Last Day of December: Recap & List of LOATHES

What a fun month it's been! All my favorite Christmas music playing 24/7! Here's the list of my faves from the past month of blogging:
O Holy Night
Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong album
Christmas in Killarney
Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
In the Bleak Midwinter
The Birthday of a King
White Christmas/Whiter than Snow
Mary, Did You Know
Do You Hear What I Hear
Breath of Heaven
I Wonder as I Wander
The Perfect Tree
O Come All Ye Faithful
In The First Light
The Little Drummer Boy
The Secret of Christmas
Offering/Offering (Christmas)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Away in a Manger
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Ding Dong Merrily on High
I Saw Three Ships
We Three Kings
Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)
How Many Kings
Christmas Can't Be Very Far Away
Sheep May Safely Graze
Dona Nobis Pacem

And now, for the much awaited treat of the day.............

CHRISTMAS SONGS I LOATHE!!!
Feliz Navidad (any version…annoying and OVERPLAYED!)
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Jackson Five…annoying)
All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey…OVERPLAYED!)
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting one…SO OVERPLAYED!)
Rudolph (ugh!)
Frosty (enough already!)
Santa Baby (yuck!)
Little Saint Nick/Man with All The Toys (Beach Boys…ANNOYING)
12 Days of Christmas (so repetitive)
War Is Over/So This Is Christmas (depressing)
Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime (DRIVES ME CRAZY!)
And because they are overplayed, even songs I used to like are getting to me:
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
White Christmas is actually getting on my nerves…overplayed!
Last Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Silver Bells
Blue Christmas
Jingle Bells

It's been a lot of fun thinking about music all month. I hope you've enjoyed the journey!

30 Days of Christmas Music!!

Today's song is a tough one to pick...you see, it's the last of my Christmas song selections! Tomorrow I plan to recap the songs as well as give a special treat...tune in tomorrow to see what I have in store.
Although neither of these are "Christmas songs," both are on several Christmas albums, and both are dear to me.

"Sheep May Safely Graze" by J.S. Bach is SO beautiful! I loved it so much that I had my mom and mother-in-law walk in while it was played at my wedding. I've heard string quartet versions and brass ensemble versions. I have never heard a recording of it that I didn't like. Although there are lyrics, I have heard the song most often just instrumentally. Here are the only lyrics I could find:
"Sheep may safely graze and pasture in a watchful Shepherd's sight.
Those who rule with wisdom guiding bring to hearts a peace abiding
Bless a land with joy made bright."

The other song is "Dona Nobis Pacem, " a song I sang in choir years ago. The three interweaving harmonies are exquisite!! It's a song that makes me wish I could sing all three parts at once. The words are repeated throughout the song, and they mean "Give Us Peace." I've enjoyed the version on A Winter's Solstice IV and I believe John Rutter incorporated the song into a choir anthem I sang once.

Day 29

I can't believe Christmas Music Season is almost over! I will certainly miss it...but what fun it will be to start again next November.
Today's song is "Christmas Can't Be Very Far Away" by Amy Grant (actually written by Roger Cook and Wayne Jackson.) I haven't thought about this song much this year because the song starts out:
"Little bits of heaven
Floating gently by the window
Soon this dirty city will be
Covered with a new snow
Let's put on our winter boots
Go outside and play
Christmas can't be very far away"
and we've had NO snow so far this December! I'm not complaining...the van sure stays cleaner without salt on the outside and sloppy boots on the inside...but I do love the "little bits of heaven" imagery...

23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28!

Ooops...did I fall off the face of the Earth? Nope, I traveled across NYS to visit my in-laws for Christmas. And the idea of blogging from my android phone was not very appealing.
So here are my Christmas music selections for the past 6 days:
23 - "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
My favorite verse is below...I LOVE the imagery!
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

24 - "Ding Dong Merrily On High"
This seems like a silly song that kids giggle listening to, but I love when the "glorias" intersect in harmony. Celtic Woman's version is spectacular!

25 - "I Saw Three Ships"
I absolutely love to sing this song ON Christmas Day. In the morning. Really! Sting's version of this song is very cool. And how beautiful are the last few verses:
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

26 - "We Three Kings"
I have loved this song my whole life, but it became a favorite when I was in about 10 years old. I played this song on the clarinet and the harmony lines were SO beautiful! Now I can't sing this song without hearing the harmony in my head.
Here is my favorite verse:
Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav'n replies

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

27 - "Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground" by Chris Tomlin)
This is a newer song, certainly not an ancient hymn, but both the lyrics and the music are beautiful!
What hope we hold this starlit night
A King is born in Bethlehem
Our journey long, we seek the light
That leads to the hallowed manger ground

What fear we felt in the silent age
Four-hundred years can He be found
But broken by a baby's cry
Rejoice in the hallowed manger ground

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
God incarnate, here to dwell
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Praise His name Emmanuel

The son of God, here born to bleed
A crown of thorns would pierce His brow
And we beheld this offering
Exalted now the King of kings
Praise God for the hallowed manger ground

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
God incarnate, here to dwell
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Praise His name Emmanuel

Oh, praise His name Emmanuel
Oh, praise His name Emmanuel

28 - "How Many Kings" by downhere
If you've read my recent facebook updates, you've seen that I've FALLEN IN LOVE with this song! A friend posted it last week and after I heard it just one time, I knew I'd found a real gem. The melody, the harmonies, the lyrics...all amazing! Lyrics are below, but I urge you to go find the live studio version on youtube!!!
Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected,
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -
Just a child -
Is this who we've waited for? 'cause...

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?

All for me...
All for you...

Day 22

Today's song takes me back to childhood...gathering around the piano at my grandparents' house with my grandmother sitting at the piano. "Away in a Manger" is a simple song, often sung by children, but it's beautiful and sincere...there are two different tunes the lyrics can be sung to, and I'm still not sure which is my favorite. Although I'm sure there are countless recordings of "Away in a Manger," I like it best sung from the heart, by children.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

day 21

I wasn't a huge fan of this song when I was a child, but I really love it now. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is a traditional English carol from the 1800's. According to Wikipedia,
"There is some confusion today about the meaning of the first line, which seems archaic to our ears. It is usually given today as "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", with a comma after the word "merry", so does not refer to "merry gentlemen". "Rest" here denotes "keep or make," with "you" as the object of "rest;" "ye" which gives 16 definitions of the word, some going back to the 10th century, all having to do with pleasure or enjoyment. In both of the 18th-century instances, "you" was used instead of "ye," suggesting that the latter may be a modern insertion to make the carol sound more quaintly archaic."
In any event, the tune is interesting because it is minor much of the time...as for versions of this song, there are a bazillion! I love the ones by: MercyMe, Glee (LOL I know, but it's a great one...especially the bridge), Barenaked Ladies did a Peter, Paul and Mary-sounding one, August Burns Red has a CRAZY rockin' one, Straight No Chaser has a pretty groovy one, my new favorite group downhere has a terrific one, Steven Curtis Chapman, Canadian Brass, Orla Fallon (of Celtic Woman), Sissel, Kim Hill has a beautiful one on guitar, Mannheim Steamroller, Steven Sharp Nelson (the cello dude on The Piano Guys), and another lovely guitar version on A Winter's Solstice V. Could I pick a favorite? No, not likely! But look at the words below in bold...pretty profound!

On another website, Hymns and Carols of Christmas, I found 9 (yes NINE) verses:
1. God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.
For Jesus Christ our Savior,
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan’s power,
When we were gone astray.

Chorus
O tidings of comfort and joy,
For Jesus Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day.

2. In Bethlehem, in Jury,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger,
Upon this blessed morn;
The which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn.

