Helping Hands

Wow.  That's about the only word that can describe my feelings after last night.  We walked into Bingham high school and there were tables lining the halls, covered in items and sheets describing items or gift certificates that were donated for the silent auction, I wished I had my camera with me so I could have taken pictures to share.  We were greeted by the mother of a band student who had been there setting up most of the day, even with her shoulder in a sling from recent surgery.  We tried to pay for our concert tickets and they wouldn't let us.  People flooded the entryway even after the concert was supposed to start.  The orchestra played some fun songs, the choir sang, then the band played... and I was so proud.  I may not have been with these kids for the last three months, but I helped build the foundation that they have been building on in the last few months.  They sounded incredible.  They played music that I would not have expected they would be able to play last September. It is incredible what children can do when given a little talent, personal attention, and quality instruction.  These kids blew me away.  Then the quintet played, and I was doing good, I hadn't really cried yet.  But the last song from the quintet destroyed my resolve and I was missing my princess as they played "I See the Light" from Tangled.

Then there was intermission and more bidding.  Then the Bingham Jazz band played, and they were cookin'.  I love my middle school kids, but I do miss the high school kids too.  And I so appreciate Darin and his willingness to help and Michelle and her stage crew kids for staying so late and running the tech for this event.  And I am so grateful to Bingham high school for allowing this event to be held there.

Last came Calee Reed, a new inspirational singer (find her album "The Waiting Place" at Deseret Book). I had my reservations, because so many singer/songwriters lately sound so much the same and use the same themes over and over, but I was very pleasantly surprised.  I was, and still am, so grateful to her for her willingness to help with this event and to share her testimony and story with us.  I am so thankful that she decided to share the last song that she sang with us, it really was the perfect ending to the night.

There is absolutely no way for me to even come close to expressing my gratitude to everyone who made last night (and really the last week) possible.  When we were first approached about the possibility of this event I wasn't sure, but now I am glad we said yes.  I have learned that sometimes you have to let go of your pride and allow others in your life to help you however they can.  So, THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who helped with this week and this concert.  You will never know the impact you have had on our lives.  Thank you to those who donated to the auction and give-aways.  Thank you to the students, parents, and faculty of APA who worked tirelessly to make this happen.  Thank you to all those who attended any of the events this week.  Thank you to the restaurants who participated in the profit shares.  Thank you to Calee Reed for sharing your music, testimony, and spirit.  And thank you to anyone else who I may have forgotten, your efforts did not go unnoticed.

-Melissa-


All right everyone, I asked Melissa to wait until I could add some of my own thoughts as well before posting her entry.  I just wanted another moment to thank everyone for the support they have offered us from the beginning. Last night was especially incredible.  To have so many members of the community come together to provide comfort to our family was more than we had ever expected.  After seeing so many businesses offered so much it continues to inspire me to bring us into a position where we can also give back and help those in our community.  We still are in a position in our lives that we don't know where we will make our permanent residence, but after seeing love and support like this we have just grown to love the Herriman, South Jordan, and Draper areas.  We really feel at home with the people around here, and we know that love and support has extended far beyond these few communities.  Some of you might be surprised to hear that we love this area enough that we could stay here because you know how much I love Idaho and had always planned on keeping my home in Idaho, but I would feel very grateful to end up here knowing there is so much love that people are willing to offer, even to people they don't know.

As far as the show last night it was great, we even won a prize of bread and toothpaste.  As I sat in the audience last night it reminded me how much I missed performing.  Listening to the bands I found myself waning to sit in with the APA Orchestra and even more so with the Bingham Jazz Band.  It got me thinking a lot about the tours I was able to go on with the Sound Alliance jazz band at BYU-Idaho.  I think the group I wished I could've seem the most performing was The Teton Shadow Boys.  This great Bluegrass group is the one I have performed with the most and the longest, and I really miss performing with them.  (Don't tell my parents, but I am more motivated by wanting to perform more with them to go back to Idaho then to be close to my family some days).  Listening to these performers last night just really  reminded me how much i like being in front of people, whether its performing music or teaching, I just love it.

The last musician Calee Reed went perfectly with the program.  She recently experienced the loss of her mother and part of her music was inspired to bring comfort at times of loss.  Like Melissa, my favorite song was the last one she performed.  It was about her mother putting the music in her heart starting at a very young age.  As she sang it I thought of how we (Melissa especially) were singing to Ethne and she was learning almost all of the primary songs that were mentioned.  She loved music, and still does of course.  Since the accident I have found myself trying to sing to Edward more.  I think I didn't sing as much as before because I have never really been that good at singing.  I try, and I'll sing with groups, but don't ask me to go by myself.  But I do take a little more time to sing to Edward when he won't go to sleep or if I just need some time with him.  I even try to remember some of the Hymns in Spanish to sing to him.  So because of that, Calee's last song just meant that much more to us.

Thank you again to everyone who has helped us out in any way.  We thank you daily and pray that you will be blessed for your prayers and sacrifices in our behalf.

-Lawrence-