The weekend of May 23rd 2010 was one we will always remember. Ari's parents and sister Kim were down visiting for the Gila Valley Temple Cultural Celebration and Dedication. It was a crazy busy weekend- especially for me because I was asked to lead the music at the TCC. Even though I was just needed for the first opening song, those in charge asked me to be present at all of the rehearsals in case there was anything else I needed to do. I also was asked to write a song for the celebration and play a bunch of piano prelude for the interviews that were viewed on the big screens.
It was so neat to see the kids put this all together, and perform their hearts out for the prophet. Ari got to see the prophet and other general authorities drive in to the stadium because she was up on the top of the stands and able to look over. I was down on the track, and the Prophet's golf cart was parked right in front of me- so I was able to get some great shots of him and Elder Eyring. He was such a ham and LOVED the performance the kids put on for him. It was amazing how much love he showed those kids and acted like he had all the time in the world for them before and after the show. Ari and I got to watch the performance seated next to Dr. Lunt and his wife, and it was so touching to see the emotion on his face as he watched his dream become a reality of all that he's been working and planning this last year.
Ari's mom and dad got to see the celebration along with 6,000 other viewers in the stands and on the grounds. There was close to 2,000 youth involved in the production- this is definitely the biggest thing this valley has ever done. These kids will remember it for the rest of their lives and I know it will always be a huge testimony booster for them.
The next day was the dedication and Ari and I were both involved in choirs. Ari was in the cornerstone choir located just outside the temple, where the prophet helped mortar the stone into the temple. I was in the Celestial Room Choir and we had the opportunity of singing three hymns in the dedication. It was so awesome and special to be in that heavenly room with our Prophet and the spirit felt in there was something I will never forget.
We sang the songs High On A Mountain Top, Sweet Is The Work, and The Hosannah Anthem. The latter was particularly special, because congregations around the country joined in to sing The Spirit of God, on top of our Anthem. I swear there were angels singing along with us. It was so neat to be a part of these choirs, and to be able to say we were there when. . . .
It was kind of hard to come down from such a spiritual weekend. No one wanted it to end. The following Saturday Ariana and I went to do our first session in the Gila Valley Temple. We had a special session planned with the Dedication choir which I sang with. All of our spouses attended and it was 6:00 in the morning. Ari woke up feeling very sick, but still was truckin' on trying to make it to the session. She was white as a ghost when it started, and lo and behold a half hour in had to bolt out of the room and find the nearest bathroom stall. It was pretty embarrassing for her, and most people there had never seen anyone leave a session before, so we all didn't know what to do or what was going to happen. Things went on as normal, and Ari was able to get a ride home.
The poor girl had food poisoning and felt fine a few hours later. The following Monday I sprained my ankle trying to rescue Kodee from falling to his death off of a tall slide on a swing seat. I ran over there as fast as I could, and rolled my ankle in a pot hole that was covered by grass in the yard. I was not able to walk on it for two days, and had to pull out the crutches. But- I'm manning up, and I'm walking around pretty good now. We are just a sad sight- one thing after another: mono, food poisoning, vicious allergies, colds for weeks, and sprained ankles- who wants to have our lives!!?? Enough is enough.
Now it's on to teaching lessons all summer and swimming with the boys at the pool- I'm LOVING that! And Ari's being a good sport.
We just found out we're going to get to visit my sister in Iowa soon, and we're very excited about that. It's looking to be a FANTASTIC SUMMER!
3 comments:
We went to the second dedicatory session and missed you singing in the choir. So disappointed! Mariah and Stephen told us that you would be right over the speakers shoulder and there was a different choir instead . . . .bummer! sher felt like she heard your voice a couple of times, recognized it. She really enjoyed seeing her baby cousin up there!! such an old lady, or something like that.
We did enjoy the dedication and plan to come over to do work there as soon as we can, which means, I will come over while Jon is stuck in Phoenix probably ;-)
Hope you all do get well and stay that way. Sick in the heat is so much worse, isn't it?
It's good to see some new blog posts. Sorry Ari that you got sick! You didn't tell me that on the phone.
Hey I rented Leap Year. I enjoyed it, more so the second time.
We took the kiddos over to the open house, and they loved it. Although, Garrett was pretty sure we were going to marry him off while we were there. Funny Boy.
It was really neat to see you in the choir during the dedication. I wish they would've zoomed in closer to the cornerstone choir so we could've seen Ari too.
Very cool weekend.
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