Sunday, March 9, 2014

Feels Like Spring

Church came way too early this morning! I have never been a fan of daylight savings time. My volunteer church job is to pick the music and wave my hands in the air while everyone sings. They can't really be expected to follow me and that's okay because I really don't have any control over the bellowing organ anyway. The organ's favorite tempo is a right zippity pace or "molto allegro" in music terms.   Sometimes the congregation and my waving hands can't keep up.    Today we were to sing "Master The Tempest is Raging." It's a already swift sea-faring song and to prevent it from possibly turning into a hurricane I talked to our organist beforehand.   He took extra care to slow it down from his usual and did a great job. As I was leading and singing the words I was amazed at how perfect this song was for this particular meeting.  Earlier this week, we found out about the tragic loss of one of our own church members being killed while on his mission in Sweden. It was shocking and sad for all of us. Our last image of him was when he spoke over the pulpit humbly declaring his love for Jesus Christ and his deep desire to share the gospel with the people of Sweden.  He was one of those guys that seemed really mature for his age but very down to earth. Just a great kid with a bright future.  A few days ago was struck and killed by a drunk driver while walking back from a baptism. I looked out across the congregation as I led the music and saw his good family. I think we all felt sorrow and mourned with them as we sang the words of the second verse:

Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled. Oh waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish sweep o'er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master. Oh, hasten and take control

The chorus repeats this refrain like peaceful waves at the end of the storm: Peace, be still. Peace be still.

Sometimes I wonder if anyone in the congregation is feeling the power of the words like I do but today I felt sure that they did. We had a wonderful meeting and I was grateful for the power of music that brought a measure of peace to all of us.

Saturday's Happenings:

Kate spent the morning away with a basketball game for her 7th grade traveling team. They won their first game and lost their 2nd game...by about 40 points. Many of the parents were upset that they had traveled  1- 1/2 hours to watch their kid lose and sit on a bench.  I could understand that but we weren't there...

Brandon was asked to present a class about Marriage for our Bi-Stake Women's Conference. There were several other breakout sessions to choose from and about 300 women were in attendance.
I sat in on  first class and he did a great job covering the two keys for a successful marriage: Forgiveness and Repentance. He also talked about communications and expectations and how sometimes when things aren't going well we have to get to the root of the problem. Our goal in marriage is to be in a safe relationship where we can freely discuss our thoughts and feelings without negative judgement or consequence.  After I made sure Brandon had enough handouts and then attended 2 other classes.  I decided to go to two other classes: Emergency preparedness and a presentation about one couple's mission to Cambodia. People there are ingenious about strapping a semi load's worth of supplies onto a tiny little moto. Some work for 18 cents an hour in a factory so they can have food to eat that day. Many mothers will only eat one meal a day so their children can have more to eat. Any complaints I had about money seemed super LAME after hearing this. I feel like one of the richest people in the world!

Brynn was attending a gymnastics clinic with some coaches from SUU who were helping the girls improve their routines. She had a good time and was glad she went even though she had to run home in her leo in the freezing cold because her parents weren't around to pick her up.

When we did get home Adrie was with her friend and it's a wonder we even recognized them. They were dressed all in black, American dolls in tote, also in black. They had sunglasses and walkie-talkies. They were spies.  I took their picture but they decided they shouldn't be smiling and should look serious, so I took another one. Then they got busy spying again.

Cannon was also playing with a friend. They were watching Chima Lego videos on the ipad. This guy is completely enraptured to the point of obsession with Chima Legos. He has already planned his next 5 birthday and Christmases with which lego sets he will be getting.  CucKoo. I don't know what to do about this obsession except to kick him off the ipad and send him outside for some good old cuts, scrapes, and fresh air.

We cleaned out the garage, took some donations to D.I., did some yard cleanup that we didn't get to in the fall, had breakfast crepes for dinner and a story about Jesus casting out evil spirits from a madman and into a herd of swine who then run themselves off a cliff.

Our older girls and the neighborhood combined with another neighborhood of kids across town to play "Fugitive"

That's our weekend in a wrap. Cannon is counting down the days until his birthday. I am getting ready to take 7 exchange students on a tour of Southern California! I can be very resourceful about finding ways to get to the beach.










2 comments:

Megan Goates said...

Love this post. You're always good for a lovely spiritual boost, Laura.

Sherie Christensen said...

Thanks Laura. Music is a powerful thing. Thames for Sharing and for the fun updates on your busy family's activities. May you be blessed with safe travels.