Songs [31 Things I Know]

[me pretending I can play when Charles & I were dating]

This I know...

SONGS

...can change my mood.

[and mind]

I am not musical. My husband is. My kids are. Again, I am not. Some have said I'm tone deaf, or even partially. Ha. I don't mind. I grew up in South Texas, so I grew up on country music. I have a special place in my heart for songs like "Neon Moon" by Brooks & Dunn and "Baby Blue" by George Strait. At some point after I became a Christian in late elementary, early middle school, I started listening to Christian music. I believe my first CD was Jars of Clay---the album with "Love Song" on it. A song, that consequently probably saved my life, that story is for another post. However, that led into other favorites like Third Day and Jennifer Knapp. Songs on their albums literally got me through high school.

There was a time when I didn't listen to secular music [you know, youth group bonfires and all], but slowly but surely I accumulated my old favorite CD's. I think it was early on in college when I got my first iPod and ventured into the world of downloading songs one at a time from Napster, I mean, iTunes. I can't remember how or why, but I started to fall in love with Rita Springers worship music. This was before I discovered bands like Passion, Hillsong United, and Bethel.

I hate the radio, and rarely listen. Our new van has XM so I love to listen to the "coffee house music" station. But in general, I just play music off my iPod in the car and at home. A few years ago I bought a player for the kitchen that wirelessly plays my Pandora stations, and I love it. It allows me to listen to just the music I want to---even if I don't own it. Free and legal. Take that Napster. I prefer worship music or music that gets my mind back on Heaven and not my [at times] [okay, who am I kidding, all the time] chaotic surroundings. Although, I do love me some good Jack Johnson. He's music, I mean, his ukulele just immediately teleports me to a beach and away from my piles of dishes and laundry. Charles gets a wee bit jealous, I did by him a ukulele last Christmas to give him a shot at being my next Pandora station, but he hasn't taken to it as much. There's still hope.

I'm made a quick [and I'm sure, sure to change] list of my favorite "get me happier" songs. Not all of them are "happy happy" songs, but they get my blood rushing or my mind going a different direction. I'm convinced on days [or weeks] when little music is played in my house---I'm grumpier. Somehow music tells me to chill out, let it go, refocus, be thankful, be happy, be in the moment---not somewhere else hating my life...bored to death, and overwhelmed. Sounds better to be happier, right?

Here's my list:

1. Where Did All The Good People Go [Jack Johnson]

2. Rise Up [Rita Springer]

3. Yellow [Coldplay]

4. Dancing Queen [ABBA]

5. Wide Open Spaces [Dixie Chicks]

6. Everyday [Dave Mathews Band]

7. Stand By Me [Ben E King]

8. Three Little Birds [Bob Marley]

9. Babylon [David Gray]

10. Jeremiah [Sara Groves]

What's on yours? Any song that gets you happy again?

These Are The Days

Recently I heard the song "These Are The Days" by Natalie Merchant [not a Christian song] on the radio, and although I'd heard it growing up, it took on a whole new meaning now that I have children.


To me...it was reminding me to cherish these days...today...with my children. I just soaked up these words as she sang...trying to remember what my [blog] friend wrote about today and how when it comes to choosing between the temporary [day to day chores & tasks & demands] and the eternal [hearts of my children]. I pray more often than not I choose the eternal.

After all, all I can take to Heaven is my friends & family. I can't take my organized pantry or my washed and folded laundry. Isn't that what those silly Pharaoh's believed? I wonder if I had a tomb what I'd have in it? Would I have my pristine house and super mom accompaniments? Homemade baked bread does eventually turn to dirt just like everything else.


But not my little ones---they live forever.


Friends, cherish these days---with your little children. They are numbered. They won't be pulling at our shirts or sitting in our laps forever.

This song says "something will grow within you", and I remember when something did grow within me, and I know how the privilege of watching it grow outside me. Although much louder, much more work, and causing me more gray hair now...I'm still blessed.

Lyrics:

these are days you'll remember

never before and never since, I promise
will the whole world be warm as this
and as you feel it, you'll know it's true
that you are blessed and lucky
it's true, that you are touched by something
that will grow and bloom in you

these are days you'll remember

when May is rushing over you with desire
to be part of the miracles you see in every hour
you'll know it's true, that you are blessed and lucky
it's true, that you are touched by something
that will grow and bloom in you

these are the days
that you might fill with laughter
until you break

these days you might feel a shaft of light
make its way across your face
and when you do
you'll know how it was meant to be
see the signs and know their meaning

you'll know how it was meant to be
hear the signs and
know they're speaking to you
to you

And if you can handle this horrible 90's music video check out the song on YouTube. It's hilariously 90's so maybe just listen to the song and close your eyes and pretend none of us thought it was cool when it first came out.

Thankful Thursday Top Ten 60

Thankful This Week For:

1. Flowers just because
2. Last weeks soccer shirts not being too dirty to re-wear again [since I forgot to wash!]
3. Bees. I had no idea that they helped bring me 1/3 of everything that ends up on my plate
4. A girly movie night
5. Yankee candles to make my house smell clean...even if it isn't
6. Finding out that adding raspberry to a white chocolate mocha makes it taste even less like coffee
7. A prayer getting answered even better than we asked for [Re: Charles work]
8. Trader Joe's [minus 40 min drive]... heard a rumor they are building one sooner than later near me.
9. When my oldest son asks that his little brother be first [all this training---it's sinking in!]
10. Rita Springers new album

Scripture & Snapshot 30

My husband heard this scripture and wrote this song...

