Singing Scripture Songs

/6 Comments/in , /by

I wanted to note a new traditional we started this summer… to go along with Morning Devotional. It is one of my favorite things that we’ve done this summer.

My friend Jackie Day shared this vision and idea with me. I think it all began when she read President Benson’s ‘Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon’ talk. This quote struck her:She calculated how many scriptures her kids would need to learn each year to have hundreds of scriptures memorized by their missions. Then she chose some scriptures, put them to a familiar tune and started teaching her kids.

I wanted to do better at learning scriptures myself and because I love music and can remember things better this way, I decided to try a few. I sang them to my tots and they loved them. Now Abe – generally – he does not like singing… but he loves these songs. They are what he requests for bedtime songs. Even if it gets the kids a little more familiar with certain verses, I am all about this idea.

I recorded the kids singing the songs so we can remember how they go. They aren’t perfectly matched with scripture/tune but if the kids learn them, I figure that doesn’t matter too much.

2 Nephi 31:20 to some randomish made-up classical tune that I can’t place.[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LqouvDExFI[/youtube]

Helaman 5:12 to Called to Serve[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhuHom-wo_c[/youtube]

Moroni 10:5 to Thanks to our Father[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ovM8hwcig[/youtube]

This is the one we’re working on right now (since I need it so much!). Joshua 1:9 to the chorus of The Spirit of God (not yet memorized – hence no video).

I love the occasions when after we sing one of the songs, I can teach the kids what the scripture means. I’ve found Abe is more open to my teaching when it involves a song he likes. Anyhoo…

I’m sure there are a bunch of Scripture Mastery songs already put to familiar tunes, and I need to research that. The Sons of Ammon also shared some fun ones.

(sidenote: The other thing I’ve loved this summer is how well the kids have been learning the Articles of Faith. Maybe it’s because we learned them last summer and everyone forgot them… but they were stored in the back of their minds somewhere. We’re on #10 and if I could just find my 8×10 prints of them, I could finally hang them on the wall for everyone to read and learn easier.)

Cankles, high waters, and tests… oh my!

/1 Comment/in , /by

1.  Cankles…  I’ve got ’em.  Sure ‘nough!  It’s pretty much a joy to hit this stage… sigh… not! I’ve also got a pretty awesome gap between my maternity shirts and pants. Not cool people!

2. High Waters… Abe’s got ’em. I can’t believe how fast this boy grows. I buy him pants and 2 seconds later, there is a big gap between his pants and socks. Shopping list for the week: new Sunday pants and socks for Abe.

3. Tests… oh – so – many … and I’m tired of them already. My doc announced on Monday that I have twice a week non-stress tests, once a week labs (gotta love all the bruises on the arm from those), and once a week 24-hour urine. So that pretty much wipes out 3 days out of my week. I’m grateful they are watching me close with the pre-eclampsia jazz… but it might be a long 5 weeks. Blood pressure – please lower yourself. It’s one thing to say to a friend, “wow… that is hard. I’m sorry you’d had to deal with that.” But it’s another thing to be concerned about your own health and your own baby and be away from tots for hours on end for appointments. Thinking about all that is raising my blood pressure. Yikes…

Good news: I had an ultrasound and it’s still a girlie (phew… ’cause I had a dream it was a boy and it threw me for a loop). At 33 weeks she’s about 4 lbs 13 oz at 50% or so. She was looking good. I have oodles of amniotic fluid for her to swim in, which I’m hoping is the explanation for my gynormous belly. Grow healthy Bessie – grow healthy.

With all the resting I’m attempting to do (key word: attempting)… I’ve been thinking about the challenges in life – big or small. I know mine right now are very minor compared to what they could be – so I’ll try and count myself blessed (key word: try).

One scripture that has come to mind many times…
I’ve always thought about this scripture for youth – and making correct choices. But this week I’ve thought about it in regards to hard challenges. It does take courage to do right in the small and simply daily choices… to have courage when you feel like being afraid, to be strong when you feel like crying (can you be strong and cry too?)… to know that no matter what happens, that God is watching over you and strengthening you, even if things aren’t exactly to your pleasing in that moment. And a dear friend reminded me that all the doctor appointments and tests are but a small moment … and having a healthy baby and mom is worth it.  Yes, indeed.

