My Day

Monday through Friday, this is my day's schedule: I get up, shower, go to Spring Creek Middle School and accompany the choir from eight o'clock to eight-forty-five. (There are two choirs; it's a different one each day.) Then I go walking for an hour. I head home, take care of things that need to be done (I've got some projects I'm slowly making progress on, plus I do my cleaning, piano lesson preparation, etc. during this time.) I drive back to the high school at 11:10 a.m. to accompany first the Select Choir, and every-other-day I also accompany the Chorus (all girls this year). Once home I begin supper if I have decided on the menu and shortly piano students begin showing up. I finish teaching in time for supper. Unless I have meetings in the evening (rare, but this week it so happens I have something every night except Monday!) I get to relax a bit, read my scriptures, write in my journal, say my prayer and go to bed to get sufficient rest to do the same thing again the next day.

I was sitting in the Salt Lake Temple yesterday and looked at my hands and felt a surge of gratitude for all I have been able to do in my life because of my hands. I am very glad I can play the piano, that these fingers listen to the directives from my brain, and that because I have this talent I have had so many opportunities to serve and to get to know very many wonderful people!

I was pondering my purpose in life recently and came upon the realization that I don't need to wait for God to tell me what my purpose is. I need to decide for myself what reason I have to get up every morning. I determined that my purpose is to touch as many lives as possible with my music abilities. Music reaches the heart in ways nothing else can. It is healing, it teaches, it soothes, it excites, it calms, it provides enjoyment, and in many cases it leads one to Christ. That is my purpose. I recall reading that Beethoven's brothers found a letter he had written to them in which he explained that he had contemplated committing suicide as a result of his deafness. But he realized he could not end his life because God had given him a gift which he needed to use until God said it was time to stop. I am certain I didn't explain that adequately but you get the idea. Everyone needs a reason to live. I have mine.

I probably ought to explain to my family that I do count them as a reason to continue living. They have been my life. But something changes when your children marry and have families of their own. Mothers don't play the same role they used to. It is very satisfying to me to see my daughters being taken care of by wonderful husbands, and watching them take such good care of their own terrific children. I am also pleased that my sons have such special, angelic wives who satisfy their needs and are raising such beautiful children. We all have such a terrific relationship but I am not needed to solve problems or do the things that I was needed for as they were growing up. I need to be needed daily, and my students and those choirs fulfill that need for me. Whereas my family used to need me, now I need my family. I couldn't live without them. They are my world and always have been. I love them with all my heart. I am thankful to know that we can all be together forever. If that couldn't be I'd give up trying completely. Heaven wouldn't be heaven without those people who have made me who and what I am, those who love me and whom I love.

Now I'm going to bed so I can get up and start "My Day."

Things I've Learned

Things I've learned:

If you cry with your glasses on, you get salt spots all over the glass.

Elko, Nevada, is not like Las Vegas, Nevada. It is much, much colder!

Seeing your grandchildren in photos is nice but it's not as nice as being able to hold them and hug them and dance with them and read to them while they're sitting on your lap.

It gets harder and harder to maintain your weight the older and older you get.

If you leave your weights in the car too long they are too cold to hold in your hands.

Just because you get older it doesn't mean your problems are fewer or easier.

But when you get older you do find there are more things to be thankful for. Like hair dye, orthotics, bifocals, hearing aids, large-print, and grandchildren.

Having friends is life-saving. Sometimes for you, sometimes for them. It works both ways.

Grown-up kids show a parent how effective their parenting was.

Sunlight is nice any time we can get it in the winter time.

Home is a good place to be.

When you fly Southwest, be certain to do the online check-in twenty-four hours before your flight so you can be in the first group of boarders.

Southwest still lets you check the first two bags for FREE!

You are supposed to take your thyroid medicine a half hour before you eat something and four hours before you eat or drink anything with calcium or iron. That messes with my breakfast routine.

Early church meetings are better. For me, anyway. I like having my afternoon free to write letters and read.

