Our Prayer to Thee

What a privilege it has been to sing with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square these past 10+ years!  The mission of the choir is to provide inspiring music that has the power to help people feel closer to the divine and celebrate God's love for all His children.  

How appropriate that the closing song of my last General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a member of the choir was the hymn, "Our Prayer to Thee".  The words, penned by our current president and prophet, Russell M. Nelson, really struck me as I sang them and I could hardly hold back the tears:  "We yearn for Thee, we pray in meekness."  And then, the camera caught a closeup of me singing the final phrase, "Thy trust in us, may we fulfill."

And then in that tender moment, believing that the camera would pan to the men as they sang the next phrase, I reached up and wiped my nose, which the camera also caught!  Ooops! lol, I guess they'll have to let me go now!  

I was set to retire two years ago, but then the Pandemic happened and we had a brief hiatus for 15 months.  During that time, the 90+ year broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word continued every Sunday morning, showing re-runs and compilations of previous broadcasts with new messages each week.

We also got to participate in a virtual choir by recording at home for the choir's 2021 PBS Christmas Special (< see previous post).  It took a few dozen tries, but I finally got my part recorded!  

Welp.  That's not going to work...

As Covid numbers climbed in January, choir was cancelled again, but we were able to meet again a month ago to prepare for April's Conference.  

They still need me for a few more weeks for some special events and recording, then official retirement will be May 15th, 2022.  

Our Prayer to Thee  "Thy trust in us, may we fulfill."

~the Momma

Baby J!

Joseph Ezra Barrowes, one day old!

This sweet little cherub joined our family last August!  Delivered at home with midwives that got there with just a few minutes to spare; it was an amazing experience!  Ask me about it sometime!

Now almost six months old, what a delightful child he is, so alert and happy, and can. not. wait! to walk and talk!   

Baby J, three months old!

Six months old

Precious moments!  And time passes so quickly!  I can't get enough of these little ones!

~ the "Gamma"

Celebrate the Season

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

For the past 10 years, I have been privileged to sing in the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  One can perform for up to 20 years, or age 60, whichever comes first.  I was set to retire in April of 2020, but the Pandemic interrupted that plan. The choir's television broadcast each Sunday morning was never interrupted, though, as the choir had years and years of performances and specials that they could re-broadcast.  Music and the Spoken Word has had a continuous broadcast every Sunday since 1927, now in its 93rd year, broadcasting to over 2000 television and radio stations around the world.

This beloved choir has had a 20-year history of epic Christmas programs, broadcast each Christmas season on PBS television stations.  Live performances are filmed, then broadcast the following year.  Last year, though, with no live performance in 2020, a composite of concerts over the years has been put together for the 2021 season.  Choir members were able to sing together, in a way, in this virtual choir.  Each of us recorded ourselves at home, listening to a track, and emailed in our recording. 

And then, cautiously, last October, we resumed "regular" rehearsals.  Anyone returning to the choir must be fully vaccinated.  Covid testing is required prior to every rehearsal or performance.  After a few weeks, live broadcasts began again, with little or no audience, and still taking precautions.  Only a couple of people have tested positive for Covid since October.  I'll have the opportunity to sing in yet another Christmas program, another General Conference, and an Easter concert, Mother's Day, and weekly broadcasts until my retirement in May of 2022.  

What a blessing and honor it has been to be able to raise my voice and sing with this magnificent choir - uplifting, inspiring music, messages of hope and peace and praise.  It has been such a joy!  I will relish every moment.

~the Momma

Autumn Aspen 2015

We live in a lovely mountain valley, surrounded by lakes, trees, wildlife, 

and a river that runs through it. 

  For the Beauty of the Earth - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Sometimes we get so used to this beauty that we don't even pay attention to its loveliness.

This Fall, however, our family has taken a few late afternoon drives and walks
up a corner canyon through the trees as the colors have been changing.  

The Aspen are my favorite.   

That evening sun and the golden shimmer.... ah.

 

Valley View

Even tried to get a few family pictures...

A few mountain maples nestle in the scrub oak with that last bit of color hanging on...

Oh, deer.

My favorite time of the year.  Warm sun, cool air, deep shadows.

If only every day could be just like this.

Fall foliage; family.  What could be better?

It's a beautiful world.

I Think the World is Glorious ~ Mormon Tabernacle Choir

~the Momma