Another tender mercy moment was reading Elder Holland’s message in the July 2011 Ensign. I was browsing through it and realized it was the very talk I loved from our Regional Conference. It’s where the principle of having a reservoir of faith to call upon really hit home for me. Especially the last paragraph noted here is my favorite.

“Little wonder that faith always has been and always will be the first and abiding principle of the gospel and of our work. It is the heart of our conviction that the work not only should go forth but that it also can and will and must go forth.

“I don’t know how else mothers and fathers could leave those babies in those makeshift graves on the plains and then, with one last look, weep their way forward toward Zion. I don’t know how else a woman like Belle Smith could set her children at the edge of a cliff and muscle her wagon down the perilous incline. I don’t know how else Samuel Claridge could sell all he owned and head off to build Zion in the desolate Muddy Mission. The fundamental driving force in these stories is faith—rock-ribbed, furnace-refined, event-filled, spiritually girded faith that this is the very Church and kingdom of God and that when you are called, you go.

“Nurture your own physical and spiritual strength so that you have a deep reservoir of faith to call upon when tasks or challenges or demands of one kind or another come. Pray a little more, study a little more, shut out the noise and shut down the clamor, enjoy nature, call down personal revelation, search your soul, and search the heavens for the testimony that led our pioneer parents. Then, when you need to reach down inside a little deeper and a little farther to face life and do your work, you will be sure there is something down there to call upon.”

Jeffrey R. Holland, Faith to Answer the Call, July 2011 Ensign

Anyhoo… I’m working on simplifying… staying calm… trusting God… and reaching deeper. And in the end, I’m so very grateful for the angels who have come to help do my dishes and laundry and loved my children. My mom and sister Amy have watched over us this week. Jimmy and Hannah have covered lots of duties… and I think Abe is trying. Trying is always a step in the right direction.

Choose to Become

/1 Comment/in , /by

It’s 1 a.m. I can’t sleep… like for 1 1/2 hours can’t sleep. So I finally got up to get a warm drink to see if that helps. I came across the Time Out for Women site. I’m likin’ their logo and theme this year. Choose to Become… great starting place for thoughts.

Right now… I’m thinking about Choosing to Become myself again. Where is the kind, silly, smiling and laughing, loving Heather I once knew? I’m hoping she’ll come back after we find our new norm after this wee babe is born (i’m at least realistic enough to know it won’t be an instant change).

I also came across these thoughts which made me think a bit about who I am as mother … and as Heather …

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, the author of Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History, said: “If you don’t enjoy the small pieces of whatever it is that your job is, you’re probably not going to enjoy the end product when you get there. The best predictor of happiness in the future is enjoying what you are doing right now.”

Virginia Hinckley Pearce, “You are who you are, you might as well enjoy it.”

Believe in the Best

/2 Comments/in /by

I came across this quote on my computer tonight. I think my sister Mary shared it with me long ago. So timely for me to see it this week! This is going to be my theme for tomorrow with my children.I’ve been pretty hard on my tots lately… expecting a lot of them … being a tired and cranky prego mom isn’t the best for bringing out the positive in my children. I’m afraid I focus more on what’s going wrong with their daily chores than what is going right. So – Try I shall… to see the good in what they do… and are. A little love and encouraging word would do more for them than correction with a grim face. Try I shall! … I shall.

A good life lesson to learn but hard to always implement. So many things to improve on in mortal life … sigh…

p.s. doesn’t it seem like Marvin J. Ashton was such a cheerful soul? I don’t remember hearing many (or any) of his messages, but the book and the talks I’ve read made me think he tried to find joy in the good things.

My Country ‘Tis of Thee

/1 Comment/in /by

I heard this song this morning in a Mormon Tabernacle Choir Flash Mob video from Williamsburg. It brought tears to my eyes for some reason. I love the message with templed hills… freedom ring from ev’ry mountainside… land be bright… freedom’s holy light… protect us by Thy might. I love America and FREEDOM!

This isn’t the same video I watched… but I like this one. Hannah asked if it was a different language since it was hard to understand … which is what prompted me to look up the lyrics.

