Every 18 Months

Daughter, Angela and baby Sutton

Every 18 months a small team of us living here in the Irvine Stake organize, write, direct and cast a production that involves a bit of acting, tons of singing, and a dance or two. The committee is Robin Utley (stake music director), Linda Simmons (choreographer), myself and creative people to include Bret Simmons (pianist), and Jared Scott (tech). We have been permanently installed as this production committee. It all started in 2006 with Lights On Broadway 2006. I enlisted Cooper to create the name and logo, and because of my huge inventory of musical scores and backing tracks, we were able to create some exciting productions. It has been fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owReY1yNCV8
We have tried to mix it up a bit with a fun, light musical review-type program with spiritual - every other year. Our biggest production (expenses-wise) was the production from Salt Lake City, Utah called "Savior of the World." Our stake did an incredible job with an amazing piece. This production was the collaboration of talented Church Music Committee people and the Twelve Apostles. With their combined efforts, the production was spiritual for all involved, and many  lives were touched. I loved directing the 121 angel choir, and Angela sang the role of Mary Magdalene. Some nights I was so involved with listening to her sing that I almost forgot to bring the choir numbers in. I would tear up every night, especially when the birth of Christ was depicted and the angels were singing "Glory to God!" 

LOB 2008

This year we have been asked to take on the usual light, fun musical review-type production to start rehearsals September 10th. However, our assignment this time is to have some sort of theme -leaving the audience with an uplifting message. This has been a personal struggle because I was very much looking forward to doing another Lights On Broadway 2011. Definitely a labor of love due to having to coordinate everything from song selections to scripting with a team. Talented people definitely are strong with their opinions - in a good way because we are all members of the church - but that is the way with artists. It will still be a fun show, and friendships will be made, nerves frazzled, but what I will miss most is the chance to work side-by-side with Angela. Angela has always directed the youth - YM/YW. She has moved to Utah with her family. So those moments we had together in 2006 and 2008, and of course, Savior of the World, will be treasured and thought of often. I'm glad we recorded those two shows because it just won't be the same this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfI6ii2janc&feature=grec_index

GROWING UP

Madison,  August 2011

I can't believe my granddaughter, Madison has just started 3rd grade. I was there with her birth, and it seems like yesterday. For that matter, it seems like yesterday when my own five children were starting school. I loved dressing them up, combing their hair, making their lunches, and getting all emotional when each of the five children started kindergarten. Those days flew by. Suddenly it was graduation from high school, then off to college, missions, marriage. Where did the time go? When I finally get a breather from work, voice students and church callings, I'm going to scan all of these pictures I have framed, in folders, Tupperware containers and scrapbooks, and create books for the kids. They need to see each other growing up - as I saw them. Perfect, beautiful spirits with different personalities all striving to be the best at everything they did. From singing to sports, they all shined. And I was the proudest mom in Irvine - that's for sure. 

Zoey (5) Kelli Jo (7) August, 2011

Zoey and Kelli Jo pictured here going to school in Utah for a month, while they await Beckham's passport, then they are off for another world-wide adventure to Poland. Kelli Jo has learned so many languages. Lesa told me that she was communicating beautifully with her school friends there in both Turkey and Poland. Kids are that way...so able to adapt and pick up languages - and for that matter, make friends so easily. We all need to learn something from that as adults. What? To adapt and be happy - no matter where we are.

I'm struggling here with placing my pictures, so I'll finish up and add a few more. My favorite is a picture with all of the grandkids this summer in Utah, July 2011. You can tell that I adore my grandkids and kids - and miss them terribly. I just may have to move back to Utah to be closer to them. Although... I hate winter weather. Love living here in California, or as my East Coast friends call it... La La Land. And, I think they are right. 

Chamberlain (5) August 2011 - ready for Kindergarten!

My fabulous 15 grandkids! Madison, Kelli Jo, Nolan, Adelaide, Oliver, Calvin, Chamberlain,
Brooklyn, Jane, Joshlyn, Ava,  Zoey, Jacquelynn, Sutton... (missing...Beckham now 2 weeks old)

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!

Sandi and Ken, July 2011

I was reading through lots of LDS quotes focusing on family, and my favorite is still "Families are Forever." That gets you through challenges along the way to "forever" for sure. This summer was my favorite summer of all time because my family all came together in Utah. Cousins meeting cousins for the first time, siblings hugging siblings for the first time in six year in some cases, and it was beautiful. Thank you to cute Lesa for arranging family pictures in a beautiful setting there in Bountiful, Utah. I still remember sitting there looking at all of the children and their families dressed alike - yellow, green, blue - and realizing how blessed I am to have been given these beautiful children and grandchildren in this life to raise and love. What joy they have brought me. 

