Utah Part 6 - Last Hours in UT

Saturday 6/4 p.m. - After the Abravanel concert, Heather and I headed back to pack up at our hotel. We took pictures from the window near the elevator. We were on the 12th floor of the Marriott and had quite a view. Heather had been so patient waiting around for me during both concerts that before checking out we visited the pool for a few minutes. She also tried out the revolving door at the Marriott.

On our way back to Lehi, we snapped a random photo on the freeway. We wondered if people in Utah who drive this freeway take for granted the view of the mountains we were getting. We decided they probably did, just like we take for granted that we live four miles from the beach and can wear the same clothes through all the seasons.

We went from Salt Lake to Elise's house in Lehi for a bbq. We were a little later than we thought we'd be, but there was still some yummy food and play time to be had in the huge water slide they had in the back yard. We ended the night having brownie/ice cream sundaes. Yummy! This was such a great trip in so many ways. I could never have done it without my sister's help and the hospitality of Elise and her parents. We headed home to California the next day, Sunday 6/5, and made it home by 5:00 p.m. Cali time. We have plans to return and a long list of things we want to make more time to do.

Utah Part 5 - Saturday at Abravanel Hall

Saturday 6/4 - The youth had an early start on Saturday morning as they returned to the hall to re-record a couple of numbers. We all reported for placement and had a short break before we returned for our 2:00 p.m. concert. I sat in the wings for the concert, and it appeared to go just as well as Friday night. It was so great to bring this music to so many. After the concert, we stayed an extra hour so that BYU Broadcasting could finish getting the shots they needed for the documentary they are filming.

We then headed out and said some good-byes along the way...

Francesca, our Alto soloist

Brother Brett, the director of OCMCO and composer of the oratorio

Brother Brandon, director of EVMCO

Fun view from across the street from Temple Square

Utah Part 4 - Tabernacle Performance

Friday 6/3 - Bright and early Friday morning was Youth Ensemble check-in. Trish and Heather and I checked into a hotel on Thursday evening after the Mormon Tab rehearsal (Aunt Michelle took the kids swimming while waiting for Trish and I to be finished). Let me tell you that it was sweet to already be in downtown Salt Lake and only have to walk across the street to our venue!

The youth looked sharp in their gray polos. They recorded their pieces with the soprano soloist and Adult Choir and Orchestra before being released to get ready for the Tabernacle performance. Heather and I grabbed lunch downtown and she had tons of fun with the revolving door at the office building where the food court was. I love this girl.

Did you know that the Tabernacle organ pipes are a copyrighted image? Who knew? We were asked not to post any images of the organ, which is hard to hide when you are taking pictures of the choir and orchestra, so I do not have any in this blog post. I do, however, have friends who took some, and we'll put a photo or two in our personal scrapbook. The concert was nothing short of amazing. Because of the structure of the building, we heard ourselves just as the audience did. We heard the children, the orchestra and the soloists with full sound. I sat behind the children and wept as they sung, "Behold Your Little Ones," and "Beautiful Savior". I normally don't shed too many tears because we don't get the full effect. We sure did this time. It was grand to look in the audience and see every spot on every bench filled with people. Wow.

Here are a couple of photos of my special peeps. I knew so many people who were there and wish I had had time to take photos with them all.

My sister, nephew and my girlies

Elise and Michelle

Lisa H. picking up tickets before the concert

Amy, Katie and us

After the concert, we said good-bye to our visitors, and Heather, Trish and I collapsed in our hotel room. We ordered room services, hung up our dresses, and were asleep when our heads hit the pillow!

Utah Part 2 - Tuesday & Wednesday

It makes the most sense to journal this according to our schedule. Plus I can't think of a more creative plan at the moment, hee-hee. We arrived at our host home in Lehi around 8:00 p.m. on Monday evening, visited with our host family and called it a night. Our host family, the Gudmundsens, have had this home in their family for years. We stayed there once about 10 years ago, and it was fun to go back. It was a special treat that the Gudmundsens were there for a couple of day so we could say hello. Jane was my mom's friend and my Young Women's President. Stan took me on my first back packing hike through the Sierras. They have remained family friends over the years. Their daughter, Elise, was, and is, my sister's dearest, bestest friend (and another little sis to me). It was such a blessing to have a great, comfortable home to stay in and to get to see this family that we love so much.

Tuesday, 5/31 - Recording in Abravanel Hall

All of our recording sessions were scheduled in Abravanel Hall which sits just across diagonally from Temple Square. The Adult Choir and Orchestra gathered bright and early Tuesday morning for check in and the first of our recording sessions. The hall was beautiful and my seat mates were super fun. My friend, Trish, and I had lunch together at The Lion House, and then later took the Trax to the Gateway Mall for a quick dinner and meet up with my sister and the kids. They had been to see Kung Fu Panda 2, and after a long day, it was very nice to see them and get hugs. Did I mention that I could never have made this trip without my sister? If I haven't, I'm sure I'll say it a hundred times before this blogging series is over. Thank you Aunt Michelle!

Wednesday, 6/1 - More recording and fun with Aunt Michelle

Wednesday morning found the Adult Choir and Orchestra back for more recording. Meanwhile, super-fun Aunt Michelle took the kids to Boondocks, a fun recreation park. They spent from about 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the park and had a blast. After being released early from our recording, I headed back to Lehi where we enjoyed dinner at a Teppanyaki restaurant in Lehi. After dinner, we returned to the house and crashed.