"I know that my Redeemer lives" but do I really have to play?

So I played the piano for seminary graduation AND Ali's farewell.

Here is the first part of the story...
It was about 2 weeks before the seminary graduation. Ali had given a talk for hers and I thought it would be kinda fun if I gave one too but since it was really close I thought "there is no way I'm going to do anything." So I wasn't expecting anything. Well, next thing I know I get a call from this girl who I have no clue who she was and she asks me to play a musical number for the graduation. I seriously didn't know what to think (or say). I'm sure I was silent for at least a whole ENTIRE minute as I thought about what she was telling me and what to say. So I told her yes (very hesitantly) and told her I would call her to tell her what song I would play.
I scrounged around looking for something to play. I finally picked a piece that was fairly easy because I knew that would probably be so nervous that I could hardly play it and also because it was the song that I could be the most expressive in. After I found the piece I was going to call the girl but because I was in so much shock when I got the call, I could not remember her name and couldn't find her number. So I had to call a counselor in the Stake Presidency to get her info. I didn't feel too confident with the piece because when I played it, it was only about about 2 1/2 minutes long. So I asked him if it would be okay so short. He asked what it was and I told him "I Know that My Redeemer Lives". He told me, in his quiet, calm voice, "that will be wonderful." I can't tell you how happy those few words made me feel.
So, I called her, got everything in order and it was about a week before the big event. I was so nervous! Every time I practiced the piece I would just shake and, oh, it was so bad. I thought I would not even play one right note. But I knew that God would help me. He could help me play it well and He could give me comfort, confidence and peace. I prayed so hard. I prayed that I would be able to perform well and to help those I played for feel the Spirit and my testimony. I worked on the piece so much but I felt so inadequate. I got a father's blessing and felt alot better. But when I practiced it I would still get so nervous and played so poorly. I knew that I had worked hard, maybe not all I could have, but hard. I had prayed about it and I had gotten a blessing and so all I could do now was to trust. So I trusted in God with everything. I put my all in His hands and went forward.
That night as I practiced I still was so nervous. We had a little mix-up with the time so when I thought I was going about 15 minutes early to play on the piano, I actually was an hour and 15 minutes early. I sat on the stand for about an hour before it started and it kinda helped me de-stress a little to see all the people and get used to their faces. I was first on the program, which was a blessing in and of itself. When I sat down on the bench I felt calm and peaceful. I started playing and it went so well. I think I only played about 1 wrong note. I felt like it went so quickly. And, oh, it went so well. When I sat down, the girl I was sitting next said it was just beautiful. Afterwards so many people told me that it was wonderful. One lady from our stake, who is really musically talented, came up and told me that she just had to sit back, close her eyes and soak it in. That is was truly beautiful. I know that God was there with me, playing with me. I could not have to done it half as well if He had not helped me. I was so happy. My Father in Heaven is so good to me.
I like the song I played best because I felt like that was my testimony. I do know that Christ lives. I had just read in the Book of Mormon about when Christ came to the Americas. As I played I could just see that. I could feel how much He loves me. How He loves us all and cares for us all "one by one." That song was my testimony of Him. I'm glad that it's over but so glad that I was able to have this experience.

tomorrow I'll get the next part

Okay, so I haven't posted in a looong time. Just a quick catch-up. Umm... it's rained like crazy for the past few weeks. We just barely got our garden in (or at least some of it). Ali had her farewell yesterday and so we have been frantically getting our house cleaned and ready for that. We had our GREAT family/friends the Bergesons come up for the farewell and stayed with us (well, sorta). I had Seminary Graduation on May 31st and was asked to play a musical number for that. Oh, and I played in Sacrament meeting at Ali's farewell. I've been doing practices for the "Monster Concert" that my piano teacher does every year. I've stressed over Ali's farewell, playing musical numbers, the Monster Concert, moving on with life, and the rain. So it all in a nutshell, I've cleaned, weeded, practiced, fed "goatlets", laughed, stressed and panicked for the past few weeks. Hopefully I'll find the time to tell y'all about most everything but if not, have a great day!!!

Do you remember in the movie "Emma" when Emma and her father are going to a Christmas Eve party and they go to pick up Mr. Elton. Now as you recall, Mr. Elton is in love with Emma (or thinks he is) while Emma wants him to marry her friend, Miss Smith. When they pick Mr. Elton up he asks...

