Busy, busy, busy

Life has gotten busy and I guess the first thing to go was my blog.  I'll attempt to catch up to the present.  Dad had bought a new toy to play on - a Rzr and we have taken it out west twice to play with the grandkids.  I've gotten sunburned each time we went out - you'd think I'd learn the first time. And to my credit I mostly did.  This past Saturday when we went, I put sunscreen on my head and face (where I had gotten sunburned the first time), but neglected to do my arms.  Who would think that I would get a lobster red sunburn on my arms? Apparently not me! 

My 2nd niece turned 8 and got baptized a couple of weeks ago.  It's so fun to see her sweet personality shine through when it's her turn to shine in the spotlight.  She's the middle kid, and is really quiet, so she sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.

 

We had our auction for Friday's Kids Respite and had lots of fun.  I always forget how much work it is, until we get right in the middle of it and then I wonder what I am doing there!  It was a lot of fun and I actually won a couple of things.

 

The biggest change in my life came about 3 weeks ago when I was called as the Relief Society President.  It was not unexpected, but still nerve-wracking anyway.  Right now, I am trying to figure out exactly what needs to be taken care of and hoping that I'm not dropping anything. 

We get to watch my neices this weekend in their dance recital.  The 4 year old was doing her dance for us on Sunday and it was really fun to watch.  She's quite shy, so the recital should be interesting.  The other two are old pros at it now and have a lot of fun with it.  Let's hope the 1 year old boys enjoy sitting in the dark for a couple hours, or it's not going to be much fun for anyone.

Busy, busy, busy

A week before Thanksgiving I got called as the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society presidency and then promptly got thrown in charge of the Angel Tree gifts for several families in our ward.  Life got very busy for about the next month and it was really nice that I had some time scheduled off of work.  We ran into a few problems near the end but everything worked out and all the gifts got out by Christmas Eve.  I don't think I've ever been so excited for Christmas to be over! 

I did take some time and took 4 of my brother's kids to see the 3rd Narnia movie.  The 3 1/2 year old loved it
(I think he loved the popcorn the best though).  And my sister and I took her 2 kids to The Living Planet Aquarium.  I liked the penguins and seeing the octopus eat was very interesting!  Her little girl really like the penguins too but did not like when my sister tried to get her to touch the sing-ray.

Camping in the rain...

We had a ward campout this weekend. I don't think I've ever been on one (if you don't count girls camp, which I didn't). It poured and I mean POURED! But the tent kept us dry at night and the tarps rigged up over the tables kept us dry other times. It did stop long enough to roast some marshmallows for smores. It was a small group, but we had much fun. (even me, who wasn't real excited to be going anyway.)

She likes me...

Sunday we had a baby blessing for my sister's little boy. As I was pulling into the church parking lot, my brother pulled in behind me and proceded to park next to me. As I got out to greet his children I heard that 2nd neice wanted to sit by me in sacrament. I thought "yay, she likes me best of all my sisters!" (I've been brainwashing her for 6 years and I was hoping it was starting to stick.) What I then found out dashed all my hopes. She came up to me and said "If I sit by you can we play the dot game?"


I guess she told her mom that I ALWAYS play the dot game with her when she sits by me. If you count the one time, 6 months ago, at my grandfathers funeral as 'always' then I guess I have. And now we can add the baby blessing. I did sit by her and we did play the dot game. (And that sacrament meeting went by so fast! I'm so used to sitting by myself I don't know what to do with all the entertainment!)

Things I learned this weekend...

1 - When Grandma calls and leaves a message, call her back even if it's late when you get home. Because if you don't, she'll call at 8 am on a Saturday. (and yes, I was still asleep. I haven't been sleeping well this week and gave myself permission to sleep in.)

2 - When your roommate asks if you want to substitute on the organ for her on Sunday, the answer is no, always, always no.

3 - When the phone rings on Saturday at noon - and you don't recognize the number, don't answer it. It could be the 2nd counselor asking you to speak in church the next day (even though you spoke just 4 months ago).

These things make for a not so fun weekend. Hope yours was good!

Guess who's the new ward organist?

