Up Close and Personal concerts with Lex and George

I've been singing with Lex de Azevedo for 15 years now. For a long time Wednesday nights were synonymous with rehearsals/recording sessions at Azevedo Studios (formerly Studio One). I can't even find words to describe the impact these Wednesday nights have had on my life. From the friends made, the experiences shared, the love of music expressed....truly it has helped shape me into who I am today.

During our first rehearsal we were surprised and touched when Lex became emotional as he told us how much he loved us, how much we meant to him, how the experiences he has shared with us have been the highlight of his career.

Though projects have become few and far between the last couple of years, a few of us were called back together to sing in a big concert Lex was putting on as part of his "Up Close and Personal" summer concert series at his studio. He kept joking around at rehearsals that doing this concert was like watching his life flash before his eyes seeing as he was doing songs from early in his career up through the present. We're talking Saturday's Warrior, My Turn on Earth, Swan Princess, the Living Scriptures among others along with the more recent Gloria, Hosanna, Signing Times, Hymn to America, etc. So not only were we singing songs that we recorded and performed previously as the Millennium Choir...but also we provided back-up for Saturday's Warrior which was a lot of fun.

The concert ended up becoming a reunion of sorts. Not only did Jenny Oaks Baker fly in from Washington D.C. to play the violin for Hosanna (which also meant that her father, Elder Dallin H. Oaks was in the audience) and Christeena Riggs from NYC to sing in Gloria....but also almost the entire original 1974 cast of Saturday's Warrior. Because of the stories and memories flying fast and furious from all the performers, the concert went long, overlapping it's scheduled time by a full hour...but I don't think anyone minded. It was a tremendous evening and I am so glad I had the chance to be a part of it!

 Saturday's Warrior cast

Cam Clarke singing "Sailin' Home"

Shawn King (Larry King's wife) and Paul Engemann singing "Angel Lullaby" from My Turn on Earth

Jenny Oaks Baker and Christeena Riggs

A review from an audience member....

I have been a part of, and witnessed many of Lex deAzevedo's thrilling musical moments that brought tears and magic to the audience but never have I seen or heard anything as beautiful and thrilling as Lex's "Up Close and Personal" concert last Saturday. It was a beautifully woven tapestry of his God given musical talent through the years. I sat through the concert thinking how privileged I was to have know one of the great masters of the music world. My dear friend, Reid Nibley, another great musician and I were talking about Lex one day and Reid said "I don't think the LDS culture fully appreciates the magnificent talent of Lex deAzevedo but I believe future generations will". I believe they will because Lex's music is eternal. Thank you, Lex for being a part of my life and my very dear friend.

And if that wasn't enough....the very next week, also as part of the "Up Close and Personal" summer concerts, a few of us got to sing a few numbers with George Dyer, he also a part of our Millennium/Azevedo music family. George sang the part of Angel Gabriel in Gloria and the Words of Christ in Hosanna. His singing was equally breathtaking in both. He has since moved to Branson, Missouri where he has his own show and performs near daily. He brought that show here to Utah for this concert but decided for old times sake to add a couple of songs from Gloria...which is where we come in. His concert....or show as he told me he prefers to call it....was a lot of fun. Beyond having an absolutely incredible voice, George is a master performer and really involves his audience. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! But I don't think I am biased when I say that a highlight was his songs from Gloria. It sure was wonderful to sing with George again! 

 The one picture where you can see me....and I have a weird look on my face. Doesn't it figure?

Another one driving

A photo worth a thousand words?
Here's a few words anyhow.
But not a thousand.

She studied.
We went to the Drivers License Division of the DMV.
The place was jam-packed crowded.
We sat in the waiting area for over an hour.
When they called us to the desk they informed me that I couldn't use my city utility bill as my "proof of residency" because it had Bryan's name on it rather than mine.
They wouldn't take my word for it that he was my husband.
I was really annoyed.
Luckily the car registration in the glove box had my name on it.
Hmph.
Julianne passed the test in one try.
She was rather excited about those bragging rights.
Especially since it took Rebekah, well....more than once, to pass it.
I made her stop for this photo op.
I don't think she was mad about it.
Maybe just a little exasperated.
But I took Rebekah's picture when she passed.
Tradition, you know.