Writing in my journal and crocheting are therapeutic for me.

Things that feel good are clean sheets, clean teeth, clean rooms, clean dishes, clean hair, clean cars.

And I'm done for tonight. But since I'm over fifty years old I have learned many more things than I can possible remember.

Top Stories of 2009-November and December

Amy and her husband and boys came to visit at the beginning of November. How good it was to see them all, and to have them drive with us to Spring Creek so they could see our home. Now we just need Alan and Jessica to spend time in our new home and I'll feel complete.

Dr. McNeill came into my life in November. He is a podiatrist, and he worked wonders with my foot. He diagnosed a heel spur and treated it several times. Within weeks I would have ultrasound treatments, a cortisone injection, and get fitted for orthotics. I was no longer concerned that I would be a cripple for the rest of my life.

We spent Thanksgiving in Utah at Lisa's. It was a wonderful day. Katy's family joined us. We had so much to be thankful for. The next day we had our family candy party in Layton. My brother Charles from Iowa and his family were there. Some of my nephews and nieces joined us, my sister Ethel and her family, and my dad was there. My Utah kids and grandkids were there, too. We had a splendid afternoon remembering my mother and her influence on our family. It was a a memorable event.

The last month of the year could not have been much busier! There were the end-of-the-year concerts and lots of Christmas performances for the choirs, the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert which we attended in Salt Lake City(my brother-in-law David Oswald is a member of the choir), and Tom's company Christmas party in Layton. On the seventeenth I flew to Richmond so I could spend some time helping Cindy with her new baby. I had hoped to arrive before she went into labor but Noah Roger Badger decided he wanted to get a head start on celebrating the holidays so he arrived December fourth. Tom joined us on the twentieth and the next day we drove to New York to visit Alan and his family, and I was able to meet Jack. We spent Christmas here in Richmond. Tom has gone home now and I am going to see the New Year in with Cindy, Eric and Noah, and then I'll return home Monday, January 4th.

I've learned a number of things this year, read some wonderful books, met some fabulous people, experienced a wide range of emotions, seen some breath-taking scenery. I don't know if I can say I am a better person now than I was one year ago, but I can say I am more experienced and more tutored in spiritual matters. I have a yearning to know more about my Heavenly Father and about Jesus Christ, how they love, why they love, what they want us to know and do. I am thankful to have had 365 days to learn and grow, to do and feel, and look forward to another 365 days to do the same, maybe in bigger and better ways.

Now, in reference to my first of these top stories posts, I think this year gave me an opportunity to apply what I learned in that first institute class this year, as taught by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: "Come What May and Love It!" There was a lot that came my way and I learned to love it all!

Top Stories of 2009-July to October

July's stories include going to the Twin Falls Temple with my friend, Sandi; my nephew's return from his mission (James Oswald)--another opportunity to spend time with my family!; I started an Oldies but Goodies group in our neighborhood and had the first activity, which was a lot of fun; I was released from the YW presidency (the entire presidency was released) and then called to play the piano in Primary.

What I will remember most was that I thought I was losing my dad. His health was of great concern to our family and going by the information I was given I didn't think he was going to last much longer. However, he had a change in doctors and the new doctor found a problem that had been missed and eventually, under this doctor's care, Dad began to regain his strength. Dad never lost his optimism or fun with through the ordeal. He was always kind to the hospital and nursing home staff and was so pleased to receive visitors. I hope I can always be like my father and treat everyone around me with respect and kindness, no matter how badly I may feel.

The August event most worth mentioning, and one of the top stories of the entire year, was Emily Ruth Washburn's baptism. Our oldest granddaughter turned eight years old and we flew to New York to celebrate and to participate in her baptism services. I wrote a song for Emily to commemorate the event. I also wrote a song for Isabella, her younger sister. I enjoy writing poetry and I like putting it to music. So I have written a few songs for some of my grandchildren, with the goal of writing one for each of them as the inspiration hits. I also was called to be secretary of the Stake Activities Committee. Once again I would be working with Sandi Moon who was the chairman of the committee.

