Hello all! Today I am excited to share a piece that was a collaborative effort, completed in 2017. I wrote this summary when we completed the project last year:
This is my second collaboration with the very talented Shaillé Claypool! We are excited to have put the final touches on this piece and send it out into the the world.
This song originates from a talk given by Elder David A Bednar called “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/bear-up-their-burdens-with-ease?lang=eng). This talk had a lasting impression on me when it was given, but had particular significance to me during an anniversary trip that Jon and I took this year in February. Jon had been called as Bishop (for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) six months earlier and was exhausted; this trip provided a much-needed get-away from the demands that he faced. We ended up reading this talk together on the Sunday before returning home, and it provided a great deal of comfort. We needed the reminder that the heavy load we were carrying was not only needed for those we were serving but needed for US to move forward. “It was the load”. The heavy load was what enabled the husband in Elder Bednar’s story to return home.
When I returned home from the trip, I mentioned the talk and our experience to Shaillé and she wrote back stating that the idea to write a song about that talk was already in her computer file. That was the beginning of “The Load”. The first versions were entitled “Burdens” and we subsequently changed the title to “The Load”. Shaillé wrote verses 2 and 3, and then later came up with lyrics for verse 1 which I feel adds a great deal to the entire piece.
One interesting tidbit about the writing process is that I originally suggested that we end one of the verses by saying that our burdens will be light, instead of what Shaillé had drafted. She wrote back saying that she didn’t want that to be the focal point- because she felt that real life has shown her that it doesn’t always feel like our burdens are light when Heavenly Father helps us. Instead she suggested that we put the focus on greater understanding from Heavenly Father that the load is essential, and helps us return home. Yes, Heavenly Father will help us and lift our burdens, “but if not” or at least if it doesn’t feel like the burdens are lighter right now, know that the load is bringing you to Him, and bringing you home. Ask him to help you and He will lead you home. That is the message of this piece. We hope you enjoy “The Load”!
My Grandma Celesta never was a big movie-watcher, but the movie Pollyanna somehow made the cut (along with 1 or 2 others) for her tiny movie collection. I have a clear memory of watching it with Grandma and Grandpa in the upstairs of their farmhouse as a little girl (maybe I remember it clearly because watching a movie with Grandma was rare!). So when I came across the book Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter recently at the library, it was a no-brainer to bring it home and browse to see which of my avid readers would enjoy it the most.
As I paged through the book, I decided that it would be a perfect read-aloud book to enjoy with my 10-year-old son. As much as I thought he’d enjoy it, I was just as anxious to see how the story compared with the movie since I had never read it.
Though I started reading it with my oldest, my second son joined us after only a few chapters and all three of us really enjoyed the read (and the movie night that followed!).
If you haven’t read it, go pick it up at your library and don’t finish reading this post until you have returned your library book (so you avoid a $17 library fine that I just paid…). I don’t want to spoil it for you because it was such a delightful read. If you have read it, or don’t plan on reading it, here’s what I loved the most about it.
Pollyanna’s sunny, optomistic attitude is a focal point in the book. Her Dad, who passed away before the book began, taught her to play a game: in any given situation, find something to be glad about. The more bleak the situation looks, the better the game gets. Throughout the book, we watch Pollyanna find the bright side of many situations, and teach others “the game”. At the end of the story, Pollyanna is partially paralysed (as a result of an accident) and it looks as if she will never walk again. For the first time in the story, she cannot find a thing to be glad about.
Pollyanna has been living with an aunt (Aunt Polly), who has been cold an distant toward her. Among other requests, Aunt Polly has clearly told Pollyanna that she doesn’t want her to talk about her father, and therefore made it impossible for Pollyanna to share with her aunt how to play the glad game (since it has everything to do with her father).
At the end of the book, the town-folk have heard about the accident causing the paralysis, and one by one come to the house to ask Aunt Polly to relay a message to Pollyanna. Each one of them share the way that Pollyanna’s cheerful attitude has impacted them for good, and express their hope that if Aunt Polly shares how Pollyanna has helped them, perhaps that would make her glad. Aunt Polly is amazed as she listens to one person after another talk about this little girl changing their very lives with her ability to find the good.
