Remember

Remember me when the day is done

When your laughing heart is free

Remember me when the day begins

The flag flies for liberty

Remember me when you're free to roam

When you can worship where you may

Remember me when you take a stand

And have freedom of speech to say

Remember me when you make a choice

When you kneel down to pray

Remember me when it's not so easy

I died so you could live this way

reprinted from (5/28/06)

In memory of all those who died so I can be free!

New Song

Strength Beyond My Own

Music & Lyrics by Kylee Shields

To: Lucy's Mom

I know You hear my prayers

I know You count my every tear

I know You understand

‘Cuz You’re the only one who can

I know see my flaws

I know you feel my every fear

I know You’re the only one

Who can wipe away these tears

I need You more than I have ever know

So breath in me strength beyond my own

Some say that time can heal my wounds

Some days I feel that might be true

Right now I don’t understand

But I know You have a plan

I’m trying to find my way

Struggling through the smiles and pain

Knowing I can trust in You

Helps me somehow make it through

I need You more than I have known

So breath in me strength beyond my own

So give me wings to fly away

Or the strength to fight another day

Take away my broken heart

Or teach me how to restart

I know that I am loved

Supported at home and from above

And even in my deep despair

It helps to know You’re there

So give me wings to fly today

And the strength to fight another day

Help me mend my broken heart

And teach me how to restart

‘Cuz I know You more than anyone I know

Can breathe in me strength beyond my own

Happy 25th Birthday Granty!

Longfellow Chapel in Cambridge, MA burning

This morning during Stake Conference the Longfellow Chapel in Cambridge, MA, where I went to church for 2 1/2 years, started burning. It started, I think, from something electrical in the ceiling and then billowed out from there. No one was hurt, everyone was evacuated and you can read more and see pictures here, here,  here, here, here, and a video here.  I am devastated! So many memories, such an old and historic building, and so full of the faith of many saints! It is a sad day!

Grand Theft Auto--Almost!

This post is in response to my friend's blog.

When I lived in Oregon we had a German Shepherd dog that I absolutely loved named Angel Eyes. We mostly called her Angel. At this same time in my life I would drive around in this pee colored (really light tan) toyota corolla that I also loved! And so with that my story begins...

One day I went to the pet store to get a big bag of dog food for Angel. It was nothing unusual. The size of the bag was huge and walking it out of the store was bit tough but I had my keys out and ready to open the trunk of my car and deposit the dog food. Once deposited I opened the front door and got inside the car. I put the key in the slot and turned it a few times but the car wouldn't start.  I was a little frustrated and I took my key out, put my foot on the brake, moved the steering wheel a bit, and tried to start the car again.  It was at this point that I looked around the car and realized I wasn't in my car!!!

I can't even describe the panic that ensued.  I was freaking out. Did anyone see me try to steal this car?  How did I not notice it wasn't my car? And many other questions flooded my mind. So I got out of the unknown car, unlocked the trunk (again), got the dog food out, and proceeded to deposit the dog food into my car a few spaces over.

Mind you the cars looked identical. My car key actually unlocked not only the trunk of the other car but the front door also--so can you blame me??  I think the fact that my key unlocked someone else's Toyota Corolla made me feel a little uneasy inside for a few days.

I managed to get into my car, look to see that no one (that I could see) had witnessed my almost grand theft auto experience, and drove home.

Today I got to be a guest blogger on A Single Girl in a Mormon World.

"I'm Alive!"

Today I walked down the street to Elephant Park, enjoyed swinging on the swings, and laughed. When I was tired I sat down on the nearby slide and read a book until the sun went to sleep. Today was a good day!

Family Friday: Ali

Alexa Shields

Ali is the 6th child and 5th girl in our family. I have no idea what that feels like. All I know is it might have something to do with the fact that Ali is all personality! She has her own way style and is true to herself.  Ali was around 7 years old, I think, when I moved out of my house. What I know about her I love!

• Alexa composes these incredible songs on the piano (I can't get enough)!
• Alexa is hilarious and keeps me in stiches
• Ali has this Bronx accent that is amazing  
• Alexa & Kaitlin are the best of friends who have individual lives
• Ali is a super track star and has gone out of state a few times to compete!
• Ali somehow somewhere along the way grew much taller than me and I resent that
• I don't get to see Ali very often but it always does my heart good when I do

I love ya Ali-galy and can't wait to see you again soon!

I miss you Old North Bridge!

This I Believe

The other day I was listening to a podcast of "This American Life" and they were talking about the NPR podcast "This I Believe" and I was enamored by the idea. So I went to the original "This I Believe" website, read some of the essays, learned the personal essay rules, and here is my This I Believe Essay:

I believe in power of listening.

I believe that people need to be validated. They need to know that what they are contributing to society matters. They need to be heard. Sometimes they want feedback, advice, or a shoulder to cry on, but most times they just need someone to listen.

I am no expert at listening-in fact it is something I have been working on for years and I am still working on. listening isn’t just about hearing spoken words. Sometimes to be a great listener you have to hear things that are unspoken.  I believe that as much as people speak with their mouths-it’s their hearts that are screaming to be heard.  I also believe that some of the greatest communication comes in the depths of silence.  To borrow a line from a hymn, “In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can’t see.” 

Listening is more than just hearing someone.  Listening requires restraint, patience, and often action.  Sometimes listening means throwing all judgement out the door, letting people tell their own story, and literally getting down on ones level to hear what they are saying or not saying with their mouth and/or their heart.

Recently as I was working as a Behavior Coach for kids in the Foster Care System I realized how simple yet profound the act of listening can be. One my clients was a 7 year old boy who had been in and out of foster care homes since he was born. He was born addicted to drugs, has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and many behavior disorders. I was called in to work with him as sort of a last resort. His foster parents didn’t now what to do with him and his case work and others were running out of ideas. I went to a few meetings about my client and realized quickly that everyone was either talking about him or at him and not very many people were listening to him.  I chose to listen and that made all the difference! When we would get together I would ask him what he wanted to do and one day he said go for a walk.  About half way around the block he stopped-so I stopped.  Instead of launching into a million questions--I waited and listened. He said, “Do you think it would be okay with you if we sat here?” And so we sat and he talked and I listened and in that small moment, he and I sitting on the sidewalk, he told me wanted to be an animal doctor when he grew up. He told me he was sad when his mom didn’t come when she promised, that he was tired from not sleeping through the nights, and that he didn’t want to be so angry anymore.  He told me many more things that had been locked inside his heart, and although I had the urge to fix his problem and tell him what to do--I just sat there and listened. There were long moments when no one spoke, moments when he just took deep breaths, and one moment when my heart seemed to hear faintly what his heart was trying to say.

I believe in the power of listening. I believe in beautiful silence and in the painfully awkward silence. Most importantly I believe in listening with my heart as well as with my ears. 

If you are interested I would love to read your "This I Believe" personal essay!