Albuquerque Turkeys

Practicing for his last game.

Water break

Through the tunnel

Sean was pretty excited about this trophy.

The Green Lizards (minus one little friend who wasn't there that day) with Coach Carlos

The thought crossed my mind to make some nice matching ties for the boys. But it crossed too late.  So I'll have to try it out next year.

Over her 7 1/2 years, Daphne has watched lots of other sisters wear matching dresses.   Well this Easter, for the first time ever,  she and Sydney got to wear their own matching dresses. She was beyond excited!!! I think she told everyone she talked to that day. I was really surprised that I could find matching dresses for them at all, since there is a big size difference between them.

All the girls in their new dresses

Aren't you amazed at the skill of the Easter bunny to get eggs all the way up in the treehouse?

The Easter Bunny strikes again! Nice teamwork, guys.

Good thing for tall uncles.

Lilly isn't into posing for the camera yet.   But here she is walking away . . .

Enjoying all the goodies they found.

Those beautiful words, "He is Risen!" are the words that angels spoke to the women who came to the empty tomb on the third day.  Yesterday, I had the privilege of directing a Stake Choir in singing the hymn, "He is Risen" at a special Stake meeting which was attended by Elder Quentin L. Cook, (a member of the 12 apostles, and a special witness of the Living Savior, Jesus Christ.)  In our prayer meeting prior to the meeting, I discussed with the choir what a special opportunity we had to proclaim the same words as did the angels on that first Easter Morning.  We would be able to bear a collective testimony that He Lives, that He is Risen!  As we sang, there was a very powerful spirit that accompanied and confirmed the testimonies of that body of saints.  I will always treasure that experience.

Though I haven't felt the nail prints in His hands and feet, I know as surely as any of those who did, that He Lives!  I have felt the Holy Ghost bear witness to me as I've pondered the accounts in the scriptures, that He suffered in Gethsemane and on Calvary for me, that He voluntarily laid down His life, and that He indeed rose on that beautiful Sabbath Morning.  He Lives!  He is Risen!  It's real!  It is the glorious good news of the gospel, and "adds meaning to our doctrine, motivation to our behavior, and hope for our future." (Dallin H. Oaks, "Resurrection," April 2000 General Conference Address, italics added).

Gotta love those sponge curlers!

But since leading choirs has been a big part of my church service over the last several years, and I will probably take a turn being the ward choir director in every ward I'm ever in, I have given this topic a lot of thought.  And after several months of laboring over this essay, I'm ready to get it all out there in the open.  If you've ever been a ward choir director, you might enjoy reading on.

I love music, and I feel like the Lord has blessed me with talents in that area that I'm grateful to be able to use for His purposes.

But I'll be honest, I sometimes question the importance of the ward choir.  Sometimes it seems like it doesn't do very much good--not like a calling as a primary teacher or a youth  leader where you feel like you might actually influence somebody's life for good. 

Why do we have ward choirs?  Anyone who's ever been a ward choir director can tell you that many times it's like pulling teeth to get people to come.  It's pretty much the first thing on everybody's chopping block. I never know who might show up to rehearsals and performances, and the people who do come are often the busiest people in the ward, with heavy ward or stake leadership responsibilities.  What does ward choir do for them besides adding another meeting to their already busy Sundays?  And what does ward choir do for the people in the congregation who sit by passively and listen?  Is it worth people's time to come and rehearse each week? Is it worth the time and energy I put into it? 

I know in my head that it's important because the church handbook instructs that every ward should  have a functioning ward choir to sing at least once or more a month. In fact, a past prophet, Spencer W. Kimball has said, "Every congregation should have a choir.  If you don't have a ward choir, you are not organized fully any more than if you do not have a Relief Society" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 518).

I guess I am trying to figure out why it is important and verbalize it's value somehow.  And honestly, I don't know if you can verbalize the value of a ward choir, or any choir.

