THE BAILEYS' 2007 NEW YEARS LETTER
with ROYCE, JUDY , JILLIONNA AGE 17 AND
JOSIANNE AGE 16
Alright, we're not late in sending you this year's greetings. This is a New Year's Letter, so stop with the phone calls and notes. No, we didn't fall off the face of the earth. Here it is !!!
JANUARY. After returning from California, visiting Royce's wonderful
extended family, we again realized how lucky we are to have wonderful families
on both sides of the country.
Jillee and Josee diligently practiced, Mozart's Concerto in C for harp and flute,
for the solo youth contest in the Hendersonville and Asheville Symphonies. Judy
and Royce have told Josee not to be nervous. Josee says, "I tell my brain
not to be nervous, but my insides don't obey."
At Jillee's harp recital, her teacher, Lelia Lattimore, told her that she would
be last on the program. "If you were in the middle of the program, none
of my other students would play after you!"
When Royce married Judy, he was unaware that Judy had itchy skin constantly on
her back; needing to be endlessly scratched. Jillee and Josee now too have very
itchy skin. The girls need their backs scratched till they're bright red. Grandpa
Wolter says that the girls (including Grandma Wolter) have "sebaceous termites."
We only broke one Christmas ball on the Christmas tree this year. A record. It
was lost from our dog Skippher's wagging tail. Yes, that's spelled right. She
is a Skipp-her.
Jillee and Josee came in second at the 28th audition for Hendersonville Young
Artist competition. The reward, $200.00
FEBRUARY. The girls then auditioned for the Asheville/Buncombe County
Youth soloist competition and they came in first. Hooray! Their reward,...performing
Mozart's Concerto in C, with the symphony.
Helen Keller, our oldest nanny goat, died during kid birth, on Super Bowl Sunday.
Royce asked a patient how he was doing. His answer was, "as I'm told."
Grandma Wolter is making the girls formals (for their concerto performance) and
having a blast.
Overheard, "I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but
I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Some minds are like concrete, throughly mixed up and permanently set.
Maestro Ron Clearfield comments, after hearing the Youth Orchestra play a piece
during rehearsal: "It can only get better from here," translation:
that was awful. "It will get better next time," translation: can't
get any worse. "That will work out beautifully," translation: it's
still awful. "Moving right along," translation: I give up!
Seen on a Tee shirt, "If at first you don't succeed, Skydiving isn't for
you."
"Montgomery" is our new baby kid (goat).
One morning, Judy said she was going to wake up the cherubs. Royce said, "After
you wake up the cherubs, wake up the children too."
A patient of Royce's after reading his book, "You'll Rust Out, Before You
Wear Out..." when asked if he was exercising said, "It was so much
fun, I quit doing it." Another patient was so delighted with the nose spray
Royce had ordered that he said, "It's as good an invention as duct tape."
MARCH. Isabel, our beloved golden retriever, was "in season" and
being very protective. She died while defending her ground against the UPS truck
March 1, 2006.
You don't have to be listed in "Who's Who" to know "What's What."
Jillee and Josee played Mozart's Concert in C for Harp and Flute at the Thomas
Wolfe Auditorium, Asheville Civic Center with the Asheville City/Buncombe County
Youth Orchestra, the day before the three Bailey girls left for Africa. Royce
stayed home to pay the bills. Dust, heat and dehydration are probably not what
Royce would have needed with his ileostomy bag. The two week mission trip, to
a refugee camp in Spanish Sahara, North Africa, taxed the body and tested the
soul. Squatty potties? Yes, you develop a special technique or learn to wear
sand socks. Jillee and Josee's hands were asked for in marriage by Omar. He said
they were both so beautiful and he wanted one of them for his wife. Judy told
him that their father would miss them. He replied, "Royce can come and visit
them." Judy didn't buy in but stated , "it's so far" Omar said, "I'll
give you all I have." Judy thought, that's just about nothing. From the
refugee camp the girls toured Europe for a week. What fun they had readjusting
to a regular diet, skiing the Alps, visiting castles and cathedrals, enjoying
Mozart's 200th celebration in Salzburg, and drinking in the customs and traditions
of the Europeans. While the family was in Africa, Royce regrew his beard (last
had one in 1994-Judy married him with one). Josee told Royce before she left, "Daddy
don't grow a beard." Royce thought that once the girls returned they wouldn't
like it, but they did and he still has it (for now).
