"I didn't plan to do this..."

In my Music 202 class today my professor shared a poem that he openly admitted to being emotionally attached to it. He began to read and within a few short stanzas, he started to cry. He said, "I didn't plan to do this...."
The class was silent.
But a good silence.
A respectful silence filled with curiosity and caution.
I stopped writing my notes and watched as he wiped his tears from behind his glasses and continued to read. His voice shook and wavered, filled with immense emotion.
I listened and read along with him and felt it.
I felt what he was feeling.
My heart yearned and my body wrenched as I began to comprehend what the poem was really saying.
Read, and listen to the words.


We Are Seven

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

———A simple Child,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?

I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.

She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad:
Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
—Her beauty made me glad.

“Sisters and brothers, little Maid,
How many may you be?”
“How many? Seven in all,” she said,
And wondering looked at me.

“And where are they? I pray you tell.”
She answered, “Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea.

“Two of us in the church-yard lie,
My sister and my brother;
And, in the church-yard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my mother.”

“You say that two at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea,
Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell,
Sweet Maid, how this may be.”

Then did the little Maid reply,
“Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the church-yard lie,
Beneath the church-yard tree.”

“You run about, my little Maid,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the church-yard laid,
Then ye are only five.”

“Their graves are green, they may be seen,”
The little Maid replied,
“Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door,
And they are side by side.

“My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.

“And often after sun-set, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.

“The first that dies was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain;
And then she went away.

“So in the church-yard she was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.

“And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide,
My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side.”

“How many are you, then,” said I,
“If they two are in heaven?”
Quick was the little Maid’s reply,
“O Master! we are seven.”

“But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!”
’Twas throwing words away; for still
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, “Nay, we are seven!”


Death does not separate us.
My belief is that families can be together forever, when sealed with the walls of the Lord's temple. I know that I can be with my family, my future husband, and my future children, for time and all eternity.
We are seven. And always will be.

"Repeat the Sounding Joy"

Repeat:
the laughter
the cries of surprise
the smiles that last forever
the longing gazes into the fireplace
the warmth received from the piles and piles of blankets
the marathon of movies
the endless knitting
the beautiful decorations that never want to be taken down
the times when i can look and see my mom and dad beside me with smiles on their faces
the hope
the everlasting joy that comes from the knowledge that there is a Savior who did it all for us, and we can celebrate His birth because He means so much to all of us.

I believe in Christmas because I believe in Christ.

Day 26

Finally, we have arrived home.

The drive felt like eternity, but I am grateful for Cali and Sean and their desire to drive home and their willingness to take me along.

Now to celebrate with family. :)

Day 13

Today I am grateful for my mother.

She is the wind beneath my wings.... as corny as that sounds, it is actually true. I feel like I can fly whenever I talk to her.

Her background has made her the person she is today and I am forever grateful for that. She has raised me to always depend on the Lord, family comes first, and that God has a plan for me. I love her so much and I wish that words could describe it.

Unfortunately the English Language doesn't have the words to describe how much I love and appreciate my mother.

But I want her to know that I am the woman I am today because of the way she raised me and the experiences we shared together. She is a woman of virtue and love. She has a brilliant mind and intellect.

I love you mom.

Day 2

Gratitude is a funny thing. It makes any worries or hardships you're facing seem like a feather blowing in the wind.



I am grateful for modern technology that allows me to call my family and talk to them every day. My worries that are affecting me are turned into little bits of information when my mom explains to me that life is to be lived in the present. The future needs to be prepared for, but taken in stride. When I feel like I am the lowest of the low, my dad encourages me to get back up and face another day. I feel on top of the world again and then something happens and I end up calling my sister crying. What does she do? Picks me up and gets ice cream for me. Then my brother is just the best brother in the universe of brothers. If only he lived in Provo still.... hahaha. nope. never again ;)

I call my family nearly every day and they make each day worthwhile. Through the struggles of college and financial instability, my family lifts and guides me to a place where I can see what I can become.

Life is great and I am grateful for the time in which I live where I can communicate with my family, no matter how far away they live.

Day 1

Today I am grateful for my brother.
I had an interview for a new job and I was freaking out..... literally.

I haven't been scared for a really long time to meet with people. I was shaking because I was so afraid. I called my brother after class and he calmed my nerves. I was able to see clearly the situation and determine that it was not as scary as I was making it. I love my brother and I am so grateful for his perspective that he showed me. This interview experience has been beneficial on many different levels.

Love you big bro!