9 & 3

November Birthdays

Dallin turned 9.

To celebrate Dallin's birthday, we took him to see Harry Potter 7.  It was the first one he's ever seen in the theater and it's probably the scariest one they've made.  But he just plugged his ears if it got to be too much.  When he got home, he told Daphne that the worst part was a kissing part that he thought was totally disgusting.  So it seems that the scary parts didn't both him very much.  ;) When we got back, from the movie, we had a BYU football game to watch, with some friends. So he had friends over on an "no party year"  but technically, it didn't count as a "party."   

Dallin with his blanket from Nona.
The kids all love their blankets that she made for each of their birthdays and use them whenever we watch movies.

Dallin on his new bike

Hayden turned 3

His "movie" blanket from Nona.

I asked Hayden what he wanted for his birthday dinner, and he replied, "I can't tell you mom."  ?  He ended up choosing pizza.  We also had a dance party to his current favorite song, from his current favorite movie, Ice Age 3, and enjoyed opening presents and eating cake.  He opened a card from Nona and Papa with $10 in it, and proceeded to dance all over the room holding the bill and singing this little ad lib song:  "I got money!  I got money!  I'n tho big!  big, BIG, BIG!" It seems that He's thoroughly enjoying being 3 so far.

The first time I heard this song about a year ago, I loved it.   I'm always on the look-out for good music, but since I'm ward choir director right now, I'm especially compulsive about it.  This year, I'm using a Christmas program that I put together back in 2007 for another ward choir.  But I'll be doing a new one next year, and this song will definitely be among the chosen ones.

Alright, here's what I recommend.  Take a couple of minutes- Open the link in a new window, then read the text while you listen.  And then you can  listen to it a few more times while you're doing the dishes or folding laundry or something.  It's a beautiful message and the music is so moving! oh, I love it.  A great way to remember the reason for the season! Enjoy!

http://www.danforrest.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/18-carol-of-joy.mp3

Carol Of Joy

Green leaves all fallen, withered and dry;
Brief sunset fading, dim winter sky.
Lengthening shadows,
Dark closing in...

Then, through the stillness, carols begin!

Oh fallen world, to you is the song--
Death holds you fast and night tarries long.

Jesus is born, your curse to destroy!
Sweet to your ears, a carol of Joy!

Pale moon ascending, solemn and slow;
Cold barren hillside, shrouded in snow;
Deep, empty valley veiled by the night;
Hear angel music--hopeful and bright!

Oh fearful world, to you is the song--
Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong!
Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound--

A carol of joy!

A Saviour is found!

Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes!
Thrill to the chorus filling the skies!
Look up sad hearted--witness God's love!
Join in the carol swelling above!

Oh friendless world, to you is the song!
All Heaven's joy to you may belong!
You who are lonely, laden, forlorn--
Oh fallen world!
Oh friendless world!

To you,

A Saviour is born!

Good news!

I went up to Los Alamos and saw and ENT on Monday (all the ABQ ent's were booked until February!)  And I don't have nodules, like I thought.  It's just swelling-- which is much easier to fix than nodules.  Apparently they've just been swollen since I got sick back in September.  I can talk!  (No yelling or over-doing it of course.)  All I have to do is no singing for two weeks while I take some steroids to help reduce the swelling quickly.  After that, I should be back to normal.  I feel so blessed that it isn't a bigger problem!


Arthur went with me to my appointment, and frankly, we were both kind-of preparing for the worst.  We were trying to come up with a plan for if I needed to fly out to UCDavis Medical Center and have surgery followed by six-weeks of vocal rest and what we would do with the kids during that time-- who might be able to help us for certain chunks of time, etc. etc.  So when the doctor told me they looked fine except for some swelling, I wanted to jump out of my chair and hug him!  


I'd been so worried about the possibility of losing my singing voice and what I'd have to do to get it back--It's been this constant nagging worry in the back of my mind.   It's such a huge part of my life, not only for personal enjoyment, but also, it's the primary way I serve the Lord, especially since right now my callings are Ward Choir Director, and Stake Choir Director.  I'd like to think that I've come a long way since High School, and that my identity isn't solely based on my musical abilities anymore.  But when faced with the prospect of going through that same thing with the long recovery, and all the uncertainty about whether or not I'd be able to sing again, I kind of started panicking inside.


