So. The dog went away. (Ahem.)
But the rest of life continues. The kids are involved in fun stuff. At least the older two. We attended two concerts this past week. One for Peter and the middle high school bands and orchestras. That went...as expected. Though it was nice to see Pete play the xylophone (thanks Bent for the instrument). Honestly, he was the only one in tune. And his rhythm was spot on. Very important when your instrument carries over the entire 7th grade band. He even made up a part for one song that didn't have a written part for him. I don't know if the teacher noticed, but he didn't hit any sour notes, so it's all good.
Sarah is in choir at school. She is part of Bel Canto, an all girls group (like Xela, for those Bountiful alum), that does the singing and dancing and singing. She is so brave, and tries out for every solo. Their director is a BYU alum, and even sang in Vocal Point, their all male acappella group. Their concert was...honestly wonderful. The production moved fast, the performances were spot on. And every group did a fabulous job. She wants desperately to be in Taste of Sound, the mixed group. Not that I blame her. Most of her best friends are in that group this year, so she is anxious to join them.
Now that we've officially moved, we now have official new callings. Kendall went from High Priest Group Leader in the other ward to Executive Secretary. He keeps threatening to move back, if only so he wouldn't have to call so many people. Not his favorite activity.
I got called as a Sunday School teacher to the 14-16 year olds. It's a good thing Mom has had so much experience teaching teens. I never have since I've been old enough to have any kind of calling. I've always been in Primary or music. Or both. And Mom, if you read this blog at all, thanks for the tips. I especially liked the idea of having more activities than you have time. Very helpful.
This is also Sarah's class. We haven't decided if we are going to be mortified or pleasantly surprised by the close contact in church. Like I said, Primary or music callings have been my thing for many a year. Apparently it was my inability to be quiet during Sunday School that got me this new calling. (I never have been able to shut up in church for some reason. Mostly I think it's because I feel so bad when there's dead silence when a teacher asks a question.) It appears that the bishopric had the wrong number for us, so couldn't get us in for our "what have your most recent callings been" interview. If they had, they would have known that the past six years or so have all been music callings. Not that I mind, but it's nice to do something else for a while. And when you're willing to say you've done music, they tend to stick you there. Forever.
Today was my first lesson, and it went pretty good, though one girl kept burying her head in her hands and then throwing it back to stare at the ceiling, sighing dramatically everytime. I have to say, everyone had me pretty scared about this class. The bishop even came in to my lesson today, prepared to "sit on them", he said. But he didn't need to. Today. Just watch...next week it'll be total chaos, and he'll be nowhere to be found. We shall see...
Of course now they know we are musical, and I have a second calling as the ward choir accompanist. :)
Kendall and I have joined a local group called the Gila Valley Chorale, a group of great singers from around the valley. We have our Christmas concert on the 28th of November (a minor snafu of scheduling moved it QUITE close to Thanksgiving). It is a great group, challenging songs, tight harmonies, and good energy from the director. We really enjoy it. It's fun to sing in a non-church setting every once in a while. And it's a great way to sneak in an extra date each week. ;)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
And Then There Was This Dog...
So we had dogs growing up. A few, anyway. Mostly little ones that didn't shed, just had to be groomed once in a while. And that liked to pee on the carpet. Mom and Dad said we had a beagle when I was small, but I don't remember, and there are no pictures that I know of with said dog.
Anyway, we'd been in our new house for a week (which I love more than ever), and Saturday we had to do a lot of decluttering of the family room. The main living space was still filled with furniture and boxes that belonged elsewhere. But the weather was pleasant and Andrew and Benji wanted to be outside. No biggie. We live out in the wilderness basically, there are lots of places to wander and explore like I did when I was young.
Twice they came running in the house saying a dog was chasing them. I didn't worry too much because there are dogs everywhere, all belonging to someone, some distant neighbor. Besides, we have the fenced backyard and the boys closed the gates.
Later in the afternoon Meri went out to join them, and again they came in to tell me about the dog. But every time I went out to see, the dog was long gone.
About 5 o'clock or so, after Kendall and Peter had gone to the Priesthood session, the dog appeared on our back porch, laid down by the back door, and slept. He was medium sized, with the look of an Australian cattle dog mix. He looked exhausted, and even though I knew if I did anything nice, we were in trouble of permanently adopting him, but I couldn't stand it. I gave him some water, and then after a little while I ran around the corner to the little gas station on the freeway near our house. I left a note about the dog and picked up some dog food. I know, I know. Total marshmallow. But he was so mellow, and submissive, and hungry.
We spent some time with him outside. He has all the earmarks of a cared for dog, except a collar. He was neutered, his tail had been docked, he's house trained, he doesn't bark, he's not hugely energetic. He is a scrounge, which means I have to be extra careful about cleaning off the table, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Oh, and he likes to go through the garbage. That, and an increasing tendency to want to be around me all day, which looks like a lot of anxiety when we all leave the house. That could be a problem.
The kids love him already, but since I'm doing most of the caring for him, I'm not completely sold on the idea. I've discovered my brain has switched into "newborn" mode, that little part of me constantly being aware that there is another being that needs me all the time. I was enjoying getting out of that mode, frankly.
But if there was ever a dog for our family, this would be it. He's still on probation. We'll have to see. I have a friend coming over this afternoon. We'll see how he does with strangers. That might tip the scales a bit.
Anyway, we'd been in our new house for a week (which I love more than ever), and Saturday we had to do a lot of decluttering of the family room. The main living space was still filled with furniture and boxes that belonged elsewhere. But the weather was pleasant and Andrew and Benji wanted to be outside. No biggie. We live out in the wilderness basically, there are lots of places to wander and explore like I did when I was young.
Twice they came running in the house saying a dog was chasing them. I didn't worry too much because there are dogs everywhere, all belonging to someone, some distant neighbor. Besides, we have the fenced backyard and the boys closed the gates.
Later in the afternoon Meri went out to join them, and again they came in to tell me about the dog. But every time I went out to see, the dog was long gone.
About 5 o'clock or so, after Kendall and Peter had gone to the Priesthood session, the dog appeared on our back porch, laid down by the back door, and slept. He was medium sized, with the look of an Australian cattle dog mix. He looked exhausted, and even though I knew if I did anything nice, we were in trouble of permanently adopting him, but I couldn't stand it. I gave him some water, and then after a little while I ran around the corner to the little gas station on the freeway near our house. I left a note about the dog and picked up some dog food. I know, I know. Total marshmallow. But he was so mellow, and submissive, and hungry.
We spent some time with him outside. He has all the earmarks of a cared for dog, except a collar. He was neutered, his tail had been docked, he's house trained, he doesn't bark, he's not hugely energetic. He is a scrounge, which means I have to be extra careful about cleaning off the table, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Oh, and he likes to go through the garbage. That, and an increasing tendency to want to be around me all day, which looks like a lot of anxiety when we all leave the house. That could be a problem.
The kids love him already, but since I'm doing most of the caring for him, I'm not completely sold on the idea. I've discovered my brain has switched into "newborn" mode, that little part of me constantly being aware that there is another being that needs me all the time. I was enjoying getting out of that mode, frankly.
But if there was ever a dog for our family, this would be it. He's still on probation. We'll have to see. I have a friend coming over this afternoon. We'll see how he does with strangers. That might tip the scales a bit.
He looks like this, with a thinner frame and head, and black in his coat.
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