December of Joy

December is a busy month full of joyous occasions, if we're willing to stop and find them amidst the bustle of the season.  Here's my list:

• Spending the day with my mom on her birthday.  She's my best friend!
• Meeting new people in the community who share my love of music.  Estacada has some fabulously talented musicians who graciously offer and share their talents with others freely.  It has been an honor to sing and play with them this holiday season.
• Helping a dear friend during her trial of planning her mother's funeral.  I was happy to help in even small ways to plan the music and sing for the funeral.  
• Finishing the enormous task of leading our ward choir through four performances this month.  We finished strong and I enjoyed every minute of it!
• Realizing I am capable of planning, preparing, and accomplishing a HUGE task and seeing it come to fruition and be successful.  It has boosted my confidence and energized me to continue forward in the coming year!
• Spending time with my family for the holidays.  Parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, children.  I enjoyed our time together!
• Ending the year in Virginia with our extended family--we haven't seen them in a year!
• Rediscovering the incredible history of our country in our country's capital--Washington DC. 

A birthday getaway

Jason took me away for my birthday.  It was just what I needed amidst the bustle of the season.  We stayed two nights at the Governor Hotel in downtown Portland.  I love staying downtown and walking the streets. It's such a treat to get away from life, kids, and responsibilities and go incognito for a bit.

We bundled up in the cold (and the rain) and shopped in the various fancy stores.  We ate thai food.  One night we went to a musical production of It's A Wonderful Life, which was completely fabulous.  We watched from the front center row in a small, intimate theatre where the actors were about four feet away from us.  It was amazing to be so close and it felt like we were a part of the show.  They actors were so talented.  It was an honor to watch them display their talents. 

The next night we attended Michael Allen Harrison's Christmas Concert at The Old Church, which we saw last year as well.  It was wonderful and I enjoyed every minute of it.  This year our seats had a perfect view of Michael's hands as he played the piano.  He makes playing the piano look so easy.  His fingers dance over the keys with amazing fluidity.  I admire his talent immensely. 

I find it amusing that when Jason and I find ourselves out together with no children, what attracts our attention most?  Children.  We watch as other families corral their kids down the street, into stores, into restaurants.  It's fun to watch the kids and their reactions to various situations because we can completely relate to the situation.  We chuckle to ourselves as we see the kids laugh, play, and even throw fits.  I find myself appreciating my own kids and realizing that even their shortcomings are completely normal.

Anyway, it was wonderful spending adult time together away from real life.  I'm so fortunate to have a husband who spoils me and makes sure I'm taken care of.  I'm grateful for his attention and love.  I'm also grateful to celebrate another birthday in good health and happiness.

Good Tidings of Great Joy!

Good Tidings of Great Joy!

A Musical Celebration of Christmas

It is finished.  

My consuming work of the season.

What a truly amazing experience to be an instrument
 in worshipping the Savior through song and music at the most magical time of the year. 
In my little community
--my little section of the state, country, world--
I was able to bring people together
to bear testimony of the Good Tidings of Great Joy
that have been given us from centuries ago. 
I am truly honored and humbled by the experience.

I learned a lot.
Planning, flexibility, endurance.
Organization, communication, vision.
Leadership, encouragement, collaboration.
Just to name a few.
And, mostly, trust.
Trusting that my hard work would pay off.
Trusting that everyone involved would contribute their best.
Trusting that others would want to hear what we had to offer.
Trusting in myself--that my vision would be complete and successful.
Trusting I would be satisfied with the results. 

And in the end, my trust was unbetrayed.

Everything was not perfect, but everything was perfectly satisfying.

Everyone rose to the occasion.

It was a beautiful night.

My mom sang in the choir.

My brothers came to support me.

Their support meant the world to me and I was happy to share the night together.

In the end, all the work, worry, and time was worth it.

I'm grateful to have learned what I learned.

I'm pleased to have accomplished what I accomplished.

I'm hopeful for future concerts with even more successes.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season!  Here's to a new year coming soon!

