Unboxing CMTECK USB Desktop CM001 Microphone

Unboxing the CMTECK USB Desktop Computer CM001 Microphone. Mute Button with LED Indicator, Omnidirectional Condenser Boundary Conference Mic for Recording, Streaming, Gaming, Skype Calls. Stay tuned for my review of this microphone to see how it handles different situations. I will test this mic in another video.
You can buy this microphone here: https://amzn.to/2GQkTKl

Sliced Pepper Class with Dumb Old Dad

Dumb Old Dad goes to a Sliced Pepper Class with some friends to make 20 small meals for our family. 

Cutting Off My Beard in a Stop Motion Video

I finally shave my beard off and I do it using stop motion video. I hope you enjoy me shaving off my beard in a creative way. Enjoy.

Savior of the World Play Rehearsal

I tried out for a play called Savior of the World. I am the apostle John in the play. I take you back stage and on stage to show you what it looks like. This is for the Centennial of the formation of the Twin Falls Idaho Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I show a small clip of the final scene of the Savior of the world pageant.

Purely Inspired Organic Protein Shake Review

I drink this Protein Shake after being on a plant based diet for 4 months.  I have't had chocolate or a shake or anything like that for 4 months and I try this protein drink to see if it will help supplement my diet with some diet.



Purely Inspired Plant Based Protein: https://amzn.to/2YawHkC

Purely Inspired Plant Based Protein drink: https://amzn.to/2SlHK4Y

Carving Soap and Carving Deodorant So Satisfying

Another ASMR video from Dumb Old Dad. This time he cuts slices from soap and from deodorant. The Deodorant is the funnest item to cut. It is smooth and symmetrical.

Dial soap Bar: https://amzn.to/2lAwS71
Speed Stick: https://amzn.to/2lBTXWY

MCO Millennial Choir Sing in Street outside Carnegie Hall during Blackou...

MCO Millennial Choir Sing in Street outside Carnegie Hall during Blackout Power outage. MCO Millennial Choir resort to singing outside Carnegie Hall because they were forced to evacuate during a power outage in New York City. New York Blackout 2019

Clean your carpets Dumb Old Dads

Every Year or so, you should have your carpet cleaned professionally. I take you with me to take the little blocks out from underneath of our furniture after our carpet has been cleaned by Claude Brown Carpet Cleaning.

Dumb Old Dad completes the Bottle Cap Challenge

Dumb Old Dad completes the Bottle Cap Challenge. I find a bottle with a large cap and set it up so I can karate chop the cap with my foot. Success!!!! It wasn't pretty but I did it.

United Way Happy Camper Raffle

United Way Happy Camper Raffle. The United Way of South Central Idaho is raffling off a Keystone Hideout Camper and a bunch of other items. Less than 1000 raffle tickets and they are selling at $50.00 each. The money raised go to the United Way which supports our local schools and kids. Raffle price is drawn August 10th 2019.

Dumb Old Dad's Celebrate the 4th of July Independence Day

Dumb Old Dad's Celebrate the 4th of July, Independence Day by getting up early and preparing for a fun day with their family.

United Way Happy Camper Raffle

United Way Happy Camper Raffle. The United Way of South Central Idaho is raffling off a Keystone Hideout Camper and a bunch of other items. Less than 1000 raffle tickets and they are selling at $50.00 each. The money raised go to the United Way which supports our local schools and kids. Raffle price is drawn August 10th 2019.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly about having a beard

In this video, I'll tell you all about what it is like to have a full beard. What is good about a beard, what is bad about a beard, what I like about my beard and what drives me crazy about my beard.  I've had a full beard for about 6 months now so I'll go over what I like and don't like about my beard.

Gerson Therapy Juicing Time Lapse Carrot and Apple Juice

I make carrot and apple juice every day and today I take you along with me as I make the juice in a time lapse. It normally takes about 1/2 hour but this time it only takes a few minutes. Gerson Therapy

Dad and Daughter Yelling at NBA Basketball Game on TV

Dad and Daughter Yelling at NBA Basketball Game on TV. Dumb Old Dad's watch sporting events with their kids. The kids love mimicking their Dad when yelling at the players or at the referees. Dad at Daughter are yelling at an NBA basketball game. So funny.