I kinda like this…

/0 Comments/in /by

Photo by dinky do's on flickr

trials … miracles

/3 Comments/in /by

“The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.” ~ Horace Bushnell

You know the days when you hear about hard situations or tragedies people face? It puts things in perspective in my own life and I rally my spirit to keep a goin’ through all the challenges of the small and simple things that add up to a mountain of frustration. (did that make any sense? … mostly I’m a-sayin’ that I realize my hardships are not tragedies at the moment … the hardest things I have right now are all the tiny frustrating things that all pile on top of each other – often at the same time. I know I need to realize my blessings).

But … when I hear about a pregnant mother of 8 or so (all under 18) who just learned she has stage 4=terminal breast cancer and might not live until the baby is born… my heart is sad for the challenges and heartache they as a family will experience. For a year, I’ve followed the story of the valiant and courageous young mother raising her 6 adorable girls since their father unexpectedly passed away from heart problems. I pray for strength and comfort to come to these good people who are enduring really hard things.

What to do? I don’t know.

What if I was that mother knowing I had 2 months or less to live? What would I do different with the kids? What would I let go of? What would I focus on? How would I cope? How would my kids cope? So many things. At least today I tried to appreciate the snuggles and positive moments with the kids.

My go-to leader on Faith in Adversity is Neal A. Maxwell. He was faced with 7+ years of cancer while trying to be a husband, father, grandfather, apostle, etc. His messages interest me. Today I read through a bunch of talks from him. He doesn’t say that life was meant to be easy… more like… life is a tutoring experience that some times isn’t meant to do with one hand behind your back – it’s hard! But always he focuses on how much the Lord loves us enough to give us the perfect life experience to help fulfill our purpose. He teaches that the Lord strengthens us as we keep our faith strong and hold on firmly to gospel principles and teachings.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from him:
PDF of Scriptures and Neal A Maxwell Quotes


Along with trials, today I’ve thought about miracles. So many times I think I pray for miracles to happen for us and for others. Selling homes, situations with difficult children, pregnancy and healthy baby wishes, health and wellness for those who are ill, $$ bleh-blah, infertility, finding employment, etc…

But today I’ve thought about how sometimes the miracles we receive are much different than what we anticipated or wanted. What if the miracle is not for the cancer to miraculously go away… what if it’s that the family will somehow be able to pull together and endure well the rest of their lives. … to be able to find joy once again. What if the miracle is not for children to be perfectly behaved… but for the parents to be able to know how to best help them… and be filled with love and patience. etc… etc…

When I think of all those things happening to me and my family, it’s harder to be filled with that faith and confidence. sigh… I know I have a lot to learn about life. I selfishly want life to be easier and not filled with such challenges. I know it’s important to build those reservoirs of faith for when times get really tough (which I guess is why I feel compelled to research this topic). … sigh… Mostly I think I need to do better at enduring well instead of merely surviving.

I guess I just don’t have all the answers… but my final thoughts… God loves us so much and watches over us… no matter what.

Timing

/3 Comments/in /by

I love this quote I found through Marne via Pinterest (interesting new concept for a site).

Anyhoo… it’s amazing how many times I find myself having a plan for our life… and then I realize that Heavenly Father has a different plan for us… or at least different timing. Sometimes things have been hard (like moving across the country two weeks after having c-sections – twice!) … but hopefully as we go with His plan, things will work out the best way possible. It’s interesting to think about how we think we’re so “in control” of things, but really Heavenly Father knows more about what is best for us (perhaps in the character development department) than we do. Kind of random… but I was just thinking about this principle.

Enjoy the Present

/0 Comments/in /by

I love this quote and photo shared by Rebecca Cooper. So perfect. Though – I did enjoy my tulips while they lasted. A little bloom outside the window does provide much cheer.

Talent

/0 Comments/in /by

Why is it that PBS only plays the best stuff during telethon? Well… tonight we came across a pure gift of song. I’m not sure it could be anything else at her age. We’d never heard of Jackie Evancho before this. How does a voice like that come out of such a little girlie? This is one of my favorite songs ever… first loved when Paul Potts sang it… Nessun Dorma.