APRIL.
There was a mouse in our pantry. It was too smart for the trap and kept tripping
it, eating the cheese/peanut butter. We finally caught it with a glue trap and
released it in the wild again.
If you want to be truly miserable, hate somebody.
During the Hendersonville Orchestra's concert the girls personally received $200
for winning second place in the music competition.
Why is it that no word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver
or purple?
Why can't you make another word by using all the letters in "anagram"?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
Why is it that we recite at a play and play at a recital?
Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposite?
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in the dark.
Royce says, "Old age comes at a bad time."
Royce's patient says his 93 year old grandmother doesn't need glasses. She drinks
right out of the jug.
MAY. Hillary, the turkey, died, while sitting on her nest of
eggs She weighted in at 26 pounds at her funeral. She was a beautiful bird. Bill
and Monica turkey are fine.
Clifford, Josee's eleven year old randomly bred dog, died 5/11/06 from coyote
poison left out by the neighbors. The coyotes are a real problem, but we have
not lost any more baby goats since Flapjack (Jackie), the donkey, came to live
with us.
The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.
We planted our vegetable garden. Now the work begins. We usually harvest enough
potatoes to eat for the year.
Judy said she would give up chocolate, but she's not a quitter.
We had all the windows in the house replaced and the crescent window in our music
room, after being replaced, cracked. This required us to have plastic over the
window for a month while the window was reordered. The musical instruments had
to be moved into the living room.
Appalachian Praise (gospel bluegrass) played at 3ABN's camp meeting for ‘Kids
Time' Live. This is the fifth year in a row Jillee and Josee have done 3ABN camp
meeting for ‘Kids Time' Live for Miss Brenda (Brenda Welsh, producer).
They then played for the week long Carolina Camp meeting. Judy, Jillee and Josee,
with Kathy Russell, played four harps. Judy then played the Holy City on the
piano moving to her harp by the end of the song.
Why are "First things first," but not necessarily in that order in
real life?
JUNE. Judy played piano and organ duets for camp meeting church
service, June 3. Then we went to see Royce's parents in California. We had heard
that they were doing poorly health-wise. Actually, they were doing quite well
considering their orthopedic problems. We also got to see Royce's siblings and
nephews: Cindee, Neil, Christian, Carston, Rik, Deborah, Hal, Jodi and Parker
too.
Vacation Bible School's theme of Bethlehem, started upon returning home. Jillee
and Josee each led out, with friends, in the pottery and grain shops. They dressed
in their African grab (called a mulhifa).
We had a scare with Royce's Cardiology partner, Steve Hildebrand. He found on
routine CT a large mass on his liver. After much prayer and anxiety, we found
out it was a benign hemangioma that he was probably born with.
Royce admitted to the hospital one of his frequent flyers (admitted often) with
a recurrent fast heart rate called tachycardia. His nurse said of the patient, "that's
real ‘tachy' of him."
Royce was discussing with his patient their health status and they replied, "I'm
healthy as a dead horse."
Royce asked one of his patients how he would keep a dog from urinating on the
rug. He answered, "I'd cut his tail off, ...behind his ears."
Royce said, "I'm going to the board meeting." Jillee asked, "Do
they teach you to be bored?"
JULY. One of the nurses at Park Ridge Hospital is ready to burst
with twins. She rescued a lost cocker spaniel and needed to find a home for her.
'Lady' has made a home here with us.
Our annual 4th of July party was bursting with laughter and fireworks. God has
blessed us with so many friends.
Our youth department at church (Jillee and Josee included) have presented 22
evangelism revival sermons this month. Jillee has given several health talks
and is in charge of getting the young people scheduled to greet the people each
night and provide refreshments. Josee has presented several health talks and
sermons (including talks on the Sabbath, Health Principles and the Spirit of
Prophecy) and is in charge of gift giveaway and song service. Both girls have
done several special music numbers.
