Wonderful guests, grandsons, niece & billboard action

 

April 30 2023

Dear Family:

Kenlee’s birthday is today and according to her posts she had a great time with family and friends.  It looks like Riley and Cole joined the party.

I had a surprise visit this morning from dear friends, Kim Barlow and her daughter Paige.  They moved to Colorado 6 years ago and my heart was broken when they left.  But today it was like no time had passed.  Yes I’m older and Paige is a grown up beauty – not a little girl. Kim hasn’t changed a bit.  I’m grateful for friendships and for activity in the church that makes these friendships possible.  Actually it is because of Kim that I started teaching piano.  That suggestion has given me financial security the last 9 or 10 years and I will forever be grateful that that suggestion and the wonderful memories of being included in their family activities. That financial security has made it possible to afford to pay for repairs and replacements on my house and auto and not have to go into debt.  A blessing for sure!

I want to thank Taylor and Tanner for being a huge support to me this last week.  Taylor for helping me make a decision regarding bad news dental wise.  In spite of being a busy dad, husband and dentist he had time for me and I appreciate it greatly.  I will have a tooth pulled and Taylor will put in an implant in the next while.

Tanner has been a help to me as a homeowner.  He spread “Moss B Ware” on my roof and came another time to help me figure out if I have a roof leak.  Thank you Tanner for your generousity!  Unfortunately my great granddaughter prefers my sister Glennda to me, but maybe in time that will change.  She didn’t much like me this trip but she is still cute as a bug.

Hayden will be happy to know that I solved a huge (to me) computer problem without having to call him and say "Help."  I deleted my email program and reinstalled it and didn't lose any data!!!!!!

I also want to thank another member of my extended family – Haley.  Losing your parents is a tough time.  After losing her dad a few years ago, we all recently lost her mom Sally very recently.  She inspires me because she is an “I can do it” kind of gal.  No matter how difficult, how sad, how disappointing….she rises above and takes the “high road.”  These past 2 ½ years while reconnecting with Sally, Haley and her family has been a huge blessing in my life.

We had a dance gig with my 5 piece band in Keizer OR last night.

If you look closely you will see that my 5 piece band KANSAS CITY RHYTHM KINGS is actually on a billboard.  (For some strange reason I thought that getting the flag pole in the photo was important.  I've changed my mind now.

I think this is the first time our band has been on a billboard!!   I met my band partner, Brad Davis, in Tualatin and we car pooled so that I didn’t have to drive home in the dark.  We have become friends during the past 13 years with our band businesses.  Last night driving home from Keizer, OR with him I had an opportunity to tell him about the great advantage I had being raised as I was…as a Mormon, (member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), by parents who were down to earth people, with standards (no coffee, no smoking, no alcohol, etc.)  and moral expectation of us children. I wasn’t an ideal daughter.  I’m sure they would have wanted me to make some different decisions, but all in all I am grateful for them. We were raised to be hardworking, honest, and to keep our word – if we said we would do something, we did it - and to treat others as we wanted to be treated.  (Brad Davis was raised in tough circumstances, became an alcoholic, had really tough experiences as an adult, but has been sober for 24 years.)  I frankly was surprised that he opened up and told me about his life in such detail.

However, the thing I’m trying to convey to you is my gratitude for my upbringing.  It wasn’t perfect by any means.  We had very little.  Dad had a terrible car accident when I was six that changed his personality, and we moved a lot.  But between mom and dad they tried their best.  There were there every day, we had meals on the table 3 times a day, our clothes were clean, we went to church, we went to school,  if we had school difficulties Mom tried to help us, dad made sure that we did our share of the work as soon as we were old enough, and on and on.

I look at all of you and I am so grateful for your lives, your goals and your dedication to your families.  Brad Davis is trying to help his nephew straighten out his life after being released on 3 years’ probation from jail.  We are a blessed family.  I feel so grateful that I have 3 children and their spouses who care about me and help me.  I feel grateful that my grandchildren are thriving.