How to make wet plant foam ASMR videos. We use wet foam, glitter and sh...

How to make wet plant foam ASMR videos. We use wet foam, glitter and shaving cream.

Kinetic Sand ASMR

Dumb Old Dad plays with some kinetic sand and brings you along. I take a knife and cut up a little Hippopotamus and the sounds are so soothing and satisfying.

Time Laps making an end table

I decided to do a time laps of me making an end table.  It is a Winsome 82218 accent table.  Winsome Wood Claire Accent Table Natural.

Dumb Old Dad smashing stuff with my car tire

I smash a few things with my car tire. I smash the plant foam, plant foam with shaving cream and a sock filled with shaving cream.

Squishing Shaving Cream through my Crocks

I try something that is popular on Youtube and Snapchat these days. I put shaving cream in my crocks and I squish my foot in and squirt out the shaving cream. It is really fun. ASMR squish crocks

Funny Sketch of Dumb Old Dad trying to wake up his kids in the morning.

I always have a hard time waking up my kids. After yelling at them several times, they finally get mad and yell at me for waking them up. You just can't win.

Katie playing tennis at the District Tennis Tournament

Katie and her partner Frank won first place in mixed doubles at the District Tennis Tournament last weekend. They qualified to go to state next week. Great Basin District Tournament.

Dumb Old Dad 10 Second Talents

I take a few minutes to show everyone that I have a few 10 second talents. Water drop, Donald Duck and Juggling.

Dumb Old Dad Learning about League of Legends

Dumb Old Dad Learning about League of Legends.  My kids play league of legends and sometimes they say things that I don't understand.  These games have their own set of words and phrases.  I, of course, also play League and enjoy the game.

First day of Juicing to Fight Cancer

I have decided to start juicing to be healthier and to fight cancer. I have been reading a book that has taught me what vegetables to juice and how to put them together. Today is my first full day of juicing and I have already learned a ton. I bought a Hamilton Beach 67601A Big Mouth Juice Extractor Electric Juicer 800 Watt Black. This is the book I've been reading, Chris Beat Cancer.

Putting empty jugs back in the fridge.

My kids do this all of the time. They put empty jugs back in the fridge. This is a little sketch I put together so show you how this usually happens.

Cringey and Sketchy

My kids use the words Cringey and Sketchy all of the time. It drives me crazy. What does Cring and Sketch, Cringey and Sketchy really mean? I don't think they even know.

Pick up your shoes!

My kids walk in the house and drop all of their stuff in the living room. This happens to me every day.

Filling Gum Jar with Easter Egg Gum

I found some gum at the dollar tree store that looks like easter eggs so I filled my jar with easter egg gum.

April Showers bring May Flowers

I tell my favorite spring time joke. April Showers Bring May Flowers.

Trying Naked Strawberry Banana Fruit Drink

My Daughter always asks to buy the Naked brand of fruit drinks. I finally try one and I love it. I love the Naked Strawberry Banana Fruit Drink.

Amazon Naked Fruit Drinks: https://amzn.to/2WwzWhK

Trying Naked Strawberry Banana Fruit Drink

My Daughter always asks to buy the Naked brand of fruit drinks. I finally try one and I love it. I love the Naked Strawberry Banana Fruit Drink.

Trump Collusion, Media Bias, Fake News, Mueller Report

In this episode of Dumb Old Dad, I break out the political commentator in me and talk about the Russia Probe, Trump Collusion, Fake News, Muller Report and Media Bias. I know I've never done a video like this before but I finally got fed up enough to comment on the deception and lies of the news media. How could they be so wrong on their reporting of the 2016 election, then turn around and be so wrong about the Mueller Report and Trump Collusion? I don't trust the news media anymore.

Purchased new darts for my dart board and dart room

I purchased Wolftop Steel Tip Darts from Amazon.  I received 15 darts and put them together.  Wolftop dart review.



Amazon: https://amzn.to/2U0vrzb

Growing my beard. Time for a Beard Update!

I'm growing out my beard for a few months. I decided to take a pictures and videos to show you how my beard has grown over time.

My first video trying the new craze of ASMR.

I purchase some plant foam and try to make an ASMR video. ASMR videos are the craze right now and focus on the soft sounds of the world around us. You will need to turn up your volume because most of the video I am whispering.

