The Finch Family

For the last several years we have a competition in our family around the NCAA tournament. We each fill out a bracket before the tournament begins and then we track points to see who guessed the most correctly. Adam, who follows basketball closely usually comes out on top Lizzy picked the champion and won a couple of years ago.

This year it's all Anna and Ben - they have phenomenal picks. They have the best picks of anyone I know and I think would win nearly any pool out there. Both picked three of the final four and both have Michigan State versus North Carolina in the final. There was no coaching involved, they made their picks all on their own. They are way, way ahead of everyone else in the family (especially ahead of their parents). And no, they're not basketball gurus ... Anna's methodology? She pretty much picked the ones who's names sounded cool.

Ben, who admires Anna greatly, pretty much copied Anna's picks all the way through with few exceptions - all the way except the final. Anna picked Michigan State. Ben picked North Carolina. It all comes down to Monday night ... the great matchup ... Anna versus Ben for the championship.

These videos were taken during one of the rehearsals, so the show wasn't quite production quality, but it's similar to what you would have seen in the actual performances. You'll hear some directions from the director in the background and some of the lighting and sound wasn't exactly right, but it will give you a good feel for Tammy and Adam's parts.

The first video is Adam on Shepherd's hill talking with other shepherds about the prophecies concerning the coming of the Savior.

Here's Adam and the shepherds when the angels first appear to them. Adam, in his blog entry, talked about the fun faces he got to make. Pay attention to his "amazed" face in this video, particularly toward the end of the song. He does a great job with it! :-)

Tammy played the part of Mary's mother. She appeared in several scenes related to Mary's betrothal and marriage. In this scene she sings a solo to Mary called "Do His Will".

Tammy asked me to write some of my thoughts about our ward's experience with the Savior of the World play. What a fantastic experience!! It turned out to be one of the most wonderful things I've ever been involved in. Our whole family had a chance to be intimately involved with it throughout the planning and preparation for it. It was just a great thing for us!

It really was a couple of years in the making - something our ward leadership council had discussed for some time, but finally decided to tackle last year.

We had a few goals in mind - to help the ward grow on unity, to strengthen families, and to share the gospel. I think we were successful in the first goal - I saw friendships develop and grow throughout the year among those who were participating. Even now several months later I think we are feeling the benefit of a stronger, more unified ward. Nearly every family was involved in some way with most families being very heavily involved. The youth and children that participated each grew to love the experience and were among the most sad when it was all over.

The second goal was to strengthen families. Most people participating were able to do so with at least one other family member. It was fun to see Adam and Tammy growing together in this way and I think the same effect was seen between all the family members that participated together. On the other hand, it was kind of hard on the family members left at home and the small chldren. There was a lot of time required for families to be apart in that way. I wish we could have found a way to improve that - I think that was the most difficult thing in the whole experience.

Our third goal was to share the gospel. The play is really about each actor testifying of Christ through the portrayal of scenes from his life. The story and the music are so, so powerful - amazingly so really. Each night of the performance we had good crowds, many of whom were friends of other faiths and backgrounds. We were able to share some of what we believe about Christ and to help change some views and misconceptions about our faith. One big regret we had was that we didn't plan to present the show more than 3 nights. We were pleased with the turnout but only wished more had an opportunity to share in the experience.

The end result of the production was very very positive. We have a unique ward with a huge number of extremely talented people. They all came together to do something marvelous. Now, even 3 months later hardly a week goes by that someone doesn't say something about the show or ask me when we're going to do it again. It had such a positive influence on everyone involved.

I only wish that we could continue to have those same kinds of experiences in our day-to-day lives. I guess we can to some degree, but to feel things and to experience things to the degree of this experience is something unique and something I think our family will always remember and cherish. We are so happy to have been able to participate.