In September we were blessed to get grandchild number thirteen, Jack Thomas Washburn, born to Alan and Jessica. New York was much too far away that day! It would be months before I finally had a chance to meet the sweet little guy. I went to the Bountiful Temple on my own one day. It was so nice to spend time in a temple again. I don't get to go as often as I was able to when we lived in Utah.

We had some friends from Grantsville come and spend the weekend with us at the end of the month. Janice and Linda are so terrific! They went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival with us, and using Linda's word to describe it, it was "magical!" Next year I MUST have some grandkids in Spring Creek to share that magical event with us. I must mention that September was the month I was having terrible pain in my right foot, so bad that it was hard to keep up with my daily walks and I had to get off my feet often. This also started a new phase in my life.

I enjoyed the beginning of October by being with Lisa and her family when they welcomed the fourth member of their family: Logan Scott Nelson was born on the seventh. It was so much fun to take the kids to the hospital to see their new little brother. And I just don't stop getting excited about getting new grandchildren! Andrea and Chris had their baby, Aden, too, October ninth. It will be nice to have a little one so close since all my own are so far away.

Mid-month some more friends came to visit: Chris and Karen Dumouchel. We love the Dumouchels so much! They have been good friends for some time now and are among the few friends who put much effort into keeping the friendship alive. One week of the month I spent in bed. I had influenza--maybe even Swine Flu. It knocked me out for several days. I cancelled everything and just stayed in bed. Later I would get the Swine Flu vaccination, just in case what I had was a different strain.

Now I'm going to complete the year with my last installment.

Top Stories of 2009--March to June

March marked the beginning of a new phase of life. We moved from Grantsville, Utah, to Spring Creek, Nevada. Michael and Laura helped us move. We became members of the Spring Creek Fourth Ward, Elko East Stake. My life revolves around my church membership and my family, so my ward is very critical to me. I straightaway began to make acquaintances and felt drawn to particular members who eventually became very good friends. I was called to be a counselor in the YW presidency. Sandi Moon was the president and this jump-started our friendship which has become very, very important to me.

Our family started coming to visit us in April. Lisa and her kids, Michael, Laura and their kids and my father. At the end of the month my mother-in-law and sister-in-law came to spend some time with us, too. Having family visit our home helped me to feel more at home. Once they were gone I could still feel their presence which helped close the distance from Spring Creek to Utah where all of them live.

I started accompanying the choirs at Spring Creek High School and Middle School, and by the end of April I had several piano students. My talent has helped me find a place in each of the communities where I have lived. I love the choir director here; she is relatively new to choral directing but she is doing a wonderful job and I enjoy very much working with her. I found out after a couple of weeks of accompanying that this is a paid position. I eventually got a paycheck for the six weeks I helped the choirs at the end of this school year.

April was a busy month with several important events, but none topped being able to see Cindy and Eric graduate from Brigham Young University. We booked hotel rooms for all the family and had a most enjoyable graduation party to celebrate. A few days later Cindy confided in me the news that would make me happiest of all: she was pregnant!

In May we celebrated the eightieth birthday of the most wonderful man in the world: my Dad! With the help of my sisters and daughters we were able to put together a very appropriate and successful event--very fitting for a man who has touched so many lives.

Cindy came to live with us in May while Eric was working in California. How special it was to have her here. She helped Tom with his business and added sunshine and life to our very quiet house. Later in the month Eric finished his job and joined us, too, and he was a great asset to our family. They both helped accomplish a larger number of projects around the house and for Tom's business.

June's main events were Young Women Camp--where it rained most of the time--and getting to see Jessica. She stopped in Salt Lake City on her way home to New York from California and she took photos of all my Utah kids and grandkids. It was so fun to see her at work, and what a great excuse to be able too see so much of my family, too. At the beginning of the month Tom, Eric, Cindy and I went to the Bountiful Temple to do a session and then got together for dinner with our kids and grandkids afterward. (How can we go all the way to Utah without seeing our family?)

