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It's Been Two Years!!!

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Where did the time go? So much has happened? After losing my last job working with students needing extra help, called special needs. I enjoyed it but was made uncomfortable in the Woke environment. So I resigned. I started back up teaching piano. We had a Christmas Recital 2021 and then one in Spring The students were great. At that time I had three sister, a young 5 yr old and two kids. They each took on one or two Christmas songs. In Payson, it's difficult to find students that really commit to practicing and want to study. I believe this is the vocation I will stay with until I can't. I can make exceptions to the three sister though. They surprise me by their dedication and hard work. One of them told me at first she didn't like it and was discouraged but after time she began to enjoy it more and more. She to this date is also practicing for the Spring Concert. I hope to have three more adults that will participate. I love teaching and sharing what the Lord has shown ...

Happy Birthday Isa

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The Bush Fire

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Picture collage personalized with Smilebox

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL (Arr. David Wise) #ItIsWell #StudioSinging #Nash...

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Payson's First Snow for 2019

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The wind was blowing hard night before last. I could hear the rain on the pipes. When I woke the next morning, what did my eyes see? Snow. It kept snowing all day until there were three to six inches on the ground. The blue sky came through today, Saturday. We were expecting the storm but didn't know we'd have this much snow. When the sun came out the snow started to melt. I'm sure there are a lot of people at Green Valley Park up from the valley to enjoy he snow.

Back At School Again

After grieving over the loss of my job teaching choir, I went back to taking care of an elderly woman. I knew that the finances weren't what they should be so I proceeded to find another job. I applied several times at the Payson schools and finally, I was called in to work as a paraprofessional (teacher aide). That was in January.  I found the job filling a need to be around children and was surprised to find some of the kids from the other school attending at this one. The work wasn't that difficult, helping kids with math and reading and writing. I wished I could have introduced them to music though but there was no place for that. I know my real strengths are with music, singing and composing and songs that worship the Lord. I still don't think I'm at the right place in my life. I know at my age I should be thankful for any work that is out there.  Summer will be here soon and I'll have to find another job. Hopefully, there will be work at the schoo...

Herbert H Hutchinson, Bishop, pastor, friend.

Recently, my dear friend Bishop Hutchinson passed away, 9/15/2017 and I will sorely miss him. His wife was with him at the Hospice unit but he was there less than a day.  He will be missed by so many and his vision for the Navajo Nation will continue, I believe, through his wife and members of his church.  I've known him for almost 20 years and been his liaison when he began his work at St Michaels with Summit Training Post. He endeavored to help, teach and prepare the natives and lay ministers and pastors to be better servants of the Lord.  Please watch the following slide show that I put together of the many years I was involved with his ministry. http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4455354e7a55354d7a493d0d0a&blogview=true

School Begins and the Choir is Huge

School started two weeks ago. I have the responsibility to teach music to K-8th Grade. Wow. It is a handful. There are almost 100 kids enrolled but I don't think I have that many.  When my principal asked me to come back, I decided to teach American Music History, songs of various periods of our history and theory.  While teaching isn't that difficult but trying to keep the songs at the various age levels can be. I use a lot of help from websites and videos in my curriculum and go according to the main outline I put together before school started.  I'd like to be able to bring not only songs at different time periods, but Christian songs that could be used in our Chapel time and the programs throughout the year. I even made up a song about Adam and Eve using the old song "Are You Sleeping". I think the kids like it.  I spend a lot of time preparing for the lessons, usually 5 or 6 hours. I believe it's important to be prepared and ready for each cl...
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Free slideshow made with Smilebox This is a slideshow highlighting some of the events that took place at the Woman of God day. It was held at the Knox Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles. Terry and I a couple of weeks earlier just returned from a visit to his son and family in Texas.  I was totally surprised to be honored there with 11 other women. 

American Music History

Recently, I put together a slide presentation for my Elementary and Middle School Choir. It shows the various areas we will hear samples from and learn songs that will fit the eras and genres. I will be preparing the kids for several programs this year and next.  http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4455314e6a67304e6a673d0d0a&blogview=true 

Kim Walker-Smith - I Know (Lyric Video)

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I really believe this song speaks volumes. Nothing, no nothing is impossible with God. Im...means not and Posse....means wisdom. Do you want wisdom in your life? Know the Word, Know the Lord and His mind and heart. You too can have the wisdom of God. Open your heart and hear His voice calling. He loves you and wants nothing more than that you would succeed and have an enormous, huge active and vigorous life. 

Makeup Haul with Kelsey Deenihan | mark. By Avon

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Check out the makeup cases that are magnetic. The products are the same but given a new look.
Here is the Easter Program I produced for Payson Christian School 4/13/2017. Kids from Kindergarten through 6th grade sang several songs. Mrs Tan introduced winners of the art show. http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4455794f4463314f44633d0d0a&blogview=true

Thanksgiving Program at Payson Christian 2016

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4451354e546b354f54513d0d0a&blogview=true This was a video I put together of the songs our Payson Junior Choir did for the Thanksgiving Program.  We worked a great deal to perform for the Veteran's Day program, then the Thanksgiving and recently helped with the Christmas program that Mrs. Sterner helped to produce. The Christmas program went well but I didn't have any of the songs recorded.

Payson Christian "Veteran's Day" program

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Create a photo slideshow This was what the middle school choir did for our Veteran's Day program. There were several representatives from various armed forces. The kids did a great job. This was my first time leading choir for middle school kids.

Being a Middle School Choir Director

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The following link is a video I presented to the class Music Helps for Class Time Since my last post, I've been working in a new position. Instead of worship leading, I'm working with Middle School age 6th and 7th grades as a choir director. My class is small, 14 students, but that leaves more for a personal approach.  The class is pretty structured and I've put together a curriculum that has kept them busy. We started out the semester with music history and I used an online free course. Lately, though, that same link is no longer available. I used a place called music history lessons which was made on weebly. One day, as usual, I would go to the link but received an error report. I'm thinking they must be revising the link. Anyway, we began our history from the year 0 to 450 A.D and proceeded to the current era. I found the "Odes Project" cd that recorded music to several hymns written during the 3rd and 4th century and taught them one of t...

Arizona (1935)

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This is a wonderful view of Arizona back in the 1930's.  So many changes have occurred these many years. Still Arizona is my home and will be for the rest of my life. I really love the natural beauty here.

Flowers from my Garden

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4451794d7a4d774d7a493d0d0a&blogview=true These flowers are from my garden. The very first roses in this slide show are those my sister sent to me when I turned 70. I really enjoy gardening. It's a big responsibility to get up early, water and make sure everything has enough moisture.

Kathryn Dancing - Easter 2013

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  This was a dance I presented at our Easter "Passion" program in 2013.

Approaching Seventy

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Unbelievably, I will be turning 70 this month. I've enjoyed my life with the Lord   for over 50 years. I've been married, had children and have now six grandchildren. I've traveled many times with my kids, lived on two reservations, moved over 30 times in my married life and now happy and content in a place that my dad would call "God's country". I had a knack for selling and loved meeting new people. I started as a teen selling "Vanda" cosmetics, then a pre-paid insurance program, then Amway where my former husband and I sold mostly laundry soap and a coffee service. We excelled in it but later ended up moving again. To help with our finances, I went to school and received an Associates Degree in Graphic Design but had no place to use what I learned. We ended up in Holbrook, Arizona and not finding work there, I used my education to make business cards, forms and ads. Now that I'm in a place where older, retired and semi-retired peo...