After the visitors have all left, Aunt Polly marvels at what she has just heard and slowly, thoughtfully makes her way upstairs where her niece is resting. The next scene involves Aunt Polly sharing a tearful conversation with Pollyanna. Finally Pollyanna is able to share with her aunt “the game”. Aunt Polly who has been cold and unfeeling most of the time Pollyanna has been with her (though we have seen her changing gradually through the second half of the book), softens dramatically. Aunt Polly starts to look for the good with Pollyanna, and as a result, Pollyanna finds something to be glad about: the injury caused Aunt Polly to open up and love her. This was the thing Pollyanna had longed for above all else.
I was so touched by those last few chapters of the book. Do you ever wonder if you can make a difference in the world since you are just one person? Does your contribution matter? Pollyanna proves that one person can make an enormous difference; and not in some huge, humanitarian-project, world-peace kind of way; just by being herself, just looking for the good around her, Pollyanna had a transformative effect on those who came into her circle of influence.
So…be YOU today- and find something to be glad about!
If you’ve been on the music section of my website, you’ve seen these two words, passion and purpose, in a quote by a long-time family friend, Joey Reyes Owen: “Isn’t it a joy when your passion and your purpose collide?” This week I found another quote that ties together these two words:
When the Lord wishes to direct his people,” hymn composer and choir director Evan Stephens reflected, “his favorite mode of procedure seems to be not so much to thunder his commands from the mountains of clouds.” Far more often, in Stephens’s experience, “some quiet, unknown man or woman is unconsciously attuned into a fit instrument for the work.” First, “an intense desire is in some simple, natural way created in the person to accomplish something.” When a person’s individual passions and efforts match the Lord’s purposes, “more and more grows the desire and the joy in the labors of pursuit; more and more dawns upon their vision the possibilities” until “through the fruits of the labors of these inspired persons a people are found to have attained, to a more or less perfect degree, that particular goal and purpose desired by the Lord.”
Hello friends! I hope you’re soaking up the sunshine like we are. What beautiful days we’ve been enjoying in Washington State!
Today I wanted to share a little clip with you that made me laugh out-loud today. It’s actually an advertisement for an online masterclass from Hans Zimmer- an incredible film composer (think The Lion King, The Dark Knight, and Pirates of the Caribbean). I don’t think I’ll sign up (though I’ve considered the 7-day free trial version…) but I really enjoyed the clips that preview his instruction. He is one of many composers that I admire, and find his comments about composing inspiring!
My favorite part was his 4th segment entitled “Themes as Questions and Answers.” It’s about two minutes long and and it allows you to get an inside look at how a master composer perceives music- what is the theme communicating to the listener? Check it out!
(Click on the play button on Hans Zimmer’s photograph in order to see the preview clips. Then click on the one at the far right that says “Themes as Questions and Answers.”)
Many do not have the privilege of having a relationship into adulthood with their Grandparents, not to mention Great-grandparents. I have been blessed to have known well all 4 of my grandparents, all of whom have had an impact on my life in various ways. This week my Grandad Gates was the first of my grandparents to pass from this life to the next.
I’m the baby in white! Grandad is standing in a light suit, Grannie is sitting in front of him.
His name was known by many in the world (he was a well-known composer and symphony conductor), but to me, he was my Grandad. When I was little, our family took occasional road trips from Washington to Wisconsin so we could visit Grannie and Grandad (and for reunions with the Gates family as in the photo above). We spent a lot of time all together on those trips, but I remember one specific bonding moment when Grandad invited me into his study alone, set me on his lap, and played a game of memory with me on his computer. I don’t remember much else, except that when I walked out of that study, I felt smarter than when I had entered. He had a knack for building people up and helping them see the best in themselves.
Grannie and Grandad have celebrated many major milestones with me: my baptism, my graduation, and my wedding (photo above) to name a few. They have been able to know my husband, support us in our marriage, and they have celebrated several special occasions with us as our little family has grown. What a blessing that my children know their great-grandparents!