One more June event: Andrea and Chris McCarrick came into our lives. They are a young couple living down the road, far from their families in South Dakota and Alaska, and we are delighted to have them as neighbors!

This takes me halfway through the year. I'll continue the the next few months in another installment.

One of the things I experienced....

I listened to "Wuthering Heights" this year. I had never read the book and had no idea what it was. I enjoyed it immensely! I have read or heard no more beautiful love story than this. And now some of my favorite quotes are from Emily Bronte's writings in this book. I believe these quotes describe the love we should hope to have with the one we wish to be with forever.

• "...he shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire."
  - Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Ch. 9



• "If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it."
  - Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Ch. 9



• "Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."

My wish for all of you is that this is the kind of love you will experience sometime in your lives.

Top Stories of 2009--January and February

Newspapers, magazines, internet sites and television stations all lisIn January I signed up for another session of t what they think are the most important events of the past year. I decided I wanted to take time to consider some of the most significant events of the past year as far as Edna Washburn is concerned.

In January I registered again for the next session of adult institute class at the Grantsville High School Seminary. The course was "Teachings of the Living Prophets." The first lesson of the year was based on Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's last conference address, given a short time before he passed away: "Come What May and Love It." I decided this should be my theme for the year.

Two days after this class I received a new church calling: Boy Scout Advancement Committee Chairman. It was a calling not new to me, and one I enjoyed immensely in the past. I was grateful for the opportunity to help the Boy Scouts in our ward to work toward their goal of Eagle Scout Rank. This calling meant I was to be released as Webelos Scout Leader in the Cub Scout Program. These two changes were significant to me for various reasons, and within a short time the Lord's direction in these callings became evident.

January twentieth Tom was laid off from his job with Kennecott Copper. He was devastated. Although it left things up in the air for me, the feelings that I had New Year's Eve that this was the year for big change for our family, and then the reminder of Elder Wirthlin's talk ("Comoe What May and Love It") kept me from any feelings of desperation. I was anxious to see what was to come next in my life. Tom's job loss was not only a loss to him, it was a loss to me. It meant a lot of changes, some good, some hard. And it affected our family, too. Our kids were great, though. A few days after the lay-off, our Utah kids put on a dinner for their dad to lift his spirits and let him know they were rooting for him. That meant a lot to both of us.

By the first week of February Tom was seriously considering taking a job with Tech-Flow, a company based in Layton, Utah. He would be selling pumps to the mines in Northeastern Nevada, and it would most likely require a move to Elko, Nevada. At first he considered giving the job a six-month try, wherein he would spend five days in Nevada and drive home to Grantsville on the weekends. But when he went with Greg for a couple of days to be introduced to the area and the kind of work he would be doing, I knew that I couldn't stay in Grantsville while he was working somewhere else. As much as I loved living there, and especially living close to Lisa and Brandon and their family, I knew my place was with my husband, giving him support and sharing his life with him. So when the decision was made to take the job, we immediately set things in motion for selling our home and buying another in Nevada.

Our home was sold in two days to our next-door neighbor, and we found a brand new home in Spring Creek, ten miles or so south of Elko. I knew without doubt this was a good thing for us, that we had the Lord's blessing to do it, but that didn't mean it was easy. I was not happy to leave my family behind. And I had to leave our cats, Calvin and Hobbes, behind, too. I did that because I love Brandon more than the cats.

One of the things that had a big impact on me this year was that I had a very bad fall, suffering extensive bruising on my left hip. This happened when I was looking at a home in Spring Creek. I still feel the effects of that fall from time-to-time.

Lisa announced in February that she was pregnant! I was very happy for her.

This is the end of the first installment of my Top Stories of 2009. Stay tuned for more tomorrow.