Love Songs

Maybe I'm just into making lists lately.

For a number of years now, I have made a CD of hand-picked love songs for Mary as a Christmas present. I may have missed a year here and there over the last decade, but I've made 7 CDs. It started it out as just a quick idea -- putting together a collection from physical CDs I already had on hand. As I've tried to make each one, it's become a bit more work and expense, since I preview a ton of songs and buy quite a few as I try to put together a really good mix. As Christmas approaches each year (or after Christmas in a few instances), I spend hours in iTunes sampling, selecting, and re-ordering. The last two (6 & 7) have been the best -- and the compilations Mary has liked the most, I think. Especially lately, I've tried to think not only of the lyrics, but listen to how the music mixes and matches.

I decided to put together a list of all the songs I've put on these CDs to give me an idea of what all I've done -- and to help avoid inadvertently repeating a song, which I've done at least once.

As I looked over the list, a few patterns emerged. There is usually at least one song in Spanish, usually one Country song, at least one from a musical (sometimes more), and sometimes one "fun" or unusual song. If not the entire album, at least several of the songs follow some kind of theme or specific sentiment (besides the general "I love you"). Sometimes I included songs that didn't fit the theme or were even considered love songs. But I like the song and it sounds nice in the mix. Each CD is definitely an diverse mix. Most of the songs could be heard on an "oldies" station now. That's funny - when I was a teenager, I enjoyed the novelty of oldies, but didn't think they were any better than what was available on current pop stations. Now I can't help but think of these old songs as not only favorites from years past, but really much better than what's being performed these days. A true sign that I'm aging!

During these projects, especially more recently as I've looked for more songs to fill the CD, I've discovered some music I hadn't heard before, and some artists I was not all that familiar with. Artist I've especially come to like: Eva Cassidy. (Sadly, she passed away from breast cancer.) Artists I will need to look for more: Ben Folds and Jason Mraz.

Here is the list. I don't know whether it gives more insight into my taste in music or into my relationship with Mary.

Mary 1

Name   >   Artist/ Album

• Just the Way You Are   >   Billy Joel/ Greatest Hits Vol. 1
• Unforgettable   >   Natalie Cole/ Unforgettable With Love
• When I Fall In Love   >   Celine Dion & Clive Griffin/ Sleepless In Seattle
• The Longest Time   >   Billy Joel/ Greatest Hits, Vol. II
• Más Que Una Caricia   >   Elvis Crespo/ Top Latino 2000
• You're Still The One   >   Shania Twain/ VH1 Divas Live
• You Belong To Me   >   Vonda Shepard/ Songs from Ally McBeal
• Tell Him   >   Vonda Shepard/ Songs from Ally McBeal
• Stand By Your Man   >   Tammy Wynette/ Sleepless In Seattle
• When You Say Nothing At All   >   Country Current/ Havin' A Ball
• I Only Want To Be With You   >   Vonda Shepard/ Songs from Ally McBeal
• The Night Is Still Young   >   Billy Joel/ Greatest Hits, Vol. II
• Run To You   >   Whitney Houston/ The Bodyguard - Soundtrack
• You Are Not Alone   >   Michael Jackson/ History (Disc 2)
• A Love Before Time (English)   >   CoCo Lee/ Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• I'll Be There   >   Mariah Carey/ MTV Unplugged (EP)
• Enseñame Tu, Piensalo Bien Bolero Medley   >   Tito Puente, Eddie Palmeri/ Masterpiece (Obra Maestra)
• I Just Cant Stop Loving You   >   Michael Jackson/ History (Disc 1)
• All I Ask Of You (With Cliff Richard)   >   Sarah Brightman/ The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection

