Meant to be...

1. Please don't forget about Gardening Part I (part of the Preparedness Series)! Tonight, RS room, 7 p.m.!
Part II - a tour of the ward gardens will begin with breakfast at the Andrews home on Saturday at 7 a.m.

2. Renee, our lovely hostess, has chosen a date for the next book club meeting. It will be at her house (I will get you the address) on Thursday, October 21st at 7 p.m. We are reading the series by Scott Westerfeld, "The Uglies", "The Pretties", "The Specials". Book Club is for everybody. Our best kept "secret" - you need not read the book to attend!, but do bring a treat to share (more details to come)

3. Last, but not at all least...
A message from Kiera Newbury:
What greater way is there to share your testimony than with the gift of music? The choir will begin practicing on September 19th in the chapel at 10:20 a.m. Practice will last for approximately 30 minutes, allowing a brief break before Sacrament meeting. Please bless our ward family with your voice. (Kiera tells me that a knowledge of music or ability to sing is not required!) Please encourage spouses to participate, as well.
Questions? Call Kiera Newbury 623-486-4617

I really enjoy youtube clips of the hymns sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I thought it fitting to include one as inspiration. When I looked up the choir, the first hymn that popped up today was "Praise to the Man".
While enjoying that (through my headphones - it is 5 a.m. and my family is sleeping), I turned to LDS.org to find us an inspirational quote about music.
The very first one that popped up was one about the very same hymn. This quote is by our beloved Prophet, who was clearly very inspired by music and the hymns as well:

"The words of William W. Phelps's great hymn always stir me: 'Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer. Blessed to open the last dispensation, kings shall extol him, and nations revere' ("Praise to the Man," Hymns, no. 27).
"The life and ministry of the Prophet Joseph Smith are indeed the substance of great things and remarkable events. They have created a legacy that will continue to increase among mankind. He was the Lord's latter-day servant who was chosen to bear witness anew of the resurrected Christ. . . .
". . . He sealed that testimony with his life's blood, dying a martyr to the truths of which he had spoken concerning the Redeemer of the world, in whose name he had carried on his ministry."
Gordon B. Hinckley, "What Hath God Wrought through His Servant Joseph!" Ensign, Jan. 1997, 3