Eliza's concert

Music flowed through Hamilton the other day. The sweet tunes were wafting from the elementary school. Flutes, trumpets, and all sorts of musical instruments played in tune as parents smiled with pride, at the angelic children producing the music.OK I admit it wasn't quite as perfect as that. In reality boys dressed in Sunday best acted as if they were forced to ware some sort of medieval torture device. Girls fussed over their hair and dresses as they rushed about nervously making sure every sheet of music was placed just right upon the music stands.Little faces were distorted as cheeks puffed out and lips pinched on reeds and mouthpieces in an attempt to produce a tune from their instruments. There was an occasional off note but over all they did very good considering they had been playing for less then a year. Eliza did look beautiful. She has been so consistent on making sure she practices every day ever since her clarinet had become a permanent fixture in our home.I am very proud of how well she plays.It might not have been a perfect concert but the music was perfect to my ears. Great job Eliza!

Celebrateing Christ birth and life on Christmas

The alarm clock rang at 4am. Same as it does every morning. This morning was different though. It was Dec 25Th. Mike gave me a kiss and wished me a Merry Christmas.He had stayed up all night making Christmas preparations for the family by himself and had not been to bed yet. After I had gone to bed on Christmas eve he had continued playing games with the kids late into the night. Once all the kids had gone to sleep Mike had remained up wrapping the gifts and setting them up under the tree. He had prepared a fire, had the tree lights glowing and beautiful Christmas music playing in the background by the time The alarm clock rang. He had made everything perfect for us. As the kids and I headed downstairs to great Christmas morning it was like walking into a Norman Rockwell painting. Christmas had started out wonderful--- until 5:45 came. As I tried not to cry I kissed my family goodbye and started my long drive to work. I really wanted to stay at home and spend the day with my family. I am well aware of how fast they grow up and leave. Sarah, Layton and Isaac had already left home and I would not be able to see them for Christmas. I miss them all the time, but during the holidays it is especially hard having them gone. I knew my Christmases with my children are numbered and so this made it even more difficult to get in the car and driving away.
The sky was dark and not a light was visible as I drove the long farm filled road to Quincy. No brightly decorated homes, just darkness, broken only by my headlights. Christmas music declared the wonderful birth of Christ over my radio as I drove.I started to ponder Christ birth and life. My heart was filled with gratitude for the atonement. I marveled at his life of sacrifice ,love, and healing. Feelings of gratitude for his life felled my heart. As I thought of his life I began to feel it a privilege to serve others. What better gift could I give to Jesus on Christmas?
This wasn't the first Christmas I had worked. Being a nurse means working the holidays. I had spent Christmas in a newborn nursery ICU, on an oncology floor and now with the elderly. I have seen loneliness, pain , sadness and even death on Christmas. My mind filled with stories of Jesus administering to people who were in the same circumstances as those I now cared for.
My mind then went to thoughts of my son Isaac, and all of those who are serving in the military. Freedom is such a great and precious gift to help others obtain. It is a huge sacrifice to be away from family, to go to foreign counties, and to put yourself in danger in order to help others. Isaac has all his paperwork and preparations ready so he can be deployed to Afghanistan in the next few weeks. He will be going to one of the poorest counties in the world. The military are not only fighting a war against terror and for freedom but are serving in other ways also. The humanitarian projects our military are doing are incredible and life changing for those who are living in war, terror, and poverty. He along with the rest of our military and their families are truly sacrificing to serving the weak and poor. As I thought of this, my heart swelled with love and pride for Isaac and the rest of our servicemen.
Not being home for Christmas might not be the easiest way to spend Christmas, but as I arrived at work I realized I was giving a wonderful opportunity to give service, and love to others. I felt overwhelming gratitude for my husband and his service to our family in the loving way he made sure that Christmas morning was wonderful. My heart swelled with pride for Isaac and our military as I thought of the sacrifices they are making this Christmas. I thought of the elderly I was now going to care for and the opportunities I had been given to spend this day with them. I did miss not being able to spend the day with my family but what better way could we Celebrate Christ birth then by practicing his teachings of love and service.

The music makers

Eliza Has started to play the clarinet this year in school. She is quite good and loves to practice. I know it is hard to believe but it is true. She always wants to play her clarinet with me when I play the piano or with Mike when he practices his violin. It is really fun to play her songs along with her, and she is learning some of our songs. Mike has been playing a lot of Christmas songs lately and Eliza has been trying to learn them so they can play together.They are so cute when they play together. Mike is so sweet about learning songs I like. One of my favorites is "I know that my redeemer lives." It sounds so beautiful on the violin. Even though He loves to play I hope Mike will be able to get another violin soon. He has a couple big bad "wolf notes" that make it frustrating to play at times.( most violins have one small wolf note but his has more then one and they are Major notes)Oh well for now it will have to do. I still love to hear him and Eliza play.