A New Galbraith

Sometimes I feel a strong desire to capture my life in words and sometimes I just don't.  That explains the last few weeks for me.  But today our Ben's wife Jessica delivered their 8th baby, a beautiful little blond daughter.  I've only seen one picture but she looks perfect to me.  I'm sad not to see her in person but seeing her picture brings out tears and joys.  Another lovely little person to love and treasure; it is life's greatest gift.

Our newest little Galbraith, born February 27th at about 5 PM
in Palo Alto.  She is the daughter of Ben and Jessica.

Lately I've been taken up with gratitude for people in my life.  All sorts of people.  Family certainly.  But there are all kinds of good people that fill my days and my heart.  My heaven is full of them.  Layne and I made a quick trip to Seattle last week to visit Chris and Jessica and to see their youngest, Peyton, perform in a school talent show.  It was such fun to spend a little time with that family.  It felt like we got an especially good visit with them during our very short stay.  It was a marathon trip of sorts, as we spent a day getting there, a day there and another day driving home again.  It seems crazy to make such a trip, but even the drive was enjoyable.  Layne usually doesn't like to be read to while he drives, or talk much for that matter.  He wants to concentrate you see.  But I read to him anyhow during the drive home and I think he liked it.  He wouldn't say so of course but, secretly, I think he did.

Peyton and friend in their performance costumes
for their school talent show.

Peyton with her mom, our Jessica.

We presented a fireside on missionary work the night of our return and enjoyed it much more than I thought we would.  It was designed to inspire adults to serve senior missions.  A strong spirit spread throughout the group as we discussed the blessings of missions and I wound up feeling that Layne and I should go on another mission when our local one is finished.  One of my complaints about being older is that we are less needed in the local Church community.  Less used anyhow.  But on a mission that changes dramatically.  Current talents and skills are used and new ones emerge.  I remember that now.  And it calls to me.

My Treble Clef singing group is rehearsing for a spring concert.  Layne and I are singing a duet.  I never imagined myself doing this, but somehow it isn't as scary as most singing assignments are.  We are singing "Old Black Magic" and I think it'll be a lot of fun.  I feel myself slowly getting over my fear of singing to an audience.  We have a professional singer in our ward who gives singing lessons so I asked if she could teach some older kids with only passable voices to sing better. She said she'd love to.  So Layne and I, along with buddies Carol Wintersteen and Pat Green, are taking lessons from her and her husband.  We had our second lesson today.  Wow.  I had no idea that there was so much involved with good singing.  Our minds are exploding with all the principles we are learning.  What an exceptional blessing it is to learn from these two professional musicians willing to take us on.

We had a surprise visit from Mark Hiatt, a man who lived with us in Fremont years ago.  He now lives in Idaho Fall with his wife, Kathleen.  Mark is a kind-hearted man, willing to sacrifice himself for the good of others.  He was that way when he lived with us too.  Home computers were new at that time.  He had one and shared it with Ben, teaching him all that he knew about them. Ben was hooked from that time on.  Mark left his computer for Ben when he moved out.  That experience with Mark and computers transformed Ben's life.  Blessings often come from unexpected places.

Mark Hiatt and his wife Kathleen.

I took neighbors Inez Wilkey and Carol Wintersteen to one of the local hot springs yesterday.  I've never been to one before so it was something of an adventure.  We loved it!  We soaked for about two hours, fitting lunch in between.  It was a sweet experience.  We all emerged feeling a bit soggy but well softened by the minerals in the pool.  I think it is an experience worth repeating.

The hot springs girls, Inez Wilkey, Carol Wintersteen and me.

I'm sitting across from my sad looking husband in the living room by the fire.  He is feeling a bit flu-ish today.  I'm going to fix him some toast and chicken broth for dinner.  Yum.