it's a wrap

This has been perhaps the busiest summer of my life, what with Charlotte's wedding plans, work (not to mention searching for new work), and Relief Society--and don't forget all of those pesky table cloths I still need to iron. Of all things, I never would have imagined that I could have found time to be part of a singing group--good grief, I don't even have time for Ward Choir!

But a couple of months ago my friends convinced me to join them in a small group made up of Wheat Ridge High School graduates. We were all--at one time or another--members of the show choir there. We've been practicing once a week, and last night we had our first "gig."

Mark asked why I stood on the "men's side." It's because I sing tenor.

I still wonder how I've found the time to do this, but I've identified that the whole experience has been like therapy for me. For those two or three hours that we rehearse each week I completely forget about everything else. It's like going to a really good movie where you don't think once about the overwhelming To-Do list waiting at home on the kitchen table.

Really, these are some of the nicest friends I have the pleasure of knowing. And it's a whole lot cheaper than professional therapy.

on the mend

Thanks to the aforementioned miraculous camera healing (and also thanks to a brief and much-needed break from my sewing machine) I can finally post the photos I wanted to from last week (a couple in this post, and a lot in a post later tonight).

Mom kindly posed for this hospital photo. She wanted to hold out her hands like a zombie, but I made her place them in this rather sad, invalid-like way, enhanced by the flattering glow of the fluorescent lights.

She was released from the hospital late Tuesday afternoon and has spent the rest of the week recuperating at home. Many friends have called or come by with well-wishes, flowers, dinners, etc. She has quite a large fan base. On Tuesday morning (day after tomorrow) we have an appointment with the pain specialist, who will administer an epidural treatment of cortisone or some other such drug. The procedure is considered a surgical one, but is done on an out-patient basis. I'm hoping and praying that she can get some long-term relief from this treatment.

Here is the picture I like the best--my darling parents holding hands. Mom actually went to Sacrament Meeting with us this morning and she and Dad kindly obliged me this photo when I went to do Mom's makeup prior to church. Tell me, what 82-year-old do you know who wears leopard print so well?

While she still isn't feeling entirely well, she really wanted to attend church and partake of the Sacrament (she has missed the past two weeks). I am always inspired by my mother's commitment to the Savior and feel blessed to have her example of diligence in my life.