Off to Poland!

I am leaving in two days to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Poland Warsaw Mission. Woohoo! This song, "Set the World on Fire" is one of my favorite songs - I love the message and wanted to share it with you.

I will be at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) for nine weeks learning Polish and practicing teaching in Polish, and then I'll fly to Poland. It's always been a dream of mine to serve a mission because what I believe has changed me - I know who I am and why I'm here. Jesus Christ is why I believe in everything I believe. And He is why I'm serving a mission.

I will be gone for 18 months and will return to the states in March 2013. If you'd like to write me (I'd love to hear from you), here's where to send your letters! :)

From Sept. 2011-Nov. 8, 2011, write me at:
Sister Nicole Betty Sheahan
MTC Mailbox # 153
POL-WAR 1108
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

After that (Nov. 9, 2011-March 2013), please send letters (and packages of Nutella! haha just jokes) to:
Sister Nicole Betty Sheahan
Poland Warsaw Mission
Swietych w Dniach Ostatnich
UI. Wiertnicza 135, 1 Pietro
02-952 Warszawa
Poland

I pray that God will be with you in your life - He always is if we'll just ask and put Him first. I will definitely be creating more music when I get home, but I've really felt this is where my Heavenly Father wants me right now.

I'll be MIA from this blog until about March 2013...

Onward & upward my friends!

Much love, Nicole

I am His Daughter

I had the blessing to sing this song, "I am His Daughter" on the EFY 2010 album, written by my amazing friends Stephanie Mabey and Debra Fotheringham. I ran across this beautiful video that a lady made and put with this song; I love this video because you can see the light in these women and they radiate that they know who they are. It just reminded me of how lucky I am to know that I am a daughter of God. Truly knowing and remembering that every day changes everything.

I'm going on a mission!!!

Since I was a young girl, I dreamed of serving a mission for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I wanted to go because the gospel of Jesus Christ has completely changed my life, because it’s changed me and brought me true joy. I want to tell everyone about it, and give them the chance to hear this glorious message - that Christ's true church has been restored on to the earth and that God continues to speak to His children and guide us.

I wasn't sure if a full-time 18-month mission was what God had in mind for my road in life. For a while I thought, "No, my focus needs to be on music and serving God in that way."

I do feel that music is a big part of my life's mission. But earlier this year I wasn't feeling at peace in my life. I was enjoying my jobs and being in Nashville, but I think Heavenly Father was giving me that unsettled feeling so I'd really search out what He wanted me to do at this point in my life.

So after a lot of prayer and nights where I went back and forth wondering if going on a mission was right for me, I just felt this incredible peace about it. That unsettling feeling I had had before stopped. I knew that peace was from God.

Well, God has a way of making our dreams come true...this was kind of an unexpected thing for me right now. Late Friday night I got home and there was a white envelope from Salt Lake City addressed to Sister Nicole Betty Sheahan. !!!!!! I was freaking out, running around the house...because it came much earlier than I expected, and I realized this white envelope contained the location where I'd spend 18 months of my life. Wowzers.

I got my parents on the phone and had them make guesses of where I might be called. It could beanywhere in the world! The leaders of my church pray and receive revelation from God to know where He would send them. There are 140 LDS missions around the world.

Mom guessed Spain, Italy and New York.

Dad guessed France and Florida.

Shantell (my awesome roommate) guessed SoCal.

I guessed England...

I opened the letter, trying to stay calm...

It read...

Dear Sister Sheahan:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Poland Warsaw Mission...

DAHHH!!! POLAND! I never could have guessed. I am beyond excited. I was googling Poland all weekend and am trying to learn about their history and people. I will be entering the Missionary Training Center September 7, 2011 to prepare to preach the gospel in the Polish language.

I can't wait! My sister served a mission in Rome, Italy. And my twin brothers are currently serving in different parts of Chile. Each of them said that it's been the most amazing part of their life where they've found greater joy than they ever imagined.