Mary 2

• Still   >   The Commodores/ Lionel Richie: The Definitive Collection
• Hello Again   >   Neil Diamond/ Neil Diamond 12 Greatest Hits
• Here We Are   >   Gloria Estefan/ Greatest Hits
• For All We Know   >   The Carpenters/ The Singles 1969-1973
• It Wasn't Love Before   >   Liz Draper & Ron Williams/ Michael McLean: One Heart in the Right Place
• Through the Eyes of Love (Theme from "Ice Castles")   >   Melissa Manchester/ The Essence of Melissa Manchester
• Neither the Man without the Woman   >   Steven Kapp Perry/ Come to the House of the Lord
• May I Have This Dance?   >   Unknown Artists/ The Dance
• Endless Love   >   Lionel Richie & Diana Ross/ Lionel Richie: The Definitive Collection
• Love's Theme   >   Barry White/ Hot Hits of the 70s Vol. 1
• Colour My World   >   Chicago/ The Very Best of Chicago - Only the Beginning
• I Do (Cherish You)   >   98º/ Notting Hill
• Always and Forever   >   Luther Vandross/ Songs
• Con Los Años Que Me Quedan   >   Gloria Estefan/ Mi Tierra
• Not While I'm Around (From Sweeney Todd)   >   Donny Osmond & Vanessa Williams/ This Is the Moment
• Truly   >   Lionel Richie/ Lionel Richie: The Definitive Collection
• All I Know of Love (Duet with Josh Groban)   >   Barbra Streisand/ Duets
• Wind Beneath My Wings   >   Bette Midler/ Beaches
• Best Thing That Ever Happened   >   Gladys Knight & The Pips/ Imagination

Mary 3

• You Are the Sunshine of My Life   >   Stevie Wonder/ Stevie Wonder: The Definitive Collection
• Baby Come to Me   >   James Ingram/ Forever More (Love Songs, Hits & Duets)
• If   >   Bread/ Bread: Retrospective
• I've Got a Crush on You   >   Linda Ronstadt/ What's New
• The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face   >   Roberta Flack/ First Take
• All My Life   >   Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville/ The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt
• Love at First Sight   >   Styx/ Styx: Greatest Hits, Pt. 2
• At Last (Single)   >   Etta James/ The Essential Etta James
• Can't Help Falling In Love   >   Elvis Presley/ Elvis: 30 #1 Hits
• There's a Hero   >   Billy Gilman/ God Bless America: For the Benefit of the Twin Towers Fund
• Hero (LP Version)   >   Mariah Carey/ Hero
• You Raise Me Up   >   Josh Groban/ Closer
• Hero   >   Enrique Iglesias/ Escape
• Forever More (I'll Be the One)   >   James Ingram/ Forever More (Love Songs, Hits & Duets)
• You and I (We Can Conquer the World)   >   Stevie Wonder/ Talking Book
• This I Promise You   >   *NSYNC/ No Strings Attached
• Un Te Amo   >   Luis Miguel/ 33
• The Long and Winding Road   >   The Beatles/ 1
• Teach Me Tonight   >   Al Jarreau/ Breakin' Away

Mary 4

• Suddenly   >   Olivia Newton-John/ Xanadu
• Precious And Few   >   Climax/ One Hit Wonders
• Reminiscing   >   Little River Band/ Hot Hits of the 70s Vol. 8
• Unchained Melody   >   Righteous Brothers/ The Very Best of the Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
• Love Me Tender   >   Elvis Presley/ Elvis: 30 #1 Hits
• Sway   >   The Pussycat Dolls/ Shall We Dance?
• Nuestra Felicidad   >   Gloria Estefan/ Alma Caribeña (Caribbean Soul)
• Maria   >   Leonard Bernstein/ West Side Story
• Amazed   >   Lonestar/ Lonestar: From There to Here - Greatest Hits
• I Finally Found Someone   >   Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams/ Duets
• Let's Stay Together   >   Al Green/ Al Green: Greatest Hits
• Through the Eyes of Love (Theme from "Ice Castles")   >   Melissa Manchester/ The Essence of Melissa Manchester
• Bridge Over Troubled Water   >   Simon & Garfunkel/ The Best Of Simon & Garfunkel
• Take My Breath Away   >   Tuck & Patti/ Tears of Joy
• Every Time I Look At You   >   Il Divo/ Il Divo
• In Your Wildest Dreams   >   Tina Turner/ Wildest Dreams
• When You Say You Love Me   >   Josh Groban/ Closer
• The Man You Love   >   Il Divo/ Il Divo
• Suspended in Time   >   Olivia Newton-John/ Xanadu

