"If Thou Endure It Well"

We are back safely from an all girls trip to Moab. The scenery was beautiful as always. What a lovely time together. Can't even remember the gliches although I know there were some. While reading another blog, I found a link to something I need. As for the title,it came from a talk given as a BYU devotional by one of my favorites, Neal Maxwell. He has written a book by the same name, I think.

I'm going to go ahead and publish this. After all this time I hesitate to delay the posting. I probably will come back to it later to fill in details on the trip.

Smash Journal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmaWY7Wk0qA&feature=player_embedded

This week I was hitting some of my favorite blogs and came upon this idea video. Thought I'd share. I think it is "coming to a store near you" in April. Fun stuff. (No pun intended!) Comment if you'd like to do a trial run with a cheapy spiral -bound sketch book. Would be fun to see what we'd come up with-- the bits and pieces of our lives. Glue Stick and journal pen would also be needed but I probably have lots. What do you think?

Yesterday's List

Going to orchestra: All five of the cellists were there! It was terrific.

Scriptures: New Testament

Morning prayer as encouraged in Primary

Practicing both cello and piano

Doing a batch of dishes

Picking up where Art left off on the laundry

Had chances to practice listening. Good conversations

Threw away a few items with NO anxiety or regrets!

Vinyl siding work on house finished and paid for

Shopping done

Watched the first hour of documentary Circus on PBS. I missed it before.

Was patient enough to not give up on Jazz when they were down 22. They beat Miami!

Just a few activities to celebrate

With God's Help...

...I can do hard things. Maybe it is good to realize that when things are hard it is only through God's help that they can be done. I would like to celebrate small victories and the help given by others with short posts. Yesterday, Marsha, Brittany and Stephanie worked with me in our kitchen. Thanks so much!!! They also have been taking my donations to DI. Yay!

I read a book called Stuff which Michelle had put on hold for me. It was hard to read but also good to read. It is good to recognize patterns when that recognition brings hope for change.

Today I will practice the Primary songs on the piano once again. Then I will go to Primary and enjoy being there and playing as the children sing.

I will also listen as the gospel is taught in simplicity. And that will not be hard to do.

Vivaldi and Carmen, etc.

We had a good rehearsal today. Our two strongest cellists were not there so we had to work pretty hard and I couldn't hide as much as I usually do when I am feeling tentative about notes. We worked hard on three pieces, or maybe it was four. Now I remember that we played a simplified piece called Mozart Mix which is excerpts from his work. I like it because I can play all of the notes!!! Obviously, I have a lot more practicing to do. I am so glad that I can still play the cello and that even though it is slow, I am making progress that even I can see and hear.

Follow the Son

About this time of year I begin to get more serious about preparing myself for listening and watching LDS general conference. I love that it happens near the time Easter is being celebrated. I have been getting up at 7AM to take a class on BYU TV. Currently, we are studying the New Testament. I love marking my scriptures and even writing notes along the sides of the pages. It is exciting to hear new ideas and have cross-references. We are now in Acts. I am amazed at the strength of the apostles and their steadfastness in their testimony. I hope that I can, in my own small way, follow their example as well as the example of Christ.

I love sunflowers because they remind me to keep turning toward "the light of the world."

Recovering

Here it is almost a month since I last posted. I got good news from the doc on Monday. I can begin PT in earnest now. Did I mention before that a bone in my arm fractured with the surgery? I have a metal plate to take care of the problem, but had to wait until now to make sure everything was mending well. My scar is longer than expected but Art has been massaging it and says he thinks it will pretty much fade away. It's been a longer haul than I thought to have had. My friend Mary Ann had pretty much the same thing happen with her hip replacement. It is so rare--strange to have two of us, different doctors, different hospitals, a week apart with our surgery have the same complication! The other day I had a mental image of how shocking it must be for a doctor to be in process with a surgery and have that happen. Glad he is very experienced and could solve it while I was still under anesthetic. Speaking of which, I was so out of it that I temporarily forgot what the doctor and Art told me the evening after my surgery. I woke the next morning thinking that it was over, I didn't have much pain and at least I hadn't had happen what happened to Mary Ann. Duh! A few seconds later, I said to myself, 'Wait a minute! It did happen to me, too!' Also, I got testy with Art because he kept asking me if I wanted more jello or pudding. I told him I couldn't make any decisions. Crazy what anesthetic does to you! Anyway, Art and I have worked hard (and carefully) with range of motion and now I can add 4 more exercises. The PT folks are professional and kind. I get to decide when enough is enough so pain is not too bad. After we get good range then I will work on the muscles. Another opportunity to practice the process of becoming more patient. Not what I'd planned, but there it is.

Again?

