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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Seminary Devotional

Sometimes I feel like I should be the energizer bunny during December. Going and going and going.

There is a lot to do all month long, decorating, shopping, wrapping, Christmas parties, devotionals, work, college applications, scholarship applications, school functions.. I'm tired, but I love it.

Brady gave his seminary devotional on Tuesday the 20th, the last day of school beforeChristmas break. I love seminary devotionals !!!!  We just rotate through the devotionals we've done the previous years. Here is a look at what Brady has done for Christmas seminary devotional here.

I made reindeer candy canes and the book mark that explains what the candy cane represents for each of his seminary classmates - 24 this year.

 And I make star sugar cookies.
It was a success and the kids loved it.

After school Brady and his friends got together and went to lunch and had a secret Santa party .

Brady received:
A Tangled piano book. He's been playing it the past few days and it getting really good. We are addicted to listening to the soundtrack to Tangled and I love hearing Brady play it on the piano too!


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Friday night I attended Meridian High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony.



2011 - 2012 Officers:
President: Sarah (above in picture)
Vice President: Cody (above in picture)
Treasurer: Brady (in picture)

Historian: Christy
Senior Representative: Jen
Junior Representative: Danielle
Advisor: Mrs. Parshley

A short video of Brady giving his part on Service.

It was a very nice ceremony and the officers did a great job.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Unexpected Thank You's

There was an unexpected knock on our door the other night. Brady answered it and told the person to come in - I was making dinner. I came around the corner to see our Relief Society President , Karri holding a HUGE Poinsettia.
She was giving it to me as a "Thank You" for helping out with the ward Christmas Party. WOW! I do things to help out ... not expecting such a lavish gift. I felt very honored. She also gave me a thank you card below:
I felt the love .... I couldn't believe it!

The Poinsettia was huge! I had to figure out where to put it in my already over decorated and small living room - LOL! (Not a bad problem to have - ha ha)
I decided it could be placed on the floor next to my Christmas tree... there was perfect spot just waiting for a huge Poinsettia!
Aaaahhh the love!

I also receive another note in the mail from someone in our ward - Ann. People are so nice ... especially since I thought Ann didn't like me - wow! (due to a fall out when I was Primary President - which happens sometimes with issues, complaints and not being perfect) I guess sometimes I misjudge people - because I thought she really, really had bad feelings toward me .. isn't that how it is when you don't have an on going friendship with someone you feel comfortable with? (now I feel bad for my judgements). It was really kind of Ann to send me a thank you card out of the blue.
I'm blushing from all the love!!! For me, thank you notes always lift my spirits. It's something I need to do more often to others.

I thought since I had a camera in hand, I would shoot a few pictures around my living room.
The village and nativity below.
A beautiful Nativity on the piano.


From my home to yours .... Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 16, 2011

MHS Christmas Concert

Tuesday Night, December 13th I was able to attend Meridian's Christmas Choir Concert.


The New Dimensions, Jazz Choir sang:
"Carol of the Bells"
"Jolly Old St. Nicholas"
"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

 The Concert Choir sang:
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
"Carol of the Christmas Bells"
"Mele Kalikimaka"
"We Three Kings"
 The Treble Choir sang:
"In the Bleak Midwinter"
"Peace on Earth / Drummer Boy"
"Christmas Shopping Blues"
A Cappella Choir sang:
"Follow That Star"
"Christmas Madrigal"
"Silent Night"

Then everyone along with old students gathered together to sing:
"And the Glory of the Lord" Handel's Messiah.

I love Christmas Music and enjoyed this concert very much! It was wonderful!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Way Back Wednesday: Brady and Santa

I Believe ....
 This year, 5 year old Brady asked for the "world" for Christmas. He wanted a "world globe" and Santa delivered.
 Santa brought his reindeer to the Quilted Bear to visit with the children too.
I loved it!
Brady did too! 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Hello Dolly

The musical Meridian High School is performing this year is (drum roll)
"Hello Dolly"
Last year, Brady declared he would not audition for the musical the next year because it is too much work on top of a heavy school schedule.

