Songwriters, this post is for you. How do you get your inspiration? I think that our every day lives provide a great start to great songs, but to create something even deeper I think you have to either really dig or be just lucky.

If you were to pick your “best” song, where did you get that inspiration?

I have heard of Oprah, songwriting partners, walking outside the grocery store, and funny things your kids says. Any more creative ideas?

My boy took a nap yesterday, which makes him stay up waaaaay past his bedtime. I think that almost-five-year-olds can sleep when they’re tired, but it’s really too bad that means they don’t sleep when I’M tired!

But as I was getting ready for bed, I heard a weird noise, so I turned off the water and walked to the hallway. It was just my little boy humming to himself while laying in bed. I stood there for a moment and appreciated the fact that even though he wasn’t tired, he was entertaining himself with music.

I think that the love for music is universal and knows no age! Do you have any tender music moments? 

We all know the feeling of sitting down in church, looking up at the hymns and thinking, “Man, who picked that one? I’ve never heard it and don’t know how to sing it.” My parents mentioned they sang “Ring Out, Wild Bells” last Sunday, but they had never heard it. But in one of my wards, the chorister picked that song every new year, so I was familiar with it and enjoy singing it.

But we all have our favorite hymns to sing, especially as the seasons change. What are some of the songs you like to sing that maybe others haven’t had a lot of practice singing? Or are you the chorister that forces everyone to sing something other than Come, Come Ye Saints?

All month I have been going on about how much I love Christmas songs and how much I love to sing them in church. Before the season started, I had a few hymns that I thought I liked more than the others. But this year, as I was singing “Away in a Manger” I learned something new. The third verse really stuck out to me, so I printed the words and put them by my computer so I could remember what I learned. I hope to live by this plea and be grateful for my savior as I go throughout the year. It reads:

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray!
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
And take us to heaven, to Live with Thee there.

May you all have a happy new year and have the strength and blessings you are looking for from our Savior.

No matter what your situation is or your connection to LDS Music, you have to appreciate the courage of David Archuleta to go on a mission. You can watch the announcement (via YouTube) here:

During our lives we feel like we need to do certain good things. And it’s impressive when you act on those good things and look to bless others. From all of us here at LDS Music Now, may you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year.

I have a friend who is a convert to the Church (she was baptized 6 years ago) and is now my son’s Sunbeam teacher. She wasn’t very familiar with the Primary songs until her new calling and made the comment the other day, “Well, we sure are brainwashing our children with those song lyrics!” She was being rather tongue-in-cheek about it, but she got me thinking about what we do teach our children.

One of my favorite songs from the Children’s Songbook is “I lived in Heaven” and I sing it to my children often. When you read the lyrics:

1. I lived in heaven a long time ago, it is true;
Lived there and loved there with people I know. So did you.
Then Heav’nly Father presented a beautiful plan,
All about earth and eternal salvation for man.

2. Father said he needed someone who had enough love
To give his life so we all could return there above.
There was another who sought for the honor divine.
Jesus said, “Father, send me, and the glory be thine.”

3. Jesus was chosen, and as the Messiah he came,
Conquering evil and death through his glorious name,
Giving us hope of a wonderful life yet to be—
Home in that heaven where Father is waiting for me.

Words and music: Janeen Jacobs Brady, b. 1934
© 1987 by Janeen Jacobs Brady. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.
—–

The words in that song are really a lot of what people on this earth are wondering about, but we can (even when we’re little children) know where we came from, why we’re here and where we’re going. I am grateful that our Savior could come to this earth and we could be a part of his church.

For some reason, my little boy is saying “I love you” a lot more often. I think we are all just generally more happy to be alive during the Christmas season because we have more focus on giving and more reasons to grateful for what we have.

Today I am grateful for:

• My little boy shaking jingle bells and singing the song to my little girl
• My little girl looked up and me and smiled
• My husband who is willing to help
• My home to keep us warm
• Our health and safety

How is your Christmas shopping? I am pathetically behind, but I am ahead on how I feel about the holiday. While I may not be totally decorated or totally prepared, for some reason this year feels extra special. I know I am extremely blessed and I am grateful for what I have and that seems to be good enough for now.

This is not me.

Now to just translate all of that into energy to do the things I need to do. Right? Hey, at least I got the tree up!

We think now is a good time for a giveaway.

The deadline to enter is December 15. Best of luck!

As Thanksgiving nears, I can’t help but think of all the many blessings I enjoy. There are good things happening in life at all times, no matter how hard things may be. Here are a few things I needed to tell myself the past while:

• When your car breaks down, remember that you have someone to call and talk to it about.
• When you burn dinner, be thankful for a freezer that can hold a pizza.
• When you don’t feel well, remember you can lay down and dream.
• When you wish your to-do list was shorter, be grateful for your ability to be here and accomplish something.

Because I have been Given Much, I too must give. Not only can I look on the brighter side for myself, but I am striving to look to help someone. What about you?