Sunstone Article

It's not perfect and includes a significant typo (how did I miss that?), but here it is in PDF form or you can read it here. As much as I am tempted to preface with all kinds of qualifiers, I'll refrain. Read away or skip, as you please.

21-25 Buchert Whitehead Web

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Christianity Religion Whitehead Mormon

Hot Off the Press

I just got the package I've been waiting for. It's not to wrap or even wear, just to look at: my name in print. Look for my article in the December '08 issue of Sunstone entitled "Mormonism and the Creative Advance into Novelty". The contents of the latest issue aren't posted yet so I can't point you to it but it should be there soon. I'll have to see if I have permission to put the pdf here or not. Merry Christmas to me!

A Tradition

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to listen to A Festival of Nine Lesson and Carols from King's College in Cambridge. If you're local, KBYU broadcasts it live on Christmas Eve at 8:00 a.m. Utah time (tomorrow there is even a pre-show at 7:30 with a BBC producer giving his perspective on the program, scroll down here for more info). If you're not local, I know the festival is broadcast all around the world, so check out your own radio stations for who might carry it.
Merry Christmas!

Sledding at Daybreak

Confession

This song makes me want to be in a band:



Do you have a song that brings out your inner rockstar?

Sometimes this just sums it up

I was going through some old papers the other day stashed in a "to save" file and came across this drawing Eden did a while back (can't remember when exactly but it's drawn on the back of a lecture list from November 2003). I love how emotionally expressive it is.

Parkway perks and performances

Today I took Eden, Soren, Daffodil, Tigerlily & June to the parkway. The weather was beautiful. The kids hauled around big sticks, poked and banged on the river's ice, explored mazes in the rushes, threw rocks in the water. I clipped tidbits here and there to augment evergreens for a wreath. Later in the day, I attemped assembly of said wreath. It's not perfect but it was a fun project.

This evening we participated in the ward Christmas party. Dinner exceeded my expectations and the talent show program was entertaining. Highlights for me included a 4-year-old's solo dance to Michael Jackson's "Beat It" (complete with twirling his vest above his head at the end of the performance), a sultry rendition of "You Made Me Love You" (complete with shoulder shimmy), and a video clip of interviews with children from our ward about Christmas. I performed too--accompanied a flautist and a violinist for "O Holy Night" (though this wasn't my selection, I am still a sucker for the soaring melody). Taken together, it was a sort of Farley Family Christmas of a particular ward family.

Daffodil is getting ready for her own performance in a nativity play with joy school. She is taking her role as Mary very seriously. In giving the stage directions, I told her to hold her hands like this:
Tonight when she went to say her prayers she knelt down, bowed her head and put her hands together just like that--a veritable picture of piety if she hadn't been in the high traffic zone of the hallway.


And finally, speaking of performances, Martin and I had the good fortune to attend a choral concert last night that was beautiful. I was especially moved by a setting of this poem by Eileen Berry:

Carol of Joy

Green leaves all fallen, withered and dry;
Brief sunset fading, dim winter sky.
Lengthening shadows, Dark closing in…
Then, through the stillness, carols begin!

Oh fallen world, to you is the song—
Death holds you fast and night tarries long.
Jesus is born, your curse to destroy!
Sweet to your ears, a carol of Joy!

Pale moon ascending, solemn and slow;
Cold barren hillside, shrouded in snow;
Deep, empty valley veiled by the night;
Hear angel music—hopeful and bright!

Oh fearful world, to you is the song—
Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong!
Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound—
A carol of joy! A Saviour is found!

Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes!
Thrill to the chorus filling the skies!
Look up sad hearted—witness God’s love!
Join in the carol swelling above!

Oh friendless world, to you is the song!
All Heaven’s joy to you may belong!
You who are lonely, laden, forlorn—
Now unto you, A Saviour is born!

You can listen to a recording of the Dan Forrest arrangement here.

Welcome Grayson