Singing Time

I think that this is the longest I have ever gone between posts. I'm going to do better, I have a plan, eventually I will implement it.

In my last post I mentioned my new church assignment as primary chorister. I love it! Each month we learn a new song that goes along with the monthly theme. For March our song is from the hymn book... "I Stand All Amazed". I felt strongly that while learning such a sacred hymn, fun and games and "hiding notes" would not be appropriate.

I referred to the churches "Sharing Time Outline" for an idea on teaching the song, and with a little added help from an idea I saw on Pinterest, felt confident about my singing time preparation. The first Sunday in March I went to primary ready to teach the song.

When the Jr. Primary children (ages 3-7) came to primary I quickly realized teaching the song to them that day wasn't going to happen. They were full of wiggles. Even spending our 20 minutes together singing wiggle songs didn't quite get the wiggles out. The children in Sr. Primary (ages 8-11) learned the song beautifully. My heart was touched. I knew that I was going to have to come up with a plan to capture the Jr. Primary's attention the next week in order to learn such a "non-wiggly" song as "I Stand All Amazed".

Our Jr. Primary is probably half the size of our Sr. Primary. I came up with a plan a little out of my comfort zone, but I felt confident it could work. I took my favorite quilt to primary and when it was time to sing I spread my quilt on the floor and invited all of the children to come sit on it. I sat down with them and we covered every inch of that quilt.

I showed the same pictures to the younger children that I had shared with the older children the previous week. We discussed the big words in the song. I asked them to show me their "amazed" faces and their "confused" faces. I sang a line to them and had them sing the line back to me. They were so sweet. Such a simple idea but something different that brought us together and kept their attention and helped them to learn a sacred song without fun and games and "hiding notes".

Excuses, Changes, and The Cutest Story Ever

I have been a terrible blogger. Here are my excuses.

1-  my computer is AWFUL!!! I could fill this line with exclamation points and still not get my point across. I spent over three hours last Saturday trying to do something that normally would have taken a few minutes.
2- my printer is just as awful as my computer. I struggle with loading the pictures. I like to post pictures.
3- it's hard to find the time. I still haven't finished posting my trip to Britain.
4- the time excuse would probably not apply (well, still some) if I didn't have to spend so much of it in frustration at the computer.

Okay. I've vented. I shouldn't.

We have experienced a lot of changes in our family in the last last couple of weeks. Caitlin left on her mission (this would be a good time to mention that I'm not on the computer... I'm typing this on the iPad I acquired when Caitlin left), I was released from my stake calling, Mike was released as Bishop, and I received a new calling in my ward. I am the Primary chorister  and yesterday was my first day... which leads to the cutest story ever.

After church I changed into my sunday-afternoon-at-home-attire. This is what I refer to as my "cozy clothes". Usually a complete mis-match consisting of a t -shirt, flannel pants, and socks. My hair is in a ponytail and my bangs pulled to the side. About an hour into my cozy clothes phase the doorbell rang. I opened the door and a young boy was standing there. For a moment (however briefly) he stared at me, then he asked "is this the music teachers house?" I realized that in my sunday-afternoon-at-home-attire with my hair all askew, I didn't look like the primary chorister he had seen for the first time just two hours earlier. As quickly as he said  "music teacher" he corrected himself and said, "primary music teacher." I smiled and told him that was me. Once he had established that he was at the right house he left the porch only to return a few seconds later with a beautiful purple flower in his hand. It was made of paper, cut into the shape of a tulip and formed into a circle and taped together with a green paper stem taped to the bottom of it. He held the paper flower out to me and said so sweetly, "I'm David." I don't know when I've been given a more beautiful flower. I thanked him and he left. I couldn't help but peek out of the window to see where he went and what helper (parent) might be hiding in the background. But David stopped at the end of my sidewalk, picked up his scooter from the ground, and scooted away.

I think I already love my new church calling.

All Things Denote There Is A God

I just discovered this post in my drafts. It was written several weeks ago. We are no longer in the ysa ward but everything else still applies.

As part of a young single adult (ysa) ward we attend ward prayer on Sunday evenings. This usually consists of a short message/activity and then we close the meeting with prayer. It's a really nice way to finish off our Sunday and a good way to start our week.

Several weeks ago our instructor taught on the subject of "all things denote there is a God", even things that we may not necessarily think of as religious or spiritual. To illustrate, she shared her feelings about some of the things that she loves... exercise, abstract art, history, and Disney. She then gave us the opportunity to share some of the things we love as well. Several people participated. Although I didn't share anything, there were a few people that mentioned things that made me want to shout, "Yes. Yes. I know exactly how you feel." So I will share a couple of those thoughts here.

