What is Christmas?

Jodi Lee singing a Christmas Compilation

 

"What is Christmas?

 

Faith and hope and love are the wellsprings of Christmas celebrations. These are gifts without price, the ornaments incapable of imitation, discovered only within oneself. They are not always easy to come by, but they are in unlimited supply.

 

This Christmas mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss Suspicion, and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Listen. Apologize if you are wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little. laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Express your gratitude. Go to church. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of this earth. These are inklings of a vast category....a mere scathing of the surface.

 

They are simple things. You have heard them all before, but their influence has never been measured."

 

 

Merry Christmas Friends!

Love, Jodi lee

The Voice of a Child

 

With everything going on in the world right now it easy to get discouraged. Music can heal broken hearts. I have experienced it time and time again. My little girl has an incredible passion for music. When she was just 4 years old, she told me that "Music moves her soul." In Kindergarten she was given the award for "Future Broadway Star" I had no idea she was singing to all the kids in her class.  I must say I didn't really take her love of music that serious. I thought she was like every other young girl wanting to be the next Taylor Swift. I also thought that because she has been to many of my shows she was just reenacting what she saw. I think its really important that as a Mother I encourage my children to find their own path. It just so happens that music is her path too. It wasn't until I received an email from her first grade Teacher telling me she (My Daughter) was spending most of her recess time writing and singing songs to the kids. It was then that I realized this was her "Thing." Every time she performs and Sings she lights up. It brings a smile to my face.

 

 You can watch her performing Jingle Bell Rock

HERE 

I am A child of God

Yesterday I sang at a single adult Ward in Provo, Utah. Of all the songs I could have been asked to sing, I was asked to sing "I am a Child of God." It was a tender Mercy and just what I needed.

This is a picture of me and my Big sister, Shauri. She just passed away a couple weeks ago. She was Heavenly Fathers before she was ours. She is back home with him and I know he is taking good care of her.

 

 

I am a child of God,

And he has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

I am a child of God,

And so my needs are great;

Help me to understand his words

Before it grows to late.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

I am a child of God.

Rich blessings are in store;

If I but learn to do his will

I'll live with him once more.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

I am a child of God.

His promises are sure;

Celestial glory shall be mine

If I can but endure.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

 

As I sang each word my heart grew more tender. I realized that no matter who we are, our background, our circumstances in life. WE are  spirit children of our Heavenly Father and he will always lead and guide us along through this life and the next. As simple as this is it's the truth and in the craziness of life we forget it. I find so much strength and comfort in knowing this. A few years ago I wrote a blog post concerning my Children and my hopes for them. you can read about it HERE. Heavenly Fathers loves each of us and wants us all to be happy. We just have to ask..........

It's good to be back!

Being back in the studio felt incredible. For just a moment I rediscovered myself. I think its so important to take time to do something you love. Something you are passionate about. Sometimes finding that balance means sacrificing things. Just before my second child was born and throughout that pregnancy I was incredibly busy traveling and singing about. Through that process I discovered that something always has to give, and 99% of the time it's your family. So, I pulled back. I turned down a once in a Lifetime opportunity concerning my music career. Was it the right choice? I like to believe so. And when I question myself or the decisions I've made I do my best to have an eternal perspective. It helps take away the sting when the reality of it all comes crashing down. This doesn't mean I'll stop doing what I love, what I was born to do. It just means I'll do it at my own pace. I have yet to find the perfect balance in life. I'm not sure it exist. So, here's to finding that "perfect" balance....... whatever it is.


Love, Jodi Lee

God’s Embroidery

Do you believe there is a pre-drawn plan for our life?  I do. I feel very Lucky to know my purpose. It is very specific and very clear given to me through a blessing. Sometimes, when things aren't going as (I) had planned, I find myself questioning things. (I'm such an over thinker)..... We have our free agency, but I think as long as we are doing our very best to Keep the covenants and Promises we have made, Things work-out according to plan. Not always in our time, but in Gods time. Have you ever looked back on your life and thought......Oh, that's why that happened?  But at the time you were so frustrated and confused. Have faith in Heavenly Fathers Pre-drawn plan for YOU. I am reminded of this story.

God’s Embroidery

When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a great deal. I would sit at her feet and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. I told her that it looked like a mess from where I was. As from the underside I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat. She would smile at me, look down and gently say,

“My son, you go about your playing for a while, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side.”

I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would hear Mother’s voice say,

“Son, come and sit on my knee.” This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower or a sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy. Then Mother would say to me,

“My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a pre-drawn plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing.”

Many times through the years I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and said, “Father, what are You doing?” He has answered, “I am embroidering your life.” I say, “But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can’t they all be bright?” The Father seems to tell me, “My child, you go about your business of doing My business and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side.”

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Music On itunes.

I am excited to announce that "Free My Soul" and "Broken" can be purchased on itunes.

I have read every email and message sent to me concerning these two songs. I am overwhelmed at the response so many of you have had to My music. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt stories with me. It's amazing how you can feel connected  to complete strangers through music. Many of you I have never met, but I sincerely Love and thank you! I put my music on hold  this last year as I have had some incredible things going on in my personal life. God Is good and has blessed me more than I could ever imagine. I am feeling incredibly creative these days. There will be more music to come. XOXO

"Free My Soul" & "Broken" can be Purchased HERE