Jan 4: Note from Stephanie Mitchell, Stake RS President: "So, the Sequim wards split and I lost a wonderful counselor to become a ward Relief Society president in Debbie King--so far she has not been relieved of the burden of Stake Enrichment councilor (sorry, Debbie) but I feel as if I've lost an arm...I say it often, and I truly mean it -- Thank you so very very much for the work you do, for the burdens you bear, for the women and families you serve and for the souls you save."
I will really miss these sisters. I feel that kindred spirit with them. Sometimes in this very busy world I think about the next life with no Time! Time is a barrier that drives me crazy. It will be sooooo wonderful to have no time so that we will have time for Everything!! Time to do and see and visit and give everything our best! I look forward to eternal friendships.
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| Winter Ball with Sean Mitchell |
The Sister's website that Aaron made for me is working so well. A sister had canning jars to give away and I posted it for her there and found takers! I'm so grateful to Aaron for this innovative way to share and connect and communicate!
We just heard Jen's friend, Vic (her mailman), is getting baptized!
Went to Allstate in Spokane to hear Andrew perform in the choir. He's sure got a beautiful voice and is well loved by his fellow classmates.
Andrea got set up to work with a school speech pathologist several times a week. She's so happy and excited about it! That's what she wants to be someday. I think she would do well in that field.
Andrew wrote a new song. It's on his website www.andrewtheking.com and it's called "The Perfect Song"
February
Went to Moscow with the jazz band for the music festival and got to visit Beans. Shar was with Mr. Fosket and the band for so many years and is still helpful to the band. It was so sweet as we were saying goodbye, Kayda cried with sadness but was trying to be brave and cheerful. She looked so sad and had tears running down her cheeks yet a big smile and even some giggles trying not to cry. So touching.
I got such a wonderful email from a lady who used to live here, Peggy Gross. She and her husband stored up food in preparation for Y2K and then when it didn't happen, she, knowing that our members store food, called me to ask if we would like it. I explained the principle behind storing food and suggested she might want to keep it but she said no, she didn't want it. I got her address and we agreed to meet just before a homemaking meeting and I'd bring it to the church to give to sisters. I asked her if she'd like to join us. She thought that sounded fun and came. She enjoyed it so much that she kept coming to our activities and the sisters loved her. Several years ago Peggy and her husband moved to Vancouver and I continued occasional communication with her via email. She decided to look up the church and go to their homemaking meetings as well and a year later she was baptized! Well recently I was thrilled to get this message from her: "Who would have thought 4 years ago that I would be such an enthusiastic member. We have heeded the instructions of the prophet. We are now totally debt free and have both the 90 day supply and a year's storage. I thank God for all the wonderful people who were so patient and charitable with me up in Sequim, especially you."
March
Chris had a MRA board mtg in NY.
Chris was in Florida for a week for SSI conference.
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| Had such a fun RS birthday celebration. We made our pioneer hats out of paper bags. |
Andrea went with the Band went to Disneyland. She, now as a senior, was so excited to go to Medieval times and loved it.
I got released from my stake RS calling. (pheww! It's been a challenge being ward RS pres and in the stake as well.) In fact they called a whole new stake RS presidency. Sherrie Ball is the new president. I loved a thought she shared: "When you feel stressed out the world tells us to go on vacation and take some time out. The Gospel, however, tells us to take some time in! Time in the scriptures, in prayer, in service, in studying the words of the prophets."
We (Chris and I and twins) made a trip to Utah during spring break to visit Aaron and show Andrea around the BYU campus where she will be attending. She and Andrew got accepted into the summer semester at BYU-I but they turned it down, not wanted to go in the summertime when siblings are home. Andrew will be attending So. Virginia University. He scouted this all out on his own, sent in a recording of him singing and got a vocal scholarship! (We did take him many places though to check out, including the university in Victoria Canada.)
Also went to Idaho for Dad's 80th birthday party!! We also helped empty Mom Clarkes house and closed on the sale of it and Tami and Val got moved to IF. The weather was so nasty snowy, cold and blowing!
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| Mom and her siblings, Keith and Carole and Dad on his 80th bday celebration |
April -
I really love this note from Aaron about General Conference: "On my mission, besides phone calls, conference was always the time that I felt closest to the family. I knew that somewhere in the world you guys were watching conference at the same time and when we would rise to sing the interlude music I would feel overpowering joy to sing with the saints - as I knew that my family was singing with me. :) So ever since the mission, every conference I think about you guys and during the priesthood session I remember back to pre mission days with Dad and Drew in our chapel." :)
14th Chris is gone to Woodbadge all week and I drove to Moscow because Payson Jacob Bean was born this day!! I got to go on a cool field trip with Jarom and Kaydance to a dairy farm. Was so fun!
