So Fortunate to Study w/ These Guys: The Gruppmans!

Of all things, Vesna & Igor were at the Temple the other nite.
Got to do a session w/ them.
So wonderful to be spiritually & musically connected to such great people.

My Best Friend: Rose Datoc Dall

The Ellis M. & Rachel B. Sanders Home, Nauvoo

As we are getting ready for yet another concert this Friday, July 16, I can't help but think of my pioneer forebears. In honor of Pioneer Day coming up, I thought I'd repost this (from an entry I wrote dated 8/18/09):

"My nephew was just in Nauvoo & got to see this, our ancestors' home, where Joseph Smith was protected from the mobs. Rachel B. is the grand-
daughter of one of our U.S. Constitution Signers, Jacob Broom (Delegate of Delaware)."

Learning about this history, I feel esp. privileged I was able to graduate from Constitution Hall (having played a solo on the violin). I also am grateful to know my brother gave his valedictorian address (ASBYU Pres. under Elder Holland) on none other than our U.S. Constitution. I, in fact, joined the DAR, headquartered from that same bldg under the aforementioned ancestor.

Just as an aside . . . we often get to see G.A.'s, Apostles, & Prophets (& their wives & fam's) riding on carts making their way to our performances. One of my fav's was getting to see Pres. Hinckley holding onto his flying head of white hair as he was whisked thru the tunnel! Wish I had a pic . . . I have always found this talk about Pres. Hinckley's wife's ancestry to be esp. interesting & noteworthy.

Dr. P (The cat w/ 9 lives couldn't beat her)!

(BYU Graduation w/ Dr. P)

Dr. Pratt ("Dr. P" as we affectionately called her) was literally the "cat w/ 9 lives!" Once a professional harpist in N.Y. & a full-bright scholar, she had everything you could imagine . . . schleroderma, kidney failure, colon cancer, etc. You name it, she had it! On top, she was married 2 times before she met a man who could be faithful to her (her Stake Pres., George Mortimer, of 30 some yrs who nursed his 1st wife till her death). Yet, Rosalie spent everyday of her life writing, serving, & blessing others.

Rosalie believed in the Internet. She used to tell me it was the "wave of the future" for disseminating MusicMedicine (a kin to music therapy). One of our doctors was a fellow from Germany, Dr. Spintge, & his stats expert, Dr. Abel. My Mother used to really enjoy hearing Michael Ballam tapes on what he was doing w/ Music Therapy. His research is really inspiring, esp. his work w/ children! How I loved Rosalie Rebollo Pratt & all she accomplished in her good life!

One Sunday evening, I ran out of gas coming home from a fireside. (I was trying to make it to Monday). I had to ride down on a good samaritan's bike to get a gallon into my car. Of all people, I ran into Dr. Pratt's daughter when I made it to the nearby gas station. It comforted me seeing her & hearing about her Italian son going to Japan on his LDS mission (same place as my bro who helped make our lullaby CD). Now here's one of my fav videos for inspiring students entitled, "Practice Makes Purr-fect!" If Nora can do it, they can. N-joy!!

(On tour to Disney Land)

They say that (certain) music has the power to calm the "savage beast." I also believe it works on humans (particularly children). Try it, you might be surprised! Here are two songs we used in school to "tame" (train) students: #1 & #2. I also am a firm believer in cartoons, & how children act out to what they see. You might want to think about that also.

My Beautiful SLC (LDS) Temple Quilt!

This quilt was on display at our Stake Women's Conference when I was also asked to perform a medley about the Temple. Took over a year to finish! Just a few months before this I had been asked to play the same medley at our Sat. evening Stake Conference session. One of the songs in the medley was, "I Love to See the Temple," by Janice K. Perry. I happened to know one of her foster sons who introduced me to her at this time. I learned she wrote that song specifically for my Stake (as she was then living there). It was during the 70's when the leaders were worried about the number of teenagers not marrying in the Temple. A calling was instigated involving teaching the youth about the importance of the Temple; her song was used for that purpose. I happened to have that calling at the time of these two performances & my meeting Janice. All coincidence? I think not.

Of all things, guess who I would run into at Colonial Days after posting this entry last nite: JANICE K. PERRY herself, no joke! Told her about it . . . ;-)

A Wonderfully Inspiring Story

Click here for the story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E

And here's another one, I went to visit a college friend's father yesterday. He is completely bedridden after a horrible snowmobiling accident where he went flying head first into a tree. Yesterday marked a yr & a half to the date w/o use of his limbs; he is currently paralyzed from the neck down. His wife cares for him non-stop everyday. He is hooked up to many tubes keeping him alive. The other members of the family take turns helping out when they can, some weekly. This, after 3 missions w/ his wife to Finland for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (& a 4th served as a young man, before he was married). Both Stephanie Nielson & this man's names are on the LDS Temple prayer roll as well as on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir one. There is no place like the Temple where I have felt peace here on earth other than serving in the Orchestra at Temple Square with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Going on 10 yrs now as a set-apart musical missionary!

This man, btw, makes violins & I was given the privilege of playing one he made ~ just for him, just a few weeks ago. I learned the importance of service from my parents, but esp. after visiting teaching an elderly woman some yrs back. When she died (at age 83 or so after visiting her for yrs ~ never missing a month), I knew that the only thing truly worth taking with us at the end of this life is service. In fact, I played the violin for her the night before she passed. The healing that swept over her face was amazing as she told me never to come back again ~ w/o it. Unfortunately, that was our last time until the funeral when I performed one of hers, mine, & my Grandma's fav's, "Somewhere My Love." I also visit-taught her daughter-in-law whose husband owns Mormon Art. You can find their statues in front of many LDS historical sites (such as this one) & LDS Temples (sculptor Dee Jay Bawden). Currently, I visit teach a 93 yr old woman (going on 5 or 6 yrs now, never missing a month).

In the pic: Elder Bateman & his wife, Marilyn; Jackie Coleman (portraying Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith); & Pat Glen (wife of Mormon Art owner, Steve Glen)