Funerals and Special Musical Numbers

Today was the funeral of Aunt Phyllis, she is my dads sister. It was good to get together with family and reestablish old relationships.
It was a sweet funeral, and dad kept saying it was better than he expected.  It was short and sweet which was nice. Phyllis's three grandchildren each shared memories of their grandmother. However there were some great snickering and laughing moments....not at the grandchildren, they all did a great job.  Phyllis would have loved it.... but laughter at generational miscommunication.
So here is what went down:The program listed two special musical numbers, "I'll Follow the Sun" by the Beatles and "You'll Be in My Heart" by Phil Collins. No other names were listed with the musical numbers so I guessed that they were going to play recordings of the songs...no biggie, some families don't know people to help out with the music or don't have those talents to share at theses times....... but the recorded music was a biggie.
After they played the opening song,  the Beatles singing "I'll follow the Sun" a prayer was given by Dad. He blessed the speakers and the musical number.....snicker.....and elbow pokes...... I thought I'm sure Phil Collins will enjoy the blessings. Later Dad said he didn't know who Phil Collins was.....
The remainder of the program was then announced by the nephew-in-law Stake President, he said  we will then have a musical number by Brother Phil Collins, singing "I'll Be In Your Heart"......more snickers and elbow pokes.
The first two grandchildren had finished and according to the program it was now time for the musical number.......and nothing.......so, the man conducting got up and asked  "is Brother Collins here?" .......oh, no, more than snickers, Melinda and I began to laugh, silently and shaky. Then someone motioned to the man in charge and he said "Oh Brother Collins is in the hall and will be in, in a moment." We laughed harder...but silently.  We were shaking, Melinda said it looked like we were crying so it was okay, I laughed harder. Mom and Dad couldn't even look at us.  We knew the truth, Phil Collins is a super star, living across the pond and he wouldn't be joining us....then the music started. Thank heavens when the music finally started it was loud to mask our chuckles. The bench was shaking, Dad told us that he was thinking "what is my nephew(Phyllis's son) in front of me thinking of my girls?" Melinda didn't know if she was offending cousin Eileen next to her so she kept turning her head towards me, which made mom chuckle....(Eileen was chuckling as well). As the song was coming to a close I reminded Melinda that this was the song the Jordan and I danced the Mother Son dance at his wedding .....then I said "and it's a damn long song to dance to."  More laughter.....
Melinda and I are not a good pair when we begin laughing in reverent situations......we have a time in the Temple that we came undone with laughter as well.....but that is for another time.
Anyway we regained our composure, and finished the short sweet funeral.....without embarrassment.

Funeral Reflections-
The saddest part about loosing a sibling is loosing someone who was a witness to your early life. Your spouse and kids are great, but the sibs know things that they will never know about you.  My Grandma Butters told me that several years ago when she became the last one left of her family. Today when I told dad what grandma had told me he shook his head yes, and got teary all over again.....and then there were 2 out of 13.

MCC

Christmas Music

I love Christmas music. ...it is one of my favorite things about the holiday season. I can still here the click and drop of each album on the stereo record player......I along with my sibs, we knew the song order of every record.  Growing up we had a huge stack of records placed on the stereo record player every day, year after year....and it played over and over. We probably wore out the records. The music wasn't allowed to start until November 1st, but we sometimes would sneak it in here and there in October.  With the coming of tapes and CD's things have changed a bit,  but the music is still the same, the old stuff and the new. It all brings memories to the surface....and kids say that music doesn't affect them?....really? 
I love singing it as well. Several years ago on Christmas Eve as a family group we began singing all the Christmas Music we had sheet music for and could play on the piano....singing Christmas music is as good if not better than listening to it.  I also loved when we did Cole Collection...singing only at Christmas time, while hectic and time consuming it was great fun.