So, Mom wanted me to post about Savior of the World. Yeah, it was fun and I got to play with other boys my age that were also in the play. Sometimes rehearsals were long and tiring, but in the end it turned out to be a good experience, and, I confess, we did go out to Dairy Queen a couple of times. I also felt the spirit. It was so strong, especially when everyone was being serious about the play. At first it was really boring when we had to sit still for over an hour, but I got to where I was actually enjoying rehearsals! Isn't that AMAZING? I also learned more about the Savior and his life. I think it would've been hard to live back then, when there was not all the things we have today, like electricity and heaters. It was also fun to act. I got to climb a 6 ft. high wall, and that was pretty fun. Also, I got to make a lot of fun faces, like when I had to act amazed at the angel. Well, I can't think of anything else to write so I guess this is the end of my post. (This is Adam writing this post, not Tammy or Greg.)

Well, as I mentioned before much of last year our family was very involved in a musical production put on by our ward/congregation at church. The production is titled: "Savior of the World: His birth and resurrection." It was originally produced and run by the church (our church, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) at the Conference Center theater in Salt Lake City. A few years ago the church released the script and music so that it could be put on throughout the world. Usually it is produced by a stake (a group of congregations), or even my multiple stakes, but Greg, as the bishop of our ward, felt like it should be something our ward should do. It was something he gave a lot of thought and prayer to. He and I were familiar with the music of the production and loved to listen to it, especially at Christmas and Easter. He felt the church had given a lot of flexibility in the releasing of the materials, and that our little ward could do it. I don't think he imagined what an undertaking it would be. I hope that I get both Greg and Adam to blog about their experiences.

I was asked to serve on the committee that was to make all of this happen. I was particularly supposed to focus on publicity. I also ended up coordinating babysitting and doing all the emails and communication with the cast as well. I was also cast in the role of Mary's mother. Adam was cast as a shepherd boy, Nathan. From the time Greg was first thinking about having our ward do this to the time the production was put on was nearly 2 years. I wasn't really involved, except with talking things over with Greg, until 6 or 7 months before the show.

Well that is a little background. Now some of my impressions and feelings about it all. I must warn you that this has the potential to be a very long post.

There were some difficult things about it all. It was very exhausting, both emotionally and physically. Greg had such a vested interest in it, as did I. We knew about most every bump and hiccup, which can be difficult sometimes. If Adam and I could have just gone to rehearsal and done our parts I think it wouldn't have been so exhausting. It was just all the drama and changes and discouragement behind the scenes that made it difficult sometimes. It was eye opening to me to realize how much of this my husband has to deal with ALL THE TIME as the leader of our ward. He knows so much that most of us are oblivious to (thank heavens!). I was surprised, as well, how difficult it was to be the Bishop's wife and on the committee. It was really hard for me to find my place, and feel like I belonged. I don't usually feel this way, so it was something I had to really figure out. Usually I just forget I'm the Bishop's wife! He's just Greg to me, but not to everyone else.

I chose to mention the difficult first because I don't want to remember those things so much. There was so much more good than bad that came to me because of participation in this wonderful show. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts is the building of the relationship with Adam. I have sometimes worried about the strength of that relationship in the past. I feel like doing this with him has changed all of that. It was like he discovered that he actually liked something that I liked! We had something in common after all! I was so THRILLED to see him enjoy this so much. He was awesome on stage. He learned parts for the first time for many of the songs. I loved that it was just he and I going to rehearsals together. It seems so rare to have that chance for one on one with him, and he just eats it up. We even had 1 or 2 secret trips to Dairy Queen after rehearsals, which really made him feel special. He learned that music is powerful and can make you feel things. He learned more about the Savior and the events surrounding his birth and resurrection. It has really softened and sweetened our relationship. It has been awesome. It has been tender to see the growth he has experienced as well. These would have made the show worth it for me by it self, but there's more!

I think it also strengthened my relationship with Greg. I felt him in the supporting role, where I usually am. It was a wonderful feeling. He wanted me to be a part of this. He wanted to watch the kids so I could rehearse. He put things on hold in his busy schedule so I could do this. He ran lines with me. He listened to me sing. He listened to my concerns and fears. Although he has never said this, I feel like at least part of the reason he chose for our ward to do this, was for me. Just for me. I can't thank him enough.