I’ll sign off today with another inspiring message from President Hinckley:  “You can be excellent in every way.  You can be first class.  There is no need for you to be a scrub.  Respect yourself.  Do not feel sorry for yourself.  Do not dwell on unkind things other may say about you.  Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you.  Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart.  Love life and look for its opportunities, and forever and always be loyal to the Church.”

I send my love to you all.

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, sister and Aunt Suzanne

PS I’m getting a little too old to leave 2 hours before a gig, play a 3 hour gig and get home at 11:30pm.  But I did it last night.

Tribute to Sally and a bit about our talents

 

April 23, 2023

Dear Family:  Happy Birthday next week Kenlee!

This has been a tough week and weekend for my niece Haley Schnell Lewis, Steve Lewis & my nephew, Rob Schnell, Angie and Sally’s grandchildren.  It has also been sad for those of us who loved their mom, Sally. Saturday morning, my sister-in-law Sally left this earthly life for the next adventure in Heaven. For reasons that I won’t go into now, Sally, Rob and Haley and I lost 25 years of being able to show love to each other and make memories together.  Thankfully two and a half years ago, Nov, 9, 2020, Rob was able to reach out to me and we all were able to start the connection again.  Shortly thereafter I drove to Haley and Steve’s home and we spent hours reconnecting, reminiscing and just enjoying each other’s company again with Sally present.  Sally had been rescued and a long time consuming journey through court, attorneys and bank accounts by Haley and Steve saved Sally financially.  It was a horribly sad and painful process.  Through it all I couldn’t help but admire my niece Haley for her loyalty, strength, ideas, power and determination. I will treasure the many visits and dinners with them.  I will also treasure one on one time I had with Sally while Haley and Steve went on a well-deserved little vacation. We sat and laughed our heads off while working on little sewing projects.  Last August I was invited to Sally’s assisted living facility to help celebrate Sally’s birthday.  Sally, Delaney and her fiancé threw a great birthday party and I was honored to participate. Last Thursday I visited with Sally and Haley in Providence Hospital.  After listening to the doctor with Haley I realized the sad truth.  It wouldn’t be long.  

In the last 2 ½ years Sally and I were able to reminisce on Fast Sunday Dinners, that started in 1980, our Disneyland trip (two families together), 

1983

a couple trips to Alpenrose Dairy Christmas Land, Halloween Donuts, beach trips and much more.  On one visit to Gresham Sally said, “You know me better than anyone.”  (I’m sure I didn’t but I think she meant from those outside her family.)  She was expressing her love to me and it brought tears to my eyes. My renewed relationship with Haley, and resultantly her family, is one that I will always and forever treasure.

Today I want to talk about gifts and talents that have been given to us by Heavenly Father.  I’m not going to address spiritual gifts today, but gifts that we can see and experience.  In the last 25 years I have been able to develop talents that I had no idea I could be able to develop.  Prior to that, as a young person I remember learning to sew (with help from mom and a school sewing class).  I could have just stopped it in high school, but I realized it was something I was good at and I have continued to sew continuously ever since.  I could go on for hours about making my children’s clothes, leisure suits for Rich, family pajamas, wedding gowns, and in the last 20 years lots of quilts.  I remember being able to make all my grandchildren hand knitted sweaters because my grandmother Mary Glenn Leishman taught me to knit, crochet and embroider. Lately I’ve totally enjoyed making Barbie clothes for my great granddaughters and great niece.  Mom started teaching me piano when I was 8.  When I was 11 I decided that I could teach myself to play “Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley, and “Allegeny Moon” by Patti Page. (Mom brought me the sheet music from their trip to Portland while landing Dad a new job.) My piano lessons started in earnest when we moved to Portland when I was 12.  I have to hand it to my parents who were always strapped for money: 1) Mom played piano for the dance teacher in Vale so Judy and I could have dance lessons.  2) Then in Portland our parents made sure that all 4 of us girls got piano lessons. 3) I remember Glennda taking piano lessons also, but somehow realized that she had more talent as an artist.  Look at her today.

