And SOME DAYS YOU GO TO THE PIANO GUYS CONCERT AT TUACAHN!!!!
I hardly have words to describe this beautiful night. These are the tickets I bought from mom. After she came back to St. George, she found them sitting on Dad's dresser. He had purchased them for their anniversary. She cried about it. I told her I would take care of it, and I gave her the money. I knew that Greg and I would love to go, and if not then I could sell them to someone. The Piano Guys are a hot ticket.
But I forgot to anticipate the emotion involved with using the tickets my dad purchased. And sitting in the seats he was supposed to sit in with my mom. I was emotional right from the get go. I just knew how much he would have loved the show. I could imagine him telling us all about it, and pulling up every YouTube video of The Piano Guys and showing them to us. I could almost hear him saying, "Cool!"
The night was so pleasant and beautiful. The air was electric with love and happiness. It got dark, but there were lights shining up on the canyon walls. The breeze made us want to snuggle together on this amazing fall night. Greg and I settled in and let the joy and the beauty of their music just wash over us. We laughed; we cried; we clapped in utter amazement. It was over the top. It was so very inspiring and uplifting. It was sheer goodness.
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| What an amazing date!! |
Finally the concert was winding down. They played a romantic love song, dedicating it to all the lovers out there. We were pretty much surrounded by older couples (for a minute, I worried that Dad had purchased tickets for "senior night" because there were so many older couples! But then I realized that we live in a retirement community, and going to an expensive theater concert is popular with the older population!). Still, even with the older couples, maybe especially with the older couples, you could feel the love.
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| Having such a great time!! |
They announced that they would be doing their last song. But first, they wanted to say a few things. Jon Schmidt talked about losing his daughter last year (she fell off a cliff while hiking) and how they have found so much lasting joy in their lives by turning to our Savior. And Steve (the most amazing cellist in the entire universe!) talked about his parents. He got emotional as he talked about how his dad, his hero, had cared for his mother for eighteen years while she suffered from a brain tumor. Immediately I was thinking of Joni and Jaron. And my heart was tender for them. They dedicated this song to life's real "super heroes," those who have many trials, but never curse God, only praise him to the very end.
The stage went dark. The huge screen filled with the most beautiful shots of Scotland. Then they started playing a mashup of Amazing Grace and Fight Song. I thought of the "fight" to survive. I thought of Dad. I thought of Jaron. I thought of life's trials.
During one of my long runs, before I ever thought we'd lose my dad, I was high up in the red cliffs area, feeling like I was flying, when the song, "Amazing Grace," came pouring through my earphones. I had to stop running. I had to let the tears flow and feel the appreciation for this amazing life. I felt so close to my Savior. And so grateful for his grace.
Suddenly, a whole group of bagpipers slipped onto the stage. Greg and I both gasped. The music was quietly fading, but all at once, those bagpipes began playing. The music swelled. It was so loud. Amazing Grace was ringing through the air. The green fields and historic bridges and castles of Scotland were on the screen. The piano was going a million miles an hour, singing out with the sounds of Fight Song mixed in. The cello, that most gorgeous-sounding instrument, was soaring. That's the only way I can describe it. In fact, at one point during the concert, the cellist described playing his instrument as flying. And that's the word I used to describe that day on my run. Flying. Our hearts were rejoicing. Greg and I clung to one another. I was so overcome with emotion. We were both crying. I thought of the bagpipes at my dad's graveside. I thought of my dad's recent trip to Scotland and his absolute love for the kilt-wearing lifestyle. I thought of his fight. Of our family's fight. And my heart almost burst with the power of it all. Tears were pouring down my cheeks.
Oh, how Dad would have loved it.
That song brought the house down. Words just can't describe it. The entire audience stood and wildly clapped and cheered.
Greg and I left more uplifted, more filled with joy than we have felt in a long time. We just decided that it was like the thirteenth Article of Faith. If there is anything lovely, praiseworthy, or of good report, we seek after these things. Yes, this night was lovely. But I had to wonder at all the things that touched my heart, and I was so grateful that I had been there. Greg squeezed my hand as we walked down the steps next to the flowing water and out to the parking lot.
Maybe he was here. And that's all he needed to say.
I sat quietly in the car, crying. But they were tears of gratitude and joy. His Grace IS amazing. And every day, I'm so thankful for my Savior.
I started to think about being the new Relief Society president, and I remembered how earlier in the year, I had written about sitting in a luxurious spa in Maui. And I had prayed and pledged my heart again to my Father in Heaven, never knowing what this year would bring. But I remember saying, "If there is any good for me to do in this world, here am I. Send me."
I meant it then. And I mean it now. I will spend every last breath I have trying to be what my Father in Heaven wants me to be. That's my Fight Song.
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