Let Me In

I see your face pushed on the floor. You snot-faced child of mine---

you should know I'm more in love with you than all the books and stories

you've heard all your life.

I'm the One who kissed your face before you were ever born.

O count the stars if you can! I made them all, and I made you too...

if you only knew what you mean to me.

Well, I want you to see

You're wearing thin,

Please let your heart open,

and let me in.

I'll take your sin.

Just let your heart open,

and let me in.

You're wondered if I've had enough: "What if God gives up on me,

and He runs out of love? What if I'm too far gone, and God is done?

I've squandered my life for mammon.

I wonder if He'd call me son. I'm so unworthy now..."

O but now, son, if you could see me...you'd see my legs run...

you'd see my heart jump...you'd feel my kiss on your face.

He's home again! Home again!

I could never imagine Heaven without you here...

my greatest fear is you lost and gone.

I call you son.

Come home again.

Please let your heart open,

and let me in.

I'll take your sin.

Just let your heart open,

and let me in.

Though you were dark, you would be like the morning star on fire,

Sweet child of mine, I love your heart. You're always my desire.

I smile when I think of you...never depends on what you do.

Just let me in.

O, please let me in.

I see the tears stream down your face. You snot-faced child of mine---

you should know I'm crazy

about you.

***

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502 Miles Till Home

I'm happy to be blogging from my very own kitchen table [even if it's in the middle of the literal kitchen because I've moved it to make space for indoor playing since we left our playroom in Ohio, sigh]. Took off blogging yesterday because to put anything else in that last 24 hours would have sent me straight to the hospital. Let me break this week down in picture for you...

a. Our milk dropped, but I used via tray to avoid going back to store in snow

b. The boys room when I asked them to watch a movie so I could pack

c. What the counter looked like over and over again last week

Over the last few weeks Charles work schedule has picked up a lot trying to finish the wire project at Dayton Daily News...some days he worked between 16-24 hours straight. During the last week I attempted...let me use that word twice...attempted...to pack up our 1500 square apartment with 3 kids under 4. Well, I thought I got a lot done, but apparently our two hour load up plan turned into 8...I guess I didn't do as much as I thought. And Yes, I did pack in trash bags.

Luckily my husband is a good sport and we worked together Sunday to get the house all packed up and loaded into two cars, leaving behind only one porch full of items we couldn't fit. Not to worry, my great Ohio friend picked them all up and is busy giving them away to those in need. 

Originally we were suppose to leave Thanksgiving, then December 13th, then 17th, then 18th, so finally the 19th we were on the road...even if was 6pm and we'd both only slept about 5 hours for several nights in a row. The kids slept for the entire 8 hours and Moses only woke up [in my car] 3 times crying a little. I did get sleepy between 2 and 3 am, but thanks to Rihanna radio station on Pandora I got my dance on. Thank you also to my first Starbucks venti coffee drink I managed to chug [hate the taste].

If only my car windows could talk...the things they'd tell you. My dancing was quite humorous I'm sure to God, His angels, and those passerbyer's. 

We got into Marietta about 3 am, but didn't get all settled and asleep till 5 am. Guess what time the kids woke up? 7 am. We took turns napping until noon and then started our day. Thanks to an amazing babysitter, my husband and mom I was able to prepare for our 7th Annual Girl's Christmas party that started at 6pm. That's for another blog though.

I say all this to say...our almost 5 month business trip in Ohio is officially over and we're officially home. We threw all the contents of our cars into our storage unit and will deal with that hot mess in 3 weeks when Christmas vacation is over.

Before & After

[I guess I should actually say... "before & during clean up"

...when we left it looked sort of like the before picture]

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If you think I had a hard week...click once

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Links & Logs

I struggle between long mindless posts and short insightful ones. 

I started this blog to catalog our "vacation" in Dayton, OH. A lot of everyday is the same [meals, discipling, playing, shopping, teaching, exhaustion, 8pm], but a lot of it is new too [new parks, new stores, new places, new people]. 

I'm asking God for wisdom to make this blog something that doesn't waste someones valuable time, but [perhaps] relieves their temporary exhaustion as well. Since experience & maturity aren't full developed...my medium is humor. I hope my stories and pictures make you laugh & refresh your heart. 

You are loved.

Things you could live without knowing about my day:

[1] Moses turned 5 months

[2] I'm on week three of Couch to 5K

[3] Nation told me "You're beautiful" after I told him he was in trouble

[4] I made Raspberry Salmon for dinner [baked it instead of grilled it]

[5] Heard about Toggl [took me 56 minutes to write this blog post]

[6] Heard about Dinner Tool

[7] I've encouraged several others to blog...two have started

http://professionalparenting.blogspot.com/

http://homeschoolhappy.wordpress.com/

[8] I bought the boys Lincoln Logs

[9] I bought two cds: 

Across The Earth: Tear Down The Walls: [Hillsong United]

Here Is Love[Bethel Live]

[10] I missed seeing/talking to my [hard-working] husband all day after this nice weekend together [leaves at 6:45am gets home at 8pm]

[11] I was tough and didn't give Nation a cookie at the grocery store because he was naughty

[12] Boxed Tazo Chai Latte Concentrate cost $1 more here than in GA [when you add in the milk I think going to Starbucks everyday might actually SAVE me money, jk]

[13] Didn't go to bed before midnight because I was writing this post

[14] Just realized this was my 24th post on the 24th