 I would never have believed that when I was 54 I would start playing in bands.  Thankfully my piano teacher taught me chords before I finally quit at age 15.  40 years later I still remembered the chords and my journey in music continued.  You all know that now I teach piano and have done so for 12 years.  And I have my own small band.  Even though my marriage to Burgess didn’t last, he taught me indirectly and directly to be a better piano player, how to be a big band musician, band protocol and culture, and how to be a band manager.  What a blessing.  Last week I mentioned I had 2 gigs the previous week.  These are on youtube.  You don’t have to listen to the whole song.  But even 20 seconds will give you an ideas about my band.  Some of you may never have heard it.  A 5 piece band sounds different than a big band for sure.  Realize that my band is designed for ballroom dancers.  Luckily it has lots of different genres.  Enjoy.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ogbl#inbox?projector=1   (Swing the Moon and the Fifties)

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#inbox?projector=1   (Roaring Twenties Medley)

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox?projector=1  (South – a Dixieland Tune)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXCyacqTIus   (Kansas City)

 So much for my talent story!  I remember making sure that my children got to try different sports and activities while they were young.  Brad tried ice skating after watching the Winter Olympics sometime in the 70’s.  He also played little league baseball and enjoyed being a catcher.  Then a music teacher encouraged him to develop his voice.  Private lessons and a college scholarship ensued.  Brian was very athletic and tried track and field.  He was shy and was hesitant to try things (he didn’t want to be compared to Brad and being shy was a hard thing to overcome.)  In grade school all his teachers said he was really smart and he got great grades.  He became aware that reading and learning was fun.  He was also completely organized in many areas and he still is. It has served him well in his career choice.  He was the first to teach himself about computers.  Amy took piano lessons longer than her brothers did, and she can still play a bit.  She took dance as an 8^th grader and her brothers encouraged her to tryout for the High School “Annie Get Your Gun” production.  Then they encouraged her try out for Gendrils – the dance team at school.  She loved it and made the team as a freshman.  I first realized Amy had an eye for interior design when Brad was on his mission.  She wanted to redecorate his bedroom and I let her. It had a race car theme.  It was totally amazing and I was so proud of her. 

Brad still has a good voice, Brian is still a computer genius and organized and Amy has an eye for beauty and design.  Congratulations you guys!  I remember them encouraging their children to try things also.  Kenlee and Riley danced a lot.  Carter learned to play guitar, as did Taylor and Michael.  I see Kenlee has her girls in dance/tumbling?  Michael and Laura got India involved in art.  Kelsy and Taylor are encouraging their boys in exploration of their mind and their reflexes.   I guess what I’m saying is…continue to give your children lots of experiences to discover and develop their talents.  They may not become “Professionals”, but every experience advances confidence, self-worth, ability to expand.  I see it every week in the parents of my piano students.  Not only do they take piano lessons, they take gymnastics, soccer, etc.  I do remember feeling like an unpaid chauffeur for a few years.  But it paid off.  Remember talking about Michael and his dream of being a photographer.  Finally he learned that he would have to postpone his dream, but I’m sure one day he will succeed.  Brad realized in college that he had a great voice, but if he wanted a family and to be able to support them, he couldn’t do it singing.

• ·        "If your teacher, coach, or mentor believes you can do something, you're more likely to do it."
• ·        "Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable." — Coco Chanel, fashion designer
• ·        "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." — Maya Angelou, American poet, and civil rights activist
• ·        "Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." — Pele, Brazilian soccer player
• ·        "People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." — George Bernard Shaw, playwright

• Now I have to tell you a story about Hayden.  I remember when he was about 7 or 8, he asked me to give him a piano lesson.  I went to his house, we spent about an hour and I taught him until he was tired.  When we were done he said, “Why can’t I play like you?”  It was his first lesson.  I explained to him that he would have to continue to take piano lessons and PRACTICE.  He did. His parents supported him.  He is amazing and I love to talk piano and show him piano chords, etc., when we are together.  I have told this story to everyone of my piano students.  It takes more than one lesson.  It takes years of practice.  This week after several months of their son floundering and only slowly progressing in piano, his parents asked how he was doing and for me to give suggestions.  I told them to sit with him once a week while he was practicing and talk about the assignment I had written and what he was supposed to do.  I told them that he needed to do his theory at home because if he didn’t, we had to do it in class and it slowed his progression. I did compliment him on finally being able to try to play with curved rather than flat finger.  Parent involvement is the key to steady progress.  They said he was practicing all by himself.  It shows!!

