If You're Happy and You Know it.....

When I was a teenager I had a great group of friends. I have such fond memories with them and thankfully not too many of them are drama filled! One day we got the idea to start a "Happy Book". To be honest, I really have no clue where this idea came from (perhaps at EFY?)? Anyhow, we each had our own Happy Book that we faithfully carried everywhere with us. What is a Happy Book you ask? Well, exactly what it sounds like, a book/journal that we wrote down everything that made us happy! You could find anything in it, from flip flops (which we all LOVED...and had too many of) to boys names, to chocolate cake, to our family....anything that made us happy we wrote down. I sure wish I still had this journal, it would be fun to go back and look at what made me happy as a teenager. I know that while we were on this Happy Book obsession we were so close and got along so well. We had so much fun together and tried not to let the caddy teenager stuff get to us.

I decided today that since life gets tough sometimes as a mom/parent/grown-up I should take some time to list what makes me happy! If we always dwell on the negatives, things will stay negative. If we take time to count our blessings, and step back and look at what the positives are in our life things will just go better. Here we go!

From top Left going clockwise:
My family- Although my kids can bring me to my breaking point quite often, they still make me happy to have them a part of my life.
Nature- I LOVE sunsets, and the mountains, and reflections in the water of the two....I just LOVE nature
Desserts- I have an undeniable addiction to sweets, well, not just any sweets, the chocolate sort. I particularly LOVE this cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory (a restaraunt that makes me very happy) called Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple. yum-o.
Mani-Pedi's- I LOVE going to get a pedicure, and when I can splurge and get a manicure too, boy I'm in heaven (as you can tell by the picture flip-flops still make me happy too!)
Music- This is no surprise considering my blog....good music makes me happy down to my soul
Baking- Obiviously this goes along with my sugar addiction...but I really am happy when I can bake and decorate a beautiful cake or cupcakes...I also love baking anything else sweet.

Round Two! Starting at the top left:
Fall, Autumn, the rescue from summer heat- Whatever you call it, I LOVE the fall season. The cooler temperatures, the nice breeze, the amazing colors, carving pumpkins, the excuse to use pumpkin in my baking. Love it all and can't wait for it to get here!
Crafting- I love making crafts!
Costa Vida- enough said.
Mercy River- I have blogged about them before, but this music group of moms is AH-MAZING.
My Husbands Pancakes- I always convince the kids to get daddy to make his chocolate chip pancakes most Saturday mornings. They are perfect in every way.
A new Haircut- Doesn't a new haircut make everyone happy? Well, unless it was a bad haircut I suppose
Bakery- I love going to cute bakeries, even if I don't get anything...which usually never happens. This was a bakery near San Francisco
Quotes- when i was younger I also had a quote journal where I kept quotes that inspired me in some way. I love how so many bloggers are willing to give out free printables with amazing quotes for the rest of us folks to use

I would like to challenge you to make a list of what makes YOU happy. Keep it somewhere safe, and when you are having a "down" day, whip that list out and add to it! Leave a comment on something that makes you happy!

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Eclipse

There's something to be said for A Cappella groups. I've posted before about how much I LOVE listening to them. I was broken hearted when I heard "The Sing-Off" was not going to air for another season! There is just something about listening to music that you know is ALL voice. No instruments, no  recording studio doctoring. Just PURE talent. I love it! Take a look at this new video from the A Cappella group Eclipse of Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are".

Closer to You, Calee Reed

Sorry I'm a day late today, I'm up to my neck busy with school in session now and Dr's appointments....still trying to set a new schedule for the family!

I recently received Calee Reeds new debut Album "The Waiting Place" and LOVE it. Many of us were first introduced to Calee Reed around mothers day when she released a single "She Put the Music in Me", as well as music video to go with it. I posted in on my blog HERE. Calee has such a unique sound to her music and voice. I was even surprised to see that the genre iTunes put her in was "Indie Rock", even though this CD is primarily Christian music. There are so many great songs on this CD like the toe tapping "Trust In God"- seriously it's so fun! Also, the song "Time for Love" is a live version, talking about how it's just time for love in this world! I think this song is needed as a public service message!

The song that I want to share my feelings about today is "Closer to You". You can hear a clip of it (and download it) HERE. Isn't it amazing how so many emotions in life can be compared to weather? When you are happy you can compare it to sunlight, when you are going through hard trials you can compare it to storms, when you end a chapter in your life you can compare it to a sunset. The thing that instantly caught my attention in this song is the first line, "Why do we only remember the sun, after the rain starts pouring down?". It's true isn't it? We don't think about how beautiful the sun has been during the day until we realize its actually not sunny any more. We don't realize how good life is until we are in the midst of a storm/trial rolling in. "We fear we are lost to him [and left] to sink in the raging sea" when we are going through something that is really difficult. Whether it is the death of a loved one, or fighting in your marriage, or the loss of a friend- sometimes our human nature will want to know why it happened to us. Why do we think God has left us alone? What we need to always remember is that our Savior is there with his hand reaching down pulling us up if we just have faith to walk on the water next to him. This song reminds me that we just need to look past the dark storm clouds and rising water and we will make it through the storm....because the storm will always end. Enjoy the words of this song.

