Attitude of Gratitude - Day 23: Church & Hymns.

Man, I couldn't be more grateful to have my new ward building less than a mile away.  

It's such a blessing to have it so close.  Today, as I was sitting in church, I loved listening to the musical piece by a pianist, violinist and flute player (flutest?). It was a beautiful piece dedicated to Veterans Day & Thanksgiving.  It's nice to be in a ward with such beautiful talents.  I almost feel like I'm in a Utah ward. 
The Bishop spoke about Tithes & Fast Offerings. It was a pretty good talk.  
Today, I think I was more thankful to be sitting in the congregation singing the hymns.
I have a deep love of the church hymns.  They made many missionary miles seem shorter as I would hum or sing the hymns.  Sometimes, if I wasn't getting along w/ my missionary companion and I needed an uplifting thought, I would recite the words to my favorite hymn. 
As I was singing the hymns, it made me think of the time I was in my ol' stake choir....something I always wanted to do, growing up.  It was such a beautiful blessing!! I truly loved singing that choir.  
After Sacrament meeting, the older gentleman behind me said that my "singing was wonderful, just as beautiful as you!"...so sweet!  I'm not gonna lie, sometimes, that's the whole reason I go to church, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to sing.  
As I was walking out of the chapel, I saw an old friend that I use to work at the temple with and was from my ol' Singles ward.  It was nice to see a familiar face, especially since I know like 1 person in the ward.  
I hope that as I attend more, that I make more friends and hopefully get a calling soon enough. 

Song of the Heart

Yesterday, in Fast & Testimony Meeting, a brother bore his testimony of the hymn, "I Am a Child of God", that was sung in the General Women's Meeting the evening before.  It was neat learning that Naomi W. Randall, who penned the words to this beautiful hymn, had a daughter in our ward. In Relief Society, we were given the challenge to think of a hymn through out the week, during times of happiness or sadness and anytime in between.  I love the hymns.  I love the hymns, "I Stand All Amazed" and "Have I Done Any Good?", but the one that touched my heart so much last night was, "I Am a Child of God".  

I love this hymn, I always have.  I remember when I was a young girl in Primary, I would cry every time we sang this song. It just made me so sentimental to think that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me. It also made me think of my parents that I loved so much and our home, all of which came from God.  I was probably about 4 or 5, but whenever we would sing it, I would walk over to my Mom (who was a Sr. Primary teacher) sobbing and wanting to be held. Instead, she would turn me right back around and send me back to my class row.  :(  {I think it was just her way of teaching me to grow up and be reverent...at least that's what I'm hoping}  I've always loved this song because I think it's such a simple way to know why we're here on this Earth and where we go after this life.   It's one of the first songs that are taught to Primary children.  How reassuring to know, at such an early age, that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you so much, that he would give you earthly parents to teach you everything you need to know in order to return back to Him.
I'm not gonna lie, I still tear up a bit whenever I sing this hymn.  These days, I like to think that this is the song I'll rock my sweet little babies to, as I put them to sleep.  I want my babies to know that they have a loving Heavenly Father who wants them to be good and learn & do all that they can, so they can return back to Him someday.  What a sweet message of hope and love!

I Am a Child of God

1. I am a child of God,

And he has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

Chorus

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

2. I am a child of God,

And so my needs are great;

Help me to understand his words

Before it grows too late.

3. I am a child of God.

Rich blessings are in store;

If I but learn to do his will,

I'll live with him once more.

4. I am a child of God.

His promises are sure;

Celestial glory shall be mine

If I can but endure.

Happy Sabbath!

What a beautiful Sunday it's been!