However he auditioned this year because even though it is hard there are great memories that go along with it.

When the play was announced he came home and wanted to watch it. I don't own Hello Dolly because it wasn't a favorite musical of mine. I told him to run over to Hastings and rent it. They only had a movie to purchase so I told him to go ahead and buy it. That night we watched it. I don't know if I have ever watched it all the way through before.

Brady decided that he wanted the part of Cornelius. He laughed and enjoyed Cornelius' character. As I watched it .. I kept thinking that Cornelius sounded a lot like the Broadway Phantom of the Opera. The other thing I kept thinking was ... man, he has great teeth - LOL! At the end of the musical he asked me how to spell Cornelius' name and I told him to go look at the credits and see how to spell it. He came back and asked me if I knew who Michael Crawford was - because that is who played Cornelius. HE IS the Phantom of the Opera. That is great!

During the audition Brady gave it his all. The first night of auditions they sing for the teachers/producers and the next they dance. Several people commented on Brady's dancing on how he did such a great job. Brady thought he might get a good roll - UNTIL they lined everyone up by height. Brady is short 5'6" and because he was short he felt that he wouldn't get a good part.

I told him, "it shouldn't make a difference in getting a part if your short"... "they will pick the best singer and dancer anyway". He wasn't convinced. They had to wait over the weekend until they could find out who was cast for each play - they have Cast A and Cast B that perform every other night to give more of the kids a chance to be involved in a lead roll.

Monday came around and before Brady left for school I asked him to call me when he found out his roll in the play. He said NO. (teenagers!)

OK ... I guess I would have to wait until he came home from school.

However, as I was driving from one house to the next (for work) my cell phone rang. I stumbled to grab it and turn off the radio just in time to hear Brady on the other end. What??

He said that the cast was posted for the musical and for me to guess which part he was picked for.

Of course I said "Cornelius" (or else he wouldn't be calling me). Woo HOO! Happy dance.
 The play is about a Cornelius and Barnaby taking an adventure to New York to kiss a girl.

Here is a clip of Cornelius and Barnaby singing. You only have to watch the first lttle bit of the video to see the part if you are short on time.

Danielle and Kara (Brady's Friends) are in Cast A and Brady is in Cast B.
Danielle is "Dolly"
Kara is "Irene Molloy" (the girl Cornelius kisses)
Brady's "Irene Molloy" is the girl who played Princess Winnifred last year - purple dress. She was a hoot and Brady really liked her. She is a nice Mormon girl and IF Brady dated he would have asked her out.  Now Brady gets to kiss her on stage - LOL!
I'm very proud of Brady and is willingness to participate in these activities and enjoy school. It will be intense with the class schedule he is holding this year along with college and scholarship applications he has to fit into his busy schedule.

But .... it is WORTH it. Great memories! Yea!
Funny! Watching Hello Dolly ;-D

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Autumn's 17

 Today is my sweet niece Autumn's birthday. She's a big 17 years old.
 A few months ago she had a photo shoot and I've been meaning to post them on my blog.
 She is beautiful!
 I'm thankful she is my niece ... she is a great example for everyone who touches her life. She is a wonderful young woman.
 She has a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She knows who she is ... a beloved daughter of a King, our Heavenly Father. 
 She knows that through prayer, mighty miracles come to pass. She prayed that her family would be sealed as a family in the Holy Temple and it happened!
 She is a wonderful daughter and big sister!
 We love Autumn very much and glad she is part of our lives. 
 She continues to choose the right and keep her standards high.
 Her goals keep her virtuous, pure and worthy to attend the temple.
 She studies hard to get good grades .... for a bright future.
 She is playful, happy, delightful and a pure joy to be around.
  We love you Autumn and hope you have a wonderful birthday and year ahead.