About 3 months ago, I got an email from Merrilee Webb letting me know she had been asked to do a concert on Temple Square on Thanksgiving weekend.  I thought that sounded fun so I signed up for it.  I checked with Colleen to see if she wanted to do it too, but she said she was going to be out of town for a lot of the practices so she didn't think she could.  I sure missed going to the practices with her like we had done before in the other choirs we've been in, but it was fun to make some new friends too.

I had to miss a few of the practices too ...one because I was at Camilles' and then another night we had YWIE.  Each of these practices is pretty intense so it's hard to catch up if you miss.  They gave us a cd with our part on it for each song so that helped. 

Merrilee is just a special lady...totally crazy and hilarious to watch, but she knows how to get the very best out of the people she has to work with.  She makes each time we are together a spiritual experience.  Even though she is trying to pack so much into the two hours we have to practice, she takes time to talk about the songs and lets people share their own stories of how the songs and singing in this choir has uplifted them.  People really bare their souls.  Once again, hearing some of these ladies stories makes me so grateful for my own little drama free life.  I think some of these ladies kind of thrive on the drama and create it their selves...but some have real legitimate trials and hard things in their lives...things I can't even imagine going through.

Merrilee is always encouraging us to be positive and try to lift those around us with kindness.  We always leave the practice feeling better than when we came.

Every time we do a concert, the gals that help run the show, put together a gift we can all go in on to give to Merrilee.  This year, they decided to give her a big jar filled with notes from all of us about a kindness or act of service we had done during that time.  It was a pretty cool idea and got us all a little more motivated to do some good in the world.

When they presented it to her at the dress rehearsal, she was pretty overwhelmed and I think pleased.

 We were supposed to be at the tabernacle for the dress rehearsal at two so I left the house at about 1:15...knowing it was probably not going to be easy to find a parking place.  They said we could park in the conference center for free, so I pulled down in there.  I couldn't believe how many people there were in there driving around looking for a empty space!   I drove through the whole parking lot and there was not one open space.  Cars were just going around and around waiting for someone to leave.  By this time,  it was after two and I was sure having a full on panic attack.  To top it off, this lady in front of me driving this big white van was really struggling to make the turns and ran right into a big pole.  Then she just sat there... I mean I felt so bad for her, but that made it so no one could move.  Finally, she pulled herself together and tried to back off of the pole.   It made a terrible screeching noise and left a big scrape and dent down the side of her van.  Oh man, I felt bad for her!  After she moved and I could get past, I decided to go around one more time, then if there wasn't anything, I would have to go outside to try to find a parking spot.  I pulled around the corner and there right next to the elevator, a car was getting ready to pull out!  Oh I was so happy!  I wanted to go kiss those two ladies in that car!  I hurried and parked and hustled over to the  tabernacle.  I sit down next to another lady who had also had a stressful parking experience.  She mentioned that she was in such a hurry that she had forgotten her water bottle.  It was then that I realized that I had not only forgotten my water bottle, but my music as well!  So I took off and ran back to the conference center parking...(luckily I was in that fabulous parking spot right next to the elevator) grabbed my music  and water and ran back to the tabernacle.  When I got back, they were just moving up into the choir seats. 

I sat next to a gal that looked just like my old friend Shiree Parker.  In fact, I thought it was her till I started talking to her. She was a real nice lady though and it was fun to get to know her.  We had a three hour practice that just flew by.  It was interesting watching Merrilee manage all the different problems that arose.  She doesn't get flustered or upset or even stop smiling.  She just deals with it, works out a solution and moves on.  I am sure I would have curled up in a ball and cried during some of these situations.  At one point, the organ, the choir and the drums were all supposed to be moving along together in a marching kind of a beat.  The men were supposed to be coming onto the stage at this point and begin singing with the women in the middle of this grand marching song.  Well the men came in way too slow so they weren't even close to being on the stage when they were supposed to start singing, the organ was a beat behind us and the choir wasn't even all singing together.  If you just listened to what was going on around you, it was really easy to get  off the tempo...you had to watch Merrilee direct us to stay on beat.  She tried having the men file in three times and still they were too slow.  So we just left that song with her saying "It will all work out"  Ha!    But it actually did...the men hurried in as fast as they could and they just started singing before they got to the spot where they were going to stand. I just really admire the way she holds it together under super stressful circumstances.

