Update: Further zoom meetings have been cancelled for now. If you have interest in meeting up for a zoom lunch, contact me at melodiesoflight@gmail.com.

Hello Music Friends! Thanks for exploring this new idea with me!

This is for anyone who would like to chat about and associate with others who write music. If you don’t write music but want to join us, nothing is stopping you! Just know that will be the main topic of conversation. 🙂

I live up in little-town, Eastern Washington and I recently was wishing I lived around others who were working on music writing. I would love to chat, hang out, commiserate, celebrate, and feel encouraged to keep going. Recently it occurred to me that I could initiate this type of lunch by Zoom and enjoy interacting with musicians around the globe. So here we go!

I’m calling this monthly Zoom gathering “Lunch with Laura.” Here’s the scoop:

Every month, fix your own lunch (sorry, I can’t share my food through the computer!) and come join us by Zoom at 12:00 Pacific. There will be a focus thought or question to give us a jumping off point, and then we will just hang out and visit together while we eat for around 40 minutes. Feel free to put your website or handle on the chat, but this is not an opportunity to market your product or try to get attention for your website. If it’s relevant to our conversation, you’re welcome to share what you’re working on, but this is not a primarily promotional space. It’s for enjoyment and chatting and support. Please don’t try to hijack our conversations with advertisements! 🙂

Here are the dates, Zoom links, and prompts. I am not set up to send you reminders currently so make sure you put them on your calendar so you don’t forget! Hope to see you there! (Also, look on my website if there are technical difficulties day of, or send me a note through my website to let me know you’re having trouble getting on with the link.)

June 24- What does your work space look like?
Time: Jun 24, 2025 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77905946203?pwd=jMuY5D9SA7eupIcoE5PDkMnhwlrdrq.1

Meeting ID: 779 0594 6203
Passcode: 3SeMmC

July 22- What brought you to music writing?
Time: Jul 22, 2025 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72092756678?pwd=Qnf6aFrmKrMaYbVZjG6n5cG9VmF6Zz.1

Meeting ID: 720 9275 6678
Passcode: 5GzV6G

Further zoom meetings have been cancelled for now. If you have interest in meeting up for a zoom lunch, contact me at melodiesoflight@gmail.com.

Good morning, friends! Happy Monday.

Is your Monday feeling happy so far? Maybe it’s far more real with a combination of all the feels by 11am. That’s where I’m at. I’ve pretty much hit the whole range already and I haven’t even stopped for lunch. Ha! I’m learning that “real” is not only okay, it’s good. In the middle of the “real” I grow, I discover things about myself and others, I learn to reach up in faith and savor with gratitude those things that delight me. I cry or squirm or rejoice or feel bored. All of it is part of the earth-life experience.

I found a BYU devotional very inspiring the other day. I have been learning to feel all my feelings, not just the fun and happy ones, and not let my gut take the load. But I loved how this encouraged me to experiment with how smiling could change my perspective and lighten my load- even just a little. Something that might bring a little sunshine on your Monday!

Love,

Laur

SIX THINGS I BELIEVE, By Gus Hart

Some years ago I served as the bishop in my ward (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). It was so rewarding but also very challenging. I couldn’t stop worrying. I wondered why this special calling felt like such a burden at times, even though I constantly saw small miracles and I knew, at least intellectually, that the Lord was in charge. Still, emotionally, I couldn’t leave all the worry to Him. I didn’t know how to let go of it.

I fasted several times, asking for the Lord to take the worry away. In time He helped me understand that the worry was evidence that I loved the people I served and that as long as I cared for them, the worry would not go away completely. Knowing this helped me live with the worry and carry the burden.

One cold winter Sunday morning I was on my way to the church. It was pitch-black. The worry and the burden and the perceived unfairness of being up so early on a cold, dark Sunday morning felt particularly heavy. I had been fasting for help. And then an answer came. Simple. My Heavenly Father said just this: “Smile!” And I did. Instantly I felt better. I felt lighter. I saw serving my ward family as a privilege. Instead of focusing on the dark, cold morning, I could focus on the bright, happy faces of those who were serving with me. Instead of thinking about the struggles people faced, I could focus on their efforts, their examples, their faith, and their progress.

Now, I realize that simply smiling may not be a universal solution. I realize many people struggle with mental and emotional challenges that require professional help. But this was an answer after I had fasted and prayed specifically about my circumstance, and I share it, hoping it might help somehow. A smile can change my outlook.

Some days I feel like the imposter scientist. But when I smile, I believe that my best work is still ahead of me, and I am not ashamed of the things I don’t know yet or even the things that I knew and then forgot.

Some days I feel my faith is weak. But when I smile, I know the opposite of faith is not doubt—the opposite of faith is certainty—and I am grateful for what I do believe.

Some days I wish I would have been a better father when I was raising my kids. But when I smile, I realize they still listen to me. And I see them as Heavenly Father sees them and believe they will continue to grow and amaze me. I see them, as my patriarchal blessing says, as “jewels in my household” and see my family as my “greatest joy.”

Some days I feel the loss—the deep loss—of three sisters taken by cystic fibrosis before they had a chance to grow up. I feel so sorry for my parents. But when I smile, I look forward to knowing my sisters again—and knowing them better. And I revel in the nine crazy, interesting, and life-enriching siblings I am still with.

Some days I replay videos in my head of dumb things I did or unkind things I said or did, and I wonder, “How could anyone listen to me give a talk like this and not think, ‘Gus is such a hypocrite’?” But when I smile, my own weakness is the lens I need to see others clearly—to see them and love them as people like me who are a mix of good and bad traits, still trying to become the people they want to be but not quite there yet.

Some days I feel discouraged that my body is aging. I still want to improve my handball game and win the Utah state handball championship. I want to set new personal record times on my mountain-bike rides. I want to be shredded. But when I smile, I am grateful I can play handball, I can ride my mountain bike, I can use my hands to type, and I can see to read.

When I smile, I am grateful I can taste my wife’s amazing cooking and smell and see the beautiful flowers she grows in her enormous garden. I am grateful I am healthy enough to do anything my kids and grandkids do.

Photo by Manish Sharma on Unsplash

Today the sun is shining. We are relishing each sunny moment after a long winter! I hope the sun is shining wherever you are. If not, stir up some sunshine inside by doing something meaningful, fun, challenging or relaxing!

On long car rides, my son often asks for “5’s.” It’s a game that my mom introduced to him. One person introduces a category and challenges the other person to think of five things in that category. It might sound something like this. “Name 5 lakes,” or “Can you think of 5 kinds of trees,” or “5 of your favorite desserts.” It can be anything.

This afternoon as I was waiting in the Walmart parking lot for my grocery order, I thought it would be fun to challenge myself to a few “5’s” and anyone that would like to join in the comments below is welcome to! Let’s keep it simple for today…

5 things that help me relax:

Taking a hot shower, drawing, petting an animal, listening to music, receiving a hug.

5 things I’ve done with my family recently:

Went geo-cashing, watched jockeys and their horses warm up at a Kentucky race track (!), had a bonfire on our land, ate yummy custardy ice cream, and attended the Louisville, Kentucky temple together.

What are 5 things that help you relax?

What are 5 things you’ve done with your family recently?

Bye for now,

Laur