Be Still My Soul

It was Sunday, and I was actually early for church. Someone else was sitting in "our row" (first row, left side), so we sat in the middle of the chapel. I knew our ward was noisier than most (there are about 200 Primary age kids, 4 nurseries, and almost weekly baby blessings), but this week the noise and a darkness felt like it was closing in on me. I did not think I could sit there another minute, so I began to pray. In the mean time, Sacrament meeting had started (although I did not realize it). I was ready to walk out, when the organ began to play "Be Still My Soul". Peace and the words of the hymn filled me, "Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side; with patience bear thy cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change He faithful will remain. Be still my soul:  thy best, thy heavenly Friend thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end."

Fast forward a few weeks, I had an appointment that I really wanted to be on time for, but our son needed to go  to a neighboring city and I was the only one who could take him. Summertime in Utah equals road construction, usually there are signs of it, but on this day it was at almost every turn (literally).  I got our son where he needed to be, but with every road back to I-15 under construction there was no way I would be on time. I slowly made my way to my appointment and prayed that somehow I would be on time. It seemed impossible so I called to say I would be late, no sooner had I spoke the words did I hear, "We just tried to call you, to ask if you could come a little later."

The Lord does hear and answer our prayers, and give us peace; for which I am eternally grateful.

Singing with a Legend

In May I went to Mississippi to shoot the first portion of my documentary (An Ordinary Hero) on my mother who was Civil Rights Activists in the 60s. She was very active - or at least enough to be attacked by mobs, have her life threatened by the Klan and put on death row in the most notorious prison in the country.

While there I had the priviledge to meet a lot of amazing people but probably my favorite was meeting Rutha Harris. Ms. Harris was one of the SNCC Freedom Singers and a voice I grew up hearing all of my life on old vinyl records. She sang old Civil Rights Songs and what are known as Negro Spirituals.

One of my favorite songs is "Oh Freedom" a Spiritual with the phrase "And before I'll be a slave I'd be buried in my grave and go home to my Lord and be free." After being introduced by my mother I took the opportunity to ask if I could sing with her right there in the hotel lobby (I would never have the chance again so I might as well go for it, right?).

So, here's me, a little starstruck, singing with Rutha Harris:

Happy Fathers Day!

I really did start this yesterday, but as sometimes happens "I'm a day late and a dollar short".

I read an article today about the need for fathers to be as honored on Fathers Day as mothers are on Mothers Day.  I agreed with the article except for on one point; that unlike dads of past generations, dads today give much more than a hard days work to their kids. I believe that great dads of all generations have always given more than providing for the physical needs of their families. I think I have seen a picture depicting Joseph working with the boy Jesus in his workshop. I can imagine that besides carpentry, Joseph taught Jesus many things while in the shop together. I am sure that Joseph was a great dad!  Like Joseph many dads of past generations gave extra by having their children work along side them, because that was what they could give. It may not have been the same as what a "modern dad" gives, but it was great.

My dad was not one to come home and help with dinner or finish up the vacuuming, but he found other ways to go above and beyond. He taught us that if you really want a lamb to be it's whitest for the fair we had to wash it with Woolite. He taught us that education, in and out of a classroom is important. He came and watched me play softball, dance, and cheerlead. He surprised me by being at school programs and church activities, when he was not expected to be home. He taught me to love animals (and to ride horses and sheep) and this beautiful world. He taught me the importance of honesty and working hard.  He taught me to stand up for myself, and was sure that any "girl drama" could be solved with a punch in the nose. (I never tried it.) He taught me that "good people" can be just about anyone. He taught me that I matter by driving long hours (10 hours one way to spend a weekend with me once), staying longer than he really could, and showing me in countless other ways (even though he rarely said it) that he loved me.

So to great Dads past and present Happy Fathers Day!

"Daddy's girl, Daddy's girl,
 I'm the center of Daddy's world,
 I know I'm Daddy's number one,
 'cuz he loves me like I was his son,
 Daddy's girl."  (A song my dad taught me, and we sang together until the tape broke!)

Crown in Heaven

Today with 2 other adults I took 11 boys to Day Camp.  One of the moms said that, that should earn us our crown in Heaven.  This was my first experience with Cub Scout Day Camp, so I wasn't really sure what to expect.  I put on my school teacher hat, and armed myself with two movies for the ride (thank you for dvd players in cars), and off we went. The drive went smoothly, despite the amount of construction on I-15 in Utah county, and we all arrived safe and sound.  I am very happy to report that, although you may be waiting for the "train wreck"; it never happened.  Our boys were so good.  They cleaned up, they stayed with their buddy, they shared, and they kept track of their own things.
My comment to the mom that "crowned" us was, "thanks, I need all help I can get."  In reality I have very little to do with how well they behaved.  The "crown" goes to their parents, for teaching their boys to be responsible young men.
In a world where teaching children to be responsible is not easy, and is thought by some to be "someone else's job"; it is delightful to spend 7 hours with 11 boys and come home tired and not exhausted.  Thank you to parents who remember that we are our children's first teachers.

Introduction

This is my very first attempt at blogging, so I am still figuring it out. 

How about an introduction . . . This is the family blog of Loki and Shieleen.  We (Loki and I, our 3 children, 1 dog, and 2 cats) live in Utah, where we generally enjoy it very much. I say generally, because the weather has been unusual to say the least. As a family we enjoy camping, playing and listening to music, going out for ice cream, and watching movies. Our children's names are Jordan, Dessa, and Addie.  We are hoping to adopt soon.  Loki is a filmmaker (check out the "An Ordinary Hero" link), writes music, sings, and plays guitar(check out the YouTube link). I do my best to be a homemaker. This includes, but is not limited to: accountant, chauffer, cook, house keeper, laundress, nurse, counselor, teacher, veterinarian, and hopefully friend. 

Loki grew up in Arlington, VA. He and his twin are the youngest of five boys. He has been to all 50 states (49 by car), and the Soviet Union and Russia. He likes to travel, and hopes to do it by motor home someday.

I grew up in Blanding, UT. I grew up riding horses, starting at the age of two. I got to live very close to my grandparents all my life, and miss them now that they are gone. I did not travel any further east than Colorado, until I flew (my first time ever) to Washington, D.C. after college.

Loki and I met shortly after that fateful flight, at church. It took a couple months of "misfires", but we finally went on our first recognizable date. It only took a few dates to fall in love, a few more for that first kiss (after which I thought I lost Loki down a hole), and a year later we were married (in 1996). Less than two years later Jordan joined the family, then (within three years) Dessa and Addie.

Some of our individual interests include hiking, biking, horse back riding, softball, basketball, crafts, writing, acting, singing, floral design, foreign language, and travel. 

Life is busy and good!