I thought my name was going to be read into my new family ward, so I invited Levi to come with.  Luckily they didn't because I was so nervous.  It oh so wonderful having him there with me.  I cherish any and every moment I can be with him, so it was even more special to have him with me at church.  I'm still getting used to my new family ward.  Last Sunday was my first Sunday there, since being married.  Levi and I went once last Fall and it was so nice to see an old friend from Chula Vista Institute.  When I attended last Sunday, I met so many sisters.  I'm so grateful for those sisters who were kind enough to step out of their comfort zones and introduce themselves to me. 
Sunday School was so refreshingly nice to attend.  It's been a while since I've attended the Gospel Doctrine class.  This week's class was on Hosea.  Can't say I was familiar with that Bible story, but there were really good things to think about, such as how we can be a good spouse. For once, that question finally applies to me! 
Relief Society was so beautiful.  The ward organist taught the lesson for the day (perhaps she's actually an RS teacher, I don't know... I'm still figuring everyone out).  Small world, her daughter also served her mission in New Jersey and was trained by Sister B, who I trained!  In a mission sense, she's my "granddaughter"! :)  I had to introduce myself again.  Ugh... I get so shy & nervous at the same time.  I made them laugh when I said that I finally "graduated" from the Pacific Beach Singles Ward.  The lesson was on, "The Song of the Heart".  It was sweet presentation of the lesson.  Sister E had three sisters present their favorite hymns and why it was their favorite.  Then we sang the hymns, it was so tender. I love hearing the sisters sing, especially since they sing in parts (alto & soprano).  After class, as I was walking down the hall to leave, a very sweet sister named Amy introduced herself to me.  If I had to guess, I would think that she has Cerebral Palsy, by the way she walked.  I slowed my pace a little and we chatted.  At one point, she fell on my shoulder.  It startled me a bit because I thought, "Oh cool, she wanted to give me a hug?  Or did she just fall?", to which it was the latter.  She told me that she sometimes loses her balance. I told her that sometimes I get vertigo, so I could understand the feeling.  She said that sometimes she walks faster than her legs could keep up,  I told her I was actually a fan of walking slower anyways.  She was sweet, I wished her a good week and we parted ways.  I hope we get to become friends. 
I'm so thankful that my new ward is less than a mile away.  Last week, I left 3 minutes til and made it in time!  I was so thankful because I didn't want to show up late and have to walk in late.  I think I would have left.  I'm glad everything was in my favor.  I try not to think of all my old friends I've left in my Singles ward or my ol' family ward, but this is where I need to be now, in this season of my life.  I need to think of the good that's on the horizon and the friends I've yet to make. 
When I returned home, my heart and tear ducts were ready to burst for the gratitude I have for my husband.  The Sunday school lesson really hit home for me.  I hope to never be thankful for all he does for me, but most especially thankful to a loving Heavenly Father who knew what type of partner I would want and need and blessed me with my sweetheart. 
Today has been a very good Sunday.  If you haven't watched the General Women's Meeting, I highly suggest it.  It was all so beautiful!  It made me miss the temple so much.  So many things came to mind. 

For now, I leave you with this sweet choir of Korean angels singing, "I Love to See the Temple". Happy Sabbath!

Music in my heart.

Tonight, I somehow stumbled across this video and it's one of my most favorite Tongan hymns.  

It makes me think back to Sunday afternoons I use to spend with my parents, in my childhood home.  I would practice church hymns on my yellow piano, and my Mom would sing along.  Since she's a natural Alto, I would sing Soprano and then we'd switch so I could learn the Alto parts.  Occasionally. my Dad would join us and hum along to the Bass part.  My Dad had such a beautiful Bass voice and I miss hearing him sing, in church.  When my Dad would join my Mom and I, we'd switch over to singing Tongan hymns.  I was always grateful that he would join us and teach me about some of his favorite Tongan hymns.  

Tonight, as I was singing along to video above, my heart and mind found its way back to those cherished Sunday afternoons that we spent together.  I miss Sundays like those.

Deciding on a ward.

Since I choose not to watch General Conference, I miss out on my very favorite part [of church]---the music.

I have a great love for the music of my church. I especially love any chance I get to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I think they are a choir of angels.  I always think about how glorious Heaven will sound with generations of Mo.Tab. singing together.  Oh I love it!
During Conference weekend, my sister said that the choir's singing of, "Come Thou Fount" made her think of me....which made me think of my (home) stake choir.  I sure do love singing with the Chula Vista choir.  Some of my favorite people are found there.  Well, I went to LDS.org and checked out all of the April 2012 General Conference music.  My thoughts were turned again to my home stake and ward.  I'm so blessed to have dear friends in all of the wards. I love visiting each ward and seeing a cherished friend.....yes, even the Spanish wards. 
Since October, my membership has been in the PB Singles Ward in the San Diego North Stake....but my heart is still in the CV Stake.  As I was listening to the musical pieces, my home ward came to mind.  I feel torn in two.  Part of me wants to go to the PB ward because I like being amongst people who are also in the same place in life and it's soooooooooooooo quiet there during Sacrament meeting services. Heaven knows how much I LOVE that.  But the other part of me wants to attend my family ward.  It's A LOT closer to home (5 miles vs. 20 miles [one way]) which makes it a lot easier to be active, on more than just Sundays.  I have a lot to offer a ward, but I feel restraint when I live so far from it.  For the past two Sundays, I've attended my family ward and just feel the desire to have a calling there.  The ward needs help, no one likes to hold callings there and its always the same people doing it.  I miss the Young Women during Volleyball's off season, I love them so!  My Patriarchal Blessing specifically mentions accepting calls of service in Primary, because I "value and appreciate the children with your warm and loving heart."  It's true, I do love the Primary children and also their songs.  I want to be part of Relief Society again. I love to be amongst the sisters, I learn so much from their lives. 
Sometimes I feel like I'm forcing myself to attend the PB Ward, but I like the friends I've made there.  I feel like my heart is back in the CV Stake, but I don't know what to do.  Move back to Otay Mesa Ward, but attend all of the PB Ward activities?  UGH............so tough.  Moving back there will mean less chances to meet a single guy at church....well, not like I'm having much luck in that anyways. 
Guess this is something I'm going to need to ponder and pray about.