The power of music has been seen around our home, and in our car recently. When things get too high strung, chaotic, loud, crazy, upset, disruptive, I start turning tvs, games, etc. off and put on music instead. I just feel so much better when the house isn't screaming so many different noises all at once. No matter what CD I choose to play, whether it is one of our favorites like Grey's Anatomy, a Kid Bop, country 2-stepping songs, or church music the feeling of our home reverses. Everyone begins to smile if they were upset about something. There's always soemone that starts kicking up their heels and begins to sway to the beat. Sometimes it just gets quiet and all you here is the words and beat of the music. It has definitely been helping me stay more patient when things are getting out of hand. I just quietly turn off all movies, tv shows, video games, and turn on the tunes and it helps me to not be so quick to yell when things are out of control.
One the way to church we have been listening to the primary songs for this year and it makes my eyes well up with tears when I hear my girls singing the songs. Some of the songs are familiar to me and brings back memories of when I was in primary and learning these songs for the first time. Other songs are new and it is fun to be able to learn the songs with them, and since I am in primary I need to know them so it is fun to sing along (or try to sing along) with them. Not only are Mackenzi and Maci learning songs and singing them but our little Maryn is becoming quite the singer.
Maryn has always loved music and her temperment has often changed by hearing songs. She knows more words to Radio Disney songs than I do and sings on key, too. One of the nursery leaders came up to me the other day and said how much Maryn loves singing and dancing in nursery. She becomes so excited she giggles and rushes to get the toys cleaned up so they can have singing time. I have tried several times to get her to sing some of the songs she sings in nursery but she never will do it. Today I decided to put in her nursery songs cd in the car instead of the girls primary one. I got all emotional because my little baby is no longer a baby. She was belting out Popcorn Popping, Sunbeam, Do As I'm Doing and others like she has been singing them for years. I love the fact she is learning new things, but a little sad that she is growing up. And since she is most likely our caboose it will be the last time one of our children learns these precious songs for the first time. She seems too little to know so much but am so happy she loves to learn, sing, and dance. I just need to sit back, take it all in, and enjoy all of my girls learning to love music and the way the spirit teaches us through songs.
My February Ensign came in the mail yesterday. Greg got called in to work, so I put the girls to bed and curled up on the couch to just skim over some of the articles. Seeing the picture of the Temple on the cover made me anxious to read the quotes, thoughts, and personal stories of the Temple.
I loved this from President Hinckley-
A Sancturary of Service
"Inside the Temple...the world is left behind with its clamor and rush. In the house of the Lord there is tranquillity. Those who serve here know they are dealing with the matters of eternity. All are dressed in white. Speech is subdued. Thoughts are elevated..."
The articles about temples and their importance makes me want to attend the temple more often. When the San Antonio Temple was dedicated back in 2005 Greg & I set a goal to go regularly. We wanted to to try and go once a month but when we realized that wasn't working we changed to once a quarter. Seeing how the temple is probably only 30 minutes away we should be going more often, BUT admit we have been slacking. I would love to go once a month and may try and do this again. I love to go with Greg but since his schedule is pretty crazy I may just have to go alone if I can get a sitter sometimes during the day. I love the peace I feel while I am there and miss it.
Anther article that I enjoyed reading was written by Robert D. HAles. 10 Axioms to Guide Your Life. He said, Here are 10 axioms, distilled from my own experience of the livcing the gospel. I hope they are helpful to you in determingthe priciples that should guide your life.
The axioms are -
1. It's not the obstacle that counts, but how you over come it.
2. Pursue your goals with all your heart, might, mind, and strenghth. You are doomed to failure if you pursue them in a vacillating manner.
3. From a tiny spark can come a large fire.
4. Our greatest strengths can become our greatest weaknesses.
5. Failure is one of the greatest teachers if we ahve faith to learn from it.
6. It is not how you start the race or where are are druing the race. It is how you cross the finish line that matters.
7. "If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own afvantage."
