Dear family and dear friends
I am coveting best gifts, reading over six weeks of journals and reams of images in the blessed acknowledgment of protection in travels to visit children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters,
following a significant
change with Grammy. 
The morning of an early morning temple visit with a grandson
age 12, after toting a researched name of an ancestor for over two years, we
decided to watch to see if we might see a miracle. That day, two dentists cleared an appointment
to see my mother, their next working day, in order to remove dental infection. My
sweet spouse, in aftermath brought us to the mountains in a route his father would
take his grandparents. I wonder whether
some of our richest scenery might be viewed in midst of trial? 
We feel heavens’ hand in connecting with grandchildren in the wrapping up then the beginning of new school seasons. Sunday, watching a nearly 13-year-old grandson have his great grandmother by the elbow, exclaiming about his new gained height and hearing about his best class. “It has to be band (percussion and xylophone), because the teacher said so,” But my favorite is really science. Then, maybe, Python II, recreational math.”
Our walk was to a neighbor’s home to run through
Teach Me to Walk in the Light (wondering if it might be possible to match pitches
as a seven-, nine-, 11-, or 13-year-old?
Visible Progress following a few sessions with Aunt Sherryl, who is famous
for helping to coach one of the singers of Gentry! A cute, funny part was hearing a very young blonde
grandson to another neighbor echo our words and exclaim with a wave to parents in
our presentation, “I am singing loud, Mom and Dad!”
Are you singing loud and strong? Perhaps our pitches grow to match and blend a
little better with practice, experience (patience and faith?)
Amber’s little ones got to sing Happy Birthday to a one-year-old
little sister. And we sing praises hearing
of other grandparents and Georgia family assisting in a second move in a month,
then two sisters that hooked arms and flew on a weekend to energize, organize, and
lift as two nieces, six-year-old sisters got ready to take a deep breath and
breeze by bus, humming, into first grade.
Reports are, Georgia grandchildren washed up after a “mud day” in their Georgia grandma’s garden. Ours still resembles a jungle path, however, yesterday a 12 inch long yellow and green zucchini was dispatched to hungry pancake makers.
Favorite high notes: 
a lovely temple
visit to celebrate our Aunt Lorraine marrying her sweetheart, Uncle Glenn; time
with Carma and Patrick in Seattle, honoring one of his great grandfathers,
walks, 
swimming, dancing, games, and a ping pong tournament
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50 questions
on road trip rides, being hugged from behind by a college roommate as we toured an exquisite
edifice in Moses Lake driving home. 
A final
sustaining chord came with the blessing of visiting a kind cousin and attending Education Week at an alma
mater university,
to remember purpose and help plan genealogy and grandchildren
adventures to come. 
What is bringing lilting melodies in your summer and early autumn? Funny, even when we question our own ability to carry a tune, how a tune can carry us! After hearing from a respected author inviting all to take part in the song of our country, it is so very evident that “the song of the righteous is a prayer.”
Thank you for helping add harmony, beauty and conviction to our song!
