Gladys Knight and the Saints Unified Voice Choir

This past Thursday, Steven and I drove to Houston to listen to a free concert and testimony meeting given by Gladys Knight and the Saints Unified Voices choir. At first I was feeling kind of grumpy about having to drive so far and deal with babysitting, traffic, etc., but it ended up being so worth it.

The choir was truly wonderfuly, and I was in tears for much of the night. I don't even know why, except that I think all types of music sung in the praise of God is moving. Such passionate music!

And Gladys was immaculate, of course. Every note perfectly placed, perfectly in tune. It's amazing that one person can possess so much talent---and in her 60's too! (And can I just say that as the choir was processing in, she walked RIGHT BY ME! I could have pretended to stumble and knocked her over! Of course, that might have put a damper on the evening...)


Anyway, she bore her testimony afterwards, and it was equally amazing. Mostly she just talked---nothing prepared. She just talked about her experience like it was a one-on-one conversation. I couldn't help thinking while she was talking that SO MANY people were being specifically reached by the things she was saying. I was really struck by how she was speaking a language, though unfamiliar to a lot of Mormons, that was directly communicating to people who don't necessarily identify with our more anglicized culture of worship.

I also started thinking about her life. How full and amazing it must be to have such a God-given talent--and then realize that part of the reason she was given it was to share this testimony to people who needed to be reached in their own way. What an overwhelming responsibility, and she's facing it head on and doing the Lord's work!

And besides all this, it just rocked. It ROCKED! I have never seen so many Mormons stamping their feet and clapping their hands, calling out "Amen" and putting their hands in the air. Not our usual language of praise, but a legititmate, powerful one, nonetheless. The Spirit was there and everyone felt it.

Stevie is 7!

Steven Grundberg, Age 7

My first born turned seven last Sunday. We celebrated with a little party at my dad's house in Galveston. Stevie & David's birthdays kind of got smooshed together this year. They both got presents on both days.

I included this picture because all 3 of us look strange--I'm overexcited, Dad's disgusted and Stevie's obviously perplexed by our present choice

The big acquisitions this year? Slippers, bicycle bells and various "Beyblade" equipment. They do nothing but play with their beyblades all day now.


Jake didn't seem too upset by the lack of attention he was getting. He was actually quite the grump the entire time.

Steven Sr. was running around taking random pictures with the camera, such as me setting the table...

And of course, one of the meat. Wouldn't be a Howsley get-together without a huge helping of BEEF!

Such a goofball...

Like Father, Like Son


And now, for Stevie's birthday interview:

HIS ANSWERS:
What's your nickname? Stevie (Now that he’s officially “StevEN”, I guess Stevie Beans is gone.)
What's your Favorite Song? Freedom (It’s a Jazz tune—Charles Mingus---they listen to it as they fall asleep)
If you were a superhero, who would you be? A Power Ranger (See? SEE? It’s all we eat, drink and breathe over here! Curse you, Netflix)
What will you be doing at age 21? Going on a mission (Or coming home from one???)
What's the silliest thing you do? I do crazy puppet shows. (He does actually---with a homemade sock puppet named “Larry.” Jacob thinks they’re hilarious.)
What's the best thing about you? I have really good hand-writing

MY ANSWERS:
What's Stevie's nickname? Stevie G., Stevie Pie

What's His Favorite Song? He and his brother are CONSTANTLY singing Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.” Constantly.
If Stevie were a Superhero, who would he be? He would be Super Gadget Man, because he’s constantly creating new gadgets to help him fight crime, be a spy, etc.
What will Stevie be doing at age 21? Hopefully, returning from a mission and going on to pursue his double major in rocket science and pre-med.
What's the silliest thing Stevie does? Calls me (and everone else) "Mayonnaise."
What's the best thing about Stevie? There are so many “best” things about Stevie—he thinks things though. He always figures things out. He feels very deeply. He’s discouraged easily, but elated just as easily. He sympathizes with people. He loves his family. He always does his part. He’s simply amazing and we’re so lucky to have him.

Good GRIEF, Time flies (Mostly About Me, By the Way)

It's already been almost a month since my last post. I blush with shame! So much has happened and so many pictures are crowding up my camera that I really should feel a little sheepish. So until I get those pictures loaded, here are a few things that have been occupying my time lately.

I'm currently the Stake Music Chairperson, and it's a calling I really struggle with. For the past month or so, I've been trying to figure out how to work out the music for stake conference in October and our Christmas program in December. It's been an endless circle of phone calls, emails, begging, pleading, kowtowing, pulling my hair out, nervous breakdowns and then some teeny triumphs (I know that sounds extreme, but that’s truly the best way I can describe it). Our stake presidency seems to want to drive me insane, but at least they’re nice about it.

Also on the agenda is the Primary Program (I'm also the Primary Chorister). I never feel too worried about it until September starts to roll around. Then all of the sudden things go cuckoo bananas. This year was no different, though I think we finally might have everything ironed out. Fortunately, the program is this Sunday---so here goes nothin’!

Oh, by the way, I’m 34 now. It actually happened last month, but with me feeling sort of sick and the boys’ birthdays, mine was sort of swept under the rug. Fortunately, some fabulous friends took me out to dinner last weekend and made me feel quite sprecial. They even serenaded me with “Happy Birthday” right in the middle of the restaurant. It was tremendous!

But the biggest news I have is that the GRUNDBERG CABOOSE IS ON ITS WAY! That’s right, folks—Baby #4 will be here the 1st week of March. (Do you like how I just snuck that info in way down here at the bottom?) I went to the doctor on my birthday and saw the heartbeat and watched the little peanut wiggle and squirm! Seems to be a very healthy, very normal little baby.


Now as to what JAKE will think about this little bit remains to be seen. Look out, Buddy, trouble’s a-comin’!