Dumb old Dads worry. Even when the kids are married or at college or st...

Dumb old Dads worry.  Even when the kids are married or at college or still at home, Dads worry.  They worry about their jobs, they worry about their kids, they worry about their kid's jobs.  In this vlog I'm awake at 4:00 am and I am worrying about stuff.

Episode 6 Organizing our Storage Room

Episode #6.  Rachael Wight walks us through all of the things she did to organize our storage room.  She has a business called GAZ Design that organizes storage rooms, closets, garages, pantries and kitchens.  Please give her a call if you would like Rachael to help you organize your spaces in your house.

Episode 4. Organizing our Storage Room

Episode 2: Organizing our Storage Room

Episode #2 of Organizing our Storage Room.

Organizing our Storage Room

My sister is visiting us for a couple of days and she is a professional organizer. She is helping us organize our storage room so we know where our stuff is and we can put it all away. If you would like to have her help you organize your storage room, closet, garage or pantry, please let me know and I'll pass along her contact information.

Breaking Icicles is so satisfying

We get a lot of icicles during the winter in Idaho so I like to break them off and smash them on the cement. So Satisfying.

Movo Smartphone Video Rig with Shotgun Microphone,

Unboxing of a Movo Smartphone Video Rig with Shotgun Microphone. I just bought this from Amazon and I put it together on this video.

Cyber Security Presentation

Volunteering to Lock Church at night

Every once in a while I volunteer to lock up our church building at night. It is just a small thing but very important. I check all of the doors to make sure they are locked.

Visiting Tame Squirrels with Daughters

I take my daughter's car down to get the oil changed and then I take my daughters to see some tame squirrels.

 

Reloading my Gum Ball Jar

My gum ball jar was getting low so I reloaded it with some more gum.

Positive notes for kids

Instead of always telling my daughter what she is doing wrong, I try and tell her something that she is doing well or is good at every day.

Paperclip Challenge to help me grow my business

I take part in a Paperclip challenge

Wack-a-Pack for Valentines Day. Wack a Pack

These Wack a Pack balloons are so much fun to play with. I wack 4 of these little packs to show you what they do. They are very cool. They would be great gifts for Valentines Day.

Christmas Tie Collection

Dumb old Dad shows you his Christmas Tie Collection.  Please don't give your Dad over 4 or 5 Christmas ties because he may not be able to wear them all in the month of December.

I cried the day that I take the tree down.

I take down our Christmas Tree and play my favorite after Christmas song called, "I cried the day I take the tree down" from the album The Forgotten Carols.  This marks the end of the Christmas season.

I receive black balloons for my birthday.

I received a bunch of black balloons for my birthday and I have a hard time fitting them into my car.

I pick up a fire truck and park it at my house.

I pick up a fire truck that has been donated to my dad's charity and I park it at my house. This is a 1979 Fire Engine.

What to do with Christmas Cards

Dumb Old Dad tells you what you can do with the Christmas Cards you get from family and friends.

Dollar Store Christmas Candy Taste Test

We picked out several candies from the dollar store and tried each one to let you know if they were good or bad.  These are Christmas candies from the Dollar Tree.

My favorite song from the Greatest Showman

This is my favorite song from the Movie The Greatest Showman. I explain in this video why I like it and the several sub plots that are going on during the song.

Gifts from my Sister's Family to help me feel happy.

My sister's family, the Gremmerts, sent me a box of gifts to try and lift my spirits after my Melanoma Cancer Surgery. I unbox the gifts and play with them with my dog Nala.

Participating in the annual Turkey Trot

Dumb old Dads stay healthy by participating in local running events. I go to the local Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. I can't "trot" very well anymore so I just hobble. I call it the Gobble Gobble Hobble.

25th Anniversary Cruise on the Carnival Conquest

My wife and I go on a 25th Year Anniversary Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on the Carnival Conquest.  We left from Fort Lauderdale, went to Nassau Bahamas, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Amber Cover DR.

Costco Signature Jacket for Dad

Join a Leads Group to grow your business

You need to join a leads group if you are trying to grow your business.

Savanna Thrifting at Salvation Army for Halloween

Savanna goes thrifting again at the Salvation Army and finds that they have put out all of their Halloween items.

