Sierra To Sing In General Conference With Her Institute Choir!

One thing I love about spring is the renewal that the season brings to both mind, and spirit, and also....general conference! I am sooooo looking forward to this weekend. Not only am I excited to hear a new prophets voice, but excited to listen to the choir sing. That is, Sierra's institute choir! Yep...she'll be singing her heart out along with other talented men, and women. 

"It's Saturday!"

This year all the third grade classes performed together for their end of year school production called "It's Saturday", and what a perfect day to write about it because guess what...it's Saturday! I was amazed at how quickly the auditorium filled up. There were so many proud parents out there having a grand time watching their kid perform, sing, dance, act crazy, and just having a good old time. I was very, very impressed with this particular group of kids. Including mine. For weeks and weeks Chelsea was singing and practicing her skit, and she was so ready for "opening night". She is somewhat of a perfectionist, and wanted to get every single line, and song spoken and sung without any mistakes. I can see that they put so much effort, and hard work in rehearsing for this play, and it was so fun to watch. Particularly because they were all in pajamas. I think their favorite part of rehearsing for this play was the fact that they got to practice in their pajamas, and come to school in them for one day! 

Chelsea was part of the Harmony choir, and I am so pleased with her singing & acting ability. She was so cute, and because the songs and skit were fun to read I had to put it on video. Well...not the entire play, but I only recorded two of the songs she's part of in the skit. The kids all sang with such enthusiasm, and they all looked so happy to be singing "It's Saturday!" I mean...they should be because after a long week of school Saturday is "the best day all week long."

"It's Saturday!" from Rose Jorgensen on Vimeo.

This song was my favorite! Saturdays truly are a night of fun, and innocent shenanigans for little kids. I have to warn you about this one...it includes a pillow fight. 

^^^ Friends since Kindergarten: Chelsea & Alex ^^^ 

Like I said...i was amazed at these group of kids. They all seemed to be having fun, and there were about five kids who filled in for another student literally at the last minute. Talk about willingness and devotion to help another kid out! Those are signs of maturity in which most of these kids exhibited. They all seemed to enjoy working together, and just having fun being a kid. This particular class of 2023 is going to be a great generation, and I can see why when I look at who their older siblings are! 

^^^ Sibs: Chelsea, & Lexie, Alex & Sean. ^^^

a treasured moment from 2004.

photo via deseret news

This week we tried to be "screen free" to focus on preparing for General Conference. Although I refrained from blogging I couldn't help but to post a few pics on Instagram. Sometimes you just need a break from the world online you know? 

When Spring comes I think of the times when we lived in Utah being so close to the conference center & how convenient it was for us to walk to temple square just to listen to conference. Whether or not we got tickets to watch it inside going to temple square as a family & sitting on the temple grounds to hear the words of a prophet was perfection to my weekends while living there. 

Living on the east coast away from the church headquarters was an adjustment, but we always manage to make it to the chapel for general conference. Sure we can watch it at home, but on Sundays I can't help but to keep that routine going as if we're going to church to partake of the sacrament. Our kids enjoy going to the chapel & in my opinion makes listening to conference more spiritual & meaningful to us.

This past week we were watching old General Conference addresses. That is when I realized that this year marks the 10th anniversary of when I went to the conference center in 2004 to sing with other sisters during General Conference.

Relief Society Presidencies from our stake back in Utah were all chosen to sing at general conference. Yeah...me singing. Scary thought huh? The camera must have loved me because you can see me at the bottom in the very beginning at 2:57, 4:03, and at 10:51. I'll tell you though...looking back ten years at this video brings back some awesome memories. I see the beautiful faces of my sisters whom I served with in the Relief Society...Kim, Mary Lou, Andrea, & Kristen who was our Stake relief society president at the time. 

Chelsea was born a year after this wonderful event took place so she knew nothing about this opportunity, and when we watched it together I asked her to see if she recognized anyone. She blurted out saying, "What the heck...is that you mom, or did you photoshop yourself in there?" Her expression was priceless, and I'm so grateful that I have this wonderful recording to pass on down to my posterity. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to have done this service and to have been among an amazing group of sisters to sing songs of praise. An opportunity that many of us may never get. 

I count my blessings each day knowing that I have direction in my life by being a member of the LDS church, & that I have a choice to make each day a joyful one.

So thankful for the belief I have in God & for a living prophet who guides & leads us today with his words of wisdom that he gives. 

Living away from the headquarters of the church continues to strengthen my testimony & helps to conquer any resistance that I face. 

I have long since realized that I don't need to live in a place where I feel that in order to "believe" in a prophet, an apostle, or general authority that they're real. I know that by listening to their words via satellite & with the faith that I carry that their words are true. 

It is still the best feeling to have lived in President Thomas S. Monson's home ward for four years where I saw him maybe six times, and to have shaken the hands of President James E. Faust, & Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. I had the same feeling while singing at conference knowing that I was a couple hundred feet away from where they all sit. I had butterflies in my stomach...can't imagine how it will be when I meet the Savior (fingers crossed!)

The experiences I had while living in Salt Lake were some of the best, & although I had some major trying times those experiences have taught me lessons & strengthened my spirit in ways that I probably wouldn't experience elsewhere. 

This church is true, God lives, & I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

I am so thrilled to watch general conference again this weekend & I hope that you will too! It is worldwide & everyone is invited! 