(Rebekah's learner's permit picture)

First day...

First day of school was somewhat momentous for everyone this year....

LILIAN started 1st grade at the elementary school. Which of course means an all day schedule and lunch at school (her favorite part, of course). She was ready. And I was ready for her to be ready! The only worry the two of us had was the bus ride home. Wanting to make sure she knew the correct bus to climb on, I met her at the school for 3 days straight where she would walk me out to the buses, pick out the right number and board. After all, she's only 6-years old....and doesn't have any older siblings at the school with her anymore. I'd heard too many horror stories of kids getting on the wrong bus....

BRANDON started school as a 7th grader at the jr. high. He attended "Thunder Camp" earlier in the month....an orientation of sorts, and then also visited the school again a few days early to decorate his locker....so by the time the first day rolled around, he was pretty confident as to where each of his classes were and how to navigate around the school.

So far, his favorite class is art. He thinks his teacher, a man who is in a wheelchair and competed in the most recent Paralympics, is awesome. He also of course, loves his science class. Shocker.

1. English 7
2. P.E.
3. Science
4. Career/Tech Ed (CTE)
5. Math
6. Art
7. Keyboarding







REBEKAH and JULIANNE headed off to the high school on the first day of school. Rebekah as a mighty senior and Julianne, a sophomore...the school being completely new to her.

Two first day pictures because with the block schedule meaning that they only attend half their schedule each day, they more or less had two first days of school.

Interesting fun fact:
Rebekah "graduated" from her elementary school during its 1st year.
She graduated from jr high during the school's 50th year.
And she will graduate high school as part of the school's 100th anniversary.

Julianne's schedule:
1. World Civ.
2. Drivers Ed.
3. Math Honors
4. Seminary
5. French 4
6. Biology
7. English
8. Sophomore Musical Productions (theatre)
*Drivers Ed....here we go again. Poor Rebekah will have to start sharing car access.
Another fun fact: Rebekah named the car "Clifford."

Rebekah's schedule:
1. U.S. Government and Citizenship
2. Seminary
3. Internship
4. Internship
5. Pre-Calculus Honors
6. Madrigals
7. Art 2
8. CE English
*Rebekah's internship has to do with elementary education and will have her heading back to Lilian's elementary school to intern for a 3rd grade teacher there.
Her English class is concurrent enrollment...she'll be getting college credit at Weber State University. She's also super excited, of course, about Madrigals....rumor has it they are going to Seattle on tour later in the spring. Maybe I'll have to volunteer myself as a chaperone....

And ME?
I'm free!!! I laughed when on facebook there were a few friends talking about how great it was that all their kids were in school full time...all of them still in elementary! I wanted to say, "You think you're doing the happy dance?? My oldest is a senior in high school! I've been doing this for 17 years. So when I say, 'Hallelujah, my kids are finally in school full time!'....let me tell you, I've earned it!!"

Fairy House

Somewhat randomly, we decided today would be a rather perfect day to make a fairy house. Arming ourselves with only a somewhat vague picture in my head of what we were looking for, Julianne, Lilian and I scoured the aisles of Bennion Crafts hunting for little plants, little stones, little mirrors and other little fairy-like things.

And then entertained ourselves on the back porch for a few hours...going through a few different versions in a sort of trial and error sort of way as we got the whole thing put together.

And when I say we, I mostly mean Julianne because realistically, she was the creative force behind the thing....even if I came up with the idea to begin with.

And because Lilian and Julianne didn't always see eye to eye in terms of fairy house interior design... we made two.

Lilian decided on a beach scene...with the orange beads as the beach, and the moss as the waves. See the little beach house in the middle made of terra cotta pieces and and topped with a white crystal/stone? Yeah, she was proud of that thing....along with all her shells and fancy rocks.

We talked about the chickens potentially coming up to the deck and causing mischief with the fairy houses. Lilian put hers up on a little deck side-table to help protect it.

Well, clearly that didn't work.

It's what fun is...

In the past 14 years that we have lived in Davis County, we have only been to Lagoon twice. Strange considering we pass the place almost daily. I'm sure many reasons go into why. Young kids? Long lines? Expensive entry fees? Summer heat?

