Today was the first day in a long time that I was able to stay home for most of the day. I cleaned a little, ordered lots of goodies online, practiced a little, caught up on laundry. It feels good to get my house back - a little. In the evening, Brad, Laura, Adam, Marie and I went to the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center. Usually we go to the local Loudoun Ballet performance, and they do a wonderful job; Kate and Laura have always had friends in it, but this year the Joffrey Ballet was in town, and we didn't want to pass it up. What a spectacular, wonderful, Christmassy experience. We walked out of the theater feeling like magical things were about to happen around the next turn.
December 13
Happy Birthday Kate!!
Who told her that she could turn 21 years old?? We're sure glad that she was born :o). Brad and I just returned from my Loudoun Symphony holiday concert. The Christmas concert is always a very fun concert and this was one of the best yet. This morning I went to a three hour Messiah rehearsal, so my arm is about ready to fall off, but I'm having a great time! The Messiah music and words are some of the most glorious things ever written. What a privilege to be part of it.December 15
Happy Birthday Peter! Half a century today. Somebody is getting old.....
We had a great musical weekend. Yesterday's concerts went well also. Loudoun Symphony in the afternoon, and our stake sing-along Messiah performance in the evening. This is only the second time that our stake has attempted it; the first was while we were in Spain. It turned out beautifully; definitely a highlight of the season.
I just took Brad to the airport; he is headed for Ecuador, even Guayaquil!! He has a few small packages to give to Tyler; he will probably stop by the mission home and drop them off tomorrow.
Yesterday the Sacrament song was "God loved us so He sent his Son". I started thinking, "I know God loves us because He is our parent. But how did Christ gain enough love to do what He did for us?" He wasn't our "parent" until after the atonement, when we became His children of the rebirth. I know that love is a spiritual gift; maybe He was blessed with that love as a gift so that He could carry out the plan. Any ideas about that?