We had planned for Kelley, Katie and KC to meet up with me after my practice at 5 and we would go to dinner before the concert at 7:30.  I felt bad Candice couldn't make it.  I had told her the concert was on Friday cause that's when I thought it was, and she had made other plans for Saturday by the time I told her that's when it was.  I know she really wanted to be there and would have been if she could.  Anyway, Kelley was there waiting for for me when we finished the practice and we walked over to City Creek to meet up with KC and Katie.  It took us a while to find each other...there were sooooo many people there!  When we finally met up, we tried to find a restaurant, but every single place had lines going clear down the sidewalk just to get in!  We were about ready to give up and Kate spotted Jimmy Johns that was kind of out of the way so not as many people were there.  We were able to get in fairly quick and even found a table to sit at!  (people were sitting everywhere...on the floor, on the steps, some were just standing eating their food... this place was just packed!)

I had to be back over to the tabernacle by 6:30, so I barely had time to shovel in my sandwich.

Kelley walked me back over to the Temple grounds which by the way were amazing!  It was a wonderfully warm evening...I bet it was close to 60 degrees so there were a million people down there to see the lights.  Can I just say how grateful I am for Kelley and the way he watches out for me and just pretty much treats me like a queen.  I was just thinking how glad I am that he is mine as he walked me to the doors of the Tabernacle, gave m a kiss and wished me good luck.

We all met in the lower room of the tabernacle and Merrilee and the other gal in charge talked to us for a bit before we went up to our choir seats.  It was pretty moving when she asked our pianist who, by the way is amazing, if she would share her story with us.  She proceeded to tell us that she had been diaganosed with breast cancer in February.  She had a double mastectomy and was still going through treatments and some reconstructive surgery.  She told us how her mother had died at the age of 46 from breast cancer and Carolyn had just turned 45.  She had worried that she wouldn't be able to be prepared to play because of the surgery's but felt blessed that she was being helped from a higher source as she played.  The music she had to play was incredibly hard and she played it flawlessly....seriously not one mistake.

The tabernacle was packed.  It sold out the first day the tickets were available.  I felt bad because Leslie and Alan were going to come but couldn't get tickets.  I tried to get some extra tickets but there were none to be had. 

The Tabernacle is kind of a magical place to get to sing and I sure felt honored to be sitting in those historic choir seats.  The music sounds especially beautiful because of the way the dome of the building was constructed.  It makes the sound so clear and loud...well, you can hear a pin drop. 

The songs went off without a hitch...except one that would have also made me cry if I was trying to direct it.  In this song, Merrilee goes out into the audience and asks people to come up with a one syllable word that reminds them of Christmas.  Then we  put those words into our music. I don't know if people don't know what one syllable means but they were coming up with words like solitude and cookies and santa!  Ha!  She didn't get flustered though and just laughed about it as we tried to fit solitude into a one syllable slot.  Ha!  It made the song really weird but I guess no one knew any different but us how it was supposed to sound.

It really was just a great experience and I'm so glad I got a chance to be a part of it.  I love music and the way it makes me feel.  Something hard to describe, but at times so moving that I have to stop singing (mostly because I have a big lump in my throat) and just take it all in.   I didn't inherit mum's beautiful singing voice, mine is ordinary and choir-ish, but she instilled in me a love for music and beautiful harmony that I will be eternally grateful for. 

We had the funnest day Friday.  Katie had thought it would be fun to go chop our own tree down up in the mountains (We've done it a couple of times before and it really is a hoot!) so we decided to go for it.

The drive up through Evanston was a lot more enjoyable than the last time we came to get a tree. When we came a few years ago, it was a freezing cold day and the roads were snow packed and icy.  Kelley was driving his truck with some of the kids and I had the rest of the family in the Yukon.  Kelley's truck was sliding all over the place and I was too.  I thought for sure we were going to die.

Anyway, Friday was a beautiful, unseasonably warm day...the roads were clear until we got back into the  unplowed area closer to where you cut your tree.

 We were not the only ones who had this idea.  The road going back into Christmas meadows  was lined with cars.  We were sliding a bit and didn't know if we would be able to turn around farther in so decided to park the truck and walk in.

 It seriously was so warm tramping around in the snow, I had to take my coat and gloves off.