This summer Rebekah works at Lagoon. Lagoon-a-Beach to be exact, as a lifeguard. Which means that about once a month she brings home discount family passes. It's a screaming deal as far as discounts go. Lilian has been begging every time we drive by, seeing as she's 6-years old and hasn't ever been. And though, in my perusal of Lagoon's website I discovered (not surprisingly) that she's still not tall enough to go on 1/4 of the rides...still, there were enough to keep her smiling. So last week on family discount day, we decided to go.

Rebekah had to work until 3:00. And Bryan claimed that he had far too much work with looming deadlines to join us. But off we went all the same, with plans to meet up with Rebekah after she was done with her shift.

Even though we hadn't planned to swim, we wandered through Lagoon-A-Beach to find Rebekah and see her hard at work. I took her picture.
"Ummm....kind of awkward, Mom."
But it's her first job and what else is a mother to do but take proud pictures of her baby being all grown-up and going to work??

First ride we went on....Ladybug Drop. Lilian hated it.

Apparently that feeling in your tummy when the ride drops, was not agreeable. We went on BomBora next (a roller coaster).
"That was sick, Mom! Like....awesome sick!"
Well, that was a relief. I was starting to worry that maybe she wouldn't like any of the rides. (I still have to deal with her fear of the wimpy little Dragon Slide waterslide at Cherry Hill every time we go.) And sick?? Can you tell she lives with teenagers?

The long lines I was worried about didn't materialize, which was nice. Most of the lines were somewhat short and moved swiftly. But the summer heat was fairly intense. I've made no secret of the fact that summer heat and I don't get along. By early afternoon I was miserably hot and sweaty, yes. But dealing with it well, I thought.  I even went on the Cliffhanger to stay cool. One of my all time favorite rides from the last time we visited Lagoon, it slowly swings you upside down and through a water fountain a few times.

  (Julianne and I are on the bottom row....6 seats in from the right.)

See? Not too crazy at all! I got off feeling wet but cooler, and with a smile on my face. I was tempted to get right back on seeing as there wasn't a line, but hated to make Lilian and Brandon (who didn't want to get his shoes wet) wait for us again.

My stomach was rumbling. It was past lunch and a banana and a cookie do not a solid breakfast make, really. I suggested we stop at Teriyaki Stix right around the corner from Cliffhanger. I was ordering our lunch when suddenly and surprisingly I started to feel lightheaded and shaky. I had handed over my credit card and was waiting for the receipt to sign when my vision started to go fuzzy and dark and my ears started ringing. "Julianne," I said, somewhat panicked, "I think I'm going to pass out...." Luckily at that very moment the receipt arrived. I scrawled my name, though I could hardly see by that point, and then took a few wobbly steps toward a nearby chair and more or less collapsed into it. Head between my knees....and there I stayed until I felt safe enough to sit upright. Food helped. And lots and lots of ice water. And though throughout the rest of the day there was more than one time that I sat on the ground while waiting in line for a ride because I started feeling lightheaded again....we found many ways to stay cool and enjoyed our day.

One way....ice cream cones in Pioneer Village. And I'm not talking about wimpy frozen yogurt or soft ice cream. Although at that point, anything would've been appreciated. I'm talking about the real stuff. We stood in a long line and paid a pretty penny for it, but it was worth it!

Another sure fire way to stay cool? Rattlesnake Rapids. You are absolutely guaranteed to get wet. Soaking, really. And we all laughed so hard at Brandon who was trying to do everything in his power to keep his shoes dry...that we decided to immediately get back in line to go again. Trying to stay cool or no, it's just a fun ride. One of my favorites.

Nine and a half hours at the park and what was most likely heat exhaustion, meant that I felt like I had Lagoon hangover the next day with some serious exhaustion and a wicked headache. All the same, a few weeks later on the next employee discount day we went again. This time with Bryan's sister Carolyn and her family in tow in a combo family/date activity. Meaning that Rebekah, Megan and Jordan all brought dates....and the rest of the family tried to stay out of their way.