The Richards Family~

Jason & Shannon

Mariah, Dallin, Grant, Kyle, and Karina

A story behind a story

Yesterday I posted about my experience with my sweet mother who helped me keep our tradition of cutting down a Christmas tree.  Now let me tell you the story behind the story....

We headed up the road and decided to go to the tree farm we went to last year.  We were feeling lucky that no rain was dripping from the sky as we parked the truck and headed out into the rows of trees.  To our surprise, we found our two trees within about ten minutes, which is most certainly a record for our family.  Maybe it was Dallin's declaration as we trudged along that helped us decide so quickly.  He said, in reference to our typical routine of circling the farm to find the "perfect" tree, "You don't need to be so judgmental!"  Poor trees.  They must have complexes by the time we're done with them!

So, sure enough.  We let our judgments slide and were feeling rather pleased with ourselves as we beckoned  to the man with the chainsaw for help.  He sliced the trunks neatly and then ordered his son to carry the heavy tree while we attended to the lighter one.  Another ten minutes passed and we were loaded up, trees paid for, and ready to go just as a few sprinkles began falling from the sky.

Then, this happened.   And all our pride and self-gratification went out the window as we had to ask for help to get us unstuck from the mud.  

 

 After several different attempts, the farm owner finally pushed us out with his mini-tractor.  We went slipping and sliding towards the paved road with plenty of hoots and hollers and oh-no's!  I gunned it and we dared not stop until our tires were firmly on solid pavement.  Waving out the window our thank you's, we laughed and laughed at the memories we had just created and to try to save ourselves from our embarrassment.  And to think I had nearly foregone this adventure for a tree lot!  It's an adventure to remember for certain.

Give and take

It's a tradition for us to find The Perfect Tree as the centerpiece of our holiday decor.  This year, for several reasons, I was not feeling the fun in our tradition.  I was busy and distracted with my concert preparations, the rain was coming down in buckets for days, and Jason was out of town on the weekend after Thanksgiving when we typically get our tree.  I've gone to get a tree by myself before, but it was a lot of huffing and puffing and hollering at kids to help.  Normally that doesn't bother me much, but this year I was completely willing to forego the experience and find a pre-cut tree on a lot to take home.  

I weighed my options:

1) Go without a muscly man to a muddy field of wet trees; 

2) Spend a half an hour tromping in the mud to find the perfect tree;

3) Cut it down by myself; 

4) Haul it to the truck about 50 yards away with my five kids "helping;" 

5) Haul it up my driveway and onto the porch; 

6) Leave it there for a few days to hopefully dry.  

OR

1) Go without a muscly man to a tree lot exactly 1/2 mile from my house;

2) Pick out a tree in 2 minutes;

3) Save myself from all huffing and puffing and hollering to cut the tree down;

3) Throw it into the back of the truck 10 feet away;

4) Repeat # 5 and 6 above;

5) Feel guilty that I broke the tradition of cutting down a fresh tree.

I was totally okay with my second set of options minus #5, which was causing a bit of angst in my mind. 

Enter:  my mom.  We usually take Mom with us and get her a tree at the same time we get ours.  So when she called to ask what our plans were for getting trees this year, I felt guilty admitting to her my plan to buy a lot tree.  Then, my dear, sweet, loving mother came to my rescue.  With a few words of encouragement and planning, we were out the door and heading to a tree farm to pick out our trees.  What I thought would be an ordeal, a pain, a hassle, an inconvenience, turned out to be a lovely day of tradition and memories.  She said all the right things, helped me gather my hope and courage, and left me feeling content and fulfilled at what we accomplished together.  

It wasn't until later that day I realized what an angel she had been for me.  Without even knowing it, she had lifted my spirits and helped me see past my negativity and lack of motivation.  I recognized that many times I fill that role for her--as she ages and has more needs arise wherein she needs assistance, I am the one she leans on for guidance, encouragement, and strength.  But this day, it was she who gave me what I was lacking.  She lifted me up.  It's a beautiful thing to have a relationship of healthy give and take.  And for that, I am grateful.  

Middle aged

35.