On a bigger scale I think it had a similar affect on our ward, softening and sweetening our relationships with each other. So many people were involved with each other, working together for this big common goal, this tangible, feel good goal. We were learning about the Savior together, we were singing about the Savior together, we were thinking about the Savior together. It made us view each other differently. It made me realize there are Peters and Marys among us. It made me see them as servants of the Lord. It was wonderful to come and feel the spirit at the rehearsals, to see people I know and love and realize that we all wanted the same thing, to testify of him, to have people see in us some of the good that is in Jesus Christ, to share his love with others. It was awesome. It really did bind many of us together.

This experience also had a great impact on me, personally. I think by nature I am a pretty spiritual person. I am sensitive and feel things deeply. I have always known Jesus Christ is the son of God, and that he loves me, and that he atoned for my sins. I have felt it, at times the feeling even overwhelming me with love and gratitude. I never imagined how much more REAL it all could seem to me. I don't know a better word than REAL. Much of the script is taken directly from the scriptures. Participating in and watching these scenes just made me love these people from the scriptures and feel how real they are. Zacharias, Elisabeth, Mary, Joseph, Peter, Mary Magdalene, and others. It was almost surreal, feeling as though I had been transported back in time and was really a part of these important events, or as if a hologram was popped right out of my scriptures depicting actual events. As I said, I have believed and known these things my whole life, but my understanding, my reality of it all increased so much. How grateful I am for the Savior, and for those who loved and cared for him on earth.

As Mary's mother I had a solo to sing. It was short and simple, but sweet. Doing this has given me so much more confidence. I love to sing, but I don't love to sing by myself in front of a lot of people. It is like this has reawakened a part of me that I forgot was there, a part of me that I love! It made me remember how much I love music, how much music soothes the soul and lifts and teaches. After months of rehearsals I got to feeling pretty comfortable, and it certainly has gotten me singing more at home again. It is funny how things work. Since the play, I sang a solo in sacrament meeting and I am going to sing at a Relief Society (the woman's organization at church) enrichment this month. I also was just called to be the Primary chorister. I feel like "Savior of the World" has made me sing again!

Participating in our wards production of "Savior of the World" was awesome. It strengthened me, and many of the relationships I have, including my relationship with the Savior. I hope that the things I have learned have made me better, kinder, more loving, more grateful, more like the Savior.

Here are a few pictures of Adam and I. When Greg gets back from India I will have him help me with some video we have. I will also look for pictures from others (remember I busted our camera in November. we didn't get a new one until the week of the play).

November is pretty much a blur nowadays, but there are a few things that stood out. Adam and I continued to participate in rehearsals for our ward's (congregation's) production of "Savior of the World" at church (I will write more on that later). The time we spent increased significantly that month.

Every week Adam has a piano lesson for 1/2 an hour. Because the other kids are still so young they all have to come along. It is too short to come home and then go back, so we have to spend the time in the car or go someplace VERY close. Fortunately for us his piano teacher lives in a good spot. The Mississipi River is very close. We visit the ducks and geese there sometimes. There is a duck pond close by as well. Ducks there too. In the winter we have even watched people ice skate on the pond. Our favorite place to go, weather allowing, is the park that is just a block from her home. It has made piano lessons bearable for everyone. The kids are so good about playing for a short time and hopping back in the car when I ask them too. I guess they know a short time is better than no time. We don't go to the park much in the winter (much too cold), but I do have some pictures from this past fall during one of our piano lesson visits to the park. Enjoy!

I just wanted to write a quick post in appreciation for my good husband. Lately, I have been so grateful for him. He is good and kind and smart and fun. He is helpful with kids. He cooks. He takes good care of our family. He is good at helping get me out of my responsible mode and loosen up a bit. We celebrated our 11th anniversary in December. You know how you swoon when you are dating and engaged. Emotions are so strong. It is a wonderful time to look back on, but I never could have imagined how love grows. I can't believe the growth that has come to us individually and as a couple over the years. I have learned so much from him.... about forgiving, about saying I'm sorry, about overlooking others faults, about teaching our children. I look forward to growing old with him. He is such a strength to me. My heart is full, and it is even fuller when I think of our beautiful children. Our life, our marriage for that matter, has not been without struggles and crises, but we have weathered the storms together. I love him for that as well. I feel so grateful to have Greg at my side as my partner. I am not sure why I wanted to share this, but just thought I should. I love you Greg!