Prayer

I just finished my half finished, scatter-brained thoughts on the 4th of July. But I realized that I was not done. I am trying to get better about simply posting these blogs instead of letting them accumulate to 87 or so...hehe...entries begun but not posted. So here goes:



This is one of my favorite paintings. It has been hanging in my families foyer since 418 Smith Avenue days. Not the original, just a nicely framed oil print. ;P
I find it a very moving, very humbling, and what in my heart I consider a very accurate portrayal of George Washington's prayers at Valley Forge. Our Founding Fathers were often brought to their knees. The greatest work that has ever been done and will ever be done begins in earnest supplication to our Almighty Creator with a righteous desire. This is the Lord's pattern, and he does not vary.
Prayer is our conduit to heaven...that open connection (our heavenly umbilical cord) that none can sever unless we refuse to reach out.

Matt. 21: 22
22 And all ^athings, whatsoever ye shall ^bask in ^cprayer, believing, ye shall receive.

John 16: 24
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ^aask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Alma 34: 18-27
18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is ^amighty to save.
19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in ^aprayer unto him.
20 Cry unto him when ye are in your ^afields, yea, over all your flocks.
21 ^aCry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your ^aenemies.
23 Yea, ^acry unto him against the ^bdevil, who is an enemy to all ^crighteousness.
24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26 But this is not all; ye must ^apour out your souls in your ^bclosets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your ^ahearts be ^bfull, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your ^cwelfare, and also for the welfare of ^dthose who are around you.

...I pray quite a lot, but I have a ways to improve before I can say that I am praying always!! Now THAT's A LOT!! But no more and no less than what is expected. I continually fall into the trap of trying to do it myself and relying upon the merits of "He [who] is mighty to save" after hesitating. I don't want to hesitate. I am working to make it a better habit...to trust fully and completely so that when life gets too hard to stand...I need only kneel.

Happy 4th of JULY!!! :D

Independence Day has come and gone once again!! I am especially mindful of it as I read John Adams and 1776, both by David McCullough, fairly recently...that is...a few months ago. They were BRILLIANT!!! :D David McCullough is one of my favorite historians. He attention to detail and ability to pick of the threads of history and weave them back together so eloquently is incredible! What an amazing story teller!! :)

So, the 4th of July. Come, gone. I have been reflecting on the great privileges and blessings and freedoms which I enjoy because of these wonderful men whom we call our founding fathers. They toiled and fought through so many years and against such odds. The Declaration of our Independence on July 4, 1776 was but the beginning of a very long struggle. Through most of the fight it seemed an ill-fated, nigh impossible cause...a fools errand. Why would these men have done what they did?? Common sense, whatever Thomas Paine may say, would not have supported what was considered a suicidal course of action. I think they must have often wished to escape the harsh realities of the war they were waging. They never had enough money, food, clothes, shelter, mild weather, soldiers, civilians, military strategists, political masterminds, friends...if anything could go wrong, it did. So why did they keep going?? They knew they had to.

These our founding fathers were men of faith. Men of God. They were men who believed in truth, liberty, justice, and had the courage to stand up and fight for what they believed in. We still stand for red, white, and blue. At their core they understood that there was a far greater principle involved than taking a stand against "no taxation without representation." There was a much greater work at hand. They were instruments in the hands of the Lord as he fulfilled the prophesies given to Nephi.

(see 1 Nephi 3 and this good article:
http://www.restoredcovenant.org/Document.asp?CAT=Insights&DOC=Christopher+Columbus%3A+Man+of+Vision+and+Faith)

The founding of our nation was simply the beginning groundwork of the great work that our Heavenly Father would perform in these the Latter-days.

"For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Moses 1:39

This work was started before the foundation of this world and will continue past the end of time. It is amazing to look through history and see the Lord's hand in bringing his work forward. The will of Heavenly Father can never be frustrated. Through the events which seem so bleak to the mortal eye, the greatest and most life-altering miracles are wrought. It is these events which mold the character of men (and women) to become a little more like Him. In his wisdom, our Heavenly Father granted us our agency. He granted all men their agency. He allows for all manner of calamities to befall men, even when (especially when) trying their hardest. It is these times which try the soul which cause them to stretch and grow...and sometimes break. But no matter, there is always a way to be put back together again.