Why does 35 sound so much older than 34?

35.

Yawn.

Boring.

Why does 35 sound so "blah?"

35.

Middle aged.

Is 35 exactly middle-age?  Sounds like it to me.  

So that means I'm crossing a precipice.

Today the scales are exactly balanced.  

Tomorrow they will ever so slightly begin tipping the other direction.

As I look behind me, what do I see?

A family--two brothers, Mom, Dad.  A childhood--happy, secure, loved.  

A trial of faith--heartbreaking, painful.  An education--challenging, hard work, unforgettable opportunity.  

A husband--mature, patient, kind.  A family--daughter, son, son, son, daughter.  

As I look ahead, what do I see?

A family--growing, maturing, bonding, loving, succeeding.  

A life of service--for family, for church, for community.

A time to for me to fill in the blank________--for my growth, for my enrichment.

While 35 sounds rather non-descript, it's not just another weight on the scale.  For me, it's the weight that balances the scale and peaks the perspective on my life.  It's the point at which I weigh where I've been and assess where I'm going.  

And I like what I'm seeing.

Consumed

I have been consumed lately.  Consumed with music.  

Altos, sopranos, tenors (we need more!), basses.

Pianists, flutists, cellists, violinists. 

Cutoffs, tempos, directing.

Programs, posters, invitations.

Rehearsals, reminders, announcements.

Jewelry, ties, dresses.

Desserts, flowers, decorations.

It is no small task to organize a Christmas concert.

Not just one concert, but two.

Not just two concerts to organize, but another two to participate in.

I'm learning to delegate.

I'm learning to be satisfied with the effort of others, although it may not result in exactly what I had envisioned.

I'm learning to be patient.

I'm learning to be bold and confident.

I'm learning to enjoy the journey.

It has been a wonderful journey so far,

And it promises to be wonderful to the very end.

November of Joy

It's the time of year that reminds us to truly reflect on the things we are grateful for in our lives.  Without writing a novel or listing every item under the sun, here are a few of the top things that brought me joy this month:

• Election day!  I enjoy seeing our democracy in action--it is truly amazing.  I love the feeling that sweeps across the nation as we all join together in a common action for the good and forward movement of our country.  Whether or not we agree with the results, I think we can all be grateful for the opportunity to let our voices be heard.
• Spending a wonderful weekend out with a dear friend and both our daughters.  We went to a women's conference and listened to inspiring speakers and beautiful music.  Most of all, we enjoyed each other's company and Portland in the beautiful fall weather.  
• Enjoying the Grand Opening for our business.  Mostly I enjoyed visiting with all the wonderful people who love and support us, professionally and personally.  Without our supportive cheerleaders, our accomplishments would seem deflated and unexciting.  
• Finishing the Grant's soccer season brought me joy--no more dragging him to practice, crying, whining, complaining.  Remind me next year that he may not be a candidate for soccer again.
• Meeting new, wonderful people who took us in for Thanksgiving dinner and treated us like family.  It was a true joy to spend the day with them and enjoy the abundance we have together.
• Watching Dallin and Grant earn scouting awards.  Dallin earned his Webelos badge and Grant earned his Wolf badge.  They've worked hard (and so have I!).
• Finally, FINALLY feeling like our choir is making progress.  As their director, it has been a long road to get to this point and I finally feel like we're making music together!  Let the concert season begin!

Dream house

I neglected to inform you that the real reason we went to Utah in October was to check on our Dream House we're building just south of Salt Lake City.  It's pictured below.  Unfortunately, I had to take two pictures of it to give you the full scope of the house, since it didn't fully fit into a single camera frame.  When you have to use a panoramic lens to photograph it, that's probably when you know your house is big enough. 

Okay, fine.  It's not really our house.  But one can dream, right?

I guess we could see about buying this house, which was for sale next door to the behemoth.

Ya right.  In my dreams.  

I'd have to settle for a run down foreclosure that's empty and abandoned and needs lots of work.  

How about this one?

Well, if I HAVE to.

