Monday, April 22, 2013

tamme mathews...

Sounds like an exciting time for you Rosi.  It's a new adventure in life you are about to embark on.  We are rooting for you in Texas and know you'll be missed at MVHS.  But I am sure you will find fun new things to do.  

We just celebrated Kloey's 10th birthday.  I can't believe she is ten.  On Saturday Kole will be one.  This one blows me away, because the year has just flown by.  He is walking everywhere now and purses his lips in an "O" as he walks around.  Next week Sadee and Gali will have their birthdays and they are so excited.  Kael will be turning 8 and getting baptized soon.  He keeps asking for a dog or an ipod.  

Ben and I are truckin' along.  We just painted the cabinets in the living a bold blue color.  It's fun to try new things.  

We love and miss you all.  Hope your Spring is full of color and beauty.

Love the Texas Mathews

Rosi for Easter...


Happy Easter, Everyone!!!!   

Dad and I certainly hope that the sun is out in your part of the country...   whether that means literally or rather a "sunny (happy) day" or both.  

Petal ( BECKY'S cat) has forced her way on to my lap and is kneading my legs and rubbing her top coat under my elbows. Her "purr" is rumbling.   If I make a mistake I shall blame it on Petal.  She has been lonely these past two weeks and I will explain why.

Big Bill completed his road trip last night.   He had spent 13 happy days away and has been with friends in Reno, Marlies+ in Las Vegas and the Frus' in Albuquerque.  He is a tired Papa but came home with a big smile on his face.  He had a grand time.  Thanks to you who took such good care of him.  Our family and friends are his whole life.

Meantime, Mama Rosi has also been spending time away.  I have had monster big days at work, sometimes not getting done until 9 pm.  So some nights I spent at Dixie's, some at home and a couple at Luke's house. Developments at my work have been hard but satisfying.  I will explain.

Retirement has been looming in my face.  Two days this past week were devoted to finding a replacement for me.  My student teacher will be assuming the reins at MVHS Choir.  I had contacted BYU last spring to see if there would be a strong candidate who would need to do their student teaching this year.  Dr. Broomhead, my former colleague at the Y assured me that Brett Taylor was one of the three best choral students to go through BYU during his tenure.  I have worked with him now since January and I really think he is special.   About 20 people applied for the position, 5 were called in for an interview and 3 called back to do some teaching for us to observe.  There were about nine of us on the selection committee.  

I continue to pray that my heart strings which are attached to MVHS will sever and that Dad and I will be able to be healthy emotionally, physically and financially as I leave this era of my life.  It is no fun to think about getting old and that is the twin to my retirement.  I have appreciated your words of encouragement and hope that I won't fall into wrack and ruin and disuse as I retire.  I am getting stronger inside about it all and am hopeful that I can do as I tell my students "Buck up, Betty"..

Now I am trying to avoid feeling like a lame duck and so far I am successful.  They won't announce his appointment until after we get back from N.Y. on April 15th.  

Spring break begins tomorrow.  Dad and I are planning to drive up to Deb and Nick's house to help them pack for their move to Colorado.    I encouraged Nick to let me write a letter of recommendation to GE for him.  I can't imagine why he didn't follow through on that.  I would have made sure they stayed in Logan.  Irregardless, we wish them the best in this new adventure.  Moving IS an adventure.  I have had a few experiences and it is exciting.  

We are planning to go to the temple on Thursday morning with Luke and Amy to complete the temple sealing for the Mathews' grandparents..   Woody and Lorraine to Bill.  I completed Lorraine's endowment work in December.  We had neglected that.  Now it is up to them if they want to accept it.  Isn't  it interesting how much of life and eternity is left up to the individual involved.  At school, I tell my kids that they have to learn to manage themselves.  No one else can do it for them.  In the end, the responsibility rests on ME or YOU.   

I am still working with the University of Utah in behalf of the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices.  The challenge right now is to secure a performance hall for our concert.   The dates for the Institute this summer are June 23-July 13th.  This is our 7th year.  I have a meeting with those folks on Wednesday as we return from Logan.

School starts up again on Monday, April 8th and then we leave for New York at 11:30 pm (yep. midnight...we will fly through the night.) on April 9th.  We will be there from April 9-14.  Our date at Carnegie is all day on Saturday the 13th.  Along with other songs, we are singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".  I feel this is a great choice as we will carry the spirit of our beliefs.  Our performance has the potential to really be a moving and magnificent experience..  I have had Prof. David Weiller in from Las Vegas (UNLV) this past week.  I contracted with him way last spring and he came in Sunday and worked until Friday.  He is a grand gentleman who was very helpful.  We set up experiences for him at 3 other high schools but he spent almost 2 days at MVHS.  He really helped us to tweak our songs.   There are about 145 students and 52 chaperones going on tour.   Almost 200 people.  Can you believe it?   I barely can.   We have GREAT tour parents who have managed the whole thing.  They are determined to celebrate my retirement at Carnegie Hall.  They plan to recognize me during our performance there...but I said NO.   (It would be embarrassing as folks back there have no idea who Rosi Mathews is. We are told that the Hall is almost totally sold out). But, it is clear that no one is listening to my NO.   What a deal.  It is exciting.

