Singing Thanks and Praise....

This past week, Kamberlynne and I had the opportunity to be a part of the NATIONAL BIBLE ASSOCIATION Interdenominational Concert of Praise!


We were also joined by world renowned violinist Jenny Oaks-Baker, who was absolutely magnificent. She will be performing at the LDS Visitors Center December 13, and I can't wait to take the whole family!

We sang in the Nations First Cathedral, the Baltimore Basilica of the Assumption, with choirs of other Christian Faiths as we celebrated our mutual love for God's Word. The Basilica is pretty amazing (it just so happens the Brian's Company did the renovations on it a few years back!), and the acoustics are every bit as wonderful as any I've ever sung at, including the LDS Tabernacle on Temple Square! Our little choir of 30 sounded at least twice as big!

(Can you find us?!?!?)

The piece here was one of our two selections "Come Unto Christ" My favorite part is about 2 minutes in....so wait for it!

"Come unto Christ, ye sorrowful and frail. Seek this Jesus, whose comfort cannot fail.
Seek this Jesus, and triumph in His might. Come unto Christ, Come unto Christ.
Come unto Christ, abide in Him and live. He will bless you with every perfect gift.
Seek this Jesus amidst a world of strife. Come unto Christ, and find in Him

Eternal Life."

Tears for missing our Mariah are still always close. But because of Christ, we will triumph in His might, and find Eternal Life. We continue to count the many gifts from His hand, and wait for the perfect day when there are no more tears, only joy. What more can we be thankful for?!

Thanksgiving blessings to all of you!

HP7

Jonah was pretty devastated that HP 7 was PG-13, so he got left at home for the big premiere! Poor guy! Everyone else sure loved it, though! This year our numbers went from 4 kids to 8 kids, plus a few moms to see the show, then home for a Harry Potter pizza party....Nine large pizzas disappeared like magic...without the invisibility cloak!!!

And guess what?!?!? The second time was even better! After pizza, I went back with Brian and another couple to watch it "adult" style!!!!

Now we can't wait for Part 2!

Halloween Take 1...

Brian came up with the family idea this year!!!

Watch out, Dr. Suess!

And a big Happy Seventh Birthday to Thing #7!!!!! Her birthday post should be coming soon!!!

Some things you just HAVE to blog!!!!

Yep, I'm breaking my blogging hiatus for this.....

The MAGIC childhood moments that no more training wheels bring!!


You go, Bekah!!!


And for you, Nana....



But that's not all...look who couldn't be outdone!!!

Of course, going back up the hill is easier this way!!

(OK, Nana, this video is weird...it will tell you it's unavailable, but if you double click it will take you to watch it on Youtube....)


But, wait, there's more!

Remember THIS? (March, 2009)

Well, check out this!! Today, October 22, 2010


Woot, Woot!
And for a closer look (yeah, we're still waiting for more to come in....)
(ok, those are not rotten teeth on the bottom, he just wants everyone to see his black retainer icky...BTW....see his little "caterpillar" on his top lip?!?!?!? How'd that happen?!?!)
...and until those other teeth come in, we have "retainer buddies"!
Ok, can you believe this post still isn't done?

The BIG finale:

First peek at new Washburn Baby....almost 14 weeks!
We found out on Brian's birthday in August we were expecting this new little one...and guess the due date....Catherine's birthday in April! Now talk about a loving God who gives good gifts?!?!? All looks good, and we are hopeing and praying this baby gets to come to our home this time!

So, now you know the reason for the blog hiatus....so keep praying for us!

Ten Months, Ten Roses

"Parents who have surrendered the sweetest and smallest flowers from the family's garden need to remember our Heavenly Father. He has promised a special reward to those who now suffer in silence, who spend long days and longer nights through their trying times of bereavement. Our Creator has promised glory. He said, 'For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but nigh at hand.' (D&C 58:4) That promised glory includes the blessing of reunion with each child who has left the family circle to help surviving members of the family to draw nearer to God. Those children still live and are a heritage to the Lord." Russell M. Nelson


How glorious it will be.

We miss you so much, and love you even more, sweet Angel Baby Mariah.

Thanks, Jeremy!!!!

So take a look at the dedication on this piece of music:


A very talented and wonderful young friend arranged this piece of "Called to Serve" for us, and he just left for his Freshman year of college a few weeks ago! Well, Jeremy, in case you're feeling a bit homesick, we wanted to let you know we were thinking of you!!! It's not perfect yet, but we hope it makes you, (and plenty others), smile!




(OOPS, we dropped the melody there on the last note, but that just means you can sing along and add it in yourself!)

Thanks, again, Jeremy! So in between college classes, maybe you can make an arrangement of "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today"! Because that's what this song did for us!

Nine Months, Nine Roses

This month anniversary was a hard one. We passed that mark where now she has been gone from us longer than she was with us. How swiftly the tears still come.

But not forever.

".....Heaven's kindness will never depart from you, regardless of what happens......Bad days come to an end, faith always triumphs, and heavenly promises are always kept."

--Jeffrey R. Holland-

No, not forever.

We miss you so much, and love you even more, sweet Angel Baby Mariah. We wish you had been with us longer. One day, you will be. I wish it was today.

You Go, Girl!

A clip from Kamberlynne's latest work in progress...



Contemporary composer Jon Schmidt's "Waterfall". Cool, huh? The composer's note was to "play piece with obnoxious body movement and facial expression". She's still working on it!

Our Hero

Things are going to happen. They just are. We had one of those, and we are so glad Jonah was around!

I was upstairs working on Saturday chores, Brian was outside doing the same. When you're a momma, you always have a part of your brain on alert and a listening ear for the kiddos, no matter what you're doing. You mommas know what I mean.

And I heard something. A mixture of Briella coughing/gagging/crying/hysteria. I haven't heard that specific combo before. I bolted downstairs to the kitchen and took her in my arms. My Jonah calmly explained that he had been making and eating apple slices from the corer-slicer-thingy, and she had been standing on the chair next to him, helping. And you guessed it, she started to choke. Jonah said he could tell she was trying to cough it out, but no sound was coming.( Now remember, Brian and I are both seconds away, and he could have called for help, but he said he didn't even think of it.) He wrapped his arms around her, just above her tummy (thanks heavens she was standing on that chair) and performed a perfect hiemlich maneuver. It was at that point that the coughing/gagging/crying/hysteria sound began, and within seconds I was there.

It was only after Jonah told the story did I realize what a lovely sound that combo is.

And in the next moment I remembered how blessed we are to have Jonah in our family. I have seen many of his gifts over the years, but to see him problem solve a potentially life threatening situation calmly and act appropriately without hesitation isn't one I've witnessed in him before. What a special special guy. And I get to be his momma.

Bless you, Jonah.

Eight Months, Eight Roses

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

(Amazing Grace verses 3 and 4
John Newton)


We held our beautiful baby for only a day, and somehow, we have made it to eight months later. "Tis grace that brought me safe thus far". The only way it has been possible is through the Lord's promises, hope, and love. His grace is amazing.

We gave Mariah her middle name long before she was born, but how much more power it has to us now.

We miss you so much, and love you even more, sweet angel baby. Sending kisses to heaven for you.