Paul Cardall and Nathan Pacheco

This week I have been listening to music by Paul Cardall because it is so relaxing and soothing to my soul. It seems to take me to a higher place spiritually because of his instrumentation and lyrics. One of my very favorite songs is called "One By One" with the lyrics written by Elder David Bednar. I love to see the children singing in the choir, playing their instruments and hearing Nathan Pacheco singing this song. I can listen and watch this over and over because it is so lovely, peaceful and seems to take me closer to heaven. If you have never heard this song, please take a minute to listen because I know that you will be glad you did! 

 https://www.youtube.com › watch.    one by one paul cardall

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https://www.youtube.com › watch

What About Lassie?

                                                                Son Of Lassie



This week I have been watching old movies about Lassie which were popular when I was a child. Lassie movies are always so uplifting and give one a sense that all is right with the world. Lassie is a faithful and obedient collie who goes to great lengths to prove her loyalty and devotion to her masters. I suppose that I like to watch it because it is a 'feel good' film and reminds me that I can emulate the qualities that Lassie has and try harder to make others happy too.

Son of Lassie is literally Lassie's son, Laddie, and the film features his story. As Lassie is now getting older, the story revolves around Laddie and the dog's owner's son, Joe,  who has grown up and joins the Royal Air Force during World War II. His plane is shot down over Nazi-occupied Norway. Laddie follows relentlessly by sneaking into boot camp, stowaways into his aircraft and then swims the North Sea to find him.  Laddie saves Joe's life and reunites with the family after the war is over. I loved this movie and have shared it with my grandchildren because of it's high quality and caliber.

A Romantic Comedy

Earlier this week we checked out some old classic movies from the library. Tonight my husband and I watched one from 1957  called "Love In The Afternoon" starring Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn. It was a purely entertaining romantic comedy and fun for us to watch together. It's about a young cello student, Ariane, who eavesdrops on her widowed private detective father"s (Claude Chavesse) conversation with a client (Monsieur X).  After learning of his wife's daily trysts with American business magnate Frank Flannagan, (Gary Cooper) in Room 14 at the Paris Ritz, Monsieur X announces he will shoot Flannagan later that evening. Claude is nonchalant, regretting only the business he will lose (Flannagan is a well-known international playboy with a long history of numerous casual affairs). When Ariane cannot get the Ritz to put her through to Flannagan on the phone, and the police decline to intervene until after a crime has been committed, she decides to warn him herself. Ariane is in time. When Monsieur X breaks into Flannagan's hotel suite, he finds Flannagan with Ariane, not his wife, who is cautiously making her escape via an outside ledge. Flannagan is intrigued by the mysterious girl, who refuses to give him any information about herself, even her name. He starts guessing her name from the initial "A" on her purse, and when she declines to tell him he resorts to calling her "thin girl". She has no romantic history but pretends to be a femme fatale to interest him, and soon falls in love with the considerably older man. She agrees to meet him the next afternoon, because her orchestral practice is in the evenings (although she does not admit that is the reason). She comes with mixed feelings, but ends up becoming his lover for the evening until his plane leaves (though later Flannagan says he did not make it to first base with her).

Her father, who has tried unsuccessfully to protect her from knowing about the tawdry domestic-surveillance details in his files, notices her change of mood but has no idea that it proceeds from one of his cases.

After a year, Flannagan returns to Paris and the Ritz. Ariane, who has kept track of Flannagan's womanizing exploits through the news media, meets him again when she sees him at an opera while surveying the crowd from a balcony. She puts herself in his path in the lobby, and they start seeing each other again. This time, when he persists in his questioning, she makes up a long list of prior imaginary lovers based on her father's files (Flannagan is number 20 on the list). Flannagan gradually goes from being amused to being tormented by the possible comparisons, but is unsure whether they are real. When he encounters a still-apologetic Monsieur X, the latter recommends Claude Chavasse to him, and thus Flannagan hires Ariane's own father to investigate.

It does not take Chavasse long to realize the mystery woman is Ariane. He informs his client that his daughter fabricated her love life. He tells Flannagan that she is a little fish that he should throw back, since she is serious and he wants to avoid serious relationships.

Flannagan decides to leave Paris, pretending to be on his way to meet former lovers in Cannes. At the train station both keep up their act of not caring deeply for each other, although Ariane sheds a few tears that she blames on the soot. As the train departs, and Ariane runs along the platform as Flannagan stands in the door of the coach, her femme-fatale facade cracks as her love shows through. Flannagan changes his mind, sweeps her up in his arms onto the coach, and before kissing her he calls her by her name, Ariane. Chavasse reports that they got married in Cannes and now live in New York.

I guess that I enjoy watching romantic comedy's because I am a romantic person at heart and am recently re-married. My relationship with my new husband is wonderfully loving, kind and fun, which is much different that with my late husband who didn't really know how to love someone else. I enjoy watching other relationships because it's amusing and entertaining!

