Uncle David

John's Uncle David passed away on Easter Sunday. He was a cheerful, funny, and loving man. He always took an interest in us and was a joy to be around.

His life was celebrated beautifully at his funeral on Saturday. Each of his 9 children spoke and John's dad spoke. They gave a wonderful tribute and we are blessed to have had his influence in our lives.

David Lee Higginson

1943 ~ 2011

Our Father in Heaven chose Easter Sunday to call our dear husband, father, and grandfather home. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family from the effects of cancer.

David was born October 3, 1943 in Nampa, Idaho to John Detton and Merle Harris Higginson.

He was a valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a mission to New Zealand from 1962-64. He had a deep faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ and shared his love for Christ with his family and countless others.

While attending BYU, he met and married his sweetheart, Louise Lewis. They were sealed for time and all eternity on June 2, 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Music was the essence of his life. He was an amazing choir and orchestra teacher in Utah and Idaho, a musician, songwriter, and arranger. His children's treasured memory is singing around the piano on Sunday evenings. He was the creator of The Professional Chord System and touched the lives of so many people as he traveled around the country to share his gift.

He is survived by his wife, Louise and 9 children, David (Heidi), Michael (Marci), Amy (Brenden) Clements, Rebekah (Jim) Edwards, Brian (Lisa), Julie, Linda (Danny) Strauss, Robert, and Jared.

Judge Leah

I am 'head mom' on Monday nights during performances. 4 down....1 to go. It hasn't been easy because I have five other kids at home on Monday nights but it's worked out. I love being with John and Emily at the show. My job is to get Annie and the dog ready and on stage all night and direct the other mom's to get all the orphans ready and where they need to be.

Little John has done a great job watching the kids and helping out. Two weeks ago, Leah went to bed when I left and slept while I was gone and we got the Wii out for the boys, so it was cake! This last Monday, Leah came with me and it worked out just fine. Another mom loved watching Leah so it made it easy for me to take care of Annie and Sandy.

Anyway...John is the judge at the end of the show and while we were waiting for the next scene, Leah tried on his wig. She is so cute and is so so loved by everyone she meets. She is a happy and smiley girl.

"If you see a man on a mountain, you can be sure that he didn't fall there!"

This quote is on my nephew's facebook page and I love it! Thanks Richard!

Tie Guy

Great Men's Ties for Sale from "Tie Guy".

$7.50 each or 3 for $20.00

Cute Leah

Little John was taking pictures of Leah and we loved this one.

She is just sitting there so cute and sweet.

3 weeks ago this coming Sunday, a little switch went on in this girl. She now knows she can be wild and feisty. It's pretty cute and funny but we are in trouble.

why?

Why does blogger not let me paste onto my blog?

Why does blogger choose when and where it will or won't put spaces between sentences. It's so annoying.

Why do some (or 1) of my children not know what to do if electronics aren't involved? (One of them is required to make a list of 25 things he/she can do without electronics).

Why are babies so stinkin cute?

Why is it snowing during Spring Break?

Why do kids think it's so fun to bug, bug, bug each other?

Why did I get so lucky with these 6 little ones that are ALL playing kindly at my feet right at this moment?

Why will this moment not last more than 2 minutes?

I better go enjoy it.

Learn to Like....

Learn to like what doesn't cost much.

Learn to like reading, conversation, music.

Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.

Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.

Learn to like people,

Even though some of them may be different...

Different from you.

Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job as well as it can be done.

Learn to like the song of birds, the companionship of old dogs.

Learn to like gardening, puttering around

the house and fixing things.

Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of the rain

on the roof and windows,

and the gentle fall of snow on a winter's day.

Learn to keep your wants simple and

refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.

Lowell Bennion

Found on one of my favorites: www.memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com

And because it is my goal this year, I will add:

Learn to like cleaning!!!

"Don't let the things you can't do keep you from doing the things you can do."

-advice given to our nephew Bruce as he left the MTC.

My job......find out what I CAN do.

Annie

Do you remember this Annie? She's my favorite. I loved watching this as a kid.

Big John and Emily are performing in the local play "Annie". They have been practicing for a couple months now. It started out at 3-4 times a week and they are now into about 4 hours a day. 6 days a week. Tomorrow they go at 9 am and won't be done until after 6 pm. They are working out all the lighting and changing sets and the sound and all the little technical details and it's going to be a long day. I am a 'head mom' which means I went last night to watch a run through; I go tonight to watch another run through; I go in the morning for a while to learn what I'll be doing; and from here until May 2nd, I will be there every Monday during the show to wrangle orphans and direct 3 other moms on what to do. My mom watched the 5 other kids for almost 5 hours last night. Until 11 pm. Ouch. Thanks Mom. I felt so bad leaving them with her for so long and so late but I felt so much better knowing they were with her and not home alone. Emily is an orphan...Ruby. And John is Jimmy Johnson, the judge, a homeless man, a servant, the dog catcher, hmmm...what else? He's all over the place. I watched the other cast last night and it was fun. I'm excited to watch John and Emily's cast tonight. It's been fun. They have enjoyed it. It's taken a lot of time but it has worked out just fine. We are looking forward to the show starting and being down to 3 busy days a week. They are lucky to get to be in this together. There were over 180 orphans who tried out and the majority who made it, did so because they had a mom or dad try out as well. They are in the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday shows. It runs from April 11-May 7. (But John will not be in the May 7th show. He will be at Father Sons campout with his boys).

Leah Swings

Leah has never really spent time outside. At least that she would remember. And with the beautiful weather the last couple days, she has LOVED being outside. Emily took her out and pushed her in the swing and she loved it. It was so cute. I love her shadow in the first picture.