Fun Video of the Week, Girls Smashing Eggs on each other

BYU's Tanner Mangum throws a pass to himself

Muxma Lapel Clip Microphone $7.00!

Deontay Wilder Knocks Out Mascot Nacion ESPN

Kasa TP-Link Smart Wi-Fi Plug setup and installation

Installing Ceiling Lights in our Basement

Installed LED flush mount ceiling lights in my basement.

My Melanoma Cancer Story Video Series #9

Halloween Inflatable Decorations for the front of my house.

Halloween Inflatable Decorations for the front of my house.

Dad Jokes

This is my life now.

Flag Prank on my Daughter

Flag Prank on my Daughter

My Melanoma Cancer Story Video Series #8

This is Video #8 of my melanoma cancer story.  To watch the previous video, please click the links below to the other videos.

BYU Cosmo's head comes off during stunt

Dumb Old Dad the Snake Charmer

Dumb Old Dad's go to Church and teach Morals and Values

Dumb Old Dad's support the local High School Teams

My Melanoma Cancer Story Video Series #7

Dumb Old Dad Fixes Sprinklers

Getting Dressed in the Morning with a little magic

9/11/01 My memories of where I was on 9/11

Car Eye Lashes Fail

Bought Used Tires for my Daughters Car

Donating and Thrifting at Salvation Army AGAIN!

My Melanoma Cancer Story Video Series #6

What Morning radio I like to listen to. 92.7 KTPZ

Mowing the back yard timelapse

Installing Eye Lashes for Savanna's Car

Dollar Tree Halloween Candy Taste Test

Cosmo Dancing with Courgarettes Roli Roli Rolex Ayo & Teo

My Melanoma Cancer Story Video Series #5

Dumb Old Dad Hacks for Christmas Gifts

Get Family Pictures Every year Dumb Old Dad

New Post

Here is a new post.

Clint

2016 Year in Review

I blog so infrequently that I am now down to about 2 blog posts per year.  One during the summer and one at the end of the year.  One of my favorite things to do at the end of the year is to post something about my Youtube Channel.  So, here we go.

Strangely enough, the most watched video from 2016 was this Jive Video of Mary Poppins Medley.  I'm guessing that the Jive performers have been watching it over and over again.  Most of the views have come from Idaho.




The second most watched video from 2016 also comes from Jive but it is their little promo video I did for them before the Jive Show.  It is a little lip sync video from the song "I feel better when I'm dancing".  It started out as a montage of random scenes from their normal life and then evolved into this fun get together of all of the jive kids in the costume room.





Even though the next video didn't get many views, it was fun to create so I'm adding this to the 2016 video list.  This video is of me and Katie going up to Pomerelle and skiing.




And finally, one of the happiest/saddest day of last year is when our son Andy entered the MTC to serve a full time mission for the LDS Church.  This is the video I took right as he was entering the MTC.  The girls and Mom were very emotional to see him go.  We were sad to see him go but we were so proud of his decision to serve.

Christmas Letter 2016

2016 has been a whirlwind for the Carter Family.  Many changes occurred and we are still trying to sort out all of it.  One of the biggest changes was that in April we moved in to Clint’s parents’ former house. While we miss seeing our friends every week from our old ward, we have loved getting to know many new friends in the new ward. The girls have loved having so many Young Women in the ward with them! We were blessed to have the 1st Ward devote so much time and service to us when we truly needed it.

 Coby has been at BYUI for a full year of school.  He returned home after the Spring Semester and won't return to school until January.  His track at BYUI is from January to July.  Once Coby arrived at home he looked for a job and found one working for Agri-Service.  He was hired temporarily to work in their IT department to help with help desk calls.  They have loved having him as an employee over the last several months.  At his last review they decided that they would like to have Coby work from Rexburg while studying at BYUI.  This is an awesome opportunity for Coby to continue to work in his field of study as he is going to school and then continue to have a full time job when he is off track.  Coby is thrilled that he can continue to work in the technology that he loves and with great people.  While Coby has been home, Coby has been involved in the college ward and has found a number of good friends to hang out with.  He has also found a girl the he gets along with really well.

