A new reality

2010 was the year of surgeries for Tom

December 2009 and January 2010 was cataract surgery on each eye

September 2010 was hernia surgery

December 2010 was brain tumor and blood clot removal surgeries.

2011 will be the year of recovery.

After ICU we will go to a regular hospital floor,

then possibly to an acute rehab facility for 2-3 weeks

of physicaly and occupational therapy,

then home physical for up to a year to regain

90% of facial function.

We have much to be thankful for...

excellent mental alertness,

strong arms and legs,

and a strong body going into surgery

which aids in his recovery.

So this will be a Merry Christmas.

Very Merry.

Waiting...waiting.

Piano Student Elves

Four students and a sister came this morning to help me decorate.

First we had to undecorate--put all the Thanksgiving decorations away to make room for the Christmas decorations.

One of several manger scenes were set up in the front hallway.

Then the trees were set up---one was a disaster and fell apart after 14 faithful years---the musical ornament tree. This is the one I specifically wanted my music students to decorate. They loved decorating and want to come back to decorate this tree--after I buy a replacement.

But we got Tom's tree decorated. Yes, Tom has his own tree. He got tired of the music tree and went to Mozart's--an amazing home decorating shop in town--and found some elegant decorations for "his own tree."

We also dressed up the table. I like to use the Christmas dishes all month long. If I'm going to the trouble of getting them out of box and washing them, I want to use them more than one or two days.

Here are all the elves who brought Christmas to my home this year.

Life interrupted.

The events of the past week have told to family and close friends in emails. Won't repeat them here.

All lessons are cancelled for two weeks. I spend the mornings sleeping in (7:30 --if you call that sleeping in). Then reading and replying to emails. No energy to do much else. Some piano practice for Scrooge. Fell asleep in the lounger last night listening to Christmas music.

I go to the hospital around noon and stay until about 9 p.m. First Tom gets a shave, then we take a walk with the walker around the ward, read the mail, and I work on the computer while he naps. His appetite has returned, his spirits are better, and his speech is less slurred. An answer to the many prayers taking effect? I think so.

I had no idea it was so tiring to sit all day, but it must be the emotional energy. Roxanne & I laughed when last night Tom said to her about 8:30 p.m., "When you get finished with what you're working on, I'm about done." In other words, "you can go home now." First time he's kicked one of us out of the room. :) He actually really appreciates that we are there for hours on end.

This morning my batteries were somehow recharged---got 3 huge loads of laundry done and put away, washed and vacuumed the car, cleaned up the kitchen, finished the recital program, copied it, and delivered it to the mom who is taking charge at tonight's recital in my place. (Maybe now they'll realize how much work it takes to put on a recital. Nah, I doubt it. There's much more work than just the day of the recital.)

The mom who made the recital happen emailed me that the recital went well at the convalescent home and she said,

"At the end of the recital, one of the elderly residents called out, "Who are the teachers who have been teaching all of these children?" I said, Mrs. Carrier is their only teacher. She answered, "Well, Mrs. Carrier deserves a 'Brava!'" Everyone cheered. We are so thankful to you. You have such a gift, not just in music, but in the joy of the Lord. Thank you for sharing it with us."

That made me cry with thankfulness for my sweet piano families.

They've asked what they can do for me, so I've invited my 4 teenagers to come help me decorate the house and trees and bake some cookies together. It's no fun to come home to a dark, undecorated house when so many homes are lit up with Christmas lights.

Took street clothes to Tom today, and he appreciated not wearing that ridiculous hospital gown. We read the mail, paid bills, wrapped a few Christmas gifts, then I took him outside in a wheelchair (not able to walk that far) to enjoy the sun. His room is really quite cheery. The hospital staff enjoy the little decorated Christmas tree, Christmas music, and little treats we have for them as they serve us so kindly. They stay and chat with us and tell us about their families. Very sweet.

Here Roxanne & I are applying rhinestones to Vanessa's cheer outfit while Tom enjoys sitting in a chair for awhile.