Mary 5

• Wishing You Were Here   >   Chicago/ The Very Best of Chicago - Only the Beginning
• Never Gonna Let You Go   >   Sergio Mendes/ Pure 80's Love - The #1 Hits
• Puppy Love   >   Donny Osmond/ 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Donny Osmond
• I'll Never Love This Way Again   >   Dionne Warwick/ Platinum & Gold Collection: Dionne Warwick
• Suddenly   >   Billy Ocean/ Billy Ocean: Greatest Hits
• I Don't Want to Live Without You   >   Foreigner/ The Very Best and Beyond
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Edit Version)   >   Diana Ross/ 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Diana Ross
• You're the First, the Last, My Everything   >   Barry White/ Can't Get Enough
• Never Can Say Goodbye (Single)   >   Jackson 5/ 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Jackson 5
• The Closer I Get to You   >   Roberta Flack/ Softly With These Songs - The Best of Roberta Flack
• Somos novios (It's Impossible)   >   Andrea Bocelli & Christina Aquilera/ Amore
• You Needed Me   >   Anne Murray/ The Best...So Far
• Longer   >   Dan Fogelberg/ The Very Best of Dan Fogelberg
• Each Day Gets Better   >   John Legend/ Once Again
• All I Know   >   Art Garfunkel/ Garfunkel
• Hasta Mi Final   >   Il Divo/ Ancora
• Lady   >   Kenny Rogers/ 42 Ultimate Hits
• In Her Eyes   >   Josh Groban/ Awake
• Si Tu Me Amas   >   Il Divo/ Ancora

Mary 6

• When I First Saw You   >   Jamie Foxx/ Dreamgirls
• Fields of Gold   >   Eva Cassidy/ Songbird
• You Light Up My Life   >   Debby Boone/ The Best of Debby Boone
• I Honestly Love You   >   Olivia Newton-John/ Gold: Olivia Newton-John
• I Will Be   >   Leona Lewis/ Spirit (Deluxe Version)
• My Cup Runneth Over (From the Musical Production "I Do, I Do")   >   Ed Ames/ My Cup Runneth Over
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight   >   Elton John/ The Lion King
• Everything   >   Michael Bublé/ Everything - Single
• Kiss the Girl   >   Samuel E. Wright/ Disney's Greatest, Vol. 1
• Misty   >   Johnny Mathis/ The Essential Johnny Mathis
• Only You (And You Alone)   >   The Platters/ The Platters: The Magic Touch Anthology
• Love Will   >   Darius Rucker/ Love Will - Single
• Now or Never   >   Josh Groban/ Awake
• Perdoa Meu Amor   >   Marisa Monte/ Universo Ao Meu Redor
• Te Necesito   >   Luis Miguel Feat. Dr. Musik/ 33
• My Love   >   Paul McCartney & Wings/ Wingspan - Hits and History (Remastered)
• Never Knew Love Like This Before   >   Stephanie Mills/ Hot Hits of the 70s Vol. 2
• You're the Inspiration   >   Chicago/ Chicago 17
• Time After Time   >   Eva Cassidy/ Time After Time