1- The ocean. I.Love.T'ocean!! 'nuff said. No. Not 'nuff said. This person said that she grew up a few blocks from the ocean and could hear it every night (lucky). In response someone said that if you listened to the sounds of the freeway it could sound like the ocean. Everyone laughed. I immediately remembered an experience I had a few years ago as I lay in my bed one night. I could hear the sound of the wind through my open window. We had a row of poplar trees in our back yard that were quite tall and close together. As I lay there in the quiet darkness, I became aware of the sound of the leaves as the wind rushed through them. In an instant I was at the beach and could hear the sound of the waves as they crashed on the shore and then were drawn back into the ocean. I will never forget hearing the sounds of the ocean in my trees.

2- Disneyland. I LOVE Disneyland. It makes me happy. On more than one occasion tears have filled my eyes while visiting the "happiest place on earth". I'm not a Disneyland "pro" but I love it equally as much.

3- Springtime. I smiled when this was brought up. Every year when the snow has melted away and the temperature starts to warm, I am amazed as I see the bits of green peeking out just above the dirt and the buds appearing on the trees. It may seem to most that It is just simply... spring, but to me it is a very real reminder of the resurrection. 

When I returned from ward prayer I picked up my scriptures to do my daily reading. I opened my Book of Mormon to Alma chapter 30 where I had left my bookmark and this is what I read in the chapter headings... all things denote there is a God...

Yes. They do.

Day 20: Familiar Faces

Sunday evening Mike and I were invited to see our brother-in-law Cory as he was set apart as a High Priest. Besides Cory, there were three young men who were being ordained Elders. As the families of these four gathered in the high council room of the stake center, Mike and I got excited as we saw a familiar face among the crowd. Although it has been many years since we last saw this face and it had aged considerably, we both easily recognized the man who was our Bishop when we were married, and then became our stake president a few years later. The seat next to me was empty and he happened to sit there, and when he turned and saw us he greeted us enthusiastically. We have a soft spot for Boyd Beagley. He hadn't lived in our ward for very long when he became our Bishop just one month before we were married in 1977. On April conference Sunday, just two weeks before our wedding, he invited us to his office where he gave us a "mini" temple prep class. I remember thinking how nice that was of him to do that on his "day off". On that occasion Mike asked Bishop Beagley to be a witness at our wedding, which means his signature is on our wedding certificate. We were just a couple of teenagers then, and now all these years later it felt appropriate to tell him that Mike was now serving as Bishop of a YSA ward. Experiences like these always make me think of a scripture I like: Alma 17:1.

My laundry post is becoming more of a reality.

Day 19: Sundays

I enjoy Sunday mornings. I usually... not always, have a couple of hours of quiet time to myself. Mike comes home for an hour or so in between meetings and we watch Music and the Spoken Word together. He LOVES watching the choir (although he fast forwards through the organ solos). This morning I couldn't wake up, probably because I woke up during the night and tossed and turned for an hour or more. When I sat down to read I feel fast asleep. When Mike came home we watched the choir (he didn't fast forward through the organ solo today). Before I knew it, it was time to go to church... and I wasn't ready. I had left an ice-cream dessert in the mixing bowl to soften, but I still had to mix it and pour it into containers and put it in the freezer. When I turned the mixer on a huge glob of the dessert went flying out of the bowl and ended up all over me, the floor, the counter... pretty much everywhere. I started to clean up the mess and looked at the clock; fifteen minutes 'til church and I wasn't dressed, I had no make-up on and my hair wasn't done... and I had ice-cream and raspberries on me (not as bad as the floor and counter did). Mike was leaving to go back to the church and knowing how tired I was suggested I stay home and get some much needed sleep. I seriously welcomed the reprieve; although at the same time I remembered one of the goals I am working on in my Personal Progress book concerning the Sacrament. Mike left and I again looked at the clock as my Personal Progress goal did not leave my mind; 10 minutes 'til church... I can do this. Quicker than I've ever been, I poured the dessert into dishes and got it into the freezer, I ran upstairs and dressed, put as minimal make-up on as I dared and faked a hair-do and went to church. I walked in as Bishop Leger was opening the meeting. During the sacrament hymn I realized that my mind was wandering so I gently reprimanded myself, "this is the very purpose for which you came here today." I was able to focus on the sacrament and what I could do to improve myself this coming week. We had a wonderful list of speakers today starting with a new sister in the ward. She spoke about feeling the spirit in our lives. She mentioned that a few years ago she had started to journal how she felt the spirit in her life each day... even in the simplest of ways (inspired by President Eyring's talk). When she experienced some hard things in her life she was able to go back to that journal and read her own words and it helped her through her trial. We also listened to a stake high counselor and a member of the stake presidency and enjoyed a beautiful piano solo Come Thou Fount. The spirit was strong and I felt it as I heard things that I needed to hear and to be reminded of. I feel rejuvenated to face the week ahead. I am grateful that I "listened" today. 