3. From God our heavenly Father,
A blessed angel came.
And unto certain shepherds,
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born,
The Son of God by name:

4. Fear not, then said the Angel,
Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior,
Of virtue, power, and might;
So frequently to vanquish all,
The friends of Satan quite;

5. The shepherds at those tidings,
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed babe to find:

6. But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereas this infant lay
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray:

7. With sudden joy and gladness
The shepherds were beguiled,
To see the Babe if Israel,
Before His mother mild,
O then with joy and cheerfulness
Rejoice, each mother's child.

8. Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood,
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas,
Doth bring redeeming grace.

9. God bless the ruler of this house,
And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas
May live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred
That live both far and near.

Alternate Chorus:

That God send you a happy new year,
Happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.

20 days of beautiful music

Although this isn't technically a "Christmas song," it appears on numerous Christmas albums by various artists. (It also appears on many baby/lullaby albums and wedding play lists.) "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by J.S. Bach is, musically, an incredibly intricate piece. I loved learning to play it on the piano when I was a child...actually, I still like to play it! Some of my favorite recordings include: George Winston (December album), A Winter's Solstice (first album), Amy Grant (starts quietly with guitar, then triangle and single drum, then pennywhistle...but builds and builds with bagpipes with Celtic flair, adds full orchestra...I dare you to listen to it without tapping your foot!), Canadian Brass (very non-traditional version, with a surprisingly lovely-sounding clarinet!), Josh Groban, Celtic Woman (the harmony is extremely close together, ethereal, and goosebump-producing!), the beautiful Norwegian Sissel, and the list goes on and on. I am unable to find my all-time favorite version...it is sung by a man, but after listening to 30+ versions via Spotify, my search results are coming up empty!
I found several versions of lyrics, although the piece has certainly been performed instrumentally many times as well.

Here are the most commonly heard English lyrics:
Jesu, joy of man's desiring,
Holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.

Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned,

Striving still to truth unknown,
Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Through the way where hope is guiding,
Hark, what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock, in Thee confiding,
Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty's fairest pleasure;
Theirs is wisdom's holiest treasure.

Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown.

A close-to-literal translation of the original German:

Well for me that I have Jesus,
O how strong I hold to him
that he might refresh my heart,
when sick and sad am I.
Jesus have I, who loves me
and gives to me his own,
ah, therefore I will not leave Jesus,
when I feel my heart is breaking.
—from BWV 147, Chorale movement no 6

Jesus remains my joy,
my heart's comfort and essence,
Jesus resists all suffering,
He is my life's strength,
my eye's desire and sun,
my soul's love and joy;
so will I not leave Jesus
out of heart and face.
—from BWV 147, Chorale movement no. 10

18 & 19

Today's post is really two posts, for days 18 & 19. OK, so it's one post, but two songs...or two versions of the same song.
I love "Offering" as I first heard it by Paul Baloche singing with Tim Janis and friends. The lyrics are beautiful, the melody easy to learn. I definitely "feel" worshipful when I sing this song to God.
Then I heard there was a "Christmas version" and I fell in love with the song even more! I've listed the "Christmas version" lyrics below...we sang it in church yesterday, and I hear it on the radio (Casting Crowns version) all the time...it's so beautiful!

Offering (Christmas) by Paul Baloche
Over the skies of Bethlehem appeared a star
While angels sang to lowly shepherds
Three Wiseman seeking truth they traveled from afar
Hoping to find the child from heaven
Falling on their knees they bow before the humble Prince of Peace

We bring an offering of worship to our King
No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
Jesus may you receive the honor that you're due
O Lord I bring an offering to you

The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love
There is no shadow in your presence
No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne
Before the Holy One of heaven
It's only by Your blood
It's only through Your mercy
Lord, I come

I bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to you

We bring an offering to you
We are an offering to you
We are an offering to you, Jesus

We are an offering of worship to our King
No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due
O Lord, we bring an offering to you

O Lord, we bring an offering to you

We bring an offering to you
We are an offering to you
We are an offering to you

For Yesterday - Day 17

Day 17
This is a little-known song, but when I sang it at Claverack Elementary School (many, many years ago), it spoke to me. “The Secret of Christmas” was written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen for Bing Crosby.
I could only find a few recordings, notably by Julie Andrews, Bing Crosby, SHeDAISY and a new-to-me and wonderful acapella arrangement by The Vocal Majority. The message of the song is very meaningful:

The Secret of Christmas
It's not the glow you feel, when snow appears
It's not the Christmas card, you've sent for years
Not the joyful sound, when sleigh bells ring
Or the merry songs, children sing

Yeah the little gift you send, on Christmas day
Will not bring back the friend, you turned away
So may I suggest, the secret of Christmas
It's not the things you do, at Christmas time
But the Christmas things you do all year through

Day 16 - Christmas Songs

Oh my goodness this is getting tricky! Not because I can't think of Christmas songs I love, but because I don't know if I'll have enough days to talk about each one!! :)
Today I'm picking a classic, one that I loved since childhood: "The Little Drummer Boy." I think the first time I heard this song was on a record (yeah, you know, a big black vinyl circle)...I think it was by the Harry Simeone Chorale...the record case had all the songs with their lyrics on the back of the cover...I would listen to the album over and over, studying the words, learning the less known 3rd and 4th verses to songs like O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hark, The Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear and What Child Is This? When I heard, "The Little Drummer Boy," I would feel a little sad and very serious...there is such an emotional element to this song! The lyrics tell a great story, and the way the chords change is very special.
My favorite versions of this song include Harry Simeone Chorale, Bob Seeger, Celtic Woman, and the Glee Cast.

The Little Drummer Boy by Katherine Kennicott Davis
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,


So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

Fifteen Days of Fa La La

Ten days until Christmas? How can it be?! I am truly savoring every moment...what a wonderful time!!!
Today's song is a less popular one, but when I heard it the other day (for the 1st time in about 20 years!), I was deeply stirred...it's called, "In The First Light." I first heard this song in the 1980's, the original acapella version by the group Glad. I always liked the song, but it took on new meaning earlier this week. The song begins simply and then builds with each verse. By the end, it's like a triumphant trumpet fanfare and it makes my heart skip a beat...I get goosebumps all over and I can't help but sing along! Of course I had to check out the other recordings of this beautiful song...Todd Agnew paired it up with "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and it's a very rich recording, with full accompaniment. Point of Grace has an acapella version that is truly spectacular. I urge you to go listen and be blessed!

In The First Light by Glad
In the first light of a new day
No one knew He had arrived
Things continued as they had been
While a newborn softly cried

But the heavens rapt' in wonder
Knew the meaning of His birth
In the weakness of a baby
They knew God had come to earth

As His mother held Him closely
It was hard to understand
That her baby not yet speaking
Was the Word of God to man

He would tell them of His Kingdom
But their hearts would not believe
They would hate Him and in anger
They would nail Him to a Tree


But the sadness would be broken
As the Song of Life arose
And the Firstborn of Creation
Would ascend and take His Throne

He had left it to redeem us
But before His life began
He knew He'd come back
Not as a baby but as
The Lord of every man

Hear the Angels as they're singing
On the morning of His birth
But how much greater will their song be
When He comes again, when He comes again

Hear the Angels as they're singing
On the morning of His birth
But how much greater will their song be
When He comes again to Earth

When He comes, When He comes
When He comes to rule the earth

When He comes back
When He comes back
To Rule the earth

Christmas Music - day 14

I'm realizing I should have saved, "O Holy Night" for today...it was my Gram's all-time favorite, and today is her birthday. The last Christmas we celebrated with her was in 2002 and I am missing her a lot today.
Another Christmas song she loved was "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and that will be today's song. Also known as "Adeste Fideles," this song has some mystery surrounding its authorship (the most likely composer being John Francis Wade.) This song has been recorded by hundreds of artists, some of my favorites being Amy Grant, Bing Crosby, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Anne Murray, Martina McBride, Glad and Enya. (Can you believe Twisted Sister also recorded this song?!!)
** addendum: i just went on "spotify" and found a GAZILLION more versions: Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, Celtic Woman, Chris Tomlin, Chris Rice, Matthew West and Phil Wickham are all amazing!! Even Take 6 and Weezer have great arrangements!!
What I love most about this song is the way the chorus is often sung in unison on the first line, with layers of harmony added with each line. I also LOVE singing alto on this song...

