Magical Moment 524, "A Discovery"

The song from yesterday was "Chim Chim Cheree" from Mary Poppins. Quite a few guessed it right!

In keeping with the music theme, here is a piano memory of mine:

When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I remember having a get together of close family at our house. I don't know what the occasion was, but my grandma brought us a gift from her best friend in Germany. It was a hand painted music box that played a little German tune. I remember it sounding fairly similar to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

Chairs were set up in a circle around the living room and the adults visited and caught up with each other. The kitchen was busy with food, and there was a lot of general commotion going on. I remember listening to that music box, then going to the piano, certain I would be able to play the tune. Nobody really noticed what I was doing, but I did play the song from start to finish, using both hands, with little or no trouble. Not thinking anything about it, I spun around on the piano bench, ready to go find something else to play with. But when I turned around, my mom was staring at me with her mouth open. I felt like my fly was undone or something. I had no idea what she was staring at.

I waited, feeling totally self conscience, when she pointed at me with her index finger, then tried to get the attention of my grandma, "Beth just played that song." No one seemed interested in what she was saying, and I remember her trying one more time to explain what she had seen. I protested, telling her it was such a simple melody, it wasn't as big of a deal as she thought.

That was the first time I recall playing a song by ear. It may have happened before that, but I think my mom's reaction ingrained it into my head that it was unusual. I don't know if my mom recalls this particular incident. She always told me that she remembers me watching the movie "Top Hat" as a little girl, then going to the piano and playing a song from it called, "The Piccolino." But I think that happened after the German song.

Ever since, I've been playing piano, picking out and arranging music, and writing original music. I'm always thankful that my parents bought that spinet piano and put me in lessons. I'm thankful for all my piano teachers throughout the years and all the opportunities I've had to play. Mostly I'm thankful for whatever it is that God puts into a human...that innate interest, love, and passion for something like music. And I'm thankful that He put it into me.

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-

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