YSA Summer Trip

I am not particularly young and I am definitely not single, but because of my husband's church calling I have been able to attend a young single adult (YSA) ward for the past 8 months and I.LOVE.IT!!

This week we went on our annual summer trip which was held in south east Utah. It was fun to drive through towns in Utah that I had never seen before, like Moab and Monticello. I have already mapped out a future road trip for Michael and I (he wasn't able to go this time).

Our destination was Blanding; when we arrived we drove up to the top of a mountain where we stayed at Camp Jackson.

Many of our YSA spent Tuesday at Canyonlands National Park (Caitlin drove there, it was a 200 mile round trip!!) while others hiked around the camp area. As for me; my favorite part of the trip was being able to have a couple of days away where I could relax, and visit, and laugh 'til it hurt.

Young Womanhood Recognition

For the past six years Caitlin has been involved in the young women's personal progress program of our church. Today in sacrament meeting, she received her Young Womanhood Recognition award, which is a result of setting and completing many goals and projects in this program. We are very proud of her for accomplishing this. I can't believe that she will be eighteen-years-old this coming week and leaving the young women's program. It has gone by way to fast. We love you Rosie!!

2010 Strong

This morning Caitlin left for our stakes youth conference; 2010 Strong. For the next four days they will be re-enacting what life was like for the people in The Book of Mormon.

This youth conference has been in the works for a year, and for several months the youth have been involved in rehearsals of re-enactments from The Book of Mormon which they will perform while they are there.

This morning the entire stake was invited to come witness the first re-enactment scene before the youth left for Zarahemla (our stake camp). In this scene, Lehi's family were sitting in their living room listening as Lehi told them that they must leave Jerusalem before it is destroyed. Lehi's family danced around their sofa as music began to play and Alex Boyer... yes, I said Alex Boyer (well known LDS recording artist, I've watched him perform at BYU Women's Conference for the past four years) came out and sang the theme song (written by him) for the youth conference. After singing, he spoke (powerfully) to the youth. What a way to start a youth conference... our kids are in for a great week.

The Primary Program

Sunday I attended my son Andy's ward to see the primary program. I love the primary program each year, it is always one of my favorite sacrament meetings. Adam and Zach both knew the songs and sang them so well, Zach did such a good job with his speaking part; but I must admit that I had my eye on another little boy. This was a little boy that only I could see. It was my "little boy"; Andy. Andy is the ward organist. As I watched my "little boy" walk up the aisle I couldn't help but smile at the bounce in his step; the same bounce he has had for as long as I can remember. As he played the hymns, I had a smile on my lips and a tear in my eye as I thought about my "little boy" at eight years old riding his bike to Granma's house so that he could practice the piano. I remembered his first piano recital when he played "Andy the Android". As I watched him play the organ I couldn't help but smile as I watched him "move" with the music. Although he is a grown up man with three little boys of his own, he will always be my "little boy". And what a good boy he is.

Region Champion's

Our men's basketball team went all the way to the region's final championship game....and WON!!!

A Brand New Year

Caitlin had an amazing experience this past fall as she was invited to audition for and then participate in a church DVD made for the youth. It is called A Brand New Year and is available to watch online today (we already watched the opening musical number where we saw several Caitlin sightings). She had the opportunity to attend many rehearsals at the Relief Society Building and the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, as well as a recording session at the LDS filming studio in Provo. The production was taped before a live audience of 21,000 youth and their leaders on the nights of November 5 and 6 in the Conference Center. A highlight for me was when 21,000 For The Strength of Youth pamphlets were waved high in the air as a commitment that our youth will follow these values in their daily lives.

Caitlin at A Brand New Year rehearsal

To The Women In My Life

Tomorrow evening the women of the church (and the world) will have the opportunity to listen to our leaders during the annual General Relief Society Meeting. I have my DVR set to record, as I will be at Caitlin's opening performance of Les Mis . The choir for tomorrow nights meeting is under the direction of Merrilee Webb, an amazing musician and teacher. I have the privilege of being in another choir, We Also Sing which is also under the direction of Merrilee. She is a gifted teacher of the gospel, and as I go home from each rehearsal I feel that I've been fed spiritually; not only by the beautiful music that we are singing, but also the thoughts which she shares with us each week. It has been a learning experience for me and I've enjoyed every minute. I'm hoping to recruit some of you to join the choir for next years performance. The concert will be November 1st in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at 5:30 and 7:30 pm.