Mary 7

• Without You   >   Rosario Dawson Adam Pascal/ Rent
• I Won't Last a Day Without You (1991  Remix)   >   Carpenters/ Love Songs
• Always On My Mind   >   Michael Bublé/ Call Me Irresponsible (Bonus Track Version)
• They Were You   >   Kenneth Nelson & Rita Gardner/ The Fantasticks
• Wind Beneath My Wings   >   Bette Midler/ Beaches
• Got to Be There   >   Michael Jackson/ Motown Legends: Michael Jackson
• Take My Breath Away   >   Berlin/ Metro: Greatest Hits
• Your Love, My Home   >   Joshua Payne/ Your Love, My Home
• Shining Star   >   The Manhattans/ Love Songs
• Your Song   >   Elton John/ Hot Hits of the 70s Vol. 1
• As Long As You're Mine   >   Idina Menzel & Leo Norbert Butz/ Wicked (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
• Grow Old With Me   >   Mary Chapin Carpenter/ Party Doll and Other Favorites
• It's Your Love   >   Tim McGraw & Faith Hill/ Everywhere
• Te Amaré   >   Osé/ Serás
• Lucky (feat. Colbie Caillat)   >   Jason Mraz/ We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things
• The Luckiest   >   Ben Folds/ Rockin' the Suburbs
• Anniversary Song   >   Eva Cassidy/ Time After Time
• (I've Had) The Time of My Life [Glee Cast Version]   >   Glee Cast/ (I've Had) The Time of My Life
• That's What Friends Are For   >   Dionne Warwick (With Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder)/ Platinum & Gold Collection: Dionne Warwick

 

I Love to See the Temple

One of my missionary companions, Steve Crandall, and I set a goal some 30 years ago. We both wanted to travel the world to visit every temple. We thought it was remarkable that there were so many temples, so the work could go forward throughout the world. We knew it may take our whole lifetime to travel that much. At that time there were 17 operating temples. By 1983, when we were college roommates, there were 20. It seemed ambitious, but we could do it!

That was then. Now there are 134 in operation, with 10 more under construction, and 13 announced. I don't think I have the time and money to keep up and visit them all! But that doesn't mean I don't have to give up, does it? It's not that I want to be a "temple tourist." But I really do love going to the temple. In fact, when I go to visit a new place, I tend to want to go to the temple (or at least go see it), as much as any other attraction. I'm just amazed at this work, and the speed with which it's increasing.

The most recent temple I visited for the first time was The Gila Valley Temple, in Thatcher, Arizona, yesterday. Officially, the temple for our ward and stake, is Mesa, Arizona. If I went to the Nogales, Mexico branch where we live, our temple would be in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. But there are travel restrictions for us to go to Hermosillo, for security reasons. Either temple is about 3 hours away. It turns out that Thatcher is also about 3 hours away. And, since my mother was born and raised there and I haven't been for a long time, we decided to go there this weekend. It was a very nice trip, and a beautiful temple.

It occurred to me, with that visit, I've been to 26 temples now. In some cases, I just visited the grounds (the ones with asterisks below), but I've done work in 21 -- more than existed when I set that goal! That's not exactly the goal I had set, but it does feel like a milestone. So, here's the list... so far... in alphabetical order rather than chronological order:

1. Boise, Idaho
2. Columbia River, Washington
3. Gila Valley (Thatcher), Arizona
4. Guatemala City, Guatemala
5. Idaho Falls, Idaho
6. Jordan River, Utah
7. Logan, Utah*
8. Los Angeles, California
9. Manhattan, New York*
10. Manti, Utah
11. Medford, Oregon
12. Mesa, Arizona
13. Mexico City, Mexico
14. Mount Timpanogos, Utah
15. Nauvoo, Illinois
16. Oakland, California
17. Palmyra, New York*
18. Portland, Oregon
19. Provo, Utah
20. Rexburg, Idaho
21. Salt Lake City, Utah
22. San Diego, California
23. San Jose, Costa Rica
24. St George, Utah*
25. Washington, D.C.
26. Winter Quarters, Nebraska*

One temple I wish would have been completed sooner is the one in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It was announced just before we went to work at the embassy there. But there were numerous delays, including negotiating a different location after considerable opposition. We had a chance to visit the new location and see the preliminary construction just before we left the country. I would love to be able to go to the dedication, if my work and financial circumstances allow.

Mexico has the most temples outside the United States. But even though I live here, I don't think I'm going to get to many of them. Sadly, there are just too many security issues and travel restrictions.

Because I love the the peace and beauty in the temple, and serving those who need ordinances, I look forward to visiting many more temples throughout my travels and Foreign Service career.