So now with the memory stuff out of the way, I have a question: what's with the crazy faux Christmas music? Think "My Favorite Things".......really snowy white winters that melt into spring and snowflakes that say on my nose and eyelashes or even those brown paper packages have nothing to do with Christmas music. I understand that they are winter things here in our part of the world and that there are other songs that deal with winter only that we call Christmas songs, but hey the other winter songs were written with Christmas in mind and "Favorite Things" for a musical call "The Sound of Music"...which is a stupid title for that musical as well.... but I digress. There are also the songs that just are annoying Christmas songs....like "Christmas Shoes," "Grown Up Christmas List," "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," "Blue Christmas," "Havin' a Wonderful Christmas Time" and "Do you Hear What I Hear." I know that this is just personal preference and that what is dumb to me maybe another persons fav, but we all get a choice.  My Brother dislikes "Little Drummer Boy" which ranks right up there for me as well.

Here are some of my favs! Not just songs but types and CD's.....
I love almost anything sung by the classic crooners...so thank heavens for Michael Buble. Both of his Christmas CD's are pretty darn good. I am really liking his latest CD.
I also enjoy the choral classics, old and new sung by the MoTab and the Cambridge Singers...John Rutter is the new choral classic master. His stuff sung by the Cambridge Singers is wonderful.
As a kid I loved the records by the singing groups, I can't remember the different group names but they reminded me of the background singers on all of the wonderful Christmas specials we had on TV when I was a kid.  A favorite that most of the groups sang was "Need a Little Christmas." This song is one of my all time favorites songs, it is from the musical Mame.....go figure.
Religious Christmas songs for the most part are also awesome.  If I had to make a top ten.......wow, how hard. I'm going to have to think on it a bit because just when I think I've got it narrowed down I hear or think of another song that I love......yikes, picking favorites is hard.

MCC

PIE

It's that time.......
PIE PARTY!

So let's
Gather
Give thanks
Eat Pie


MCC

Doctors

Mom's cancer findings have been one big comedy of errors.....Doctors offices not making appointments, not calling back with test results, not knowing what is wrong or where the cancer is at.......We all want answers and we want a course of action.
The Doctors keep getting the brunt of our venom when we don't hear what we want to hear or if things are slow and messed up......we need to remember that they are practicing. I am thankful that we have doctors who have studied and can help us get through the health trials that we may face. I know that they too are human and that they are trying.
Doctor Prystas is the oncologist we met with today. She answered so many questions and gave us a course of action, a treatment plan.
Mom cancer is:

Endometrial Andino Carcinomatosis…..or most likely the common name of Uterine cancer.

Endometrial Carcinoma is uterine cancer. Andio carcinoma is a cancer cell. Carcinomatosis means the cells have attached or metastasized in several areas.

The cancer is not in the organs but is in the tissue that surrounds the organs and is in the pelvic area in the mesentery area or apron of fat.

- Recommends aggressive Chemotherapy.

Six, four-hour treatments every 3 weeks. Depending on how the therapy is being tolerated.

The drugs used are Carboplatin and Trxall, mixed with an anti nausea drug and benadryl.  

Administered by IV

While we are scared and nurvous mom is positive. She wants to go look for wigs this week since she will lose her hair in the next three weeks.
She told the doctor that she planed on being one of the 20% who are cured...or at least gets 15 more years.
Optimism is one of moms best strenghts.
Mom has so much faith. She knows that things will have a great outcome......and they will.
She needs our faith and prayers.
I know it is all in God's hands.

MCC

The Maid.......A Home to Clean

I am thankful for the day that the maid decides to show up. It doesn't happen very often but every once in a while things get so messy that she surfaces.......the angels begin singing and the sun shines bright.
Actually I am thankful for my home...the home that I can keep clean.  When you look at your living accommodations compared to the world you realize that you have it so very, very good.
One day when I was complaining about the house (before the fire) Gary reminded me that 3 Korean families would live comfortably in our home and feel like they were living in luxury.  Yes, this stopped my complaints and made me grateful for what we had.
I was reminded once again that I was grateful for our home when we had our fire.....19 years ago Dec. 27 our house burned down. We were without a home of our own.  This make you realize how much you have when you have a home of your own.
So bring it on maid, lets make this place shine like the top of the Chrysler building!
I am thankful for a wonderful, warm, well furnished, home.

