My New Song!

For many years I’ve dressed up
It’s something I enjoy
I get to be somebody else
It always brings me joy.

This year I am a princess
From a favorite fairy tale
I prance ‘round in my ball gown
The happiness never fails

I went to show my neighbor
A four-year-old little girl
She loved to see my princess dress
It’s so much fun to her

I called her princess Meagan
She balked at the title
“I’m not a princess now,” she said
“I’m just a little girl.”

“Of course you are a princess
And I’m a princess too”
“I know that you’re a princess
I see the dress on you.

My dress is still upstairs
I’m not a princess now
I can go put my gown on
And then I’ll take a bow.”

“But I’m always a princess
Not just when in this dress
And you’re always a princess too”
“I am?” she asked “Oh yes!”

“You have a Heavenly Father
Who is a royal king
And you and I are daughters
It makes me want to sing.”

“In heaven we are royal
And we’re royal here as well
One day we’ll both queens
But as princesses here we dwell”

“You don’t need any dresses
Your heritage is divine”
Listen, you’re father is saying
“You’re a princess and you’re mine.”

An Awesome Comparison from an Awesome Book

I've been reading the Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox--highly recommend it. I came upon an awesome little comparison today and felt like sharing it!

"Most of us try to avoid touching a hot stove, but if it happens we recognize the problem and withdraw our hand quickly. The pain prompts swift action, which keeps us from damaging ourselves further. Who among us is going to leave his hand on the stove and try to convince himself it doesn't really hurt? Committing sin is like touching a hot stove. In normal cases, the pain of guilt leads to recognition, which leads to quick repentance (see Packer, "The Touch of the Master's Hand," 23). This is exactly what Alma taught when he said, "Let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance" (Alma 42:29)...

"In the context of touching a hot stove, consider some of the most common excuses for sin:

• Just one touch won't hurt.
• I'm afraid if I take my hand off I won't be able to leave it off.
• I deserve this.
• The only reason I feel pain is because of my Mormon culture.
• But I was born with the desire to touch the stove.
• It's my parents' fault. They're the ones who bought the stove.
• I just need to adjust to the burning rather than try to overcome it.
• I want to be excommunicated so it won't hurt when I touch the stove.
• No one told me touching the hot stove was bad.
• It may hurt, but at least I am touching it with someone I love.
• It's not like it's totally wrong. It's a gray area.
• Everyone else is touching it.
• I'll touch it if I want. It's my right. Nobody is going to tell me what to do or not do.
• Stove? What stove? I don't see any stove.
• I just don't care anymore. I'm numb to it.
• I know it's wrong, but I'll move my hand tomorrow.
• You can't go without touching the stove all the time.
• I've blown it now. I might as well touch it more.
• Those who don't touch are so old-fashioned.
• At least it's just my hand and not my whole face.
• How will I know it hurts unless I touch it myself?
• At least the other stove touchers accept me and don't judge.
• There are others who touch it more than I do.
• If God iddn't want me to touch the stove, He wouldn't have given me a hand.

Obvisouly, it is easier to find excuses than it is to find God..."


Isn't that incredible? Those excuses seem SO stupid and yet we use them all the time! It was cool to see it in comparison to something we all know will hurt us and so I thought I'd share :D

Happy Sabbath!

Amazing Grace

Another song I wrote!

Amazing Grace:
a phrase I hear
and then I think
and have no fear

The Savior He
did die for me
if I repent
I am set free

He knows my pain
He knows my joy
by His free will
He is employed

Some won't accept
and others will
it's up to us
we have free will

I've made the choice,
and now will you?
you can go through life
as one...or Two

Chorus:
My Brother,
My Teacher,
My Shepherd,
My Friend
Christ is with me
'till the end

September 16, 2009

An Instrument in His Hands

A song I wrote :D

My Father has a band
He plays His songs for me
and sometimes when I can
I become an instrument in His hands

Sometimes I do not know
the part that I will play
but I will stay in Tune
so I can play for Him any day

An instrument in His hands
but what part will I play?
A strong and steady beat
or a tune that chases your tears away

An instrument in His hands
He helps me play for you
but sometimes I have noticed the songs
have helped me in my life too

Sometimes you may not get
a solo or first chair
but often a good harmony
can chase away any care

Sometimes I cannot play
so Father will take you
Together you will play a song
that will help me to get through

Then together we will play
a harmonious duet
and we will help another soul
all their trials to forget

Then they will join us too
and a trio we will form
we'll help our fellow band members
until they too can perform

And as we play in tune
our music it will swell
and if we all are worthy
then the angels will join as well

And if we all are worthy
then His Son will with us dwell.

The children brighten my life!

So imagine 11 little 3rd grade boys grooving to the Princess Pat and you'll see what I see every day :D

What a Week!

Heyo!

This has been a CRAZY week! I started at Draper Elementary with my little class of 3rd graders. I was completely overwhelmed the first day with all the teacher asked me to do. The second day I felt I was the worst teacher in the world. Wednesday was much better. I really don't think Thursday even happened. Friday was just fine, Saturday was the BYU game (GO COUGARS!) and then today---blessed Sunday!

My schedule is absolutely crazy

M
8:15-3:50--student teaching
7:00-9:00--FHE

T
8:15-3:50--student teaching
4:00-9:45--work

M
8:15-3:50--student teaching
7:00-9:00--Institute

Th
8:15-3:50--student teaching
4:00-9:45--work

F
8:15-3:50--student teaching
4:00-9:45--work

S
work at some point

S
11--ward council on 2nd and 4th
12:15--choir (I'm the new pianist...and play the organ for about 10 minutes of prelude)
1:00-4:00--church
linger longer
sometimes a fireside
7:00-8:00--temple singing

So I am excited to start having fun on Dec 10! My last day of school! haha

My 3rd graders are super cute. I'll have to share stories on here. One kid compared the scent of hand sanitizer to his dad's beer. That went over well, lol. Almost every kid whipped their heads towards him wide-eyed and slack-jawed and said, "Your dad drinks beer!?"

Another kid asked me to punch his mouth to get rid of a loose tooth--that makes two now.

The same kid was sad when he found out I'd only be there 2 months (awwww)

One of the groups of kids named their team the Cougars!


From http://thernelson.blogspot.com/

On to the temple dedication! I was going to post my notes that I took, but I was informed about this letter by a friend and my dad:

First Presidency Letter, May 2004:

Any notes made when General Authorities, Area Authority Seventies, or other general Church officers speak at regional and stake conferences or other meetings should not be distributed without the consent of the speaker. Personal notes are for individual use only.

So....I'll just leave it at this--I love the opportunity I had to hear some of the brethren and sisters that lead our church speak at the dedication of this temple. I can hardly wait for general conference! The temple really is an amazing thing and I am counting down the days until I can receive my own endowments in the House of the Lord.

Until next time!

Whitney