Marlies, I asked David Weiller if he might be interested in having his choir perform at your big fundraising event for Boys Town.  I told him that I would speak with you.  He says that his students are encouraged to do service and that it might work out if you are interested.  Please advise.

Jill, you and your new little boy, are in our thoughts and prayers.  What an exciting prospect...   to meet another beautiful little spirit.  Zoey is a real sweetheart.  Ask her Daddy, Nick O; he is smitten.   I can see Tim in the same state.

Wish that I could romp in the blue bonnets in Texas with the grandchildren down there.  However, Tamme says they have rain this Easter day. So, I will pass.

Our spring concert is May 15th.  I would love to have you come if you can...   drop on by.  It will be my last hurrah!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS APRIL TO:   Kole, 4/6; Woody, 4/2; Rosi, 4/7; Sadee, 4/11; Galilee, 4/12; Adam, 4/13; Lorraine, 4/19; Kael, 4/22; Tim, 4/30.
Wow, did I leave anyone out?

Love you

Grandma Rosi Mathews  

sent by rosi mathews

Hi Everyone,

After a year and a half of planning
and years of dreaming, our Carnegie Hall Experience
Went better than we could ever have ever thought possible.

Carnegie Hall is very beautiful, and the acoustics were incredible.

There were 3 sets of choirs, of about 300 students each.
MV was in the final choir set to sing.

There were 7 tier risers, they were filled so the only room
for mountain view as standing in front of the risers up front. Which
at the end for the finale song put MV right in the middle center stage
of over 1000 student singers.

When we get the archival video of it, you will see what we mean.

There were individual songs from the choirs then their were songs
sung with the combined choirs.

MVHS ended up being the Last Choir to sing on their own before the 
final 2 combined numbers.  Our Con Brio Stood and sang a beautiful
song "Lift Thine Eyes".  They made us very proud.
Then the whole choir stood and sang "Come 
Thou Fount of Every Blessing" - The women sang heavenly and the 
men came in with power - topping it off with the most phenomenal
ending,  Rosemary pulled every ounce of singing power out of every
student, then she pulled out even more to sing the strongest ending 
that we have ever heard out of our choir.  
It was masterful, powerful and spiritually stirring.

Of course the Chaperones could not help ourselves but to give the  
first standing ovation to any choir.  There were some who joined us
as well.

Then Principle Edmans, who has been on tour with us and has 
been a wonderful support and very active with this tour, came out
on stage.  He began to tell the Crowd some wonderful things 
about working with Rosemary and about the lives she has touched,
Trying to hold back the emotions, he told the Nearly sold out 
Carnegie Hall Audience that Rosemary is Retiring next month
and we wanted to thank her.  There was an audible "Ohhh" from
the Crowd.  Rosemary was then presented with a 14 inch tall
beautiful Pure Cristal Trophy, Thanking her for the years of 
service and lives she has touched over the years.

Once presented, Everyone in the house at Carnegie hall gave 
Rosi a Loud and Enthusiastic Standing Ovation.

Like we said it was better than we could have dreamed.
The Choir was perfect, they looked perfect, they sang perfect
and Rosemary was honored with a standing ovation in the 
world's most well know auditorium for the arts.

As we looked onto the stage through our tear filled eyes
Rosi and Principle Edmans walked off the stage.

The plaque is beautiful, and here is what it says:

 "In Honor of Rosemary Mathews for her dedicated
Service to Mountain View High School, May her love
of Music live long in the hearts of her students.

Presented at Carnegie Hall, New York City
April 13, 2013

'Never get Tired, of being something Special' "


We'd like to thank you parents for helping this become 
a Reality.  We'd like to say we love all our Chaperones
and the wonderful help they have given us, And we'd like 
to say thanks to the reason that motivates us so much,
Our Choir students.  Hearing them sing in these great 
places is the fuel for our passion.  We love it.  We would
also like to thank Rosi, for the personal friend she is to all
 of us.  

We will see you soon.

Here is the Flight Information:
Delta Flight #6 Arrives at 7:22pm
Jet Blue Flight #87 Arrives at 10:30
*Sky miles people - Many are coming on Delta Flight #6 Arrives at 10:35

Thanks, 


DJ & Sherri Judkins
Tour Maw & Paw