Watching Conference

     Five days ago I watched General Conference and I felt so uplifted!  I was most impressed by Jeffrey R. Holland's first address and felt he knocked it right out of the park. The title of his talk was, "The Message, The Meaning, and The Multitude". He spoke about the importance of having spiritually sensitive people around us in order to answer our questions of importance. Fixing our attention on Jesus Christ should be at the center of all we do. The love of Heavenly parents, the atoning gift of Jesus Christ, the comforting guidance of the Holy Ghost, the latter day restoration of all truths all support our love of Jesus Christ. Our temple experiences should focus on Him and help us build on the rock of our salvation. He says that there are many things to come but the redeemer who liveth is greater than all. Subsequent talks also emphasized the importance of giving our all to the Lord, making a priority of spiritually nourishing ourselves, focusing our lives on the gospel, increasing our spiritual capacity, having unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ, and trusting in the Lord. Along with the message of these outstanding talks, was the palpable spirit that was felt from the music and the apostles of the Lord. I was deeply impressed and motivated to follow their counsel. I am so thankful to be a member of the Lord's true church and for my testimony of it's truthfulness. I am thankful that I live in a day where we are able to easily access the words of our Lord.  I am thankful for the outcomes in my life from trying to live by the precepts of the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that it is the only way to lifelong happiness now and in the life to come. I am so thankful that we have a living prophet who speaks for the Lord in our day and sets such an outstanding example of devotion to the Lord, obedience to his words and truly loves all mankind. Listening and watching to conference was an uplifting opportunity to feel the Lord's spirit and be led by our Prophet, his apostles, and other general authorities. Listening to the music was also a rich blessing for spiritual uplift.

The Good and Bad

   

     So I think that I have been watching way too much media lately and I want to change! I feel very addicted to my games on my phone and have a hard time turning it off at night. I know that it affects my sleep, my brain, and my overall well being. I am determined to better self regulate and even go so far as to not even turn it on in bed. It has become such a bad habit to help me unwind and relax it seems and I try to remember what I used to do before it came along.  I can sort of blame my husband because he chooses to ask me what I want to watch on t.v. every night. If I were alone, I would probably read or write. However, I try to be accommodating for him.
     By studying and learning about the topic of media, it  has helped me become aware of how I can do a better job of using media for the good. I am going to resolve that because I am writing about this and making a statement, that I will commit to change this habit now. I will change the location of where I charge my phone at night and instead read or write. Just writing publicly makes it easier for me to commit, it seems. I will evaluate this every week and report how I am doing with this challenge.

The Book Thief

This week I watched an outstanding and uplifting movie entitled "The Book Thief". It is about a young girl named Liesel during World War 2 who lives with her adoptive parents, Hans and Rosa Huberman in Nazi Germany. While attending school, she is asked to write her name on the chalkboard, but is only able to write three Xs revealing to her classmates that she cannot write. Her school mates taunt her and one boy challenges her to read one word to which she responds by beating him up. A neighbor boy, Rudy, befriends her and they become fast friends. She is taught to read by her kind foster father, Hans, and she begins to love books.  

Liesel and Rudy become members of the Hitler Youth movement. While at a Nazi book burning ceremony, Liesel and Rudy are harassed into throwing books into the bonfire but Liesel is upset at seeing all the books being burned. Later when the bonfire ends and everyone leaves, Liesel is still there and grabs one singed book but is seen by the mayors wife, Ilsa.  Later when she is asked to take laundry by Rosa, she realized that the woman who saw her is the mayors wife. The woman takes her to the spacious library and says she can read any book she likes. However, one day the mayor discovers Liesel there and puts a stop to her visits and fires Rosa from doing their laundry.

During the holidays, Max Vandenberg and his mother who are Jewish are told by a friend that only one of them can escape and Max's mother forces him to go. During World War I, his father had saved the life of Hans and he goes to the Huberman's house. Initially, he stays in Liesel's room where they become fast friends but later must move to the basement in order that he can move around more. It is very cold in the basement and Max becomes very ill so Liesel reads to him daily and takes care of him.

After time goes by, Hans is conscripted into the army and Max realized that in order to protect the family, he must also leave. One night when Liesel falls asleep reading in the basement, an air raid siren goes off but no one hears it. Max, Rosa, and Rudy's family are all killed in piles of brick and debris. Liesel faints and is carried on a stretcher by a soldier away from the debris. When she awakens, she sees the mayor and his wife drive up. Realizing she has only one friend left in Ilsa, she runs up and hugs her tightly.

Eventually, she discovers Max is alive and the two renew their friendship and get married.

The content of this movie was uplifting due to the values of this good German family who wanted to help others and the kindness offered to strangers. I really enjoyed watching this very much and hope to find other movies with this type of caliber.

Reflections

I have been reflecting on what I view on the media and why. Music that I enjoy listening to  is usually to uplift, soothe,  calm and influence feelings of happiness. I enjoy listening to music by MoTab, Paul Cardall, Michael Bublee', 50's stations, and others. Sometimes I enjoy listening to classical music to think such as Bach, Brahms, Handel, and Beethoven. I have learned to use music as a tool to help me cope with the various emotions in my life.