Without strife there is no life. For to live we must strive...and to strive we must have strife. See, an opposition in all things!! It is always darkest before the dawn.

"Like the polar star in the heavens, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith. In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us." --Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

This is what we hold and look to. As Moses said to the children of Israel, 'Look and Live.' There will certainly be battle after battle which seems bleak. We will surely lose too much blood. On our own...it is impossible. But we will surely get there. And the constant and tender mercies of the Lord will give us hope, even as that heaven sent fog across the Delaware River saved George Washington's little army and reminded them that they were not alone.


So when life seems especially bleak, as it surely will...I hope we let patience have her perfect work. That those harder times will make something better of us. I am so grateful for a Father in Heaven who is all mindful of his children. I am so grateful that the promises of the Lord are sure, and steadfast...even as the polar star in the heavens. I am grateful for the gift of agency, the ability to choose...even if I am very clumsy with it. I am grateful to live in a land which allows me the freedom and accountability to use this agency. May we all treasure these gifts well.

Catching Up...

It's been awhile since I have written any new posts. I do have quite a few well begun, half done posts which I will be getting up...but I thought I would say a few words of what is new and happening in my life!! :-)

So...

1. I have a bazillion bug bites!!!
2. My shoulders are peeling from my fifth sunburn of the summer.
3. Weeding NEVER ends.
4. Watering does...plants die, weeds don't.
5. My room is STILL messy, despite my endless re-organization projects. (Maybe it would get clean if I stopped organizing it?? ;P)
6. I had COLDSTONE ice cream last night with one of my newest favorite people!! Erin Elliott, Word Girl.
7. Yes, Erin and I are super heroes...I was christened the Mozart Ninja and she Word Girl. What is music without words?? Or words without music?? ;P We go around saving the world one good deed at a time...and have so much fun doing it!!! :D
8. I went with my Pitman YSA Branch up to Vermont. We stayed at Camp Joseph, visited the birthplace of Joseph Smith, hiked up a mountain, ate smores around a camp fire every night, had Sunday services in a lodge by a fire, joined in my first ever food eating contest which ended in my first food fight...it was wonderful!! :D
A picture is worth a thousand words...need I say more??

8. I had the privilege of going to the dedication of my Uncle's new
laboratory for biomedical research at George Mason University!! :)

9. A couple days after the dedication we had a giant family picnic
at the Bailey Family Farm which was perfect...















10. I am working on what I hope becomes a WONDERFUL Christmas
piece!! :) It was commissioned by my choir director for our Christmas
concert. We will have a brass orchestra, percussion, organ, piano, an
eight-part choir...YIKES!! I'm getting a little overwhelmed just thinking
about it. :P However, I have come to the realization that I must get
some better composition software and equipment... :/
11. I am working on what will be my debut CD. :)
12. The debut CD might actually turn into two CD's.
13. Regarding numbers 10-12...I have to figure out how to copyright
music. :/
14. I am interviewing for several jobs...we'll see which one works out!! :)
15. I am "in-like!!" :D
16. I think fifteen is enough for now!! ;)


PS--Photo's thanks to President James and Mandy Shepherd!! :)

OFFICIALLY INSANE!! ;P

Well...I always knew that I had a knack for being silly, but I just came across a better adjective today. "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
...I tell you Albert Einstein IS a genius!! ;P

I Miss You Pluto...

