The Perfect Naptime Music

My husband bought this CD when I was pregnant with our first baby. We completely fell in love with it.

Fernando Ortega's The Shadow of Your Wings

You can buy it directly through his website by clicking here.

When our first baby entered toddlerhood and went through that fun stage where she had a hard time winding down for naps, we started playing this CD for her. If we had guests over and were concerned that the noise would keep her awake, we'd play it for her. It became a bedtime ritual for her.  Now our second baby is in that same stage of not wanting to nap, and Fernando Ortega is once again on our bedtime playlist.

What's not to love about it? It's gorgeous piano music that is soothing and scriptural. I love Fernando Ortega, and both Vince Gill and Alison Krauss sing with him on a couple of songs as well.

Here are the lyrics to one of his songs, Let the Words of My Mouth.  It's a combination of Psalm 19:14 and Philippians 4:8.

Let the words of my mouth
Be pleasing to You, pleasing to You
The meditation of my heart
Be pleasing to you, pleasing to You
Oh Lord, my strength
And my Redeemer

Whatever is true
Whatever is pure
Whatever is lovely
Whatever is worthy
Think on these things
Think on these things

Let the words of my mouth
Be pleasing to You
Pleasing to You

At 21 months, Isabelle would ask for "Peace" at bedtime, since the first song on this disc is "Grace and Peace." She could tell you that whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is worthy, "sink on dese tings" (think on these things). What a great message for anyone! And if I needed to rock her to bed, I could feel my frustrations easing as I listened to and meditated upon the Biblical lyrics on this album.

When we travel, we make sure we always have this music with us on either the ipod or on CD.  It's that wonderful!  We hit play and the kids conk out in the backseat while listening to "Grace and Peace."   

Bonus reason to love anything by Fernando Ortega:  I once commented on a blog he had written about songwriting.  I simply thanked him for his beautiful, biblical music and told him about Isabelle quoting his songs as a toddler.  Did he comment back on his blog?  No.  He found my blog on Facebook and commented personally so that I would see it!  He said that he and his wife got a kick out of my comment.  Such a classy guy.

And if you're like me and you love Fernando Ortega, you'll really enjoy this video.  This song isn't on The Shadow of My Wings album, but it's a lovely tribute to Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Graham's wife.  Warning:  You will cry.