About Me
Through music & poetry, I want to share the hope & strength I have found by choosing to have faith-not fear-during these difficult & uncertain times.
Writing music is my mid-life crisis. All I ever wanted to be was a wife & mom. I am so grateful for Tyler who has made it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mom for 24 years. His sacrifice has also given me the liberty to have my "hobby job" as a dietitian at Primary Children's Hospital to fill in the gaping hole that my 4 children left in my heart as they grew up and left home. My job, as well as this little hobby of composing music, are not lucrative ventures, but they are definitely soothing to my soul-- not sure how else to describe it.
My music and poetry are based on my personal experiences. I had been praying intently for direction for months to know what God wanted me to do next, as my life was changing. As my children were becoming independent young adults, I needed direction for how to honor their agency while continuing to be a positive example and influence in their lives. He answered me as He often does- with a scripture. It reads, "And we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we WRITE according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
He wants me to write. So here goes.
I guess writing poetry & music is the way I decided to do it. It may not be chronological, but I hope it captures some of my deepest feelings so someday my posterity will understand who I was & what was important to me.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is at the core of who I am and has shaped my entire life. I have friends and family members who I love and admire deeply, who believe differently than I do. My life has been greatly enriched by so many different people, & I have learned valuable lessons by listening respectfully and trying to understand others. I would never want to offend anyone, and only want to share what burns deeply in my own heart & soul.
I feel passionately about the divine purpose & love I find in family life; I trust completely my Father in Heaven who is merciful & "mighty to save"; I know that He loves each of us individually, & I am eternally grateful for the peace & light that always comes when I focus on Jesus Christ instead of the darkness.
I would love to get feedback as long as it is kind and respectful.
I feel a personal connection to this ancestor whose words from his personal history echo my own feelings...
"Previous to my commencement of the study of this beautiful art, the same had been a sealed book to me. I had not, until now, ever thought music possessed so many charms...At times the educated musician moves, so to speak, mentally in a sphere elevated far above the groveling rut in which the grosser minds constantly travel, making his earthly pilgrimage sweet by lifting him up to life's higher ideal. Whether the few productions, be they verse or musical compositions, published above my name, are entitled to be considered of any consequence or not, I assert that they were composed and written at such times when my mind was influenced differently than at common, everyday occasions."
--Hans Henrik Pedersen, oldest brother of my 2nd great grandfather, composer & poet. His best-known hymn is "Secret Prayer" from the LDS hymnbook.
Cherise