O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:

Chorus:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God,
Begotten, not created:

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest:

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing!

13 days of Christmas music

"The Perfect Tree" by Ray Boltz was introduced to me about 10 years back. The entire CD, titled A Christmas Album, is chock full of greatness, both musically and lyrically. "The Perfect Tree" has stuck with me because it hits close to home...regarding that perfect Christmas tree: "mother wants a straight one, the children want it tall. Dad just hopes that somehow he can get it down the hall. Soon they'll gather round it proud as they can be. But when they're looking at it I wonder if they see..."
I often will put quotes from this song on my Facebook page to remind myself to keep my focus in the right place.
Ponder these lyrics and let them touch your heart.

The Perfect Tree - by Ray Boltz & Steve Millikan
The ornaments are ready
The place has been prepared
Strings of lights and holly
Are draped across the chair
The family's all together
I know where they must be
Everyone is searching
For the perfect tree

CHORUS:
The perfect tree
Grew very long ago
And it was not decked with silver
Or with ornaments of gold
But hanging from its branches
Was a gift for you and me
Jesus laid His life down
On the perfect tree

Mother wants a straight one
The children want it tall
Dad just hopes that somehow
He can get it down the hall
Soon they'll gather round it
As proud as they can be
But when they're looking at it
I wonder if they see

CHORUS (repeat)

With all the celebrations
Sometimes the truth is lost
That every step this baby took
Brought Him closer to the cross

CHORUS (repeat 2X)

9, 10, 11, 12

Ooops, looks like I was a little busy and missed a few days of the Christmas music posts!
So here's a quick list of a few more of my faves:
day 9 - "Mary, Did You Know"
I LOVE the whole song, but when it crescendos on the bridge, I get head to toe chills every time!!! Kenny Rogers version and Kathy Mattea's arrangements are my favorites.

Mary, Did You Know - Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

Day 10 - Do You Hear What I Hear
I loved this song as a child, and I still love it today. It was been recorded by dozens of musicians, but I love the Whitney Houston and the Martina McBride versions the best.

Do You Hear What I Hear - by Noel Regney & Gloria Shayne Baker
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see
A star, a star
Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear
A song, a song
High above the tree
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know
In your palace wall mighty king
Do you know what I know
A child, a child
Shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say
The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light

Day 11 - Breath Of Heaven
The first time I heard this song, I cried. I still get teary when I hear it. I love Amy Grant's version the best, and I will never forget when my cousin sang it at Christmas one year.

Breath of Heaven - Chris Eaton & Amy Grant
I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary, with a babe inside
And I wonder what I've done
Holy Father you have come
And chosen me now, to carry your son.

I am waiting, in a silent prayer
I am frightened, by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now.

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me your holiness, for you are holy,
Breath of Heaven.

Do you wonder when you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am for the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong, help me be strong,
Help me be strong, help me.

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me your holiness, for you are holy.

Day 12 - I Wonder As I Wander
This is a song that I truly detested as a child. It seemed so slow and boring. I remembering having to play it on the piano for my lessons and it was drudgery! But at some point, the song began to mean more to me. Now I love listening to its melancholy, almost haunting tune. I have heard many versions, but I think my favorite is by Jewel...it starts out acapella with two-part harmony, then builds just a little bit with strings.

I Wonder As I Wander - by John Jacob Niles
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of God's Angels in heaven to sing
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

Eight Days of Christmas Music

Well, it FINALLY snowed, so I can FINALLY write this post...today's song is White Christmas!!!
Written by Irving Berlin and made unforgettable by Bing Crosby, this song just feels like Christmas! I have always loved it, and although it was been covered by a GAZILLION other people, the Bing Crosby version is definitely the one that "feels right."
I did hear an arrangement by Twila Paris about 10 years ago...she did a mash up of White Christmas and Whiter Than Snow and it quickly became a favorite of mine.

Whiter than snow, whiter than snow
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow
Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Day Seven

One of my favorite Christmas memories from childhood is of my mom's brother and their mother singing "The Birthday of a King" (actually, I think my grandmother played the piano and my uncle would sing.) The whole family would be gathered together at my grandparents' house in Connecticut. My dad's mom would join my family of five on our journey to CT and there we would celebrate with my mom's parents, her brothers, sisters-in-law and my cousins (5 girls, plus the 3 in my family gave my grandparents 8 granddaughters: 4 redheads, 2 blondes and 2 brunettes.)
We always ate delicious meals together...my mom would tell us to take it easy on the cheese and crackers and shrimp cocktail. We would have pretty dresses on, with bows in our hair. We would use our best manners as we gathered at the table, set with the fancy plates and lace tablecloth and candles. Usually when dinner was finished, we would go into the living room for some singing time. My grandmother would take her place on the piano bench (and I would turn pages for her), and we would begin singing...hymns, carols, old songs and new arrangements. We would sing in unison and in harmony. It was beautiful! Every year, my uncle would get up and sing...I can't hear this song without thinking of our time in my grandparents' living room:

The Birthday of A King - By William Harold Neidlinger

In the little village of Bethlehem
There lay a Child one day
And the sky was bright with a holy light
O'er the place where Jesus lay.

Refrain:
Alleluia! O how the angels sang
Alleluia! How it rang!
And the sky was bright with a holy light
'Twas the birthday of a King.

'Twas a humble birthplace, but O how much
God gave to us that day
From the manger bed what a path has led
What a perfect, holy way.

Refrain:
Alleluia! O how the angels sang
Alleluia! How it rang!
And the sky was bright with a holy light
'Twas the birthday of a King.

On the the 6th Day

In The Bleak Midwinter - Christina G. Rossetti/Gustav Holst
1. In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

2. Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

3. Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

4. What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

This song moves me tremendously...the lyrics are exquisite...verse one is so haunting and lonely. And the last verse, oh my heart!!
I don't have a "favorite arrangement" of this song, but I do like to play it on the piano and sing it in my head and heart. (Ok, if no one is home, I like to sing it out loud, too.) I am most familiar with Twila Paris' pretty version of this song. I do like Sarah McLachlan's less traditional melody in her arrangement, and I just today discovered the Indigo Girls' version, with acoustic guitar and richer harmony.
My hope every Christmas season is that the last verse would be in the front of my mind.

Four and Five

Yesterday was super busy so I never got the chance to share my pick of the day...today's post will count as days four and five:
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is definitely a long-time favorite of mine. I would listen to it over and over on the old Amy Grant's "A Christmas Album" from 1983. Actually, my uncle had the LP record and made me a cassette tape of that album!! I love the way Amy Grant starts the song simply, then adds to it little by little. The harmonies are very traditional and pleasing to the ear. The final verse is very regal...I picture a cathedral processional, much like a royal wedding or coronation.
Recently, I was introduced to Jewel's version of this song...and it gave me some serious goosebumps! Her ethereal voice paired with the acoustic guitar to start is lovely. When she changes up the melody line at the key change on "Hail! The heaven-born prince of peace", I could cry it's so beautiful!
I just did a Spotify search of this song and I'm blown away at the number of recordings!! From She-Daisy to Straight With No Chaser to John Tesh to Disney to VeggieTales to Charlotte Church to Chris Botti to Willie Nelson and the list goes on (and ON!) And who wouldn't love Trans-Siberian Orchestra's mash-up of "The March of the Kings" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"?!! SO powerful with the rockin' guitars and drums!!
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is clearly a classic Christmas song that isn't going to be forgotten anytime soon.

