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!