MCC

Visiting Teaching

I am thankful that I am a visiting teacher. Once upon a time Visiting Teaching was seen as a burden in my life.....To make appointments and get with my partner was a chore, and It would cause me all kinds of grief.......probably because I knew I should be doing it and I didn't get it done. 
Anyway after having two very stalwart companions who set up permanent appointments with those we were to visit with, it became much easier to accomplish and eventually I looked forward to the visits with the sisters we were assigned to.
I am thankful for this opportunity for many reasons: first it gets me involved with other people. I have made life long friends with not only those I visit with but also my companions. I have the opportunity to give service as a visiting teacher.  Sometimes the service is as minimal as a listening ear. I love not only hearing the message from my teachers but also getting to look at it from a teaching stand point..... what message does the Lord ant me to deliver to this sister?
When I look back over the years as a visiting teacher one of my favorite times was when I was Megan's partner. This time spent with her in service of others was very enjoyable and enlightening....Megan's view on the monthly topics was often fresh and eye opening. Megan tells me that this is when she learned to love to visit teach...I am glad I was a good example.
As RS pres. visiting teaching was a huge task, setting up the partnerships and who they would visit.. People moving in and out, the problems some sisters had with those they taught and vice a verse a......crazy. But it was also a very spiritually rewarding experience to have stewardship over. There were so many times when I felt the spirit so strong in regards to who should visit who. I would then watch closely to see what lessons were possibly learned or what service was rendered and knew why those sisters had to be in this place at that time. I know that I couldn't have accomplished this assignment without the Lords help. I know Visiting Teaching is truly and inspired program.

I am thankful to be a visiting teacher.

MCC

But I'm so Busy

I was so busy yesterday that things got away from me!  But I am thankful for being so busy that I couldn't blog. Having lots to do is really a blessing.  I have heard people complain that they have nothing to do.......Being busy keeps you alive.

MCC

Teaching

I was recently called as a Relief Society Teacher.....I have taught one lesson and I am preparing for my next lesson for this upcoming Sunday. The idea of teaching adults used to frighten me......then I had to do it every so often as RS Pres.  It wasn't half bad. I knew when I was called that this is what I was supposed to be doing. I am so thankful that with the teaching of lessons comes the opportunity to prepare, study and learn. The first lesson I taught was on the Signs of the Second Coming, this lesson is on The Final Judgment...I know both are heavy lesson and could be depressing.  I have found the study of both topics fascinating and exciting. This new calling has giving me the excuse to read conference talks, new and from way back, to study the scriptures and re-dedicate my life to that which is most important. 
When I think about it I know that this calling is a love note form my Heavenly Father......I was lamenting the fact that my scripture group had disbanded because our leader was called on a mission. Scripture group prompted me to be a better studier of the important things.....For some reason I need the prod to to the best things in this life.......so anyway, I look at the call to teach as my Heavenly Father telling me that he knows me and knows that I need this.
I am so thankful that I get to teach.


MCC

Goodly Parents

I am thankful for Goodly Parents...parents who not only love me, but are a great example to me and my family in so many ways.  They have eternal perspective and I love that.
I remember as a teen having friends who hated their parents, I loved my parents. I remember friends trying to hide their life from their parents, I didn't have to hide because I was taught how to behave and we talked...a lot so they knew what was going on in my life.
Someone once told me that you can have many friends but you only have 2 parents.  I am not saying that parents can't become your friends, I am saying you need parents who are goodly parents more than you need friends.
My parents are goodly in the gospel sense too. They are faithful and strong and true and hold fast to the rod.  I have never wondered where they stand on anything. They talk the talk and walk the walk. They have also been great examples of what a parent is......I am a better parent because of them.
They have taught me that people are more important than things, that if you treated each of your kids the same way that, that wouldn't be fair,  because they are each different people. And most important they have taught me that family is forever!
I love this because now that I am a parent I know that it is true:

MCC

Snow Removeal Equipment

I am thankful Snow Removal Equipment. Even though they are loud and annoying in the middle of the night, they sure make winter driving nicer!

MCC