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" by Charles Wesley (music by Felix Mendelssohn)

Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

On the 3rd Day of Christmas Music Posts

So yesterday's choice was quite melancholy, today is just the opposite: Christmas in Killarney!!!
Go ahead, laugh. I know you're laughing.
I just played every version of that song ever recorder, thanks to Spotify ;) and it DROVE MY HUSBAND CRAZY! It's a super happy song, quite Irish, and I love it!! Although I don't think I have any Irish blood in me,
my hair is red and I have lots of freckles.
My favorite color is green.
I love Celtic music.
My favorite artists include Enya, U2 and Celtic Woman.
And in Spring 1992, I pledged Sigma Gamma Phi (Arethusa) whose colors are green and white.
I first heard "Christmas in Killarney" on my Anne Murray "Best of the Season" Christmas CD about ten years ago. I fell in love with the song immediately, with its skippity beat, fife and fiddles. It's quite the perfect music for decorating the tree, hanging lights or dancing around the house.
There are many versions of this song, but I think my favorite is Anne Murray's (although Bing Crosby has a nice arrangement as well.) Written in 1950, it definitely has an "oldies" feel to it. Go give it a listen...be warned, you may have to dance a little!


The holly green, the ivy green
The prettiest picture you've ever seen
Is Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home

It's nice, you know, to kiss your beau
While cuddling under the mistletoe
And Santa Claus you know, of course
Is one of the boys from home

The door is always open
The neighbors pay a call
And Father John before he's gone
Will bless the house and all

How grand it feels to click your heels
And join in the fun of the jigs and reels
I'm handing you no blarney
The likes you've never known
Is Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home

Music of Christmas - Day 2

I'm still working out how I'm going to post this month...last month, I just went off the top of my head with thankfulness ideas. This time, I did jot down a list of my favorite Christmas songs, just so I don't miss any, but I want to be a least a little spontaneous...
so rather than just pick a song today, I'm going with my new favorite album...which (this week) is Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong" (from 2006...yes, I just discovered it last week. I'm just a tad behind the times!) And can you guess how I discovered this gem of an album? I was listening to a Christmas station on Pandora and up popped "River" by Sarah McLachlan. It was love at first listen! When my hubby introduced me to Spotify last week, I simply double-clicked on the "Wintersong" album...I've listened to it at least 20 times, start to finish, since then!!
First of all, Sarah's voice is lovely and mellow. I've always liked her music. Second, her arrangements of these songs are amazing...not copycats of the originals by any stretch. The harmonies are soothing, the acoustic guitar on "What Child is This" is very gentle, giving it a folksong feel. I absolutely love her version of Joni Mitchell's "River" - not a Christmas carol at all, but a melancholy winter song..."I wish I had a river I could skate away on..."
"Wintersong" and her cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "Song for a Winter's Night" are both bittersweet love songs of longing.
This album is certainly not a yippee skippee "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" kind of album. But I LOVE it when I'm in fleecy jammies with the fireplace roaring and candles burning...can't wait for a big snowstorm!

Day One, all over again, but a little different

It's hard to believe, but after posting my thankfulness updates last month, I've decided to (try to) continue another daily blog...only this time, it will be all about something I neglected to mention last month:
MUSIC!!!!
I love,
LOVE
L-O-V-E
music of all kinds.
I grew up with music...
singing along while my grandmother played the piano,
singing along while my dad played the guitar,
playing the piano,
singing at church,
playing handbells at church,
playing the clarinet,
singing at school,
and singing some more!
I am a happier person when I can listen to music, and my "favorites" change based on my activity and my mood (quiet, classical music or Enya when I'm mellow; something crazy and dancey when I'm running.) And don't get me started on the amazing times of worship I experience when singing songs of praise to God!
Christmas music is like the penultimate of music for me. I do my best to wait until Thanksgiving is over before I start listening to Christmas music, but I admit it's very hard for me!! This year, I've discovered both Pandora and Spotify to maximize my Christmas music-listening pleasure. Eureka!!
This month, my goal is to post daily about a "significant" Christmas song, whether it's the music, lyrics and/or arrangement...and the story about why it is "significant" to me.
So here is Day One of my Christmas Music month of posts:
I think my favorite Christmas song of all time is "O Holy Night" and I know: it's been a tad overplayed on the radio, a tad overdone my some artists. But this year, I discovered a new arrangement, by BarlowGirl...it is a little rockish, a little edgy, but the descant/harmony on "di-vi-i-ine" gives me HEAD TO TOE GOOSEBUMPS every time!
This song is also very special to me because it was my father's mother's favorite...my Gram was pretty much tone deaf, but she would sing her heart out to this song! I can still smell the leather of her gloves and feel the soft fur of her fancy coat, as we would sing together at church.
And as someone who is a follower of Christ, the lyrics are particularly powerful:

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

DAY THIRTY!

Today is the final day of my 30-Days-Of-Thankfulness Attitude of Gratitude blog series! It was been truly eye-opening to focus on the many wonderful blessings in my life.
Here is my list of blessings from the past month:
hand-me-downs and givers of clothing
yummy food
snuggly bed
health
LOVE 146 and Danielle/Craft4Love
family
technology
walks on a sunny November afternoon with my precious four-year-old son
listening to my children pray
laundry
Veterans
being told "I love you"
Jesus as my Savior
my church
being a stay-at-home-mom
healthy body & fitness
written words
MOPS
trip to NYC with my mom and my daughters
time with my hubby
crafts, especially knitting
tradition/family/remembering dear friends/teaching traditions to my children
rainy days
a treasured Thanksgiving
unseasonably warm weather
family time, working in the yard together
family traditions/Christmas decorating
quality one-on-one time with my children
special time with my sisters

And on this 30th day of thankfulness, here are the lyrics to a song found in a book my second grader brought home from her class library this week:
Grateful - A Song of Giving Thanks, by John Bucchino
I've got a roof over my head.
I've got a warm place to sleep.
Some nights I like awake counting gifts
Instead of counting sheep.
I've got a heart that can hold love.
I've got a mind that can think.
There may be times when I lose the light
And let my spirits sink...
But I can't stay depressed
When I remember how I'm blessed!

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am.
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful.

In a city of strangers,
I've got a family of friends.
No matter what rocks and brambles fill the way,
I know that they will stay until the end.
I feel a hand holding my hand.
It's not a hand you can see.
But on the road to the promised land
This hand will shepherd me...
Through delight and despair,
Holding tight and always there.

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am.
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful.

It's not that I don't want a lot,
Or hope for more or dream of more.
But giving thanks for what I've got
Makes me so much happier than keeping score.
In a world that can bring pain,
I will still take each change...
For I believe that whatever the terrain
Our feet can learn to dance.
Whatever stone life may sling,
We can moan...
Or we can sing!

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am.
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful.

twenty-nine days of being thankful

Today I am thankful for being able to spend an evening laughing with my sisters!!!! Last night, my middle sister, Amy, had a little Sing-Off Finale gathering...it was just Amy, our little sister, Kara, and me...and lots of yummy (naughty) food! We all love music, especially seriously great harmony that gives us HEAD TO TOE (why did we even bother to shave our legs?)GOOSEBUMPS! Last night did not disappoint, especially when the men of the Sing-Off covered Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run"!! We munched and talked and enjoyed and when the show was over, we spent another couple of hours talking and munching and laughing some more. I am so thankful that the three of us live within an hour or so of one another. I am thankful that, although we are all very different and we do not always agree on everything, we will always love one another deeply and honestly. We will always be there for one another, no matter what!

