Playing the Tabernacle Organ

We came home early from our Fall Break so Tyler could play on a few pretty famous Organs.  He had practiced quite a bit for this day.  I had tried to do some here and there but nothing like him.  He played on two organs in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square.  Then he also go to play on the big organ in the Old Tabernacle that is huge! 

  It was pretty impressive when he sat down to play "We Thank Thee Oh God For Our Prophet".  The instructor kept pulling out lots of stops and making it louder and grander and by the end the whole Tabernacle was booming with his playing.  

Grandma and Grandpa Balls came down and spent the day with us. Darren made it down there with the girls too.  They got to see their brother preform.  

Moab for Fall Break

We went south for fall break.  Moab was wonderful.  Our little family is growing up. We hiked and biked.  We cooked good food and enjoyed the sunshine and pool.  Tyler and Ella biked with Darren for a few miles then we stopped and saw Dead Horse Point.  Then Tyler was a champion and biked 16 miles of Gemini Bridges.  I did that when I was 20 and thought it was hard, and he did it when he was 10!  I was so proud of him.  He was done DONE DONE by the end but he did it!

We hiked to Delicate Arch one day.  My kids are troopers.  They do hard things.  Abby got carried most of the way.  But we love her.

The last day I got to bike with the two older kids.  Darren and Abby biked around the parking lot while we rode.  Then Darren went out to ride.  We played games in the back of the truck.  Staying out of the heat an enjoying some slow time!  There are so many things to do in Moab.  We will have to add on to our adventures every year.  Rock climbing, hiking to fun water places, biking to water places, and just some great mnt biking!

Moab

Arches:

Devils garden in arches

Mountain Biking:

Bar M

Dead Horse 

Klonzo

Hiking:

Corona Arch

Mill Creek

Negro Bill

Small canyon before Colorado river to hike with water. 

Climbing:

Ice cream parlor Wall Street

50th Birthday Party- Julie Newman

My sweet friend Julie turned 50 this year. If anyone knows how to celebrate she does.  Julie has been a little light in my life for a lot of years. We have worked together in various church callings for the last 15 years.  Julie came and saved me when I was a school teacher and brought creativity and maturity and love to my classroom.  She was more than a " teachers aid"!  

Julie planned a weekend get away. It was her birthdays but she spent the time honoring her friends who , as she puts it, we are the friends that when the chips are down we would be at her door.  

She showered us with presents and good food.  And fun crafts.

We did have some spiritual time there too.  I don't need to write it all down because I don't want to remember it all.  But my friend Shannon feel from this swing and broken herself into pieces. Lots of praying.  She is finally on the mend now 6 weeks later.

But even with the heart break and scary ambulance ride the weekend was amazing.  Wonderful ladies. 

Best 50th birthday party ever!