I know, I know...my resolutions don't last too long but it is quarterly report time for Columbia Basin College so I've been trying to wedge into my life some work time which believe it or not is kind of tough. I also don't have much excuse since I don't even have the temple on Wednesday morning as it is closed for three weeks (they are putting a separate entrance in for the baptistry) Going out of town every weekend hasn't helped much either. The weekends have been great though. Cowboy Poetry weekend is always so fun...with being with Martha and Dick especially. Then it was great coming home to a house full of family who had just finished watching the Super Bowl. A couple of rounds of Dominion just really filled out my weekend. Today, I went to a Stake Women's Conference which was really good (I had to make 100 cupcakes on Thursday for it!)...then Dad and I went to the wedding of one of his dental assistants. Very interesting since it was all in Russian. I think we were the only ones there who knew no Russian! Her brother and one of her cousins came up to our table at the reception and helped clue us in to what was going on. The music from the choir at the wedding was really interesting...very slavic. It was just fascinating to have a view into a whole different culture and customs. They were all non-drinkers so I think it was pretty calm as Russian weddings go.

Well, now for my playlist. This was a really fun exercise for me as it really made me think about what music meant to me...I probably missed some...but here goes:

1. Twist and Shout- Beatles- This reminds me of my high school years with the Adelphians and the "joints" with other clubs...and dancing up a storm. (can you picture that!)
2. It only takes a moment- Hello, Dolly--actually this version is by Michael Crawford but I associate it with Hello, Dolly which was one of Wa-wa's favorite musicals. When it was in Wall-e it brought back so many memories of my home with them. It also made me think of meeting Dad for the first time and how our eyes met and we knew that something would come of this relationship.
3. You Must Love Me- Madonna- This always makes me think of our struggles throughout the years.
4. Suo Gan- Empire of the Sun- I have always loved this song, the beautiful voices and the movie. It always makes me feel a little melancholy and homesick for some reason.
5. Dancing Queen- Abba- especially the rendition in the Mamma Mia movie makes me think about the young wild Barbie that most of you have a hard time picturing. (maybe that's progress!)
6. This is Dedicated- Mamas and Papas--I know this duplicates Dad's list but with all our separations this was our theme song.
7. Love is Spoken Here- not sure about this rendition but it was all that was available. I always hoped that this might be the way my children remembered their home even if we weren't perfect all the time!
8. Honey, I'm Home- Shania Twain- reminds me of all the years spent working in San Diego.
9. I'm Proud to be an American- Lee Greenwood- this was actually one of my favorites long before 9/11. One of the boy's classes sang this in a program in Valentine and I remember having tears come to my eyes since we were struggling financially at that time and under a lot of stress. It continued to mean a lot as we went through our nosedive and I realized how important family was...no matter what the world could do to you.
10. Blowing in the Wind- Peter, Paul and Mary- you can't grow up in Berkeley in the 60's and not have this song mean something to you.
11. I am Woman- Helen Reddy- I remember having this blast in the car as I left Dad on the pier for his first cruise and was leaving to drive back to New York with just 2 year old Mike---actually not quite two...with tears rolling down my cheeks.
12. How Firm a Foundation- I wasn't originally sure about this rendition but I actually like it quite a bit. I love the words to this song. When I was a child, it had the words in the chorus "you who unto Jesus" and we used to laugh about the "Yoo Hoo"....I'm sure that is why they changed it. It means a lot to me...as the gospel is such a firm foundation in my life that has taken me through so many trials in my life...and will continue to do so...

Love you all....thanks Marnie for suggesting this....

Mom

She said she wanted to dance to Blah (which is Belle). So here it is!

So now you see why she truly is my better half, though I am pretty sure you have all figured that out by now. If any doubt her sincerity, just know the woman tears up at beer commercials or when flowers lose a petal.

I am finally approaching the last week here. I can't wait to get back and be a real part of the family and not just there for a vacation. The course has been worthwhile but it could have waited until after grad school, like when I am on my way to an operational assignment. Oh well, at least it is done.

So I am registered for a half trail marathon on April 11. It is up in Muir Woods north of the Golden Gate bridge. So there is my open invite to join me. Here is the link. There is also a race the week prior in the same area and I am willing to do that one also if that works better for anyone.

Mom, you need to get on it. You are failing at your resolution to blog. Just though I would throw that out there.