So I feel like a huge burden has been lifted--I feel physically lighter, and the tenseness I was harboring in my chest has eased.  Ask Arthur--I was skipping out to the car in the parking lot after my appointment, and have been thanking Heavenly Father every day since.  Thanks to Carrie who helped get me into that doctor, and thanks to all of you who were praying for me. I really appreciate your thoughts and concern and faith in my behalf.

Fall Leaves and Memory pictures

So since we've been without a working camera for awhile, I've actually been learning some good lessons about being a part of the moment, and better enjoying the memories with my kids instead of always trying to "capture" the moments. 

The other day my kids all went outside and played in the leaves.  Of course my first thought was, "Dang it, I don't even have a camera to take pictures with!"  But then I thought, "Go out and play with them.  The memory of playing together will be more meaningful than me always standing by and taking pictures."  So I got out the leaf-blower, and helped them make a giant pile to jump into off the trampoline.  And I'm glad I took time to do that.

When we finally get another camera, I'm going to try to be mindful about being a part of the memories, rather than on the sidelines behind the viewfinder.

Jipped

I bought some chocolate chip cookies the other day at Smith's.  They were an impulse buy.  Sitting there in their little plastic cartons, fresh from the bakery and only $1.  I couldn't wait to get home and munch on some after lunch. As soon as we ate our lunch, I dug into those cookies.  I bit into one, and began savoring the goodness, when to my utter disappointment, I discovered there were no chocolate chips.  They were RAISINS!  Seriously, I think raisins in cookies are the worst idea.  They totally ruin a perfectly good cookie.  Now, admittedly, I sometimes enjoy a good Oatmeal Raisin cookie, but only if I know what I'm biting into beforehand.  And I would never buy them on purpose.  I think they should put a big neon sticker on cookies with raisins that says: "Beware of RAISINS!"

Day Six

This is day six of vocal silence.  In the last several days, I have taken care of five kids silently, taught 4 silent piano lessons, and directed a silent choir rehearsal.  I use a trusty white board, mouthing words, and lots of hand signs (too bad I don't actually know sign language!)  When he's here, Arthur is my interpreter.  He added lots of good insight and praise of the choir during our last choir practice.  :)  He made me a sign to wear to Messiah rehearsal last night--too bad we didn't get  a picture of it-- I wore it around my neck and it said, "Sorry I can't talk--I am on vocal rest for 3 weeks."  Kind of ridiculous, but very effective.  I sat in the back and listened for balance and other areas that need improvement.

Thoughts/Lessons learned so far:

1. Kids respond a lot better to silence than to yelling.  Instead of yelling across the house for them to get dressed or practice the piano or make their lunch.  I go right up to them and mouth the words while acting out what they are supposed to do.  And . . . they do it.  awesome.  I think they like the little extra attention. Takes a little more energy, but it's working.

2. There has been less yelling/contention in our house by everyone since I have stopped talking.  interesting.

3.  Disciplining the younger ones is kind of hard.  I can't give verbal warnings, so when they do something wrong, I physically stop whatever it is they are doing, and if they repeat it, they go on time-out.  Hayden has learned that if he doesn't look at me, I can't tell him anything.  So sometimes I have to bonk his head to get his attention.

4.  I really miss laughing out loud.

5.  And I really missed singing yesterday--the hymns in church, the songs in choir practice and especially singing with the Messiah choir when we joined with the orchestra for the first time yesterday!  You know that saying, "You don't know what you had till it's gone."  Well, I appreciated what I had.  I love singing, especially in praise of my Redeemer.  And it tears me apart inside when I have to sit by and not join in.

6. Most of all, I miss talking with Arthur, singing to Sydney, and telling my kids I love them.  But I am trying to show it more physically with lots of hugs and kisses.  December 7th seems a long ways away.

7.  The ENT's around here are all booked until February.  I called several weeks ago and got an appointment for February 1st.  However, a friend of mine has a brother who's a doctor, who has an ENT friend in Los Alamos (about an hour & 1/2 away) who said he will get me in next week-when he gets back into town!  So we're calling to get an appointment with him,  and hopefully we can figure this out!

8. I am thankful for so many kind friends who've offered to help.  I appreciate all their well-wishes and prayers.  We're really doing pretty good--I can pretty much do everything I need to do--just a little quieter.  :)