Every Step

I had the great opportunity to finally hear Hilary Weeks in person at Time Out for Women a few weeks ago and she did not disappoint. She sang a few songs from her new album "Every Step", which was released this week. There has never been a song of Hilary's that did not inspire me.

I love the song "Dancing in the Rain" from her new album. Not only does it have a fun beat to it, but it reminded me that no matter what rain, or trials, fall upon us we can choose to watch it happen and sit around waiting for the sun to come out, or we can get our umbrellas out and go dance in the rain! As the songs says, I can "Let it fall off my back....I danced...I looked for the good....I let my heart take the lead and told my hopes to get back up again...I danced in the rain."

Another one of the songs from her new album is called "Beautiful Heartbreak". Such a beautiful song that teaches that you can make heartbreaks beautiful, and you can learn and make the most out of the trials you go through. I love how the song takes you on a journey up the mountain of heartbreak that sometimes lands right in the middle of our mapped out plans. She sings that the journey to the top is the price we pay to see the view. I  know so many people on different parts of the journey up their mountain of trials. When a mountain is placed in my path, I hope that instead of praying for God to take it all away, I can remember that trials can become beautiful.

 Here is the music video to "Beautiful Heartbreak", enjoy.

Music is what feelings sound like

Just ran across this when reading an article about BYU's Vocal Point on NBC's "The Sing Off" (if you haven't seen it yet, check it out!!!) This show gives me goose bumps for an hour straight every Monday night. Every vocal group competing on the show has amazing talent. It is difficult to sing accapella (and oh so fun!) and all these groups have mastered it. I am proud of Vocal Point for making it to the final 8!

"I don't think that the old idea of music being the "universal language" is simply a nice thought or a clever adage from the past. If you've ever experienced music...and I don't just mean listened to or sang, but REALLY experienced music...you can begin to understand the literal power that can come through combining moving melodies with meaningful messages. If we'll allow it to, music can temporarily transport us away from what sometimes can be a harsh and seemingly impossible reality."

"In the Meantime" by Tyler Castelton, Staci Peters

I've had this song on my play list for quite a while now, but never really, truly listened to the words. I had music playing as I packed my apartment recently so I'd have something to keep my mind occupied and to keep the kids calm and quiet (which sometimes works...and sometimes doesn't). This song came through the speakers and caused me to stop what I was doing and just listen. Wow. It spoke right to me. I felt like this song described me so well. There are often moments in my life when I think about what my dreams were as I became a teenager. When I was younger, my dreams of my future changed many times, but always revolved around music. When I was in middle school I always said I wanted to teach Elementary School Music classes. When I was in my high school Chamber choir we had the opportunity to be part of a half-time show for the Carolina Panthers. Before the show we had to go to a recording studio to record the song ahead of time (in large stadiums they often play a recording on top of the live singing). It was such an inspiring experience that I had decided to pursue a degree in Sound Recording Technology at BYU. I knew from that time that I wanted to open a Sound Recording Studio on the east coast for LDS music artists (and other Christian artists) who wouldn't have the opportunity to record their great music, and be known, otherwise. I didn't get into BYU my Freshman year, but I applied again and got in my Sophomore year. That's when things changed....through God's hands I met my husband within the first month I was at school. My first, and last date at BYU...that is a huge accomplishment! ha! We got married 2 years later (another huge accomplishment at BYU, since most courtships and weddings happen in less than 6 months time), and moved to Arizona to start his career. I didn't finish school, but plan to one day. My dreams have changed. In the meantime, as the song says, I am a mother, daughter, and a wife. Doing my best to teach my children what's right, to be there for my husband, to be the kind of daughter and sister my family can be proud of. We talk all the time about when I can go back to school. I'm not sure what I want to get a degree in anymore, but I do know I want to get one. I love how the song says "hours turn into days, that turn to years that never end". There are some days that I think will never end with all the frustrating demands placed upon me, but other days I feel just flew by in the blink of an eye. There are those tiny moments of motherhood that I feel my Heavenly Father blesses me with to remind me of my purpose and remind me that he is proud of me, and that he knows I have other dreams, but, in the Meantime I have another purpose. In the Meantime. 

In the Meantime

By: Tyler Castelton, Staci Peters

          In her heart she holds the dreams

       

That she’s carried since the day she turned thirteen

Of all that she would be when she was grown

Of all that she would do when she was finally on her own

She dreamed she’d fly

She’s still waiting for the chance to try

In the meantime she’s a mother and a daughter and a wife

Doing all she can to stay above the daily grind

And she wonders when she’ll ever have more meaning in her life

She doesn’t know she being molded and refined

In the meantime

Someday she’ll go back to school

When the carpools and the soccer games are through

Because deep inside she still the girl who’s always felt the fire to make a difference in the world

She dreams she’ll soar when she finally has the time to do more

But in the meantime she’s a sister and a teacher and a friend

Hours turn into days that turn to years that never end

And she wonders when she’ll ever really find herself again

She’s becoming one on whom god can depend

In the meantime

Heaven feels the joy of every victory in her life

And Heaven hears her heart before she cries

And somewhere in the middle of the triumphs and the trials

She’s becoming sanctified

But in the meantime she’s and answer and a blessing and a gift

To every empty aching heart that only she can lift

Still she wonders if she’ll ever get to see where Heaven is

If she could only see her mansion waiting there

If she could only feel how much her Father cares

She would know she’s being perfectly prepared

In the meantime

Quote

I found this quote while I was our ward (local church congregation) choir director and LOVED it, thought I'd share:

""And I say that the singing of the songs of Zion, though imperfectly, with the inspiration of God, will touch the hearts of the honest more effectiviely than if sung well without the Spirit of God. Sing with the Spirit of God. Love the words taht you sing."

