An Evening of Christmas Classics at the Sowbys

Tonight the Sowbys held their annual musical gathering for Christmas (it's been going on for 18 years - minus the time they were on their 3 missions). They are the sweetest couple that I met when they were serving their mission in Virginia. Not long after they left Virginia, they were called to Washington, DC to serve a mission and I was in their ward then as well. What a blessing it is to know this wonderful couple. Here they are:

I want to be just like them!!

 Tonight's gathering was wonderful! Family and friends gathered in their newly built house and sang beautiful choir music and watched a dozen or so performances. There were performances on the piano, violin, glockenspiel, harp, ukulele (me), and voice. The best part is when Bro. Sowby pulled out a suitcase full of kid percussion instruments, and everyone sang Jingle Bells while the kids stood up front and played.

Here's a pic of me with my brother's ukulele. His is much nicer than mine (maybe someday I'll upgrade).

It was a happy, fun, peaceful, beautiful, spirit-filled evening. I told them that they now need to invite me every year!

Overhead shot of me singing/playing "Silver Bells" at their house.

And now you get to hear my song. This was my first public performance on the ukulele (I didn't get a recording at the event, so recorded it when I got home). The arrangement I found was in a really low key, but I made do.
p.s. They have the coolest house. It's a dream come true for their grandchildren with a dress-up room and stage, a playroom in the basement, and a kids' bedroom. Yet at the same time, it's extremely classy. If I had a house of my own, it would be just like theirs.

Joulutarina (Christmas Story)

The touching story of how Santa Claus came to be Santa. I saw this Scandinavian film with my mom this weekend at BYU's International Cinema and fell in love with the story (I cried at least 4 times!). We got home and bought it right away and it will now be a yearly tradition for me to watch this. I know that we don't celebrate Santa Claus at Christmas, but this story beautifully shows the Christlike love that happens in the life of Nikolas as he overcomes tragedy and turns his life to one of complete selfless service and giving. The cinematography is breathtaking. "Christmas Story" is one not to be missed.

Every Promised Blessing

"I feel sorry for any man who hasn’t yet made the choice to seek an eternal companion, and my heart weeps for the sisters who haven’t had the opportunity to marry. Some of you may feel lonely and unappreciated and cannot see how it will be possible for you to have the blessings of marriage and children or your own family. All things are possible to the Lord, and He keeps the promises He inspires His prophets to declare. Eternity is a long time. Have faith in those promises and live to be worthy of them so that in His time the Lord can make them come true in your life. With certainty, you will receive every promised blessing for which you are worthy."
-Elder Richard G. Scott, "The Eternal Blessings of Marriage

I'm planning my Relief Society lesson for tomorrow on "Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth." For someone that does not yet have children of my own, I recognize that I have a very different perspective from most of the sisters in my Relief Society. I am not the only single sister, but am 1 of maybe 5. As I have been praying and pondering over this lesson the last few weeks the thought "every promised blessing" keeps coming to mind. I think of all of my beautiful, talented, spiritual, amazing single girlfriends, and my heart weeps with Elder Scott as I realize the vast number of them who have not yet had the opportunity to marry.

Then I remember: Isaiah 55: 8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

And I feel comforted in the words EVERY PROMISED BLESSING, with our Heavenly Father's timing always in my mind and heart.

And then I think, maybe I'll put this quote (from Elder Scott's talk) on my mirror as a daily reminder/pep talk/challenge to me to be worthy of those promises. "Eternity is a long time. Have faith in those promises and live to be worthy of them so that in His time the Lord can make them come true in your life. With certainty, you will receive every promised blessing for which you are worthy."

So future hubby and kiddos, mom's thinking of you, and she knows that as she stays worthy and when the timing is right, she will receive YOU! And she can't wait!!

It Snowed It Snowed

We had a big snow storm yesterday and it's absolutely beautiful. It reminds me of this little ditty that I love.



Someday I may learn to love driving in the snow...but probably not.

Just Another Saturday Afternoon

I love Saturdays. I especially love Saturdays like today. Although I have hours and hours of homework to do, I'm eating well and catching some good entertainment.

I will forever be grateful for this girl

The One and Only Sara Sargent

 

for introducing me to this

Dinner in a Pumpkin.

 

Doesn't it scream FALL! It's amazing!

 

And I'm watching this little gem

 

I hope everyone else is enjoying their Saturday afternoon as much as I am. 

I Am a Princess

 I am a princess, I am brave sometimes, I am scared sometimes, sometimes I am brave even when I'm scared. I believe in loyalty and trust. I believe loyalty is built on trust. I try to be kind. I try to be generous. I am kind even when others are not so generous. I am a princess. I think standing up for myself is important. I think standing up for others is more important. But standing with others is most important. I am a princess. I believe compassion makes me strong. Kindness is power. And family is the tightest bond of all. I have heard I am beautiful. I know I am strong. I promise. And when I promise something, I never ever break that promise. I am a princess. Long may I reign.

Nice to see and be inspired by the everyday princesses.

You'll Be Missed

Out of all the phrases in the English language, this has got to be one of my least favorite: "you'll be missed." Really? What does that even mean? Who exactly will be missing you? How about something with some more emotion in it like "we'll miss you." Try that one on for size next time someone you care about is leaving. Then they'll know that YOU will miss them and it will make them feel better knowing that YOU cared enough to tell them that from your heart.

p.s. What makes me even more upset is that when I tried to find a picture of a handwritten note with the phrase "you"ll be missed" on it I found this!!!

Way to commercialize the personality out of humankind! (Palm of hand to forehead).