Day 28

Today I am thankful for time with my five-year-old daughter. I love all of my children, of course, but one-on-one time with my children, since I had four kiddos in five and a half years, can be hard to come by. Today, I just ran a few errands with my five-year-old...we dropped little brother off to preschool and then headed to the library. She helped me find the last book in the Mitford series I've been reading, and we picked out a couple of movies. She also asked to get a book in the fairy series she likes, as well as two American Girl books for herself and her sister. Next, we stopped at Aldi and filled our cart with groceries. My five-year-old is amazing at packing the bags afterwards, knowing just how to fit the cans in one bag, boxes in another, cold things in another. She is quite serious when it comes to working hard, and it makes me smile to watch her. We made one more stop at Walmart for the items Aldi doesn't carry, and then headed home. She started to decorate the "fancy tree" in the living room while I unpacked the groceries.
All of this may sound pretty ordinary, nothing terribly special, but today was a little bit different. I had just heard that a friend's five-year-old daughter was having surgery this morning...having her kidney removed and starting chemo due to Wilms Tumor Cancer. Today I am more grateful than ever for an "ordinary" day with my children!

Twenty-Seven!!

Today I am thankful for family traditions. We are beginning to set up the Christmas trees tonight and everyone is very excited! The kids see decorations they remember from years past and eagerly ask to help with setting them out...
candles,
wreaths,
the nativity set,
a nesting snowman,
the reindeer,
cross-stitched towels,
the J-O-Y hangers,
the stockings.

Although I can be *a tad* controlling,
I am learning to
let
go
little
by
little,
and
I am seeing the joy in working together as a family.

Day 26

Today I am thankful for family time, working in the yard together. As the children get older, it's getting easier and easier for us all to pitch in and work as a family to build things and take care of our home. It's a great feeling, and now we can look out back and see what we accomplished together.

Twenty-Five Days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for unseasonably warm weather! It was a sunny and balmy day today, perfect for a run to CVS and back (had to print pictures for Christmas gifts and for my kindergartener's Star of the Week project.) It felt great to be wearing shorts and enjoying the sun on my face. After my run, I hooked up my phone to a set of speakers and cranked up the Christmas tunes while the girls helped me haul the outdoor decorations out front...our windows have been wreathed and burgundy bowed, the garage doors, side gate, mailbox and lamp post have been green garland'd and burgundy bowed. I'm leaving the lights up to hubby this year...he also has to get the reindeer set up and the giant wreath hung and spot-lit. Other than that, the outdoor Christmas decorating is DONE! And for the first time ever, I not only avoided freezing my fingers numb, I was wearing shorts the whole time!

Happy Thanksgiving! Day 24

Today is Thanksgiving Day. I am feeling SO overwhelmed with love, joy and thankfulness. I was able to spend today with my husband, my four children, my parents, my mom's parents, my sisters, their husbands, and my niece. We all shared in cooking for the gathering, and enjoyed a bounty of delicious food. My daughters sat with my grandmother and made pom-poms for their dolls' slippers. We talked and laughed. My older two children played the piano for the family. We took pictures. We savored our time. Together.

"Time never changes,
The memories, the faces
Of loved ones, who bring to me,
All that I come from,
And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be
My precious family
Is more than an heirloom to me."
- Heirlooms by Amy Grant

And I'm not just thankful.
I am thankful to God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Lord of Hosts, Alpha and Omega.
"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."

on the 23rd day of thanksgiving posts...

Today, I am thankful for rainy days. Crazy? I know! But I just love staying in jammies, sipping a hot beverage (coffee, tea, cocoa...love it all!), cozying up to the fireplace, listening to some relaxing music, enjoying the aroma of a burning candle, with some chili or soup simmering on the stove. Sunny days are wonderful, but there is something special about a rainy day.

22 days of thankfulness

Today, as I stood at the kitchen sink with my younger two children, polishing silver in preparation for this Thursday's Thanksgiving gathering, I found myself incredibly thankful for several things:
Tradition.
Family.
Beautiful wedding gifts given by dear friends and family.
Special time spent teaching traditions to my children.
Inspiring music to listen to as we carried on with our task.

Twenty-One

Today I am thankful for handwork and crafts, specifically knitting. My grandmother learned to knit when she was four years old and has created thousands of amazing sweaters, hats, mittens, and the list goes on. She taught me to knit awhile back, and although I am not nearly the expert she is, I really enjoy knitting!!
Today, while my girls were at school, I was able to try the doll clothes I've been busily knitting, on the new American Girl dolls (just wanted to be sure they fit before I wrap them up to give the girls on Christmas). And guess what...they all fit and look beautiful! The only thing that will top this feeling will be to see their faces when their dolls are dressed as cheerleaders, wearing robes and slippers, or jogging suits with hoodies.
Do you have a crafty hobby? I definitely recommend picking one up!

DAY 20

Today I am thankful for something very simple - time with my hubby. There are weeks when we are very busy, chasing kiddos, hurrying to events or meetings, hubby taking a side job here and there, the usual busyness of life. But connecting on the couch for a few minutes...sitting down to watch a show together...sharing a snack...knowing that although we aren't able to gaze lovingly into one another's eyes all day, we are a team and we are there for one another. After 12 years of marriage, we have a comfort in our routine, we are secure in one another. And I am very thankful for that! Time to have some popcorn and watch CSI with my man...

Nineteen Days of Thankfulness

If you read my updates on facebook, then you know that today, I am thankful for an AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL trip to NYC with my mom and my daughters!! Today we went to the American Girl doll store...from train to subway to a lovely walk and back home again. Everything about today was magical...my girls have been ooohing and aaaahing over the American Girl catalog for years, and today they brought home Julie and Kanani as their very own dolls!! I have much more to say about our trip, and lots of pictures that I plan to make into a photo book for the girls, but right now, I need to get to bed. I am just so thankful to have made special memories with my mom and my girls!

Today is Day 18

Today I am thankful for my MOPS group at church. No, it's not a cleaning group. MOPS stands for Mother of Preschoolers and I began attending in October 2002, when my first baby was a six months old. I had first learned about MOPS from my post-part-um nurse. She strongly urged me to attend, explaining that MOPS is for moms of children ages birth to kindergarten. During a MOPS meeting, moms get to drop their children off to loving caregivers, then enjoy coffee or tea and a beautiful breakfast. Sometimes a guest speaker comes to share her heart. Other times, we may discuss a book. We have made some lovely crafts over the years at MOPS. Towards the end of the meeting, we usually break up into discussion groups to talk with and get to know a smaller group of ladies. The first time I attended a MOPS meeting, a sweet mom of older children approached me and asked me if she could hold my baby for me, so I could put down my purse, diaper bag, infant seat, etc. and fill out the paperwork to join the group. I remember staring at her in awe...I had been doing the mom thing on my own (with hubby, of course), but otherwise on my own for six months. My baby was colicky and screamed. A LOT. I had a hard time with all the crying and refused to accept help...I had to do it. Myself. But that day at MOPS, I let this other mom hold my fussy baby. I filled out the paperwork and then began to meet other moms in the group. I slowly relaxed and found that I wasn't alone! I developed deep friendships with many of the other moms, bonding over feelings of inadequacy, control issues, anger issues, perfection complexes, and all kinds of other "flaws". We learned to build one another up, to pray for one another, and to love one another as Jesus loves us. Today, I am much more confident as a mom...more relaxed, with better perspective. I can laugh at myself, and I think God has called me to reach out to new moms and share my story...to keep the love flowing...to continue to nurture and support others through the MOPS group.

Seventeen!

Today, as I listen to my four-year-old ask (again), "How do you spell ____?" and my five year-old-daughter exclaim, "Look, Mama! I wrote in my diary!", I am thankful for words! And specifically, the written word.
I have an avid reader (my nine-year-old),
a chapter-book reader (my seven-year-old),
a budding reader (my five-year-old),
and a very letter-conscious four-year-old.
All day long, I am bombarded with questions...
it doesn't matter if I'm making a meal,
cleaning the floor,
folding laundry,
or driving the van,
my kids are constantly asking me questions.
I admit it,
sometimes I get
ANNOYED
and
IMPATIENT.
Sometimes I just want
PEACE
and
QUIET,
time to think my own thoughts.
But today, I am amazed at their little minds and the way they have learned their letters, the way they put the letters together and become readers, spellers, writers!
As my four-year-old pointed out the other day, "Mom, did you know letters give you the power to read?!!"