I love this because it is so true, I have seen it in my life. Really, it goes with anything, if you teach or sing with the Spirit, you will touch more hearts than without the Spirit- no matter how perfectly it is done.

"Who You Are" by Hilary Weeks

There have been so many times in life where music has been my inspiration to keep going, to keep holding to my faith, and to turn to my Heavenly Father. I'm sure my family can remember many instances where they would walk in the living room or my bedroom and see me just lying there listening to music. I love the peace that music can bring to my soul, listening or singing myself. I know I gained this love for music from my mother. She has a beautiful voice that I have always enjoyed listening to. My parents encouraged each of us 7 kids to learn an instrument, and we all did. Though we didn't all keep it up, I know we each gained an appreciation for music and the inspiration that can come from it. I strive each day to teach my own children this same love for music and see their love for music developing each day. I once opened a dove chocolate that said "Music speaks what words can not", so true. (It should have also added, "Chocolate soothes what food can not" HA!)

A year ago one of our friends from Omaha lost her husband, her best friend, and almost lost two of her sons to a tragic accident. The way I go about life has changed since that day. I have thought about it in one way or another almost every day. I could not imagine going through this, and having to help my children make sense of it right along with me, having to create a new normal without my eternal companion. The moment I got the call that it had happened I turned to music to give me the peace and understanding needed at that time. I wanted to be able to give my friend some peace and comfort desperately needed at that moment. I prayed about how I could do this for her and a certain song from one of my favorite LDS music artists came to mind. It is titled "Who You Are", by Hilary Weeks.

This song gives me so much strength and courage to tackle each day as a mother, as a wife, as a daughter of God. Life can be just plain hard sometimes, but if we can remember who we are, and where we came from we can make it through each day. I know I am a daughter of God, and I was sent here to be a mother to my beautiful children and a wife to my eternal companion. I am blessed to have been taught this by my wonderful parents, and to gain that testimony for myself, and I hope to be able to teach my children the same truths. Remember who you are, and where you came from, and you can make it through each day, no matter the trial.

Who You Are

by: Hilary Weeks

I know you wonder

if you’ll ever have a day

where the kids stay calm,

the laundry’s done,

and the dishes are put away

And sometimes you feel like

Your days are spent and gone

and the question running through your mind

is what have I gotten done

And when you finally have a moment to slow down

At the end of your day

I know Father would say

Believe in what you’re doing

Believe in who you are

Hold tight to the truth that you’re a daughter of God

Believe in who you’re becoming

Believe in who you are

It may seem simple

All the little things you do

But the lives you touch matter so much

And there’s no one else like you

And father needs you to stand tall and faithful

To be all you can be

Oh if you could see what he see’s

You’d believe in what you’re doing

You’d believe in who you are

So hold tight to the truth that you’re a daughter of God

Believe in who you’re becoming

Believe in who you are

When it’s hard to believe in yourself

And you feel like you’re beginning to doubt

Remember

He believes in what you’re doing

He believes in who you are

So don’t lose sight of the truth that you’re a Daughter of God

That He believes in who you’re becoming

He believes in who you are

Music speaks what words can not

Music has always been my passion in life. Music is what keeps me ispired and uplifted. Ever since I can remember I have always enjoyed singing. I know I gained that love for music from my parents, specifically my mother. My parents used to always sing to us, and were always in church choir. When I was younger my mother was also in community groups. Our parents ecnouraged each of us to learn how to play an instrument when we were old enough, and we all did. Some of us chose string- violin for me, viola and cello for two sisters. Some of chose wind- flute for two other sisters, and some of us chose brass- trombone and trumpet. A few of us picked up a little piano along the way as well.

I always made choir my highest priority throughout school, and the performing arts in general. In middle and highschool I attended a magnet school for the Visual and Performing arts, along with my sister and two brothers. Being a student at this school I was given so many oppurtunities to do things many other students never get the chance to do- half-time shows for the Carolina Panthers, singing the National Anthem for the Charlotte Hornets (multiple times), some students were even chosen to be backup singers for an award winning singer (I can't quite remember who it was, darn). Our school also had the oppurtunity to perform a yearly musical at a theatre in downtown Charlotte, and were able to work right along with the union workers at that theatre. These were just a few oppurtunities that we had! In highschool I also, along with my brother, was a member of the Charlotte Youth Oratorio, and learned so much from that!

As I said, music has always been my passion in life. Music has always spoken to me in ways that no plain words could ever do. Whenever I am in need of inspiration, comfort, or peace I turn to music. Music is how my Heavenly Father speaks to me, and how I am able to share my testimony with others. This blog will be where I can place my thoughts inspired by music I listen to, allowing others to feel that inspiration as well. Enjoy!