march around here

I've waited a really long time to see a picture like this:

He still listens to books all the time but has never liked the act of physical reading. He saw someone reading this at play practice and asked if we could get it. I've never been so happy to buy a book.

At 17 weeks, I had to take an early glucose test because I had gestational diabetes with Ben. I really hate drinking that drink. Disgusting. I passed. Barely. My number was 133 and the limit is 140. Methinks it is a high possibility that I will fail the next one I have to take at 28 weeks.

We took Nathan in to the podiatrist. He really has trouble walking and running as a 9 year old should. The doctor told him he looked like an old man. The doctor thought it had to do with rapid growth and gave him orthotics. He also had a wart removed. Hopefully, we will see improvement soon. He is a really active kid and it would be great if he could move more easily.

The American Heritage Youth Chorus that Emma sings with had a joint concert with the American Heritage Philharmonic Orchestra. It was a really amazing performance. Obviously very well rehearsed. I love seeing youth using their talents like that. I wish I had been able to get a better/longer recording.

Baseball season has started. I was rather silly this year and signed up both Sawyer and Nathan. I thought that soccer and baseball seasons would not overlap that much. Wrong. Because soccer started late this year, they are completely concurrent. This means 4 baseball games and at least 3 soccer games each week. ACK! Sawyer played t-ball last year and is doing machine pitch this year. As with most athletic things, he is a natural. Nathan has never played baseball before but he seems to like it despite his low skill level. Dave has been catching and hitting with the boys a lot at lunch and in the evening. I think they especially love that.

Slade has passed Emma in height. Emma knew it was coming but she isn't very happy about it.

a night on broadway

I am our stake's cultural arts director. As part of that calling, I am responsible for two activities a year. One is the Christmas Choirside that we do in December. The other activity varies in theme but usually happens in the spring. This year I proposed doing a stake Broadway revue.

I wrangled my good friend, Lisa, into being my assistant director. She was amazing and I could not have pulled this off without her. We began with a casting call in January. Stake members either came with a specific song that they wanted to perform or sang a church hymn/Primary song so they could be included in one of the three large ensembles. We had rehearsals on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings in January and February.

The activity was on March 8. We did two shows and had a great turn out from the stake. I think we ended up with a great line up with a good mix of performers and Broadway shows. I was able to get a live band for several of the numbers with the help of the awesome and talented people in my ward.

Sawyer and Nathan were in the children's ensemble. They keep asking me when we are going to do it again. Emma felt forced into performing but I think had fun in the end. Dave loved the whole thing and spent lots of time singing his songs until all the kids knew them too.

More pictures here.
Videos of the shows here.

It was a crazy amount of work but I think it was a positive experience for all involved from performers to audience. I had never really been in the director position before. I thought it would be hard to watch and not feel sad that I wasn't performing myself. In reality though, it was awesome to sit back and feel great satisfaction at what I (with lots of help) was able to pull together.

song of the heart

Doctrine and Covenants 25:12
For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart;
yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.

We had an interesting sacrament meeting today. Each of the 5 speakers were asked to choose a favorite hymn. They spoke about why they loved the hymn and then we sang each one. I'm still undecided if I really enjoyed the meeting or not. I'm leaning toward not. It isn't that I don't love the hymns, or music, or singing. I really do. I just don't like to sing hymn after hymn. That alone doesn't really help me feel the spirit. It just makes me tired. A sacrament meeting with two or three musical numbers and a couple of congregational hymns would have been entirely different. Know what I mean?

Anyhow, I was thinking about what I would have chosen as a favorite hymn. Tough choice. Since I don't have to choose just one for a talk, I thought I would share more.

How Firm a Foundation, Hymn 85
I love the 3rd verse. We learned it last year in Primary and as I taught the children these words, I told them how this verse is like a love note from the Lord.
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

I Need Thee Every Hour, Hymn 98
It seems we rarely sing this hymn. I love it though.

Master, the Tempest is Raging, Hymn 105
A rarely sung but powerful song. I especially like the third verse.
Master, the terror is over. The elements sweetly rest.
Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored, And heaven's within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer! Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor And rest on the blissful shore.
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will: Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No water can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace be still;
They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, peace, be still.

Come, Ye Disconsolate, Hymn 115
Come ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish;
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts; here tell your anguish.
Earth has no sorrow that heavn' cannot heal.

There is Sunshine in My Soul Today, Hymn 227
There is music in my soul today, A carol to my King.
And Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing.

I suppose if I had to pick just one, I would likely choose this one:
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee, Hymn 141
Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see
And in thy presence rest.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!

I won't mention the ones I don't like to sing but there are a few of those too. I am grateful that my church puts such emphasis on music and that it is a regular part of our meetings. I am so glad that I get to teach wonderful songs to the Primary children each week. It is such a joy to hear them bear their testimonies through music.

Doctrine and Covenants 136: 28
If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music,
with dancing, and with a prayer of thanksgiving