used to me.  Janet and Jacob were also around often and that, of course, was fun.

 

 

Jacob brought us some beautiful flowers from the lab he teaches.
















Springville Art Museum

Now I'm home.  Rene is back from his trip and will be home this weekend.  But he'll have to go back to Chicago, of course.  But we just have two more weeks to get through, then we'll be going to Boston to visit the Franzens.  Yippee!

My funny valentines...

From some of my little sweetie pies.