Using the computer or devices has many reasons. The use of the computer is usually for research, information, or writing. I use my phone for many reasons such as getting directions, paying bills, making lists, setting the alarm, checking the weather, the news, keeping track of my spending, creating menus, relaxation while playing games, or checking Facebook, as well as communication. It's a wonderful and useful piece of technology.

The use of the television is most often a use for relaxation and entertainment. I have been more mindful lately of why I watch what I do. I don't really enjoy watching the news because it is emphasizes negative aspects of what is going on in the world. My husband is very kind in letting me choose what we watch together every night and I usually will choose something that makes me feel happy or enriched. We enjoy watch nature programs, documentaries, and sometimes movies that have an uplifting story line and message. We have also developed a habit of watching game shows like "Family Feud" which I have decided is funny because of Steve Harvey, but don't really want to watch anymore due to excessive amounts of inappropriate sexual innuendos.

My Family

    How Media Has Changed Over The Years In My Home 

Married Glenn Welker October 19, 2017

The media that I allow in my home is now much different than what I allowed in my younger years. As a mom, I always wanted to set an example to our children and so my standards for what media was allowed in my home was very high. I monitored what was turned on the tv, what music we listen to and what we watched as movies. This was before the advent of hand held devices and computers so there was not the all encompassing exposure to media as there is now. Additionally, my husband and I agreed on what we watched together and was also appropriate for the children. As the years passed, I continued to want only "church standard" media in the home. When my husband died, I moved out of state to be nearer some children and grandchildren in Utah. I now had complete freedom of all media choices and found myself watching more romantic movies due to my being single, I suppose. Then I began attending single activities, dated, and met someone special to marry.

Since I no longer have children in the home and I am remarried, my new husband's media choices also affect me. His t.v. and movie choices are very different than what my late husband and I watched in the home. I was actually shocked that he entertained himself with media that I thought was shallow and worldly. I have had to make sacrifices, compromises, and evaluate what is important for the both of us.  We make decisions together and sometimes I am spending my time watching the t.v. with him when I might prefer to be doing something else. However, I have to decide what is more important and realize that spending time at his side is the better choice sometimes. I have learned that I don't need to always have my way and that compromise is part of a happy relationship.

Additionally, I have become way more "addicted" to my smart phone than I would like. Having had more free time than I would have liked, I started playing games on my phone. Now they have become my "go-to" when I am relaxing or I will spend time on Facebook when it clearly is not the best choice for my time.

The Lewis Family 2016

I am looking forward this Sunday to taking a "media fast"and really take stock of the best use of my time. I hope to be able to wean myself from some of the media choices I make, because I know that we are what we think about.

American Idol

 The year was 2004 and American Idol was in its 3rd season. My son, Jon Peter Lewis had made all the audition cuts and had made it to Hollywood! We were so thrilled and excited for him and immediately were descended upon by film crews from the show into our home for a family interview. It was a whirlwind time and little did we know the effects this would have upon our family and friends.

Who doesn't want success, recognition, and fame from such an opportunity? Names like Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and and Ryan Seacrest were now common stars in our conversations, and what their opinions of our son would be. Some of their comments were welcoming and others were defeating. The emotional toll upon me was beginning to have an effect.

From January until May we left work early once a week to travel to the show's recording, appear in the audience on the show, and become involved the American Idol family. It was really fun and exciting to meet other parents, contestants on the show, and the judges. We were able to see what goes on backstage, how the show is filmed, enjoy the commercials that our son was in and totally be immersed in the American Idol culture. Each week, as our son was advanced to another round, the excitement grew and our extended family and friends wanted one of the coveted spots available in the audience. It began to require my time to schedule which family and friends were attending on which weeks as well as after the show time for eating out and visiting. All of a sudden we were semi-famous parents. Complete strangers would stop as at the gas station and claim that they recognized us and were rooting for our son. Of course, we were caught up in  the frenzy of the show, however, it had different outcomes on my husband and I. He loved the opportunity to meet  and shake hands with Simon Cowell, tell his students each week of the experiences our family had on the show. As the months progressed, I began noticing that I was getting tired and a little stressed. By the time our son was eliminated from the show on May 5, 2004, the mixture of emotions were swirling around me. Not only was a not able to recover the sleep I had been lacking, but one day while  driving in the car, noticed some physical  symptoms that were very concerning. My husband immediately drove me to the hospital to have me checked out and after 3 hours of tests, was told by the doctor that I just had the effects of stress. It was so bad that I need to quit work and be on bedrest for several months. This was not any reflection on the show, but just an example of how media can have an effect upon us, depending on our physical makeup and how we process the experience.
Our son still maintained a foot in the door of entertainment and media and went on the produce several music C.D.'s, perform for many venues, and is still involved in the film industry. I am happy for his experiences and opportunities in the media and have learned that I am most definitely content to stay in my corner.