Mr. Elton - Where is Miss Smith?
Emma - I have some sad news. Miss Smith is ill and cannot be with us this evening.
Mr. Elton - A sad loss to our party. She will be missed at every moment. However, I feel, and I hope you will concur, that small parties are the best. I would rather fall short by two than exceed by two. And how fortunate that the snow comes now instead of yesterday, when it would have made our party impossible! Now, THAT would have been a real cause for sadness, would it not? (Not to Emma's satisfaction.)

Well, later that evening, around the fire Mr. Knightly and Emma are talking together. Mr. Elton walks up and sit right in the middle of them and says

Mr. Elton - I hope I'm not intruding.
Mr. Knightly - No, no.
Mr. Elton - But I cannot stop thinking of Miss Smith's condition.
Emma - She will be happy to know of your concern.
Mr. Elton - How could I not be concerned? The whole situation is most alarming! There is nothing worse than a sore throat. Its effects are exceedingly bleak. And that is why I must, in the presence of your friend, ask you to stop visiting her!
Emma - What?
Mr. Elton - You are putting yourself at risk, and we cannot allow that, can we Knightley? I mean, is this fair?

I'm sure you know the scene well. I sure do!!

Anyway... as Miss Smith, I am in this the sad predicament, for there is "nothing worse than a sore throat", as I well know. I have been suffering from it for the past two days and am more than ready for it to go away. I have done sooo much to try and get rid of it but, alas, nothing has helped much. I guess I just have to let it run it's course. Just wanted to let you know!

The new arrivals

Guess what!!!?! Susan just had her babies!!! There are three does, all alive. I think that they are just so cute!!! Happy day!!!
We are bottle feeding all of our kids because they can get CAE (caprine arthritis encephalitis) from nursing and because the mamas make better milking goats when they don't nurse kids. So there is sooooo much feeding to do!! Just right now they are all lying down and it's all quiet. It's so nice not to have to watch them and to hear NO bleating!! But it is very fun having them here!! What a joy they are!!

Rochel Bambi

Yoshiko

Nasira

The "bestest" time - they are all sleeping

Baby announcement

I would just like to introduce you to the
two newest members of our happy little home...

Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa

They were born around 2 pm on
Saturday, May 16th, 2009.

Luke
approx. 6 1/2 lbs and14 1/4 inches high

Leia
approx. 5 lbs and 13 1/2 inches high

We are so very happy to have them in our home!!
(see previous post to see pictures)

picture post

Just had to post some pictures of the most adorable kids ever!!!!

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

Leia, the princess
Lukey, the most handsome goat ever alive
Fast asleep

I just love watching them eat and walk and sleep. I love them, oh, so much. I'm so very grateful that they are alive and well. They are just too cute!
Oh, soooo cute!!

- The Dandelion War -

I'm in a war. My opponent is very small yet very powerful. It may seem sweet and docile but don't be deceived, this enemy is not one to mess with. It has the ability to multiply very quickly and so you must imagine my great alarm to best this beast whilst I still can. This great enemy is... the dandelion.

{Now, don't get me wrong. I like dandelions... in their place. They are very cute and have many useful purposes. For instance, young dandelion leaves are used in salads. The root is very medicinal. You can even use dandelion milk (the runny white stuff) on cuts or scrapes. It is a very wonderful plant, but not when it covers the whole lawn. Now back to my tale... }
And so yesterday I took is upon myself to dig all the dandelions out of my section of the lawn. I used my faithful and trusty dandelion weeder - which I dubbed Zahir (pronounced zah-HEER and which means "helper or supporter" in Arabic). It took us over an hour but in the end, we succeeded! As in all great battles, we had a rather large pile of deceased dandelions. Not wanting them to decay on the lawn, we fed them to the fowl of the air (aka - the chickens).
And so this is the tale of my war with the dandelions. It is far from over. In fact, it has just begun. We have yet to see who shall be the victor in this great battle. And this summer shall go down in history as "the year of the dandelion war".

My grand feat - conquer the dandelions

My weapon - Zahir

The great pile of the deceasedThe fowl enjoying their feast