It Takes Faith

This song is so special and has meant so much to me. I've actually been kind of scared to post it because of the emotions I know it will bring when I write about it, but when I saw what Elizabeth Plehn's husband wrote on her FB yesterday I knew it was time.

The story of this song begins years ago when I heard Elizabeth Plehn talk at our Stake Women's Conference. There was something about her and I just couldn't stop thinking about her. Even months after she spoke I couldn't get her out of my mind. I found out a while after that, that she had cancer and that it was bad. Months continued to go by and I still just couldn't stop thinking about her and her family. Then one day I got a couple of messages from friends telling me that I needed to put music to one of her poems. I then saw that she posted this poem on FB, asking for someone to try and put music to her words. The moment I read them I knew I needed to do this. I put the kids to bed and went downstairs to my little keyboard. I knelt down and said a special prayer asking that I would be able write music beautiful enough to go along with her words. Not even an hour later I had the entire song finished. I have never had an experience like that before. I usually write my own words when I write songs so using someone else's was different and new, but it came so easily. Having the melody come so fast to my mind and out thru my fingers was such a special experience because I know I wasn't the one who was writing it. I will cherish that moment forever. That same night I called a good friend and he was able to see me so we could get it recorded and I was able to give her the finalized copy of the song just two days after she posted it on FB.  

Waiting to hear from her was SO SCARY! I just kept praying that she would love it and that the music was good enough for her beautiful words. I am so insecure about my singing voice so I was so worried that would ruin the entire song. She emailed me back and I could feel her happiness and joy in her email. It was such an incredible Monday morning. One I will never forget! Time went by and we finally met face to face at a Women's broadcast and let me tell you.....I was a complete mess! Haha! She was radiating so much light and she was so calm and so composed. She truly is an angel here on earth. Such a beautiful woman inside and out. She came over to my house later and gave me all of her books of poems that she had written and I love them. I feel so lucky that I can have a piece of her light in my home always :)

More time went by and it was time for another Women's Conference. I was so excited when the stake asked me to do It Takes Faith and some other songs for the meeting. I immediately pictured a large group of young women singing this song, but I soon found out that it was a high school dance that day so many of the YW wouldn't be able to come. Then I had the thought of asking her closest family and friends to sing the song and everything clicked! I added some harmonies and my amazing brother, Marshall, sat down with me and helped me write out the entire song. Before we started rehearsing there was one name on my list of singers that I felt strongly should have the solo. I hadn't met most of these women so I had no clue what their voices sounded like. When we first met I asked her if she would sing it and it turned out that her voice was absolutely perfect for it. I later found out that she was her cousin and that they had always been very close so it was definitely meant to be. When the day finally came I was so worried that Elizabeth's health wouldn't allow her to come, but a miracle happened and she made it and it was an incredibly powerful and spiritual day. 

I know that Elizabeth is now unable to get out of bed and is on a lot of pain meds to keep her comfortable so she sleeps most of the time, but I am so grateful that she knows how much she has changed and influenced me. Before this experience happened I was feeling really insecure about myself and my music (especially my voice!) and was not brave enough to share anything personal I had done, but because of her example I realized that this life is short and precious and to hide behind my own fears and insecurities is not what I should be doing! For a long time I had wanted to have place where I could keep all my songs/arrangements and write about them and she gave me the courage to finally actually do it. She wrote me an email right after I posted my first song on this website and her words meant everything to me. I have her to thank for this new website and for my added courage. I know that so many people have been touched and changed because of her and I am SO grateful to be one of them. I'll love you forever Elizabeth. Thank you for being my kindred spirit and for shining so brightly and making this world such a beautiful and wonderful place. 

Download It Takes Faith sheet music here or listen to it here