that felt good

Oh I love opera! I love it I love it I love it.  And I miss it.  

My mind races back to my college days quite often.  I loved learning and walking the streets of a busy city surrounded by tall buildings.  I loved learning how to manage my time and coping with the stress of long to do lists.  I was so excited and envigorated being surrounded by music in rehearsals, lessons, classes, and all of the concerts I attended.  

Music was one of my first great loves.  It is something that no matter what stage of life I'm in I want to be doing it in some capacity.  I have to.  Whenever I go long periods of time with out and then I come back I can't believe how starved I was for it.  

This weekend I got the opportunity to sing at a talent show.  Oh how it filled my heart with joy.  It was a simple low pressure situation and yet it felt so familiar and comfortable.  Although it took me a minute to settle down in to it.  Right around "felice mi fa" I let loose and just let it all soar right out of my mouth.  I've been singing this song since I was 12, which should not have happened but that is a story for another day! So it was nice to say hello to an "old friend".  I'm so grateful for a talent I hope to use for good all of my life. 

ascend

I wanted to share a little bit of the story behind this song.  I think it is the kind of song that could mean something to anyone who hears it.  We all have mountains to climb and whatever the mountain is that you have to climb wether it is a personal trial, repentance, an addiction, self doubt, loss of a loved one, or just something hard in your life that makes you feel like you have no idea how you'll make it through, I hope this song can give you a glimpse of hope and the source that you should look to for help. 

You are not alone.

You don't have to do anything alone.

Jesus Christ is the way, he will always be the way.

I wrote this song recently for someone very close to me who is facing the biggest trial they have ever had to face.  I've never known anyone in my life to ever display more faith than this person and they are such an enormous example to me of how to face our trials and challenges.

Ascend

Standing here and looking at the top. 

Knowing that you have to climb. 

You fill your lungs your feet hit the dirt. 

In motion pushing every stride.

And when you feel that the step you take is the last one you can bear.

A burning and a feeling He is pushing you there.

The higher you climb the more burdens you unload so you can ascend.

You turn to look behind you

And He is carrying them.

Blisters sting the sun is beating down.

Breathless gasping in your chest.

Slipping sliding trying to hold on.

A strength emerges just beyond your own.

And when you feel that the step you take is the last one you can bear.

A burning and a feeling He is pushing you there.

The higher you climb the more burdens you unload so you can ascend.

You turn to look behind you

And He is carrying them.

Climb, climb, climb.

Standing here and looking at the top.

You never knew how far you'd come.

(Disclaimer: sorry for the crazy eyes in parts, it's a habit I'm trying to break. So proceed with some non judgemental caution, Ha!)