Christmas Season in Delaware

Wow, what a December!

Between performing at the Smyrna Opera House, preparing for singing church choir numbers, attending several county local holiday performances, watching Matt in the school band, work parties and checking my shopping list once or twice, I was very busy this year enjoying the seasonal celebrations. It all came to a complete stop on a Saturday, December 19 at 12:13am. in Clayton, Delaware.

The day before, everyone at work kept hearing reports of the approaching snowstorm. The changing number of inches made everyone excited. That evening I drove to Newark (pronounced NewArk) Delaware to attend a wonderful Relief Society presentation of "Women at the Well" to see my best girlfriend, Dawn, sing her very first solo. She is very much like a sister to me. It was 10 pm when I got home and waited until the first snow flurry arrived before going to bed. It began and when I awoke the next morning we had at least 6" of snow. Still snowing Saturday evening, our church Christmas party was cancelled. By the end of the storm on Sunday, early morning Smyrna/Clayton received 24" of snow. Church was cancelled and I couldn't get out my front door. I had to shove my broom stick out the 1" opening and managed to maneuver the screen door open.

My neighbors watched as they were shovelling and shouted "Hurray, Barb made it out!" My shovel was in the shed and the drift had the doors shut. The snow was just above my knees. One of neighbors managed to leave a shovel at the end of my walk. I grabbed it and furiously started to at least get a walking path started. I am so lucky that I have good men who watch out for me. They scraped my car and shoveled around it, and even snow blowed a path for me. I had minimal shovelling to do. As my toes started to tingle, they finished.

Mother Nature sure threw Delaware a curve ball. It was supposed to be the biggest shopping weekend of the year? Instead it gave me the opportunity to get much needed rest and enjoy the unfolding of a wonderful wintry scene that we don't usually get until Late Jan/Feb. The snow was both a blessing and a gift. It reminded me to stay focused on the importance of Christ's birth and Heavenly Father's love for each and every one of us.

By Monday, the main roads were clear and we were to report by 10am. However, the schools never opened and still remain closed until after the New Year. On the following Saturday, the ice and snow still piled up mostly melted as we received a day of rain.

This Christmas Eve, Jim opened his home to me and our friends Walter and Joanne Moore and with each other. Every year we gather and exchange gifts. It is traditional that Matt stay with his father on Christmas Eve, and he comes to my house the next day while Jim visits with his family.

Today, on this New Years Eve, Matt & I woke to a snow, sleet, rainy morning. By the afternoon, it turned to rain. Tonight Jim, Matt, & I will celebrate the New Year with a dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant in town. Jim's tradition is to spend the evening with his parents. Matt and I wait for the ball to drop in NY. We blow horns, noise makers, hug, and kiss and then make our way outside to beat the pots and pans and announce "Happy New Year!" to the neighborhood. Of course, we let our neighbors know that it is our tradition. They don't seem to mind! First Matt calls Jim. We also call my mother & sister in California.

This year I will send a text message Happy New Year to my co-worker Gerald Mood. Who, by the way is: young, wonderful, brilliant, fun, physically fit, supportive, and did I mention he was young. We work together and know some common friends because he was raised in Smyrna, too. We became such fast friends this year. He is like a brother to me. He has been such a light in my life and I am all the better for it.

I feel so blessed to have many friends that I consider my family. They surround me throughout the day bringing me laughter and love. We continue to connect by sharing our beliefs, faith, values, and life experiences with honor and respect.

May the new decade bring you more joy to your life, peace to your mind, and love to your spirit!

Another Geneological Bigelow connection!

If you go to my blog (http://barbinde.blogspot.com/) and click on February I talked about how I was being spiritually guided to follow the Lynds-Bigelow Line and the fire that burned down the town of Cloquet, Minnesota. The family escaped and moved to Los Angeles, CA.

Barbara Jane Bigelow (That's me)

Robert Ashley Bigelow m. Susan Addicott 1964
Robert Sickman Bigelow m. Muriel Ashley 1933

James Herbert Bigelow m. Bertha Sickman 1906

Bertha is in the middle!