What does it teach you?

Reflections of Christ

Closer to You, by Calee Reed

Why do we only remember the sun after the rain starts pouring down

We take it for granted until it is gone; we’re left with just storm clouds around

We’re standing in water that’s rising fast and these dark clouds are gathering speed

Just when I feel I’m not going to last I look through the clouds for the rescue I need

Lord, let this storm bring me closer to you Help me pull through this

Lord, help me see, letting fear flood my heart with just drown me

Bring me closer to you

Why do we fear that we are lost to him, or faded to sink in the raging sea

Struggling for courage to rise up and swim or walk on the waves of his beckoning

I’m wading through water that’s rising fast and these dark clouds are gathering speed

Just when I feel I’m not going to last I look through the clouds for the rescue I need

Lord, let this storm bring me closer to you please help me get through this

Lord, help me see letting fear flood my heart will just drown me

No matter how many hurricanes I’m called to endure

Of one thing I’m always sure, that as hard as it gets, I know when its all through

I’ll be stronger, and wiser, and closer to you

I’ll wait for this storm to end, just like they always do

And I’ll be cleaner, and purer and brighter

More loved and more sure and lighter

Stronger and wiser and closer to you

(Words transcribed by me, I apologize if they aren't 100% correct)

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Music is FUN!

I love discovering new music, and I have recently discovered a great cd for my kids! As a matter of fact, ever since we got this cd a week ago, every day, the second we get in the car my two boys ask for the music to be turned on and get upset when I have to turn it off! This new music album, Scripture Power is such a fun cd for kids (and adults!). It is so fun and upbeat you can't help but enjoy yourself and feel good when you are done listening to it. I even caught my 6 year old singing a song from it the other day.

I can not stress enough the power of  music in the life of a child. Music, without even meaning to, can completely change the mood of everyone who can hear it. When I feel the spirit of contention in my home I instantly walk to my ipod and turn on some peaceful music, whether it is my favorite music artists like Mercy River, Hilary Weeks or Cherie Call, or I turn on some Pandora piano music (my favorite channels are the "William Joseph" channel or "Paul Cardall". In the mornings to keep things calm I have started going to my "Sarah Bareilles" channel....calm, but upbeat. The foot tapping, upbeat nature of the songs on this album help us have fun together while we are in the car! I wish we would have had this all summer, it would have been perfect for our many long car rides to the mountains! Check out the link to the album and listen to some of the samples, you'll enjoy it!

Click HERE to go to where you can purchase Scripture Power, it is also available for mP3 download.

HERE is another FUN, kids cd as well, called Popcorn Bopping.

Have a GREAT weekend!



Some thoughts....

I've recently had on my mind the impact that good media can have on who we are inside. It affects how we think of ourselves, how we act, the attitude we have day to day. How do you feel after you put that book down you've been reading, after you walk out of the movie, or after you turn off the t.v. or radio? I always find its a hard balance to figure out with the good and evil surrounding our world today. We live in a day where men call "evil good, and good evil" (Isa. 5:20) Today I just wanted to share some interesting quotes I found on this subject!

"Music can help you draw closer to your Heavenly Father. It can be used to educate, edify, inspire, and unite. However, music can, by its tempo, beat, intensity, and lyrics, dull your spiritual sensitivity. You cannot afford to fill your minds with unworthy music." (and might I add, unworthy media in general)"

-President Thomas S. Monson

“We need to make good media choices ourselves and set good examples for our children. … We need to take time to watch appropriate media with our children and discuss with them how to make choices that will uplift and build rather than degrade and destroy”

-M. Russell Ballard

I'd like to challange you, and myself, to be more mindful of the media we partake in. Take note of how that magazine, book, song, tv show, or movie makes you feel, and don't be afraid to put it down or walk away if it doesn't make you feel good, inspire, or uplift you- even if you're the only one doing it.

On a side note- here is fun video from Britt Nicole!

Already a Butterfly

I am excited to share with you guys a new music video that was just released this week! The song is by Cherie Call and is called "Already a Butterfly". As you'll see, this is such a cute video with such profound words! The song has a fun catchy beat too! I love many of Cherie's songs, one of my favorites is "No Ordinary Girl" from her album The Ocean in Me. A few years ago I remember seeing her perform at Time Out For Women...she was VERY pregnant and I couldn't believe she was there, singing in front of hundreds of women and sounding as amazing as ever. She has such a calming tone to her voice that I return to often! Back to her new song....

 "You don't need a cape if you're already a butterfly. Butterflies fly through the sky without a care in the world. I wish you could see as the years go by that no matter what you're still that little girl. And its easy to believe you're beautiful when you're three years old. But when fifteen comes around I hope that you still know, butterflies fly through the sky without a care in the world!"

I love that the message from this song teaches us that we are who we are, and we shouldn't change it. We don't need a cape if we are already a butterfly! So often we (at ALL ages) feel that we need to be something else to be wonderful, but if we can all remember to be as a butterfly and fly through the world without a care in the world we WILL be wonderful! How much different would this world be if we taught this to all our children and helped them believe it....and if we remembered it ourselves.

