Lamb E Umptum

We had stake conference the first weekend of November. It was my first one in over four years where I did not have to worry about the music. That is not to say I was not involved in the music – I sang in the choir that performed for the Sunday session and I have to say it was a most satisfying experience. Because my stake music chair replacement was not called until September, there was not a whole lot of time to put together a stake choir so Claudine invited people she knew could sing and liked to sing and WOW, she came up with an amazing group of singers. I felt like I was singing in University Singers again! Sarah joined me in the choir and we both realized how much we missed being in a top-notch choir. What I did have to worry about was helping with the meal which is always provided for the brethren after stake Priesthood leadership training and before the Saturday evening session. I also helped with food for the meal after the Sunday session for the stake presidency, the stake Relief Society presidency as well as the visiting temple president and mission president and their wives. Such are the duties of the stake Relief Society. Steve had three talks to prepare for Stake Conference. THREE! So, every spare minute he had the two weeks prior was spent working on these talks. I heard two of the three messages and he did a great job. The entire conference was really uplifting.

Civic Orchestra is now working on holiday music. We are accompanying the Columbia Chorale again in excerpts of the Messiah that will be performed in Jesse Hall as part of the MU Concert Series. And, we are working on our own portion of a concert the following week that will feature Russian Christmas music. I have asked to move to the back of the cello section rather than sit second chair. There is a reason I chose to major in Music Education over Cello Performance in college. I really don’t like the pressure of performance. I love sitting back in the third row where I can make a mistake and not feel like everyone hears it. No more knot in my stomach Tuesday nights.

As for what has been occupying my time these past two weeks, I finished Noah’s quiet book. I have entered lots more photos in the family photo album and I have decided to include 2010 pictures and I have almost completed a small photo book of the Austria trip of 2009. So, I have spent and will continue to spend lots of time at the computer. It is enjoyable work and I look forward to sharing the results with everyone. Until then, here is just a sample.....

this is me at the Schonbrun Castle in Vienna, Austria.