Joshua, Chris, Angela, David, Ben, Sandi, Ken

The last picture I have hanging here in my office on the wall has all of my children with one married - Ben with wife Cooper holding baby Adelaide. That's how long it's been since we all got together for pictures - officially, other than for weddings. But most of the wedding pictures are missing someone, that's why these pictures are so special to me. Even my mom was there, so I had to have a couple of pictures taken with her and her great grandchildren. At 83, this picture will be cherished by all those in the picture.

Grandma Clayton and her Great Grandchildren

I'm not sure how to align these side-by-side. I need Cooper to do that. Cooper coordinated the color schemes and it worked beautifully. It's so wonderful having a family artist around who can bring her expertise into everything, including keeping my Burgess Biz website looking sharp. Thanks Cooper!

Generational Photo :-)

July 2011 will be treasured in our thoughts, our communications with all of the children's incredible family blogs, which I love reading. And now these special pictures. I posted a few on Facebook and my friends loved them. I think many live vicariously through me with my children and grandchildren. Missing in action...new baby boy Beckham Christopher Burgess. But I blogged on him in the previous post. Maybe next summer we'll do this again? Hope so. We just have to get Ben and Cooper to drive out again from State College, PA. Long drive, but so worth it to be together as a family. 

All Five Kids, Four Spouses, 15 Grandkids!

Uncle David!

Our 15 fabulous grandkids!

Grandchildren are Perfect!

Grandma Burgess and baby Beckham

Ask any grandparent and they will tell you that there's nothing better than grandchildren. No question that we adore our children, but grandchildren are beyond perfect in every way. As soon as the car door opens when visiting one of my children's homes, out runs the grandchildren yelling at the top of their voices, "grandma, grandma, grandma!" This is followed by knock-the-wind-out-of-you body slams of hugs, kisses and giggles. And it's impossible to ever scold these adorable little angels, even when fingerprints seem to appear everywhere and on everything after they come to visit, or how many paper doll and puzzle pieces are later discovered hiding under cushions, couches and cabinets. "Oh that's where that piece disappeared to." With smiles, once they have left, we remember the snuggles, and with a little sadness, we realize our home is just too quiet and uncluttered without them around.

Siri's "1st" birthday, August 28, 2011

On July 28th I was on my way to celebrate Siri's 1st birthday and to attend the Burgess Bash (reunion) in Alpine, Utah on the 30th. As I arrived at the Long Beach airport I received several text messages from my son, Chris, telling me that his wife Lesa was in the hospital in labor. I was surprised because she wasn't due until August 9th and the doctor was inducing her on August 3rd. For this reason I had even extended my visit through August 5th so I could see the new baby. By the time I landed in Salt Lake City, Lesa had delivered a beautiful baby boy - Beckham Christopher Burgess at 8 lbs 3 ounces! How exciting for Grandma Burgess (me) to arrive on the day of the birth. I was thrilled. What a blessing to be there to hold that new baby boy who had just left the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Beckham Christopher Burgess

Years ago a single friend of mine who lives in New York as a conductor (of Peter Pan on Broadway with Sandy Duncan), made a candid comment to me about my children. She said, "you are surrounded by lots of little love pillows." She had just come to visit me in California and witnessed my "little love pillows" (as she called them) as all of my children came running to the car as I drove up yelling "mom, mom", followed by hugs, kisses and lots of excited chattering. And now with this last visit to Utah, I thought of my children when they were young, and now with a smile, I'm seeing the same love, hugs, kisses and excited chattering from my grandchildren. It's pure joy, the kind of joy that lasts forever in our hearts. I love these moments. They make life worth living, and we, as parents and grandparents, realize this is what life is really all about.

As I was leaving my last visit at Chris and Lesa's home in Bountiful, the girls said, "grandma come see Beckham. He looks like a caterpillar!" Of course, I had to check this out. So, I quietly walked into the room and there was handsome Beckham tightly snuggled up in his receiving blanket asleep. Yes, he did look like a catepillar all bundled, but an angelic caterpillar at that. I miss him already. There's nothing like that new baby smell, and watching every little thing they do as they grow and develop. The funny scrunched up faces they make, their first smile, giggle, and gurgle. Every moment is, and should be treasured. I loved watching my babies grow and develop, and now I am blessed to watch their children grow and develop. I love the precious moments I get to visit them, and am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ where we know that families are forever and ever and ever.

Kelli Jo (7), Beckham (1 week) , Ava (2) , Chris, Zoey (5)