Don't Laugh at Me

I had two experiences almost simultaneously that prompted this post.  We were listening to a Peter, Paul, and Mary album and the song "Don't Laugh at Me" was playing.  One of my kids mentioned that that was one of their favorite songs.  The song is about being kind in our interactions with other humans, even if they are different from us.  It's about how we don't always know the back story.  During the Savior's life he often interacted with people that the "respectable" Jews wouldn't even acknowledge.  When they confronted Him about it He reminded them that healthy people don't need a doctor, sick people do.  The irony of that is that we are all in need of a physician because we all sin. He never condoned the sins.  "Go, and sin no more."  But he always made the time for the people who wanted to be with him, the little children, the blind, deaf, lonely, sick, sinner, and stranger.

This link will take you to the chords for Don't Laugh At Me
This link will take you to youtube to listen to the song Peter, Paul and Mary sing Don't Laugh at Me
The video will make you cry.  Don't read the comments.

This reminds me of a favorite primary song I'll Walk With You

So what is the other experience, you ask?  It was a Facebook post.  I sometimes think that I should quit Facebook altogether because it is far more likely to irritate me than it is to give me useful information.  But I saw the new Pixar video about the storks. Partly Cloudy
If life were all puppies and chicks would we really be happy?  If I had never lived in West Michigan would I have ever learned to appreciate sunshine?  The world would be a much sadder place without the diversity provided by the electric eels and porcupines.

Let's be nice to each other.  Let's allow others to make decisions that we don't like without being vengeful.  Let's be kind to people who speak different languages and have different cultural backgrounds.  We might even be willing to sacrifice a few tax dollars for interpreters.  Diversity creates strength when we use it instead of being afraid of it.  We don't have to be best friends with everyone, but we have an obligation to be kind.

Wayfaring Stranger

New year, new resolution.
I really, really, really want to learn to play the guitar.  I want to be able to take my guitar on a camping trip and sit around the campfire for a couple of hours playing and singing and everyone having a good time.  I would like to not be embarrassed if there are other people around (besides my hubby and kids, they are very understanding.)  I also realized last summer, that unless I have 50 songs memorized I am going to need my music on a glowing rectangle.  So, my plan this year is to learn one new song to sing and play on the guitar each week.  I will post the song here and load it on my iPad in the Finale app.  By summer I should have a good collection of songs and I can go camping every weekend just so I can sit around the fire strumming my guitar.  (Or just in the back yard, either way.)

So the first song to go up is this little gem, Wayfaring Stranger.  I first encountered it in a lovely collection of early American hymns by Anonymous Four called American Angels.  I also found it in my guitar method book, but that only had one verse.

Here's a youtube recording in case you don't know the melody.
Anonymous4 singing Wayfaring Stranger

Wayfaring Stranger

Am

I am a poor wayfaring stranger

                Dm                    Am

While traveling through this world of woe

                                

Yet there's no sickness toil nor danger

               Dm             Am

In that bright Land to which I go

                          Dm

I'm going there to see my Father

          Am              

I'm going there no more to roam

         C          Am

I'm only going over Jordan

         Dm         Am

I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds will gather o’er me

          Dm               Am

I know my way is rough and steep

                           

Yet beauteous fields lie just before me

               Dm                 Am

Where God’s redeemed there vigils keep

                          Dm

I'm going there to see my mother

               Am            

She said she'd meet me when I come

         C          Am

I'm only going over Jordan

         Dm         Am

I'm only going over home

I want to wear a crown of glory,

           Dm                Am

When I get home to that good land;

I want to shout salvation’s story,

       Dm                        Am

In concert with the blood-washed band.

                           Dm

I’m going there to meet my Savior,

            Am

To sing His praise forever more;

         C          Am

I’m only going over Jordan,

         Dm         Am

I’m only going over home.

St. Patrick's Day Flash Mob

Keith and I are playing in a community band called "The West Michigan New Horizons Music Ensembles Concert Band."  It's a bit of a mouthful.  Between us we just call it "the band."  The purpose of the band is to provide a musical opportunity for older adults who have not played their instruments since high school or would like to learn to play for the first time.  There are New Horizons bands all over the country.  Members in our band range from retired band teachers to people who've only been playing for a couple of years.  There is a beginning band and an intermediate band as well as beginning strings and a swing band.  When Keith and I joined it significantly reduced the average age of the band.  But we are not the only not-yet-retired folks.

So to the flash mob.  Did you know that you can do a flash mob at a mall without telling the mall that you are coming and they won't arrest you?  You can tell by the looks on the security guards faces that they were not expecting us.  Keith wasn't able to be there.  (He had a Wood Badge thing that day.)  And you can almost see me once or twice, but I am there.  I'm playing trombone on this one.  I am behind the kiosk in the middle of the lower court, right behind the security guards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWic6OblCZw

Estella's Baptism

Two weeks ago Estella was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We are so proud of her.  We were glad to have Grandma and Grandpa H here with us.  We missed Grandma and Grandpa O, but we are so proud of them for the service to the Lord and the people of Columbia.

The kids sang "Keep the Commandments" and Alicia played the obligato on her flute.  The primary children will be singing it (with Alicia on flute) for the sacrament meeting presentation next week.  I'll get a video so I can post it.

My Little Stokowski

The other night it was 2 year old Chauncey's turn to lead the music for Family Home Evening.  So he got out the primary song book and set it up on the music stand (facing the window, his back to the rest of the family) and proceeded to conduct "Follow the Prophet."
It was so cute I just thought, "Wow, I wish I had a video camera right here."  Then I realized that I was holding my iPad in my lap, Duh.  I'm a little slow on the whole technology thing.  I managed to catch the last few seconds and boy are they worth it.

A Grandmother Just Like You

Happy Mother's Day to all of our Grandma's!

We Love You!

Hi Ho Silver, and Away!

Chauncey is two.  His communication skills are improving every day.  The other day he was going around and around the house on his stick horse.  Suddenly he stopped in front of me, put his little hands on my knees and said, "ba dump, ba dump."  I said, "Huh?"  He replied with a renewed sense of urgency, "Ba Dump, Ba Dump!"  I replied, "Oh!" Click here
My children have asked me to do a lot of interesting things to enhance their play experience, but I think this is the first time I have been asked to provide the sound track.