Jenifer's Galaxy

The latest whirlwind around the galaxy has been the finishing of the December project – the Christmas Eve Sacrament Service. To go back a few light years, in September, in the church, I was given the job of choir director.{--MUCH different than accompanying!}. I needed to find some appropriate music for the Christmas Eve service. And what ended up happening is this: I wrote the Christmas Eve Service using scriptural narration and some of our own words, with the help of Scott in functions as : supporter/editor/printer/consultant. We inserted songs, hymns and carols into this narration. I rehearsed the choir and arranged for narrators. After never having everyone participating together once, we performed the program last Sunday and ended up with a strongly/deeply inspiring program.

In the realm of my galaxy of being MOTHER, I enjoyed being the mother of the two year old, Arianne. Her cutest antics of the recent season have been that of calling me, “Mudder”, sucking on “candy hooks” and dancing with me to the music of the “sugar fairy plum”. I am truly enjoying being home with her while the other kids go to school---all day. We try to do preschool activities while squeezing in all the other tasks of running a household.

Having two boys play soccer this year was a challenge for transportation manager of this galaxy and having the first child go off to middle school opened the book of new adventures for me—like where to find parking for track meets and where to find other places previously unknown i.e. other district middle schools for away track meets. In addition to being in a basically unknown realm of sports supporter, I also entered into the world of cub scouts. This year I found myself not only as the mother of a Wolf cub scout, but also as the consultant to the cubmaster (Scott). I enjoy watching Scott put his creativity into this job in the church.

Action shot of basement window cut falling into the room

Some framing; our Master Insulator (notice the proper safety precautions)

Actual un-retouched photo of the 'great room'

Finished floor (looks like tile, but it's not. . .

Last Christmas found me, instead of decorating for Christmas or writing personal replies to friends, 'decorating' the walls of two rooms in the basement with mud and tape and finally painting them. I spent January thru' March working with plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and inspectors. And instead of traveling galaxies, we traveled to and from Home Depot. The basement project also included hanging sheetrock, solving problems of needing a header to support an overwindow wall of brick/designing cabinetry for basement storage and, you guessed it, spending lots of money on basement finishing.

The March deadline for basement project finishing – or at least finished enough for guests to stay—was met. It was finished enough for hosting travelers from galaxies, other than our own Denver one who arrived for the baptism of our son, Harrison. But work continued on with the help a retired Berkeley {a hip and famous college town eons ago} engineer. Many thanks go out to many who contributed time, ideas, muscle, services, etc. to this almost completed project. The summer found us adding custom made cabinets and shelves for books. In progress pictures this year; hopefully, completely finished project pictures next year.

The colors of our own aurora borealis took on new hues in half of May and all of June as talents exploded like a supernova in our very own corner of the galaxy. I got involved in a stake wide pageant celebrating the 60^th year of the stake –the Denver Stake, the first stake of this area of the new western frontier. I was to direct the children's group (of which three participants were ours) in singing, then to additionally accompanying the women's group. After a stop at a committee meeting, the need for an orchestra was expressed. And that opened up new frontiers. The orchestra idea led to: creating an orchestra from the ranks of the various wards members who were not on vacation over the fourth of July (including Scott on clarinet); creating orchestra music from piano music --transposing and arranging; changing meters of music for a waltz; to playing piano in the orchestra; to basically learning lots about writing for orchestra and rearranging music for instruments. Beautiful, and entertaining music was successfully produced for the pageant celebration.

Our galaxy still includes lessons for such old and well-honored venues as piano and swimming. We found the music lessons punctuating our weeks and the swimming punctuating our summer. The tone of swimming took on the overtures of swim team and me using my swimming skills at the meets as a stroke judge. We did, however, experience more infections this summer do to pool water on the outside of Will's ear, after a tube was put in his ear in January. But after a few trips to the ENT, we again found Will in the pool.

In our galaxy we still use old forms of transportation that may be outdated elsewhere. You may be familiar with the pedal powered form of bicycling. The 'bike' riding with Arianne in the bike trailer seems to get easier each summer. With Will riding his own two wheeler, and not needing to strap Ari into a car seat into the bike trailer, I have a fairly light load and enjoyed getting into better shape with a few family bike rides. Had the winter been as mild as last year, I would have continued riding, but getting in a walk with Arianne and friends is a welcome, invigorating, healthy lungs producing source of exercise for me.

I was transported to another dimension when I took in some great concerts this year downtown at the Colorado Symphony. The symphony played a series of concerts in tribute to Aaron Copland. It was the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of his birth. The symphony also played with Doc Severinsen and we saw his concert. And what a delight it was to share these concerts with Scott and friends. I have undertaken the enjoyable hobby of collecting the works of this great twentieth century American composer, Aaron Copland. I have just recently acquired his biography. And I don't hesitate to take in other concerts featuring the music of Aaron Copland.

Smelling the Roses -- with Lizzie at a special mother's day at school

Smelling the Roses -- with the kids at the Denver LDS Temple

Although, most of my life is spent whirling past asteroids in hyperspace, I do try to take time to 'smell the roses'. With four beautiful, yet challenging children, one cannot help but smell the roses. One of the most memorable scenes in my mind was the endless high plains of Wyoming covered in snow with the trees covered with still white hoar frost. Beauty. And a daily scene I never tire of is the basement. Enjoyment of the basement---the satisfaction of being able to use something that I helped create is tops on my list. But giving credit and praise to the Almighty for inspiration, ideas, and patience and ability cannot be left out. Without help from on high, whom we celebrate this season, none of what I accomplish and experience in this life would be possible. And I add my voice from my galaxy, to the phrase that has been thought and sung many times this season, “Glory to God and peace on earth, good will to men.”