COSMIC--Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland

I thought I would make a post about playing in my orchestra, COSMIC, Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland. I have been in it when Lillie left for college because I had more time. I have liked it a lot. Sometimes I think I should not be playing first violin. This is a pic of the first violin section. But it is fun to practice and learn the music. It makes me miss Lillie. For years I sat outside waiting for her, listening to her practice with her orchestras. And I thought could I play in an orchestra like Lillie??? But it has been such a great experience for me. I learn a lot from all these musicians. It’s a community orchestra so none of us are professional, but these people are actually really good. This weekend was our concert weekend. We give four concerts a year. It’s a long weekend, but fun and I always miss playing with Lillie.

Winter is here

Last week we had a big winter storm. It brought a lot of snow and ice!!  The sleet and ice turned everything into a big block of concrete ice. Everything was pretty much shut down for a whole week. We were pretty much stuck because I just could not shovel our driveway. It was too much. We finally had to hire a company to come and shovel us out. But only after three companies told us our driveway was too steep to shovel. So we waited a while until someone could do it. But before that I had shoveled a path up to the top and decided to rent a car until we could get our own cars out. But our walking path got crusted over with sleet and ice and we had to use these slip on cleats to walk up without slipping. It was crazy but we are out and about again—after a week of vacation in the house. 

December came and went

Time seems to go faster and faster.  Christmas just wasn't what it usually is without our Lillie.  But we know she is where she is supposed to be and we will have the Christmases we will ever want to have together after her mission.  She actually only has to spend one Christmas away from us.  She is doing well.  Cold, but well.  She is adjusting to all the normal intricacies of missionary work...long days of trying to talk to people about the gospel, companionship issues, both triumphs and set backs, and some health issues.  But overall she continues to do well.  One thing we are so proud of her is that she continues to play her violin for special musical numbers.  We are happy that she blesses the lives of people around her like that.

Elder Holland passed away this month.  I am sad to have learned of that.  It was ins 2010 that Kim and I met him and sat with him for hours as he called and set me apart as the stake president.  Though I have done things that I am not proud of since that day, I am always reminded with his words of how he could not imagine life outside of the gospel and that we can never give up.  I am trying to do that with Kim.

Kim and I spent the holidays at home...well, a staycation of sorts.  Landsdowne resort in Virginia.  About 2 hours away from home.  But it was so quiet and relaxing.  We ate at a lot of good restaurants, and enjoyed each other's company.  We also spoke with Lillie on Christmas and watched her open all her presents from Santa.  Something we have done since her very first Christmas with us, and it is always a joy to see her so happy with all the gifts from Santa!!

Christmas is all about music.  I continue to play with my symphony in southern maryland and play in an outreach quartet with the symphony.

Doing what we like doing best, eating good food...really good food.

Lillie Continues to Do Well on Her Mission

We are so proud of our Lillie.  She continues to do well on her mission.  We miss her every day.  She sent these pictures.  It is already snowing in North Dakota, and it is two weeks before Thanksgiving.  

And one thing we are so proud of her, is that she continues to play her violin!!  Growing up was a little bit of a struggle to get her to practice, but she DID it!!  And she is really good!!  She has a beautiful tone and makes us proud when we hear her.  She played in a recent stake conference on her mission.  We know it was so beautiful!!  She looks so pretty playing her musical number!!

Trip to Baltimore

Kim and I decided to take one last trip out of town before the fall started up. We actually went up to see Katy Perry on a whim!!  It’s been too long since going to a show like that. But we were surprised there were lots of people our age and older. And Kim and I knew a lot of pieces Katy Parry did. It was thoroughly enjoyable!!

Lillie continues to play her violin

We were planning on sending Lillie her violin once she got settled, but when she transferred to her first apartment, the missionary who just left for home, left her violin in the apartment.  What a tender mercy Lillie will always remember!!  Of all the apartments to be transferred to, she went to the one where there was a violin!!  So she has been able to bless the lives of people through her music!!  We are again, so very proud of her.  Here she is practicing for a musical number for a mission conference with a general authority.

Lillie had her first baptism!!