Well I really just blogged because I am going crazy by myself. That means you all need to provide interesting updates.

Mike

On our drive back from Washington Mike and I were using our box of "dinner conversation" cards to help us stay awake. One of the cards asked "What do you admire most about your parents?" Mike and I took turns answering for each of our four parents. This is why admire Kenn. I can't really put these in any particular order, they just are.

First, I know how much he loves his children and his grandchildren. He is one of the most loving fathers I know. He has endeared himself to me many times over through his very sincere love for Mike and concern for his physical and emotional well being. I don't think there is anything he wouldn't do for any of his kids if it needed to be done and he could possibly do it. Having a houseful of girls, I have especially loved observing the tender relationship he has with each of his daughters. It thrills me to think that Mike and our girls will follow that path as well. As far as grandchildren, it has trickled down to each of them. The Team Ellyn Autism Walk still brings tears to my eyes.

Second, his testimony and his commitment to his callings. When we lived in Washington I was able to witness Kenn's calling in YM and the time and effort he put forth in serving the young men in his ward. I know he cared for each of those boys. At one point he had the shaved head to prove it. I have heard him bear his testimony and felt the spirit. We still have the notes he wrote for the talk he gave at Jane's baptism. I remember being so sick at the Stinchfield family reunion and having my husband and all of my Stinchfield brothers and my father in law walk into my room to give me a blessing. I was in awe and oh so grateful for the power of the priesthood. Each of those men that had lived worthy to hold that power and they were led by the example of their father. That same trip they gave little Sadie her baby blessing.

Third, the guy knows how to have fun and he makes sure everyone is having fun with him. He has been so generous with his time and his, um, resources. We have had so many great adventures with Kenn. He made sure I made it to Mike's boot camp graduation and then rented a car to take him to AIT so that we all could have another day together. He came to visit us in Oklahoma and took us down to Texas and the water park and Six Flags. Trips to Disney World, visits in Georgia, a trip to Charleston. A visit to Germany where, while we were in Salzburg, we decided to swing on down to Venice. How fun was that you may ask? Very doesn't even cover it.

Besides the trips, there are the other great things. Decorating the jeep and house with Christmas lights, the fire pit on the patio where we have spent many a summer evening laughing and eating, the hot tub, the BOAT, the MONEY DROP for the kids. Dressing up as Santa, the Kenn and Barb dancing bobble heads, the remote controlled helicopters. The list has and could go on forever (Barb, I know you are a part of these too).

FOURTH, the great relationship he has with Barb. It is wonderful to see how much the two of you enjoy being together. Truly inspirational.

And so... Kenn, I want to wish you a happy birthday from the Mike Stinchfield clan and tell you how very, very grateful we all are that you were born.

You are the best dad a girl could ask for. Thank you for being you!

Danica has been cracking me up lately. Besides being OBSESSED with watching Dora and playing with our next door neighbor she has also been developing her imagination. She’s constantly pretending she’s doing something, mostly being a mother her to baby doll who is sad a lot... not sure what that means. But anyway, I inadvertently found a way to torture her. One night we were reading a bed time story about different animals noses. At the end it talks of human noses and I pretended to grab Danica’s nose, showing the top of my thumb in my fist they way my dad used to do to me. Well, she freaked out! She started crying and demanding I give back her nose because she needed it! I could not convince her she still had it! The next day we were driving in the car and Alyssa was just being loud and yelling so Danica and Hayden pretended to put in ear plugs. For some reason Hayden leaned over and pretended to take out Danica’s imaginary ear plugs. Oh my, was she upset! She didn’t stop yelling until Hayden pretened to put them back in!!!

Funny story about Alyssa: she is saying new words daily which is soooooo fun because Danica never did that! Danica would just look at me in silence... but anyway, all summer when we would arrive home at night the headlights would shine on the house and we would see geckos all over it so Danica would always yell out “gecko!” Well, the gecko’s are hibernating or something but now every time we pull up to the house, day or night, Alyssa yells out “gecko!”

Sometimes it’s great to be in the military: Tom has work off tomorrow for the superbowl. (We are ahead of the states so the Superbowl is on at 8:00am Monday morning!) We plan to spend the day hanging out with friends!

