#RexMob15 and Our Christmas Party

This week was filled with a lot of stressful, fun, and spiritual stuff for Jake and I. It was the last week of regular classes before finals this upcoming week, so there were a lot of assignments to be turned in, lectures to attend, and papers to write. But we also had some really awesome experiences! One of the highlights of the week was getting a package from one of my best friends back home, Katie, filled with ridiculous outfits for Zoe. The pictures say it all.

On Friday, we had the opportunity to participate in a flash mob choir for a family in Rexburg. They lost their mother over the summer to cancer, and the family was obviously devastated. The woman left behind two twin 11 year old girls, and a 9 year old boy, along with a husband and lots of extended family. A guy at BYU-Idaho (who is also friends with the family and knew the situation) created a Facebook event to get the word out, and gathered quite a group! The event was filmed, so soon there will be a video out that I can post, but I'll explain how things went:

A group of five people went and knocked on the family's door, and started singing "Hark the Harold Angels Sing" like they were just carolers going door to door. The fifth person wasn't singing, though, just waiting. They changed songs and he came in beat-boxing, followed up by some dancers dressed like penguins, and they did that for a few minutes. Then a few more people joined and did a little singing solo. They all started singing "Little Drummer Boy", and two guys from drumline came in and did a pretty awesome drum solo. It was dark outside while this was all happening, so the porch lights only shone on the people closest to the house, which was awesome because a GIANT group of about 50-60 of us were standing away from the house along the sidewalk, quietly trying to hide. When the drums started playing, we all turned on the flashlights on our phones, and walked towards the house. By now, we could see that the father was in tears, and the kids were SO shocked! Grandpa and grandma and a few other extended family members were also standing in the doorway, and they were all smiling big enough to split their faces open. Once the drum solo stopped, we all started singing "Hark, the Harold Angels Sing" and in the closing lines, we parted down the middle and there was a group of people set up as a live nativity. The three wise men were holding presents for the kids, which had been bought with donations made by the singers and other people in the area. There was enough money to get the kids each an iPad mini, and a Kindle! It was so much fun watching the kids open their presents and start screaming with excitement, and the father could hardly contain his emotions. It was truly a beautiful way to get a start on the Christmas season.

Saturday morning, this post had been left on the Facebook event:

Thank you so so so so much! All of you!

I tried to take pictures and video for me and my family, so we can always remember that beautiful moment. But i wasn't expecting to see and hear everything that happened tonight. After the third wave of people joined in from out of nowhere, in the darkness, I couldn't hold my camera up any further because I was crying so hard. And then the drums came out of the darkness in the third wave, and started playing, and then in. The fourth wave, when lights from all over, suddenly turned on and started moving towards us. And it was in THAT moment, that moment when the darkness started to fade away, as all these bright flood lights came closer and closer and lit-up my sister's home, and highlighted the family she had to leave behind in her passing.... THAT was when I could feel my little sister Nanna-Banana (Anna), in spirit... enjoying that very moment with us. I could picture her dancing to the drums and the amazing beat boxing. And I could almost feel her weeping with delight, to hear all of those beautiful, harmonious and angelic voices fill the air. 

You made it feel as if my sister was standing right next to all of us tonight, and enjoying them moment that you blessed her whole family with tonight. Thank you! 

I don't know who all of you are... And I couldn't see any faces in the darkness, or behind the lights once they all lit up. But the air was filled with emotions of love, empathy and comfort for my family in losing my sister (far too soon), and the kindness, sacrifice, and service from complete strangers, as you all presented them with this amazing experience, as well as raising money and making a card and getting her three younger children their biggest Christmas present that that had put at the top of their "wish lists" for Christmas this year. Thank you! ALL OF YOU! 

That was honestly the greatest gift of wonder and love, that I have ever had the privilege of experiencing.

Thank you Chris White for being the mastermind behind he amazement, the leader at the helm of this giant ship, and orchestrating, motivating and bringing so many strangers together, to show other strangers that they aren't alone in this life... And that people truly DO CARE! You made a call to action, and everyone listened and joined you in sacrificing all of your time and talent tonight, and making your idea come to life. I am still amazed. I can't wait to watch all of the video that was taken. I want to re-live that moment over and over and over again! 

May God bless and keep ALL of you, for what you did for my whole family tonight. There are not enough words to describe that moment or enough words to express my gratitude for all of you, and for giving that beautiful gift to us tonight. Wow... Just wow!!! Thank you!!!!! 

Here is the sneak preview video of the event:

On Saturday, we had a Christmas party at our apartment! It was fun to see friends that we hadn't been able to talk with all semester because of busy schedules, and to talk and laugh and enjoy Christmas music and ugly sweaters. We had a White Elephant Gift Exchange, and of course lots of cookies and other Christmas-y treats. It was a great night!