Who, Mx?

Rxmxmbxr thx days of using typxwritxrs?  This is onx of my favoritx handouts from back in thx day.

Love Is Spoken Here

I was listening to the Tabernacle Choir Channel the other day when the song, Love Is Spoken Here was played.  A feeling of peace came over me as I listened.  My mind went back to my childhood.  I am grateful I was raised in a home where love was spoken.

With all this craziness going on in the world today with the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest, I was happy to be reminded that we can have peace during this time as we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and put Him first in our lives. 

You can listen to the song by clicking onto the video 

I thought of my mother as I heard these words: 

"Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears, 

And I am thankful love is spoken here."

Love is Spoken Here 

by Janice Kapp Perry

I see my mother kneeling with our family each day.

I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray.

Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears,

And I am thankful love is spoken here.

Mine is a home where ev'ry hour is blessed by

The strength of priesthood pow'r,

With father and mother leading the way,

Teaching me how to trust and obey;

And the things they teach are crystal clear,

For love is spoken here.

I can often feel the Savior near

When love is spoken here.

I enjoyed learning the background of how Janice Kapp Perry came to write the song.

Count Your Many Blessings.....

This past weekend we received these pictures of our latest 4 grandchildren (along with an older grand daughter) who were born into our family within the past 6 months.  

As we thought of these sweet grandchildren, the hymn Count Your Blessings came to our mind.  You see, each of these 4 grandchildren spent some time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) after birth. Yet, we count our blessings that they are here, and are doing well. The greatest blessing is knowing that our Heavenly Father is real, is near, and knows us and our family members personally. We count that as our greatest blessing.

Count Your Blessing

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings; name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Chorus:

Count your blessings;

Name them one by one.

Count your blessings;

See what God hath done.

Count your blessings;

Name them one by one.

Count your many blessings;

See what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

Chorus

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.

Count your many blessings; money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

Chorus

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged; God is over all.

Count your many blessings; angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Chorus

Text: Johnson Oatman Jr., 1856–1922

Music: Edwin O. Excell, 1851–1921

An Aaronic Priesthood Choir from Stakes in Layton sings, "Count Your Blessings."

April 2019 General Conference.

Click onto the arrow to listen

Music Brought to You Because of COVID-19

This COVID-19 pandemic has brought to my attention a new way to make and share music while in being quarantined.  And it is through virtual choirs.  ❤️

I was happy when this beautiful song came across my YouTube feed. The message of this song's title, "How Can I Keep from Singing" is so fitting after listening to the video. It's amazing to me to see that these talented people from New York were brought together through the Internet in perfect harmony.

This is what Matt Podd's YouTube site said about this video:

Featuring... Grace Chorale of Brooklyn https://www.gracechorale.org/ First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyq-... First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn https://fpc.church/ Music arranged, orchestrated, produced, and mixed by Adam & Matt Podd www.poddbrothers.com Video produced and edited by Joe Gabriel www.thejoegabriel.com Additional audio editing from Jonnie Dredge All audio and video was captured by singers and musicians in their own homes.

This video preformed by Home Free makes me laugh every time I watch it.  

This is what Home Free said about their video: 

We've been having a hard time finding toilet paper around here, and we decided to write a song about it 🧻

The song, "Longest Time", preformed by Phoenix Chamber Choir is the most creative of all.

This is what  Phoenix Chamber Choir said about their video:

Wishing everyone the best of health from Vancouver, Canada!  Stay home, stay safe, and keep singing!