Andy was called on a mission at the beginning of the year so we packed him up and shipped him off to the Omaha Nebraska Mission in January.  He has now served in 3 different states, Lincoln, Nebraska; Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The Omaha Mission covers 5 states so we expect him to serve in at least 2 more states before he is done.  The one thing Andy didn't want to do when serving a mission was to serve in an area that was really, really cold.  So, just for that, he was sent to spend the winter in South Dakota.  Andy has seen success in his mission and continues to send us very positive emails every week.  Some highlights include catching frogs, chasing away wild turkeys, tornado sightings and runaway rabbits.  Right now he has several investigators which he feels will progress to baptism so the Lord is blessing him with people to teach.  He has about one year left so we are hoping that he continues to enjoy his opportunity to serve the Lord.

Savanna has had a very busy year.  She has been to Atlanta, New York and the Dominican Republic.  She has also participated in BYU's Young Ambassador program.  She spent a week at Girls State as well.  I think she only spend about a week and a half at home all summer.  While in the Dominican Republic, Savanna actually visited one of last remaining leper colonies in the world.  Wow, what an experience.  She is a senior this year so she is very busy.  She has a job and performs in Jive and has returned to clogging.  She is getting ready to go off to college next fall. She just finished her college applications so now we just have to wait to see if she is accepted.  We aren't sure where she will go, but she feels ready to leave the nest.

Katie has been enjoying her time at the High School. She made the 9th grade volleyball team and started most of the games.  At the end of the season she tried out for a club volleyball team and will be playing with girls a year older than her.  She has definitely found her sport.  Next year she will try out for the tennis team so wish her luck.  Katie was getting strep throat every few months so a few weeks ago we had her tonsils removed. She is still recovering from this surgery but seems to be getting better and better each day.  She can now swollow solid foods so the hard part is over.

Deanna has been trying to keep up with all of her children. She is in her 11th year teaching kindergarten at Sawtooth Elementary.  She had an opportunity to move to a brand new school but she didn't want to leave her teaching partner so she stayed where she was.  She really loves what she does and loves the little 5 year olds that she teaches.  She can't go very far in Twin Falls without a little kid running up to her and hugging her legs.

Clint was diagnosed with melanoma in March of 2016.  Our lives turned upside down and we had to re-prioritize everything.  The ripple effect of this diagnosis was huge and affected everyone in our family.  Clint had to go through a couple of surgeries at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake and was unable to get around for quite a while. He does have an awesome scar on the back of his calf that he likes to claim is a shark bite to show for it! During this very hard time, we could see the Lord's hand in our lives.  The Lord had prepared us for this trial and had given us several tender mercies to help us get through the difficulties.  After the surgeries, we were blessed to receive the news that the melanoma had been removed and Clint was now considered cancer free.  He is participating in a clinical trial of a cancer drug and continues to have CT scans every 3 months to make sure that the cancer does not come back.  So far each CT scan has come back clean.  He is recovering very well from the surgeries and is happy to be alive with a very promising future.  We are so thankful to all of the friends and family that fasted and prayed for him and our family and helped us out in so many ways. We can never repay all of the many kindnesses that were shown to us and support and help that was given to us during that time.  

It is clear that the Lord has watched over and protected our family.  He has guided us along a path that has blessed our lives and made it possible to weather the storms of adversity.  We are so grateful for His guiding hand in our lives and we join with you to celebrate his birth during the Christmas Season.



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Carter Family.

Clint, Deanna, Coby, Andy, Savanna and Katie

First Half 2016

The first half of 2016 has been a wild ride.  To make is short, I took a new job with PMT as a technical sales person.  My official title is Account Manager but I really am tasked with the job of finding new sales opportunities.  I have been blessed to have been let to this job.  It is helped our family in more ways than one.

In March I went to see the dermatologist about a spot on my calf.  It turned out to be Melanoma Skin Cancer.  My world changed at that point and a process was started.  I was referred to the Huntsman Center where I underwent 2 surgeries to try and catch the cancer before it had spread too far.  With the faith of family and friends, after the second surgery I was considered cancer free.  I simply had to heal from the surgeries and go on with life.  I am currently participating in a clinical trial of a drug that possibly would fight off melanoma.  So, every 2 weeks I go to the Huntsman Center and undergo shots and blood work.  Not a big deal.

Savanna has had a summer of travel and fun.  She has been to Girls State, Key Club Convention in Atlanta Georgia, Girls Camp, YASE camp at BYU and a High Adventure Camp.  I think she is happy to be home for a while.