 Love this girl...can't stand the thought of her leaving next week.  I've enjoyed every minute of having her with us the past few months.

 It was just beautiful up there...so peaceful and still

 Candice was the first to find her tree....and she wanted to cut it down herself.  Ha ha!  She worked that saw like a champ!

 Then she drug it back to the truck!

 Ha ha they were hiding from me so I couldn't take their picture,,,nice try

We found a real nice one too and chopped it down.  It was pretty tall so we shortened it up a bit and then cut the branches off the bottom part to use for decorations for the ward party.

 When we had first pulled up, there was this car parked in front of us that looked like it was stuck in the snow.  It was an older man and his wife with some grandkids.  He mentioned that they didn't want to go in any farther either for fear of getting stuck, then went off to hunt a tree too. We got back to the truck about the same time they did and he was trying to pull out but he wasn't budging an inch.  Kelley and KC pushed from behind but it was really stuck.  So they tied a rope to the back of his car and to the front of the truck, then Kelley backed up and pulled him out.  We got up the road just a little way and saw another car stuck in the snow.   It was pretty funny, when KC and Kelley got out to help him, KC realized it was his math teacher up at the U!  This guy was really stuck bad but after about 20 minutes of pushing and pulling, they got him out too.

 

 We had a real nice Thanksgiving weekend.  It started out with me and Lizzy in the shower...not an easy feat to accomplish, but she had rolled in some poo and smelled awful.  She knew something was up when I was trying to bribe her upstairs with some treats and made a bee-line for the back door.  I coaxed her back upstairs and drug her in the bathroom and got the door shut.  She wanted to get out real bad.

I got the shower going and called her to come get in with me. No way was that happening so I half carried, half drug her into the shower.  Once she got under the shower, she was ok with it and sat pretty good while I scrubbed her down.  As soon as I let go of her she bolted for the door again...shaking the water all over the bathroom. After I dried her off good, I had to wipe the whole bathroom down too!  Ha!  At least she smelled better!

 Kelley found two more beehives on KSL They both had a lot of honey in them and were pretty strong hives with bees too.  So he decided to get the honey out of the hives he had (ones that he wasn't leaving for the bees to eat for the winter) and to get the honey out of those two new hives.

He brought them into the garage and started warming it up with this big blow torch.  It didn't take long to get it nice and hot in there.

 These were the frames from the two new hives.  They were pretty loaded with honey.

 First you have to get the wax cap off.  That hot knife is pretty slick and just melts it away.

 Then you put the frames in the extractor spinner thingie and start spinning it.

 Better check it out just to make sure...yup, its good.

 When they held them over the blow torch for a minute, the honey came out even better

 This big bowl of waxy honey produced a lot more honey than we thought it would.  Kelley put it in a strainer over another bowl in the oven that was barely turned on...then slowly, the honey would melt out of it and the wax would remain in the strainer.

 Candice and Kate came out and helped too

 We were all pretty much a sticky mess after about two minutes.  Then we came in the house and tracked honey through there too....door handles, sink faucets, rugs, clothes, shoes, floor,  it was like the honey attacked us.  Haaaaa

 Dave and Geo came over to check out the operation.  We ended up with a lot more honey than we thought we would.  probably about three gallons including what we got out of the waxy stuff.  Gosh bees are just really cool!  It still amazes me as I listen to Kelley explain to Geo about how the bees make the honey. Not sure how anyone could ever think the incredibly perfect way everything in nature works could just be an accident or evolution.   

 After we finished the honey, we got busy baking and getting our Thanksgiving dinner going.  We made all kinds of good things...cheese balls, turkey (some chicken...Curtis doesn't like turkey) stuffing, rolls, asparagus,  glazed carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy Candice made green bean casserole that was delish, Tessa brought the sweet potatoes that were so yummy and I made pumpkin pie squares ( we decided we like those better than pie! and a pecan pie for Kelley.

Candice had invited Curtis, his kids and his mom to dinner.  They came over about 4 and we had a real nice dinner together.  Benny wasn't feeling very good so he went and laid down on the couch and fell right to sleep.  Leila is a talker and was entertaining to listen to.  She is really a pretty girl and is going to give Curtis fits...I could tell from her attitude that she is already on her way  Ha!  I guess that's part of being 13.  Curt's mom is a sweet lady.  She has been through some hard things in her life and my heart goes out to her.  I'm glad Curtis spends a lot of time with her.

