My Favorite Hymn

I have been wanting to write about this for a while. I think about it frequently because I absolutely LOVE this hymn and think the lyrics are so touching.
It was written by a woman named Emma Lou Thayne and the music was originally composed by Jolene G Meredith.

You can see a video of the MOTAB singing the hymn here

I do like the version you can get from itunes much better though.

THE LYRICS:

Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When, with a wounded heart, anger, or malice
I draw myself apart searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows?
Where, when I languish?
Where, in my need to know?
Where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.

He answers privately.
Reaches my reaching.
In my Gethsemane, Savior, and friend.
Gentle, the peace He finds
For my beseeching.
Constant He is, and kind.
Love without end.

This is a hymn that speaks to our day. "When Other Sources cease to make me whole." As we look around and see how people (and maybe ourselves) try to fill the voids in their lives and fix the pain they feel by turning to other people, alcohol, drugs, sex, money, material possessions, etc. As Dr Phil would say, "How's that working for ya?" The Savior is the only one who can truly understand what we are feeling. He has suffered every agony, every misery and, if we go to him, he will provide the peace we need in these times.


I've always enjoyed learning about how songs were created. The story of how this hymn was written is an interesting one. In 1971, the author and composer were asked to create a hymn for a Young Womens conference. They were able to write the melody in one phone call to each other!

The text had a deeply personal meaning to Jolene Meredith. The words for the hymn came from a very troubling time in her family's life. She had 4 children under 17 who had needs, she was facing a spinal fusion which would put her career teaching at the University of Utah on hold, one daughter was ill, and her husband had become Bishop of a student ward.

In 1985, the hymn was published in the new LDS hymnal. At that time she recalled the feelings she had when writing the hymn and how vital they were to her even then. Five months after it was published, a crowbar went through her windshield on the freeway, fracturing 8 bones in her face. During this time she faced a prompting for the searching that this song talks of and is grateful for "the unbelievably timely resurrection of the song that has helped so much in my own recent resurrection, a resurrection of what I might never have known without the trial and without the granted grace of the impulse to reach."

"In my Gethsemane, Savior, and friend. Gentle, the peace He finds" I love these words. This text is quite possibly the most sincere, honest testimony I have ever heard in song. I am struck every time I hear it and tears well up in my eyes knowing the truth of these verses. That when we go through our own Gethsemane, what we search for can only be found through the Savior. "Who, who can understand? He, only One." I am so blessed to know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He can provide me with the calm and peacefulness that I desire when I am troubled. I need to remember this and humble myself before the Lord when I need him. How great it is that our Savior loves us so much! I cant wait to meet him again!

I Know You're a Nurse...

Tonight after Maggie and Alexander went to bed, Maggie threw a flashlight off the bed and clocked Alexander in the nose and cheek. Blood was pouring out of his nose when I ran back to determine was the screaming was about! As we three sat in the bathroom and Alexander held his nose, we talked about what happened. It was decided that the incident was a complete accident as Maggie didnt know that Alexander's face was where it was at the time. Hmmm. But she did say, "Mommy, I know you're a nurse so you could take care of it!" Im really not quite sure what to think of a statement like that from a four year old!

VACAY!

We were so fortunate to meet Matt, Vikki and kids, Paula, and their friends Martha and Peyton, and Mom and Dad at Myrtle Beach this year! We had a blast! The kids really enjoyed the ocean. It seemed they could walk out in it a long way before it dropped off.
The weather was fabulous! Hot and dry. Good Beachin weather!
Here are a few pics from our trip!

Building sandcastles was quite the group effort and these cuties contributed quite a lot
of their four year old expertise to the endeavor!

I think this pic is soooo adorable! The girls were in the outdoor shower and
Andrew was trying to find a way in! LOL!

Vikki, we are in TROUBLE in a few years!!!

The four of us Efirds! Maggie DID NOT want her picture taken!!! Bet ya couldnt tell!


Our last day! Sitting in the golf cart with Mammaw and Pappaw, ready to go home!
Kayleigh and Uncle Matt have their backs to us!