Have a great conference weekend! 

Middle School 1st Annual Talent Show '14

Last week Lexie's middle school put on a talent show that consisted of dancing, singing, piano playing, and more singing! This is the first time the school has done a talent show where they were awarded a cash prize. Lexie was excited to have participated along with her pal Alicia who paired up with her to sing "Sweater Weather" by the band The Neighbourhood. I am surprised that the song "Let it Go" from the popular movie Frozen was only sang once. Then again I don't think that contestants can duplicate another persons choice of song. 

For weeks Lexie and Alicia have been waiting for this moment, and even though they didn't practice as much as they wanted to they did phenomenal. Unfortunately they didn't place, and in my opinion (among numerous others including teachers who will remain anonymous) agreed with me. However everyone did such a wonderful job. 

^^^ paparazzi with iPhones ^^^

Oh my gosh...the talents our kids have today! I was blown away by some of their performances. I had to take a picture of these group of kids who were like paparazzi recording the lovely Maya who sang "Dark Side". So impressed with kids today on their talents, and how some of them are involved with music. 

I was not involved in anything that involved "major talent" (not sure if you count winning the spelling bee in 5th grade is a talent) until I was in my 10th grade year of high school. I'm just so grateful for the open mind that I had in deciding to have my girls take piano lessons. I wish my mother had the means to do that when I was their age, but it was not feasible...like at all! To be musically inclined is indeed a blessing, and sometimes a god-given talent. Lexie only took piano lessons for three years, and has never had voice lessons. Her forte is the violin, and I'm just so pleased that she has the desire to teach herself to get better on the piano. I wish I could afford for all my children (including myself) to take all the lessons in the world with multiple instruments, but I'm grateful for what the Lord has blessed them with. The sacrifices we make as parents to have our kids take music lessons, or be in any sport is a huge blessing. 

The girls performance was exceptional and well received. I'm just so bummed that my video got cut off due to my phone running out of storage! Luckily I recorded most of the performance, and that it's a clear sound & picture of my girl playing and singing. If you're my friend on Facebook there is another video on my timeline filmed in its entirety which I borrowed from my buddy Chuck. 

Middle School Talent Show '14 from Rose Jorgensen on Vimeo.

It was a great evening, and we really enjoyed the talent show. All i know is that no matter what these kids decide to do in four years after graduating high school they all have a voice, an act, and a talent that they can share no matter where they go. They were all very brave in participating, and all did an amazing job! 

UARTS Holiday Concert.

While I was sitting down inside an Episcopalian church waiting to hear my daughter sing with the UARTS choir I was contemplating and having somewhat of a flashback. Not because I was Episcopalian, but because this church I was sitting in reminded me of the catholic church I used to attend when I was a child. The smell of an old pew with red velour colored padding, and a cushion underneath my feet so that one can kneel in prayer seemed all too familiar to me. The feeling of sitting inside this nostalgic, beautiful, "elaborate in detail" building felt different, but knowing that I was sitting in a house of worship for the sole purpose of hearing my daughter sing was good enough for me...and it was gratifying. 

^^ Sierra & Liv, chorus girls ^^

This was my daughters first and final performance she will do with the university chorus. Her freshman year at UARTS didn't really give her too much opportunity to perform & "shine", and even though she won't be returning to this school next semester she is grateful for having a great piano teacher, and for learning and experiencing things she probably wouldn't have learned elsewhere. 

This evening was wonderful, and everyone sang so beautifully. Oh my gosh! Their voices! I didn't realize how great a university choir sounds compared to any choir in high school. Okay...Highland high school's Chorale was good, and I'm not just saying that because my daughter was part of it, but seriously...attend a choir concert at the University of the Arts and you'll "hear" what I'm talking about. 

University chorus singing "Gloria" from Rose Jorgensen on Vimeo.

I tried to get record as much as I could being that this was Sierra's final performance, and even though she didn't have a solo I could still hear her lovely voice. As you can see she is in the middle standing in the front row. For those of you who haven't heard her sing yet you can watch her on  my you tube channel as well as on my vimeo videos. 

I'll close this post with this video of Sierra singing "Silent Night". She sang it in her junior year of high school & being that it's the Christmas season I think it's a perfect ending to get into the holiday spirit! 

Enjoy the sounds & have a great day! 

Sunday Morning.

Karaoke in Coney Island from Rose Jorgensen on Vimeo.

I normally don't blog on Sundays, but I think it's safe to post this being that it's a Sunday morning and all. I couldn't help but to post this video of Sierra singing one of my favorite songs. There's something about her voice that brings me all kinds of happy. Here she is singing "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5. She sure had a blast singing this song in front of hundreds of people at the boardwalk in Coney Island (more on the blog of that day tomorrow). She sang beautifully, but she says otherwise. Being that she had just done the Boardwalk Flight, and screaming her lungs out feels that she didn't sing too well afterwards. Nonetheless I think she did a great job singing with that awesome voice of hers. I had fun listening to her, and recording her at the same time. Next time I'll have her sister or Jon record so that I can enjoy listening to her in its fullest form! Karaoke is now on the top of her "favorite things to do" list, and this video is worth watching. Especially when she starts belting that voice at 2:30!

Happy Sunday everyone!