16 Days!

I can't believe we're halfway through November already...that means I'm halfway through with my thankfulness posts! Now I'm beginning to worry I won't have time to say all I want to say! Maybe I should have planned it all out ahead of time...made a list first. Oh well, I've been going off the top of my head so far, so I guess we'll continue in that manner...
So today I am thankful for a healthy body! A body free of disease and a body capable of getting through the day easily. A body that has held inside it six babies. A body that has given birth to four of those babies. A body that has nursed and hugged those babies. A body that has grown bigger and gotten smaller. A body that has benefited from a new concept for this body - exercise! See a former post about how it all got started, but my body now (for the most part) complies with running 5K's, participating in exercise DVD programs like The 30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, TurboJam and P90X. A body that, although it is approaching 40, is cooperating with getting in the best shape of its life. A body that is able to keep up with my busy children and enjoy physical activity with them. I am thankful to be alive!

Fifteen Days of Thankfulness

Today (actually every day) I am thankful that I am a stay at home mom!!! If you asked me when I was a child what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have answered, "A mom." I am tremendously blessed to be doing what I always wanted to do...have children, nurse them, care for them, watch them take their first steps, teach them their first words, watch in amazement as they grow and explore. I have been there for all of it! Has every moment been blissful? NO!! Oh my goodness, sometimes I am so overwhelmed! But I know that God has given me this tremendous task and I need to rely on Him to make it through each day. I am grateful to my husband for going to work every day so that I can be here to cherish this time.

Day 13 & Day 14, all in one post

Yesterday got a little busy and I never got the chance to post my attitude of gratitude thought for day 13, so here's day 13 and day 14 all in one post:
Day 13 - I am thankful for my church! But before that, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!! When I was four years old, I "asked Jesus to come into my heart"...in simple terms, I admitted I was a sinner and that I needed Jesus in my life. "All have sinned" - Romans 3:23. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" - John 3:16. My parents were believers, and my mother's paternal grandparents had prayed for me before I was even more. There was a heritage, a legacy, a line of believers before me. I am so thankful for this!! My life hasn't been an entirely smooth ride, but I have always known that God loves me, that this world is temporary, and that I could look forward to eternity with God. That has given me peace and comfort as I would go through valleys here and there. And the following verse has helped my controlling nature let go a little: "I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you hope and a future" - Jeremiah 29:11

Day 14 - And now I can say how thankful I am for my church! When my first baby was born, in March of 2002, my postpartum nurse learned that I was going to be a stay at home mom, and that I was a fellow Christian. She excitedly told me about a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group at her church, and I, in turn, excitedly told my husband about the group and the church. In the summer of 2002, we visited that church for the first time and we felt like we belonged. The music was lovely, the gospel was being preached, the Bible was viewed as truth, and there were plenty of opportunities to serve, fellowship and grow. Over the years, we've participated in a terrific adult Bible fellowship group, we've enjoyed learning and bonding with other families via several in-home Bible studies, I sang on the worship team for awhile, I've participated in the MOPS group since October 2002, I have been baptized there, and last November, my hubby and oldest daughter were baptized together. My husband went on his first-ever mens' retreat this past January, and he's in the middle of an excellent mens' group study. Over the years, we have seen changes - some minor, some major, and we've weather some storms, witnessing true suffering in others' lives, yet we've witnessed tremendous blessing as well. I am thankful to have a church family and pastors who know me and love me, who love my husband and my children.

On the 12th Day of Thankfulness...

Today, my four-year-old son came running up to me,
grabbed me around the legs
and gleefully proclaimed,
"I love you, Mama! Sooooo much!"
He did this AT LEAST twenty times throughout the day.
And I melted.
Every time.
Today I am thankful for my family, for my loving four-year-old, for the words "I love you" and for the way I feel when I hear them spoken to me.

11/11/11 and It's Day 11 of Thankfulness

Today is Veteran's Day and I am thankful for all who have served and who continue to serve. My father, both of my grandfathers, my husband's grandfathers, friends near and far, and brave people I have never met...thank you all for your courage and your dedication.

Here are a few quotes I found fitting for today:
"Freedom is never free." -Author Unknown

"When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?" -George Canning

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." -G.K. Chesterton

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." -Elmer Davis

"Courage is fear holding on a minute longer." -George S. Patton

"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you." -Unknown

Here are the lyrics to "Thank You, Soldier" by Angela and Michael Souders
"When I lay my head down every night
and go to sleep in peace,
I can stay there knowing all is well
While you're standing on your feet.
Keeping watch, protecting shore to shore
In the air and oceans, too
Defending freedom at all cost,
For the red, white and the blue.
Thank you, Oh thank you
Men and women, brave and strong
To those who served so gallantly
We sing this grateful song.
To the soldiers who have traveled on
to countries far and near
In peace and war you paid the price
For the cause you hold so dear.
That we may wake each morning bright
And know that freedom rings
Because of your great sacrifice
Your country joins to sing...
Thank you, Oh thank you!"

Attitude of Gratitude, Day 10

Today I am thankful for laundry! Crazy? No! I love the people who wear all those clothes I get to wash, dry, fold, and put away every day. I am thankful that I don't have to wash laundry by hand!! I am thankful I don't have to haul the laundry to a laundromat! I am thankful that my washer and dryer are in my home, a few steps from my family room. When I think "I GET to do this laundry" rather than "I HAVE to do this laundry," my whole perspective changes. And there are very few things more cozy than a pile of warm laundry right out of the dryer.

Thankfulness, Day Nine

Today I am thankful that I can listen to my children pray! Here is what my four-year-old son said at bedtime tonight:
"Dear Lord,
Thank You for the great day we had. Thank You for preschool. Thank You for a lovely dinner. Thank You for playing with me outside. Thank You for church tonight. Thank You for Jesus and for trust and love. Thank You for our hearts. Thank You for my mom and dad and our house too. Please help Mrs. G. to feel all better soon. And help me sleep til eight-oh-oh like mommy says.
In Jesus' name, Amen."

Counting Blessings - Day 8

Today I am thankful for walks on a sunny November afternoon, crunching in the leaves, with my precious four-year-old son! I could go on and on about all I love about my little guy, but I took a mental picture of him today, one I will treasure for ever: he had on a brown and orange striped hooded shirt and brown corduroy pants. His blonde hair, cut in a "mushroom" style haircut, was gleaming in the sun. He belly-laughed as he ran as fast as he could go, looking back to see if I was keeping up with him. He would leap and jump, skip and hop, laughing all the way. I love all the joy, wonder, excitement, energy, and love of that little boy. What a blessing!

Seven Days - Attitude of Gratitude

Today I am thankful for modern technology. I know, I know, it seems silly, even a little petty and small, but I'm serious: being able to stay in touch with family and friends around the world is so easy and such a blessing thanks to technology. My grandfather sends a daily email to us and it is such a joy to read his thoughts and to share a piece of his day. Some people find facebook to be a terrible thing, but I have found it to be a quick place to share (an idea, a photo, a recipe, a praise, a prayer request). I have shared my faith on facebook and I have actually received private messages from self-professed atheists and agnostics asking me to pray for family members and friends. It has truly been a tool that has built bridges and opened doors. I'm not saying that sitting in front of a computer for 24 hours a day 7 days a week is a good thing, nor should communication via technology replace all face to face contact. Like all things, moderation is important. But as a stay-at-home-mom, I have been affirmed, inspired, challenged and motivated by others as we share on facebook or via blogs. I am very thankful for the ease and convenience of modern day technology!