I'm going because I believe with all my heart that Jesus is the Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. God lives. We are all children of our Heavenly Father, and He wants us to know Him and seek Him. He answers us. I grew up in this church. However, if I didn't know it was true, I would not be doing this. I would not use all the money I've been saving to buy a keyboard and to record another album to go do this for 18 months. If I didn't believe in this with all my heart, I would not be leaving jobs I love and going far away from my family and friends. Time and time again, God has confirmed its truthfulness to me, that it truly is from God, another testament of His son, Jesus Christ – and a companion to the Bible that contains a fullness of the gospel. And because I believe, I can't keep it to myself. That's why I'm going.

Poland, I'm so excited to get to know you and share the thing that has made me happier than anything with you.

And to each of you, I invite you to really take a good look at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...Not from what other people may say, but from actual members of the church. Find a church building and visit, or contact the missionaries or me, or visit mormon.org. It's either true or it's not. It's either is God's church or it isn't. So with such an important message, shouldn't we each take the time to find out for ourselves?

Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink...

Here's a little song from my Grandpa...he's a rock star. This makes me smile.

Focus

Tonight my head is spinning because I’m thinking about everything I want to do tomorrow…and as usual, there are only so many hours in the day. And it’s 1 am and I’m getting up in five hours…(Can you believe I'm writing a blog?! For reals! It helps me to get it out so I can sleep.)

I want to do and be so many things so I try to schmoosh it into the time I have, and guess what….I’m limited. Hate to admit it, but I sure am.

I want to practice the piano a lot and learn more music theory.

I want to read tons of books.

I want to be healthy.

I want to help my friends and be there for them.

I want to write new songs.

I want to meet new people.

I want to go to concerts and learn from other musicians.

I want to respond to people’s emails in a timely manner.

I want to…I want to…you get the point.

But I don’t want to run around like a monkey with her head cut off (I’d rather be a monkey than a chicken right now…). I want to live each day in a way that’s truly meaningful. I don’t want to just fill up my time, but I want the things I do with my time to fill others and myself up.

It’s not a bad thing to want to be/do a lot of things, but I’m reminded of what one of my heroes, Dieter Uchtdorf, said:

"Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives. It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Overscheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks."

So tonight, I’m re-focusing. And that’s personal for me and for each of us on what God needs us to focus our time on. We can’t be/do EVERYTHING…unless we want to be headless monkeys (or, if you prefer, chickens). But we can live each day for God and listen to Him. He will definitely help us know where our focus should be, because He loves us and wants us to be happy.

And that is where I find true meaning.

He wants it all...

I was in a Zumba class the other week (I LOVE Zumba). The teacher turned on this song, "He Wants It All," as we were stretching. I immediately went home and bought it off of iTunes...and pretty much had it on repeat in my car for the next week.

I love it because I need that reminder to give my ALL at work, home, church, with friends or strangers. God does need hearts who are desperate to be close to Him, but so often our hearts are divided or distracted.

I think it's something we must choose to do every day - to wake up and say, "Heavenly Father, I'm going to give You my heart today, I'm going to serve You with my whole heart."

Our all is not going to be perfect - that's why we need our Savior. So we must rely on Him as we seek to give our all. To me, "all" means all the strength, sincerity, and energy you can give right now, and then our all is supplemented by His grace.

My all always falls short. But that's ok. I'll keep trying to give my Heavenly Father my all, and He mercifully fills in the cracks.

Outside my own little world

Trying to get outside my own little world...

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah, it's easy to do when it's population: me

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, "help this homeless widow"
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, God, what have I been doing?
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money than I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world

Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don't want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world

(Matthew West)

A Baby Changes Everything

I was thinking about these words this morning from Faith Hill's song, "A Baby Changes Everything."

My whole life has turned around
I was lost, but now I'm found
A baby changes everything

As Christmas gets closer, I'm just grateful to look at my life and how a baby has changed everything. Jesus lived his life for me and you. Because of Him, my entire life has been turned around. I keep going because no matter what happens, His hope, His atonement, and His resurrection are real.

