Yeah, it has been a really long time since I have put up a new post but we have been so busy. I am working full time right now at Voter Registration. Now that the election is over things have slowed down a little bit and I feel like I actually have time to put something up here. Anyway, we have done a couple of really fun things the last two weekends. First, we went up to Oregon to watch Noteworthy compete in the ICCA quarterfinals. We had a great time. Friday night we stayed with the Harris' and had fun talking, eating and watching movies. It was a great visit. Saturday they took us site seeing around town and Katie took some pictures and then we wenton a hike to some beautiful waterfalls. It was just breathtaking.
Saturday night we went to see Courtney and Noteworthy -- it was a fun night and Noteworthy was placed 2nd so they get to move on to semi finals here in California. They will be performing March 15 @ the marin center in San Raphael. Would love to see you all there. If you can't make it Saturday they will also be putting on a joint fireside with Vocal Point on Sunday at the Oakland Temple. We loved Oregon. It was so beautiful. We wished we could have spent more time there. Then Tuesday, Feb. 19th Katie woke up in the middle of the night in excrutiating pain -- another kidney stone! Spent all night in the ER. They sent her home with some pain pills and a "it should pass soon". Well she was still in pain on Saturday. We had been praying really hard that she would feel better by Saturday because she had a very important singing competition that night. She was competing in the Capital Music Awards for a $5,000 scholarship. It was the semi-finals. Tickets were $30 and so she felt very obligated to try and perform. When she woke up Sat. morning things were bad but she rallied and decided that she could go and try. She went on stage for a sound check and when she came off she was WHITE as a sheet and about ready to pass out. This really was worrisome cuz then we felt like she might not make it through the actual performance. But, the man in charge was very kind and let her go to his office and rest on his couch until she had to perform. She, was feeling better just weak. I started to relax a little. Finally, it was time for her to get dressed. Katies calls from the bathroom "Mom, were is my shirt?" I said "should be with all your other stuff" -- "no, I don't see it" -- "I'll go look in the car it probably fell off the hanger". So, off I go to the car to get her beautiful new shirt that we got speical for her performance. As I approach the car I see her beautiful new shirt lying on the ground, soaking wet! Yeah, I know -- my heart sunk and I thought "ok, what else can go wrong" and I knew that I could not go back to Katie and tell her that she had nothing to wear but a beautiful wet shirt that people had probably stepped on! Right then the nice man in charge came up to me and asked "is everything ok?" Well, I told him my story and he said that there was a dryer backstage we could use! Yeah, a great blessing.
So, I then went back to Katie in the bathroom and shared the story -- she was a little worried but okay -- I think the drugs helped her to stay calm. Finally, it was time for her to go on stage. I can't even tell you how nervous I was, we all were for her. But out she came looking amazing in her dry, beautiful new shirt. She sang like she has never sang before -- it was just wonerful! The judges loved her and only had positive things to say and we even heard wispers around us and they were saying "she was good". Another blessing. All, in all it was a great night and a great relief once it was over. She felt great about her performance.
The tope 3 move on the to finals. We will let you know if she moves on. We won't know until March 24th. I will say this whole experience was a testimony builder. Heavenly Father definetly listens to our prayers and cares about us.
Sorry, this was so long. There is even more but you'll have to talk to Katie to get the whole story. Hopefully, it won't be so long till then next blog.
This is not a very good picture -- took it with my phone but we forgot to bring our camera.
Beautiful new shirt! 