I wanted to do something to show my love and gratitude for some friends this year, so I had Kelley make some neat candle holders and I got some candles for them.  I'm sure grateful for that man of mine...I don't think there is anything he cannot do!  Anyway, when I was taking them around, I got to visit with D, who is battling breast cancer.  I hadn't seen her without her hair and we both cried  when I hugged her.  She seemed so sad as she talked about the next few weeks when she would have her last treatment.  She was dreading the sickness she felt after the chemotherapy.  She has had some hard things in her life and now this.  It makes me wonder why some people have to suffer so much.  She is a woman I  have grown to love and admire in the two years I have known her.  I pray for her recovery every day

I've been reminded lately of how blessed my life has been and believe me, I don't take it for granted.  I know life can turn upside down and change in a minute so I want to enjoy and give thanks to a loving Heavenly Father for the good life he has given me right now and for what He has in store for my future.

 It's been kind of a crazy but wonderful month so I've gotten a little behind. 

We started out the month with a trip to Arizona for Olivia's baptism.  Isn't she just beautiful?  I can't even believe that she is eight.  The time is flying by so quickly and the grand kids are growing and changing.  Anyway, I just couldn't be any prouder of this sweet little gal.  She is sweet, kind, gentle, helpful, thoughtful, funny, and smart.  She is always thinking of others and likes to do nice things for you like make you a little present or draw you a picture or write you a sweet note.  She has brought so much love and joy to our family!

 We tried to get a family picture after the baptism....Emily and Sam weren't having it.  Sam just wanted to get out of his church clothes and Emily was ready for a nap. 

 We had everyone over for lunch after and had a real nice afternoon.

 Sure do love these moments when we are all together.  Love these kids more than words can say.

 We got Olivia a set of her own scriptures with her name on them and a cute bag to carry them in.  She was so sweet and grateful to everyone.

 Kate had gone to Arizona a week earlier and was helping Camille out while Kellen was out of town.  They got real crafty and made these cute vases out of mason jars.  We went and picked out some flowers and put together some arrangements for the party.  They turned out really cute. 

Sam is doing much better.  I think he is getting over this tantrum phase and was just fun to be around.  He really is just the cutest little guy.  He's funny and so incredibly smart.  He thinks about things a lot and really has a tender loving heart.

 This was on the way down to Arizona.  Being with these two is always a good time.

 Camille is such a cute mommy.  She is so fun with the kids and really plays with them. Sometimes I just think my heart is going to bust with love watching them .

 Camille wanted some new shelves for the living room so Kelley and Katie just busted these out.

 Olivia and I went on a bike ride one afternoon and stopped off at the park so she could climb on the goal posts.  I guess they are working on seeing how high you can get up the pole at school.  She's pretty strong and could sure go a lot higher than I could!

 We went to the Nordstrom Rack shopping one day and Emily really got excited in the jewelery department. She was so funny and just totally thrilled over all the sparklies!   She just kept saying ooooooooooo! She is the best little bug...You'd think when it was time to go and we had to put the jewelery back she would have had a fit, but she just waved bye bye to it. Seriously the most pleasant little soul.

 

 On Sunday, we went to see Ali's baby be blessed.  Garret did a good job. They are such cute new parents.  We went over to their house after for lunch and I gave her the stitichery picture I had made for Eliza.  It turned out pretty cute...Kelley made a beautiful frame to finish it off.  I wish I had gotten a picture of it...it was the one ... "it's not a slight thing when those who are so fresh from God love us" with her name and birthday on it.

 Sam and grampa had fun wrestling and playing.  We were having such a good time, we didn't want to leave, so we stayed a few extra days.  The weather in Arizona is pretty much perfect right now, so that was a nice break from the cold in Utah.  We left Thursday morning from a balmy 78 degrees and slowly watched the temperature drop to 34 by the time we got home.  That doesn't help at all when I'm already so bummed about leaving Camille and her family.  We have had a real cold couple of weeks since we got home.  Not really normal for November...it has felt more like January. 

I sure had a wonderful week down there though, and I'm grateful that we could spend that time together.  I've got some great memories that will keep my heart warm...