England/Scotland Trip: 1 Year Later (Part 6)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

We went to two wards for church.  We attended Sacrament Meeting and Sunday School in Preston and then we went to Wigan attended Sacrament Meeting there as well.  It was fun to meet many of the people that Neal had worked with, including several of his companions. 

We also visited Manchester, which was a lot more urban than the other places we had visited previously.

England/Scotland Trip: 1 Year Later (Part 5)

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Museum in Liverpool

Blackpool

England/Scotland Trip: 1 Year Later (Part 4)

Friday, April 16, 2010

The view from the old Roman Wall surrounding part of the city of Chester.

The River Severn in Shrewsbury

England/Scotland Trip: 1 Year Later (Part 3)

Thursday, April 15, 2010

This is the River Ribble in Preston!   On this day we visited Preston, Blackburn, & Downham.

Here's a picture of Downham:

England/Scotland Trip: 1 Year Later (Part 2)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

John Leigh Park in Altrincham

We drove in the daytime to find where we would pick up Neal, since Mom was still driving.  We ate dinner at this park near the mission home!

England/Scotland Trip: 1 Year Later (Part 1)

One year ago today, we arrived in England!  It had been a loooooooong flight.  The day turned out to be really crazy with all sorts of things going wrong.  (Dad's drivers license was expired, so Mom had to drive.  I burned out my blow dryer and the curling brush.)  Because of the stressful day, I didn't take any pictures.

Stay tuned for a week and a half of reminiscing!  One blog per day with pictures!

"Classical" Night? HA!

I am a nerd.  I freely admit it!  That's why I did what I did while watching last night's Dancing with the Stars.  It was Classical night.  So they said that everyone was dancing to Classical Music.  Now, I'm kind of a snobby purist when it comes to "Classical" music.  It's used as a general term these days to encompass many different eras of music.  The Classical Era actually started with the death of J.S. Bach (in 1750) and ended around the beginning of the 19th Century.  I figured that most of the songs being danced to would NOT be from that particular time period.  So what did I do?  I kept track.  And I was RIGHT!!!

I basically played two games while watching the show.  I tried to guess what the song was.  And I categorized it.  There was only one that I got wrong.  And one that I just plain didn't know.  Here's my list:

1. Romeo/Chelsie:  Palladio by Karl Jenkins 20th Century  (This is the one I got wrong.  I thought it was Vivaldi!)
2. Kendra/Louis:  Con te partiro (Time to Say Goodbye) Crossover (Everyone thinks this is opera...totally not!  It was written in the mid-1990s!!!)
3. Sugar Ray/Anna:  Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker Romantic
4. Petra/Dmitry:  Les voici! voici la quadrille from Carmen Romantic
5. Ralph/Karina:  Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet Movie Soundtrack
6. Hines/Kym:  Explosive (Bond)  Crossover  (This is the one that I didn't know.)
7. Chelsey/Mark:  Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter Movie Soundtrack
8. Chris/Cheryl:  Hall of the Mountain King  Romantic
9. Kirstie/Maks:  Flower Duet from Lakme  Romantic

Two other songs performed were:
1st Movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony  Classical  Although, there is debate as to where to classify Beethoven.  Classical or Romantic.

O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi Romantic

Yeah, yeah...I know I'm being super picky.  But hey!  I have to put my music degree to the test sometimes, you know?  The only thing that REALLY bugged me was when Maks said that Classical Music doesn't have a clear beat and rhythm.  I was like EXCUSE ME?!?!  But then when I found out when he and Kirstie were dancing to, I can see why he said that.  There's no drums in that song.  I guess Maks needs heavy percussion.  (His specialty is Latin, so I guess I can forgive him!)

I'm really happy that they did this "Classical" Night.  (Emphasis on the " ".)  I get a little tired of all the pop songs that get done on that show!  But I did miss the Latin dances.  They ONLY did Paso, Viennese Waltz and Waltz.  I love the Paso, though.  It's my favorite!!

Oh, and I REALLY enjoyed the guest artists they had on!  Violinist David Garrett and mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins!

Thank you, Dancing with the Stars, for continuing to reach out to all genres of music and dance!  I enjoyed the Swan Lake presentation on Tuesday night! 

Flashback Friday

As we are getting ready for the next wedding in the family, I thought this would be an appropriate Flashback Friday picture:

New Temple Blog

I have just started a new blog, "I Love to See the Temple".  I will post updates on the construction of the Fort Collins Temple, as they come available.  This will be an information blog, not a forum for religious bashing.  I am keeping it closed for now, so if you want to see it, let me know (and send me your e-mail address) and I will invite you to view the blog.

Fort Collins Temple!!!

We have wished, hoped, and prayed for a long time.  We TOTALLY weren't expecting an announcement today.  But there it was!  President Monson announced three new temples today.  And the first one he said?  FORT COLLINS, CO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We are over the moon excited for this!  We currently have an hour and 10 minute drive to the Denver Temple (and that's on a GOOD day).  This will shorten our drive tremendously!  Depending on where they build it, I'm looking at anywhere from five minutes to half an hour!  And the blessings that will come to this area....they are immeasurable!!

I'm especially excited for Emily, Rebekah, George, & Benjamin.  I was a kid when the Denver Temple was built.  I have cherished memories of that time.  We saved our pennies to help pay for the Bride's Bench.  We went to the cornerstone ceremony.  We went to the open house more than once.  I was eight years old and was able to attend the dedication.  The kids will be able to do this, too!  (Well, Emily will probably get to go to the dedication...depending on when it is.)

We're already debating in our family as to where it will be built.  And we'll probably all be wrong.  Mom thought Wellington (because they are getting their own chapel!).  Craig thinks near the Trilby Building (I would be TOTALLY okay with that...it's 5 minutes from my house!)  I think near the Harmony exit on I-25.  There's a lot of open space in Timnath.  It would be great if they would build it on the west side of town, so the mountains would always be a backdrop, but it's more convenient on the east side, near the interstate.  I guess we'll see!  But either way, we are so excited to have a temple so much closer to us!!!

Does anyone know the general timeline these days of announcement of a temple to the dedication?  We're thinking it's going to be at least 2 years.

I am so thankful for this wonderful blessing coming to Northern Colorado and Wyoming!  We've waited so long!!