Count Your Blessings - Days Twenty-two and Twenty-three
I love music and when my spirit needs a lift I listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
And then there's this wonderful young man:
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
23 November 2015
07 February 2015
Ten Questions for Ten Things of Thankful
Kristi, over at Thankful Me, invited others to answer these questions in a post. For once these are questions I can answer:
1. What small act of service have you received that has meant a lot to you?
At a time of marital crisis a friend sent me a gorgeous floral arrangement. She knew I couldn't announce the crisis in church so was having to face it alone. When it arrived I bawled over her thoughtfulness and generosity.
2. What was your favorite meal when you were a child?
My mother's tacos and enchiladas. She had learned how to cook authentic Mexican from the ladies in the Spanish Branch where she attended because of my dad's assignment early in their marriage.
3. Do you enjoy camping?
Yes. I enjoy the quiet, the fresh air, the challenge of "playing pioneer" and the stars overhead at night.
4. Have you moved (changed houses) more as an adult, or as a child?
I never moved as a child, except to change bedrooms. As an adult I've moved twenty-three times. I've become a gypsy. Actually, I moved some as a young adult, as a missionary, and then I married a Marine and have moved following him around. I'm so used to it that every three or so years I get an itch to move again. I like the challenge of a new place.
5. Where would you like to retire, and why?
Somewhere close to children and grandchildren, hopefully somewhere south of where I am now so the winters would be milder. But maybe we'll stay here and just be snowbirds travelling south for the winter. We're about ten years from retirement.
6. If you had a free day next week, how would you spend it?
If I had a WHOLE day free I'd use it to re-organize my Family History paperwork. I need to, but just can't quite get to it.
7. If you could suddenly develop a new talent or skill, what would it be?
In 2008 I enjoyed four months of violin lessons. I regret that I couldn't continue because I thoroughly enjoyed it and wish I'd had the opportunity when I was young to develop that talent.
8. Do you know where your grandparents and/or great-grandparents were born?
Grandpa Joe was born in Dundee, Scotland, his wife Grandma Fern was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Grandpa Hansen was born in Kvitver, Norway, Nana Hansen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joe's parents were born in Scotland, Fern's parents were born in England and Salt Lake City; Grandpa Hansen's parent were born in Norway, Nana's parents were born in Denmark.
9. What is one trait that describes you?
Knowledgeable. My children think I'm an encyclopedia; the people at church believe I know everything (they've never met anyone like me); and a dear friend informed me that one of my spiritual gifts is the gift of knowledge, I never knew that, I thought everyone who studied or read knew what I know. I'm not bragging, sometimes it feels like a curse.
10. What is one of your family traditions?
Using brown paper bags for "wrapping" presents. That got started when our first two children were two and one. We went to a friends home for Christmas Eve dinner and I expected to be home in time to wrap presents. Wrong! We enjoyed ourselves so much that we didn't get home until almost midnight. I stuffed the presents in brown grocery sacks, stapled them shut and wrote names on the bags. Noble and Lt. Lehi enjoyed the bags so much that I never worried about wrapping things again. They played with their presents, putting them in and out of the bags all day. I use wrapping paper for gifts for other's because they don't follow our tradition, but I don't use much wrapping paper for our family gifts. A couple years ago I began making reusable gift bags for our Christmas presents and that has been a fun new tradition, based on the older one.
1. What small act of service have you received that has meant a lot to you?
At a time of marital crisis a friend sent me a gorgeous floral arrangement. She knew I couldn't announce the crisis in church so was having to face it alone. When it arrived I bawled over her thoughtfulness and generosity.
2. What was your favorite meal when you were a child?
My mother's tacos and enchiladas. She had learned how to cook authentic Mexican from the ladies in the Spanish Branch where she attended because of my dad's assignment early in their marriage.
3. Do you enjoy camping?
Yes. I enjoy the quiet, the fresh air, the challenge of "playing pioneer" and the stars overhead at night.
4. Have you moved (changed houses) more as an adult, or as a child?
I never moved as a child, except to change bedrooms. As an adult I've moved twenty-three times. I've become a gypsy. Actually, I moved some as a young adult, as a missionary, and then I married a Marine and have moved following him around. I'm so used to it that every three or so years I get an itch to move again. I like the challenge of a new place.
5. Where would you like to retire, and why?
Somewhere close to children and grandchildren, hopefully somewhere south of where I am now so the winters would be milder. But maybe we'll stay here and just be snowbirds travelling south for the winter. We're about ten years from retirement.
6. If you had a free day next week, how would you spend it?
If I had a WHOLE day free I'd use it to re-organize my Family History paperwork. I need to, but just can't quite get to it.
