A Bina Died a Prophet!!

Last night we attended Curtis's brother, Jerry's, Stake Musical. This was no roadshow. This was a full production complete with a wonderful stage and props that my nephew Kyle built for his Eagle Scout Project. Anyway, about 18 months ago, a member of the stake said that he had always wanted to do a musical about Abinadi and Alma. The Stake President thought that this was a great idea and he contacted Jerry and asked him if this was something that he could do. Jerry said that maybe he could.... and he proceeded to compose songs and create lyrics and script for this huge production. (I think music just runs in the Winters blood...). Jerry gives all the credit up above, though. He says he doesn't know if he could do it again. Everything just came to him. We saw it last night, on its last night of production and we were really touched and impressed. It was great complete with comedy, drama, fun music, and inspiring moments.

The musical was entitled Mighty Change Through Christ: The Story of Abinadi and Alma. The setting was a family in FHE who is learning of the story of Abinadi and the conversion of Alma, which comes to life on the stage. One of my favorite moments was where the wife of Alma, the wife of Limhi, and a girl who has not yet married pray for their husbands present and future, that they can resist the deceit and temptations of the world. Then the song ends with three little girls praying for their daddies. I thought that was so touching, especially considering the plague of pornography in our culture as well as a tendency to try to gain more and more status at work and forget about the needs of the family. Another great moment, that could have been "cheesy" but was done so well that it was emotional and inspirational was when Mark, the teenage son, comes to the post where Abinadi is burned, mourns his death, and proceeds to bury him. The ending song was the original FHE family, who sings a song entitled "I Want to Be". Mark, the teenage son, was played by my nephew Brandon. Jeffrey was so proud of Brandon when he started to sing. Jeffrey moved over by me and said, "you know how you have told me that sometimes you feel so happy that you feel like crying?" That song made me feel so happy inside that I felt like crying." I told him that that was the Holy Ghost telling him that if he made the right choices every day, that he would become great...spiritually. I promise, that is the moment that every LDS mother dreams of! Also, I am so grateful for nephews like Brandon who will be a great example to Jeffrey in going on a mission and living a pure life.

Anyway, here is the fun reason for the title. In the play, the family composes a verse about Abinadi to the tune of "Follow the Prophet". Sabrina was very affected by the death of Abinadi after he delivers his message about the coming and mission of Jesus Christ. So, all morning long, she has been talking about his death and singing to the tune of "Follow the Prophet" ...
A Bina Died a Prophet. So, his name was Bina, he died, and he was a prophet! Now that's a great way to remember the story!

A Jarring Reassessment of Life's Meaning and Priorities

We have had a week where you vastly reassess what your priorities are. On Tuesday, I went to
Enrichment and learned that a girl who had grown up in our ward and was going to Utah Valley University was killed in a tragic automobile accident when someone cut in front of her and she swerved in front of a semi-truck. Unfortunately, the person who was at fault never stopped.

Amanda was twenty years old. She was a wonderful musician and played the flute whenever it was needed for our ward choir as she was growing up. She wanted to be a music teacher and she was planning on going on a mission next June. She had an infectious smile that was so wide and sincere. She was just a kind person. I talked to her just a month ago about her life and her plans as she served me, my Mom, and my Aunt Janet at Mimi's Cafe. I can't believe that she is gone.

Amanda's dad wrote the sweetest tribute which her uncle read at her funeral. He talked about the fireflies and how sometimes when you caught them that they would get smooshed and then you would have the glow-stuff on your fingers. He said that hopefully those of us who had known Amanda could spread the glow-stuff of her spirit in the short time that she was on the Earth. That way Amanda's influence could be spread by all of us that knew her.

This reminds me that life is so precious and can be so short. I am having more patience with my children, hugging them more, and just loving and enjoying them. I am re-assessing how I can spread joy to those around me. Are there things that I can do to make others feel more accepted? Can I smile more and make sure that I say kind things that will build them up? I hope that I can do better at this. I am reserved outside my family and so sometimes that is outside of my comfort zone, but I need to work on this.

Pres. Beck, who was our former Stake President spoke at Amanda's funeral and he said quoting an apostle that said that a large measure of our spiritual progression can be measured in the way that we treat others. I hope that I can not only treat others nicely, but be an instrument in Heavenly Father's hands of helping others feel accepted and valued, both inside and outside of my family.
I resolve to become a better person and to spread around Amanda's glow-stuff for the rest of my life. I will be a better person for having known Amanda.

ABC's Quiz

A. Attached or single? Attached.

B. Best friend? Curtis is my best friend. My sisters and mom are all so great for different reasons and Rachel is the longest most loyal friend I've had outside my family.

C. Cake or pie? It depends on the kind.

D. Day of Choice? Saturday. Don't you love it when you forget that it's Saturday as you're waking up and then you remember? I love that.

E. Essential Item? Camera, the computer, and genealogy software.

F. Favorite color? Burgundy and Black to wear.

G. Gummy bears or worms? Definitely worms. They're bigger.

H. Hometown? Provo, Utah

I. Favorite indulgence? Going out to dinner alone with Curtis.

J. January or July? Both. Swimming pool and 4th of July in July. January for Jeffrey's bday and all the other 3 birthdays that we celebrate in our family: my Dad's, my niece Brielle, and my sis Elizabeth.

K. Kids? Jeffrey, Brianna, Sabrina, and Cameron

M. Marriage Date? April 24, 1998

N. Number of brothers and sisters? 4 sisters

O. Oranges or apples? Oranges when they're juicy. I especially love clementines.

P. Phobias? Snakes. I shudder just thinking about them

V. This one was empty. Maybe V stands for Vacant.

U. Unknown fact about me? I think I'm an open book. Hmmm...I'm the chief financial officer of our home and I should wear contacts but don't most of the time because my eyes are so dry. I finally bought the Acuvue Oasis contacts and need to pick them up at the store.....

W. Worst habit? Staying up too late at night.

X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound (At least it might be for something good...)

Y. Your favorite food? It changes depending how often I've eaten a particular food, but I do love a Norwegian dish called fortukal: cabbage, lamb, and potatoes

Z. Zodiac sign? Taurus

Here are the Pics of the New Floor!! I love it!!

Two nights of sleeping on air mattresses at my sisters' houses was definitely worth it!! Thank you so much Uncle David!!

Doesn't the floor look beautiful? I went back and forth on the sheen level that we should put on the floor but finally after talking to my uncle where he told me to go with what I really did want deep down, I was able to make the right choice and I am so thrilled!!

We are FINALLY Getting our Wood Floor Redone!!

When we moved into our house we were on a really tight budget. Anyway, we rented a sander and it wasn't heavy enough so it left skid marks in the wood floor. Also, there must have been bubbles in the finish, because a few months after we moved in the finish under the kitchen table started coming up. Needless to say, the wood floor looked TERRIBLE and I hated it. Anyway, we finally bit the bullet and decided to re-sand and refinish the wood floor. This is happening as I type and I am so exited!! Here are some pictures.

Some Pictures of the Project

I didn't get a true "before" picture of this area so you could appreciate that this looks absolutely gorgeous!!
Here is Robert "the wood guy" sanding the floor. My Uncle David says he does great work.
Here is the Family Room with the Refrigerator, Table etc. in it. The stove found a temporary place in the Living Room!!