I had to leave the twins home alone but they do well and Monro's across the street know about it if they need any help.
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| Kayda, Sadie and Jarom |
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| So exciting welcoming Payson Jacob Bean to the family |
22nd Today Andrew received a $1500 vocal scholarship from SVU! That is so exciting! He auditioned singing his own original piece and it's just beautiful.
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| Jr. Prom with Sean Mitchell |
While Andrea was at a baptism trip in Seattle, we went to Ellensburg with Andrew for the state solo competition. He got perfect scores from all the judges and great compliments. It was all thrilling.
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May
Beauty and the Beast was going to open on the twins birthday but Isaac Bokelheid, who plays the candle stick (and nails it by the way) passed out in rehearsal and he has a brain tumor and had brain surgery. His recovery has been miraculous but they are postponing the start date especially for him. Andrea is so cute swooning after Gaston and Andrew plays the beast incredibly. His voice is just gorgeous and he practically made the girls cry in his solo! The audience waved their cell phones as he sang!
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| 18 Birthday!! |
The coolest thing happened for Andrew! A 5th Avenue talent scout was in the audience for opening night of the Beauty and the Beast and Andrew got nominated for Best Actor in a leading roll by the judges. He played the part of beast and was invited to perform a short segment on 5th Ave stage in Seattle. He did fantastic and the reaction of the audience of 2,500 says it all.
Here is a link for his performance: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2gkL8mPRwBr2fhRW9
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| Article on the 5th Ave performance |
Poor Andrew has been suffering with a cold all through all this singing! He's been running on Mucinex, goldenseal, echinacea...even had him chew up garlic clove and rubbed his neck with BFC oil. Oh man what timing but he nailed it all.
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| Irrigation Festival parade |
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| Aaron just making up such beautiful music - how in the world does he do that?! |
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| Payson's blessing day |
June
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| Sr Ball with Sean Mitchell |
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| A prince and princess dressed up for the Sr. Ball |
Andrea received a Memorial Scholarship Award from the Masonic Lodge Foundation for $1,000.00 payable to the college of her choice. We got to go to a lodge meeting where it was presented to her. She will be attending BYU in Provo and living in the same apt complex as Aaron. So cool! She received a full scholarship to BYU-I but she didn't like the track which included summertime so she turned it down.
The whole family (and a friend) gathered here for graduation. It was a house full for about 10 days. 13 people plus a dog (our cat was very unhappy). I loved it but phewwww! Jennifer's flight back to NY got canceled when she got to the airport so she ended up back home for 4 more days with us.
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| with Kevin Beck |
A couple days before Jen left, there was a death in our ward and so that has kept me busy (as RS Pres) A couple of their family members are staying with us for a few days. Besides that we seem to have 4 or 5 of the kids friends over here quite regularly so we always have a full house.
Andrea is working at Sawtooth for the summer. She went on a YSA retreat in Tacoma for a few days.
JULY
Andrea and I played our flutes with the Sequim City Band for 4th of July.
Andrea: "Lol, I finally found out the downside of having such an amazing family. I never have any fun without you."
Aaron and Andrea went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and also did a little school shopping.
Andrea and I got to perform with our hula sisters at the Kapuna Festival in Seattle. Here's a couple photos from performances recently:
AUGUST
Andrea went on a stake pioneer trek
Andrew received his Eagle Scout award. We are very proud of him. His project was making school kits for children in Guatemala. He built a website as a form of advertising with materials needed and instructions for sewing school bags. He had donation boxes in the HS and spoke to students. Many helped assemble the school kits which were then sent to Guatemala.
We drove to Rexburg to visit mom and dad for a few days and then on to Provo to help Aaron and Andrea get settled into their apt...bought books, food and supplies etc. It's so cool that they are living in the same apartment. Goodbyes were hard and tearful. Seeing our twins hug and cry goodbyes was so hard.
SEPT
Two weeks after the college runs I went with Chris to Montreux Switzerland on Lake Geneva. He's there for the ESOMAR congress. Very charming and beautiful. (See next page)
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| It's just Chris, myself and our Nimbus kitty now |
Our garden has blessed us with abundance! We've harvested and passed out corn, plums and beans like crazy. Oh and squashes.
Andrew sings at SVU for Fading Point and they will be performing for Sheri Dew in a few weeks. Fading Point is SVU's version of BYU Ambassadors. Their bass graduated and the group fasted and prayed to find another that would do well. They held auditions but Andrew didn't try out because he heard that Freshman don't get in. Next day in choir, the teacher announced that Fading Point wanted a few more to audition before making their decision. Andrew was encouraged to try out, which he did, and they said he was the one! It's an honor and privilege to be able to sing with them. Andrew has tons of friends. He seems to be known by everyone. Andrew sends me wonderfully descriptive and hilarious texts about daily life at SVU. He is loving it there.