Tomorrow I go into St. Mark's hospital again, this time for left shoulder surgery. I feel pretty calm about it. Last Thursday I was holding my granddaughter--the littlest one. She was sleeping against my shoulder. When I looked down at her, I didn't want to leave because I knew that the next time I held her a sling (and probably some soreness at the very least) would come between us. I believe we have a bond even now. I have been blessed to have time with her very early on, thanks to her parents requests. Lots of things are giving me motivation to work hard at the recovery process, not the least of which is a beautiful little girl. Can't wait to put both my arms around her again.

The Freedom to...

If you'd like, check out this video on Official LDS Site. I have a link to that site down on the sidebar called "Roving the Internet". I liked the video a lot.

The Soloist?

Last week Art and I went to the dollar theater to see the movie "The Soloist". It was recommended to me when it was a first-run feature. My friend said it was a good movie which it was, and that there was beautiful cello music in it. That was also true although sometimes knowledge is a mixed blessing. Because I know where his left hand should have been on the strings as he was playing, I was distracted by knowing he was not playing the note I was hearing. I know Jamie Foxx was tutored by the cellist who was actually playing. (We have the habit of staying through the credits. Interesting what you can sometimes learn!) As far as the acting was concerned, both Downey and Foxx played their roles well. The movie was thought- provoking rather than fluffy entertainment. I am glad we went. Love seeing movies with Art. Wonder why we don't do it more often. Which brings me to yesterday at orchestra. For the second time, I was the only cellist. My skills aren't anywhere near where I would like them to be, although I am pleased with my progress. I don't like being a soloist, even for solo cello parts within the pieces we are practicing. So I am making phone calls this week to urge (plead with) the others to at least come part of the time. I know there are legit reasons to be absent but...it's lonely where I am sitting. Besides, my July is entirely dependant on when a new baby arrives. When she comes, I am not going to be available either! At least not on a consistent basis. So I am hoping, hoping, that I can have good news when I call my cello friends. BE THERE!!!

My Latest Checkup

I went to Alyssa's for a little R & R after a social event. It was a wonderful time to veg-out and refuel. After I had been there a while, Clayton decided that it was time to check out my ear. I didn't mind that, although I'm not partial to kisses on the lips from any dog, even if he is extremely cute. That didn't stop him. He even got tangled up in my hair. What a funny guy!

Alyssa's Pair

This is the photo that got away from me in a previous post about a trip to Millcreek Canyon; obviously I've still got a lot to learn about this process of adding photos.   Love this pair of cute dogs!  Thanks again, Alyssa

Rehearsal

It was a good feeling to look out at the small audience for our spring concert and see family there to support me.  I was really surprised to see Alyssa and Michelle, as they hadn't mentioned they'd be able to come by after seeing a movie together.  I still have a hard time believing I am beginning to learn to play this wonderful instrument.  Yesterday on two of our numbers at rehearsal (and we are still mostly sight-reading) I was the only cellist.  Fortunately I had practiced at home so I just dug into it and played.  It was fun to hear how both the solo and accompaniment parts blended in to form the whole of the sound.  Afterwards, they cheered for me!  When she had completed putting her music in her folder, Naomi joined in.  She is more advanced, blessedly.  It's easier to have company.  Love this work/play!

New Horizons, Continued

It was incredible to get back to orchestra yesterday. I couldn't believe how much fun we had, even though they had us sight-read through all the pieces for the end of July concert.  Pretty intense.  I got to hear a more expensive instrument from the violin shop. Wow! The sound was amazing. I'd have to save a LONG time to purchase a cello of that quality. In the meantime, I am enjoying this experience so much. It was relaxed and mellow. Randon tried to teach me about second position even while we were practicing. It was hard to concentrate, but it was good of him to attempt to help.
I'm going to look up another lesson book a step up from what I have been using and see if it will give me information to help me practice the shift to second position at home. Art suggested looking it up on Google. Good idea. Love his support of this venture! The above photo was taken by Heather at our Spring Concert.

Back to Orchestra--Next Week!

We've had a hiatus from orchestra since having a concert on April 24th but it will soon be time to begin summer semester. We'll just have it once a week on Tuesday but I'm glad we are continuing on. Yesterday I was practicing from an old lesson book. I am doing more with the lower strings now (love that sound, and Heather's little girl leaps around in-utero when she hears it, too!). I spent some time with the song "Simple Gifts" which pleased me. Usually the time goes extremely fast when I am playing my cello. This is a photo of an old one which one member allowed me to borrow. The green metal on the right is a loaner music stand from the violin shop which sponsors us. Now I have my own beautiful instrument (used, but good sound) and a new bow plus a better music stand. I also have a pin stop gadget so the cello doesn't slide around when I play on a smooth surface rather than carpeting. It has been such a good experience and I can hardly wait to see my orchestra friends again.