Music in my soul today...Entering the realm of blogger

 A few months ago I was in a meeting where the instructor shared a message about how we can learn through the writing process.  That class was profound to me as I felt truth in the message.  Though not a daily journal writer, I have long found writing my thoughts down to be therapeutic and instructive.  Writing down my thoughts has led me to aspire for the best version of myself and helped me to see God's plan for me.  When writing about a discouragement, I often have seen the blessings in being led down a different path.  When processing heartbreaking loss, I have felt enveloped with love and compassion.  When writing about being overwhelmed, simply detailing the work to be done has helped me see how the various tasks can coordinate together or made me realize that something needs to change and be dropped to restore balance to my life.

For the past few months, I've had frequent thoughts about blogging my thoughts and experiences.  This thought has actually been around for a couple of years but has intensified of late.  I would witness something thought-provoking and make a mental note that I should write it down and share it but inevitably life would get busy and the thought was soon lost.  My hope is that perhaps this blog will help me capture more of those moments and that maybe someone will read it and be edified.  Even more than that, I hope this blog helps me recognize the many tender mercies in my life.

The title of this blog is "Music in my soul today" and comes from a hymn titled "There is Sunshine in my Soul Today." (If you don't know this hymn, you can find it at: http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/there-is-sunshine-in-my-soul-today?lang=eng or listen to a lovely rendition by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPuLP6KFvFA).  I've always loved this hymn as it details the joy that I so often feel in my life.  Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are not often blessed with natural sunshine and yet I feel so much light in my life from following Jesus Christ.  The second verse is particularly a favorite because it states, "There is music in my soul today, A carol to my King."  A carol is defined as "a song of joy", "a hymn of praise" and "singing in a cheerful manner."  As a working musician and teacher, my life is literally filled with music from morning to night and it brings me great joy.  But even greater joy has come to me as I've followed Christ and his teachings.  My hope is that everything I do and say serves as a carol to express my gratitude for the joy His gospel brings me.