Oh!! It still hurts my heart when I am reminded of Pluto's demoted status in the rank of the planets. I came across Rachel's solar system coloring page from school and...no Pluto!! It has been very surreal until now. I have never had a chance to wrap my mind around the concept because I didn't believe it was real. I didn't believe it was happening. How could it?! Part of me still won't accept it. Dwarf planet indeed. Ha!! I know what Pluto really is. No scientist or astronomer will tell me otherwise!! :P

Nine planets planets was just so right, so complete. "They" have now created a solar system of chaos for me. Mass shmass...I think Pluto is just the right size. How dare they pick on Pluto because he is small. He can't help it!! I am sure he is as big as he can be!! Really, what must the Roman god of the underworld be thinking?? If there are going to be anymore Persephone incidents, I hope he takes it up with the committee for the extrication of planets. That would teach them!! How much more evil does it get?? For these intellectuals to sit around in their huge lecture halls just trying to think of ways to get attention: "let's mess with Pluto...because we CAN!! Mwahh hahhh hahhh!!" I've heard stories.

How do children even remember their planets?? They cannot use "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza's." I suppose they must do without pizza: "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nothing?!" I guess that would do it?? No pizza...no Pluto... :'(

There is hope!! I have thought of a remedy to our current planetary crisis. Let's all move to Illinois!! I remember an article from the Scientific American where I read of Illinois' open rebellion. Pluto is still a planet in Illinois, thanks to Senator Blagojevich (don't ask me to say it...it's hard enough to spell!). On second thought...how confusing for the kids, and teachers, and librarians, and tourists, and politicians, and new residents, and...well there are a lot of potentially confused people!!

Happy Belated Discovery Day Pluto!! February 18th 1930...just 80 years ago!! (Planet career: 76 years...Dwarf for four)

I sometimes can't sleep at night knowing that there is one less planet in the sky. What if they decide next that we are simply living on an atmospheric moon??!! Come on, seriously??!! Pluto is a planet. I don't need silly definitions or logic, my heart tells me it is so!! :-) Isn't there something missing in this picture?!

PS--No disrespect intended to the scientific community!!

PPS--I am grateful to the many astronomers, scientists, and the general NASA staff who have fought for Pluto to get its planet status back with bona fide arguments!! :-)

PPPS--Warning: any opinions that are voiced are subject to change whenever the author feels like it!! Nothing said can be used against her!! (mwahhhahhahhh...Take that, CAT!! :P)

Mothers...So Wise.

I was having a difficult day several days ago. A little while after having complained to anyone in the world who would listen to me, I came across a little post-it from my mother with the exact words I needed to hear right when I needed to hear them:

Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ.

C. S. Lewis

I just thought I would share. Also, motherhood has been a lot on my mind as I've been talking with Sarah, reading Sarah's blog, helping at home, thinking toward the day when I will have my own home and family. Thank you Sarah for all of your great articles, which I plan on reading when I get the chance, and for being a wonderful example. And thank you mom, if you ever read this, for giving yourself for your children. :-)

Really, I just want to thank all wonderful mothers everywhere. You give life and hope to the future, as well as nurturing and bringing peace to the present. All people have their own agency and must choose who they want to be. But how to choose??

Proverbs 22: 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

We do choose what we make of ourselves, but our families are such a part of who we are. We all stray a little bit in trying to "discover" who we are...but we come back to our roots. I've come to realize that I didn't so much need to create or discover a new me, but re-discover who was there all the time. It seems that during my periods of self-searching my mother has always stood by me, waiting for me to see myself as she does. I don't think my journey of self-rediscovery is complete, but I am well on my way. And in good company!! :-)

I FINISHED!! :D

I am a musician and composer. Music is the very essence of my soul and life. It flows from me. Yes, I love to be dramatic!! ;P However, there is a catch. Despite my love for music and composition, I hate to write it down. It is a very painful and laborious chore. Music theory is not how I think. I don't think in terms of key signatures, staffs, stanzas...I simply become a part of the music.

So when I had arranged what I thought to be a very nice medley of "Be Still, My Soul" and "Nearer, My God, To Thee" for Stake Conference, which is quickly coming up...I knew I would have to set it down to paper. I will not harrow you with the details, only to say that after the agonizing ordeal, it is done!!! :D Not perfectly how I would wish it, but future transcriptions can come later. I am so glad that my dear sister and cousin (who I believe are the only readers of my little blog) will be home to hear it!!! :D I love you and can't wait to share this with you!!! xoxo