Savior of the World

Our stake is performing "Savior of the World", a wonderful production on the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Easter, we are only performing the 2nd act. At Christmas we will do the 1st act. This is the same production the Church did when the Olympics were in Salt Lake. The Church has made the music and script available online for Stakes to do and it has been performed, I understand, several times in different parts of the country.

 Our Stake Presidency asked that each of us participating read either Jesus the Christ, or The Four Gospels. I'm reading the Four Gospels. Each rehearsal begins with a prayer and spiritual thought. I was asked to be the assistant music director. That was fine. I figured I could help out when needed, but wouldn't really be taking a major role. I helped with the try-outs. Then our music director got a major part in the play (Cleopas). So...

 I was bemoaning the fact that we had so few bases to Mark. I must've caught him in a weak moment because he agreed to come and sing! Then when he got there he was talked into being one of the twelve apostles (Philip). He was okay with that because he didn't think there were any speaking lines. Then he found out he has two lines. He moaned about it for awhile, but in the end he's been a trouper and goes to rehearsals every Saturday plus choir rehearsals on Sunday.

All the men have been asked to grow out their beards.  Some, like Mark won't because of their jobs.  However, one in particular is enjoying this--Connor Workman, our youngest apostle is still in high school.  So this is cool for him.

We are using taped music. It is almost impossible to hear when the choir or small ensembles sing. I will be responsible to sit (somewhere, it hasn't been figured out yet) with ear phones directing those choral and small ensemble numbers. One of the directors told the choir: "Trust Sister Berry"! I've got to know every single nuance of this music inside and out so I can direct it. I'm so loving this! What a great challenge and neat experience this has been.

Hollywood Beach

February 4th, we loaded up our bikes and headed to Hollywood Beach. We'd been wanting to go for a couple of weeks but it had been quite stormy. It was still overcast and the wind was blowing, but we decided to go anyway. I'm so glad we did. There is a boardwalk near the beach. People walk or ride bikes and some roller blade. There is an open amphitheater where some musicians were playing when we got there. There are also some cute shops and eateries along the way as well as several motels. It is very picturesque.

Even though it was cloudy and windy, it actually made our ride very pleasant and cool. The wind was blowing from the east and I loved how the ocean actually had waves and breakers instead of just gently lapping against the shore like a lake. The lifeguard towers were showing two flags--one red, one purple. The red indicated dangerous waves and rip tides. However there were still a few brave surfers out there. The purple stood for dangerous sea creatures. I'm not sure what that meant... We rode our bikes up and down the entire boardwalk each way. Mark estimates we rode 8-10 miles. At one point we came upon a huge scout troop. With their heavy backpacks their goal was to walk 35 miles! There were a lot of people enjoying the cool day as we were. What a beautiful area! This is definitely a place I hope to come to again.

New Callings

Whenever we move to a new area, we both love to jump in with both feet and become involved as soon as possible. Well, we both have received callings in our Weston Ward. I am the 1st councilor in the Primary. I haven't been in Primary for probably 10 years or more, but I always loved it in the past and am enjoying it now. Things have changed a lot since I was last in so there is a learning curve going on here. One of the first Sundays I was in the hallway. A child was late getting into his classroom and as he opened the door a boy sitting on the floor with his teacher looked up and said excitedly, We get to eat onions!" I love the fun things kids say! I'm going to love this calling. Mark also received a calling. He is the scout master and 1st councilor in the Young Men's Presidency and the unofficial teacher's quorum teacher on Sunday. I'm afraid he wasn't too excited about the scout master calling (I'm too old!)but he has always loved working with the youth and, as always, he will do a great job.

Shark Valley

Saturday, January 10th, we loaded up our new bikes and headed to the Everglades--Shark Valley. It took us about 40 minutes to drive there. I didn't realize the Everglades are a National Park. It was quite crowded when we first got there; everyone had to wait for someone to leave before anyone could get in, but the wait wasn't bad. A lot of people ended up parking on the side of the highway and walking in. It was lunchtime, so we ate our picnic before heading out.

The trail is paved and flat, so the riding is easy. We saw our first alligators! They just sit on the side of the banks sunning themselves. We were all cautioned to stay at least 15 feet from the wildlife, not only for our own protection, but for theirs as well. The first half of the ride was the most interesting because we saw more wildlife: turtles, a snake, and several species of birds.

At the midway point there was a large lookout tower. Looking out over the vast expanse of the Everglades reminded me of prairie land, but, of course, at ground level it is wet grasslands and water. I did not know this, but the water in the Everglades is not stagnant. It flows to the Gulf of Mexico. The going was easy, but I am so out of shape. My bottom hurt and at times I just needed to get off and walk. All in all we rode 15 miles. It felt good to know we could do that! I was quite proud of myself. It was a great day!

Locked Out!

