Music, Friends, & Memories

Goodbye, LD Singers. These are some of the saddest words I have ever seen in writing. I recently learned that changes are being made to the institute choir programs that will alter the nature of the group I so loved. The name may even be changing. And so, many of us who were blessed to be a part of the group are saying farewell.

My husband has teased me at times for being so passionate about LD Singers, calling me obsessed, even an LD’s groupie (ha ha). But the fact is, my participation in the group played a profound role in my transition from high school to adulthood; it’s even where I met my charming companion (so many of us owe the group that!).  As I pondered on these facts, I wondered what I could say to express my feelings about my experience with this unique choir. The following is what came to my mind, and I share it now with anyone who cares to read.

For all of my friends – those I know & those I’ve never met – who were impacted by LD Singers, this is for you. And especially for Brother Joseph Scholes, my friend & mentor. Thank you for everything!

Everything I Need to Know I Learned in LD Singers

There is a song for everything * Be punctual * The most beautiful bone in a woman’s body is her collar bone * Nothing creates strong bonds like shared song & testimony * We love best those we serve * Be sincere * A few good friends at your back give you courage to face what’s ahead * Love for others comes in many forms * Good things happen when you step out of your comfort zone * One sour note can ruin the whole chord * Ice cream, waffles, & homemade root beer make the best party foods * Some lessons in life are learned the hard way * Each part affects the whole, for good or bad * The best friends are those with whom you can randomly burst into song * God has a way of making lemonade from lemons * Be positive; it makes a difference * One strong voice cannot create harmony * If you give it your best, God will make up the rest * Be careful who you kiss * God hears the song of your heart, whatever the melody is at the moment * Be committed * The best sermons are often sung rather than spoken * You never know what will happen on a bus * An energetic song-&-dance may be the perfect set-up for a powerful spiritual moment * A sincere Thank You makes all of the hard work worthwhile * Pick-up lines don’t work, but they are a lot of fun * Miracles do happen

“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. (D&C 25: 12)”

Where We’ve Been in 2009

As we begin a new year, I’d like to share some of our favorite memories from 2009.  In general:

*Drew continues to amaze those around him with his amazing ability to absorb and retain information. He has become our walking, talking encyclopedia, with new facts and tidbits being added almost hourly.

*Garrett is the king of fun. To find him, just follow the spitting, crashing, howling sound effects and get ready to play hard. If Garrett had one wish, it might be for the rest of us to lighten up.

More specifically:

*Home Improvement: After 2 1/2 years in our home, we were finally able to spruce up our kitchen and entryway, something we’ve been talking about almost since we moved in. For now, this meant painting the kitchen a fantastic mossy green and, more significantly, replacing the ugly gray linoleum with a dark wood laminate. George and I worked side by side on these projects and really enjoyed spending that time accomplishing something together. And we are loving the results! This is now one space in our house that really feels like ours.

*Graduation: No, not another college degree. But Drew officially finished preschool and we enjoyed a morning at the park, complete with games, treats, and diplomas, to celebrate. Bring on Kindergarten!

*Summer: The summer months were full of fun and family as we enjoyed traveling to reunions and other activities near and far. We camped, hiked, fished, swam, roasted marshmallows, and enjoyed (nearly) every minute of it. For more details, check out this video of our summer adventures.

*Answered Prayers: After some unanticipated setbacks and challenges, we were thrilled to learn in August that we are expecting baby #3. An ultrasound in early December brought more fun news: it’s a girl! Now, with the holidays behind us, we are preparing for her arrival, which is expected at the end of April. As we’ve learned in the past, however, you never can tell with these things. And so we are praying that she’ll stick it out a little longer than her older brother did, and growing ever more anxious to welcome our daughter into our home!

*Kindergarten: Drew started school in August and is enjoying it immensely. Though he has not shown much interest in reading or writing in the past, his skills in these areas have increased rapidly since school began. He now spends long periods drawing and writing the names of various creatures, and we are often surprised at the information he gathers from billboards and boxes when we are out and about. It has been fun to watch him grow both intellectually and socially these past few months.

*Financial Blessings: Given the economic struggle around us, we were humbled and thankful to learn that George would be given a promotion (and a raise) at his office. The transition became official at the beginning of October and he now works as the Operations Manager over the tech support team. We feel such gratitude for his good boss, who values his employees and promotes a comfortable work environment, and for his good coworkers, who he enjoys working with. We look forward to another year with this company.

*Strong Bodies: It almost seemed the month of October had it in for us as we went from one minor trauma to the next. Drew faced a bout with what we think was H1N1, which had him as sick as we have ever seen him. Within days after getting him back on his feet, Garrett was sick. He fought his illness off more quickly, but managed to mark its end with a terrific shiner just in time for Halloween. Two days later, we took Drew in for some much-needed dental work which required that he be put under anesthesia. Though the anticipation for that procedure was hard on our nerves, all went well and Drew woke up with four silver teeth (which he delights to show off), several more fillings, and stitches on the roof of his mouth where an extra adult tooth was removed. We felt particularly grateful for his speedy recovery; his near-complete lack of need for pain medication left George and I dumbfounded. What a wonderful blessing God has given us in our miraculous, resilient bodies!

Over all, 2009 was a year for enjoying each other and increasing our testimonies. We’ve learned more of our Heavenly Father’s love for us, even in the day-to-day challenges of life, and have gained a deeper appreciation for His prescribed plan for families. We are truly blessed.

Here’s looking forward to a happy 2010!

Truth

In the commotion of the current political state of our nation I am trying to determine what I really believe. With so many voices around me, it can be difficult to sort out for myself what is truth. I would like to share a little kernel of truth I found this week, words from God Himself written in the Doctrine and Covenants, a source of pure truth in an inconsistent world.

Continue Reading…

A New Perspective

Most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favor.

-Robert Frost

The Inner Workings of the (Brilliant?) Toddler Mind

Garrett fascinates me. He exists in a world I cannot fully comprehend, a world where possibilities are endless and the facts of life become remarkable and even powerful. And no matter how I try, I simply can’t figure out what is going on inside his little head.

What, for example, am I to make of this conversation:

Garrett: Mom! Mom! Mo-omm!!

Mom: What, Garrett?

Garrett: Race cars crash. Continue Reading…