I have been so grateful for my love, passion, and talent of music. This year i have had the opportunity to play my flute in church for more than just the usual easter/christmas sundays. I have always enjoyed sharing my talent with others, especially when it can be in a form of worship. Accompaniment is much easier to play, you never really have to worry about moving your fast little fingers in a more performance/showy manner. Its all about some tone and vibratto and maybe a few runs and Walllaaaa!!! It sounds gorgeous.
I love my flute, a gift from my parents that cost an arm and a leg. It's truly a miracle that my flute has been able to forgo my destructive habits to many of my possessions. It was a very tough decision to decide not to take the road and major in music at BYU. I was so close, already working on my pieces for the audition by my junior year in high school. I'll always be able to use my piano abilities in life, but i'm grateful for these sweet opportunities to play my flute.
In April I played for my Stake Conference at BYU. The choir sang one of my all-time favorites, Come Thou Fount by Mack Wilberg. I thought it was going great and sounded beautiful at rehearsal until the sound lady at the De Jong Concert Hall (where we have stake conference) came and miked me up to be heard even more:)it was so great to play my little heart and testimony out to a thousand plus of my peers and to two general authorities. I was shocked at how many people thanked me. I knew it was because they felt the Spirit by the beauty of the music. Its a special feeling knowing you were a part of that.
Then at the end of April I was visiting with Bales in Southern California for the weekend. Her dad's the Bishop and she warned me of his heavy sarcasm. So, I dished it right back at him. He found out I had played in Stake Conference and joked about me playing in church that Sunday. I told him to put me on the program. And he did. I had a fun time playing for a congregation of random strangers. Her ward is really really really small. I doubt they have the opportunity to have special musical numbers with instruments very often. I was touched to know that one inactive sister who happened to come that Sunday had a special connection with the hymn i played. Once again, I was surprised by the warm fuzzy feeling I received as persona after person came and gave me a hug or shook my hand.
Once again today I had the opportunity to play in Stake Conference (this time in Georgia). Music may just be my greatest passion and love on this Earth-save only my love for children and the longing i have to be a mother.) Music has always touched me. Whats touched me even more is watching my prayers be answered, that I may be an instrument in the Lord's hands to touch others with his Spirit.
