So, I'm back at the piano a bit. I think I mentioned the ward is doing a Christmas program this year, in spite of - well - everything. Our daughter and I are doing a flute - piano number. After much searching she found a version of our assigned song that is very pretty, lyrical and soft. It'll be such fun. Then a neighbor asked me to play for him when he sings. As it turns out, he's invited his daughter (who looks to be in her mid-thirties) to sing with him and it sounds so pretty. It's taken me a few hours, but I think I've finally got the music in my head, now to polish it up.
Then yesterday morning another neighbor texted with the question (I'm not sure her mouth has ever tasted a "please") would I accompany her family as they sing in the ward program. I haven't learned to say no (though that might be on the agenda), so the music was dropped at the door and I've been practicing that one as well. Christmas carols are nearly universally pretty. Some are prettier than others. And I've welcomed the chance to play the piano some more. But my hands are complaining a bit.
I've also been trying to crochet a little basket for one of my friends for her birthday in January. Baskets require crocheting with two strands of yarn at once, and tight stitches. That's tough on hands. I did a couple rows on the basket last night and then had to just quietly sit through a tv program episode and a movie because of aching hands (it's odd for me to be in front of the tv without my hands doing something). When I got up this morning I could barely make a fist. I'm glad to know why my hands have been so non-stop troublesome for the past several years, but it still takes some figuring how to handle all they need to do.
I've been mulling over the Church's Christmas Devotional that we watched on Sunday night. I was fairly riveted to the tv throughout. The talks were all excellent. But I'm still thinking about Elder Holland's. He has such a way of speaking that draws me in, he is articulate and erudite and often leaves me yearning for more. He was speaking specifically of Mary and described her as having "conspicuous faith." What a phrase. Was that innate in her? Or how did she acquire it? Can I be conspicuous in something as valuable as faith? Or conspicuous in my discipleship of the Savior?
I generally try to live my life in inconspicuousness. I dislike lots of attention - mostly because I'm getting that attention when I've failed somehow, embarrassed myself, been obviously dumb/behaving wrongly/selfish. Or even more things along those lines. So, hearing about Mary's "conspicuous faith" got me to wondering about being conspicuous in good ways and how to do that in humility, with grace. I'll be considering the aspects of this for some time to come.
We decided to brave the bad air quality this morning and go for a walk anyway (we're supposed to have some type of "storm" come through and I might be back on the treadmill for the rest of the week). I've been waking early, I dislike staying in bed when I'm fully awake and ready to jump into the day. The Husband is a good sport about going out before the crack-of-dawn, and in the cold (18 degrees no less). Because the bad air makes me cough, I tried to mitigate the effects by wearing two masks, one disposable three layer, and one 2 layer fabric mask. 3/4 of the way through our journey, I removed both the masks, they felt wet (more like soggy) and stuffed them in my pocket. The air looked marginally better and the dampness on my face wasn't comfortable so I was willing to risk mask removal. Emptying my pockets on arrival at home, I held up the masks. They were a frozen-rumpled-sculpture. Yup, my exhalations were plenty moist. But the walk? Just lovely. We saw more other people out and about than expected, but it still felt plenty quiet. I love the sunrise.
I'm grateful today for a wardrobe of masks. How fortunate to have plenty to choose from that actually fit and don't require constant adjustment. I'm grateful for something fun to play on the piano. And for ibuprofen for arthritis. For a mid-day popcorn snack. And for a warm, snug home.
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