When Mark installed our new front door locks, we discovered that the knob's lock was deceptive because even when it was locked it turned like it was unlocked, except the outside doorknob was locked. I first discovered this when I took the trash out one evening and the door was locked when I got back without my knowing it. Luckily Mark was home and could let me in. That wasn't the case on Friday, January 6th. I walked outside with the idea of seeing what the temperature was like. I thought it might be nice to read my scriptures outside in the sunshine. I inadvertently shut the door. It was locked! I couldn't believe it! I had not key, I had no phone! Thankfully I was at least dressed in exercise clothes, but I had no shoes. Of course I pleaded with the Lord to tell Mark to come home, then I waited. (Naturally it would take some time for him to get the message and get home.) And yes, I cried. But...something I had read in the conference issue of the Ensign kept coming to my mind: "It is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to do for us that which we can do for ourselves." ("The Privilege of Prayer," Elder J. Devin Cornish, Ensign Nov. 2011, 102) I came to realize it would be up to me--unless I wanted to sit outside on the cement steps all day long. Since I had no shoes I couldn't go anywhere to spend the day. The sad thing is I realized I knew NO ONE'S phone numbers. I didn't know Mark's, I didn't know any of the kids'. They are all a name in my cell phone and I just press the name! The only number I did know was my parents'. I went back and forth knowing I needed to ask someone, but not wanting to impose. I don't know who long I sat outside--I know it was over an hour at least. Finally a couple of women drove up and got out. I got up the courage to ask if I could use a cell phone. I told them I had locked myself out of my condo. The woman who lent me her phone wasn't sure it would call long distance, but thankfully it did...and thankfully my dad answered. I was so embarrassed with my situation I started to cry! But Dad fond Mark's number and said he would call him. When the lady saw I was crying she invited me to come into her home (actually it was her son's home, she was visiting from Venezuela for a couple of weeks). Her niece was the other woman. They were both so kind. I was invited to sit down; it was so cool after being outside for so long. She offered me a cool drink. I stayed for a while, but worried Mark might come home and not find me so I thanked the niece (the other was one the phone) and left. "Are you always gong to call your mom?" That was the first words out of Mark's mouth when he saw me. "I don't know your number!" I cried. "That's the only number I know." He opened the door. The first thing I did when I got into the house was put a piece of masking tape over the doorknob lock. I informed Mark he can never lock that doorknob again! The sweet lady who helped me came by later to make sure I was okay. I thanked her again and again. I'll never forget her kindness.

Official Floridians

On January 3rd, we went to the DMV to register and change our licenses. We thought since things were still slow at the job this would be a good time. What a zoo! We stood around for over 2 1/2 hours. There was no place to sit because there were so many people waiting just like us. We were both so glad when we were done.

Later, we registered the car and got a new Florida license plate. Well, that was expensive!!

But we are now officially Floridians. We even voted in the last primaries. How about that? Something interesting about the driver's licenses: They have a strip on the back like a credit card. Whenever we write a check I always (it's the law) have to take my license out and hand it to the clerk. They scan it like a credit card. It must have the same information that is on the strip. I find I am taking my driver's license out a lot.

Happy New Year!

We spent New Year's Eve with our stake. Instead of a youth celebration which most stakes and wards do, our stake does a bonfire out in the Everglades. The reason there is no youth dance is because a lot of our youth are Latino’s and are committed to their families for activities on this night.

It was fun to just visit. Everyone is so friendly and so glad we're here to build the temple! We took our camp chairs and a couple of packages of hotdogs and a couple of bags of chips and some water, just visited and swatted mosquitoes until some kind soul gave me some bug spray. Not only was there a huge bonfire, but someone brought their dried up Christmas trees and fireworks. Man those trees really torch up! There are no worries about setting anything on fire. It is so damp here that the sparks are extinguished as soon as they hit the ground. I touched the paper towels on the picnic table and they were pretty damp.

At midnight we had quite a fireworks display! It was a wonderful way to begin the new year and so wonderful to feel so welcome into our new life!

Celeste's Baptismal Dress

It is a goal of mine to make the baptismal dresses of our daughter's daughters. Not that I wouldn't love to make all of the dresses, but Lyndsay's mom is a beautiful seamstress and I wouldn't want to step on anyone's toes. Anyway, I made Maisen's dress a few years ago and she loved it.

When we were still living in Salt Lake, I took Celeste shopping and we picked out the pattern and fabric. It didn't work out to make her dress before I left, so I had to scramble to finish it after Christmas because she got baptized New Year's Eve day!
Thankfully, I at least got it cut out before I left.

Monday, the day after Christmas, I set aside to sew all day long. Usually I end up having to pick out the zipper a couple of times. But I truly feel I was blessed with the help of the Lord because I made no major mistakes except one. I completed the dress except for the fabric flowers on the front sash.

I had purchased some flowers, but they were too small and I was unhappy with them. I got up early the next day and found a web site that taught me how to make fabric flowers. I was able to make them and sew them on.

Early afternoon we took the dress to the post office and sent it Express mail. She got it the next day!

She loved it!! That's what I was hoping.