Mikey He Writes It

About a month ago, I pulled out my guitar from our closet, dusted it off, tuned it up, and started playing it for my kids. It had been sitting in my closet for an entire year, and I was tired of seeing it tucked away underneath my dress shirts, wondering when I would have time to play it.

For this past month I have left the guitar in my living room and in sight, instead of hidden away. As a result, it’s always within arms reach, and the calluses are back on my fingers as I’m writing music again with my guitar.

I wish I had done this all last year. A few songs have been in the works, but one stands out as my favorite among the others. It’s called “One Step Closer.”

If you’re a parent, more than likely before you go to bed, you check on your children as they sleep quietly in their beds. It’s one of my favorite moments with my children. And not just because it’s one of the few times they are quiet… There is such a feeling of peace watching one of your little ones sleep.

It’s difficult to describe, and I often take some time to ponder in that moment. I think about their day and what they did. I think about their personal progression with their behavior, their interests, their problems, their joys. They are experiencing life in such an interesting way, living with grown ups who maybe don’t understand them or get frustrated at them, and then turn around and embrace them and love them. Most days they seem to go up and down in their emotions so quickly and frequently. They go from happy and dancing one minute, to crying and screaming the next. Being told “no” as they experiment and push their limits. Being rewarded for good behavior. Forgiving quickly and loving you even when they are sad or mad at you. While we as adults may have more experience on this earth, children certainly understand how to approach life better than we do. Finding joy in the simplest things, and loving unconditionally.

These are some of the things I ponder as I watch my children sleep. Especially my daughter Zoe, our oldest child. She has spent the most time with us, and every day she learns so much, makes me laugh, and amazes me. As I watch her sleep, I think about her future and who she will become. I feel like she can do anything. I want her to do EVERYTHING. I want her to share what she has with the world, because I feel like she has so much to offer. I often wonder what she dreams about at night, and if she can hear me whispering to her that I love her, or feel the gentle kiss I give her. Maybe not, but I like to imagine she can.

And I know it seems far away, but one day I won’t be able to go in at night and check on her while she sleeps. I will miss that.

But for now, every time I go in and say goodnight, at the end of a lovely day, I feel that I have taken one step closer to her heart, and her to mine.

I wrote the lyrics to this song with Zoe, meaning that I wrote a lot of different lyrics and asked her to choose which ones she liked. This is what we decided on in the end:

“Come along with me,
It’s time to sleep,
At the end of a lovely day,
The silent lights,
Are a sanctuary,
For my soul is at peace away,
As your quiet sigh calms the troubled world,
The stillness it brings to me,

Takes me one step closer to your heart,
Nothing is in our way,
Some day we’ll be miles apart,
Dreaming of yesterday,
Take in this moment,
My love is here to stay,

Come along with me,
As I fall asleep,
At the end of a lovely day,
Even in my dreams,
I can hear you speaking to me,
As you kiss my face,
I know that you care and I am loved,
Each word that I feel you say,

Takes me one step closer to your heart,
Nothing is in our way,
Some day we’ll be miles apart,
Dreaming of yesterday,
Take in this moment,
My love is here to stay,

Even if I fall asleep and you’re away,
I can keep you in my dreams, each word you say

Takes me one step closer to your heart,
Nothing is in our way,
Some day we’ll be miles apart,
Dreaming of yesterday,
Take in this moment,
My love is here to stay,

Now and forever,
My love is here to stay”

I love you Zoe.

And my love is here to stay.

 

Seven years ago, I wrote a song called “More Than Just A Home” for my wife. At the time, I was still newly married, no children, in college, living in a 4-plex, and writing music on my guitar in my spare time. I performed for a show called “Guitar’s Unplugged” in  2010 in Provo, UT. It’s one of the few times I ever performed one of my original guitar songs on stage.

I often spoke with my wife about the future home we would have someday with our family. I’ve always wanted to build my own home for my family. But more importantly, I’ve always wanted to create the atmosphere for a home full of happy memories, positive experiences, and a place our children can cherish and feel peace.

Since I didn’t have a home or children at the time I wrote this song in 2010, the lyrics are mainly comprised of my own memories of growing up, and what I hoped to have someday.

