GRACENOTE

Friday, February 26, 2010

Earl and family

Earl Felix and Savannah Stiers - 1927

Diana and family visited us in Florida

We visited in Mt Healthy 1997

Mr and Mrs Earl Stanley Stiers - June 28, 1958

in Memorium

Earl Stanley Stiers (1933-1997)

Beloved Husband, Father, Policeman, Houseparent

He loved God, his family and friends, and the children.

They loved him back.

We are better because he lived and worked among us,

and God was glorified.

- from "Thornwell Life" Spring 1998

Pictures of Chris and family

Chris and Nathalie met at Barry University. They were married in a civil ceremony on a Friday afternoon and then blessed on Saturday, August 14,1993 in St. Maartin of Tours Catholic Church .

Mimi and Nathalie's two sisters, Natasha and Nicole were bridesmaids

Nicholas Alexander Earl Stiers was born September 18, 1997

Krista Marie Louise Stiers was born September 27, 2000

After living in Coral Springs, Florida for several years, they moved to Tennessee. Chris and Nathalie built a beautiful home outside Nashville.

First Communion May 4, 2008

WINTER 2010

Mimi and I graduated from Barry University on the same day. I received a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and Mimi, a Batchlor of Science in Criminal Justice. Her son TK (short for Taylor Kristian) was born her last year at Barry. Mimi went on to become a police officer for Miami Beach Police Department. Only 5' 2" her classmates of 6' 7" towered over her!

Mimi married Colin Pfrogner in a private service at Davie United Methodist Church on December 29, 2002, however, they celebrated in a traditional service atop the "Top of the World" tower in Las Vegas on January 19, 2003. TK provided the music and walked his mother down the aisle. Nicholas, Chris's son, was the ringbearer.

Mimi and Colin have two boys, Jaxon and Oliver. TK is now attending the United States Naval Academy.

Jaxon and Oliver with Santa taken Christmas 2008

MIDN TAYLOR CALIBO

Friday, October 2, 2009

Smoky Mountains National Park

I have been watching the special on PBS about our National Parks. It has brought back so many wonderful memories. I have visited almost every one of the parks this show has pictured and described. Now knowing the background of how certain individuals fought so hard to preserve their beauty for common folk like me, I am so eternally grateful.

I have camped in Alaska and up the eastern coast of Canada, to Labrador. Although I delight in the beauty of our western National Parks, my heart lies in the Appalachian Mountains. I grew up on camping vacations in all parts of our country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. However, the most memorable as a child, were in the Smoky Mountains when the town of Gatlinburg was only a General Store/Post Office/Gas Station. Later, after I married, I introduced my husband, Earl, to camping and we spent many relaxing weekends in the Smokies, before we had a family. Even camping there, along with my parents, on New Year Eve, in a tent pitched upon 16 inches of snow. Then, we spent quite a few busy days or weeks there as our kids were growing up. Together our family splashed in the cold, clear streams and hiked trails back to pristine waterfalls. We viewed our beloved mountains, dotted with white and pink azaleas in the spring, clothed in an emerald haze in the summer, and turning bright red, orange, and yellow by the autumn chill. After all the children were grown and it was just the two of us again, we would return, to spend our nights under the twinkling stars. We never lost the thrill and awe that the hazy, blue mountains cast upon us. After Earl's death, I joined a small group of women friends and hiked a small part of the Appalachian Trail. This is something I had always wanted to do. The timing was perfect, for in the beauty of the mountain meadows and streams, a loving God, soothed away my tears, touched my broken heart and renewed my soul.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Music

With vacation over. I now turn my thoughts to music. Preparing to teach new students to play piano. I have ten students this year. Six older students returning from last year and four new students, who have all the enthusiasm that first graders muster! It is pure joy to watch little fingers take their first steps on the keyboard.

However, my real passion is handbells. I direct a group at my church called "Balcony Bells." An appropriate name, as we rehearse and usually play from the balcony at the back of the sanctuary. Handbells are instruments that not only sound beautiful, but are fun to watch being played, especially with a choir that uses techniques, such as martellatos (hitting the bell on a foam topped table) gyro (twisting the wrist) tolling (swinging the bell at arm's length) or playing the bells with mallets. Sometimes we do play down in front or walk through the sanctuary in a procession. My choir is a fantastic mix of 14 people, ranging in age from 12 to older than me! We were out for vacation for three months and I really missed them.

I was told by a very dear friend and mentor, that bells represent "freedom." I was, at that time, coming out of an emotional prison. My friend thought that for me, bells were a true release of the one I was meant to become. This was well over twenty-five years ago, and I still think about it when I pick up a bell.

A bell has only one sound, albeit, one of a perfect pitch. Yet singular and separate notes can make one melodious chord and these chords strung together can create a smorgasbord of sound, from deep rumbling thunder to whispering butterfly wings, from harmonious waves of rippling giggles to precise marching cadence. They can also be dissident, chaotic, and disturbing to behold. It's all up to the hands of the ringer. In the same way, I am one soul completely unique from all others, perfectly made by my creator. I have the freedom to behave as I wish, or choose to put myself into the hands of a loving God. Under His control, I pray, my life will respond to His voice and fulfill His will. It is my hope that my actions will echo His kindness and mercy. That when life shakes and thumps me, that I will draw closer to Him, where He will quiet the clamor with the comfort of His love.