Grannie getting to know her new grandson (my first). Grannie and Grandad flew out to Houston for his baby blessing and my college graduation.Grandad’s turn to hold my new babe! This is a photo from that same visit to Houston.Visiting with Grannie and Grandad Gates at their home in Utah.
Several years ago when I had just begun writing my first piece, my oldest son commented to his brother, “Mom is writing music, just like Grandad does!”
Grandad was in his mid-nineties and lived a wonderful, full live, so there is much to rejoice over about his life, and little to mourn. We will miss his presence here, and yet we can only imagine the happy reunions in heaven.
As I prepared to put the finalizing details on “Come Home” last week, I had an interesting experience. We had received news that Grandad Gates had been hospitalized due to a heart attack the weekend before, but it looked like he was on the mend, and would bounce back as he has done many times in the past. But on Monday, the news was not nearly as optimistic, and it was not a hard leap to see that we may not have much time left with him.
My first thought when I read the email sharing the most recent updates about Grandad was “Tonight I will finish “Come Home” and send it to Grannie and Grandad Gates.” I thought it might be an enjoyable distraction for Grannie, spending many hours in a hospital. And in case it was the last time I’d have the chance, I wanted to share with Grandad one last piece that I had written- from one composer to the other. So I finished the last details and sent it off.
Grandad stabilized enough for him to be moved to an assisted living facility a few days after his heart attack. Then less than 24 hours later, his spirit was freed and he returned to his Heavenly home. Grandad left a larger-than-life legacy behind, and there are so many things that I could share in memory of him here, including many inspiring pieces of music that he composed. But I keep reflecting on the one-on-one experiences I’ve had with him that are mine alone to treasure and share. I’ll share two experiences that had a particular impact on me.
When I was 19 and going to college at BYU (Provo, Utah), I lived closer to my Grandparents than I ever had been before. They lived in Wisconsin during my early years (while we were in Washington State) and then they moved to Utah. So it was a neat opportunity to live close by, and develop an adult relationship with them.
One day on a visit to my Grandparents’ home, I was in Grandad’s study and somehow we got on the topic of dying. He had probably said something offhand about dying someday. I asked him if he was afraid of dying (because I sure was!). He very emphatically said, “No, I’m not.” And then he went on to explain: “When we die, it’s like walking from one room in our house to the next room. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
I’ve never forgotten that conversation. Grandad was not afraid to die.
This visit was right before I began a summer term at BYU. Here I am with Grannie, outside Grannie and Grandad’s home in Utah.
The second was an experience I had in my parent’s home in Washington State. Grannie and Grandad Gates had come to visit and I was there for the occasion as well. I had started composing music about a year before, and had found that although it was exhilarating, I struggled with self-doubt and perfectionism as I wrote every phrase. I sat down next to him in the living room and engaged Grandad in a discussion. I asked him some questions and I wrote down some key things he shared. Here are a few of the nuggets:
-None of us are perfect, but we are DANG GOOD!
-You must not be negative about yourself- that is a decision.
-Thank the Lord for the gift you’ve been given and ask him to magnify it on the next go.
-Be the best YOU can be- not compared to anyone else- not me (Grandad) or anyone else.
-If you are finding joy in writing music and time flies, that means you’ve joined the club; I think Beethoven must have felt that way too.
Enjoying time with Grannie and Grandad
Many years ago, Grandad arranged the hymn “O My Father” (one of my favorites). The words to verse 4 are so appropriate as we say goodbye to a dear Grandfather:
When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.
~O My Father
Grannie and Grandad Gates celebrating a special baptism day (my second son) last summer!
(There are many pictures of this wonderful couple I could end on, but currently this one is my favorite. Here they are sitting with a great-grandson between them, filling him and us with their love and support. They couldn’t miss this occasion to celebrate!)
Hello all! Today I am excited to share a piece that was a collaborative effort, completed in 2017. I wrote this summary when we completed the project last year:
If you’ve been on the music section of my website, you’ve seen these two words, passion and purpose, in a quote by a long-time family friend, Joey Reyes Owen: “Isn’t it a joy when your passion and your purpose collide?” This week I found another quote that ties together these two words:
