Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Last night Ryan and I went to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Temple Square Orchestra in concert in Norman, OK. I have grown up listening to them at every General Conference. I have heard them once or twice in firesides on Temple Square. I have listened to them on tv broadcast or shows. Last night was so different. They were wonderful. Amazing. I smiled. I laughed. I cried at my favorite songs. I closed my eyes and let the music wash over me. I leaned forward in my seat to watch a little girl down on the floor in the corner twirling, swaying, and dancing to the music. She danced almost the whole night. I clapped until my hands were stinging. Such a good night. I am so glad that we went.

Some of the highlights for me-
"Danny Boy" - I will always think of Pres. Hinkley when I hear this song. I remember when the choir sang his favorite song for his birthday a few years ago.
"Ah, el novio no quere dinero!" A traditional wedding song from Spain. You could "see" the dancing getting faster and faster.
"Betelehemu" - a traditional song from Nigeria - so much fun - the rhythem, the clapping, the drums.
"Come to My Garden" - This song is from "The Secret Garden" (love that book) and was when I first saw the little girl dancing. It was absolutely perfect.
"Come, Come Ye Saints" & "Battle Hymn of the Republic" & "Amazing Grace" & "Rock-a-My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham" were all amazing.
The Organ solo - oh I wished that my friends the Westons could have heard it. Ben Weston plays the organ (he is actually mastering in it). The Solo was "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" - it truly was amazing. A memory I don't want to forget with this song- my friend Alisa's grandmother passed away a year or so and she asked Kim, Allyson, and myself to help her dress her for the funeral. When we were finished, we sang this song together, one of her grandma's favorite songs. The love I feel for these friends of mine and the memory we made together that day...

My favorite hymn is "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" Tears poured down my cheeks as I hummed along with the choir. I don't know why, but that song reaches in and squeezes my heart like no other.

And last - for an encore, the Choir sang "God be with you 'til we meet again" - the final song sung at my mom's funeral. Everytime I hear that song, I can feel her saying the words directly to me.

I am a bit envious of the Norman wards today. Can you imagine the hymns today in church with some of the choir members present? I think I would want to cancel the regular meeting and just sing.

It was such a beautiful night and I am so glad that I went. It was worth every penny.

The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back

I started a long post with all the gory details of my nightmare right now and just writing it out was adding to my stress. Yesterday I lost it and yelled at Ryan for a fairly minor thing that was an accident but it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Last night he came and talk to me and said that he thought I needed more sleep to deal with my stress. I took his advice and after a long prayer pleading for help, I went to bed. This morning I am feeling more rested but still very stressed, panicked, overwhelmed and humbled. I basically feel like I can be a mother or I can be a teacher but I can't do both and I am feeling so frustrated that I have no choice.

I woke up before my alarm and feel strongly that I need help. So, I am asking. If any or all of you could do one of the following I would be very grateful.
*Would you please include us in your prayers, specifically that I can get everything done & be ready for my students next Wed.? That I will feel prepared for them? That I can figure out ways to be a mom to Ryan through all this?
*Put our names in at the temple.
*If you live locally I could really use some help with the following things:
Taking Ryan for a day or afternoon
sewing curtains
sewing chair pockets
painting a banner
transporting, painting & installing shower board in my classroom
Making a sign with my name (Ms. Mills)

I am calling today to get a blessing. And a HUGE thank you to the family that mowed my yard. My grass was so high that we did not know a stray cat had given birth to her 4 kittens in the grass! And the kittens have their eyes open & are toddling around. My yard was their jungle. And another HUGE thank you to the man who is spending his Saturday fixing my car.

Thank you all for all your thoughts and prayers. I have tried to be strong through this all and I just feel like I can't do it anymore by myself. Your prayers made a huge difference when the news of the divorce first broke and so I am hopping the same will happen again.