The New Bishopric

The new Bishopric in the West Bountiful 10th ward sustained on August 17, 2008:
2nd counselor; David Tovey, Bishop; James Hadlow, 1st counselor; Michael Leger

August 15

There was a time when I thought that August 15, 1990 was the last happy day of my life, thank goodness that idea was short lived. Instead I came to realize that that day was the last day of a part of my innocence; because it was on August 16, 1990 we found out that our 3 year old daughter Ashleigh had a brain tumor. On August 16th my eyes were opened to some of the realities of life; one of them being, things like this don't just happen to other people; they can and do happen to me. I am other people. I still remember months later as we knew Ashleigh's life with us was coming to a close, our Bishop came to visit one evening and to offer words of comfort. I remember holding my daughter and looking into his eyes and saying..."I know all that you are telling me is true... but I need to know how I'm going to make it through the next 50 years." Well, I've made it through nearly 17 of those 50 years. How I've done it? First and foremost my testimony in the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the same teachings my Bishop tried to comfort me with. And next, just day to day living, putting one foot in front of the other. Things happen on a daily basis that keep the course of our lives moving and changing, it is unpredictable. And last, I can testify that time is a great healer. I think of Ashleigh every day. She is a light for our family. She has parents, 3 older brothers, and a younger sister who love her. That same younger sister who is a gift from Heavenly Father, to us. She has sisters-in-law and nephews who have never met her, but love her. I know someday we will have a joyous reunion that I can't even comprehend; but in the meantime I am quite happy being on this side of the veil with the ones I love here. August 15th may have been the last day of a part of my innocence; but August 16th was the awakening of a new day as my lifes course was changed forever.

Days of '47 part 2: The Osmonds

I was fourteen years old when I fell in love with the Osmonds. I actually only fell in love with Donny, but I loved the music of the whole group. I take full responsibility for introducing my siblings to the Osmonds (sorry sisters-in-law), my own children grew up listening to their music as well. For some reason when an Osmond song comes on, particularly Love Me For A Reason, someone grabs the nearest microphone substitute and starts lip syncing (it is rumored that one of my sons while attending the same party as Waynes daughter sang an Osmond song for her...seriously. I won't say who it is but I'll give his initials J. Leger or....Jeff L.). It's always a lot of fun. I attribute my ear for harmony to the fact that I listened to their albums and harmonized with the Osmonds in my youth. It would have been my dream come true to see an Osmond concert in the 70's, but it never happened. In my teenage years the famous brothers didn't even perform in Utah; but I have had a few Osmond sightings over the years including seeing Donny in concert three years ago and a few years back seeing him in "Joseph..." but my teenage dream came true on July 26; as part of the Days of '47 celebration the Osmonds performed at the Conference Center with the Tabernacle Choir. Mike and I took Caitlin and Chelsea (who are both at the age I was when I first fell in love with the Osmonds) and we were pretty excited to discover that our seats were way down in the front. All seven of the performing Osmonds were there, and near the end they invited their two older brothers up to the stage to do sign language for their final numbers. It was an amazing evening and we all loved it. It was hard to hold back the tears as they performed Through the Years and photos of the family were displayed on the big screens, even the Osmonds had a difficult time singing through their tears.The Osmonds will always be one of the fondest memories of my youth. I'm glad my daughter was able to see them in her teenage years; and that she was there when one of my teenage dreams was fulfilled.

Camping and Trekking; It's Gonna Be An Endless Summer

The last two weeks in June were extremely busy. It seems like that is the way it goes sometimes, a bunch of stuff all at the same time and then we have nothing to do (although looking ahead at the July calander it's looking pretty busy too). We started out with ward girl's camp in Ogden Canyon. I'm second counselor in my ward YW's presidency so I get to go to camp with Caitlin. We were gone four days and three cold nights. But it was a great experience and we all enjoyed ourselves. Mike came for one day and night as a Priesthood leader and it was fun having him there too.
As soon as we got home from camp we were rushing to get Caitlin ready for pioneer trek (a re-enactment of the Mormon pioneers who pulled handcarts across the plains). I was busily sewing her pioneer clothes every night after work and I think she looked pretty cute in them. She was a bit apprehensive about going but was determined that she would do it. She left on Thursday morning the 26th and got home on Saturday night. Friday night Mike and I went up to trek so that Mike could help out with the music while the trekkers square danced. She was happy to see us but was quite busy with her trek "family". She was a happy camper, I mean trekker.
There were about 17 "families" on trek, this is Caitlin's trek "family" (Caitlin is on the back row wearing black)

On Saturday our week ended with West Bountiful's 4th of July celebration. Yes, we celebrated the 4th of July on June 28th. Endless Summer has become West Bountiful's favorite hometown band. Hundreds gathered at the city park for the concert which was followed by fireworks. It was a great celebration!!