Saturday, December 13, 2014

         The group that left this afternoon kept us really busy this morning.  Our early week was packed with work and long hours. 

The temple closed early this afternoon for the temple workers’ Christmas party at our church.  Last night a sister gave me a program with several hymns and an outline for a nativity enactment with singing.  With this unexpected addition of responsibilities and the fact that the piano pedal is not working, I decided to go to the chapel and practice and organize.  It was 2:30 p.m. and the lady over-seeing the nativity enactment was there and gave me a preview of what they wanted to do and said that there was a practice at 3:30 p.m.  So I hurried home to frost the cupcakes made last night, change clothes, and return to the church with everything. 

Well, the practice really didn’t start until about 4:00, and when it did, the director did a great job putting together the program, giving instructions, practicing, and having it all ready for the meeting.  Glade came early to bring the cupcakes and they assigned him right away to be a shepherd.  They even had an old sheet with a wide border for him to wear, and a bright towel with a necktie to go with it for his shepherd costume.   He was thrilled.  J Some of the shepherds carried staffs and one even had a big white paper mache sheep!  The presentation included singing shepherds, singing and heralding angels, a video, two hymns, and narration by a narrator and an “angel.”  Because of time and distance it was all put together and rehearsed right before the meeting and it all came together quite nicely!  We have just learned to “roll” with so many things here and not “sweat the small stuff” or even the “big stuff.”  Those have been good lessons for me.

Gina and I played “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and I loved playing it with her.  The only problem is that the piano still sounds pretty bad.  I mentioned it to the Temple Recorder who happened to be there and wow did he go into action.  He took the front part above the keyboard off to check for any foreign objects; then he removed the wide front panel under the keyboard and continued his search.  He took out his cell phone and called a piano tuner or adjuster he knew and worked with him trying one thing after another—even taking a phone pic and sending it to his helper.  This all took place in the front of the chapel after the start time.  Anyway, he was so wonderful to try and help even if his efforts weren’t successful.  The music didn’t sound perfect, but the singing and Gina’s viola covered for much of the deficit.  Gina and I were still able to have that special experience in music when you connect musically, spirit to spirit, and play as one.

There was tons of food and they divided the people into several groups (per colored cards) and served the meal in four different areas so that there were no long lines.  It worked out great and was an impressive work of organization!  It was a special night and fun to see our temple friends in a new environment and in church clothes.   

Good Night!   More pictures tomorrow!