I would like to say Happy Birthday to Beck! I hope he has a great 1st birthday! It is crazy that he is one already! Hope to see you guys soon!
Love,
Aunt Kim, Uncle Treven, Melia, and McKenzie

Also here is a post that I put on our blog like 2 or 3 days ago... Just thought I would put it on here as well! There is a video on our blog of Melia... It just took forever to post on there so if you want to see it, go ahead and go there.

Everything seems to be going by so fast... January is almost over! It is crazy! Anyway, so here is an update from us for those of who don't know... Treven was accepted to WSU Vancouver... again. The first time he applied, there was a mistake and he applied for Spring. Well he is going to BYU Idaho so he was supposed to apply for Summer. He got accepted for Spring so we had to cancel that and then apply again for summer. Well he just got that acceptance letter and everything seems to be working great. We are moving back to Vancouver, Washington in April. Treven is done here on April 9th, but we are not going to leave until the 14th so that we have a couple of days to pack things up. Our friends Matt and Kate are probably going to be moving into this apartment after we leave. They are thinking of coming out a little early and we can help each other move. We are going to live at my parent's house at least through the summer. I am going to try and get a teaching job, but if not, well... I can substitute and still make a decent amount. WSU Vancouver is about a block or two away from my parent's house so that will be nice to have it so close. It is also going to be so much fun to be near a bunch of family again.
We absolutely love our new apartment so it kind of stinks that we will be moving so soon. My mom even asked, "do you like it enough to stay?" and I replied, " Almost, but then I look outside at the weather and say forget it I am moving!" It is nice and big for the girls to run around and it has tons of storage for us to put away things. It keeps me from being driven crazy by a mess everywhere. It is just easier to keep clean.
More news is that Melia is potty trained! I tried for about 2 days and it just seemed to not being working right but then my wonderful sister-in-law, Tracey, gave me advice that worked like a charm with Melia! She was potty trained in about 2 days and doesn't even wear pull-ups anymore. She is fine during the night and during naps. We have gone on several trips to Idaho Falls and the grocery store and she does great letting us know that she needs to go. I just know now that McKenzie will be harder... I just had it too easy with Melia.
I am just relaxing and enjoying being a mom full time. I am going to start subbing, hopefully, in February. We will see.. we don't need it right now so I don't want to make it a burden on Treven or the girls.
McKenzie is 6 months now, but is in 9 and 12 month clothes which is great though because now I can match the girls' dresses. She is just a BIG baby! She is very tall and chubby. We will see where she is at on February 10th at her wellness check up. She rolls EVERYWHERE! She is starting to pick up everything off of the floor so I pretty much vacuum the floor every night. She pushed her torso and head all the way up, but hasn't connected that the legs need to as well to be able to crawl. She is eating solid foods like a champ! I found I have to add rice cereal to everything to make it thicker. She is loving stealing toys away from Melia... I think there is a change coming that Melia will have to get used to.
Melia loves our new ward's nursery and she just seems to be getting smarter every day. She loves being social with other kids and sometimes it is a little excessive.
Well McKenzie woke up and wants to eat the keyboard so I will have to leave it there... I will be posting some pictures later

Dave and I were both out last night. When we go, I leave a white board with instructions for the kids while we're away. Last night, I came home to my list erased - and this in it's place.

Adina

The weather was extra amazing today and we spent a long time at the park and walking to get Hayden at school and I got a sun burn! In January!!!! Fantastic! It was an awesome Japanese park with this huge slab of cement that was a slide, Danica was in heaven! The weather has made running great, I really have no excuse not to run other than laziness. I set a goal for this month to run 80 miles, 20 a week and it’s gone really well. It’s great having a little extra incentive to get myself out the door. The race was a lot of fun and I’m glad I won because it was my first and last chance to win in the 18-29 year old category! A few more months and I roll over to join the “old” people... ugh. If only there were a way that I could stay the same age forever... that reminds me of my second bit of great news: The Twilight movie came to the island! It was only here for a week or so but it was fabulous and I had a great time seeing it. The theater was packed with teenage girls and they made it so much fun with all their squeals, yells and swoons. I enjoyed the movie and my short trip back to Forks. I had a few spare minutes today while the girls took a late bath after getting filthy at the park and I picked up Eclipse and got sucked in. I had to hurry to put it down because I could tell how easily I could have spent the rest of the day reading when in reality I had to get Hayden at school, do homework, take him to Karate and then go the grocery store, eat dinner and then watch my friends kids because her husband is out of town and her and Tom had to be at a young women’s activity. Needless to say, reading was not in my plans for today!