Day 6 - Being Thankful

Oh today was a delightful day! I could list hundreds of things I'm thankful for, but I'm going to narrow it down to one thing: FAMILY! Family is usually thought of as the group into which you are born, but I think it can also be a close group of friends, or even your church. Today, I will talk about the blessings of my blood-family...the one into which I was born.
I was blessed to be born into a loving family, with great-grandparents who prayed for me before I was born! In my lifetime, I was able to meet three of my great-grandparents and I have enjoyed time spent with three of my grandparents for most of my life...my mom's parents are still a vital part of my life!! My mother's father's Facebook updates and comments, as well as his daily emails, are such a treasure! His calm, patient ways are a marvel to me. My mother's mother taught me to knit, as well as to appreciate music and rainy days. She spent hours playing the piano while I sat beside her and sang, and she also played dolls with me. Now, she enjoys watching my daughters play with the dolls in which I once delighted. My father's mother taught me about being a Republican and how to play many card games. She also took me to England when I was nine and I remember our trip like it was yesterday!
My parents are both very loving, giving people. They have shown me the meaning of unconditional love by the way they love one another and the way they love me. They have servants' hearts and they inspire me every day.
My sisters are gifts...even if I had moments growing up when I wanted to be an only child, I know that my sisters have loved me and will love me in good times and bad. They have my back. They can be more honest with me than anyone else, and they love me, knowing my faults. Now that we are older, we appreciate our differences and we can see how we complement one another.
I am so very thankful that I was born into such a special group of people.

Give Me Five!

I have to say, I'm really enjoying counting my blessings! It certainly accents the positive and helps adjust the attitude.
Today, day five, I am thankful for an amazing woman named Danielle, for her dedicated team of helpers, and for what they are doing to help the Love 146 campaign. Please go to www.love146.org to learn more about how to END child sex slavery and exploitation! Today, Danielle and her team organized a fabulous day for crafty ladies..."Craft4Love" started at 9:30 with a delicious spread of breakfast. We were shown exquisite samples of gorgeous crafts. Then Danielle described a craft, we were given supplies, and we sat 6 to a round table and worked on the given craft. We started by wrapping a wreath with yarn and making felt flowers to decorate the wreaths. Next, we used book pages to make Christmas trees. Before we knew it, it was time for a very tasty lunch, catered by Carrabba's. After lunch, a guest speaker from the Love 146 group shared a video and some practical ways we could help do our part to end sex slavery and exploitation. When he was finished, Danielle explained our next crafts...fabric flower pins, rosette earrings, a rosette necklace, several very pretty ornaments, and a beautiful bunting. By 4pm, it was time to head home, with our arms full of beautiful crafts, along with some very special treats.
It was very satisfying to make the crafts...
relaxing to visit with friends...
and mind-blowing to think that the Craft4Love day had raised $1740 to help end sex slavery and exploitation!
I am thankful for Danielle and her team, for Love 146, and for the safety and security I have had and continue to have in my life.

Day Four - Being Thankful

I waited until the end of the day to write this one...I've counted so many blessings all day, but today, it's my health. After praying at MOPS this morning for several young moms with cancer, another young lady with kidney failure, and a kind and giving woman recently diagnosed with cancer and then having a stroke, I can't help but be overwhelmed with sadness for them and for their families, while feeling very thankful for my own health. I started with either a cold or bad allergies this afternoon and spent about two minutes feeling sorry for myself, that I had to go upstairs to get the motrin, the allergy medicine and the air-borne. I quickly snapped out of it and was thankful it was just a runny nose and sneezing! I have also watched close friends lose their precious children due to cancer and other terrible diseases. Each night as I tuck my children into bed, I thank God for keeping my children and my family healthy. This is something I never want to take for granted.

Thankfulness, Day Three

Today I am incredibly thankful for my bed! I know, kind of silly, but really...I love my bed! I am thankful for my warm house, for my cozy bedroom and bed, which I share with my strong, snuggly husband. I am thankful for the beautiful comforter my parents gave us as a wedding gift. I am thankful for the cherry sleigh bed and matching pieces, which hubby and I shopped for and picked out together years ago, as we planned our wedding. I am thankful for my squishy (flat!) pillow, which is gentle on my tweaky neck. I am thankful that I can sleep in safety, that when I close my eyes at night, I can truly rest peacefully. I am not outdoors on the ground. I do not have to worry that malaria-carrying mosquitoes will bite and infect me. I do not have to fear that snakes, scorpions or tarantulas will crawl into my bed. I do not sleep with a pager next to my bed, waiting for a middle-of-the-night call of duty. I do not have to stay awake all night, guarding my family. I can sleep with my feet warming against my husband's toasty legs, knowing that God is in control, and that I am incredibly blessed.

Counting My Blessings, Day Two

Today I am thankful for food!!! We have so much more than we NEED and isn't it amazing to walk into the local grocery store and see all the color and variety in the produce section alone?!! I'm thankful for herbs and spices, for recipes, for the friends (real and cyber) who share delicious ideas. I'm thankful for the family members I have who (usually) happily eat whatever I set before them. I'm thankful for the Giver of this bounty, for the farmers and all who work to get the food from its origin to my local stores. I LOVE to eat and I'm thankful I can do so. Here are some of my favorites:
chocolate
chocolate + peanut butter
coffee
peppermint mocha creamer
lobster
Pancho's salsa
Olive Garden's black tie mousse cake
mexican food
italian food
that nasty i'm-not-really-cheese sauce stuff in a jar that you pour on nachos
nacho chips (the kind that turn your fingers orange) with french onion dip
fresh fruit (berries!!)
I could go on and on, but guess what...I need to go check on tonight's dinner (taco soup) simmering away on the stove!

Attitude of Gratitude Challenge

It's November 1st and I've noticed many "I'm thankful for..." posts on facebook today. That's wonderful! I love reading about blessings! So I've decided to challenge myself to update my blog every day (gulp, every day?!) for the month of November. There is no maximum or minimum on post length, but I want to be conscious of the many blessings in my life.
So here we go:
day 1 - I am thankful for each person who has helped provide my family with clothing. Over the past nine years, we have received many, many bins of hand-me-downs from friends and neighbors, and I truly do not know what we would do without these "mini Christmases"! My parents and in-laws, as well as my sisters, have been generous giving my children new clothing...and they've been thoughtful in asking us what the kids NEED (snowpants, coats, shoes, etc.) Although I admit to being overwhelmed when changing over the clothes from season to season (hauling bags, boxes and bins out of the attic), it's been a joy to not have to spend money on new clothing!! We have much more than we "NEED" and I am very grateful.
* On a related note, I am extremely happy to have a washer and dryer, which get daily workouts!

She Wrote

My little girl sat next to me in church today and completed her children's bulletin. When she was done, she opened a notebook and began to write...
here's what she wrote:

"Acrostik Powam" (acrostic poem)
Cat Lover.
A good friend.
Supr star.
Supr swimmer.
A good socker player.
Not a bad kid.
Daring girl.
Rely good at clening.
Amarecan girl doll lover.

Horse lover.
Ittle girl.
Loveing poneys.
Loves everething.

I had to leave her spelling...too cute!

Summer 2011 Reading List

I spent my summer with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Percy, Annabeth, Father Tim, Cynthia, Katniss, Peeta, Gregor and Boots...
I started the summer with a challenge from my 9 year old son: read all the Harry Potter books! So I did!! I spent about a month immensely enjoying all 7 books. We’re also making our way through the movies, with just 3 left to watch.
I recently read The Hunger Games triology…LOVED these book and literally could not put them down!!!!
I started the Mitford Series, books one and two were terrific. I’m about to start the 3rd.
I started the Gregor Series by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games author) and really liked book one. I just got book 2 out of the library today. This was a fast read, likely targeted for 8-11 yr olds. I hope my son reads the series – I think he’ll enjoy it.
I also started the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series…so far, I’ve read books 1 and 2. Another fast read. My son and I are sharing the books and we’ve had fun “comparing” them to the Harry Potter series.
I read a Kristen Hannah book, not the best. Pretty predictable with an unnecessary amount of swearing. I have to be careful with 2 young readers in the house now!
So what next? Finish the Mitford series, the Gregor series and the Percy series. I also requested “The Help” from the library a month ago…looks like a popular one, as I’m still waiting to borrow it. I put a “book suggestion” plea out on facebook at the beginning of the summer and it generated a nice long list…I’m chipping away at it here and there.
It’s been wonderful to escape into the world of books…I noticed that I watched very little TV this summer. Sure, we had “kid” movies and shows on here and there, but I loved the feeling of looking forward to jumping into a book and “meeting up” with the characters before I drifted off to sleep.