Well enough for today.  I hope I have been able to share my feelings about Haley and Sally and about talents.  Every night when I say my prayers not only to I pray for each of you, I thank Heavenly Father for giving me talents.  

My love to each of you.

Love mom, grandma, great grandma, sister and aunt Suzanne

A "GOOD CAUSE" and Easter report

 

4 16 2023

Dear Family:

I missed last week’s letter.  It was Easter, it was a fabulous afternoon/evening at Mike and Amy’s house and by the time I got home, I was too tired.  I’ll try to catch you all up today.  Easter was lovely and full of family and fun.  Attending: Amy, Mike, Haley, Tanner and Claire Dougall, Taylor, Kelsy, Cooper and McKay Schnell, Brad Schnell, Glennda and Scott Field and me.  When you see the photos, you will be amazed and you will enjoy the beauty and fun.

Table setting first:

NEXT IS FOOD:

Amy working hard

Aspargus Salad

Deviled Eggs

Veggie tray

Sweet peppers with Boursin Cheese (My favorite)

Haley's Mom's raspberry jello salad

NEXT THE KIDS:

Claire with Bunny Ears.  Claire attached herself to my sister Glennda when Glennda walked in the door and they spent a good deal of the day together. Glennda is holding Claire.

Cooper made sure Claire got some eggs

Cooper and McKay enjoying plush pillows

Cooper and Claire

Cooper, Claire, McKay  (notice how big brother is holding McKay away from Claire 😀

Best thing this week! Clarke has been staying with me while he is setting Portland Metro Area on fire with his amazing selling techniques.  WORST THING!! I bumped into his car when I was backing out Friday going to a gig.  There isn’t much damage, but we will work it out.  He doesn’t hate me so we are good.

I was backing out Friday morning going to the first gig off the day;  Oregon City Fred Meyer was having a grand re-opening and on Tuesday we got the call to play Dixieland music on Friday for 45 minutes.  That’s quick, but our 5 piece band has about 4 Dixieland tunes (that we played twice) and I mixed in 2 Roaring Twenties Tunes and a couple swing tunes. 

It looks just like a Fred Meyer Store I think.  We were set up by the customer service counter.  The ribbon cutting was just on the other side of Customer Service.

We were a hit and it was so fun watching people dance up and down the isle and so many told us, “This is a wonderful surprise. Can you come every Friday?”  The best thing was the Fred Meyer chief honcho and his assistant were thrilled and we had fun.  Then we drove to Vancouver (Luepke Senior Center) and played again from 1-3pm for their 50's+ monthly dance. The administrators were thrilled that about 70 people were there. We play again next month on May 12 (my birthday and hopefully that’s when Kelsy’s baby comes…..I’ve been thinking positive.)  On Saturday April 29 we play in Keizer at the Senior Center and hopefully there will be more people there.  The nice thing is now we are playing at fewer Retirement homes and more dances.  I think the Covid scare and paralyzing people with fear is over and now people feel like they can resume their lives.  Playing in this 5 piece band is probably one of the more gratifying things I’ve done music-wise.  Teaching piano is gratifying in the long run after about 4 years of teaching someone.  But these dances are immediately gratifying and there is nothing better than hearing feedback that they love the band.

Patricia (cha cha)  I could only send 7 seconds because anything larger wouldn't complete. I'll put some on YouTube and send links sometime.  (If this doesn't come through, I'll attached it to the email.)

My effort to turn over managing the 2 big bands is going well.  I’ve had 3 personal sessions with Aimee Chalfant and she calls me when she doesn’t know how to handle something.  I like the freedom from having to find venues for the big bands to play.

Kenlee’s Birthday is the 30^th.  No other birthday in April that I can find.