This time it didn't seem as hot. Oh, the temps were up in the mid-90's so maybe it was just as hot, but I handled it better...drinking lots more water and eating frequently. Carolyn has MS and was in a wheelchair so we took the whole day just a little bit more slowly. We were there from open to close....a full 11 hours so we were plenty exhausted by days end, but we had a really good time.

Lilian spent a lot of time getting wet. As if Rattlesnake Rapids and the Hydro Luge and the Log Flume weren't enough....she spent a whole lot of time in the water fountain. And got soaked through to the point that you could see her "Brave" panties.

My favorite ride...The Rocket. Oh my, nothing quite as exhilarating as a good drop ride. I went on it for the first time ever last month. And it was glorious. But this time the anticipation kicked in. Nothing was a surprise....I knew exactly what it felt like to make that initial drop and was actually all the more nervous for it. The scream that ripped out of my throat was completely involuntary. And left my throat sore for the rest of the night. But oh my....so much fun!

Our last ride of the day was the ferris wheel...Sky Scraper I think is it's official name. We didn't notice until we got to the top, that the wind had kicked in. And though I know that this area of Davis County fairly regularly withstands massive wind storms and the ferris wheel has always fared well....it was still somewhat unnerving to be that high with the wind blowing that hard and banging us around.

I'm starting to see the wisdom in a Lagoon season pass. Being able to run over for just a few hours here and there when it's cooler, or to just hit Lagoon-a-Beach, or just ride the kiddie rides, etc. rather than spending all day going on every single ride because you only go once every few years and you are trying to get your money's worth....yeah, that sounds kind of nice. Maybe next summer?

Here's an awesome little video that Rebekah's date Jayden made of their Lagoon date...

Family pets

We have allergies at our house. Not many, really. We suffer from hay fever and seasonal type outdoor stuff. Bryan struggles with poppy seeds. I suppose we are quite fortunate to not have any other food allergies. Our biggest allergy issue is animals....specifically those with fur. Something that has been primarily Bryan's allergy, as the kids have grown, Brandon too has started to suffer. So as you can imagine, this impacts mightily our choice of family pet. Dogs are out. Hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and even horses cause grief. And oh my, don't even get Bryan started on the complete evil that is cats!

So what does that leave for us? You know...after I put my foot down on anything that comes from the reptile or amphibian family.
Fish. Which I kill far too easily.
And birds.
We have 5 parakeets that live in a big cage in our kitchen. And we like 'em. They make happy noises. Or at least we consider it happy until there is just too much noise with the radio blaring, this kid singing, that kid trying to have a conversation with another sibling, the dishwasher running...all competing with the nonstop chirping. Then it gets to be a little much. But for the most part we are hugely entertained by our parakeets and enjoy them tremendously. We're so used to the chirping it hardly fazes us. But as there are 5 of them, they've made friends with each other and for the most part only tolerate us when we are feeding and watering them. They are not big fans of sitting on our fingers or coming out to play.

A few months ago we inherited 3 chickens and 2 ducks. They still had that new-animal-baby cuteness and so we were enamored. I figured the novelty would wear off when they grew to full size. And though I expected to be happy about the eggs they would eventually lay, I didn't intend for them to become anything more than farm animals.

So I was surprised when they started getting personalities. And becoming dependent on us for not just food but social interaction. They are free range animals in our backyard so we find them frequently up on our deck pecking at the back door. Every time I come out to water the plants or do any kind of yard work, they come running and follow me around. If I sit on the porch swing to do some reading, it is not uncommon for one of the chickens to jump up next to me and make herself comfortable snuggled up next to my leg. They patiently let Lilian hold them and pet them and play with them.

In short, these farm animals have become pets. And for a family where pets are few and far between, it has been a lot of fun.

Frosting on the cake....we get 2-3 eggs a day. Bet your dog can't do that!

 

All is well! All is well!

Pioneer Trek comes around once every four years in our stake, giving each youth the opportunity to live like the pioneers once between the ages of 14-18. Both Rebekah and Julianne fit into that age group this year so we had to prep double. And prep it is! A lot of work went into outfitting and gear so these girls could play pioneer for four days.