I keep thinking that I will sit down on Sunday and write about the week but it seems that if I actually have a quiet minute on Sunday I just fall asleep and so weeks go by without an update! Luckily we only have minor news to report:

Hayden learned how to ride his bike! It’s seriously about time! He’s been so sure he would just fall down that he wasn’t even willing to try. Finally his friend’s dad suggested we take him to a huge grass field to practice so it wouldn’t hurt so much if he fell and that did the trick. He learned in a matter of minutes once he was willing to try it! He’s been saying some really crazy things lately, here’s two examples:

Hayden was making some chocolate milk to have with his lunch one day. He finished stirring it and was about to take it out the table when he said:
“You know I have to taste it don’t you.”
“You do? Why?”
“It might be poisoned, I have to check.”
“Well, if it’s poisoned then you are the one who did it because you made it.”
“Umm, maybe not because it could have been a rat and lizard. A really strong rat could open the lid to the chocolate mix and the lizard could spit in it and he could have poison spit. Oh, wait, are there rats on this island? How could rats get here? It’s not like they could swim”
“They could come on a boat.”
“Oh yeah, of course, rats love boats.”

The second incident was last night, we had gone to Burger King for dinner (the only American place with kids meals with toys, a necessity for Hayden.) We were done eating and were trying to leave the play area. Hayden wanted to stay longer and was upset we had wasted time eating instead of only playing. So he said:
“I wish that we were all just made of bread so that whenever we got hungry we could just reach down and grab a piece of ourselves and we wouldn’t ever have to stop playing.”
I’m thinking that if that’s the case I want to be made of chocolate brownie...

So here I sit in a Hampton Inn along a Pennsylvania Turnpike NE of Harrisburg. Up the road a bit is Fort Indiantown Gap. Don't know what that is? That is okay, neither did I. Basically it is the HQ of Pennsylvania National Guard and a large Army Reserve Training Center. We are here because it is also the closest large simulation center to Washington D.C. So this is "hands-on week" The blog title references the restaurant owner today that told me not to try another nearby place because it was bought out by "Egyptians, or Indians, or Greeks or somethin'" Hmmmmmmm. It is exciting to see all the simulation advances. This one (link) is especially exciting because it is basically an enhancement of my favorite PC combat sim, which I always felt would make a great training system. I will post the youtube video too.

I have spent the last hour trying to figure out how to post to multiple blogs at once. No luck for the PC, at least nothing that worked for me. It looks like Mac has a payware program called Ecto for all you rich people. I will just cut and paste.

I hate TV, but I watch it. So glad we hardly watch it at home. It is so easy to mind melt. Just wanted to add that.

D.C. has been fun. Lots of great memories with Dave and Kay-Kay and Wa-Wa. Although I have yet to go off on a server for lack of a club salad:-) And, I think "Hermy" would be OK left in the car right now Dave, or maybe he would freeze to death. The new WWII memorial is amazing. I know Kay-Kay would have loved to seen that; they cared so much about those servicemen that passed through their home on the way to hell. It is good to see them have such a wonderful memorial. I still run around the national mall regularly. It is inspiring and a great length for a long run (5.7 miles...well unless you are superheroes like Tracey or Tom or Dave. You may have to run around the state of Maryland too) My run route starts at the Lincoln memorial, then I run along the very edge of the reflecting pool, through the arches of the WWII memorial, up to the Washington Monument back down the little hill and then a long run up the dirt path to the capitol building, loop around By the Supreme Court building and then back to the Lincoln Memorial on the same route. Usually I will sit and read the Gettysburg address while I cool down and contemplate the line:


"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."


And I guess when I think about that, I don't just think about Soldiers I lost in Iraq, or those that died at Gettysburg but all those that sacrificed for what the nation is supposed to be: pilgrims, pioneers, revolutionaries, inventors, slaves, civil-rights activists, mothers, and more. Basically Americans that gave their all. It is inspiring. We are going to spend Friday afternoon at Gettysburg on the way back. That has been something I have wanted to do for a while.