We are so proud and happy for Lillie.  She had a baptism on Sunday May 11, 2025.  It is a young woman named Annabelle.  She is 14YO, and Lillie was really able to identify with her.  Lillie said the spirit really worked on Annabelle.  We just could not be more happy for both of them.

Happenings and whereabouts of our Lillie

A lot has happened with Lillie on her mission. She wrapped up her training, travelled to her mission, and is doing missionary work in her first area. By all accounts, she looks happy, is adjusting well and working hard. 

She loved her district in the MTC.  They looked like they learned a lot, had fun together, and loved each other  they will be lifelong friends  

We were most worried about her travel day. The missionaries left the MTC early in the morning and had to take a public bus and two trains to the airport—lugging all their bags!!  But she ended up making it to ND just fine. Lots of Elders helped her with her luggage!!  So nice!!

Lillie met her mission president as soon as they arrived. It was comforting to see she made it to her mission. 

Her first area is a place called Williston, ND!!!  It took her and her companion about 4 hours to reach her area from the mission home. It’s an oil town and is bigger than Prince Frederick population wise. 

Some first day pictures from the mission blog that we spied!!  It was fun to see glimpses of her!!

We saw this picture of her at lunch. She must have been so exhausted!  Poor girl!  Lots of travel and then lot of orientation meetings. 

Her first apartment!!  Looks pretty nice. 

Lillie in the missionary training center

The instant messaging is a blessing and a curse. We were going through withdrawals of not hearing from Lillie instantly. Now we would have to wait for our weekly exchanges. At least it’s not like when I went on my mission where we could only write letters. So after a week we’re excited to have her email and text us and also video us. It brought peace to our hearts to know she was doing well. It was the best hour of our week to see her in FaceTime  

She loves her district and companion. So that is good. They have gone to the temple together and have been learning a lot about how to be an effective missionary.  Her pictures look like they are all having fun. 

Before she left we gave her a gift of emotional support chicken nuggets. Lillie loves chicken nuggets. She left some at home since luggage space is such a premium as a missionary. But I am glad she did. We needed some emotional support. 

So sad to see her room empty. 

And as I would come home every night, she would always be right there at the end of the kitchen table doing her school work or working. I miss seeing her there. But we know she is doing a good thing and it will bless her life, our lives and the lives of the people she teaches in North Dakota. 

Trip to drop Lillie off at the Missionary Training Center

Kim just couldn’t get off of work. As a teacher it is hard. I actually had a work commitment in Utah, so I was happy to have it coincide with Lillie’s dropping off. 

Tuesday February 11 began way too early. We had a 7am flight which meant we had be there by 5am, which meant we had to leave the house at 3:30am. It’s no wonder she slept the whole way. 

I upgraded us to first class with miles. I wanted to send our baby away with class!!

When we arrived in Utah we had some time to kill so I took her to see a giant ice cream monument for the very first ice cream shop in Utah. Haha. 

Then we had one last lunch together. Japanese!!  She loves her shrimp tempura!! 

That night I took some of her friends from college out to dinner and to say one last good bye to her. They have been such a good influence on her. I wanted to thank them!!  Two are from our stake. Andrew and Ethan!!

The actual day was here and I was getting sad. I shared with her D&C 31 where Thomas Marsh was promised some great blessings for his family as he served as a missionary. I believe it will be the same for us as Lillie serves. We went to the Wilkinson Center at BYU so more of her friends could say one last good bye. It was sweet to see how much they all loved each other. Look at how glowing she is as that day. 

Then the time came. I was very emotional. In a blink of an eye we drove in the parking garage, unpacked her luggage, said good bye and gave each other hugs and she was off. I was very sad that day. But happy and proud at the same time. 

Meanwhile at home a huge snow storm struck. Luckily we had some great friends help shovel us out so it made me happy to know Kim was not stuck in the house. 

  

We will miss her so much. But she has become such a wonderful girl. She has a testimony of the  gospel!!!  That’s the sweetest thing for us!!  It really comforts our hearts and makes me want to do everything possible to be with her and Kim forever!!