This evening two elders from church and their wives came and anointed both Tom and me with oil and prayed for us both. "Why me? I'm not sick." I asked. "Because you two are one, and what happens to one affects the other," they replied. Very true. These are all precious friends with whom we pray during 2nd service each Sunday. Tears and hugs all around at the end.

A New Experience

My two Muslim friends both came to the

Thanksgiving church service tonight.

It was eye-opening for them.

The man drove himself in case he wanted to leave early.

I kept praying he would stay, and he did.

Because the children and teens were in the service

the music was more like a rock band.

Many people clap to the music

and some raise their hands into the air.

Several international students were present,

whom they have seen at the International

Friendship Connection get-togethers.

We had communion. The young woman asked what it was about.

I told her.

Then before the two baptisms our church has those being baptized

write out their testimony and read if beforehand.

So they heard two people explain

how they realized they needed Jesus

and how they came to faith.

They were VERY surprised when the people

were submerged into the water.

So I got to explain that too. Pretty cool.

I told them this was not a typical service at all,

and they should come on a Sunday morning

when our pastor is here and the music is less raucous.

The young lady said she would like to come back.

I'm afraid our pastor will be out of town this Sunday visiting family,

and she might not get to hear his amazing preaching.

Oh well, she'll just have to come back a third time!

Preparing...

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.

One of only three Christian Holidays in America.

Next to Easter, it is my favorite holiday of the year.

A family time. A calm time--except for the cook.

Today is a very busy day of preparation,

because the Thanksgiving Feast is always at my house.

I found a wonderful Classical Christmas station

(on the TV of all places),

so I've got the music turned up while cooking and baking.

Fresh green beans are on sale, so I'm taking an Internet break while eating my "breakfast" of hot tea and steamed green beans sauteed in fat-back. I'll munch on these while making more fattening dishes for tomorrow. It's less fattening (I think) than a typical breakfast of a large cinnamon bun covered in icing.

You can tell we don't live in the deep South--I had to explain to the young butcher what fat-back is.

The turkey is brining in it's salt/sugar bath, and the fresh tortilla soup is in process.

Now on to baking cornbread for turkey stuffing,

making lemon pie (the meringue will be added tomorrow),

gathering, chopping, covering and setting aside all the ingredients I'll need tomorrow,

making gingerbread dough and sugar cookie dough

for our annual Gingerbread House and fancy decorated cookie day on Friday with Vanessa and Grant.

If I have time, I'll make a breakfast bread rolled up with sugared-cinnamon apple slices inside and drizzled with icing and chopped pecans on the outside.

I picked the apples from our friend's tree in Oak Glen earlier this fall.

If I don't use them quickly, they'll get old.

Later we'll put up a long table and dress it up for the holiday.

Then tonight we'll go to church and give thanks to God for his Best Gifts to us.

My Muslim friend Noor is coming with us to church tonight!

Her first time there.

There will be much joyful singing

and several baptisms.

O, Holy Spirit, fall on us and know how thankful we are.

Thank you.

Well. I got a very nice email from the state--not apologizing, but realizing and stating their appreciation that we were working hard to meet their requirements and no longer treating us like naughty children!

When I'm on vacation, business can take a hike!

I got another threatening email this morning

from the state office of the

Music Teachers Association of California.

Basically, it said...

"We haven't received your revised bylaws yet.

Remember, if they aren't received by November 30th,

we will revise them FOR YOU at a cost of $150.

It's really very simple."

Which made me angry...again.

Oh, not just me. Our entire board was seething.

The original "request" was a demanding

"Do this, by this date, OR ELSE..."

Why do branches even HAVE bylaws

if the state organization can mandate what they say?

Granted, some of the changes were beneficial,

but we're professionals here.

I don't need them to threaten me to get work done!

And it was NOT simple.

Two of our members spent many hours updating our bylaws last year.

The state's language was mandated,

meaning we could not change a single word of it.

And it was written in confusing language by a lawyer!