I am so happy to know I will be home to be a real husband and father here soon (17 days) Brooke has been a champ but is understandably hitting the wall right now. My job situation is still a little ambiguous, but it will have to work itself out, right? They still have to pay me:-\

Marnie, thanks for the playlist idea. Except for lame-Os like Mom, Dave, Tom, Treven, Peter, and Tracey, it worked out pretty well and was alot of fun.

I saw Slumdog and it really is fantastic. But, having said that, I am boycotting the Oscars because Gran Torino got snubbed. What a shame and it just shows how ridiculous that competition has become. It is like the BCS of movies.

Well, time to go.

Mike

      Ok, so I don't have a cool picture... no clue how to do that. But here is a list of songs I happen to think of today. I am known for killing albums by playing them to death and then move on to the next album or group of songs. There are way too many songs over the years that have moved me for different reasons. But any song that I can play to death and then come back to and still love is a good one.

1."You Can’t Always Get What You Want”- The Rolling Stones: I am a stones fan. This song has a good message… but I don’t think the Stinchfield boys buy into it :)

2. “Baba O’Riley”- The Who: Nope, its’s not called “Teenage Wasteland”!
3. “Go Ask Alice”- Jefferson Airplane: I just like it.
4. “The Moment I Said It”- Imogen Heap: Unique songwriting… and Brent can attest that I have sung my guts out to this on many a car ride. Can you hit the high notes???
5. “The Battle”- Gladiator Soundtrack: Parts of this song were mixed into the best show I ever helped choreograph… we even won the national championship.
6. “El Tango De Roxanne”- Moulin Rouge Soundtrack: Great soundtrack. I love almost every song on it.
7. “Realize”- Colbie Caillet: I’m a recent fan of hers. Love how she got started.
8. “Apologize”- OneRepublic: Great to play loud in the car!!
9. “No Air”- Jordan sparks: The show “So You Think You Can Dance” made me a fan of this song.
10. “Somebody To Love”- Brittany Murphy: This is a Queen song re-done in the Happy Feet movie. Cute movie and who knew Brittany Murphy could sing??
11. “Feelin Good”- Michael Buble: How can you feel bad when this song plays?
12. “Time To Say Goodbye”- Sarah Brightman and Andre Bocelli: Reminder of how much beauty there is in the world.

Shed a Little Light- James Taylor- Same as Anne… This song reminds me of the car ride with Marnie, Anne, Mom and Dad. Dad, of course, was doing his arm movements. Every time I hear this song, I can’t help but to do the movements Dad did.
Santeria- Sublime- Well this song actually reminds me of two things: San Diego in general and Spanish 5/6 class. My friends and I always listened to this song at the bonfires or when we just went to the beach. In Spanish class, we had a unit on songs and we were able to bring in our favorite songs. This girl brought this song in and everybody in the class loved it and I remember tons of people singing to it… I know weird, but I think of that every time I hear it.
See You Soon- Coldplay- The next two songs are two songs from the move to Washington… This one was when I really was missing San Diego and wanted to just go back. I listened to A LOT of Coldplay to help me through it… It always relaxes me!
Don’t Panic- Coldplay- This is another song from the move to Washington. This reminds me of rainy dark mornings when I was heading out for seminary. This song is when I started to love Washington and the beauty there.
Such Great Heights- Postal Service- This reminds me of when I was introduced to Postal Service to my only roommate that I am still great friends with. I love the sound of Postal Service… This song reminds me of my freshman/sophomore year in college.
Since U Been Gone- Kelly Clarkson- This brings back a lot of memories of driving in my roommate’s convertible baby blue beetle around Rexburg in the Summer and singing at the top of our lungs.
To Make You Feel My Love- Garth Brooks- This is our song and Treven sang it to me at our wedding reception. BUT I can never find the Garth Brooks’ version that we love. Anybody have it… let me know!
The Woman in Me- Shania Twain- This always makes me think of how I feel about Treven and how much he does for me on a daily basis.
Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson- This song just reminds me of when Treven and I were engaged… This album came out during that time and we both loved it. It was an essential CD to listen to in the car!
Hide and Seek- Imogen Heap- Brent introduced me to this song in his car one time and I have loved Imogen Heap ever since. Melia also used to fall asleep to this song when she was a baby ALL THE TIME! Now it calms her down in the car.
Single Ladies (Put A Ring on it)- Beyonce- HA! Well Melia LOVES this song and every time it is on she dances in the middle of the room shaking her hand back and forth and says Marnie! Marnie! It is also one of my favorite songs to run to.
Naked As We Came- Iron and Wine- I am just getting into Iron and Wine and love it! I love the sound of their voice and music…. very relaxing and chill. When it is quiet time in the house with the girls, we put this song on first and they love it. It calms them right down.