Katie has been working on her Volleyball skills by attending a few camps this summer.  She is excited to become a 9th grader at Twin Falls High School but she is a little worried that the classes might be too hard.  She has also started Drivers Ed.  Yikes, she will be driving us around soon.  I'm sure she will be great.

Andy left on a mission in January.  He was called to the Nebraska Omaha mission.  He has been serving in Lincoln for the past few months and recently was transferred to Council Bluffs Iowa.  He was asked to be a trainer of a new missionary.  He was also asked to "white wash" the area so he has triple duty.  New area, New companion, senior companion.  That is a lot to take on all at once.  I hope he isn't overwhelmed.  He seems to be doing well and he seems to be loving the work.

Coby finished off his first year at BYUI.  He had school from August of 2015 till July of 2016.  He was studying electrical engineering but has really liked his programming classes so he has switched to computer programming.  He enjoys what he is doing and learning.  He is now home for the summer and has found 2 jobs.  One is working for a local Physical Therapist that needs his help creating and editing and organizing medical forms.  He has a second job working for Agri-Service where he will be working in the IT department as a help desk tech.  This is right down his ally.  He should get tons of hours and have enough money to get back into school starting January 2017.

Deanna has been driving Clint back and forth to Salt Lake City the last few months for his surgeries and follow up visits.  She is totally sick of the drive but has been a trooper to help Clint though this very difficult time.  She has also kept working as a Kindergarten Teacher.  She even kept her job teaching summer school for some extra money.

I almost forgot, with all of this going on over the last 6 months, we also moved out of our house on Chase Drive and got it ready to put on the market.  It has been for sale for a couple of months now but has not been sold.  We now living in my parents house at 526 Monte Vista.  The girls love it here and are happy for the move.  We are also in the 1st ward now and enjoy a full ward.  We have been blessed beyond measure even though we have had some hard times.  I am currently working on a story about what has happened during my "cancer" months to let everyone know the blessings we have received even though I did have cancer.  The Lord was watching out for us and had put all of the pieces in place for us to help us survive.  There is no doubt in my mind that we had divine intervention in multiple times in multiple locations.

I am teaching a seminary class today about family history.  I hadn't posted something here for quite a while so I thought I would update it.  I do consider this a little bit of family history.  Someday a grand kid or great grand kid will look this up and say, "I didn't know grandpa had cancer"!  What is cancer anyway?  Hahahah, it will probably be a non issue at the point in the history of the world.

Christmas Letter 2015

This year has been crazy, fun, exciting, busy, relaxing and stressful.  

To start out, we had a graduating senior, a return missionary, 2 college students, Jive performances, volleyball matches, State Tennis Tournament, a trip to Disneyland, a service project in Mexico and, wait for it, wait for it….. A trip to Hawaii!!!

Andy had a very eventful year this year.  He practiced tennis almost all of last year with his doubles partner with the goal of going to state and with the possibility of winning state.  After going undefeated in district play, he and his partner were ranked #2 in the State Tournament.  We were all on pins and needles during each match of the Tournament and watched all of the other teams to see how good they were.  After the first round, we could tell that it was going to be close but that Andy and Matt had a really good chance of winning.  After several more matches, they reached the finals and played a doubles team from Caldwell.  In two short sets, Andy and Matt became the Champions in 4A Men's Doubles Tennis!!  Andy had a busy year performing in Jive and preparing for Graduation.  He walked across the stage and received his diploma while we held up a huge banner stating, “#AndyDidIt”.  Andy also was accepted into BYUI and has been attending the fall semester.  Andy received his mission call just a couple of weeks ago. He was called to serve in the Nebraska, Omaha Mission.  He reports to the MTC January 20th.  We are very excited for him and we have heard wonderful things about his mission already.

Our long lost son has returned from his LDS Mission in Tijuana Mexico.  Deanna and Clint went down to Mexico to pick him up and get to know his areas and some of the people he worked with while serving. We had an AWESOME time with Coby while we traveled around Tijuana, Ensenada and Primo Tapia.  It was so great to see all of the people he served and taught.  It was cool to see the places he lived in and the companions he had.  Once Coby returned home, he worked as hard as he could to earn enough money for college.  He, like his brother, attended the fall semester at BYU Idaho.  In fact, they were roommates.  I think they have both enjoyed being together over these last few months.  

