My Heart I Give To Him

    My favorite Primary song is I Know That My Savior Loves Me. From the first time that I heard it several years ago, the sweet melody and words affirm a new witness to my soul every time I hear it, especially sung by children. I remember the joy of the words, " I didn't touch Him nor sit on His knee yet Jesus is real to me" 
    Our Primary children are learning this song to sing in their Sacrament Meeting presentation in the Fall. I am really enjoying it. Yesterday as I was watching sweet Emma with her favorite part of me- the iPad!, I started to sing this song. She turned around and stated that she was learning that song in Sunbeams. I told her it was my favorite Primary song. I kept of singing it. It came to the chorus- "I know He lives. I will follow faithfully. My heart I give to Him." Emma turned to me and told me, " I gave my heart to Him". I replied that I have done the same. Magical moment for Grammy! I also had an incredible music moment with Emma last Fall during Alaina's sacrament meeting program. The congregation was singing with the children. Families Can Be Together Forever. Emma sang every words and even better she gazed into my eyes as we sang together. My eyes were self washing themselves during that! It is so easy to bear testimony through song.

A long time ago in a beautiful place
Children were gathered 'round Jesus
He blessed and taught as they felt of His love
Each saw the tears on His face
The love that He feels for His little ones
I know He feels for me
I did not touch Him nor sit on His knee
Yet, Jesus is real to me

I know He lives
I will follow faithfully
My heart I give to Him
I know that my Savior loves me.

Now I am here in a beautiful place
Learning the teachings of Jesus.
Parents and teachers will help guide the way
Lighting my path every day.
Wrapped in the arms of my Savior's love
 I feel His gentle touch
Living each day I will follow His way
Home to my Father above.

I know He lives
I will follow faithfully
My heart I give to Him
I know that my Savior loves me.

Thank you Veterans

I love the song America the Beautiful. It has a stirring tune and the words are gorgeous. My favorite verse is the third.
Oh Beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife
   Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life.

  Every time I sing those words I am grateful for the men and women that protect our land and freedoms. I also honor them for helping to protect freedom everywhere. It is a day to hear freedom songs in my heart. 
I love them all
The Star Spangled Banner
My Country 'Tis of Thee
That's My Flag
All the military songs
  I am glad to honor heros through music.

I'm Trying...

Last Sunday was our Primary Program. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even without a representative of the Johnson family on the stand. And in spite of having to sit in the back on the awful chairs. As the congragation was joining the children on the 2nd verse of their closing song, the Spirit flooded that chapel. I wanted to join in with a strong full voice, but I joined in with a strong full heart instead. My eyes was brimming over and I felt such love. I felt such a committment to my Savior.
I'm trying to love my neighbor.
 I learning to serve my friends
I watch for the day of gladness
   When Jesus will come again.
I try to remember the lessons He taught
   Then the holy Spirit enters into my thoughts saying:
Love one another as Jesus loves you
   Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought
   For these are the things Jesus taught.
 
I also was very moved to hear the Women's Choir at the broadcast on Saturday. All their songs were so fantastic. But once again, I loved joining them in my heart to ask my Father to be near me  because I need Him every hour.

Christmas Songs

A big thank you to my mother. As I have been feeling very 'scroogey', I asked for help. My dear mother reminded me of the beauty and spirit of Christmas hymns. A fact about me: I hate 'rock beat' Christmas music. It's okay if the song was written for a moving beat, but please leave the sacred hymns alone! That said, I am going to be sharing my favorite christmas songs.
Silent Night- Probably one of the first Christmas songs I ever learned. I think I love the 2nd and 3rd verses even more than the 1st. Something about a sacred quiet arrangement of this song makes my heart in tune with heaven.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing- I love this song. Yes, Mom, I love 'mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die'. I think my favorite rendition of this song has a neat memory that I choose to share. We were attending the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Broadcast. (I love those!) We arrive early to get in our seats and watch the last minute rehearsals. I love seeing the program a few times. This year's guest was Sissel. I had never heard of Sissel. I just knew she was a Scandinavian artist. As the choir practiced their first song, a full figured lady in one of the choir dresses sang the solo. It was okay but really nothing spectacular. I settled down to enjoy the show. As the official program started and the strains of Hark, the Herald Angels Sing began, an angel began singing with the choir. A beautiful young woman in a gorious dress with one of the most incredible voices I have ever heard was on stage. I have her singing this song...it always makes me happy.
Joy to the World- Christmas music season starts on Thanksgiving evening. I have to start it with Julie Andrews singing Joy to the World. So well written. The music and words stir us up to joy. I love that Handel wrote the music. I think he was a very inspired composer. Let every heart prepare Him room!

An Angel's Prayer

Yesterday, I was playing the organ for Sacrament meeting. The Sacrament hymn was 'In Humility Our Savior'. As I played and prayed in my mind, I heard a little angel's voice. The music was beautiful. I couldn't understand the words, but I understood the feelings. I glanced in the direction of the voice. It was darling Colton singing his heart out. He had a beautiful voice. It was in tune and he was singing with his heart. It made me think more about what was about to take place. I was getting ready to recommit myself to my Savior. I have always thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus as larger and white and kind of marble finished in my mind. Like statues. But in my mind I felt how they really are. Flesh like me. Real. I love them. I want to be with them. I love music for helping me feel that.

How Could I Keep From Singing

This afternoon , I held my newest lamb in my arms. His little legs are sore from the ‘protection’ of his immunizations. As I gently held him, I remember how he responds to my singing. He is so fresh from heaven that he seems to sense the testimony that leaves my heart in the form of song. I am working on learning a new song- How Can I Keep From Singing?. As I started to sing the words to him-
My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
That hails a new creation
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?
Little Liam’s eyes started to sparkle and he burst forth in the most beautiful smile. He started to ‘sing’ with me. The soft coos and language that are available to him joined me through the rest of the song.
What tho' my joys and comfort die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth
What tho' the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night He giveth
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that Refuge clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

I lift mine eyes; the cloud grows thin
I see the blue above it
And day by day this pathway smoothes
Since first I learned to love it
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart
A fountain ever springing
All things are mine since I am His
How can I keep from singing?
Oh, that was my treat for the day. No sweets or earthly comforts could have made my heart as full of joy as had that moment. I will keep singing to this treasure child until the pull of the world over shadows my feeble voice and pulls him to more exciting climes. But today, Liam and I shared a song.

Whenever I Hear.....

I am a little needy this week. I need to know that my Heavenly Father loves me and will help me through all things. I have felt His love, comfort and strength. The peace I feel is incredible. But I also am appreciating the little ways I am being told that He is over all. We have a robin that is chirping his territory call every time I am outside. "Whenever I hear the song of a bird..." I am noticing all the beauties around me. They are no accident. Yesterday, as a class was filing into the music lab, a sweet 3rd grade girl handed me a tiny white flower. I know that it was a weed, but it felt like a rare orchid. I appreciated her thoughtfulness. She didn't know that I needed that flower, but there it was. I felt the love of my Father at that moment also. A few tears were trying to make an escape, but I stemmed them and enjoyed the beauty of music.
I have been thinking of the song,
Whenever I hear the song of a bird, or look at the blue, blue sky.'
Whenever I feel the rain on my face, or the wind as it rushes by.
Whenever I touch a velvet rose, or walk by my lilac tree
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me.