[Faith-talk] Thanksgiving

[Linda Mentink]

Hi all,

Happy Thanksgiving.  I am truly blessed.  I moved from Wisconsin to 
Nebraska August 17, 2004, to teach music in our Baptist Christian 
school, work with the choir and other music groups, and give private 
lessons to those here who want them.  We are a church of a little 
over 300 people, and three of us are blind.  We had classes on Monday 
and Tuesday, and have the rest of the week off.

We had a short service this morning of mostly music.  We have a horn 
group and a string group that play for Thanksgiving, Christmas and 
Easter.  We play two or three songs alone, then play with the 
congregation as they sing.  I participate in the string group playing 
the tenor part on the Viola.  I started out on the Violin, but 
switched when I talked them into putting the tenor below the melody 
and alto rather than above them.  They like it much better this way.

After the service, we all eat together in our fellowship 
hall.  Everyone brings something, whatever the planners tell us to 
bring, and we feast on turkey and all that goes with it.  It's nice 
to eat with others.  As a single person, I really appreciate the fellowship.

I think that soon I'll curl up with a good book.  It's really cold 
here, so staying inside sounds really good to me.I don't have any 
special plans for the weekend, except for the usual practice Saturday 
night for the Sunday services.  Monday night we'll start practicing 
the Christmas numbers with the horns and strings, so I'll be learning 
my tenor parts between now and then.  I know them pretty well, but 
I'm not as solid as I'd like to be.  One of our violists isn't going 
to play for Christmas, so there will only be two of us.  But for now, 
I'm just going to relax!  Smile.

Blessings,

Linda