Lyrics: Zach Timson (@zach_timson) and Nicholle Andrews
Original Music: Billy Joel
Arrangement: Carolyn Shiau
Video Editing: Carolyn Shiau and Vaughn Chauvin
Sound Editing and Mixing: Brad Andrews
Artistic Director: Nicholle Andrews

Recorded in isolation by members of the following groups:
Phoenix Chamber Choir - Vancouver, BC
University of Redlands Chapel Singers - Redlands, CA
Songcology (mentored by Musica Intima) - Vancouver, BC
Crescent Choirs - White Rock, BC
Da Camera Singers - Edmonton, AB
Filles de L'île - Montreal, QC
Hart House Jazz Choir (Oscat) - Toronto, ON
Jubilate Vocal Ensemble - Vancouver, BC
Quartom - Montreal, QC
Richmond Orchestra and Chorus Association (ROCA) - Richmond, BC
St. Mary's Kerrisdale - Vancouver, BC
Timbre! Choir - Port Alberni, BC
Vancouver Bach Choir - Vancouver, BC

www.phoenixchoir.com

One Voice Children's Choir singing, "Memories"

One Voice Children’s Choir is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation based in Utah, USA. The vision statement of the choir is, “through music, we inspire, enrich, uplift, and serve our global community, while building youth as One Voice.”

Music Credits:

Words and Music by Adam Levine, Jon Bellion, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Stefan Johnson, Michael Pollack, and Vincent Ford 

Canon in D composed by Johann Pachelbel (1653 - 1706) 

Arranged and Produced by Masa Fukuda

Mixed and Mastered by Masa Fukuda

Video Credits: 

Producer / Director: Kathie Steinagel 

Cinematography and Editing: Nick Sales

Idos Media: RJ Idos, Morgan Steinagel

And how do you put together a virtual video?  Take a deep breath and wonder no more after you watch Nick Sales explain how he edited the One Voice Children's Choir rendition of "Memories".

July 3, 2020 - And this music just keeps on coming....  I heard this one today - just in time for the 4th of July tomorrow.  

Home Free put together this video (featuring Lee Greenwood and The United States Air Force Band)

....and this is how Home Free made the video.

October 11, 2020  This one recently came out.  Just in time to go back to church after not being able to attend services for about 6 months.  

This year, (2021) Scott was in charge of our church's ward Christmas party/dinner.  

This video hit home with us.

My nephew is in the video as an alumni of the BYU Men's choir.  

This  hymn was produced by our good friend from California, Nils Lindstrom.

This is what Nil's YouTube site said about this video:

Memorial Day 2020. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kristen Hamilton Director, Shannon Hyer Accompanist. Featuring Becky Hagen, Crysta Lew, Heidi Slater, Jackie Cox, Jocelyn Hansen, Joseph Jensen, Judilynn Watkins, Kendall Merkley, Kent Welling, Kristen Hamilton, Leslie, Loraine Lindstrom, Nils Lindstrom, Maren Hamilton, Mike Miller, Ryan Lew, Steve Slater, Tim Monzello

A Tribute to the Armed Services

We watched this performance this morning on Music and the Spoken Word and it brought us back to our Arcadia days when the Southern California Mormon Choir would sing this medley every year at the 4th of July Concert.

   

This is what The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square had to say about the song:

The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square perform a medley "A Tribute to the Armed Services," arranged by Lloyd Larson. The medley consists of "The Army Goes Rolling Along," "Marine Corps Hymn," "Semper Paratus," "Anchors Aweigh," "The U.S. Air Force (Wild Blue Yonder)," and "America the Beautiful."

Of course, I think of our family members who have served our country as I listen to the song:  Bryce Jeppson in the Marines. George Magnusson in the Navy.  Kiefer Harris in the Air force.  David Wood in the Army

This is our home in Duarte flying, "The Emblem of the Land We Love".

Click here for the link to watch the whole program.  This the narrative of what was said on the program.

The Spoken Word

“The Emblem of the Land We Love”

The flag of the United States has flown on the earth and the moon, on the home front and the battlefront, in conflict and in peace. Something stirs within us when we see this red, white, and blue “emblem of the land [we] love, the home of the free and the brave.”

For many of us, that stirring is especially deep when we remember those who have died defending what the flag represents. As one unknown patriot wrote, “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” Today we honor the heroic men and women throughout history who have defended our nation. Without their sacrifice, the flag would be little more than a colorful piece of fabric. Because of their sacrifice, the flag continues to proclaim to all the world the principles of freedom, equality, liberty, and justice for all.

Of course, we all know that no nation is perfect. And yet our love and respect for our country seems to deepen as we work to overcome our shortcomings and mistakes, past and present. What makes any country great is the principles of its founding, its boundless potential, and its constant striving to live up to those precepts.

The same is true of each of us. After all, a country is made up of individuals—all less than perfect and all with great potential. In a sense each of us is, like our beloved flag, an emblem of this land we love. Our country is only as strong as each individual who serves and sacrifices for its core institutions: for home and family, for neighborhoods and communities, for church and state.  

And so this Memorial Day when we see the flag of freedom wave, let us remember what it represents—not just a land but a people. It waves for the sons and daughters who gave their all. It waves for the promise of liberty they died to protect. It waves for every patriot who has made this country the land we love. We honor their memories, this day and always.

The New Normal?

There seems to be a new normal going on around here.  The COVID-19 pandemic has us wearing masks in public to help with "keeping the virus from spreading".

Here are a few shots that our family has sent us with their "new look".

Lisa on her way to Costco

Janelle on her way to visit her baby in the hospital

Renee at a doctor visit with her cute baby

Rachel at work

Kristine and Bryce with their newborn twins

I resisted making a mask until it was announced by Costco that you couldn't shop there unless you had one.  

I used this pattern to make my first masks. 

Scott is getting ready to go to the store with his new mask I finished today.

I was happy to find the new mask pattern that is much more comfortable to wear and easier to make.  

Here's the video with the  step-by-step instructions to make the easier mask:

And life goes on.......

Songs of Testimony

Ever since I was a young child,  I have had a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was introduce to the Gospel as I attended Sunday School and Primary and sang the children's hymns. 

This is a picture of me with my older brother, Craig 

Last week when I was in Idaho, I was invited to share my testimony to my grandchildren, ages 9-2.  What better way to bear my testimony than through the words of Primary hymns.

I Am a Child of God

I like how this video portrays that the title of this song applies to everyone -- both young and old.

A Child's Prayer

This song is sung using sign language.  Notice the first verse is a question.  The second verse is the answer.  

We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet

As an adult,  this hymn gives me a lot of peace, particularly during this COVID-19 pandemic.  I look to our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson as he has calmly counseled us with optimism. He invited us to fast and pray for healing and an end to the pandemic.   

As I Walk with Jesus

The video shows examples of how we can "walk with Jesus". The song has a great message found in the chorus: 

As I walk with Jesus to my home above,

He will bless me with His Spirit and fill me with His love,

Change my heart forever and help me clearly see.

I will walk with Jesus, and He will walk with me. 

The Miracle

This song bears a strong testimony of the mission of Jesus Christ 

“The Miracle”

by Shawna Belt Edwards

Jesus walked upon the water.

He stilled the storm and calmed the angry sea.

With His hands He healed the leper.

He made the lame to walk, the blind to see.

He fed a thousand people with a loaf or two of bread.

And when the ruler’s daughter died,

He raised her from the dead.

Jesus is a God of miracles;

Nothing is at all impossible to Him.

But I know this:

Of all His miracles, the most incredible must be

The miracle that rescues me!

Jesus bled and died to save me—

A price that I could never pay alone.

When He rose again, He gave me

The greatest gift the world has ever known!

Yes, I can be forgiven every time that I repent,

And someday He will lift me up to live with Him again.

Jesus is a God of miracles;

Nothing is at all impossible to Him.

But I know this:

Of all His miracles the most incredible must be

The miracle that rescues me,

The miracle that rescues you and me!

© 2018 by Shawna Belt Edwards. All rights reserved. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. This notice must be included on each copy made.

Gethsemane

This song is a wonderful way to teach children about the Atonement, 

I  would invite you to share these songs with your children or grandchildren.   

(Click onto the title link of each song to watch each video on Youtube) 

Grandbaby #11

It's a girl!  She was born to Janelle and Dave.  We are so happy to have her join our family.  She is a miracle baby and we are excited for the Anderson family.  

Yes, she was born during the COVID-19 pandemic.  And no, her name isn't Corona, it's Mary Katelyn.  

Adversity

"Adversity will be a constant or occasional companion for each of us throughout our lives. We cannot avoid it. The only question is how we will react to it. Will our adversities be stumbling blocks or stepping stones?"  Dallin H. Oaks

This morning after watching Music and the Spoken Word on TV, a past BYU Devotional given by Dallin H. Oaks came on.  The speech was titled "Adversity" and it was given on January 17, 1995.  I agree with Elder Oaks when he said that "adversity will come to all." Then he asked, "how we will we react to it?"  I'm hoping that I'm using my adversities as stepping stones and that my adversities are making me stronger.

You can listen to the whole devotional below.  You can skip past the introductions and start listening to the meat of his devotional starting at 4:35.

You can read the speech by clicking here.  

COVID - 19: "The Rules as of Today"

As Scott and I were checking out at Walmart the other day, this sign was 6 feet away from the front of each cash register lane.

Which brings me to this list that Rachel shared with me yesterday.  (Thank you COVID-19)

The Rules as of today:

1. Basically, you can't leave the house for any reason, but if you have to, then you can.

2. Masks are useless, but maybe you should wear one, it can save you, it is useless, but maybe it is mandatory as well.

3. Stores are closed, except those that are open.

4. You should not go to hospitals unless you have to go there. Same applies to doctors, you should only go there in case of emergency, provided you are not too sick.

5. This virus is deadly but still not too scary, except that sometimes it actually leads to a global disaster.

6. Gloves won't help, but they can still help.

7. Everyone needs to stay HOME, but if it's important then GO OUT.

8. There is no shortage of groceries in the supermarket, but there are many things missing when you go there in the evening, but not in the morning. Sometimes.

9. The virus has no effect on children except those it affects.

10. Animals are not affected, but there is still a cat that tested positive in Belgium in February when no one had been tested, plus a few tigers here and there…

11. You will have many symptoms when you are sick, but you can also get sick without symptoms, have symptoms without being sick, or be contagious without having symptoms.

12. In order not to get sick, you have to eat well and exercise, but eat whatever you have on hand and it's better not to go out, well, but no…

13. It's better to get some fresh air, but you get looked at very wrong when you get some fresh air, and most importantly, you don't go to parks or walk. But don’t sit down, except that you can do that now if you are old, but not for too long or if you are pregnant (but not too old).

14. You can't go to retirement homes, but you have to take care of the elderly and bring food and medication.

15. If you are sick, you can't go out, but you can go to the pharmacy.

16. You can get restaurant food delivered to the house, which may have been prepared by people who didn't wear masks or gloves. But you have to have your groceries decontaminated outside for 3 hours. Pizza too?

17. Every disturbing article or disturbing interview must start with " I don't want to trigger panic, but…"

18. You can't see your older mother or grandmother, but you can take a taxi and meet an older taxi driver.

19. You can walk around with a friend but not with your family if they don't live under the same roof.

20. You are safe if you maintain the appropriate social distance, but you can’t go out with friends or strangers at the safe social distance.

21. The virus remains active on different surfaces for two hours, no, four, no, six, no, we didn't say hours, maybe days? But it takes a damp environment. Oh no, not necessarily.

22. The virus stays in the air - well no, or yes, maybe, especially in a closed room. In one hour a sick person can infect ten, so if it falls, all our children were already infected at school before it was closed. But remember, if you stay at the recommended social distance, however in certain circumstances you should maintain a greater distance, which, studies show, the virus can travel further, maybe.

23. We count the number of deaths but we don't know how many people are infected as we have only tested so far those who were "almost dead" to find out if that's what they will die of.

24. We have no treatment, except that there may be one that apparently is not dangerous unless you take too much (which is the case with all medications).

25. We should stay locked up until the virus disappears, but it will only disappear if we achieve collective immunity, so when it circulates… but we must no longer be locked up for that?

Rachel found the list  on this Facebook page.

As long as I'm on this subject, here is a funny picture of Reed Christensen's sister-in-law who got married just before they closed the temples for COVID-19.

Below is a video of talented singers, Home Free, explaining it all......

You can also see the video by clicking here