Sing Out

Cooper and Phoebe had their winter choral concert last night. Phoebe sang with the select treble choir, Cooper sang with the select SATB choir, and they both sang with the concert choir. All of their songs sounded beautiful. I didn't get a picture of the treble choir, but I did get one of the SATB choir. And they stand near enough to each other that I got them both in the concert choir picture.

Phoebe's friend Isaac, who goes to seminary with her but attends a different high school, came to support her at the concert. I snapped this picture of Phoebe and her friends after the concert was over.

I continue to be thankful for our school district's wonderful choral programs.

Great job, Cooper and Phoebe!

Hats On

Cooper was generous enough to let Topher borrow his cowboy hat for silly hat day at school. It made Topher's day.

School at Home

We have used up all of our snow days, so Tuesday was our first virtual instruction day. Drawing on their three years of virtual school, my kids were well-equipped for this mode of learning. Topher was new to it, but he was so excited to have a meeting with his class on his school-issued iPad. I took very few pictures of the day, but Cooper took this one of reading time. I'm so glad he captured this moment. 

Topher also did some PE and art.

Cooper, Phoebe, and Sophie also did school, but I wasn't watching over their shoulders, making sure it got done.

Mountains of Snow

Sunday's epic snowstorm was followed by a snow day on Monday. It was warm enough for Topher and Sophie to play outside for a bit. Cooper and Topher are in the first few pictures, though Topher is off in the distance and not as easy to see.

This is a good example of high the snow is piled in our yard. That's 6'3" Peter trying to remove Topher from the snow cliff. That tall snow hill was created by the boys shoveling the driveway.

Sophie didn't have much time outside, but she enjoyed it while she could.

And poor Phoebe, who loves the cold and snow, was stuck inside with a terrible head cold. That's why she's missing from all the pictures.

Timeline of a Snowy Day

Sunday

January 25, 2026

10:27am

11:32am

11:47am

12:05pm

12:08pm

12:12 pm

12:35pm

2:40pm

2:41pm

4:39pm

4:46pm

4:47pm

5:01pm

5:41 pm

5:52pm

9:01pm

9:30pm

Snowpocalypse

I realized I forgot to buy bananas yesterday. Phoebe and I went to the store today. The bread, meat, and produce were seriously cleared out.

We are fully stocked with water and food. Now we wait to see how much snow this storm will bring.

Get It While You Can

A large swath of the United States is expecting a major snow storm this weekend. I went grocery shopping yesterday and made sure we're stocked with nonperishable food. There were a handful of other people preparing, but mostly it seemed like a normal day of shopping for those I observed.

I bought food, but I didn't buy any water. I ran over to Sam's Club today to pick up some water bottles for our supply. This is where the Sam's Club water bottles should have been. I saw people with several flats of water bottles in their carts. Like, I wondered if maybe they owned a restaurant and were planning to resell them, that's how piled high the carts were.

It's good to be prepared, but always a little jarring to see an item cleared off the shelves.

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

I just came across this beautiful quote from the newest called Apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gerald Causse. I want to be reminded of this eternal truth, so I'm sharing the quote here. I believe that we are all children of God, no matter where we're from, no matter what language we speak. And I believe that this global church to which I belong is stronger and fuller because of the "beautiful mosaic" that the members create through their varied backgrounds.

"Growing up, I spent countless hours gazing at maps, dreaming of discovering the world.

To my amazement, that childhood dream has become a reality.

In the service of the Lord, I now had the privilege of visiting more than 90 countries and territories—something for which I am deeply grateful. In our home, a map marks each place I’ve been blessed to visit.

Along the way, I’ve met and befriended brothers and sisters across the globe and witnessed firsthand that the unity of God’s people is real and tangible.

No matter where we are in the world, we teach the same doctrine, make the same covenants, live the same gospel, sing the same hymns, follow the prophet, and bear witness of Jesus Christ—the Savior and Redeemer of all.

Our congregations form a beautiful mosaic of cultures, languages, and backgrounds. Yet one of the great marvels of this gospel dispensation is that it is not confined to any one place or people.

It is global.

It is universal.

And it is preparing the way for the glorious return of the Son of God by gathering “his children from the four quarters of the earth” (1 Nephi 22:25)."

Snow, Snow, Snow

On Sunday we woke up to even more snow. Because of the expected inclement weather, our church meetings had been canceled on Saturday night. Bryan and I took our turn and shoveled this time. Then we rushed to get cleaned up so we could attend another ward that was meeting at noon.

It snowed again as we were getting ready for bed.

We got a light dusting yesterday evening.

There is a lot of snow out there right now.

Snowy Day

We woke up to snow falling on Saturday morning. By the time the storm was over we had about four inches of the powdery stuff. While Cooper and Peter shoveled out front, Topher and Sophie played in the back. Topher even went sledding with his friends who live next door. It's all very pretty, but I'm thankful I got to stay inside.

We Love to Sing

A few months ago Cooper's chorus teacher invited him to be part of their school's delegation to the annual county chorus concert. This involved extra choir rehearsals during the school day so he would be familiar with the songs they would be singing. The event took place yesterday and today. 

Ten high schools in our area brought a select number of their choirs together for two days of learning music, singing, and camaraderie. Each chorus director selected one piece of music for the combined choir to sing, and then taught and directed it. All of this work culminated in a concert that happened tonight.

It was such a fun evening of music! Cooper looked great and the choir sounded wonderful. Bonus, three of his friends from church who attend different high schools were also in the choir.

It made my heart so happy to see the joy on Cooper's face while he was singing.

Well done, Cooper!