Yep, that would be me. I got a call from the 1st Counselor on Saturday night at 9 pm to ask if I would 'substitute' on the organ Sunday and feeling guilty because I couldn't think of one good reason not to, I said yes. He did ask if I'd played before and I said "Not for people to sing".

Then, Sunday morning I got a call to meet with a member of the bishopric. I've known for a week that I was probably getting the Sunday phone call, I just didn't think I'd get the 9pm Saturday call. (as a side note - that makes 4 callings and 3 of them involve the piano/organ. Where did all the piano players go? They better find some in the ward soon...I've only got 2 months left in the ward.)

My roommate said I did great, but I don't think I did that well. I guess you'll know where to find me this week...at the church, practicing!

Christmas spirit in the air (sorry, long post)

My roommate had tickets to Music and the Spoken Word on Sunday. Since it was the special Christmas concert edition, and we have nephews about the same age, we took the two of them with us. They came over Saturday night and we had a sleepover. I love my nephew but he tends to drive me nuts. He's a talker and doesn't stop. I think he talked non-stop from Lehi to Orem with 3 stops in between!

We got up Sunday and had breakfast then left for Salt Lake. It had snowed Saturday night which made the drive a little scary and made us a little late but they let us in anyway and I think we only missed a couple of minutes.

During the broadcast they told the story of how Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the words to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". I have always liked the song, but it wasn't one of my favorites but that all changed on Sunday. I found the text online and thought I would post it for those that may have missed it.

Longfellow's Christmas

Sleigh bells and laughter pierced the stillness of softly falling snow, as the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow family, bundled in winter wool, whisked along in their horse-drawn sleigh. The five children giggled with delight.

Then, ringing down snow-packed lanes, across fields, and through the wooded hills and valleys pealed the bells—solo steeple bells and choirs of carillon bells—playing the familiar carols of Christmas. The Longfellow family delighted in their message of joy and peace.

But a few months later, fire ravaged their home. Trying desperately to rescue his wife Fanny, Henry was terribly burned. Three days later, on their 18th wedding anniversary, Fanny was buried - while Henry, confined to bed, fought to live—fought for the will to live.

Two Christmases came and went. Henry wrote, “How inexpressibly sad are the holidays.” “‘A merry Christmas’ say the children, but that is no more for me.” On Christmas Day, 1864, he wrote:

“And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

At some time, each of us echoes the question of his broken heart: When pain, grief, and loneliness overwhelm us, where is the music of hope and peace?

For Henry, the answer came at Christmas. As the rising sun burnished the windows of the Longfellow home brilliant gold, pealing through the crisp morning air, came a clear, joyous ringing…Christmas bells.

From his lonely desk, Henry heard them. In that instant, his broken heart was healed. Renewed, he plunged his pen into fresh ink, and joyfully drew it across a sheet of snow white paper…

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Christmas bells still ring out a clear message: Out of suffering and despair, joy can flourish anew, and hope and peace be reborn. Peace on earth. Peace in each broken heart.

And so, as the bells pealed on, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow finished his carol of hope and faith:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
“God is not dead; nor doth He sleep!
The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”

After they had done the regular Music and the Spoken Word broadcast, we got a special mini concert, but one of the best parts was when President Monson got up on stage to thank the special guests. My nephew was in awe that he was in the same room as the prophet. So cool!

Another fun part was when the organist played "Go Tell it on the Mountain". The first half of the song he played with only his feet! My nephew thought that was so cool. I told him that if after he learned to play the piano, he could learn to play the organ and play with his feet. He thought that sounded like fun.

Update

My landlords decided that they didn't want to be landlords anymore and put the townhome up for sale. I was irritated because I didn't want to move but figured with the way the market is they wouldn't sell it. But they did and we had a month to find a new place to live. I wanted to stay in my ward but there just wasn't anything to move into. So one roommate and I found a 4-plex with one for rent and moved in a couple days before I left on vacation to Nauvoo. It's been a month now but I'm still not fully unpacked but it is starting to feel like home. And the best part? ONE roommate not THREE! :)

But I really miss my primary kids. And I'm not sold on the singles ward. The Bishop is great, but the people aren't that friendly. I know I am shy/quiet when put into a new situation so I'm not making much effort.