Lots Of Thoughts

• Went today to see the Traveling Tabernacle - a replica of the ancient Tabernacle.  It's quite an undertaking, visiting all kinds of cities around, it's been in Draper for a bit and today seemed like the day.  So glad we went.  I probably won't remember for very long the things I learned, but still glad I spent the hour there.

• On our way to the storehouse yesterday morning, I saw this window sticker in the car next to us.  Just made me feel good.  I like a bit of kindness spread around. 

• The Husband brought in the very first tomato of the season from our garden.  Yay!  It's still quite cool at night and I've been fretting that nothing is ever going to ripen, but this one tomato gives me hope.  The strawberries have been quite tasty, and just enough every day for eating and sharing a little bit.

• Received a wonderful gift.  The marshmallows from Lucky Charms - which in my opinion, are the only thing worth eating in that box of cereal.  Was going to try to find them at the grocery when I heard they were there.  But receiving them as a generous, thoughtful gift was even better.

• Went to a ward this morning over in the Mill Creek area.  We never go there, never have a reason.  But I was playing for Robert to sing a special musical number in that ward, they apparently are a small, older populated ward and are often bringing in outside members to provide that. Anyway, I walked in expecting to see the traditional setup.  My heart just sank.  I prefer to remain in the background.  Nope.  Not there. It's an older building, things were different then. The piano and (pipe) organ were up high.  Three tall steps up to the podium where the Bishopric and speakers sit, then another several steps to the instruments.  I was literally 6 feet higher than the congregation.  I felt on display.  Uncomfortably so.  But Robert did beautifully.  I made a couple mistakes but hopefully small enough that they weren't too intrusive.  I can play a number absolutely flawlessly at home in the safety of my living room.  But put me in front of people and it's just terrifying for me.  Still.  After all these years.  And possibly worse than when I was younger.  And the interlude that I was so concerned about has a lot of octaves that I have always struggled with when there are a lot of them, my hands aren't really large enough to easily span an octave.  And today my hands were quite painful. So of course, that little interlude was where the mistakes were made, where I couldn't count on Robert's voice to help cover.  My prevailing hope is for the Spirit to be invited through the music.  I hope that was accomplished.  Now I only have a flute number to play for in a couple weeks and then in August accompanying a young woman for a missionary return.  I'll get in enough practice to keep me going, but hopefully not enough to trouble my wrist.

• And I read a couple unrelated sentences that spoke to me.  "Some people don't understand that sitting in your own house in peace, eating snacks and minding your own business is priceless."    And this one:  "Everyone needs a friend they probably shouldn't be allowed to sit next to at a serious function."  Love them both. 

• This next week will be different, I've two lunches to go to and we're going off to a different temple. Was surprised at the invitation by one sweet sister from church to go to lunch with her but grateful, of course, to be asked. 

Am grateful today to have Robert's song done without any huge glaring mistakes.  It is a beautiful song and I am always honored (and terrified) when someone asks me to play for them.  I'm grateful for kind, thoughtful people.  I hope to be around more of them.  And even more, I hope to be one of them.  Grateful for a couple things to look forward to this week.  And grateful our little garden.  The Husband does great with it!