We who worked on adding the state's several pages of mandated additions

were not about to carelessly mess up

the order or wording of our colleagues.

We spent hours deciding where the additions should go,

deleting redundant portions from our bylaws,

then I called two board meetings to discuss them and

make revisions, since I don't work independently as president.

I sent them purposely BEFORE my vacation

so I wouldn't have to deal with this stuff ON vacation.

So I sent off one hot email telling them

we DID meet their deadline 10 days ahead of time,

and we as a board do not appreciate their patronizing tone.

Patronizing: Treat with an apparent kindness

that betrays a feeling of superiority.

Well, now that I have that off my chest,

on with the vacation.

Business can take a hike!

San Francisco

Well, I know where one of my Christmas presents is coming from.

San Fran-CIS-co!

Roxanne and seven friends and family returned from 3-1/2 days of shopping and touring San Francisco last Sunday. She found something she just knew I MUST have.

She and Tom have good taste, so I know it will be very nice.

So nice, in fact, that she couldn't afford it herself, but she knew her Dad would reimburse her and give it to me from himself.

She was right. Dad paid her, and now I'm very curious.

It's not a very big box.

Relatively small.

Hmmmm.

But I won't cheat.

I love surprises on Christmas morning.

In the meantime, I got a Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate bar

flavored with Orange.

My FAVORITE.

Campus Life

Monday, Tom and I took Vanessa and her friend Kara to The Masters College in Santa Clarita--two hours northwest. The campus is located on land that was a former horse ranch. There were many good things about this school, but since the Christian education aspect is excellent at both schools, I think Vanessa prefers surfers over cowboys.

Point Loma Nazarene University

Today I took Vanessa (and Grant on school holiday) for her admissions interview at Point Loma Nazarene University-PLNU. The campus is beautiful--on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Very impressive! As good as Pepperdine in Malibu!

How could I forget my camera???

It's a smaller school with about 2000 students. So Vanessa would be able to make some good friendships and not get lost in the crowd.

Now we wait for her teachers' and other references to be written, grades to be sent, before she hopefully receives a letter of acceptance.

Afterward we drove to nearby San Diego along the bay and got caught in the traffic around the Carnival Cruise ship that had just returned (towed) to dock because it was stranded in the ocean for almost a week.

Then we returned to Point Loma for lunch at the Corvette Diner.

A fun, but tiring day.

A crazy week

Boy, oh boy, am I looking forward to my vacation

the week of Thanksgiving.

The past 10 days have been CRAZY busy.

Somehow, everything happened at once.

BUT...

English class and Good News club will be finished until the new year.

So I'll just have Scrooge rehearsals in the evenings for the next month.

How did I get involved in all this STUFF!?!?!

Gotta learn to say that "No" word more often.

Planning

Wait a minute!

I've rotated this picture three times,

and it still comes out sideways.

Oh, well.

After the Tom's luncheon party, Grant asked to come home with me to plan our annual Gingerbread House construction. We looked through many pictures and finally decided to do a log cabin with pretzels. Looks easy.

Grant, the only boy I've ever known who LIKES to clean house, also very sweetly asked...ASKED...if he could help me do something around the house. So he straightened up a couple of paper messes. I've been thinking about hiring one of the handicapped people from church to help a little, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't just hire Grant!

Retirement Party

Today I took a chance and surprised Tom

with a family Retirement Party at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

Roxanne & Eric helped get him there.

Vanessa was working on her college applications.

Grant was drawing a restaurant booth.

That kid needs to go to art school.

Jeanette & Roger were there (she with her broken arm).

Terry & Debbie (Eric's parents) were there.

Ryan & Tammie (Eric's sister) were there too.

He received several very nice cards and gifts

to celebrate his retirement.

It was a special day and he really appreciated it.

The children and I got him this plaque of appreciation.

I say I was taking a chance because many, many years ago I had to promise I would never throw him another surprise party after I hired a violinist to play for us at a restaurant.

