"Let them be little"

Lonestar is one of my favorite groups. I absolutely love their music. Maybe it's because I'm from Texas or maybe it's because their music is just amazing--either way, I'm proud to admit it! I heard a song the other day that I hadn't heard before which surprised me because I thought I knew most of their songs. It was called "Let them be little." I think it really came close to heart because I'm 6 1/2 months pregnant and soon my husband and I will have our first baby. I thought the words were so tender and beautiful. Here are the words:

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

The lyrics to this song really touched me and made me realize that once our baby comes, he will grow up so fast, so we should enjoy and cherish everyday. Thank you, Lonestar!

The Sound of Music

Sound of Music has always been one of my favorite movies!  I remember watching it often with my family as a kid.  My husband and I love the movie also.  I think one reason I like it so much is because music has always been such a big part of my life.  Everyone in my family plays the piano and we all love to sing and have great voices.  Just recently, I have started noticing how much music affects me in  my everyday life.  When I am listening to an upbeat, positive song, it generally makes me feel happy.  Likewise, songs that are depressing and sad tend to make me feel that way.  To me, it is amazing how music can evoke these emotions in human beings!  This is the reason that I try to be careful about what I listen to and how it makes me feel.  I figure, in many ways, music can either make or break my day.  I think nowadays, there are many songs in the radio that try to persuade people to think or act a certain way, especially teenagers.  I never really thought of music as a form of media, but now I understand why it is.  So, I will use it to benefit from its good aspects and avoid the negative.

Bewitched

Recently, my husband and I really got hooked on watching the old TV series, Bewitched. We both love it, and just bought the 2nd season. It about a girl named Samantha, who happens to be a witch. She also happens to marry a man named Darren who is a "mortal". Throughout the episodes, a situation comes up every time where Samantha just HAS to use her magic, even though Darren can't stand it. The show is very funny and enjoyable to watch. I think the main reason that I like it so much is that it is pretty clean. You don't find too many shows now that are free from immorality or inappropriate language. Bewitched is great for a family to watch together, and I enjoy it so much!

The Media

Growing up, my family never watched much TV. We went through a phase where we watched 24 a lot, then American Idol, and now, I think my family owns every season on the old television series, Bewitched. There were phases we went through where we watched more TV overall, but generally, we did other things together as a family. When my friends discuss popular TV shows such as The Office and Lost, I feel so out of place because I have never even seen any of these shows! Yet, I am happy that I do not waste my life away in front of the television when instead I can build stronger relationships and friendships with those around me. That's not to say that I think TV is completely bad or destructive. I would just prefer doing other things, such as reading, working out, talking to friends.

Nevertheless, the media does affect me in other ways besides TV shows. For one thing, I LOVE to watch movies. On the weekends, that is me and my husband's main source of entertainment. We would much rather snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie than go bowling or ice skating. Some of my favorite movies are Enchanted, Sound of Music, the Lords of the Rings series, and Harry Potter. We try to be careful about the movies we watch so that we do not allow unclean things to enter our home. I also enjoy reading, which is most definitely another form of media. I like fantasy books and some LDS fiction books.

I think the media affects people by pushing stereotypes strongly. For example, to be considered beautiful, women nowadays need to be extremely thin and athletic looking. They also have to dress immodestly. Many girls are influences by these stereotypes; this is apparent just by walking through a hallway at a high school. Men, on the other hand, are expected to have many girls that are after them (be a ladies man), and not express their feelings. All of these stereotypes affect people in different ways. I think it is important to be aware of the effects the media has on us, so that we do not allow the media to control our lives.