You can check out the thoughts behind this song on Cherie's blog HERE,

and check out her website HERE 

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THANKS for stopping by!

We Are

I love spending time looking for new music artists that uplift the soul! This week I have found an amazing music artist, Kari Jobe. She may not be new on the Christian music scene...but she's new to me! I am trying to open up my little box of being stuck to LDS music artists and find more to listen to these days. With all the negative, inappropriate, NON uplifting media surrounding us these days we should cling to what is good. It seems as though the only media I can find that is good these days is music (well yes, I know there are a lot of good books too!)....and that is still being suffocated by bad music. I've really been shocked lately by the level of horrible tv shows starting this fall. Seriously people, what happened to TGIF- Full House, Family Matters....you know what I'm talking about? Good, wholesome, family entertainment besides PBS cartoons!
Anyhow....back on track......I have spent a good bulk of my extra time listening and watching Kari Jobe's YouTube channel and listening to tracks on iTunes. She has so many great messages to share! The one I decided to share today is her acoustic video of "We Are".

She says "We live in the dark, but that's not who we are. We are children of light.....make the most of the time we have left. We are the light of the world, we are the city on a hill, we are the light of the world and we gotta let the light shine!"

I love this song because honestly, that's the whole point to this blog! I want to let MY light shine, spread some light to others. There is so much evil and darkness in the world today, if I can do my part to share light to others I can feel peace in my heart. I know I have been blessed with the talent and love of music. It is how I feel my Saviors love for me, through music. If I can reach others through music, then they will feel that love as well. I may not write and record music, but I can still share it.

"We gotta let the light shine!"

Check out Kari's website HERE

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Heaven is Here

Have you heard of Stephanie Nielson? Maybe you heard of the NieNie Dialogues? Well, if you haven't you are in for a treat....just as a warning, you may want to set aside a LOT of time because once you get sucked into her inspirational story and blog, you won't want to stop. I think it is human nature to partake in inspirational things. To some it is given one talent, and to others another, Stephanie Nielsen was blessed with the amazing talent of inspiring others to be better, to take life one day at a time and to cherish EACH AND EVERY step along the way. To cherish the good and embrace the bad.

I have known about this amazing women for a few years now. Stephanie and her husband were in a small airplane crash in AZ....here's a video to share her story.....

I have followed her story on and off for the last 5 years and am constantly inspired by her. She recently wrote and published a book called Heaven is Here. Here's a quick video introducing it:



 I borrowed this book from a friend last week and LOVED it. It was so neat to here her side of the story, starting before the accident. Seeing her go through the experience "in the media" (ie. blog, newscasts, Oprah, magazines, etc.) she always showed such hope and dedication to getting better. The book is an open book to her life and emotions that she went through since the accident. It was a great reminder that no matter what someone is going through, and how they seem to be handling it on the outside, we are all human and have deep, heartfelt struggles. Just because someone says they are doing fine, may not mean they are TRULY doing fine. If you feel a prompting to send them a note, bring them dinner, or just give them a call, DO IT. Another lesson I learned was the importance of families- I know this already, but it was a great reminder. Her family network was crucial with her recovery, our families are important and we need to constantly be working on those relationships, even if they live scattered across the country!

The third and most important lesson that I have learned from Stephanie Nielson and her book is to cherish my calling as a mother. I have learned that even the moments of 3 spilled cups of milk in 10 minutes, tantrums in the grocery store, arguments about constipation issues, and endless amounts of diaper changes should be counted as blessings. Blessings because, as frustrating as they are, I am HERE to be a part of them. I am alive and healthy and able to help my kids learn and grow each and every day. I am able to help my kids zip up their coats, button their shorts, make them scrambled eggs. I am here to comfort them in the middle of the night. I am thankful for each breath I take.

I am so thankful for the strength, dedication, and passion for life that Stephanie Nielson shows to the world. I am thankful that she has chosen to share it with the world.

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"I Am His Daughter"

I'm back! I hope to have a weekly post from now on! ! If you like what you read and want more go ahead and become a "follower", I truly appreciate it! I also LOVE reading comments, and would love to hear your thoughts on uplifting things you come across. Thanks for joining me

Silence....

Its been a rough few days for me. Really rough. Just one thing after another "going wrong". After a good breakdown/cry session on the phone with my sister I felt better, picked myself up and moved on. A clean house top to bottom was first on the list....it won't last very long, but it always helps me to have a better attitude about things, and handle my patience levels better too! Something else I noticed was my Ipod was missing from its dock for a few days (almost 2 yr old decided to put it in big brothers backpack...not a place I think to look!), and that meant no music for a few days! I was pondering this today and came back to my conclusion on how powerful music is. I play music during the day, almost always, to keep an upbeat mood, and keep the spirit in my home. I didn't have that for a few days and I felt it, so did the rest of the family. I still have my few favorites, namely Mercy River, Nichole Broome, and Hilary Weeks...I also listen to "Headphones" by Brit Nichole a lot now too (my previous post), its such a FUN song! What are some uplifting songs or albums you enjoy listening to, to keep an upbeat attitude?

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