Savanna has entered her Junior year in High School.  She is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and is planning for what happens next in life.  She has taken on several things this year which is normal for a Junior.  She made the performance choir, Jive, again.  She is also the Key Club President and she has started a new job working as a file clerk in the judicial building of the county clerk’s office.  She is enjoying the fact that she has money and can spend it any way she wants.  She is planning on playing Tennis again this year with the hopes of playing on the varsity team.  Last year she played in the Capital Invitational Tennis Tournament in Boise and took 4th place in Girls 3rd Singles.

Katie played volleyball this last year and has done very well.  She is probably one of the top five players in her 8th grade class.  They split her team into two different teams so when she gets to High School, I think she will shine.  Katie is in 8th grade this year and is looking forward to going to High School next fall.  She has grown up quite a bit this year and is measuring every day to see if she is taller than her Dad.  I’m going to have to start sporting some elevator shoes just to keep my pride and height in tact.

Clint has been working with Integrated Technologies this year and has done very well.  However he will be starting a new job at a new company in January called PMT (Project Mutual Telephone).  He will still be in technical sales but will have new responsibilities and new products to sell.  PMT is a much larger company with better benefits and better support.  He is excited for this new adventure but sad to leave some of his friends at Integrated Technologies.  Clint has been very involved with the lives of his kids and enjoyed all of the trips and activities with everyone this last year..

Deanna has been busy keeping everyone together, everyone busy and keeping all of the schedules synchronized.  Deanna is still working at Sawtooth Elementary as a Kindergarten teacher.  She loves her job and enjoys the little 5 year old students.  Deanna is very active in the School District and serves on many committees.  This last year she won a grant to bring ipad mini’s into her classroom.  They have been a huge success and the kids love it.

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Clint, Deanna, Coby, Andy, Savanna and Katie

Music From My Mother

MUSIC

I was sitting in the living room of Melinda’s house recently listening to Tara play on their beautiful grand piano.  I started to think about how grateful I was that we had such beautiful music in our family.  Thomas, Will, Tara, Megan and Luke all have taken piano lessons and several have been in band playing various instruments.  In Clint’s family Coby and Andy play the piano, with Katie and Savanna still taking lessons.  Coby, Andy and Savanna are singers and have performed with Jive, a high school specialty music group.  In Rachael’s family all the kids can play the piano with Samantha playing the flute very well.  Tiffany’s family are taking piano lesson right now and Analee’s daughter is just beginning.

Where did this all come from?  Let me tell you the story.

When I was quite young we had an old piano in the house.  I remember Van playing lots of popular music on it.  I don’t remember who he took lessons from.  But by the time I was about 8, Leon, Lynn and I began taking piano lessons from Mary Abrams in West Point.  She was very patient with us and I looked forward to going to her small house up a long lane in the west most part of West Point.  She was a widow lady and I think her living came from the lessons.  Most kids in the area took lessons from her.

Lynn and Leon stopped lessons some time when they were in the early teens, but I kept taking for quite a while.  We would have recitals at the church each year and half of the ward turned out to hear our memorized pieces.

As I went to Jr. High I began taking lessons with a man in Ogden named Wayne Devereaux.  He was a wonderful musician and brought me along in my abilities. The lessons were given at the old Ogden Tabernacle. It was a big deal to drive from West Point to Ogden and I know my parents sacrificed to allow me to study with him.  He assigned much more difficult exercises and introduced me into concertos and much more difficult music.  But alas, after a couple of years I got lazy in my practicing and didn’t progress as I should.  Finally, I just stopped going.  

My mother especially encouraged me to play the piano.  I’m sure much hard earned money went to see that we had the opportunity in music.  I didn’t appreciate that at the time and wasted the opportunity that was given me.  

Mom and Dad tried to help the boys as they got to the end of their high school years by giving them a car.  It certainly wasn’t new but they took great pride in them.  I didn’t get a car.  My parents decided to take that money and give me a piano.  Little did they know at the time the great blessing and joy that would bring to me in the years ahead.  Many times my mother commented that it was only a few years and the cars they bought the boys were sold and gone.  But the piano they invested in for me has not yet stopped yielding me and my family much musical joy.

