Anytime, Anywhere

When I received an email from my church in the summer of 2023 asking to talk about a song I had submitted in 2019 for their new hymnbook, I immediately—and incorrectly—assumed they were interested in “My Own Sacred Grove.”  When I slowed down to read the email, I was surprised to learn that they were inquiring about a different song I had submitted called “Anytime, Anywhere.” 

Truthfully, I hadn’t thought about that little song in years and couldn’t remember exactly how it went.  I pulled out an old laptop (I had upgraded twice since then), luckily found a charger that fit, and wiped three years’ worth of dust off the screen.  I'm still shocked it booted up, and I was eventually able to pull up the sheet music for the little song I had submitted all those years before. 

As I sat down at the piano and started to play, the lyrics and melody came flooding back to me. 

I can pray to my Heavenly Father

Anytime, anywhere

For He always cares

And He hears my prayers

Anytime, anywhere

I can listen for heavenly guidance

Anytime, anywhere

The Spirit will guide

As I seek His light

Anytime, anywhere

Playing through the song transported me back to 2019.  At the time, I was trying to balance songwriting with caring for my three young children—spoiler alert: I’m still trying to find the right balance.  At the time, they were only 2, 4, and 6. To quote Naomi Ward Randall, their physical and emotional “needs were great,” but their spiritual needs were just as vital.  While I had written and planned to submit multiple longer songs and hymns, I felt a pull to write something for the littlest of gospel learners to teach them about one of the most important parts of my testimony: Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. 

Writing sacred songs simply is not always easy, but the music and lyrics for this song came together quickly and beautifully. When I pushed submit in July of 2019, I honestly didn’t think that–out of all the songs my collaborators and I had worked so tirelessly on–this little song had a shot at being accepted, but I am touched that it was. "Anytime, Anywhere" is essentially the “nursery” version of my most popular song, “My Own Sacred Grove.” The words are tiny but truthful, the message is small but mighty, and I hope it plants a seed in hearts of all sizes.

You can listen to the song HERE.

Here's a little picture of my family in 2019.

Wow! We have changed so much! <3