Let me get you caught up on what has been happening since December. This picture is my band playing at a nursing home before Christmas. This is the Cadet Band with the HOmeschool Music Association in Lansing. There are 22 students, ranging in age 9 - 15. Most of the students have only been playing a year, some less. WE did five songs and they did an awesome job. We meet every Monday night for 2 hours and 15 minutes. The students are encouraged and rewarded for practicing 270 minutes or more a week at home. Many of them take private lessons.
This is my dad with his youngest great-grandson, little David, who was born just before Thanksgiving. It was nice to see many of my brothers and sisters at Christmas time.
My music students, along with 2 students of Geno Harris, my pastor's son, performed at a winter recital in January. Bethany (violin) and Joanna (were two of the students who performed). All did a good job. Two of my students were sick that day, so did not attend.At the CEF
of Michigan State Staff meeting in January, Doug was recognized as CEF of Michigan Worker of the year. He spends many hours doing police background checks for all CEF workers - paid staff, and volunteers, dealing with health insurance and building insurance for the workers and chapters, taking care of the finances for the State Office, and many other jobs that are given to him. Please continue to pray for us. WE are all very busy, going in many different directions. Philip is working part-time and attending LCC working on his bachelors degree through Lawrence Tech. He will recieve his associates from LCC in May.
Bethany is working part-time at a day care center and taking one of her final two classes in photography at LCC. She is in the handbell choir at church, works with the teen girls on Wednesday nights, and teaches the toddler SS class with Philip.
Joanna is in her last semester of high school and is taking an Oral Communications class at LCC to get started on her classes for Culinary Arts. She just got a job working at MSU again, as she did last Jan - April. She will be working Tuesdays and Fridays - lunch shift, as a student cook! Joanna is involved in the HOmeschool Music Association Symphonic Band and is looking forward to Solo and Ensemble Festival in Feb.
I continue to work part-time with Capital Area CEF as Director of Teacher Training. The pay is part time but the hours definitely are not. I am working to raise support for Capital Area CEF to help with my salary. This is hard to do because I don't want to be in competition with Project D (Our support that goes through the State Office that pays Doug's salary, health insurance, etc.). Please pray that I will be able to raise about $600 a month.
Doug continues his responsibilities at CEF as Director of Administration. He keeps busy with projects that have to be done. Right now, one of his projects is collecting information from the directors about their offices and content for insurance purposes. Doug also is a Deacon at our church and the treasurer - so every one of those things keep him busy. He teaches the adult SS class from time to time as well.
Thanks for your prayers for us.