But as I've thought about the purpose of ward choir and how it blesses the ward, these are some thoughts that I've had about it:

The biggest reason I feel we have ward choirs, is because sacred music, excellently expressed, (sometimes with the help of unseen angel voices) has the ability to quickly invite the spirit in an easily recognizable way.  It crosses language barriers, social and cultural differences, and idealogical divisions.  Children and youth and adults are equally responsive to it.  (In fact, sometimes I think it's the only way to get kids to be still enough to recognize the spirit.)  It can penetrate hearts that might not otherwise be penetrated.

Through beautiful sacred music, I have felt God's love for me and all of His children.  I have been comforted.  I have felt truth witnessed powerfully to me.  I have been inspired to do good, and be good, sometimes even with very specific thoughts about an action I can take.   I have felt encouraged and uplifted in the face of challenges.  My testimony has been strengthened.

I can just hope that everyone in the congregation feels so uplifted by the music offered by the ward choir, but I can assure you that those feelings are so much more far-reaching and have a deeper impact on the choir members who are singing the music.  Because we repeat the words over and over and work on making the music expressive in choir, there is more opportunity to ponder on the words, and more opportunity for the spirit to bear witness of their truth.  And because we sacrifice our time to be there, we get to be the recipients of the blessings of heaven.  ("Praise to the Man," Hymn #27, verse 4).  :)




I am, of course, not perfect at meeting these goals, but as I've thought about it, here's what I hope my ward choir members are getting from their participation:

Of course, that is the end-all goal of everything we do in the church.  I hope that by learning and performing sacred music the ward choir is strengthening testimonies by providing extra opportunities to learn from the spirit. In rehearsals, as we fix different things, we repeat the text over and over--often we need that repetition for the message to really sink in and become internalized.  Ward choir provides opportunities to worship and praise God through song, and helps to create an environment in Sacrament Meeting where the spirit can be more readily felt.


I don't know how choir members can help but be friends--Choirs are so unique in that there is just absolutely no competition.  Instead of trying to see who can finish the phrase first, we work on finishing all at the same time.  Instead of trying to sing louder than everyone else, we try to blend our voices.  We work on  pronouncing the words the same way, and interpreting the text sensitively as a group.   We crescendo and diminuendo together. With that much teamwork, you'd be hardpressed to find a more unified group than a choir. And it helps to have a big ole' potluck at your house once in awhile. (that was pretty fun.  and crazy.)


Covenant Latter-Day Saints have made promises to give our talents to the Lord.  I can attest to the fact, that when you do this, the Lord magnifies those talents he has given you and helps you become better and better at those things.  Seriously, if you wish you could sing better, join the ward choir--You'll improve.


Finally, for me, music is a way for my soul to express things that I cannot find the words for. I love this thought from Ammon in the Book of Mormon: "There are not words to express my joy."   I am grateful for sacred music sung by ward choirs and stake choirs and primary children's choirs that picks up where the words run out in expressing feelings that run too deep.

When I think of all the wonders of the earth, the miracle of the human body, the vastness of the universe, of the goodness and love I feel in the relationships I enjoy with my family and friends and most importantly, "When I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.  That on the cross, my burdens gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sins.  Then sings my soul, . . . . my God how Great Thou Art!"  ("How Great Thou Art," Hymn #86).

I am thankful for the music that helps me express the love I have for my Heavenly Father and my Savior, that wells up inside me and spills out in song.  Truly, how can I, or anyone, keep from singing?

Yikes!  How did they get in THERE?  :)

An old fishing boat.

Ah, the days when gas was 25 cents a gallon!

I  liked how the light was filtering through the water.

In the Child's Fantasy Garden--Lilly and Sean are having a great time, but Hayden seems slightly concerned sitting on that giant ANT, (which he thought was a spider.)

Aren't they pretty? Poppies are such a cheerful flower. Who can name this movie: "Poppies... Poppies. Poppies will put them to sleep. Sleeeeep. Now they'll sleeeeep! "

I love that Sean and Hayden are friends. They hopped up here on this bench together without any prompting from me. Love it.