A Grand Re-Opening

A day of festivities was planned to celebrate our new location with our customers and friends.  Throughout the day the shop was full of people coming and going, socializing and eating, touring and such.  The parking lot was full of cars (mostly Subarus)--it was like a mini car show outside.  Inside gave away t-shirts, hats, stickers, etc. and we held a raffle with many items donated from our vendors.  We also hired a company to set up some card tables--blackjack and roulette--where people could pass the time by playing games and donating money.  All proceeds from the raffle ticket sales and the card tables went to the American Red Cross to help fund the Hurricane Sandy relief effort.  We ended up raising $1700 for the cause.

Later that evening we dressed up and enjoyed an invitation-only dinner with our employees, best customers, and good friends.  We enjoyed more time together and passed the time with good food, good company, music, and games.  It was really fun!

The kids had fun playing War with the card dealer during the down time.  Karina entertained us all with her antics on the microphone.  The remaining die-hards gathered for a picture at the end of the night.  It was a long and successful day.

Church history

One day of our vacation was dedicated to visiting the wonderful things at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  Our first stop was the Church History Museum, which had some really fascinating things inside.  We had a wonderful tour guide who, seeing we had five kids and knowing their capacity for withstanding museums and history, gave us the "quick kid tour."  I was grateful for her accommodation and delighted that she kept the kids captivated with good questions and factual tidbits that were interesting to them.  She told us toward the end of our tour she is the wife of the recently released LDS Church Historian, Marlin K. Jensen.  How's that for service?!

I love Dallin's face in the picture below.  He's aghast (we all were) at the death masks of Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, in the display.  The idea, today, of a death mask is kind of creepy--especially since we have photographs available of people.  But, I'm grateful they did this sort of thing before we had a lot of photographs so we can know what people looked like.  It's especially important with historical figures.

Can you fit your household belongings and food in this wagon?  Nope.  Not me.  I have too much junk.

The kids loved learning about the bunks in the ships that crossed the Atlantic to bring immigrants to the US.  The conditions were not ideal, by any means, and I found myself feeling grateful I didn't live during a time when travel was so difficult.

Some people didn't have it so difficult, though.  A woman who traveled across the plains brought this piano with her.  I'm sure it was a serious luxury to have once she lived here in the valley where so many brought only what could fit in a wagon or handcart.  I envisioned large groups of people gathering in her home to enjoy the beautiful music played and to sing along with an instrument.  I would have befriended her for sure, just to tinkle the ivories with my fingers.

Is it real gold, Mom?  Solid gold?  I think I heard that question a hundred times.  

Mariah practiced her General Conference talk behind the podium.  Grant might have to wait a few years until we can see his neck.

After nearly strangling the kids a thousand times by the end of our museum visit, we headed outside so they could wiggle.  We ate lunch at the City Creek Center and then visited some more buildings on Temple Square--the Assembly Hall, the Tabernacle, and the Conference Center.  Jason and I both agreed that the Conference Center is a place we'd like to spend more time in and explore sin hijos (without kids).  There is a lot of artwork that would be nice to enjoy at a leisurely pace in that building.  

 

It was great to spend the day in Salt Lake City.  Every time I go to Temple Square I learn something new, and this time was no exception.  

Where it all began....

This is where it all began.

On a cool, fall night, 15 years ago.

A boy.  A girl.  A pasta dinner.

This was the "restaurant up Provo Canyon" the boy mentioned would be the location of their first date.

The boy brought pasta (which he made), bread, sparkling cider, dessert and a blanket.

The girl was impressed.

The next day she couldn't stop thinking about him.

She hasn't stopped thinking about him since.

Pumpkin Patch and Ice Cream

Chad and Allison took us to a great, local family farm to explore in Santaquin, Utah.  Inside a huge, beautiful barn they served fresh apple cider, ice cream, donuts, caramel apples, and other treats.  We enjoyed some ice cream and apple juice before heading out for a hay ride to the pumpkin patch.

The kids loved the huge slide next to the pumpkin patch.  They had contests to see who could slide the farthest.

