A day in the life

My sister Chelsea and her husband Mike currently live in Ghana, West Africa. It is unbelievable to hear about life where they live. Check out a day in their life!

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

You know when discover something you really love and you can't wait to share it with everyone. Well I want to share some great music that I am listening to these days. I know many of you have already discovered these songs and great musicians-but for those of you who see these songs or names of artists and have no idea who the are--please check them out!

My current Playlist called, "Thursday"
1. "Near to You" by A Fine Frenzy CD: One Cell in the Sea
2. "Home" by Scott Alan CD: Dreaming Wide Awake
3. "Fall for You" by Secondhand Serenade CD: A Twist in My Story
4. "Hymn" by Brooke Fraser CD: Albertine
5. "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles CD: Little Voice
6. "If I own Today" by Scott Alan CD: Dreaming Wide Awake
7. "This is Me" (Acoustic version) by Demi Lavato CD: Camp Rock
8. "Sampson" by Regina Spektor CD: Begin to Hope
9. "Shadowfeet" by Brooke Fraser CD: Albertine
10. "Say" John Mayer Single: Say

My advice would be to check the links on here or check them out on itunes to see if you like their stuff but I love these artists. Here are a few more random things I love:

Black Beard: the Musical By: Rob Gardner
I have talked about my friend Rob many times on this blog. If you don't know about him you should. Check out his music at Spire, his non profit. Aside from some very moving religious music Rob has also written the book, music, and characters for a new musical called, "Black Beard." It is most likely headed to Broadway so if you are in Arizona area don't miss the chance to see this amazing show. I went and was blown away by the music! If you are interested let me know and I can get you a HUGE discount as I'm part of Spire.

Big Bang Theory By: Shaun Barrowes
If you love jazz, like I do, then you will love this new CD by a friend of mine. He is up and coming and you will soon be hearing his name all over the country. His music is playing all over the world on the radio and he is getting ready to go on tour very soon.

The Sum of All Grace By : Mindy Gledhill
Beside being a friend of mine Mindy is a mother, a wife, and an amazing artist and musician. I own many LDS CD from various musicians but when it's Sunday and I need some inspiration I keep coming back to this CD. Her lyrics and voice are mesmerizing!

Quiet Hearts

"In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see."

I've been thinking a lot about hearts lately. It's a topic I love to read about, study, and ponder. This morning the above line from a song kept running through my mind. I don't know if you are like me but it seems that in this noisy world we live in it is hard to "hear,"see," or even "feel" the sorrow in other people's hearts. Yet it seems like when my heart is aching, burdened, or broken--it seems to hear the quiet hearts around it. Shouldn't it be the opposite. Shouldn't my blaring broken heart drown out all others?

It seems to me that when my heart is screaming to be heard it is screaming above the noise and confusion of the world and it seems to be able to only hear other screaming hearts. I am amazed at how this works in my life.

I have a million more thoughts on this topic but I will leave it with this. I hope that your quiet heart is heard!

Smiling Tears

Sometimes I think that change is hard. Like in my title that are some things in life, some changes you make, that you want to have happen but they are sad. Thus, smiling tears. 

 I wrote a poem years ago called, "Smiling Tears" when I was getting ready to leave for my LDS mission. I had wanted to go on a mission since I was 10 so after and 11 year wait I couldn't go soon enough. With most of my guy friends on missions, my two best friends on their mission in Russia, and my call to serve in San Diego  in hand, I was more than excited to begin that journey. At the same time I knew what I was leaving behind. I would be leaving behind my family, my music, and my friends.  My little sister was very young only 4 and turned 5 while I was in the MTC. By the time I got home she had changed so much.  My mission was a big change in my life that I really wanted but it was a smiling tears moment.

In my life, as with most people, there are many significant smiling tears moment. Recently my move from Boston to Mesa was a big smiling tears experience for me.  Don't get me wrong I am glad to be here in Arizona (will be even happier come October). I love my classes, my teachers, my new internship, and my program.  I like my roommates and my new ward, but I desperately miss Boston!

I think I'm finally getting a bit settled into my new life and I realize how much I've changed in my life the past few months. Change is good but sometimes it hurts really bad!

So for all of you who are experiencing smiling tears with me I wish you well!

Character

"Worthy character will strengthen your capacity to respond obediently to the direction of the spirit as you make vital decisions. Righteous character is what you are becoming. It is more important than what you own, what you have learned, or what goals you have accomplished. It allows you to be trusted. Righteous character provides the foundation of spiritual strength. It enables you in times of trial and testing to make difficult, extremely important decision correctly even when they seem overpowering."  

~Richard G. Scott~

Cages or Wings?

The other day I heard a song that had the line: "cages or wings which do you prefer? Ask the birds?" I didn't think much about it until today. I am curious what you have to say about this question??  To the bird a cage is limiting but it is also safety. Wings create freedom but also mean they an be eaten by cats etc.  So which do you choose...of course we are not talking about birds here!