I learned to love music and loved not only playing classical pieces but many popular song and pieces.  When we lived in Chicago I gave a few piano lessons to the children of some friends, the Nelsons.  When we moved to Buhl, I continued giving a few lessons.  That’s when I would sometimes sit at the piano and teach my little Melinda a few notes and songs.

After we moved to Twin Falls and the children grew old enough to play, we started what seemed like a never-ending string of piano lessons, oboe lessons, trumpet lessons and drum lessons.  One of the first teachers was Jane Lebowitz.  She was an elderly lady who smoked like a trooper.  But she really was great in teaching basic beginning piano.  Later I drove the kids to Filer to take lessons from Mrs. Garrish.  She was great as well.  All the kids would go in a pile and have to wait while the others took their lessons.  We would pass the time reading and sometimes take walks around their country home.  In the spring we would take our paper bags and gather asparagus while we waited.  

As the kids got older we heard of another teacher right in Twin Falls.  Her name was Teala Balini Percin.  She and her mother were very accomplished pianists and had a great reputation.  So off we went to her house.  She also was particular about the skills and music.  She brought the kids to a much higher level of performance.

It was while we were studying with her that we started participating in not only piano recitals but in music festivals.  Festivals were where you played privately before some judges and they critiqued your skills and performance.  The goal was to get a “Superior”.   After so many “Superior” performances you were given a gold cup. That was the goal of each of the children to achieve that accomplishment.  They all did quite well.

I think Melinda really loved music and because of her piano, was chosen to participate in Madrigals.  At the time, this high school singing group was very popular and they really had some fun opportunities to perform in the community.  Melinda played the piano.  Her musical abilities grew so much with this experience.

Unfortunately, the first child to want to drop out of piano was Blake.  He really struggled to hear the notes or feel the rhythm.  Huge mistake!!!  I let him quit. He wanted to play drums so we bought drums and he had drum lessons.  It wasn’t long before Rachael and Clint were too involved with other activities, mostly sports, and they wanted to quit.  Big mistake!!  I let them quit.  I can’t really remember why I let that happen, maybe because with six children it involved a lot of extra running around.  I don’t really know.  But I really missed the boat with that.  Tiffany and Analee were still taking but soon Tiffany stopped practicing and soon quit going to lessons.  

I started to wise up with Analee.  Even when she was in high school and really involved in sports, I made her continue with lessons.  I told her that I didn’t care if she practiced but I wanted her to continue lessons.  I had a vision I guess, that warned me that she would need this skill in the future and would bless the wards she would be in because she could play the piano.

When I met Gordon, one of the talents that I really appreciated with him was his singing voice.  He sung in concert choir at BYU and had been chosen for a special quartet in his mission.  They called themselves the Mormon Sons.  He had played the trumpet in high school and even had his own dance band.  He played the guitar and sang the ballads that his dad had loved and played.  He has always enjoyed the participation of our family as we have sung together.  Our favorite ballad is Old Folks, Young Folks!  It always brings a smile as we sing about the Bible Stories.

I guess somewhere in the back of my mind I wanted the children all to be great pianists.  I took them to concerts and tried to have good music in our home.  But in the end, most of them were average or a little above in their abilities.  A lot of that was because I wasn’t very strict in making them practice as they should.  But some of it was their choices and abilities.

HOWEVER, I have realized that all that time and money and effort was not lost.  Each family has a love for music and appreciate the abilities of others.  Some like Clint, have branched out and developed their singing talent.  Blake, Clint and Analee have picked up the guitar and have a good time with that instrument.  Rachael and Melinda and Analee have participated in small singing groups in their wards.  Tiffany bought a piano and began teaching a few students and now helps with her children.  Analee did the same.

In each home there is music.  Tara Sant is amazing.  She is writing her own music and it is beautiful.  She has a touch on the piano that is a real gift. Tom and Will are great on the piano as well.   Samantha Wight has a gift with the flute.  Savanna not only clogs but has seen a real opportunity as a performer in Jive. Coby and Andy play the piano well and also are such good singers. 

So Mom and Dad Blake, I thank you!  After all these years I really appreciate what you have given my family.  It is a legacy of joy for us all.