We convinced the kids to sit still for two minutes to shoot some photos.  Here are the cousins--together at last.

Just the girls....

We picked out a pumpkin and hauled it home.  I had promised Karina she could pick one out since she  missed her school field trip to the pumpkin patch while we were on vacation.

It was a beautiful evening and a fun time with family.  We're glad we got to spend some time with Chad, Allison, and their kids.

October of joy

October was full of joyous events:

• A week of vacation brought me joy, even with the work and effort it took to pull it off 
• Visiting with extended family on our vacation--we don't get to see them enough!
• Spending time with my Aunt Judy and Uncle Bob, whom we love and admire immensely
• Having a free valet at our hotel so we didn't have to park the car every night
• Finishing the Primary program for the kids in our church--they touched my heart as they sang beautifully all the songs we have been learning and practicing together since January.  I am so pleased with their willingness to learn and grow with me!
• The beautiful changing leaves of fall--I can't seem to get enough of them.  They are so glorious!
• Hearing Dallin say, "Mom, I really want to be an Eagle Scout."  I love to hear him think ahead and realize the benefits that come from such a high achievement.  This kid is maturing!
• Having Jason take over the Halloween costumes for the kids.  I didn't have to do a thing this year--and that makes one happy mama.

Mountain fun

Our home for the week was in Little Cottonwood Canyon just south of Salt Lake City at The Cliff Lodge, which is part of the Snowbird Ski Resort.  It's a nicely kept, HUGE hotel with beautiful glass windows from floor to ceiling which face the mountain and ski slopes.  The concrete walls and pillars upholding the hotel are amazingly huge and thick--I imagine they were built to withstand the heavy snow and avalanches, which are common to this area.

We took a day to relax and explore the resort.  The kids played on the bungee jump trampolines, the alpine slides, and the zip line.  They thought they were in heaven (except for the whining when they realized doing a flip on the bungees was harder than they thought).  Note:  Not to be shown-up by her brothers, Karina was the first one to flip.  Is that really a surprise?

We rode the tram up the mountain to Hidden Peak.  The kids were a little worried in the tram when it swung quite a bit in the air, but we made it.  And what beautiful vistas we were able to enjoy!  

The kids went swimming a couple of times in the heated outdoor swimming pool.  The first time they swam, it was raining a bit and the clouds were so low they practically hit the kids heads as they swam.  Jason and I shivered as we sat and watched them swim.  When we went inside, we discovered why were so cold--it was 37 degrees outside!

Mr. President

Guess who I met the other night?

Our President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama.  

It's true!

He came to our trunk-or-treat party.

I shook his hand.

He asked for a treat.

I told him I'd give him candy, but not my vote.  

Sorry, Mr. Obama.  No vote for you.

Go Cougars!

The kids were more than excited to attend a BYU Cougars football game (minus Karina, who stayed with her cousins to play).  As we walked across campus toward the stadium, they were amazed at the flood of people heading toward the game.  Dallin said, "Mom, it's like everyone here is going to watch the football game!"  Yes, Dal.  They are.

One of the reasons we made the trip to Utah was to watch this football game.  The Cougars played against the Oregon State Beavers and my brother and sister-in-law, who are huge Beaver fans, made their way down to the game as well.  My Uncle Bob and Aunt Judy were there as well, cheering on the Cougars.  It was a fun reunion!

The game was actually pretty evenly matched and well played.... until the last ten minutes.  The Cougars fell apart and made some big mistakes, allowing the Beavers to take over and win.  As the game drew to a close and the boys realized their beloved Cougars were going to lose, their demeanor changed and a few tears fell.  It was a hard blow to their little egos.

Grant pushing the camera away as he scowled at the Cougar's loss

I loved every minute of it, however.  It brought back many memories of attending BYU football games when we were going to school.  It's the only football stadium where you'll see plenty of baby carriers and toddlers in the stands and no beer.  I love seeing the huge BYU flags waved around the field, watching the ROTC guys do pushups after every touchdown, doing the wave, listening to the marching band, and singing our fight song.  I'm true blue!