As The Drum Cadence Sounded, We Collectively Moved Our Right Feet As One…

“…ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28

Our charter bus was loaded with instruments, gear and members of the marching band as we departed from the school parking lot at 5am on Christmas Day. We were scheduled to spend several days driving from the Midwest to the Southeast part of the United States. 

Our high school band had been diligently practicing with early morning rehearsals and fundraising tirelessly to take advantage of the invitation to march in the Citrus Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day. I had been recruited to join the color guard for a few competitions culminating in a seemingly once in a lifetime trip for a small-town girl in Iowa. 

On the long bus ride, I passed time chatting and listening to music. Once in Florida, we spent the night in a hotel- (a first for me). The city was big, the winter weather was warm and the palm trees looked perfectly constructed. Everything was new and different. 

At midnight,  the night before the parade, we dressed in our uniforms and loaded onto our bus. We were driven to a poorly lit parking lot. The mood was a bit tense. Our chaperones seemed deliberate and yet uneasy. We unloaded our instruments and flags and gathered for instruction. 

The wait would be long. It was nearly 3 am and as instructed by the parade organizers, we mobilized our band to the assigned waiting area. It was an especially dark part of town …
We waited for hours in near silence in loose groups on a narrow side road until we were instructed to gather.
When cued, we took formation.
The drum cadence sounded.
We collectively moved our right feet as one unit- in stepping down the street. 

The drum cadence gave way to our nearly perfectly rehearsed performance in the parade that day.  Our lines were crisp, counts on point, and steps remained as one. Peace replaced our anxious wait. Our chaperones and band director nodded in approval and delight. The loudspeaker announced our band bragging of our accomplishments and size based on the tiny town from which we traveled. 

I felt part of something great that day- something bigger than myself or my contribution.
As a marching band, our steps were as one-
Rehearsed- practiced, and deliberate- and no different than the unifying work of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. It’s similar to how I feel about ministering in their work – united in purpose as one.

Huddled in the dark in Orlando, Florida with my classmates and the ensuing performance helped me understand how we can collectively work together for God. My part is simply one little step, one simple act…

Trusting in a greater outcome than I can see… 

-JC

Oreo Cream Topped Chocolate Sugar Cookie (Chilled)

1 cup soft butter
½  cup vegetable oil
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup cocoa powder
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Cream butter, oil  and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until well blended. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla extract; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24+ 2” balls of dough. Gently roll and flatten slightly.
(For a richer flavor and smoother texture refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.)
Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet.   Bake at 350 degrees for 10+ minutes. Let cool completely.   Pipe chilled Oreo Cream straight from a Ziploc bag with a 1 inch corner trimmed off.
Refrigerate cookies until ready to serve. Garnish with chopped Oreos or Oreo Thins.
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Oreo Cream
8 oz. softened cream cheese
20 crushed Oreo cookies
16 oz. thawed Cool Whip
Mix cream cheese and Oreo cookies together until well blended. Fold in thawed Cool Whip. Spoon into two different gallon sized Ziploc bags. (This will make it easier to handle.) Refrigerate until ready to use.