A Sunday, 2 Days of Service and a Christmas Date...

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImFYg5BDhQI

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.

Tuesday, December 19th, we drove to Winchester, Kentucky to the First Baptist Church. Another grant was given to support their food pantry. They will purchase a commercial size cooler and freezer and  movable storage shelving. The gratitude expressed was indeed heartfelt and sincere. We had ample time to visit their church and food pantry and make new friends in the process. Another joyful afternoon. 

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.

Pastor King is 6 feet 7 inches tall. His son plays basketball for a university in Iowa. It so happens they are going to play BYU and Paster King is going to cheer his son on. We have contacted Salt Lake City and they are arranging tours so he can learn about our Welfare Services and about Temple Square. 

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 like to find places to eat that are not chain restaurants when traveling. I found a pizza place that had great reviews and was a little further away from downtown Nashville. We found the place in a neat little area with lots of shops and eateries and NO parking. We found a parking lot across the street and paid $10 for the privilege of parking there long enough to eat dinner. Five Points Pizza did not disappoint. We ordered Garlic Knots, one Greek Salad which we shared, and one 14-inch Supreme Pizza. We had a few slices of pizza to take back to the room for a snack for Claude after the show. Great place to eat with a lot of ambiance.

Back to our hotel to chill for a couple of hours until time for the show.

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. 

You could see this unusual building from across the river. Claude shared that as he looked at it, he kept thinking of The Two Towers. Clearly, we are getting close to our annual watching of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy!

We were told we could take all the pictures we wanted without a flash. We were asked not to video. I didn't the first half of the show. Then took a 15 minute intermission. After that, I did video a few choruses of special songs. 

Vince Gill singing "Whenever You Come Around".

Amy Grant singing "Breathe of Heaven". 

This is the youngest of their children. The oldest was one of the backup singers. 

They did the most robust version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" that I have ever heard. It started out just like you would expect. However, once they got to the final chorus, they were rocking and reeling. Vince went to town on that guitar solo and everyone was clapping and enjoying themselves. Truly fun.

Their final number of the encore was "Till This Time Next Year" with Amy and Vince singing together. We have a CD of Vince singing this song and it is so touching. 

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. 

As we left this concert, we shared our feelings about making a trip to see this for a date. I assured Claude this should be an annual tradition for him and me. It was well worth the trip.

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.

This was a fun trip for us. We didn't fill it with lots of sight-seeing, but we could have if we wanted. We enjoyed good food and good entertainment and good company with the two of us. I call this a great Christmas date!

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.