Respite from insanity in Valencia, California

This is Rich on February 15th, 2009, putting a preface on an email sent almost 4 years ago. We were coming out of the toughest period of our marriage, no, life! I was losing my job with Dr. Snow, and was looking desparately for a new job, while recovering a mental crash that came with discovering why things hadn't been going so well. At this point, things were starting to get better. We didn't know we were going to St. Louis yet, but we felt the Lord helping us. If you want more details about exactly WHY I was near mental breakdown from February through April 2005, it will take more time to explain than I currently have. Here is the short version: $600,000 home purchased first year out of Orthodontic school against our better judgement, job goes south with Dr. Barbakow, job going south with Dr. Snow (who we miraculously found out was going to let me go in September 2005), diagnosis of ADHD for me, which I didn't understand completely, and thought it meant I might never be able to keep a job as an Orthodontist. I felt like I WAS the sinking Titanic: a huge investment that looked great in so many ways, but couldn't slow down fast enough to avoid the icebergs of life my first year out. Luckily, Lisa kept her head, kept the kids protected from my near insanity (sleeping a few hours AT MOST every night, thought distortions of every kind, panic, etc.), and kept loving me throughout. She didn't show any thoughts of deserting me. She said over and over "money isn't important - it's the family that matters! WE are together forever, and THAT is what matters!" She didn't know I would recover so fast, once I got on the right track, so to her credit, she showed that even in most dire circumstances that she would hold on!

Ok, so here is the May 2005 letter she wrote, that shows no hint of the chaos and fear that we had been recovering from. Instead, she focused on the music that brought a great feeling of peace into our lives. We sang with a choir in Valencia tha was spectacular. The effect was a deep calming to our weary hearts. God was with us - we would make it:

05/17/2005

"Hi everyone! I wanted to write and tell you what a great time we had participating in a Stake activity for s on Saturday night. It was titled, An Evening of Elegance. They started the evening at 7:00 with a "gallery" of visual art by members of our stake. Then at 7:30 we began various performances--all by members of our stake. It was very good and some performances were quite amazing. The first half of the show was classical music but included everything from french horn to violin and vocal arias. The second half featured a stake choir and included other musical numbers from Broadway to Chic Corea to God Bless the USA. After the performance they had a spread of food that was very nicely done.

Rich and I sang with the stake choir which performed 4 numbers. One of them was The Circle of Life and we sang the African words of the background choir while a very talented brother sang the melody. Several people commented about this song afterward--it was cool! And we even got to move--none of that standing stiff and still. It was funny to rehearse this and see many struggling with the artistic license we were given. Some were very uncomfortable doing this song by feel and by ear--we didn't have any sheet music and the language wasn't at all familiar. It was fun and funny :)

I also got to sing a solo number. I was so thrilled when the stake music director asked me to do something and she asked for a classical piece. I ended up singing Musetta's Waltz from the opera La Boheme by Puccini which was a rather exhilarating challenge (three high B's). I didn't know if I was really going to be able to do it at first. Fortunately, between the choral singing and my own vocal workouts I was able to perform at a level I was pleased with. I dug up an old tape from Marilyn Simpson with some great vocal exercises and boy did they make a difference! It was so great to have this performance to work toward.

Ohhhhh! I almost forgot! One of the most amazing things was how they transformed the cultural hall! Someone in our stake is incredible. He took architectural drawings of greek columns and other detail work and blew them up. They covered all the wall panels with a couple of beautiful repeating patterns. Then across the front of the hall, framing the stage area, they had four HUGE columns with another relief pattern as a header across the top and big potted palm plants interspersed. It was amazing! They also made a chandelier with battery operated candle lights that hung up above in front. The grand feeling that all of this created was just incredible. Patti King (Stk. music dir.) also had her own black grand piano moved there and tuned for the occasion. It really was quite the event. Someone told me she felt like she should be paying $100 a ticket. There was no admission, of course.

Many people were very complimentary of my performance. Rich said someone told him "You're holding your wife back--she could be performing downtown." Wasn't that sweet? I was surprised how many people questioned me about my vocal studies and background.

Anyway, with all the stress we've had lately, this was just a wonderful and spiritually rejuvenating experience. I couldn't wait to share it with all of you. It made me realize that we need to have more music in our home. We have already started changing that. I had a great prompting recently to start morning devotionals. We sing a primary song and read one of the scriptures at the bottom of the page in the primary songbook and have family prayer. It made a big difference immediately and the great part is our kids like it! If we keep it up, then it will just be routine to them when they are older right?

I hope you are all well. I am envious of Mom and the Eaquintos Hawaiian vacation. Have a great time and send your report!

Love, Lisa