Monday, December 19, 2011

The Highs and Lows of Singing

Yesterday at church I was all ready to teach my Primary class - and no one showed up! Two of the kids were out of town and the other girl was sick. So I went in to Relief Society.

This is where the low of singing comes in.

We sang "O My Father" for the Opening Song and "Families Can Be Together Forever" for the Closing Song. Don't get me wrong - I like both of those songs, and I'd be happy to sing them most other times. But it was the week before Christmas, for crying out loud!!! Why were we not singing Christmas songs!! I don't care what the lesson is about - you should sing Christmas songs the week before Christmas!!

Can you tell I feel very passionately about this?

Fortunately, last night I experienced a high of singing. My sister's ward was working with a Methodist church to put on a Messiah Sing-a-Long. The soloists had been assigned and had been practicing, and there were some people who had been attending practices to learn their parts. But the rest of us just went that night and got to sing the great songs from the Messiah.

If you've never sung the Messiah, you should sometime. The music is beautiful and fun and challenging to sing. The last time I sang it, I was a soprano, but I can't hit those notes anymore! So last night I sang the alto part for the first time, along with Kimberly and my two nieces. I didn't hit every note, but I hit enough of them so that I didn't embarrass myself!

There were probably over 300 people there, so it was a large group singing. After we sang the first song, "And the Glory of the Lord", the four of us could hardly contain ourselves! We were so excited! To feel the power of that beautiful work being sung was so incredible. The "Hallelujah" Chorus was, of course, the highlight of the evening. I never fail to be moved by that majestic piece.

I was tired last night, but I'm so glad I made the hour drive to Clear Lake to participate in the Messiah Sing-a-Long. What a beautiful way to remember our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Fortunately, the high was much higher than the low was low. (If that makes sense at all).

Monday, December 12, 2011

I Know the Feeling

Friday evening, Kimberly and I went out for dinner. There was a family of five seated near us. Mom and Dad, plus 3 kids. Two boys, ages about 14 and 10, and a little girl, age about 6.

After Kimberly and I finished our meal, she slipped off to the restroom. So I was watching the family, who had just received their food. I'm nosy like that. The 10-year-old somehow stuck his sleeve in some sort of sauce, so he and the Mom were working at wiping it off. The older brother must have been making comments, because suddenly the Mom leaned toward him and said the following (with accompanying hand gestures):

"Just please stop commenting! Please! Just stop it! You are so exhausting!"

Then she resumed eating, while I tried to keep from laughing out loud!

You are so exhausting!

I'm going to remember that one!