Why I Believe

My talented friend, Seth Adam Smith, just finished this video for my song, "Why I Believe." This is the message I want to share with the whole world.

I know that Christ lives. I know that He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know that because He died for all of us, I can repent of my sins and become more like Him. He is why there is always hope. No matter how we've grown up, no matter what we’ve done in the past, and no matter where we are right now, through Christ, we can change and become new - not just once or twice, but every single day. I have seen and felt that in my life, and it is real. And can I just tell you, it’s worth everything! I know that following our Savior brings true peace and lasting happiness.

Many thanks to Liz Lemon Swindle for letting us use her beautiful artwork in this video, to Seth for sharing his incredible talents, and to Phil Goodwin for the original cinematography. And thank you for letting me share this with you. Please share it with your friends and family.

Meeting two of my musical heroes

My dear friend, Kimberly, and I went to JFEST in Chattanooga, TN.

We got to meet two of my FAVORITE singer/songwriters ever...it was one of my dreams to meet these two women and I'm SO grateful I got to.

We met Britt Nicole - this girl has a heart of gold and one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard.

Also met Natalie Grant. I love how her music is to glorify God and help others remember His love.

Britt and Natalie aren't just musical heroes but they're heroes to me because they use their talents to share God's love and to lift other people. That's what I want to do, what I'm trying to do with the music I write and share.

Here's my favorite Britt Nicole song that has really strengthened me, "Walk On The Water." It's one of my top five songs ever ever. Take a listen.

Roadtrippin' to Nashville

Au revoir Montana! I'll miss you!

2,000 miles from Hamilton, MT to Nashville, TN. Who better to drive it with than my Momma?!

Hot dawg! We're going to Nashville!

First gotta make a couple stops along the way to see....

.....this beautiful cloud.

Ta da! The cloud decided to move. It's actually Mt. Rushmore! Thank you clouds for moving. (What are those little men doing up there? I wanna stand on Thomas Jefferson's head!) The carving started in 1927 and they finished in 1941.

Yay Momma for driving across the country with me. What a Mom I have. :) Love you Momma.

So important to remember.

We visited Liberty Jail in Independence, Missouri.

Liberty Jail is where the Prophet Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Alexander McCrae, Lyman Wight and Caleb Baldwin were imprisoned for four months - from Dec. 1, 1838 to April 16, 1839. They were unjustly charged with treason to the state of Missouri.

It's crazy the conditions they were in - it was an extremely cold winter, their food was often poisoned, they had a bucket to go to the bathroom, hard floor to sleep on, and they couldn't even stand up straight - the ceiling wasn't high enough. But I love this quote that was on a pamphlet I got there.

"We remember Liberty Jail not as a place of suffering, but as a sacred spot where faith was tested and found sufficient. A place where the voice of God was heard again as He spoke to a living prophet. A place where revelation was given for all mankind."

I love that. Faith in God is sufficient for anything.

It makes me think of Hebrews 6:12: "Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Fur coat, Shakespeare Man and Golden Headband

Saw this band play last week. No words needed.

Best and truest rap I've ever heard

Flashbacks from the past

My parents raised me on country music. And you know what? I love it.

Reba, Trisha, Garth, George, Billy….I love em. I grew up with my parents taking me to Reba and Garth concerts. I'd get the Reba t-shirt (I was like five years old so the smallest size they had drowned me. So Reba shirts were my night gowns). I did go through a rebellious stage though in 6^th grade where I thought country wasn’t cool so I denied that I never really liked it. But everyone has those rebellious stages, eh? ha!

Why do I love country music? Well…I’ll let this video tell you why.



Besides the classic mullet...it’s just fun! It can say “You can tell your dog to bite my leg.” And hello! You can line dance to it! Yeehaw!


Now I do have to have a disclaimer, I don’t love ALL country…but there’s a lot of awesome country music out there.