My message today is: “…..(we) should be anxiously engaged in a good cause”….”  The rest of it goes on to say…”and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness…”

I want to commend all my grandchildren.  You are all anxiously engaged; Carter on a Mission, Hayden in college, Conner in an EMT program, and those who are parents are certainly anxiously engaged everyday taking care of, teaching, protecting, and helping your little ones.  I look back to the years that I was raising my 3 children.  I wish I had had someone telling me that what I was doing was good, that they could tell I was trying my hardest and that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself.  I was always thinking that I should be doing better, working harder, that I wasn’t good enough.  I want to tell you that you are doing great, you are working hard and you are good enough.  In your years to come you will look back and see that all the little things you are doing are appreciated, noticed and produce potential.  You will have helped your children succeed in school, in friendships, in relationships, in careers and with their extended families. 

You are all anxiously engaged in a good cause.

I love you all.  Have a great week

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne

April Conference Weekend & after 10 years managing two community bands I'm retiring

April 1, 2023 Dear Family: No birthdays this week that I’m aware of. I have become very disenchanted with professional basketball. Yes! I know you will be surprised. Now I’m enjoying Mariner’s baseball. They’ve changed some things this year to make it faster and to give the infield and outfield more opportunities to show off their stuff. The bases are 3” bigger. 18” square; this is to produce more base stealing. And the pitchers have 15 seconds (no base runners) or 20 seconds (with base runners) to pitch the ball. No more exaggerated wind ups and taking forever to contemplate their pitches. So far it’s been better.

 I have been busy this last week preparing operations procedures and documents for the new manager of the New Horizons Big Bands. I have been involved in managing the two bands for 10 years. It was July 2013 that I started recruiting musicians, organizing a New Horizons group, and joining the national newhorizonsmusic.org. It is time for me to lighten my load. I am keeping my 5 piece dance band and I will still manager Brad Davis’ professional bands. With teaching 12 piano students I think that I will still be busy and won’t feel the burden of trying to find performance venues for the two big bands and keeping it populated by replacing musicians with turnover. There are 2 members that have been with us since day one, but the other 36 has seen a lot of turnover in all these years. I met with Aimee Clalfant yesterday. (She is an opera singer and married to a trombonist). I had collected files, blank contracts, blank invoices, blank applications, and tons more stuff to give her and she actually didn’t faint. I told her I’d be available by phone to answer questions. It is nice to have relieved myself of that burden. I love my dance band and I love playing for dancers and love to hear people come up and exclaim their admiration for the music and the tempos. I will continue to book Brad’s professional band as well. 

Today is the first day of General Conference and I loved listening to the morning speakers. I especially loved what Elder Gong had to say about ministering. I’ll admit that I have had a hard time transferring my references from Visiting Teaching to ministering, but I do love my friend Norma Smurthwaite and I’m always available to take her to the doctor or the beauty shop or whatever she needs. I still remember some of the sisters that I visited with years ago – one being Alena’s grandmother, Illah Green. I drove to Corbett right after morning conference and watched afternoon conference with them. Scott prepared a wonderful pot roast that we enjoyed together after conference. From their beautiful vantage point of windows that looks out on the valley we experienced sun, rain, a bit of snow and rain mixed and a torrent of hail and wind just as I was leaving. Crazy spring weather. I am very much looking forward to tomorrow conference. 

 This morning for the first time, for some unknown reason, I looked back 1, 2, and 3 years ago on the same April conference weekend in my letter. I’ve never looked back and reread any of the weekly letters. (I’m going to do it more). Two years ago I shared a couple paragraphs from Dalin H Oaks. This sentence from those paragraphs still rings true with me: “In ways that have not been revealed our actions in the spirit world have influenced our circumstances in mortality.” I’ve always been grateful for being born in America, born under the covenant, and raised in the church. I am happily anticipating what inspiration I will get from this weekend’s conference. It’s a short message this week. Have a wonderful week my dear family.

 Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne 

 PS – Keep Danny Lloyd in your prayers. As you know he lives in Abuja Nigera and he is having serious health issues. I miss him and he misses all of us.