Josee, on Judy's Birthday- said before her sermon in front of a packed church,
that we had a VIP in the audience and could Judy please stand. "I wouldn't
be standing here and have as close a relationship with Jesus, if it wasn't for
my mother," Josee said. Everyone clapped. Then she added that she was not
supposed to tell anyone Judy's age, but it rhymed with "Nifty."
Judy asked a 14 year old friend if she would get a discount when she came into
the store he was working at during the summer. He replied, "A senior citizen
discount."
Royce said, while hauling the harp out to the van for the umpteen time, "Who
ever hauls Judy's harp, has her heart." So he gladly loads the three girls
harps, music bags, music stands, benches, etc.-in and out of the van for concerts.
That was part of his pre-nuptial agreement.
We may betray our faith in Christ by our silence as well as by our speech.
AUGUST. Our friends took their oldest son to college. They were rushing
here and there getting everything ready for his first dorm experience, but never
seeming to leave for home. His younger brother said, "Dad, we need to go
to the hardware store." Why? The family asks. "To get a chainsaw." "Why," asks
his dad? "So you can cut Mom's umbilical cord."
Royce asks every patient if they need any refills. One patient responded by saying, "Yes,
in my wallet."
A patient told Royce that he hates getting older! But he doesn't like
what happen if you don't.
We celebrated Judy's 50th birthday with a Victorian tea party at our home. It
was a fabulous sit down event, with a spread fit for a queen. It was Grandma
Wolter's idea and she sewed dresses, worked on food and decorations, while Grandpa
Wolter and special friends helped with moving tables and house-wide decorations.
Our Pastor Baute, after a week of suffering, finally ‘delivered' his kidney
stone. He named it, ‘Sandy Crystal Baute.' He added that it will be an
only child .
The girls had a career day to get the 11th grade started. Jillee went to the
small animal vet and the large animal vet's the next day. Josee followed Anesthesiologists
Joan Taylor thru the Outpatient clinic and procedures in the OR. Both had a great
time.
Both Judy and Royce spent summer afternoons with the girls riding our horses.
We enjoyed Turkey Pen, Dupont Forest, Couch Mountain and our favorite, North
Mills River; because the trail crisscrosses the river. Judy loved to see the
girls riding the horses in the lake. A sight always to be remembered.
Our garden this year included: asparagus, beets, greens, tomatoes, string beans,
onions, cucumbers, squash, potatoes and corn. We were able to keep ahead of the
weeds with child labor.
Grandpa Wolter when asked why he was getting his first ever colonoscopy, answered, "To
prepare for torture in the Time of Trouble."
SEPTEMBER. The N.C. Mountain State Fair photo competition this year had
Jillee getting First Prize, Judy receiving the Judges Choice Award and Josee,
who usually cleans up on the ribbons receiving several seconds and thirds.
"Men marry women hoping they will never change, and they do. Women marry
men hoping they will change, and they never do." A recent Flatrock Playhouse
title, "I love you, you're perfect, now change."
Overheard from a six year old, "When I do good, no one remembers; but when
I do bad, no one forgets."
Judy thinks it funny that if she tells Royce that ‘nothing is wrong,' he
believes her.
Judy lost her cell phone while at piano lessons with the girls. It wasn't on
her belt where it always stays. She looked around the car, on the driveway, in
and under the car and then realized she was talking on it the whole time. 50
years are taking their toll.
Snapdragons: I just wanted you to know I entered the snapdragon part of my life.
Part of me has snapped ... and the rest of me is draggin.'
Jillee and Josee played solo parts in the Youth symphony concert and Judy plays
with Asheville Symphony twice this fall.
Medical 'backwoods School' in-Cardiovascular-'the three kinds of
blood vessels are arteries, veins and caterpillars (capillaries)." Respiratory-"When
you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe, you expire."
Gastrointestinal-"The alimentary canal is located in the northern part of
Alabama."
Hematology-"Before giving a blood transfusion, find out if the blood is
affirmative or negative."
Josee auditioned on the flute for the beginning of the Asheville/Buncombe County
Youth Orchestra fall season. She was so nervous, but advanced from 4th flute
(actually played 2nd Oboe part last year) to 1st flute this year and is thrilled
beyond belief. Jillee, for the fourth year, is again 1st chair harpist.
