Monsters Come Out to Play

This last week, everywhere I went, I was surrounded by monsters, aliens and visitors from other lands.  Some of them were scary and others were very sweet.  Some were very talented or athletic and others just wanted treats.

Luckily I had my phone and my camera so I could document these sightings.  I wonder if I could sell them to the National Enquirer or maybe World News.

Thursday, I attended a benefit concert at the local high school.  The auditorium was packed. Not so unusual, but the site that greeted us on stage was.  The performers all seemed a little different.  Here are a couple of the performances, so you can judge for yourself.  (Sorry for the poor quality, but not expecting what I saw, I only had my trusty Droid to capture the occurence.)

These two visitors decided to come home with me.  Luckily they are kind of cute and seem very bright.

On Saturday, I was participating with my daughters in a benefit race for their school.  The thought was that this would be a good test race for me before my big race this Saturday and would hopefully convince my girls that I wouldn't die in Grafton.  I guess the name, The Monster Mile, should have given me a clue that this would not be an ordinary race.  We were greeted by all sorts of strange characters at the check-in station and a few of them even raced with us.

I think for a first time, the girls and I did okay.  Emily even managed to sneek up and scare her dad after finishing the race.

And then there was Monday.  But now I was prepared.  I knew what to expect.  Besides, the calendar let me know that it was Halloween, the day the monsters do come out to play.  So I was not at all surprised to attend a choir concert at the Elementary School and see this:

I guess knowledge that I was documenting of these peculiar sightings spread, because I did receive the following photos.

After so many days of being surrounded by all these strange guests, I was saddened yesterday to find that they had all disappeared.  But as these little visitors said, "It's a small world."  I look forward to seeing them again next year.  Besides, I understand that an overly large elf is getting ready to come visit in just a few weeks.

So Sings My Soul

Billy Joel once said, "I think music in itself is healing.  It's an explosive expression of humanity.  It's something we are all touched by.  No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music."  Bono said, "Music can change the world because it can change people."

Before I was married, I was advised to fill my home with music.  I am not a musician.  I did not sing.  In fact I had actually been asked once upon a time to not sing with a choir group.  I do not play any instruments other than being able to pick out the melody on the piano for a few favorite songs.  But I knew the power music can have on a home and I knew the importance of this council.

I have tried to heed that council.  As infants, my children listened to lullabies.  The boys had their own cassette player and cassettes, then CD player and CDs.  They girls have their own, and now everyone has their own MP3 player.  At home, we listen to rock, gospel, country, Broadway and Mormon Tab depending on the mood.  We have taken our children to concerts, ballets and Broadway plays.

When they were old enough, piano lessons were provided and upon reaching junior high/middle school, the boys joined the band.  Each of our sons can play multiple instruments and two have served as the drum major for the high school marching band.  Our oldest daughter is already playing the violin and both girls take piano lessons.  All the children have sang in different choirs, both for school and church.  I love church when our choir sings and all my men are standing up filling in the bass line (although Wil does try out the soprano part with his falsetto when he is feeling mischievous).

Recently we attended our youngest son's jazz concert at the high school.  It is so great to watch him play while tapping his foot along with the music.  The boy really does have rhythm. This week we have Lela's orchestra concert and Jon has a band concert.  Next week is the elementary school's dance recital that the girls are excited to participate in.  Lela will be dancing with her class to a song from Phantom of the Opera and Emily's class is dancing to a song from Grease.

Music has opened many doors for our family.  In college, Rick performed with the BYU Marching Band at the Citrus Bowl.  My boys have performed with the Army Band.  They have been selected to perform with other bands were able to receive instruction from professional musicians.  While on his mission, Hunter was able to participate in a recording of gospel music and helped with many special musical programs that testified of Christ.  Hunter was also able to perform with his school choir at Abravanel Hall during the 2002 Olympics as part of the Cultural Olympiad.  Wil has chosen to make music his career and will be majoring in Music at SUU when he returns from his mission.

Sunday at church was the Primary Program.  This is when the children's group in our congregation presents the worship service.  The children and their leaders work all year to learn the songs and each child is given a special speaking part.  Lela and Emily were asked to participate in a quartet for a special musical number.  As I listened to their beautiful voices sing of the importance of putting on the Armour of God, I again received a witness of the importance of filling my home with good music, because nothing touches the soul and awakens the spirit the way music can.