Well, I suppose that was a little over the top.

But I thought it was TERRIBLY ROMANTIC...hint, hint, Tom.

He just thought it was TERRIBLE.

But he has thanked me several times for today.

Halloween Night and Reformation Day

What's Reformation Day? The day in 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg--the catalyst for the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Bless him!

All Saints Church Doors in Wittenberg, Germany

He was a good Catholic priest until he did the unthinkable!

He read his Bible!

Then decided the Bible had more authority

than the Catholic church hierarchy!

He discovery?

Salvation is by Grace alone

through Faith alone

in Christ alone.

Do we celebrate this in our protestant churches? It got mentioned in church yesterday, but those of us in non-liturgical churches don't do anything special to celebrate the day.

Shame on us.

What did most people in America prepare for yesterday?

Halloween!

We had a few more trick-or-treaters than usual, and they came in such cute costumes. I didn't even mind the teenagers who came--

they're not doing drugs!

They're only asking for a small piece of candy!

It's hard to grow up and leave the childhood traditions behind.

Of course, I saved back all the Snickers and M&M Peanuts for myself!

The Snickers have a special meaning for us since we went to England.

The exchange rate was not in our favor on that trip,

so we couldn't afford to eat in restaurants.

We ate very well and very cheaply from Sainsburys,

England's grocery store.

But we always carried a couple large Snickers with us

in case we couldn't find a Sainsburys when we were touring.

We'd eat from the little sidewalk shops--Cornish pies--yum!--

but mostly a piece of fruit and Snickers was lunch.

And we still lost weight--from walking our feet to the bone!

I always thought the name "Snickers" sounds so English.

Here's my best English accent,

"Would you like some tea with your Snickers, mum?"

Kindergarten again

Last week Tom encouraged me to buy Rosetta Stone in German, because he is impressed by my German Bible memory verses. It is an amazing program that teaches by pictures and intuition like a little child learns.

Today I went online for a live session with a "native speaker," Ute. I wanted to ask if she is in America or Germany--we don't have many people in America called Ute--but didn't get the chance.

There were two of us "students" in the session, but it feels like Kindergarten again. We are not allowed to speak English--ONLY German. I don't have many German words to say, but if you need to know any colors or numbers in German, I'm all over it!!

Best Friends

Well. Friday night just wasn't enough for us to catch up on our visiting, so we ladies had an early Saturday morning breakfast date. Donna felt cheated, missing out on Friday night, because she had to work the entire time at Halloween Happening.

So, here we are.

Donna, Barb, and Nancy

Ann, Me, and Jean

These are my very best girlfriends. Five of us get together for birthday lunches throughout the year--Donna, Nancy, Sandy, Ann, and I. Sandy couldn't make it today. As usual we shared our prayer requests--health issues, sick or wayward children or grandchildren, big events (mine: Tom's retirement and increasingly poor health, Vanessa needing God's guidance in choosing a Christian college)--and shared our thankfulness to God for what He has graciously done for us and our families (mine again: Tom and Eric's recent successful surgeries).

Two and a half hours later we finally finished.

Like I said, we're best friends.

Old Friends

The Temmesfelds were in town! Art and Barbara are good friends who moved to Ohio 19 years ago! 19 years! Their four kids have grown, married, and are supplying grand-babies. They were our neighbors when we lived across the street from our former church, Faith Bible Church. Tom and I were married at Faith Bible may years before, but moved away for many years and then moved back and right across the street.

All of these friends are Faith Bible friends. We still marvel at how that church impacted our lives in the 1980s an how we have kept in touch with so many friends.

On Friday night we had a "welcome home" (for 3 days) party at the Townsend's home.

This is just the first wave. Couples kept coming.

Most of us women keep in touch, but here we are all clustered together to share what's going on in our lives for those who don't. In the background, you can see the men visiting. They said, "Well, what will we men talk about?" But they kept up a lively conversation. At one point one said, "We're discussing if we have chosen a grave site yet, and our Last Wills." We laughed and I said, "Tom's got that covered, but if you want to add me to your wills, go ahead."

