Stay in the boat and my first paid singing gig

This last week felt really busy to me. I had rehearsals every night and a performance Saturday. My first paid gig! If any are interested, it's,  "On the Transmigration of Souls" by John Adams. It's considered to be "minimalism"- I don't really know what that means but it's supposed to be about 9/11 and two climaxes, one when each tower is hit. There are times when the instruments sound like traffic and cars honking and it was REALLY hard to sing. Most of the times our notes were not played by any instrument and often clashed with what others were singing/playing. I was not part of the main chorus but a small children's chorus that's almost inaudible on some YouTube recordings. Anyways, it's a weird piece. It was moving, live. If you want to look it up I would recommend just jumping around and not listening to the whole thing. The last 5 minutes is after the choir is done singing. I think it was the most challenging piece I've ever sang, especially since I was a first alto and had weird jumps. My part went from an a below middle c to a g- the one just above the staff.

We had a few babysitters throughout the week and George seemed to have fun.

In other news, George got shots and we got a new (to us) toy. He's banging stuff so I got a drum thing with some attachments for $3.50.

I don't remember much else from the week.

Sunday, I fed Georgeat the end of sacrament, I went to the bathroom, then got settled in Sunday school and then realized George needed a diaper change and a change of clothes. So I missed Sunday school. I helped jon out in nursery the third hour. He has the best behaved nursery class I've ever seen. They have three nurseries and Jon is in the middle one. The door was opened and no one tried to escape. They sat for snack, listened to a lesson, no hitting or pushing, everyone helped clean up... anyways, I was impressed.

Jon had meetings after church, he didn't remember about one, that went til one, so we didn't plan to drive separately, but George was pretty good and he made friends with two twins in the other ward. They're a few months older than George, 2 or 3 months older and we know the parents and George has seen the parents but their twins have either been at home or sleeping when we've seen the parents. Last night we went to a fireside where a recent convert gave her conversion story and then we had an impromptu game night.

Oh, Jon had his retake exam on Friday and felt much better about things.

Spiritual thought- for Friday forum we listened to the talk that says to "stay in the boat". Because of George, I don't remember all of it but I started thinking of the Titanic. No boat is immune to sinking. We all can hit an iceberg. So we need to continue to make repairs when needed by going to church, reading scriptures, praying, going to the temple, etc. We need to be spiritually prepared for emergencies and make sure we have enough life boats. Plans may change but we need to stay afloat and keep heading towards our destination. Just because our mode of transportation may change temporarily doesn't mean we give up on our destination.

I am grateful for the Lord's hand in our Lives - April 19, 2015

So I haven't blogged for awhile - I don't know - just got out of the habit and fell into the pit of Danny, Carly, Cassie, Katie and Julie (don't know if we included Michelle, Jon and Dad). Some have written some and others none. Jamie has been the only consistent one.

I makes me think of the Old Testament when you'd get to the parts and So-and-So begat So-and-So, who begat So-and-So.... It's like catching up. Haha

I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to go from here.

So grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives so much lately. So grateful for the gospel and His blessings.

So happy Michelle and Danny's baby is doing well. Grateful that we could fast as a family and have a part in that blessing. With that, always grateful for George and how cute and wonderful he is! A week doesn't go by that someone doesn't say something about him (and he doesn't even live here and I'm not even social).

Happy that Julie is doing well and does well with me gone. It makes me sad sometimes that she doesn't seem to need me. Every weekend she has friends that she is hanging out with. It allows me to go and help Cassie with her kidney stone or go this past week when Carly graduated. AND with that, grateful that Dad supports me so I can do those things and helps out (or Danny and Michelle).

Carly is the first college grad. It was so intense and stressful her last week of school and the competition in Boise. She can handle stress, but when hours after her first thoughts were something about the competition - she just couldn't get her mind to stop.

Somehow we got through graduation and opened Katie's call - Piura, Peru. Still wake up and  have to say that to myself. It seems unreal, but so happy for that little tender mercy that will connect her and Carly. (In a way, a lot of Louisiana and Houston were a like too). I really didn't think Katie would wait a week to open her call - she did it!!! A mission in hard, but Katie will be a great missionary.

Cassie is getting through this semester. I know there were many times when she thought it wasn't possible, but she's got to feel proud of all the things she's accomplished and survived. Now the question will be, "Can she allow herself to slow down?"

So I'm in the process of planning the time left with Katie. I'm trying to consider everyone's demands and schedules. I wish life was more simple, but I'm good at trying to fit in as much as we can. I realize that life is changing and feel a little torn with my family (those not married) and those that are married and moving on with their family. I know things won't always seem fair or the way we would want them to be. (If everyone would just commit to live in the same place, but everyone needs to follow where the Lord wants them). This next Christmas Jon and Jamie will be in Utah (?) and Danny and Michelle will be in GA (?). Carly's program is 16 months, pretty much straight through, Cassie won't want to be home...and I still have Julie home. Next summer - it will probably be Danny and Michelle and Julie. I don't know how everything will work out, but please know that even if someone's not happy with how things work out, I love you and wish things could be different. I wish everyone could go to Peru, but I'm more happy that we have George. I am happy that Michelle is pregnant and doing well. I am proud of the decisions they have made to start their families and their families are important.

And I'll end with just a few thoughts that I had written just before Easter.

I haven't written in a couple weeks. An unexpected trip to Utah. Thinking about the Last Week of the Savior's life. Oddly the part that stood out to me this year was Peter. When the Apostles and the Savior are all together and the Savior tells them that one will betray him. and Peter announces that he is ready to follow Jesus anywhere, even to death. The Savior says, "Really??? Cause before this night is over you will deny me, not one, not two, but three times". A couple times the next couple days I realized that I too, was denying Christ. One time was when a friend who is Christian, but married a Jewish man told me his parents were coming for Passover from Jerusalem. I was more concerned with respecting and listening to her. I did take time to visit with a Muslim man, tell him I was Mormon and made a new friend at the same time. But I should do more. Oh yeah, most people who know me, know that I am Mormon, they know my values and they know I live my values. But I need to be more active in sharing how the gospel blesses my life, how the atonement works in my life, how the Holy Ghost guides and comforts me.

I am grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives.