Sunday, February 21, 2010

Okay, That Wasn't So Bad...

So my current calling is Ward Choir Director. I know. Crazy, huh? I think I about fainted when they called me. And it's been challenging in ways I can't even begin to express.
But...what I wanted to share was one of the joys I get out of the calling. Choosing beautiful music to sing. Now we have a fabulous ward choir. Tons and tons of talent, which makes it easy on the ears.
So I just chose a pair of great pieces to sing for Easter: a great arrangement of "Chirst the Lord is Risen", by David Zabriskie, and Gethsemane, from Sally DeFord's Easter cantata, I Stand All Amazed.
If you're interested, click on the link and listen to this version of Gethsemane. Try any of solo versions. But because it's a solo version, so you won't be able to hear the amazingness of our ward choir, but the emotion behind this is breathtaking.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Family Home Evening and the Mormon Mommy Guilts

So this evening I did one half of a presentation about Family Home Evening for RS Activity Night. I was asked specifically to talk about using lds.org for FHE, and how to do it with older and younger kids.

Now I have to admit, I have never really caught the spirit of FHE. It always seemed labor intensive for not a lot of pay off. That, and because I could never do it perfect, could never have it stay perfect, I didn't do it, or gave a half-hearted effort. The dreaded Mormon Mommy Guilts hit big time, and when it grew overwhelming, I shut down.

But in this case, it really is a situation where the teacher needed the lesson more than anyone else receiving it. I'm watching my family grow, completely without my permission, and realizing that every second is precious. That doesn't mean I just got translated into Perfect Mom, it just means I'm understanding a little better my place in this world and family.

So today I got a peek at what it is the Lord sees in the program of FHE. And I give myself permission to do this FHE in the most simple way, to just be basic, and make sure that my family feels the Spirit and grows in unity so we actually WANT to be together forever because we like each other.

Yay FHE!!!!