They laughed.

Eventually our pastor went to pastor a church in Washington, and the church just wasn't the same without them. Campus Crusade moved to Florida and many CCC staff families moved there. Almost all of us moved on to other states or other churches--several of us go to Trinity together--and we only get together now for an occasional reunion, and weddings and funerals. We are all so thankful for this unique friendship that we share.

Here is Jack and Jean Teachout, our pastor during those years together. They were missionaries in Africa, with the Temmesfelds, before they came to pastor our church. I really think they were the catalyst for the deep connections we made with each other.

Halloween Happening

Friday night was Trinity Church's outreach to the community.

Every Halloween for the past 14 years I've attended this church

they have put on this huge event.

It gets better every year.

Here are a few pictures.

One of the things I've always appreciated about Trinity Church

is the use of artists' and decorators' talents.

One of the two worship bands.

Some of the crowd of 5,000 at the free game booths,

where they got candy whether they win or not.

(5,000 is conservative--up to 8,000 were expected)

I usually avoid this event.

I'm not a fan of Halloween or of dressing up

and am involved in plenty of other ministries,

but our 2nd service prayer group had a prayer tent,

where I intended to participate.

I only had one hour to give,

but after being delayed in the traffic jam,

I couldn't FIND the prayer tent until it was time to leave.

I took these pictures as I was looking for it.

A great costume

The Food Court Area.

On Sundays this is where coffee and donuts are served

and folks visit between services.

Finally! The prayer tent.

It was set up like a Bedouin tent

with oriental rugs and huge pillows to sit on.

Very comfortable and welcoming.

I found out on Sunday morning that several people

stopped by for prayer

for very difficult problems they are facing.

So it was an excellent thing to do.

Harvest Time

On Sunday, October 24, the International Students and their host families were invited to Paul and Marsha Plaxton's cabin in Oak Glen in the foothills for a picnic and to pick apples from their orchard.

The largest group is the Indians who are studying for their Masters in Physical Therapy.

They guessed how much each pumpkin weighed...

(42 and 29 pounds)

did some country line dancing...

Tried eating apples from a string (the guy in the middle won).

Picked apples...

I've never seen an apple tree so loaded with fruit!

We were each given a small bag to fill.

Some went home with only half a bag.

Were they trying to be polite? Or don't they like apples?

My bag was FULL!

Pressed apple cider...(delicious!)

Took a parting photo in the orchard...(over 46 students came)

This is the good sport who took photo after photo with everyone's camera.

Everyone had a WoNdErFuL time.

Homecoming 2010

This is the weekend of Homecoming for

Redlands East Valley High School (REV).

It has become the tradition for Vanessa's girlfriends to come to her house before Homecoming in the Fall and Prom in the Spring where Roxanne and Aunt Tammie (and their friend Michelle) generously fix their hair very elegantly for free.

It's a traffic jam of girls getting dressed, borrowing clothing items, getting their hair done in the large bathroom and getting their makeup done. Vanessa's bedroom is a mess of hangers, evening purses, discarded jeans for prom dresses, and discarded sneakers for strappy heels.

The friends--there were more--some left earlier.

Two hours later Vanessa's date arrived. The other girls in this group of friends went solo, and even rented a limo. Then the whole family arrived to take pictures of pinning on the boutonniere and putting on the wrist corsage for dancing.

Okay. This is staged for a picture.

It's Nana who's the only one who can

pin a boutonniere so it stays.

The flowers matched her dress perfectly.

Vanessa & her date, James--an Eagle Scout. Impressive.

This is the first year Vanessa got to go solo with her date--not in the limo--to meet with friends for dinner and an evening of dancing, where they will soon discard their heels and dance barefoot.

Life in the Theater

An email I received this morning.

