Inspiring music...

I went to a Time Out for Women event this weekend where I had the opportunity to listen to Jenny Oaks Baker perform. She is a violinist who recieved her master's degree from Julliard, and played with the National Symphony for 7 years, before quitting to raise her family. I have often heard of her, but had never listened to any of her cds or heard her play. I now own two of her cds and intend to buy more.

I could never adequately describe the beauty of her playing. Her first two songs happened to be two of my favorite hymns: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing and Be Still My Soul. I was so overwhelmed by the Spirit and the beauty of her playing that I couldn't help but weep. The emotion that she was able to pour into those pieces was astounding. How grateful I was to be able to witness and be blessed by her great talent.

A Serious Thing....

"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no "ordinary" people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." ~C.S. Lewis

I heard this quote for the first time about a year ago. It was shared by Laurel Christenson at a Time Out for Women and Girls event that I went to with The Girly and some of our friends. On that day Laurel invited a 14 year old girl and her mother up to the stage. She asked all of us in the audience to look at this young woman and see her for who she truly is.....a daughter of God, with infinite worth and potential.....a possible goddess. She asked us to try to see her through Heavenly Father's eyes. Then, she asked us to stand and applaud, and cheer this girl for the royal spark within her. We went nuts. That beautiful young girl recieved a standing ovation the likes of which I have never seen or been part of. And something truly amazing happened. You could see the change come over her as we cheered....the overwhelming realization that she truly was of infinite worth....and deserving of all the applause. We cheered and applauded and cheered some more. After several minutes we were asked to be seated so that Sis Christenson could speak to this young woman. She was overwhelmed, as was her mother watching the wave of emotion that overcame her daughter. It was an honor to be a part of that experience. I wish it was one that every young person could experience.....to be cheered for who they truly are and the potential within them.

I came across this quote again last night and that experience of a year ago came rushing back. I wanted to record it.... as a reminder to myself.....and a challenge....to myself and any of you who may choose to take it...to try to look at all we meet with different eyes. To see them for who they truly are....children of Deity and therefore possible gods and goddesses. How much different would we treat each other if we tried to do this on a daily basis, and to help each other towards reaching that full potential within us?

Friends

"How good and glorious it has seemed unto me, to find pure and holy friends, who are faithful, just, and true, and whose hearts fail not; and whose knees are confirmed and do not falter, while they wait upon the Lord, in administering to my necessities..."

I found this quote from Joseph Smith while preparing a lesson for Relief Society last Sunday. I have been likewise blessed when it comes to friends.

So I share this quote in honor of my incredible friends, who bless my life with their strength, encouragement, and humor.

Surprise...he was listening!

So every now and then a kid will totally surprise you. Just when you're convinced that they aren't listening to a thing, especially anything YOU are saying, they go and do something to prove you wrong.

I ran into my next door neighbor today at Target. Though we live right next door to each other we seem to hardly ever see each other. So, anyway, I stop to chat with her for a few minutes and catch up a bit. She mentioned to me how much she likes my boys, and what nice kids they are. She asks what I think about what is happening politically in our country, and I suggested there may not be time to discuss it there at Target considering my passionate feelings on the matter as of late. I told her my poor kids get an earful on a regular basis and because of that are far more informed about what is going on than I EVER was at their age.

Then she tells me that she actually had a 45 min conversation with my son the other day about the political craziness going on these days. And she says, "He is very smart, and really had a lot to say about all of it." So I ask, "Oh were you talking to [Stitch]?" Assuming it was him because he is the most vocal and inquisitive about politics. But she surprises me and tells me it was Number One. You could have blown me over. He usually seems pretty oblivious to those conversations, and isn't too vocal about his feelings or opinions about anything that's going on. Most of the time I feel like everything we say goes in one ear and out the other, not just about politics, but about most stuff. So I was thrilled to hear that he IS listening. And that someone else was impressed about his knowledge and ability to express it. It gives me hope that other things are sinking in as well. And it makes me very proud...I mean what parent doesn't love hearing how terrific their kids are?

My own post-it.

I recieved my own post-it note this morning. A thoughtful reminder, from a loving daughter, that I can face any challenge with the Lord's help. I have been truly blessed. She is not just a wonderful daughter, but a good friend....and I love her to pieces.

Love is...leaving a post-it!

Isn't it amazing the way that siblings can fight like cats & dogs and then turn and do something incredibly sweet and loving for one another?

For the past two school years The Girly and Stitch seemed to argue just about evey morning while getting ready for school. One always claimed that the other was being annoying. But when Stitch realized that he would be getting ready for school alone this year, because The Girly was starting high school and morning seminary, he was not happy. He told all of us that he was worried it was going to be lonely and wierd without her in the morning.

So The Girly began doing something very thoughtful, to make Stitch feel better about the situation. Every school day morning since school began, she has left him a post-it note stuck to the bathroom door. Little words of encouragement and love. Stitch is saving every one and tucking them in his journal. He looks so forward to them every morning.

It makes my heart feel good to see their love for each other...expressed through the giving and cherishing of little post-it notes.

A thicker skin

I am fairly new to the world of striving to be an informed and politically active citizen. I spent far too long being innattentive and over trusting of the repesentatives I voted for. That all change about a year and a 1/2 ago. I work harder to be informed and to be braver about speaking my mind. Now I need to work on developing a thicker skin. Everywhere I look in the media, people like me are being called racists, hate-mongers, crazy, & gun-toting religious zealots. And because our grassroots protests are against the administration rather than for it, our voices are being dismissed. We are accused of merely being "astroturf", paid by big business to cause problems for the administration. Earlier this week all those names really got to me and sent me on a rant on my facebook page. That post spurred over 50 comments.

I've learned that if I'm going to keep speaking out, I have to toughen up. I've learned to do that where my religion is concerned, because I've been dealing with those misconceptions, false accusations and ridicule most of my life. I can pretty much blow those off now. I'm not there yet when it comes to politics. Maybe because I feel like I'm still learning. I know what feels right and wrong, but I'm still working on gathering the facts to back those instincts up. And since my memory for names and dates and details has never been fabulous, I lack confidence in my ability to present an intelligent, fact based argument. But I'm not going back to being part of the uniformed, and silent. (Though I'm sure there are members of my family that wish I would at least go back to being silent.)