Once in a Lifetime



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 Normally my posts don't involve me! (I do that on purpose) This one however IS all about me, Me, ME! (Sorry)


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First, a riddle: What do you get when you add picture 1, 2, & 3 together??



ME



ANSWER: The choir that I got to sing in!! Woot Woot!

Okay, so technically, this post isn't about just me...it involves another 364 women in the choir plus our fantabulous choir director, the General Relief Society Presidency, the General Relief Society Board, the First Presidency of the Church, and a whole bunch of beautiful women around the world! WOWZERS!! (phewff...makes me feel better that I'm not just posting about me!)

 Several months ago I received a calling (yes, it was a calling!) to be a member of the multi-stake choir from Eagle Mountain & Saratoga Springs that would be singing in the Relief Society General Women's Broadcast. I'm not sure I knew quite what I was getting into, but I'm glad I accepted the call because it was an experience that I will never forget.

 We started practice an August 21st, 2011 (1 month before the broadcast occured). Each Sunday evening we would meet together as a choir. We were blessed to hear from several Stake Presidents from each of the stakes, and from many of the RS Board Members each week as they would address us in a short devotional prior to our rehearsal. I'll have to admit, that after a long day of taking care of our responsibilities at church, taking care of our ward choir, and then usually getting home with only minutes to spare before having to run off to this choir, there were times when I wondered if it was really worth it. Then I would get to rehearsal, listen to the devotionals, and listen to our choir director, and think, "THIS, is why I'm here!" The time & effort (and lack of dinner) it took were definitely worth being part of the choir.

 Our choir director was Sis. Emily Wadley. She is a Jr. High choir teacher in Bountiful (and I'm pretty sure she'll have an extra 365 "older looking" 9th graders transfer into her classes next semester.) I can't say enough how wonderful she was. Her knowledge and experience were amazing (she has sung in several different choirs, and worked in church productions...including a pretty big role in 17 Miracles), but above and beyond that, the spirit that she radiated was PRICELESS! She was bubbly, happy, funny, energetic, and she took her responsibilities seriously...meaning, she was prepared. It was a blessing to be able to be with her each week!

 On Saturday Sept. 17, we had a dress rehearsal in the conference center. Pres. Draper (our Stake President) and Sis. Barbara Thompson addressed. I've never seen Pres. Draper so nervous, but he spoke of the hymn, "High on a Mountain Top", and how we would be the banner to the world as we sung our praises to the Lord during the meeting. Sis. Thompson shared her gratitude with us for participating in the choir.

 The following week, Saturday, Sept. 24, we met at 12 noon...boarded un-air conditioned school buses, and drove up to the conference center. We had a short rehearsal, followed by a quick meeting with the Relief Society General Presidency (Sis. Julie B. Beck, Sis. Sylvia Allred, Sis. Barbara Thompson), followed by a more thorough rehearsal (complete with camera's), lunch, and then finally, the meeting (and our performance).

 As for me...well, I got to do my part in the choir! I got to participate in a historic meeting, and sit not far from our RS Leaders, Apostles, and even our Prophet. It was a blessing, and a real "a-ha" moment as I sat and listened to Pres. Uchtdorf share his message with the sisters! I'm so glad I was able to participate...to be able to share my testimony of the gospel all over the world...through song. I think that was my favorite part...and the easiest way to be able to share my testimony. No tears, no nerves, just standing there with my friends singing about the joy that the gospel brings into my life!! AMEN! (Wonder if the Bishop would let me give more testimony like that! LOL!)

If you didn't get a chance to watch the broadcast, I would encourage you to watch it...not me...it, the broadcast! But, for posterity sake, here is the link to one of the songs that we sang: The Morning Breaks. Arrangment by Mack Wilberg (gotta LOVE him!)

Who's Kid is that Anyway?

We have a lot of kids on our street, and Kenny came home with this story the other day:

One of our neighbors was out working in the yard the other day when a kid rode by on his scooter singing a little song to himself: "I'm on the highway to hell..."

The neighbor stopped the child and politely commented, "Maybe you should sing a different song...I don't think your parents would like you singing that song." To which the child replied, "No, it's okay...this is my dad's FAVORITE song!" and he rode away happily singing his little tune.

After I finished chuckling at the story, Kenny asked me if I could guess who the budding rock star was. I replied that it could have been any number of children on our block, but immediately got a sinking feeling in my stomach because yes, I could indeed guess who the budding rock star was...Rylen! (My only consolation is that Rylen said it was DAD's favorite song...not MOM's...pfweff!)

Curse you Mega Mind!!