Okay I know I have 13 and 14 but I had to add these on since they both have affected me.
I Stand All Amazed- Various Artists- This song is just a song that has always strengthened my testimony throughout my life and it shows me the love that the Savior has for us.
Sacrament and Symbols- Various Artists- This song reminds me of Marnie and her friends singing this is sacrament meeting. I felt such a strong spirit when they sang it and it has stuck ever since. I absolutely love it and think of Marnie singing it every time I listen to it.

Let me preface this by saying that I cheated. I have 15 songs. This is not entirely my fault. Mike and I were on the phone as I made my list and he kept coming up with songs that I had to add. Of course once I started listening to said song I couldn't not add it. There is definitely a period in my life where I listened to more music of my choosing. Now it's whatever makes the kids happy or NPR. I am an NPR junkie. I did not include in Erasure or ABBA, which I feel kind of weird about. Thanks Adina, for covering Erasure, that saved me a bit. Okay enough babbling.

Sweet Caroline- Neil Diamond. My dad used to blast Neil Diamond from the stereo while we cleaned the house. It reminds me of him, of being a kid, and of listening to it later with Mike.

It Takes Two-Rob Base. My sophomore year of high school. My freshman and sophomore years of high school were some of the happiest, most carefree years of my life. This song was played at assemblies, at games, in my friend Megan's car stereo (I couldn't drive) and reminds me of being young, stupid, and totally happy.

Only You- Yaz. I have loved this song and the album Upstairs at Eric's since I first heard it. I'm pretty sure it was at my friend Megan's house.

Shake the Disease- Depeche Mode. I loved Depeche Mode for so many years. Had a hard time finding a song that was appropriate for the family blog and hence, the reason I don't play too much Depeche Mode these days. Love them though.

Fire and Rain- James Taylor. Ah, we enter the "granola" phase of my life. It had so much to do with the music. I drove my 65 green Mustang, spent way too much time skipping school and wearing birkenstocks and loved every minute of it. James has stood the test of time. I still love him. He's amazing... and funny.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters- Simon and Garfunkle. This reminds me of my friends Mindy, Amy, and Lindsay and the summer after my senior year. Harmonizing as we drove to the lake or river. Oh, also skipping seminary. Can we not show this blog to kids?

Truckin'- Grateful Dead. Loved the Dead for so many years. High school, college, painting the Provo house after we were married. Again, don't listen to them too much anymore. I remember Jane asking me about the lyrics in one of the songs once when she was little and that was the end of that.

SGT. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- the Beatles. Always listened to their early stuff with my mom and dad. I bought this tape at Tower Records in Seattle after a UW football game that my brother Adam and I went to together. It was dark and cold and rainy and we had so much fun. One of the few times we got along in high school. I listened to this tape non-stop, I also bought Mamas and the Papas, Soul Cages by Sting, and Simon and Garfunkle that day.

West End Girls- Pet Shop Boys. What I didn't realize until I started going to other stake dances was how great the D.J.(is that how you spell it?) was for our dances and why we always had TONS of people there. Loved Stake Dances until my senior year. Great Dance Music. Love the Pet Shop Boys, still turn them on when I run across the CD.

500 Miles- Proclaimers. This reminds me of going off to Ricks and the summer I met Mike. "Benny and Joon" came out and I saw it 5 times, including a date with Mike. I have very fond memories of this song.

Sweetest Thing- U2. I have loved U2 forever. It is one of the things that brought Mike and I together. U2 is the soundtrack to many of life's great memories.

Harvest Moon- Neil Young. Loved Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Continued on with Mike with Neil Young. Listened to this album all the time in our early married days.

To Make You Feel My Love- Garth Brooks. Have to put a nod out to country music. Garth, the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw. I don't listen to country music when Mike is gone, I bawl. This is one of my very favorite songs, love the version in "Hope Floats."

