Miracles and Blessings

Today I lead a miracle.  We only have one choir practice before we perform, largely because no one has time or interest in attending choir practice-myself included.  Last week I only had 3 people at our one and only choir practice for our Christmas number.  I made a plea for ward members to attend our Sunday run through before sacrament meeting.  We had about 15 people.  The first time through didn't sound so good, the second time was okay, but i felt a little disappointed because it really is a pretty song and I knew that with just a few more run throughs it could sound good, but there was no more time to practice.  When we sang it was wonderful.  It sounded incredible.  I have to stood in aware as I lead the choir, it was a humbling feeling.  Music in sacrament meeting must be important to Heavenly Father because he gave our ward a miracle as our choir sang today.

On Friday Dover received his patriarchal blessing.  Red Letter Day, it was a day to make all the heart ache that comes with parenting worth it.  The spirit was so strong and Dover was so touched by the spirit and words of the blessing.  He and Shalayne will be leaving to drive to Utah together on December 27th.  Dover will be working, and taking a few college classes, and SNOW BOARDING!  Shalayne is transfering to UVU and will be playing soccer there.  UVU has conference games in Houston!  LUCKY US!  It is so fun to have her here! It's nice to be 5 instead of 4.

On Saturday we celebrated Hanukkah with Damon and Tiffany and their family. Brandon's parents are Jewish converts to the LDS church and we celebrate Hanukkah and Passover in remembrance of our Jewish heritage.  Brandon's brother Roark shared this fun remaking of the Taio Cruze song Dynamite into a Hanukkah song called "Candlelight".  If you know anything about Hanukkah it's hysterical.

Candlelight - The Maccabeats - Hanukkah

Holiday Homework

I've been working as a Music Educator at a Montessori school in Houston called Smaller Scholars.  Each Fall semester they put on a big winter show.  I wrote the show this year and put in a lot of fun broadway numbers and other fun numbers.  The show was called Holiday Homework, it was a hit with the children and their parents.  Numbers I wove into the show included:  Hard Knock Life, Seize the Day, Book Report, Surf'n Santa and several fun children's choral numbers. I felt a great sense of accomplishment and relief when the show was over.  Brandon and the the boys were really impressed they had no idea how big of a project I'd undertaken.