The Power of Music

I have always been grateful for the opportunity I was given to develop a musical talent.  It has brought great joy and happiness into my life.  I appreciate opportunities to share that with others, too.
I really have learned to love the performances of Jenny Oaks Baker and her incredible gift.  She is beautiful both inside and out and I am so impressed with the choice she made to be a stay at home Mom and to give her own four children their own opportunities to develop a musical talent as well.  I have watched and listened to many YouTube videos of Jenny Oaks Baker and this one posted on www.lds.org is but the latest of her and the testimony she has of the power of music in our lives.
Thanks Mom and Dad  this one's for you!


http://www.lds.org/church/news/grammy-nominated-artist-shares-testimony-through-music?lang=eng

Genealogy Fan Chart

Recently I was made aware of a really wonderful tool in family research.  I am posting a link here where you can log in with your church information (user name, password) to create your own genealogy fan chart.  Wow!  It is so immediately visual and provides the view of all of those blanks (and we have lots!!) of missing family information.  There is really a tremendous amount of work to be done and really, I had no idea it was so much.

Don't have a church account set up?  No worries.  You can see right on the link of how to set up your own.  You just need your church membership number and then your confirmation date (both of these can be obtained from the ward clerk) .  Just set up a user name and a password and you are good to go! 

What a great way to get the younger generation involved, too.

And, if you listen and/or read Elder David A. Bednar's recent conference address from October 2011, this link can also be found there.

Good luck and get going!

Genealogy Fan Chart

Elder Maxwell Handy

Max will be in the MTC until February 20, 2012 and would sure love any and all letters from y'all.  All missionaries love, love more mail and really the more that they get...the better!  If you would like to write to him, use the "Dear Elder" system (address listed here) where it is a free service (read that "no charge!") for you to write on their website and then it is printed out and delivered.  The advantage for the missionaries is that they can then read them at their leisure (do missionaries have that?).  Otherwise, their time spent on the computer sending and receiving emails is very brief maybe like 30 minutes per week.  So, this is a great way to send your well wishes and encouragement to Elder Handy.
His address at http://www.dearelder.com/ will be (just click on the link and you will be taken to their address where you can fill in some brief information to get you started!).  Easy schmeasy!!:

Elder Maxwell Preston Handy

MTC Mailbox #136

PHI-Man 0222

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, Utah  84604-1793

Thanks so much for supporting another one of our missionaries!  

HANDY CHRISTMAS PARTY

THE ANNUAL HANDY CHRISTMAS PARTY WAS HELD AT BRETT AND KALLIE'S - THANKS! THERE WERE TASTY APPETIZERS & SALADS, DELICIOUS SOUPS & YUMMY DESSERTS. IT'S ALWAYS FUN WHEN WE CAN GATHER AS A FAMILY AND JUST CATCH UP ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EACH OTHER'S LIVES.

Steve, Elaine, Lexie & Grant

Nick, Will, Grant & Henry checking out the lastest "toy".

The Girl Cousins: Lauren, Stephanie, McKenzie, Katelyn, Lisa & Megan.

McKenzie & Addison

Grandpa George with Kate, Lindsay & Nick.

Caroline, Catherine & Grant with Great-Grandpa George.

McKenzie, Brock & Grandpa George

Katelyn & Greg's boys (Owen, Henry, Graham & Will) with Great-Grandpa George.

Some of the Great-Grand kids.

The Cousins! Top to Bottom l. to r. are: Katelyn, Chris, Lisa, Brett, Megan, Stephanie, Garrett, Lauren, Brock, Lindsay, McKenzie, Nick, Lexie & Kate. Missing are: Ryan, Leigh, Erin, Emily, Rachel, Alex, Elder Cole & Elder Max.

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

Courtesy of Mark David:

Christmas Carol

When was the last time you checked out "The Mormon Channel?"  Well, I'm here to tell you that there are all kinds of marvelous things to watch and to listen to.  For example, right now, there is a  full dramatized version of the complete novel , "A Christmas Carol" as written by Charles Dickens.  How fun is that?  Very fun I'd say.
Also, check through other programs that you may be interested in also.
Check out:  http://mormonchannel.org/a-christmas-carol
The new Bible series are wonderful!  These have small stories of the birth of the Savior and what a marvelous job has bee done for us to learn from and to enjoy.
Here it is:  http://mormonchannel.org/
Did you know that right now you can listen to streaming (constant!) Christmas music?  Indeed!  I have tried it out and it goes for hours and hours and hours....well you get the idea.
Don't hesitate for "the goose is getting fat" and Christmas is coming so put these marvelous things on your must do lists and for goodness sake, "God Bless Us Everyone!". 

Les Miserables

Last night Emily and I attended yet another performance of Les Miserables. No matter how many times I have seen this, it remains one of my favorite musicals. Here in Minneapolis at the Orpheum theater, the cast was small, the scenery remarkable and we heard a few new tweaks in the familiar songs. But like Emily says, you take away a few new favorite moments in each performance. Hurray for Les Misearbles!

Elder Maxwell Handy

Elder Handy's (farewell!) assignment to talk prior to his mission will be on Sunday, December 18th at 9am.  He will be speaking at the Parley Canyon 1st Ward located at 21st E and 23rd S.  Please contact Preston for any and all other details.  It's going to be great to have two Elder Handys out at the same time!  Hurray for that.

FRANCINE GIANI DAY!!!!!

On Friday, Fran was given the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Romney Institute at BYU. She received her Master's of Public Administration from there and was honored with a luncheon that was attended by family, friends, co-workers, professors and alumni at the Hinckley Center. We are so proud of her and all she has accomplished in her life and her career. Fran has been a hard worker, has always stood for what is right and has been a leader in the state and her community. The governor also declared many, "Whereas Francine Giani......"and then declared that 11/11/11 be Francine A. Giani Day in the state of Utah! We are so happy and grateful she took dad's advice not to return to New York City after she had been here for a year. It's now been 28 years that she has been part of our family - what would we do without her?!!!

CONGRATULATIONS FRAN! WE LOVE YOU!

Elder Maxwell Handy

Max’s farewell is December 18 at 9:00 am.

Max opening up his mission call to Philippines Manila Mission.

(Elder) Cole Handy and Max (soon to be Elder) Handy.

It's going to be such fun to have two Elder Handys out on missions at the same time!  Congratulations to you Max, for being prepared to serve a mission.  We're proud of you!!