7. If you could suddenly develop a new talent or skill, what would it be?
In 2008 I enjoyed four months of violin lessons. I regret that I couldn't continue because I thoroughly enjoyed it and wish I'd had the opportunity when I was young to develop that talent.
8. Do you know where your grandparents and/or great-grandparents were born?
Grandpa Joe was born in Dundee, Scotland, his wife Grandma Fern was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Grandpa Hansen was born in Kvitver, Norway, Nana Hansen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joe's parents were born in Scotland, Fern's parents were born in England and Salt Lake City; Grandpa Hansen's parent were born in Norway, Nana's parents were born in Denmark.
9. What is one trait that describes you?
Knowledgeable. My children think I'm an encyclopedia; the people at church believe I know everything (they've never met anyone like me); and a dear friend informed me that one of my spiritual gifts is the gift of knowledge, I never knew that, I thought everyone who studied or read knew what I know. I'm not bragging, sometimes it feels like a curse.
10. What is one of your family traditions?
Using brown paper bags for "wrapping" presents. That got started when our first two children were two and one. We went to a friends home for Christmas Eve dinner and I expected to be home in time to wrap presents. Wrong! We enjoyed ourselves so much that we didn't get home until almost midnight. I stuffed the presents in brown grocery sacks, stapled them shut and wrote names on the bags. Noble and Lt. Lehi enjoyed the bags so much that I never worried about wrapping things again. They played with their presents, putting them in and out of the bags all day. I use wrapping paper for gifts for other's because they don't follow our tradition, but I don't use much wrapping paper for our family gifts. A couple years ago I began making reusable gift bags for our Christmas presents and that has been a fun new tradition, based on the older one.
25 March 2013
Bytheway, John . . .
After a rotten Sunday, I listened to John Bytheway all day. Talk about uplifting! He speaks to the youth but it goes right to my heart. He's funny, encouraging, serious, spiritual, knowledgeable, and just downright wonderful. I feel better for having listened. Most days when I'm down I listen to good music, such as Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Bach's Brandenberg Concertos, Yo Yo Ma playing Ennio Morricone, Vivaldi, Hymns, etc. Lots of good music out there (do you want me to list all of my cd's?). But today I wanted to hear uplifting words, something that was totally missing from church yesterday.
28 September 2012
And speaking of memories. . .
Presenting the Audubon, Iowa High School Marching Band
As usual I'm on the wrong side to get good shots of Dr. Hair, trumpet, and Dandylion, bass drum, but trust me, they're in there!
I love small town parades!!
P.S. This was the first time I've uploaded a video to YouTube and it asked me if I wanted them to fix the shakiness of it; sure, go ahead. Wrong, it makes it look distorted and weird. Live and learn. Sorry.
27 March 2012
There is a Balm in Gilead
After the difficulties of the past week I was grateful for Monday morning and the quiet after everyone left for the day. While I was folding some bedding that needed to be put away I felt impressed to sing hymns, so I began with There is Sunshine in My Soul Today, followed by Count Your Blessings and We Are Sowing. I felt lighter and stronger as I finished my task. Coming down stairs I put on three CD's of hymns and enjoyed the spirit they brought into my home as I went about my work.
I love music! I sang my first solo in church when I was about eight. It was for Mother's Day and I sang a song from the old green children's song book called My Grandmother's Garden. When I was almost 14 I was called to be the Primary chorister (in the olden days when Primary was on a weekday afternoon). I've led the music in Primary, Sunday School, Relief Society, Sacrament Meeting, and several ward choirs. It is one of my most cherished callings. As a teenager I would put on Mormon Tabernacle Choir albums (the old-fashioned LP's) and "direct" the choir as they sang. I have a secret desire to direct them in real life. Can you imagine what a thrill that would be?!!
Music calms my soul and invites the spirit, which is what I needed yesterday. Today as we read our chapter of the Book of Mormon I enjoyed more balm as we read these verses:
I love music! I sang my first solo in church when I was about eight. It was for Mother's Day and I sang a song from the old green children's song book called My Grandmother's Garden. When I was almost 14 I was called to be the Primary chorister (in the olden days when Primary was on a weekday afternoon). I've led the music in Primary, Sunday School, Relief Society, Sacrament Meeting, and several ward choirs. It is one of my most cherished callings. As a teenager I would put on Mormon Tabernacle Choir albums (the old-fashioned LP's) and "direct" the choir as they sang. I have a secret desire to direct them in real life. Can you imagine what a thrill that would be?!!
Music calms my soul and invites the spirit, which is what I needed yesterday. Today as we read our chapter of the Book of Mormon I enjoyed more balm as we read these verses:
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. . . And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. . . And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out. (2 Nephi 25:23,26,29)I'm so looking forward to the refreshment of General Conference this weekend. And then to the return of our missionary son from Argentina on Wednesday.
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