Compositions

All my early compositions were written as a response to an event or tragedy. My first composition was written as I was watching the news report about the horrific shooting that happened at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. 33 persons were killed including the perpetrator and another 23 were injured.  

My husband and I had traveled to Oregon, to vacation at the home owned by his Union. This was a place where I knew I could write, as I had written many graduate school papers in previous years. This particular time, I had brought my keyboard with me so I could rehearse some of the worship music that I was leading the following Tuesday morning. 

The home had a “greatroom” where the dining area, kitchen area, and living room area were all in one big space. So, I was sitting at the dining room table, studying, and my husband had the TV on in the living room area when this special report came on. The entire event was being covered by media without showing video to protect the innocent, as it was happening. Feeling so helpless as the events unfolded, I began to write this poetry:

My Heart Knows You Are In Control

There is peace, Lord, when I know You love me.
There is rest, Lord, when I know You care.
There’s contentment when I trust in You.
There is hope, Lord, when I know You’re there.

Lord, I love You. Lord, I love You. Help me love You more.
Lord, I love You. Lord, I love You. Help me love You more.

After the news coverage was finished, I went into the bedroom with my keyboard and composed a melody using these words. In 20 minutes, I had written a simple melody with chords that expressed what my heart was feeling. In the helplessness of those moments, I had to remind myself of my belief that God is in control even in these unimaginable events.

Sometimes the words come first and sometimes the music comes first. And on rare occasions the music and words come at the same time. After the passing of my dear friend, the words and music came at the same time. I sat at my midi keyboard to write that song. On that song, I just kept writing until the tears stopped.

That You Love Us So (link here) was written largely when we were on a boating trip through the near-by Islands with our dear friends. I had brought my keyboard with me on this trip, as well.

It was when we were coming back that I sat down with my keyboard in the living area of the boat and began to write a melody. It had been a gorgeous trip up in the San Juan Islands and this day was no different.

But I had just learned of the terrible automobile accident of a young singer/songwriter friend of mine, leaving him as a quadriplegic. At this same time, I was aware that a close friend’s father was in the hospital fighting for his life as his kidneys were failing. The words to this song were not completely finished before that friend’s father passed away. That You Love Us So was written to remind myself that God loves us even in the middle of these types of circumstances. And how He continually demonstrates His love for us.