A Blessing Found in an Organ

I've been trying to learn the organ now for a couple of years.  When I was called as ward organist, I didn't know a thing.  A kind gal in our ward showed me the ropes in about 20 minutes and said I didn't need to do the pedals.  That was my plan.  But then, I kind of fell in love with learning this beautiful instrument.  I wanted to learn the ins and outs of the pedals.  But it's been tricky. I didn't have an organ and had to go to the church to practice.  I just haven't had enough time to practice as much as I've needed to get good at the pedals.  I've been online off and on looking at organs to buy for about 18 months, and I haven't found one with a full pedalboard, or if they did have one, it was the wrong kind, or they just cost too much.  Also, I had no idea where I'd put such a huge instrument. They take up a five by five-foot space!

About two months ago, I looked at our furniture upstairs and decided it had to go.  I talked to Bo about getting new couches because ours were just worn out.  I thought about it for a couple of weeks, and then we decided to go shopping for some.  After looking around, we really didn't find any we liked, and if we wanted some, they were the wrong color.  We ended up going home empty-handed, and I was kind of bummed because I wasn't sure where to go from there.

The next morning I woke up really early and had an idea come to me (this is usually when I get good ideas).  I had the thought that I should just move the furniture that's in our living room out, and that would open up my living room for a music room.  I told Bo, and he was excited because he didn't want to spend money on furniture.  Haha.

I decided to look online for an organ and see if there was anything reasonably priced.  I found one that looked like it might work, but I couldn't tell.  It was only $350, so I was sure it was going to have some problems to fix. I decided to check out a piano store in Idaho Falls to see what they had.

I went to the Piano Gallery, and they told me they don't really sell church organs but gave me a number of a guy who does.  I called and talked to him.  He was super helpful and told me what models to get for playing in church, and then he told me the cost.  Right around $5000 and that they only sell about 6 used ones a year.  I was bummed.  I couldn't rationalize getting an organ for that much.  I had every intention of practicing and using it often, but life gets busy, and who knows what will happen.  That's a costly hobby, especially if you only spend a few hours a year on it.

I decided to do some more research.  I messaged the guy selling the organ I was looking at and found out everything worked, and he hadn't sold it yet.  Then I did some research and found out what size of pedalboard church organs' use.  I messaged him back.  He measured his, and I found out it was just what I was looking for!  I couldn't believe it!  Everything had fallen into place, and $350 was in my price range for an organ.  Bo and I jumped on it and drove down to Utah to pick it up.

Isn't she pretty!

Now, just reading this story, you would think there was nothing special tied up in all of it.  But, I know that's not the case.  I had looked for an organ for about 18 months and had only seen an organ like that come up.  The price? $1400.  Too much for my hobby.  The idea to make my living room a music room?  Not mine, but an impression I had had.  The guidance I got from the piano store guy, to the organ guy, to the websites I needed to find out if the organ I could afford was indeed the one I wanted couldn't have been better.  This all happened in a matter of 5 days, and I had the organ in 7.  All I started out looking for were new couches.  This organ was a gift for me.  I just know it.  The timing of it all couldn't have been more perfect.

Every Sunday morning, since I've been called to play as ward organist, I've been a nervous wreck.  It's scary to get up there!  It has gotten easier over time, but never easy because it was always so hard to make it to the church to practice enough to get my songs down, and it took about 20 minutes to get warmed up Sunday morning (while people were sitting and listening).

Now, I can practice at home and warm-up for Sacrament Meeting before I leave and not in front of those who come way early.  It's been such a blessing to me, and Sunday's are so much more enjoyable.  Heavenly Father really is in the day to day of our life.  If we look, we will see Him.  I'm grateful to him for this beautiful gift.

A bit more...

I wanted to make our music room an inviting place for all of us to practice.  Conrad and Brayden are playing piano, Hailey is taking voice, and Jackson is learning Cello.  Oh, and Caleb likes to pretend he can play.  Now that the kids are in school, I want to put time aside every day to practice at least an hour.

I spent hours searching through old art and quotes and music to find just the right art to print off.  Then more hours on Pinterest trying to figure out how to put it all together.  Then more hours getting the frames, painting some of them, printing off each item in the frame, and putting it on the wall.  I did have a small panic attack just before I started putting the frames up, nut sure how this was going to go.  But, I pushed through, and I love how it turned out.  It's not trendy, but it's so warm and inviting.  The kids love it, and I felt guided in this too.  I've really learned the past 9 months or so that music has such a powerful effect on us.  I want our kids to learn what good music feels like, and this space is a place for that.

Here are some of the pics on the walls.  I made the quotes from pics I took or found online.  It was an enjoyable project, and I learned a lot.  Now I just sit in there and take it all in and remember where it all came from.