December 17th, was a wonderful Sunday. I always go to sacrament meeting with a prayer that I will have one cup-filling moment. This day it was the Primary Children singing. Two of the young boys were featured singing the verses to the song, Peter Friley and Dax Bennett. The kids all joined in on the chorus. A young woman, Julianna Squire, played the cello. It was all simply uplifting. But listening to those to very young boys standing straight and tall and sharing their testimony through song was the high point for me.
In the evening, Claude and I were asked to sing as part of the Lexington North Stake Christmas Devotional. We chose to sing "The Peace Carol". This is family favorite. Years ago when living in Maryland with our kids, we would sing each Christmas at the Washington DC Temple Visitor's Center by the Live Nativity. Claude would play his 12-string guitar while we sang. One of the songs we always did was "The Peace Carol". It comes from the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas Program. Claude again accompanied the two of us with his very old 12-string guitar. The guitar itself is a treasure. Claude is left handed and we purchased this 12-string Gibson when we were living in California. It was made with the bridge set to string left-handed. It is really a custom guitar. We could ill-afford it back then. But, being young ones learning about finances, we did purchase it. It has paid for itself many times over the years.
These are the lyrics.
The garment of life, be it tattered and torn
the cloak of the soldier is withered and worn
But what child is this that was poverty-born
The peace of Christmas Day
CHORUS:
The branch that bears the bright holly
The dove that rests in yonder tree
The light that shines for all to see
The peace of Christmas Day
The hope that has slumbered for 2000 years
A promise that silenced a thousand fears
A faith that can hobble an ocean of tears
The peace of Christmas Day
Add all the grief that people may bear
Total the strife and the troubles and care
Put them in columns and leave them right there
The peace of Christmas Day
I hope this link works so that you can hear John Denver sing this beautiful song. Blogger will not let me download the practice session of Claude and me. John Denver will sound better anyway.
Claude and I enjoyed doing this together. Brought back lots of really good memories. That is one of the best things about Christmas. Particularly as one ages. Lots of good past memories to reflect upon.
Monday, December 18th, Claude and I made our way to Mt. Sterling, Kentucky to participate in the presentation of a grant to Sterling Community Food Coalition from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This grant enabled them to purchase a new box truck for food deliveries. This truck was much needed to continue serving those in great need. In talking with one of their Board members, I learn that two of their head of households are under 18 years of age. The need is great. Claude Christensen and I loved visiting with these good people who donate so many hours to help those in need.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The First Baptist Church did major renovations to their sanctuary. These are new stained glass windows around three sides that tell of Christ's life. Stunning.
So nice to form these bonds with others in Kentucky who care about those in need. Claude and I felt so good each of these days and truly enjoyed getting to know all these good people.
Wednesday, December 20th, we left the beautiful Commonwealth of Kentucky and headed to Nashville, Tennessee. We were off on another Christmas Date. This would be to see Amy Grant and Vince Gill perform their Christmas show at the Ryman Auditorium.
We stayed at the Comfort Inn and Suites across the river and right by the Nissan Stadium. I did not notice this sign in front of the hotel until we came back that evening. When we got to our VERY spacious room, I went to open the blinds so we had some natural light coming into the room. First, the blinds were electric. You press a button and it raises the heavier nighttime blind. You press another button and it opens the blind that lets a little light in. What a delight to play with. Once the blind was opened, I saw the reason they have the sign out front. That swimming pool was guitar shaped. Amazing. We were definitely in Nashville, Tennessee.
We left our hotel at 6pm and found our way into downtown Nashville. This hotel had a nice easy way to get over a bridge into the city right where we needed to be. It also had a nice easy way to get back across the river on another bridge to get back to the hotel. Cool.
We very much enjoyed our evening with Amy and Vince. Vince shared at the beginning that they both were under a doctor's care for colds. One of their backup singers was behind the stage still singing because she had a cold. In addition, Vince was trying to pass kidney stones. Okay, that is a lot of baggage to bring to a concert. But they performed like there was not an issue.
I wrote down a few quotes from Amy and Vince.
Amy: I need a silent night to hear an angel's voice.
Amy: I love holding my guitar because I don't have to hold my stomach in.
Vince: You are only as happy as your unhappiest kid.
Now, as we left the parking garage, which was right across the street from the Ryman, we gave the young man our parking ticket and it said, "$35 please." Claude handed him the credit card and swallowed hard. I got the hotel across the river as it was $50 to $100 per night less expensive than any downtown. As it turns out, we spent in parking this day what I saved on the hotel. I guess that is a good thing, right?
We slept in a bit on Thursday, December 21st. Got up in time to hit the breakfast buffet before heading home.
Claude stopped at the gas station down the street where we would make the turn to get on the highway home. He wanted me to get him a Diet Coke. I went in to do this while he filled the car with gas. I picked up a treat for me and some cashews for Claude. Then I went to get a fountain drink. I chose the smaller cup and filled it with ice and Diet Coke. Then I went to look for a lid. There were lids there but they were all too big. I went back to the cashier with drink in hand to ask for them to get lids. I was told they were waiting for a truck and had no lids until the truck came. Okay, I decided I would get a bigger cup than I wanted as there were larger lids. It is very difficult to drive with a lidless cup. I poured Claude's Diet Coke into a larger cup and tried the lid. It was too big for that cup. There were no larger cups. What to do. I searched and found a coffee cup with a coffee lid and poured the Diet Coke in it and put that lid on and headed back to the register. They had my other items rung up waiting for me. The added the coffee cup full of Diet Coke and finished my charges. Then they told me to have a good day. Now, I paid with a credit card and Claude likes a paper receipt for the files. I asked if I could have a receipt. Can you guess what they said? There is no paper for their registers. They have to wait for the truck to get there. I went to the car and shared the story with Claude. He said when he finished filling the car, the gas tank thing told him to go inside for a receipt!! That clearly would have done him no good. I gave him his coffee cup full of Diet Coke and away we went to find our little Kentucky home.
Friday, December 21st and Saturday December 22nd will be spent getting the final touches on Christmas. We purchased the fresh produce this morning. It was a zoo. I found myself at the front of the cart making a path for Claude to push the cart through. I would find something one the list and go get that to make fewer aisles he had to push that cart through. At one point, another man looked at me at said, "Today's shopping is a sport!" And he was correct. One to Sunday and family arriving for Christmas.