Another Maggieism

Yesterday I felt brave and took all three kids shopping and out to eat! I felt even braver to actually shop for myself!!! The kids have been working on using better words besides stupid, dumb, kill, etc... and Maggie caught herself while helping me shop yesterday. She started to say, "that's stup..." and then paused for a second and retorted "pendous!" I was so excited that a four year old could stop herself from saying one word and then come up with a great word like stupendous! Go Maggie!!! That is STUPENDOUS!!!

Rainy Days Are Made for Blogging

And I thought I was gonna get better at this!!! I really cant believe that I used to blog almost every single day! So much has happened it's hard to think about where to start to update. I am now working as a staff nurse in the Critical Care Unit. The Education job ended. It's kinda nice to have less stress and actually take care of patients. That's where my true love of nursing is, although I really liked the education portion of it. Im still involved with committees,etc and I think that will keep me just busy enough (actually probably too busy).

Maggie's last day of preschool was last Thursday. She had her end of the year program and I took the camera but couldnt get it to work. Technology. I think its the lens because I had used it earlier in the day with the another lens and it did fine. I think I'll charge the battery and see if it helps.

Maggie and her friend, Emma on the last day of Nursery School!

Alexander is pretty excited about his last day of Kindergarten. They get out on the 5th. The kids have big plans for the summer and are excited about their time off! I'm thinking about first grade already and wonder what that year will bring for us. Since I havent been too thrilled about Kindergarten, I am really hoping first grade is much better. But Im not feeling too positive at this point :(

Andrew continues to be the sweetest, most loving, huggiest little thing around, that is when he isnt beating on somebody or something. He has a great little personality that is developing before my eyes. I miss him and the other two when I work. I usually dont get to see them at all those days. This weekend all three will be visiting Bob in Blacksburg. Yikes! What will I ever do with myself?

A couple of weeks ago we had a rabbit nest in our garden. I didnt know it until Bella (our dog) started dragging them out of the hole and licking them all over like they were little puppies! I heard the little squeals and couldnt even figure out what they were at first! So little! So for the rest of the day we had these two little newborn bunnies in our yard and I couldnt figure out what to do with them. Andrew went outside in the early evening and I could hear the squealing again but it really didnt register what was happening until Andrew ran into the house and started yelling at me to come see the "kitties". I ran out and by the time I got out there Andrew was trying to pick one of them up and got really upset that I wouldnt let him hold his "kitty". I then scooped them up with a plastic shovel and put them back in the hole. After all of the "handling" these little bunnies got I am not sure the momma bunny wanted them back. :( Here are some pics I took of them:

How are ya doing?

Yes, it has been forever since I have written something even somewhat profound on my blog! I think I got blogitis or something! Just couldnt do it, but I want everyone to know that Im back in blogging mode!
How is everyone doing with their New Year's Resolutions? I really havent done much I have to say. Been better at reading the scriptures. When you ask yourself how you expect to receive the blessings that you ask for when you arent really doing your part to deserve them, it makes a difference in their importance! Also, I am preparing to get very organized. This may sound like procrastination, but I have this great friend who is a super organized person and she is going to help me get organized through daily planning!. I also just ordered this book, Getting Things Done by David Allen. I had been looking at getting a nice lateral file cabinet as well but my friend suggested that I read this book first because he writes a lot about the use of files. CAN'T WAIT! SO EXCITED! YIPPEE! So, that's pretty much my progress at my New Year's Resolutions. The photo things was pretty slow while it was so cold and blah outside but it seems to be picking up. I received my new lens which is super cool and I have some new filters to play with so, if anyone want their pics done, now's the time!!!!!!
Kid update: Alexander lost his first tooth last month. He was so excited! The tooth fairy came and everything!


Maggie is miss princess diva. Matt and his daughter, Ashleigh (who is also 4) came to visit earlier this month and they had a blast together!




Andrew is now 18 months and quite the busy little guy. He is still as sweet as ever but can be a handful, esp. when I am playing the organ at church (thanks Sis Fordham!)!

Oh, and it did finally snow a measurable amount this month! The kids had fun playing in it.

Cute Quote

Maggie after her Sunday School lesson today: "Xander, we aren't cannibals yet because you are just 6 and I'm just 4." I think she meant to say accountable!