Sydney's YA Camp and Mickelsen's Missionary Farewell

Singing Sydney Sparkles and Shines and The Munificent Mickelsens Are Missionary Masters!

Sorry about all of the alliteration in the tittle,

 but silly me couldn't resist!

I love to play with words.

But in spite of that love of words, I'm stumped.

I'm sitting here, trying to figure out how to put into words

the feelings that Sydney, our beautiful granddaughter, 

 touches deep inside me

when I hear her sing.

She was born with a big voice.

When she was a little pre-schooler, 

she would sit, strapped in her car seat, 

belting out Broadway tunes along with the singers on the CDs 

blaring in the car speakers.

She knew every word to every song.

Skip forward to last Friday night, July 12.

Sydney had attended Young Ambassador's Camp 

all of that previous week, 

auditioning and preparing for the Evening of Entertainment. 

She was chosen by the directors to sing, That's How You Know from Enchanted 

and she also got voted by the kids 

to sing the song she auditioned with, 

I Dreamed A Dream, from Les Miserables.

There were over 120 kids who attended the camp, 

and twelve were chosen to sing their solos, 

six in the 6:30 concert and six in the 8:30 concert.

She was magnificent!

I know, I know, I'm her grandma, but she commanded the stage.

She always lights it up, just like her mama did before her.

Her vast range is one of her strengths, 

and you need a big range to carry off, I Dreamed A Dream.

The in-between story from when she was singing in her car seat 

to last Friday night is a classic tale of 

diligent hard work to achieve a goal pays off.

Sydney has been in many, many musical theatrical productions,

most of the time, not with the leading roles.

Each one, she worked hard and learned.

And she has taken vocal lessons and been in choirs,

 where her teachers have increased her awareness 

of her vocal instrument 

and how she can improve and reach her full potential.

She has practiced and practiced.

Last friday night, she made me cry.

She is a true performer with a beautiful voice.

Roger and I with her before the show 

We weren't allowed to record the show or take pics,

 but Roger took some after the show was over 

and their director sang a song to them.

They were all so thrilled to have this experience together.

Sydney had lots of family and friends there to cheer her on!

Grit and Sherry invited us over for hamburgers on their patio before the show.

Sydney's mom deserves much credit for Syd's success.  

Stacy has driven her to uncountable practices 

and been there for her and cheered her on from the beginning.

She is her #1 fan!

Sunday, we attended my sister, Patty, and Hal's 

Missionary Send-off in their Elkridge ward.

They are both such wonderful speakers.

 There could not be two more dedicated seniors 

with the Missionary Spirit in the church!

This will be their third mission; the first two were in Siberia - 

one, a CES mission, and the other, as a mission president.

And there is a good reason I chose the adjective, munificent, 

in front of Mickelsen.

Generous defines their complete willingness to sacrifice 

almost everything to serve the Lord.

They are generous with the giving of their time, their talents, their means and their hearts in order to bring the Good News to others.

I love them very much and will miss them the eighteen months they will serve in Berlin, Germany.

After the block, they hosted a delicious dinner in their home.

We missed Kay in our sister shot.

We love our thorn among the roses!

We had yummy Cafe Rio recipes with four meats - 

pork, beef, chicken and turkey.

Patty said she cleaned out her freezer in preparation of going!

There were delicious desserts including these Rice Crispy Treats that Alison, Patty's daughter, made 

with caramel in the middle - YUM!

Two of Hal's brothers, other family members and several of the Mickelsen's missionary friends came for the occasion.

All told, our journey up north

brought Roger and I great joy!