This Love- Maroon Five. After Ellyn was born my sister Ellynn came to stay with me in Georgia. Her friend Devon had just made her a mix. It was the most awesome mix ever. We still listen to those songs full blast. The girls love them. It reminds me of our trip to Savannah, Krispy Kreme donuts, staying up till 4 am watching 24 season 1 on DVD, our beautiful Georgia springs. It makes me happy.

Fix You- Coldplay. One of the few bands I can say I listen to these days. The Killers as well. Besides that, whatever Mike is listening to that doesn't assault my ears. This is the song that Sawyer would fall asleep to without fail when he was a baby. I would lay him in the middle of my bed and turn this on and he would be out.

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes....Disney I chose this song because, coupled with Faith and Prayer, your dreams come true only if you have your whole heart in the desire. Things don't just happen; they come to those who work on making their dreams and wishes come true.
Adagio for Strings....Barber (from Platoon) Reminds me of the time of my life away from my family in a foreign land and the struggle of the comrades with whom I embattled the opposition. The scene from the movie burns hard in my heart as soldier runs and is overcome. Lend a hand to those falling down around you. It doesn't have to be a war; it can be the failing economy.
Scheherazade Op 35 My very first record in my life was this by RCA Victor Records. My Mother and Father bought me 8 albums from the RCA Record Club and a phonograph. I listened to this album hour after hour and still love the music.
Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind....Lovin' Spoonful Mom and I dated other friends when we were separated by going to different schools during our 3 years of dating and courtship. There finally came a time when we both had to make up our minds. And, I'm glad we came to the same conclusion. 14.
In My Life....Beatles Sung by Audrey McKay at our reception at the Balls in Moraga, Ca. on 16 August 1969. A day to remember.
The John Dunbar Theme....John Barry This is so awe inspiring to me..of the movement west and of our time spent on the reservations at Rose Bud and Pine Ridge, South Dakota. I have fond memories of my Lakota friends there.
What a Wonderful Life....Louis Armstrong And, this is what I feel like I have had with my wife, family and friends. It could stop now and I'd feel like I've reached the pinnacle of my joy. I hope there is more.
Shower The People....James Taylor This was Bob Riding's favorite song. I love him like a brother and really believe is the words. He introduced me to this song and I am grateful to him for having done so. I believe it.
Our House In The Middle of The Street....Talking Heads Oh what a great time living on Elenora Drive in Valentine, Nebraska. I see four young boys having the thrill of their lives, climbing over hills and down into valleys. I see Marnie in her Strawberry Shortcake and Blue Dress with White Stars and RED rainboots. And, of course, I see beautiful Anne come into our life at the Cherry County Hospital. Wonderful memories and wonderful friends.
You Are Loved....Josh Groban and don't ever give up. Words I was constantly reminded of by my wonderful Mother. She often sent me bookmarks and plaques with the phrase, "Don't Quit". This song reminds me of her pushing me along my career.
Eternal Father....The US Navy Band and Chorus This song was always played at memorial services for lost aviators. I attended too many of those events and lost two good friends whom I flew many missions with during the VietNam war. Les Parker and Keith Christopherson....with our Eternal Father.
Do You Hear The People Sing....Les Miserables Just an inspiring song of brother and sisterly love and support during very critical times.
I Dreamed A Dream....Les Miserables Just fills me with joy and sadness; that life just doesn't always turn out exactly like we thought it would....hopefully for the better, however.
Slipping Through My Fingers....Meryl Streep I really like Meryl Streep's version of this song. The song itself digs deep into my feelings for my daughters (and my sons) as I have seen them leave home and go onto their own families and careers. We have to let them go some time. You really don't have them living at home for very long out of your and their lives. Make the most of it. Thank goodness we have a lot of family reunions to keep the love flowing.
Dedicated To The One I Love....Mamas and the Papas and it is, 14.
Leaving On A Jet Plane....Peter, Paul and Mary And she did in January, 1969. A short separation with absolute joy at the other end. Hey, she returned. And, made me a happy man.
I Believe In Christ....Bruce R. McConchie I shall always remember watching him give his Conference address in April 1985. One of my most favorite talks of all time.
Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own....Pointer Sisters (from Ain't Misbehavin) my theme for many years. I don't care what they think.
Blessed Assurance....Gladys Knight I love the music by Sister Knight. Inspirational music.