Now, seven years later, we have three children, built a home, sold that home, and are looking forward to another home where we currently live. The memories have began, the positive experiences are in full swing, and our children can cherish love and feel peace in our home. There’s still a long way to go, but as I reflected on this song today, I couldn’t help but feel gratitude for the blessings I’ve enjoyed. I have an amazing wife who raises our children with love and works hard to achieve her goals and fill her life with meaning, and beautiful children who bring never ending happiness and peace to my soul on a daily basis.

Is it perfect? No. Far from. Some days are terrible. But it makes the good days that much more meaningful and memorable.

I hope that when my children are grown, they can have similar positive memories of their own from their life in our home. And hopefully to them, our home will have been more than just walls and a roof, but a place where they can learn, grow, and become who they are for the rest of their lives.

Last night, I had the incredible opportunity to conduct Chugiak and Eagle River High School choirs in their performance of my composition “Oh Little Child.”

There are a lot of FIRSTS in this experience. First time I composed an original Christmas hymn. First time a choir has performed my composition. First time I’ve been invited to conduct my own composition. First time I’ve attended this concert since I was in it as a senior in high school. First time I’ve worked with a talented harpist, pianist, and violinist along with the choir. First time I’ve conducted my old choir teacher 🙂 And first time I’ve heard my little sister, Kami, sing in a choir (she’s the gorgeous dark-haired one standing right behind the harp).

This is truly an unforgettable experience for me. I couldn’t be prouder of these talented young men and women in their performance. Not only was the entire show fantastic, but they especially sounded beautiful for my song and I feel honored to have them sing it for the first time. I can’t describe how much this song means to me and is close to my heart. Thank you Chugiak and Eagle River choirs for your hard work and dedication. You are truly one-of-a-kind! And thanks to Ron Lange for making this experience possible. You are a talented musician, director, singer, comedian, and friend. You are a legend and inspiration to all youth who have passed through your choirs over the years. I definitely attribute my passion and love of music to my years of choir with you.  Thank you. What a blessing to work with you.

You can find sheet music to “Oh Little Child” and more on http://www.michaelchristensenmedia.com/music

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As we delight in this Christmas season, two of my favorite Christmas hymns find their way to my humming holiday spirit.

Away in a Manger and Silent Night.

These hymns may be considered to be some of the most popular of the Christmas season. Not only are the melodies beautiful, memorable, and uplifting, but the words of both songs have a powerful impact. These songs truly bear testimony of our Savior as a beautiful baby, born in a manger on the most sacred and holy of nights.

It amazes me that the Savior of the world would arrive in such a humble manner, almost dramatically so! To not even have a room and a proper roof over his head, or a crib or pillow to rest it on. The nature of his entrance into this world is so messianically significant, it fulfills ancient scripture, as well as instills humble faith in those that would follow Christ one day.

Perhaps not many were aware of the significance of that night at the time, but lowly and meek shepherds were the ones to greet the King of Kings into the world shortly after his birth. And later, inspired wise men from the east would follow suit. He was not a prince born of worldly noble birth, and a large nation-wide celebration was not had. Rather, a star appeared and heavenly hosts sang “Hallelujah!” Our Heavenly Father chose, as he often does, to bring about His work by small and simple means.

And small and simple are the feelings I have as I have sung these two songs throughout my life. I’ve arranged a “mashup” of both of these songs, geared towards those with tenor voices. I hope that these two songs, combined together into one, can bring a little more Christmas spirit into your home this holiday season, as we remember the birth of a babe born long ago in Bethlehem.

Merry Christmas!

You can click here or go to http://www.michaelchristensenmedia.com/music to find this arrangement under the “Free Music” section, as well as many other songs I’ve composed and arranged.

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Now that the Christmas Season is in full swing, I have an EXCITING announcement!

Next Thursday, December 15th, Chugiak and Eagle River High School Choir is having their Christmas concert at Chugiak High School! And I’ve been invited by their current director (and my director from when I was in high school) Ron Q Lange to conduct my original composition Christmas Hymn “Oh Little Child” as part of their concert! So I will be flying up to Alaska next Thursday for it!

My little sister Kami, a junior at Chugiak and member of the choir, has told me they’ve been rehearsing and it’s sounding good. I can’t wait to hear it!