"I now have the piano score, but I am hesitant to give it to you in its present condition because it is all out of order. There will be cuts and jumps in the music, but I do not have the final script nor the orchestral score. We will be somewhat a slave to the orchestral score, so I would like to take a couple of more days to get the score and mark the piano part to help you. However, if you feel like you MUST have it to take a look at it, I will bring it by with the CD/DVD of the show. The CD has no voices, so it is at times difficult to follow along. In addition, we are not doing the version of the show that is in the DVD or on the CD. I would rather eliminate some of the confusion before I give it to you. What do you think? "

Rehearsals begin in 10 days.

This is not encouraging.

And the piano score will be hand written in pencil.

HANDWRITTEN!

IN PENCIL!

I wish I had the courage to ask for extra stress pay.

Oh well.....

Roxanne called...the San Diego Ballet passed on Grant this year. He's not tall enough. "Clara" is 5'1" and Grant is only 5'. Three other boys showed up who are the right height. But they are still interested in him--maybe next year when he's taller. He's still our little prince. He's at the age he would be terribly embarrassed to hear that. He'd like it, but not dare to admit it.

Here he is with his cousin Madyson,

who has THREE parts in the local Nutcracker.

She's the star of the family this Christmas.

Today is Vanessa's 17th birthday.

She has a busy day at school and after school

working on the Senior class homecoming float,

so we celebrated last Sunday night.

Vivacious

Appreciative

Nurturing

Energetic

Sweet

Sincere

Ambitious

Prince Grant

A Nutcracker Soldier

Roxanne just called after they returned from her father-in-law's birthday dinner at the Corvette Diner in Pt. Loma, a 2-hour drive away. Vanessa is considering attending Pt. Loma College, a Nazarene school in the city of Pt. Loma, right at the ocean!!!.

They went early to the birthday dinner because on an earlier visit to the campus they noticed a nice dance studio nearby and wanted to check it out. It is the BeAuTiFuL high-end studio of the San Diego Ballet Company. They spoke with two ladies in the office, telling them of Vanessa's dance and Pt. Loma interests, and asking about what is available for her to take lessons.

But the lady was more interested in 11-year-old Grant on this day. She is the director of the San Diego Ballet, and thought they were there to audition for the Boy Prince in the Nutcracker. Roxanne told her Grant has never taken a dance lesson, but she was not discouraged. No dancing ability required. It's not a very big part: just what I call "Grand Walking" holding Clara's hand and getting into the sleigh.

Well Grant did the audition (Vanessa was there with him for support). He did very well, and he's just so darned cute the director was very interested in him, and he began to think he might want to do this. But this wasn't on Roxanne & Eric's radar, and there are so many questions. How much? Free! Except the company may want him to go on tour to Texas too.

It might not work out, but what a HUGE opportunity to dance with a major ballet company, even if only for once in his life! Can you tell I'm excited? Soooo excited.

For six years Tom and I had ballet season tickets for the Orange County Performing Arts. We went about four times a year and saw the New York, American, Bolshoi, Royal Swedish, Alvin Ailey, Joffrey, Miami, Eifman, and many other world famous ballet companies dance. Then there began to be many repeats, and some of the modern dances bordered on the vulgar. We walked out (quietly) twice. But we saw incredible dancing by world stars, and it is one of our best memories.

I wonder what will happen? He's a little concerned about stage fright, which is understandable. And a lot will depend on what the costume looks like. But based on the above picture of a soldier from their website, who looks very much like a boy, that may be okay. They sure have expensive, elaborate costumes.

I'll keep you posted.

Scrooge

I just got hired today as pianist in the orchestra for a theater production, Scrooge, by my former worship leader, Jeff Moore. He's an amazing professional musician, and I'm honored to be on his radar for this production. It's a Christian production with a different ending than the one Dickens wrote: Scrooge discovers the real meaning of Christmas.

For all the years I've played piano, I've never played in an orchestra pit. There will be many rehearsals involved, but I'm getting paid. Pretty well, too, I think. Worth being exhausted for the next six weeks. Fortunately, I don't have to join the musician's union. So it's all good.