Who Knew Ward Choir Was Good For a Laugh

It all started with the xylophone. Pete brought it in our house to show my mom, the choir director of my home ward. 

"There is a young man in our ward who wants to play his trumpet in church," Pete said. "I thought this might be a better alternative..." 

That made us all laugh. We started rehearsing for the Christmas program. I joined in since I will be home for the holidays. My mom thought the small xylophone would be cool on the "ahh" parts. She tried to play it while directing and it resulted in both tasks not really being completed well.

"I can't play this," she said. "But Jess, come do it!"

That caught me off guard and said laughing, "Oh, cause I can play it!" Everyone laughed, especially my mom. But she was definitely serious. So, I played it while they were singing and I have to admit that it was fun.

About ten minutes later my mom raised her arm to lead and exclaimed, "Ow!" Her hand went to her back, and she seemed to be in a lot of pain. She took a second and then went on, but struggling a little more.

Ward choir ended right on time, which hardly ever happens. I stayed in the front room to talk with some people I hadn't seen in a while. I noticed that my mom had disappeared.  

After everyone left, I told my dad that mom had vanished. I called loudly, "Mom? Are you alright?" I heard a groan and "No, I'm not." 

We went in her bedroom and saw her lying flat on her back. She looked at us, half laughed and half groaned. "My back is killing me." 

The muscles in her back were seizing up. She was in a lot of pain but she took ibuprofen and laid on the heat pad. The whole situation was so funny though and my dad kept teasing her that he was going to have to ask the bishop to release her because she injured herself leading the ward choir.

The last funny thing that occurred from ward choir was that my 10-year-old sister LOVED the xylophone. It was left at our house and she spent a couple hours figuring out how to play Jingle Bells and other songs.

She came downstairs and said, "Guess what Jess, I am joining the ward choir."

"Oh really? You're singing?" 

"No I'm not singing."

"Then what are you doing?"

"I am playing the bells!" (she meant the xylophone)

So, the laughter all goes back to the xylophone and ward choir.