Admission...Pioneer Trek holds absolutely no appeal for me. I never had the opportunity to experience it as a youth (though my parents did when my dad was in the stake presidency) and haven't really ever felt bad about that. Heat, snakes, lack of bathrooms....you know, my normal concerns about camping in general. And to do it all in layers of skirts, bloomers and bonnets? All the same, I was excited for the girls to do this, and happy that they were excited as well. Because though it's hard and dirty and hot, I also know that the spiritual growth and experiences are tremendous on Trek. And that's the part that I found myself a little envious of....

We sent the girls off Wednesday morning. And then I started praying hard for my pioneer girlies. Even 6-year old Lilian got into the spirit, praying each evening to "bless the girls that they don't get dehydrated."

Wednesday night we got the news that Bryan's Grandma Berneda had died. I was somewhat surprised, and yet I shouldn't have been. She'd been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure two years ago. But in true Grandma Berneda grit, strength and determination, she continued to hang on giving us all the opportunity to benefit from her company, wisdom and humor for awhile longer, for which we are all very thankful.

The funeral was set for Saturday morning. Bryan was asked to give one of the prayers. I was asked to put together a musical number with Bryan's sister Carolyn. Aunts, uncles and cousins came into town from all over the country. Every single one of Grandma Berneda's 21 grandchildren were there, including most of the spouses and countless great grandchildren. She presides over a large posterity, Grandma Berneda does. The service was absolutely beautiful and we all enjoyed not only reminiscing about Grandma, but also catching up with cousins we haven't seen in awhile.

Through all of this, Rebekah and Julianne were on my mind. They didn't know about Grandma Berneda's passing. And by the time they came home, not only would they have to digest the news that Grandma had died, but also that the funeral had already been held. I wasn't sure how they would take it. That they'd be heartbroken was a given. They felt close to Grandma Berneda.

At the family luncheon after the funeral, Kimberly, the wife of Bryan's cousin Brandon, came over to talk to me. She had heard the situation with my girls...that they were at Trek and hadn't heard about Grandma yet. She said she had just finished a Trek in her own ward just recently and had had an incredible experience. She was anxious to hear what my girls thought of their own pioneer stint. But she also said something along the lines of, "I think Grandma Berneda is with your girls on Trek." I have to say, I got a little bit teary at the thought. It was comforting, even if I had no idea if Kimberly was correct or not.

Rebekah and Julianne arrived home from Trek just 30 minutes after we pulled in from Provo. We decided not to tell them immediately. We wanted to hear their experiences while the glow from Trek (if there was a glow) was still strong. And boy, did they have stories to share! I thought they'd want to take a shower first thing. But they took us out to the back deck and while they brushed off the dust and peeled off dirty shoes and layers of socks, inspecting blisters...they told us of their Trek families. The women's pull. The songs they sang, and the games they played. Friends they'd made, food they'd eaten. The things they learned and the feelings they felt. Detail after detail. The experience, just as I had hoped...had been nothing but tremendous. I found myself wishing I had been there with them....dirt, heat and lack of bathrooms nonetheless.

Finally, as they exhausted their words and started giving into their actual physical exhaustion, without a word I handed them the camera and let them scroll through the pictures. Julianne was confused at first. But Rebekah, with equal parts sadness and awe, immediately said, "Oh my goodness. It's Grandma Berneda isn't it? I knew it." She seemed so incredibly certain about that pronouncement that I questioned her further.

Apparently she and a new "sister" from her Trek family had been together just the two of them after camp had been made Friday evening. Most of their fellow pioneer compatriots were settling into their bedrolls for the night. But Rebekah and this other girl sat up for awhile longer, looking at the stars and talking. Talk turned to loved ones that had passed. And suddenly and unexplainedly, Rebekah said, Grandma Berneda was in her thoughts. She says she could just kind of feel her spirit....and somehow knew that she had died.

I was rather stunned as I thought of Kimberly's words at the funeral just a few hours earlier....that Grandma was likely watching over Rebekah and Julianne at Trek. And I couldn't help the words from the final verse of "Come Come Ye Saints" from going through my head....

And should we die before our journey's through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

But if our lives are spared again

To see the Saints their rest obtain,

Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell--

All is well! All is well!