Btw, there’s a sweet country concert and dance Thursday, March 25^th at the Loft with Nashville Star top 12 finalist Charley Jenkins and Hollywood American Idol finalist Anna Kaelin. If you're a country music fan or just love to dance, you don't want to miss this! Tickets are normally $7 each and sold at 24tix.com. Hopefully see you there!

Want to smile? Watch this.

I promise it's worth the 16 1/2 min to watch this.

Isn't it cool how when someone gives you a sincere compliment or just smiles at you, it's hard not to smile? We can do that for someone.

Try it. Even if it's something you're not used to doing, even if you think it's "fake" at first. The world needs more smiles.

And YOU have a beautiful smile.

Food for the Brain

Here are three interesting things I learned in my classes today:

1) We got the "Star Spangled Banner" tune from a drinking song... interesting, huh?

2) If you listened to songs like this ("Maple Leaf Rag" by Scott Joplin) in 1899 you'd probably feel guilty cuz it was more edgy than anything else at that time...which is just crazy to me! This music is completely innocent. Compare this to the music people are listening to a hundred years later...I wish we could go back to the innocence in popular music today.



3) Dvorak's New World Symphony is the tune to one of my favorite French cantiques, "Souviens-toi, mon enfant." I love that melody, and the French words are beautiful.

School is cool. Just wanted to share with you some of the interesting things I learned today. Hope you feel super duper smart! :)

I love guacamole... but I love this more...

I Believe

This is one of my favorite songs ever, put together with a beautiful video. Definitely worth the five minutes and 16 seconds to watch. "I Believe" by Natalie Grant.

Title of the Song

My friend, Alan, shared this song with me and I couldn't stop laughing. Had to share it with ya'll.

“Title Of The Song” by Da Vinci's Notebook
From the album “The Life And Times Of Mike Fanning”

Declaration of my feelings for you
Elaboration on those feelings
Description of how long these feelings have existed
Belief that no one else could feel the same as I
Reminiscence of the pleasant times we shared
And our relationship's perfection
Recounting of the steps that led to our love's dissolution
Mostly involving my unfaithfulness and lies
Penitent admission of wrongdoing
Discovery of the depth of my affection
Regret over the lateness of my epiphany

(Chorus)
Title of the song
Naïve expression of love
Reluctance to accept that you are gone
Request to turn back time
And rectify my wrongs
Repetition of the title of the song

Enumeration of my various transgressive actions
Of insufficient motivation
Realization that these actions led to your departure
And my resultant lack of sleep and appetite
Renunciation of my past insensitive behavior
Promise of my reformation
Reassurance that you still are foremost in my thoughts now
Need for instructions how to gain your trust again
Request for reconciliation
Listing of the numerous tasks that I'd perform
Of physical and emotional compensation

CHORUS

Acknowledgment that I acted foolishly
Increasingly desperate pleas for your return
Sorrow for my infidelity
Vain hope that my sins are forgivable
Appeal for one more opportunity
Drop to my knees to elicit crowd response
Prayers to my chosen deity
Modulation and I hold a high note...

CHORUS

Anything Can Be

Listen to the mustn'ts, child.

Listen to the don'ts.

Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.

Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.

-Shel Silverstein

Amen, Shel! I believe that. The sky is the limit! But I forget that sometimes.

My Bible as Literature teacher, Steven Walker, shared this in class the other night. I've been thinking a lot about my dreams and goals as graduation gets closer and trying to figure out what the next step is.

Music is not an easy industry; I know that. You don't just graduate and know what jobs you're going to apply for...it's a different world. I also know that music is inside my heart for an important reason. I just want to do what God wants me to do with music. What is that exactly? Right now I don't know exactly what that is, although I have a lot of ideas of what I want to do. But I do know that if I put God first, work hard and keep trying, God will guide me and give me strength.

The uncertain future can be scary...I think it's natural for us to want to see what's ahead. But sometimes we have to move ahead and try and fail, and then try and try again. I think that's the beauty of life -- God stretches us to become more than we think we can be. He teaches us that anything really can happen, and anything really can be because He created us to do amazing things and He believes in us.

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.