OCTOBER. The Bailey girls take off to West Virginia for the Church Youth
Group Evangelistic series. Harp and instruments in tow. All the youth did very
well as they covered every part/element of the series from sound, speaking, music,
clean up...During the morning hours before the meeting they went on field trips
to the General Conference Of Seventh-day Adventist world head quarters and the
Review and Herald publishing complex. They got to meet Mark Finley, Vice President
of World Evangelism.
Royce gave a four part weekly health lecture series at the packed Lelia Patterson
Center in Fletcher, NC (across from the hospital). The girls added music for
the event.
Grandpa Wolter turned 80. We had a surprise party for him, but he found out about
it.
Coincidence is just when God chooses to remain anonymous.
Pastor Baute, our youth pastor, says; "God doesn't call the qualified. He
qualifies the called."
Many people want to serve God, but only as an advisor.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your door forever.
NOVEMBER. The girls played for the fall Southern ASI (Adventist Service
Industries) convention. Judy-harp, Jillee-dulcimer, Josee- flute. Jillee (hammered
dulcimer) and Josee (Royce's old banjo) also played with Appalachian Praise (their
gospel bluegrass band).
Our annual Thanksgiving potluck at church again featured the veggie bird and
a "fashion show of sorts." New entries this year included a ball
gown (dress covered in balls), a bare backed dress (teddy bear on back), and
petal pushers (girls dropping petals with boys following with brooms), herring
bone jacket (skeleton of herring fish on jacket), butterfly collar (butterflies
on collar) and platform shoes (shoes nailed to blocks of wood). Fashion models
included the Bailey and Wagner families.
Our refrigerator quit. The ice machine water line broke and warped the wooden
kitchen floor.
He who angers you controls you. In this case, whatever angers you controls you.
Don't let your worries get the best of you. Remember, Moses started out as a
basket case. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives are developed.
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
DECEMBER. Jillee and Josee played their Christmas Concert with the Youth
Symphony, each having solo parts. Can you tell they love orchestra?
All four of us played roles in the "Walk Through Bethlehem." It is
a recreated Bethlehem village with the sights and conversations of that time
along the way. Jillee and Josee were women at the well, Royce and Judy were the
dyer and his wife. The 64 cast members were told our group was the best ever.
Jillee played the harp with the Hendersonville Community Band, "Mediation
on Thais."
The three girls played heavenly music for Lynn Taylor's Wedding, a fairy book
setting.
A Blue Heron appeared in our back yard. It is the first one any of us have ever
seen in Western North Carolina, let alone one in December. Our Nature Center
states they are common. Within 36 hours it had cleaned out our gold fish population.
Fortunately, our 16 year old Koi (14 inches) were safe. Some of the missing gold
fish were six inches in length.
Grandma Wolter made red Christmas dresses trimmed with white feathers for the
girls, to match Judy's Christmas dress. Jillee and Josee played harp duets for
Candlelight at the Biltmore house (largest private residence in the US-four acres
under one roof) in the Winter Garden, and at the Grove Park Hotel, Christmas
day. A very rare opportunity and experience. The girls are so delighted, because
they are finally being paid for all their long hours of practice.
Judy lost her front tooth on a homemade popcorn ball, four hours before her scheduled
Christmas performance at the Biltmore House. Dr. David Wagner, Dentist extraordinaire,
to the rescue, with a beautiful temporary.
It's time for baby goats and Magee had triplets. The third one lived only 48
hours. Angel had twins and we're waiting on Mindee's kid or kids to be born.
The three girls went to GYC (General Youth Congress) in Baltimore, MD, to end
the year. Appalachian Praise shared their music there, too. Over 5000 young people
from across the globe attended this youth for Christ event at the Baltimore convention
center. The Bailey girls then met up with Royce in Los Angeles for a visit to
his parents home in Ojai, California. A good and relaxing time was had by all.
We hope and pray that you and yours are well and safe.
May God richly bless you during this new year.
Contact us at: http://members.aol.com/harpists4u
THE BAILEY BUNCH
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