This lady week. Tuesday I went to a friend's house and dressed up "Georgina"- a one time thing that I didn't plan on sharing on Facebook. Oh well. That night was a relief society activity on scripture study. I went late because George had not been sleeping well and when he took a nap I decided I wasn't going to wake him. It was good-they talked about family scripture study, personal scripture study and studying as a couple. All of my scripture study could be improved. I'm going I will have a routine down by the time George can remember. Jon and I have tried now and then but we're not great. Several people mentioned that they feel a gospel conversation with their spouse is more important than reading scriptures with them. So I want to start discussing what we learn in our personal studies and share testimonies in a sense each day. This also means I'll have to read daily to have something to share.
Wednesday I took a lady (I now visit teach her) to a doctor's appointment. I then went shopping, briefly, for George and got him some plastic animals! I want him to have done of the basics- a shape toy (like a shape sorter), animals, eventually some type of car and train set. .. but different things so he can explore, create, learn, and experience different types of play. Anyways, then I picked up George, went back to get the lady and took her to the pharmacy. I waited for her there-i think it took an hour-but a long time. I locked the doors and fed George in the back seat and got him out to play. Jon picked up subway and we ate in the car. Then I dropped her back off at home. I got home and had a little while before going out with the missionaries. We went to a member's home who lives about 30 minutes away to teach his brother. George slept for part of the drive. The member, brother Thomas asked to hold George. His wife has been gone for a few weeks visiting grandkids around the country. Brother Thomas asked if he could feed him applesauce, so I said sure. George's first applesauce. We left a little before planned because of an incoming snowstorm. I dropped off the missionaries but invited the sisters back for dinner before institute choir. (Choir ended up being canceled due to snow).
Thursday we went grocery shopping and then I didn't go anywhere else with George. Friday was world day of prayer. RaeAnn, a friend here, had offered to host it at our church and helped put together part of the program. I guess every year the organization picks a country that writes a program and prayer that is said all over the world, but then there's some flexibility within the program. She had asked me and some others to sing a primary sing that fit with the theme. For the scripture reading, she used a part of one of the new videos or church has. She also used clips of the Mormon tabernacle choir and had a lady in our ward give a talk about how the theme for this year applied to her. It had to do with the Savior washing his apostles feet and saying do you know what I have done for you? The lady (since I've been here) recently had her 4th child. Things were normal until her 7th month and she started experiencing a lot of pain. There were many complications and a lot of blood. I can't remember how much blood but it was a large amount. I have a friend who works in labor and delivery and also helps in emergency cases and she said she's never seen anything that bad before. Both her and her baby are a miracle. And then after there was food that's common to the country (this year was the Bahamas). Anyways, that was good and fun. I missed institute but we went to the married class that evening. It was on callings.
Saturday we went to the ymca, and then to red lobster for lunch. Oh, Friday, jon talked to one of the teachers on his committee about the test. She had given two questions and I guess passed one but "hadn't wanted to".I guess it said to discuss something about 8 arias briefly. The other question said to use complete sentences and this one did not, so jon used bullet points. She gave a time limit of 30 minutes and I guess was mad that his interpretation of briefly was not complete sentences and was not over 8 pages long. (I don't know how you could both gather your thoughts and write over 8 pages of complete sentences in just 30 minutes). Anyways, the other question had to do with tenor roles he's performed. When telling him what to study she said she wanted his approach to the roles and his experience performing them. When writing this way she said it was too personal and that he was an arrogant tenor thinking his approachwas what the world revolved around. Jon didn't say anything back to her, but I guess she didn't actually want any of his personal experience or approach at all. Red lobster was jons choice,as a result of that meeting (we try to go out once a week). We brought these mesh food things for George and I put some potato from my soup in it (which he really liked) and then some broccoli. After we went to the library and then I think home again.
Stake conference was rescheduled for this week and it was all about the temple and genealogy work. It was good and we sang in the choir. Bishop and his family watched George for us. Then this evening I had choir rehearsal! This is exciting because it's just me and it's paid! The first time I'm getting paid to sing ($250- a little more than $10/hr of rehearsal and performance time). It's an interesting piece by John Adams about 9/11... not sure why they're performing it in April though. .. I told them I often sing 2nd soprano but occasionally am asked and like to sing 1st soprano. Well I got there and they assigned me as 1st alto. Oh well. So I went with it. The lowest note is not very low but there are times when the 1st Altos are singing a high g (1st soprano range). It will be difficult but fun I think. :-)
Something fun- we're trying to organize a group to do a musical concert for kids. Songs we might do include: Skinnamarinkidinkidink, banana phone (by Raffi ), and maybe the theme to pink panther? And others. Just fun songs that introduce kids to different instruments and songs and types of music. We have friends with young kids who might be interested who can play the trumpet, jazz piano (and just piano),trombone, guitar, clarinet, violin, french horn and flute. If people are interested they'd learn to play a few songs and we'd see if the library would host it (they have a small theater where they do other things for families and kids )or somewhere else. We'll video tape it if we can put it together.
Spiritual thought comes from the relief society activity on scripture study. They had us divide in groups and practice a group study session and had picked out this talk for one of the groups. First off, the whole talk is good, "the infinite power of hope" by dieter f. Uchtdorf, October 2008, but I specifically liked this quote: "Is it possible to imagine a more glorious future than the one prepared for us by our Heavenly Father? ...No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 26"
At times I have to remind myself that there is nothing better than God's plan for me, even when it's not turning out how I wanted. He is perfect. He will not lead us astray. The reward and what He is preparing for us, we could not want anything more. But when we don't see the end result sometimes it's hard to remember to have hope in this statement. Can you imagine a better life, a better reward, than the one that a loving Father and perfect God has planned for you?
And pictures:
