Creative Energy

I heard this analogy once that made a huge impact in my life. You've probably already heard it. It's the one where you imagine a thick, steel cable that's about 2 feet in circumference and 100 feet long. Imagine this cable is stretched out on the floor and you are at one end and I'm at the other. I tell you, "I'll give you $100 if you can step onto the cable and walk across it like a balance beam over to me without falling off onto the floor." Would you try it? I probably would.

Then the scenario changes. Imagine that this cable is part of a high suspension bridge. A tram travels our cable to get from one side of the chasm to the other. Except you are not inside the tram. You are standing on one end of the chasm, and I'm on the other side of the chasm, with the cable suspended between us. Now I tell you, "I'll give you $100 if you can come across to me". Would you do it now? Most people, me included, wouldn't. The risk is too great. I'm also afraid of heights. You couldn't pay me a million dollars to come across.

But then the scenario changes once again. Same scenario as last, but at the other end this time, is someone who is holding your baby and says, "If you don't come across on the cable, I will drop your baby." Now would you come? It makes me cry every time.

I had heard this analogy before in a Relief Society meeting when I was a brand new mother, and I figured that my child would probably be the ONLY thing I would cross the chasm for. A few years ago I heard this analogy again, but it was in relation to your core values. What things are so important to you, that if you didn't have those things in your life, you couldn't imagine existing without them. One of the things that surprised me was that one of my core values is Creativity. Not just music but anything creative. Without being able to be creative, I don't know how I'd survive!

Lately, I haven't been as creative, and it's amazing how much that effects all other aspects of my life. It's good for me to notice those things. Knowing I'm not being as creative as I'd like to be, I started writing a new choir arrangement. It's an arrangement of one of the songs on my CD, "Living Water". It is SOOOO pretty. In one day, I feel so much better! It's amazing to me how much I need to be creative. It affects everything!

I'll post the song soon. I don't have any way to hear it performed, so I'm having my family be my editors.

Blog again, soon,
Lindy

Playing Zoo Keeper

I just got back from the zoo. It was one of those crazy spontaneous things that happened. My Kindergartner had a field trip this morning, and one of the moms was unable to help. So I offered to come. I wasn't doing anything else, it was just going to be my day to unwind.

This week two of my children had birthdays (one day apart). This is always a crazy time of year with that fact alone. In addition, I also had a concert at the Middle School where I played the piano for all the choir classes. It was their year end "Pops Concert". Also, two of my children sprang reports on me that were due the next day! I love being a mom, but sometimes some weeks are a little harder than others.

This week in particular, it seems like my life is a little like the zoo I just returned from- except the zoo was cleaner. Atleast I think my house smells a little better than the giraffe house we visited, although at times....

I take for granted all those times I've gone to the zoo and looked at all those animals, and not fully appreciated the work that goes into keeping all those animals in their places. There's a lot of people helping. I'm grateful that there's someone helping me out too, with my kids, and with my life. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for all his blessings. Even weeks like this last one, where it seems like I'm the zoo keeper. Still, I know there's someone else who is in charge. He's just given me a few of his children to watch over and take care of.

Surviving Women's Conference

I absolutely LOVED singing at Women's Conference. I almost wasn't even nervous, until just before I sang. I was prepared, I had everything ready to go on the morning of, I didn't even feel stressed during the performance. I had no idea that almost immediately after we performed, I would be almost entirely exhausted! It is only in hind sight that I can even try to contemplate what happened.

Rewind 4 months ago, January 1st, and I was writing a song to sing for a "New Beginnings" program. I had to write and learn the song in only a few days. The performance went well, and I didn't think any thing else of it. Two days later, Sister Dibb asked me to sing for the three General Women's Committees at the Relief Society building in Salt Lake. A week later, we sang, and Jessica Perry and I were invited to sing at Women's Conference. A couple weeks later, I emailed Greg Hansen to get some advice about possibly having a CD available in the Bookstore at Women's Conference. Greg told me I should make the CD and that he would produce and orchestrate. From that point on, the next 2 months, was preparing the CD, learning from Greg, recording, praying, and wondering. Before we got into the process too far, Sister Lifferth told me she would get the CD into the bookstore, and when Greg Hansen relayed the information to Sounds of Zion, they offered to be the distributer for the album. It has truly been a ride. I loved every minute of it, but I also had no idea how much the last few months would wear me out!

Thankfully, I feel much better now. I was so happy to see my CD in the bookstore. It was one of those moments when you get to rejoice in hitting a milestone for your life. I grabbed a CD off of the display, and showed it to one of the ladies at the cash register. I told her, "This is me!" I showed her my name on the CD. She politely gave me the "Wow, that's great!" answer, and I was happy to share that moment with a stranger. Jessica Perry, who was with me, couldn't believe I was acting so silly. But really can you blame me? It was so exciting!

So, I guess it's all normal. It's funny how life keeps on going. Really nothing is that different. My oldest daughter Jessica and I, sang the duet "I'll Stay With You" last night for a mother/daughter young women's activity. Listening to her sing, moved me to tears, and I cried before we were finished. It was the first time I got emotional through all those times I've performed the song. It's easier to feel the love that Naomi had for Ruth, as I'm playing Naomi, and it's my daughter who plays the part of Ruth. She has such a sweet voice.

Tonight I got to attend a mother/daughter activity for another one of my daughters. I have been involved recently with their "activity day" activities, and so they had prepared to sing, "One Virtue at a Time". They did such a great job. I thought it would be fun for them to learn, so that when they got to Young Women's they would know how to sing it. I felt so blessed to be able to be a part of their lives.

I don't know what's next. I've stopped trying to guess, but I have to admit, my life has been very exciting and I am very happy.

"Women of God"

Several years ago, I attended the 2000 BYU Women's Conference. It was the first time I was privileged to go. I remember being amazed as I sat in the Marriot Center, looking at the thousands of women there. There were women from all over the country. We all wore a name tag with our names on them and where we were from. I remember feeling a kinship with everyone there. There was no way to know everyone that was there, but as we all raised our voices in song, we were united. We were all sisters.

During the next few weeks, I kept thinking about that experience, and tried to write a song that could capture the feelings I felt. I couldn't do it. Words were so difficult for me. I kept starting and giving up. I attended the next years conference, and felt the same way. I kept feeling those nudges to write the song. Unfortunately, I still couldn't get the words to convey the feelings that I felt. Through a series of interesting events, I was put in contact with a dear sister, Susan Noyes Anderson, who helped to write lyrics for the song which ended up being titled, "Women of God".

I showed the song to Michael Moody, who was head of the Church's Music department at the time. I told him that I felt like it should be performed at the coming Women's Conference that year. He told me that the song was very good, and that he would set up the performance. Later that year, there was a misunderstanding, and the song was entered, by mistake, into the Church's music contest. The song got lost, and never ended up being performed. I attended that next Women's Conference, and Sheri Dew gave a wonderful talk that I will never forget entitled, "Women of God". I cried through the entire address. This was where, I felt, my song should have been performed. Sheri Dew actually quoted almost the entire song! I couldn't believe how well the song would have fit with her talk, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Now, in 2008, I had the amazing opportunity to sing at Women's Conference. I know it was meant to be. I had many miracles that made it possible. Jessica Perry and I sang the duet that I'd written for our "New Beginnings" program in January, "I Will Stay With You". I found it another unlikely coincidance that the speakers titled their address, "Women of God".

Singing at Women's Conference was a wonderful experience. I was quite nervous just before we sang, but being on the stage, and performing was a lot of fun. I enjoyed listening to Margaret Lifferth and Carolyn Toronto's remarks, especially since again, the words of my song seemed to reinforce all that they had to say. I felt so blessed to be there. I appreciated all those that came to see us perform. My mother, and my mother in law were both there, as well as many from our ward. It was wonderful to feel their support.

Other than the exciting chance to walk through the BYU Bookstore and see my CD there, I also had another neat thing happen that day. That morning I received an email from a lady who wrote,

"I am writing from sunny Trinidad and I just love your songs. They are uplifting and soothing to the spirit. I attended a nun's ordination and heard "Women of God" and fell in love with it, so much so I will be using it with my graduating class this year. I teach music at a girls' convent here. 11-18yrs. Keep on writing. god has blessed you with tremendous talent."

I never know what purpose the Lord may have for the songs that I write. I can guess, but I'm usually wrong. I'm just grateful that I have been able to be His instrument. For that I will always be grateful.

Getting Excited

Tomorrow is the big day! I'm so excited. A couple people have asked me if I feel nervous, but I'm not yet. I'm just excited.

When I was younger, I did a lot of musical theater. I love to perform on stage. I really enjoy becoming a character, especially when there's also music. This brings back many memories of musicals gone by- Oklahoma, the Music Man, HMS Pinafore, all those Stake productions. Such good memories. I always get very nervous JUST before the play starts and then after it begins, I'm fine again. I imagine that's how it will be.

I was thinking about when I performed this song for the "New Beginnings" program. Because I had to introduce the song, I was very nervous about what I was going to say. Also, I was still making last minute changes to the song, so I was worried that I'd remember what to sing! Singing at the Relief Society building was a similar experience, adding with it, the fact that I was speaking and singing in front of so many important and spiritual ladies.

This time, though there will be many more spiritual ladies to sing in front of, it won't be me, Lindy, speaking and singing, it will just be Jessica and I as characters from the Bible, playing Ruth and Naomi. I'm excited to play the part of Naomi. I really think it will be fun. I think I've decided what I can wear. I wanted it to be something "Naomi"-ish. I found a simple outfit I think will work.

I'll be singing right after the two speakers. I told Margaret Lifferth that I was a little worried that if her talk put me in tears, I might be too emotional to sing. She assured me that she had opted to keep her talk light- hearted and fun. That's really my biggest concern. Other than that, I'm just feeling very excited about the opportunity.

Jessica and I have to be there early tomorrow to practice in the Concert Hall. Hopefully we're awake and can make it on time. (Hopefully I can sleep tonight!)

At any rate, I am very excited!!!