Sunday Recap

I have plenty of other pictures & posts on the back burner, but this particular conversation was too good not to post:

We always get a recap at dinner of the kids church lessons. Apparently, yesterday we learned about:

fruit snacks (Bright),

Lemen & Lamuel (Rylen),

the parable of the mustard seed that fell on the rocks (Breven),

how exactly to pass out flowers to mom's in sacrament meeting (*very pertinent...especially since those flowers were passed out an hour before!) (Jackson),

and the parable of the blind man and the widow with no money who only had 5 loaves, 2 fishes & some water that had been turned into wine. (Ashlynn) 

Kenny and I were rolling on the floor in tears...I mean, really??

Truthfully, Ashlynn's lesson was probably a little embelished because by the time we got around the table, and heard everyone else's lessons, we couldn't help but "help" her as she tried to remember the parable they talked about in class.

*We should probably note that the DAD'S all taught primary this week so the MOM'S could go to Relief Society, so we probably could have been expecting those particular recaps! LOL!

The {not-so-funny} April Fool's Day

While Kenny was away on a business trip, Rylen started complaining that one of his teeth was really hurting.  I ignored him...he's five, I figured one of his new teeth was about to come in.  When Kenny got home from his trip, Rylen's tooth was still hurting.  Kenny dismissed it as growing pains too.  Neither of us really thought anything of it until Rylen came downstairs for scriptures the morning of April 1st looking like this:

His upper lip and cheek were HUGE! We couldn't figure out what was going on, and then it hit us...the sore tooth probably stemmed from problems other than getting ready to lose a tooth.  But I wasn't sure what was causing the problem, and didn't know if it was something I should go to a doctor or dentist for.  I chose the doctor.  We couldn't get in to see our beloved Dr. Mike, but after spending an hour in the doc's office and having the dr. tell us he had no idea what was going on, we came home with an 10 day prescription for an antibiotic we hoped would help.

After a couple of days, the swelling in his lip and cheek were almost unnoticeable, but as we examined him, we noticed a couple of large absesses over his top front teeth.  Day 10 of the antibiotics, and the absesses, although smaller, were still there, so we made an emergency trip to see the dentist.  And the result is...

Our toothless wonder!

It turned out that for some unknown reason, one of Rylen's front teeth was in the process of dying, and caused an infection.  The choice was 2 root canals, OR 2 tooth extractions!  (Not much of a choice if you ask me!)  Anyhoo...we went ahead and pulled the teeth out right then and there.  *Note to self: NEVER, tell a kid that it will just be a quick and painless dental visit...just plead ignorance, and tell them the dentist will do what they have to do, and you're sure they're tough enough to handle anything!!*

Rylen actually did really well...especially since the dentist told me after the process that the anestetic probably didn't work very well because the anestetic was a base and the infection was an acid, so they cancelled each other out.  (It might have been nice to know that beforehand...then again, it might not have been).  Why is it that mom has to deal with all those painful, horrible memory moments like baby shots, and broken arms...and tooth extraction???  

Now, a couple days later, Rylen seems to be no worse for the wear.  Plus he looks pretty cute missing his 2 front teeth...which is a good thing because the dentist said he'll probalby be without them for a good long time.

A visit from the tooth fairy didn't hurt either.  $10!!  (The older siblings were trying to figure out a way to lose a few more teeth after they saw how generous the tooth fairy was).  Apparently the tooth fairy takes into account how the teeth actually came out of your mouth and reimburses you appropriately.

Here's to a happy kid, a healthy mouth...and {hopefully} never having to do that again!!

March Student of the Month

Rylen was given the Student of the Month Award for his kindergarten class in March.  He was given a bookmark, a pencil, a lollipop, and a certificate of achievement.  Mrs. Woffinden said she gave him the award this month because he was a good listener...hmmm, wish he'd show me that same character trait here at home!!

Congratulations Rylen!!

The Shark Project (yep...still in March)

Rylen's kindergarten class has been learning about animals this year, and the kids had to do a project on their favorite animal.  The project included a report, and a model of the animal.  Rylen chose a shark...

He wrote all the text and drew the pictures:

Sharks book by: Rylen

Sharks eat meat and seals.

A shark has 3000 teeth



Sharks have to swim to brethe



Sharks do not chew their food.

Then he worked on his shark model with his Dad...it looked pretty good!

Good job Rylen!!

More of the same in March

March began the way February left off...basketball, basketball, and a little more basketball.

The boys didn't smell any better as the season went on...but they went undefeated, so I guess it was all worth it in the end.  Jackson still needs a little work on his free throws, but his defense got better as the season went on, and he definitely played an integral part in an his teams winning season!

Takin' the ball in...

Makin' the shot...

Takin' one for the team
(Jackson took on Connor for the offensive charge call)

Blocking the shot...

If only we could make a free throw...

For their part, Breven, Rylen, & Bright, couldn't wait for game day...to practice their skills!  (We may still have a little work to do with them.)



To cap off the season, the coaches to all the boys to a Jazz game. Hooray for a great basketball season...now on to baseball!