8. You cannot learn from the Lord's will without exercising your agency and becoming acountable for your decisions.
9. The more things change, the more they can stay the same.
10. The temple to God is the greatest university.
Some great advice from Elder Hales that I needed, particulary right now.
"A Foundation for the Future in San Antonio" was another article I enjoyed reading. It talked about three families here in SA that gave all they had to the building of Zion here, just as other pioneers have, throughout the world. It is amazing to learn how the church is brought to some areas of the world, especially one where I am currently living. I will just let you read this on your own. I can't link it yet since it isn't on the website. I'll try and come back late this week and link the story here.
Greg got called into work to see af ew patients and went home teaching this afternoon. We made fajitas for dinner and then had Family Home Evening. Mackenzi planned it all and gave a lesson on sustaining our leaders especially our bishop. She did a great job and assigned everyone a part. We played Uno Attack, which I am proud to say I won 3 of the 5 rounds we played. Yea Baby!! We talked about our week, everyone chose what they wanted for dinner each night. This helps me alot, because if I don't have dinners planned out, then it's just easy to say we will grab something out. We made snickerdoodle cookies and planned on watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition(something we do together as a family every week) but it was a rerun we had already seen so we called Grammy & Poppy instead. All the girls talked to them and expressed to them how they miss them and can't wait until they come a nd visit.
It has been a great Sunday. It was nice to have Greg with me during Sacrament meeting. Primary was chaotic as always, but my kids in my class seem to be warming up to me being their teacher. I don't know if they are really starting to like me or if my cookie and treat bribes each week are helping.
*How was your Sunday? What did you do after church?*
5 comments:
I am beginning to think that we are not only dressing alike and doing the same things without knowing it. Freaky.
I have been doing that same thing with music and it TOTALLY helps. Amen to that. I think that is what has been keeping me from getting so upset.
We had FHE tonight. Taylor cracks me up how they really get into it. We also broke out the snickerdoodles and peanut butter cookies. Sadly, they are almost gone. I devoured TOO many. Looks like tomorrow could be a double day. Hee hee.
Thanks for your Sunday thoughts. I missed church today, so it was really nice to read something uplifting.
I love the image of your little girls singing primary songs, especially Maryn! A nursery cd is a great idea. Maybe I'll make one for Eva.
I'm sure your Primary kids love you. What's not to love! :)
Alex and I went to church by ourselves yesterday because Ryan was not feeling well so Jim stayed home with him. I thought about just staying home too but I felt I needed to be there. Sunday was the 3 month anniversary of Sweet Lizzie's death. I wanted to do something special for her and since she was such a spiritual person, I thought that was the best place for me. I'm so glad I went. All of the readings and songs fit Lizzie to a tee. It was like she picked them out herself. Glad you had a refreshing day!
I also believe in the power of music to influence our moods...either for the bad or the good. Loved the new Ensign. I try to read it while Ethan and I are eating lunch. And the idea for the Nursery CD is great...I would love to know what songs they included on it, what singers, etc.
I LOVE this post, Angie!! I need to read some more in that Ensign but I did read the 10 axioms to live by, by Elder Hales. It was VERY good. In fact, I intend to blog about one of them that really struck me!!
The temple, yeah, I need to go more too. Although mine is 55 minutes from my house. We had been going regularly once a month and seldom could we go together because of finding someone to watch our kids for nearly 5 hours was a big deal, especially given the ages of our kids.
And then I tend to get kind of bugged when I get a real knit picky lady temple worker that is over zealous with all of the packet stuff. I would prefer to just not have any help.
Anyway, last time I went to the temple was on my birthday in November. I really need to get back there! Thanks for the reminder!
Oh, and I'll have to try your music trick since my kids were WAY out of control today (and yesterday). (I can totally tell we have a change in weather headed our way!)
And, it's so fun to know you are a fellow country music fan!!! :)
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