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.

My Song in the Night

The Lost Get Found -- Britt Nicole

Ok, my friends. I am in love with Britt Nicole's music and I wanted to let you know about her. She is an amazing Christian Contemporary artist and her music just speaks to my heart.

Why do I love her music so much? It's HONEST. Honest about imperfections and weaknesses, but also honest about the truth that God is real and He can heal us and help us with anything.

Check out her new music video below "The Lost Get Found." You can listen to more of her music here. My favorites are "Walk on the Water", "Safe," and "Have Your Way" which you can buy on iTunes.

From the richest to the poorest

Scott and Brian before leaving the MTC

As you may know, both of my twin brothers are serving two-year missions for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are both serving in Chile. They've been there for two weeks now and are learning so much. Scotty shared a beautiful experience with me today in his email. He said:

"At about 9:30 pm the night before, Elder Killian and I were walking in the street and this drunk woman or baracha stopped us and was really sincere about asking for help to stop drinking. So we set up an appointment to teach her at her home the next day. To make a long story short, we went there to teach her the next day.

We went to Pasaje 1 in Chiloe and found Ana´s home, a little one room shack made of plywood and other scraps that had a sheet for a door. We sat outside on a log and taught Ana about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it could help her stop drinking. And how nothing is impossible with God as it says in Luke 1:37. She really liked what we had to say and she said she would start praying for Gods help in stopping her addiction.

The lesson was great, but the greater lesson I learned from this was that all people from the very rich to the very very poor, like Ana, need the help of God in their life. I had never seen such primitive living conditions, even here in Chile and I judged Ana before the lesson on the way her house looked. But after the lesson I realized that the size or shape of one's house isn´t important at all and that all people are equal."

That really hit me. From the richest to the poorest, every single person needs God in their life. I know that wherever we are, whatever our circumstances, we all have one thing in common--we need God. I've felt how much I need Him and how much I need His love. When I feel His love, it gives me energy to do anything. It gives me strength beyond my own and it is the best feeling in the world.

I feel and see His love in the sunshine, in the warm smile of a friend, in the wind, the colors of the autumn leaves, music, in learning, in the taste of chocolate :) and in so many things! Heavenly Father reminds us how infinite His love is for us. He is all around us--we just need to seek Him and we will find Him everywhere.

This is one of my favorite songs ever put to a beautiful video. Take a minute to watch it and to reflect on how you feel God's love every day. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts.

Lessons Learned from Tinkerbell

True fact: Sometimes you just need a good girls’ night. I had a much needed girls' night yesterday with one of my best friends. We ordered pizza, talked about boys, and watched Tinkerbell. (Another true fact: I love pizza. And I might have eaten a lot of it yesterday.) LOVED this movie! It’s clean, great animation, great music and an awesome message = that equals my kind of movie! Definitely worth watching.

Sometimes I think I’m like Tinkerbell...let me explain. Tink is a tinker – she fixes things. But she didn’t feel like that was important in comparison to the other fairies that got to go to the main land when seasons changed. So she got some other fairies to teach her their talent, but it didn’t work. She spent so much time looking at others gifts but she was neglecting her unique and important talent, and what she really loved deep down.

But she finally realized her talent for fixing things. When she was using her talent to help others, she was happy. She was just being herself.

I think it’s very easy for anyone to be like Tinkerbell was, but we don’t have to be just like so and so. I am unique. You are unique. We each have something so important to offer. And I know God will help us as we find our gifts and He’ll help us know how to use them.

If you don’t want to watch the whole movie, here’s a clip from it that I love. It’s at the climax of the movie where Tink is trying so hard to prove herself to the other fairies, but then she discovers…well, you’ll just have to watch…

“Your talent makes you who you are. You should be proud of it.”-Tinkerbell

Thanks, Tink. I needed the reminder.

School is cool. Homework rules?

School is in session! I've been doing homework all day--listening to Haydn, Gluck, Stamitz, Mozart, and other amazing composers for my music history exam. Some of their pieces can sound so similar on the test so I listen over and over. My favorite is John Gay's..."My heart was so free, it roved like a bee!" haha It makes me smile. Maybe I should use language like that in my songs....hmmm...

I love learning and stretching myself and my classes are definitely doing that this semester. I haven't posted in a while but will do better. In the meantime, here are links to my weekly music blogs for MormonTimes.com which I absolutely love writing. Here are a few of the most recent ones--check em out! If you're looking for fresh new music, you might find something you like there. :) Loves!

On tour with Truman
Lowe does 3rd tour with David Archuleta
Faith-promoting music from fellow Christians
Musicians, community combine for great cause
Summer showcase finalists seek to uplift