James M. Bigelow m. Mary Ann LYNDS 1880.
Mary Ann's brother's (James Edward/JE or Ed)

who is Bertha's Uncle by marriage

Ed on the right (his son is Ed, Jr. in the middle)

If you click on the photo it will enlarge

Cloquet, MINN is on the bottom

I posted my family information on Ancestry.com hoping that I would find more Bigelow connections. This month, Carol Lynds (married to a Lynds) emailed me and sent me a letter that Bertha Sickman sent to Mary Ann Lynds brother. I have his photo at home, and have posted it on my blog from February. How exciting that not only do I have a new 1st cousin, but she lives in Los Angeles, California, where most of my Addicott family lives. The letter is between my grandfather's mother and her in-law's brother's (Edward Lynds) family. It is very telling of the times. What an amazing gift to feel what was on their minds in 1918.

Springfield, Massachusetts, October 14, 1918

Received the receipt and your check for $5.00-the overpayment of first remittance.

I was so glad to hear from you folks, especially to know that you expected to be in Davenport before going to California. I do so hope you have escaped the awful fire. I noticed by the paper that Cloquet was in the midst of it. I'll be anxious to hear if you folks have gone on to California.

The Hunns seemed to be getting too much of their own medicine and don't like it, so they don't want to play their own game anymore. It takes Uncle Sam to fix him! I'll be so glad when this war is over, but I do want the Hunns so beaten that there will never be another war.

This is Herbert's second winter away from home. It is certainly not very pleasant without him. The boys need their father so much while they are growing up and developing.

It is quite a surprise to me to learn that Ed Jr. and Rose have a baby girl. I am so glad they have a nice little family.

Were you notified of the death of your Uncle George Henry? His housekeeper wrote me about it. It occurred Sept. 30 burial Oct. 4. I did not receive the word until nearly noon of the day of his funeral - too late to attend, too late to send flowers over. She said the funeral would be private on account of the Influenza Epidemic. She did not say he died of it, so I think it must have been old age that carried him off.

My sister and her two children are coming to live with me this winter. Her husband being a physician, had to enlist, so that home is broken up too. The boys seem quite well, and are enjoying another vacation, schools closed on account of the epidemic.

Give our best love to Elizabeth (Ed's wife) hoping that you'll all enjoy your new home.

I am

Sincerely

Bertha

Matt's 7th Grade Winter Band Concert

After cub scout meetings, SOH practices and performances, and church choir adventures this month, Matt warmed our hearts with his amazing clarinet playing. He proudly performed in his 7th grade Winter Band Concert on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Smyrna High School Auditorium.

Smyrna Middle School's Music teacher Mrs. Jennifer L. McCutchan directed many favorite seasonal musical selections:

1. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year


2. Hanukkah Dance


3. Deck the Halls for ChristmasThe Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)


4. Holiday Grand Finale (Based on Good King Wenceslas)

Jim and I haven't heard the band play since the 6th grade end of year concert. It's unbelievable how great they sound, considering they just started playing instruments in the 5th grade. I was impressed by the complexity of the music and how well they played together.

Many of the high school band members were there to show their support to both the 7th and 8th grade Bands. There were 51 musicians total including 12 clarinet players, and only one tuba for just the 7th grade.

After the performance, Jim treated us to dinner at one of his favorite Italian restaurants. We are so very proud of our son. Not only is he hoping to continue playing clarinet into high school for marching band, but he continues to learn the best Rock N Roll songs of our century - The Beatles - being his very favorite group of all!

A Service of Lessons & Carols

The morning after our Christmas show, I was dressed and ready for church by 9:20 am when a huge headache hit me between the eyes. I took some aspirin and laid down for a minute, then the phone rang, I answered it and it happened to be my Bishop from church. He asked if I was sick, and if my show went well. I realized that I had fallen asleep. I asked him what time it was. He replied, "It's 3pm." Wow, was I tired.

