A beautiful evening with my family

Elijah and I started our Easter celebration by taking our children and my mother to see Lamb of God, a spiritual oratorio about the last days of Jesus' life.
About the Music
Lamb of God is a sacred musical work featuring the Temple Hill Symphony Orchestra, Choir and Soloists. It focuses on the final days of the life of Jesus Christ, His Atonement and Resurrection. It is written as a dramatic work and presented in concert format. It uses as its basis, and much of its text, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and especially John, as found in the King James version of the Holy Bible. The work is written and composed by Rob Gardner.

We left Charlton with one of our friends (thank you so much, Elizabeth), and all of us drove with anticipation to enjoy a spiritual evening remembering in song and thought the monumental miracle of Jesus' atonement and resurrection. The music and lyrics were so powerful that I was amazed at how very often I was touched by the spirit. The orchestra and the choir are local, and most of them in volunteer basis, but I have to say that the musicians and singers performed in such a professional way and with such talent that I couldn't get enough of it.


My mother was totally mesmerized by the humility and love for the Savior that the choir and especially the soloists demonstrated. In the end of the performance, my mother asked me if she could go and congratulate her favorite female singer. We both liked the voice of the lady who played Mary, the mother of Jesus. She happened to be upon us just as we were looking for her. We congratulated her, and then, my mom asked the singer (Goody Choi) if she could sign her copy of the program, which she did. She even took a picture with her.

I love music. It reaches into the depth of our souls and connects us with each other. It has the power to stir strong emotions in our hearts and gives us strength to believe. This oratorio with its jubilant message of our Savior's resurrection touched all of us in ways that not only made us have an amazing evening, but also strengthened our testimonies and love for our Savior. We all agreed that this was a special piece of music with a strong and commanding Spirit.

Negro Day's the best! I wish every day were Negro Day! - Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray)

Another fun and crazy Saturday in our household today. After eating breakfast and getting ready, we started our day, with me having it all organized in a list inside my gray cells. First, we dropped Jefferson off for a play date. Next, we stopped for another drop-off, this time James at his friend's birthday party. He wasn't even one little bit upset that Jefferson was going to play with his friend. Sophie's birthday party was going to be a hit, and he wasn't going to miss it. Then, I drove mom and Gillian and me to the library for a book sale feast. I didn't buy anything for me (lack of time), but I bought a bunch for my kids, and they were ecstatic later when I showed the books to them. Right after book sale came shopping at Kohl's, picking up James, and then dropping off everybody home, except Gillian.

Gillian had also been invited to a birthday party by one of her school friends. It was going to take place at a Roller Skating Rink in San Ramon. I accompanied her. Gillian had never roller skate, but she was a trooper. She kept at it and never gave up. The party was a lot of fun for Gillian and for everybody there.
While watching Gillian roller skate, I see all these black people on the rink roller skating and roller blading as if they were born on the rink. They made it look so easy with their graceful moves. And then, outside the rink, at the rest area, I see all these other black people dancing some kind of sassy dance, and let me tell you these were old women who couldn't breath right, but did they have moves or what! If I hadn't been bashful, I would have joined their ranks and have a good time. As it was, I was having a good time just watching them move their hips back and forth to the rhythm of the music. Now, that's how I would love to spend my day, dancing and laughing.

After the party, we drove home enjoying the lush hills of Danville and the surrounding areas. Upon our arrival, I was greeted by some happy faces. I had been gone for only two hours and my boys were hugging and kissing me as if there was no tomorrow. After giving them some love, I turned my attention to my husband, who had been running errands all day long as well. He needed help cutting his hair, and then I got ready myself. Tonight a few friends and I were having a night out. We stopped at a restaurant and enjoyed a calm dinner, impressed afterward with the record time we ate without being interrupted by the usual requests that accompany our dinners at home. And then, we headed to Lesher Center for the Arts to see "Hairspray" the musical.
It was our luck that we had seats right up front with lots of leg room for later dancing. Just kidding, although we were able toward the end of the show to move our hips back and forth to the rhythm of Hairspray songs. The show was what we all needed, relaxing , fun and very entertaining. It was a good way to finish a busy Saturday.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair

We attended a Victorian Holiday party today. Charles Dickens and his characters, as well as the Londoners of that time were the hosts. Queen Victoria herself made appearances through out the day to guarantee we were having a good time. What fun!

A friend of ours was part of this great entertainment taking place in San Francisco. She told us about the fair, and offered to help me with a dress. You didn't have to dress up according to the time period, but my heart was set into reliving those times by being one of the ladies of the Victorian age. I had just finished reading to the children A Christmas Carol and a biography book about Charles Dickens and the Victorian period. They were excited to dress up, too. We had a wonderful time. This was the best field trip and entertainment combined. Because everything was so authentic, the children truly got a sense of London and its life during Dickens' time. They understood better the issues Dickens discusses in his books. Gillian is reading Oliver Twist at the moment, and she was so excited to actually see the streets of London that young Twist wonders in. Everything was done just like it used to be during that time, including different streets, shops, theaters, clubs, and pubs. There were performers in every corner of the building, performers on stage and performers on the streets of London. At one point you would see Dickens himself talking to his friends, or Queen Victoria speaking to the children.

We attended and visited many of these avenues, and enjoyed it tremendously. We listened to Robert Browning recite a few of his poems,
we watched Queen Victoria bless the little children and give them Christmas presents,
we delighted at the music that the Celtic Harp made,
we enjoyed the funny number of two street performers,
the children participated in a Mother Goose nursery rhyme show, and visited the exotic Merry-go-around just arrived from Africa,

we met chimney sweeps, so very common of that time,
we attended a Christmas musical at the Adventurer's club,
and we, of course, entered every shop that had interesting things, trying on hats, masks, head bands, and many more,


We found some yummy fish and chips, and then called it a day.
This fair was worth going. It was very entertaining and pretty authentic. All of us, not only learned a lot, but enjoyed it thoroughly. It was fun dressing up with big hoops and skirts, but, to tell the truth, in the end I was glad I got into my comfortable flannel pajamas.