We're Beginning to Settle In

Well, we're starting to feel a 'new normal' in our little cabin.  This Sunday we were both asked to speak, and Fred commented to me later that every person in the congregation was now familiar to us.  Of course, we're not talking a large congregation!  But we've been out visiting with several, and it makes a big difference.  Here are a few more:

This is Reita.  She's pretty amazing.  She cares for her sister, her husband with a broken leg, her adult daughter and her granddaughter in her home. She was a school teacher.  And she's delightful.   She and I are the same age.  She has the most positive outlook on life and a wonderful testimony.    Her granddaughter would like to take some piano lessons from me using the church's accompanying course.

The church has a pretty nice piano course designed specifically to 'fast track' learners to be able to play the hymns.  I'll send for the course and we'll see how it goes.  It worked pretty well with Siti, our Thai friend in England.  This little fireball ought to take to it pretty well, too!  

My only question is how to meet with her often enough.   Their town is quite a ways out.  And we'll have to see if she qualifies to get one of the church's little keyboards so she can practice.  It's really a great program the church has set up to help train church accompanists. 

Driving between areas to visit members, we see a lot of interesting sights.  Here's one we haven't been used to:  an oak tree with mistletoe clumps!  We had to look this one up when we got home to see what goes on there!

So evidently these mistletoe clumps are parasitic to several different types of  host trees.  It says they don't generally kill the host, although that sometimes happens.  Pretty strange looking, huh?  

And speaking of trees, here is a great one we encountered while visiting another great family in our branch.  They invited us to pick a bunch of lemons!  

And what do you do when life hands you a lemon?     

Of course! 

Have I told you about our sweet organist/pianist in the branch?  This is Joanne.  She fills the duty of organist in sacrament meeting as well as being primary and Relief Society pianists.  And...she has arthritis.  She says the doctor told her if she wants her fingers to keep working, keep playing piano!  

The chapel piano helps her out, because it is an electric digital from the church.  It plays prelude on its own.  If she's away, it will also play the hymns on its own!  Someone just needs to sit on the bench and tap any key in the speed it should be going.  Pretty amazing.  And wonderful for outlying areas in our worldwide church so everyone can sing to accompanied hymns.  

Anyway, she asked me one day in jest, 'So how accomplished are you on the piano?'  I told her, "I'm good enough that the Lord sent me to fill in for you so you can have your knee replaced this month." She goes in for the surgery the end of March and plans to be in good shape to return to her position in Yosemite in a month...and to the piano bench! 

By the way, I haven't introduced you to our two counselors in the bishopric:  

I know, I told him he really could be on KBYU's "American Ride".  Brother C. just had quadruple bypass, which is totally annoying him because they live WAY out in the boondocks where I'm sure he takes care of everyone around.  And by the way, his wife Cathy is another Yosemite worker!  

So who took over his assignments while Al was recuperating?  

Our other counselor, Brother Brown.  He built their home, and it's evidently just the latest of many he's built for them.  I wish I had also taken a picture of their garage so you could see his Corvette!  

If you put the church in the middle in your mind, he would live 45 minutes one direction from it, and Al would be just as far the other direction.  And President Whitmer lives down in Sonora!  Needless to say, they don't hold any unnecessary meetings.  

I have to say, we travel around some beautiful countryside as we make visits during the week.  Saturday Fred decided to take me up to Yosemite, just for a ride.  You can't go very far into the park from our side; Hwy 120 is still in trouble from a mudslide and sink hole due to the rains.  But there were still some pretty interesting sights!  Like this: 

Let's talk chains!  And what was this machine for?  

Here's the front, with an auger to throw some serious snow!  We were also amazed on our way in to see so much of the forest burned out!  Then we realized that big Yosemite fire happened in 2013 while we were in England!  We hope they get the road damage repaired before tourist season up here, or they say our little Groveland will be in serious economic trouble. 

Wow, I just looked at the size of this post.   I have to wrap it up.  But I think I'll end with a shot that really makes me laugh.  Fred was looking over these bushes to try to get a close up of some deer  while we were walking.  I don't know whose ears picked up first!  Anyway, have a great week.   We love you all!