After waking up and have a small meal I remembered that a last year high school student - now in college - invited me to her choir concert at Wesley College at 6pm that evening. That night I noticed another student singing, as well as four other vocalists in the choir. I was so happy and honored to be watching them. When it ended I was able to visit with each of them and congratulate them on an amazing service. I am officially in the Christmas spirit!

The event was wonderful and well attended. Once I stepped into the College Chapel, the Prelude had just begun and someone was finding me a seat in the full pews. The organ played "Sleepers Awake! A voice astounds us by J.S. Bach. Once I was seated, a bell choir (Capitol Ringers) began playing Sing We Now of Christmas. The processional hymn of "Once in Royal David's City" begun with the congregation standing while singing the song followed by the Lord's Prayer, along with the Blessing of the service, leaders, performers, and attendees.

The Service went as follows:
Carol/Choirs; Lesson-College Staff member/student; and Hymn-All/congregation

Carol (Wesley College Choir)- Quem Vidistis, pastores? from Christmas Cantata (Sinfonia Sacra) Whom do you see? Shepards, tell us! Proclaim to us:who has appeared on earth? We saw the new born child and choirs of angels praising the Lord.

First Lesson: Genesis 3: 22-24
Hymn: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Carol: Chamber Choir - Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Second Lesson: Genesis 15:1-6
Hymn: Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming

Carol: O come, O Dayspring From High
Third Lesson: Isiah 9:6-7

Carol: Joy to the World
Fourth Lesson: Micha 5:2-5a
Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem

Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:26-38
Carol: O magnum mysterium - From Christmas Cantata (Sinfonia Sacra)
O great mystery and wondrous sacrament that animals should see the new born Lord lying in their manager. Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sixth Lesson: Luke 2:1-7
Carol: Greensleeves (Capital Ringers)
Hymn: In the Bleak Midwinter (my favorite hymn)
Carol: Sans Day Carol (choir)

Seventh Lesson: Luke 2: 8-16
Carol: Ding! dong! merrily on high (choir)

Eighth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-11
Carol: Love came down at Christmas (choir)
Carol: Personnet Hodie (Chamber Choir)

Ninth Lesson: John 1:1-5, 9-18
Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Carol: Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Sinfonia Sacra) choir
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those of good will. O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands; serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves. Alleluia.

Hymn: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Dismissal

"Sounds of the Season" a holiday musical

On Friday Dec. 4, and Saturday Dec. 5 at 7:30pm, the Smyrna Opera House presented a holiday musical called "Sounds of the Seasons." It was written and directed by Jim McGuigan. The music was led by Kathy Castro. The show was filled with musical selections that are familiar and new, sacred and secular, with readings and comments interspersed giving the show a "story-like" effect.

It featured local musicians & singers - below:

Bob Castro, well known for his Robert Goulet-ish voice style and our show's Producer.

Barbara Bigelow, a sultry singer, choir director/cub scouts and music director of several high school musicals.

Kathy DeLong, a soprano who majored in music at Penn State and is a teacher/choir director. She was our 2nd place winner of Smyrna's Got Voice Competition.

DJ Evins (16 yrs) who won our Smyrna's Got Voice 3 month competition.

Katie Loftus (11 year old), who was our Tiny Tim in our production of "A Christmas Carol" and 4th place winner Smyrna's Got Voice Competition

Kathy Castro on Piano, also the music director, and the new Sunnyside Elementary School Principal & Bob's Wife.

Dr. Sandy Shalk, Dir of Smyrna School District curriculum and guitar extraordinaire.

Terry (can't remember last name) played all the woodwinds when appropriate (flute, sax, clarinet, etc.)

Scott McClymont on drums, and Smyrna's Asbury Methodist church youth pastor.

Alvin Pope on keyboard, Northern DE elementary music teacher and currently recording a music CD

(drum roll....please) Of course, the phenomenal and supportive Director, Jim McGuigan, who is not a stranger to theatre (performing or directing) is a 6th grade teacher at John Bassett Moore Intermediate School.

My big solo was "Santa Baby!" Armed with a boa, my director told me I can handle any performance with professionalism and star quality! I had a BLAST!

Wish you were all there with me!