Last of my Summer Ramblings

written on 8/28/11:

We spent the last week at my parents’ house at the lake…what a great time! Plenty of boating (rowboat, motor boat, kayaks), fishing, tubing – I even waterskied for the first time ever!!! We took a day trip to Howe Caverns, had a lobster fest dinner, hubby and I got out for a date night, we did campfires with guitar sing-alongs and s’mores. Feeling tremendously blessed to have such a great vay-cay spot just an hour away!


written on 8/29/11:
When mowing the lawn, be sure to check on the children. Often. *sigh*
And even when you’re not mowing the lawn, if it’s too quiet for too long, check on the children. Yep.
New running socks somehow make heading out for a run so much more fun. Maybe it’s my imagination, but it sure felt springy-er on my run tonight!

VBS songs, bumperstickers and balloon fail

here's what i was thinking about on 8/19/11:

100+ kids singing VBS songs = precious! Especially “How Great Thou Art”. Seeing my CAH standing next to a fellow 2nd grader with a terminal illness made me very weepy…

Obscene bumper stickers are SO annoying, especially when I have two kids who read in the van with me! I’m also getting really tired of LOUD people walking on the road behind our house while my kids are playing in the backyard…these people feel the need to curse LOUDLY for no apparent reason and I don’t like that my children hear it!

It’s been fun running little 5K’s in my neighborhood each morning, especially with Pandora playing in my headphones…I listened to Dynamite one day, Jock Jams another, Rhythm of Love today.

Balloon FAIL: Got a dozen latex balloons and one mylar for CAH’s bday party…got the balloons home and looked at the mylar more closely…it read “Happy B-day DAD!” Ugh!! 

Movies, picture overloads and exercise

rambling thoughts from 8/18/11:
After watching the kids pretend to be dolphins in the pool today, we decided to have family movie night: Flipper!
I put on Anne of Green Gables for the girls one day…next thing I knew, all 4 kids were sitting on the couch, enthralled by the verbose and loveable Anne Shirley!!!
Totally overwhelmed by all the pictures on our camera…went to take pictures the other day and noticed there are pictures from Mother’s Day, preschool graduation, piano recital and 2 HizKidz shows on there!!
My kids have been using the word “stupid” a lot lately and it’s driving me crazy.
Although I’m exercising regularly, I have not been careful with my food intake and my pants are getting tight (again.) The never-ending circle of up and down on the scale!
Is it strange that I love to mow the lawn? Really, I look forward to it.

Idea!

I have been SO terrible about updating my blog this summer! It's true, we've been busy enjoying our time together...swimming and playing outside, grilling, picnicking, etc. So I've come up with an idea: I'm going to jot down all my "blog thoughts" in a Word document. From time to time, I'll just paste it on the blog and you'll be able to read the crazy ramblings and jumble of thoughts from my mind...
Here's the first:
Why do mosquitoes always bite my ankles and feet? And why does it usually take about 2-3 days before the bites REALLY begin to itch? And why is the itching the worst when I'm trying to sleep?

Loving Living

It's been a long time since I've posted anything, not because nothing is happening, not because I don't think about it, but because I am really in the middle of living (and loving living) this life!! I am so very thankful for where I am at, for who is in my life, and for what I'm doing right now. A typical day looks like this:
hubby takes the older 3 to swim team practice,
if I get up right away, I can fit in a DVD workout at home,
then get my little one up,
hustle over to pick up the older three,
bring everyone back for breakfast,
then pack up for a couple of swim lesson sessions.
(The kiddos not taking the lessons have been so good about either chatting with friends or cheering on the kiddos who are swimming.)
After lessons, we head either to the library to return/check out more books/videos or just go home for lunch.
If it's a nice day, we all go out back and swim for the afternoon.
Yes, it's a lovely existence!
A few things that have changed up include a soccer camp here or a musical camp there, and coming up a cheer camp for another. We've had some focus rehearsals for the musical, some birthday parties, and weekly swim meets. We've had the kids out on their bikes. We've been to my parents' at the lake and we've had my in-laws out to visit. We've spent time with family and with friends. Soon we'll head to Rochester and then we'll participate in VBS. We'll spend some more time at the lake. In between, we've been collecting school supplies. Soon we'll have feet measured and hair cut, and the summer will wind down. We'll begin a new routine...but for now, I am truly content with today.

Lyrics-Challenged!

Are you ready for a good laugh??
Ok, so I downloaded the piano music for Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" and sat down to play. It had great chords but would have sounded better with a cello playing along! Anyway, I decided to sing along and suddenly it hit me as I sat there looking at the correct lyrics - I had been singing nearly EVERY lyric completely wrong!

Here are the correct lyrics to the first part:

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sweep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

My words:
I used to rule the world
See the guy and yeah the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
See the streets I used to roam

Correct words:
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

My words:
I used to roll the rice
Feel the fear in my enemy size
Wicked in the crown a sing now
The oh king is dead long live the queen

Correct words:
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

My words:

One minute I held the key
The next door closed on me
And I discovered that my past is gone
And the pillow of sand, pillow of sand

Correct words:
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world

My words:
I hear generations of bells are ringing
Rolling cattle of choirs and singing
Be my hero, my son and see oh,
A missionary’s on a far and field
For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never, never in all this world
But that was when I ruled the world

Not even close!! Hahahaha!

Summertime Summertime Sum Sum Summertime!

I have been too busy to blog lately...absolutely loving the time with my kiddos. Here are a few words that come to mind when I think of summer in our backyard:
pool
sunscreen
bug spray
wet towels - everywhere!
wet bathing suits - everywhere!
kids scratching one another's bug bites
hearing "watch me" and "look mom!" calls from the pool
"let's race"
"how long can you stay under?"
"let's do flips, jumps, dives, back flips, somersaults"
"Cannon-ball!!!"
ice pops
burgers and dogs on the grill
blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, watermelon, peaches
iced coffee
sun tea
summer reading club
swim team/meets
late bed times
picnics
swings and slides and monkey bars
tanned skin
white bum-bums
dance parties on the deck

So if I don't update my blog for awhile, you'll know where I am.

Conflicted

I have such inner conflict going on right now.
A huge part of me absolutely loved the royal wedding and all of its splendor last week.
Seeing pictures of Buckingham Palace triggered special memories of a trip I took to England with my "Gram" back in 1982.
A small part of me thought that the money spent on the grand wedding could have gone to help many hurting people in need.
I was truly saddened to hear of the many lives lost in southern United States due to tornadoes and terrible storms.
I was so happy to visit my grandparents over the weekend, but I was sad knowing they are packing and getting ready to sell their house, the house I have known as their home since I was born!
I was shocked to hear about a sorority sister's sudden and tragic death on Sunday. Many alumni had gathered for a wonderful reunion weekend and it ended in such heartbreak.
And then to top it all off, I heard the late news last night - Osama (now spelled Usama??) Bin Ladin had been found and killed by our military.
The strangest thing began to happen - I thought I would feel thrilled, elated, overjoyed, but I felt a odd pang of sadness.
Memories of 9/11 came flooding back, which I thought would have made the terrorist ringleader's demise all the more triumphant, but the more I saw pictures of Americans wildly cheering and partying in the streets, but sadder I felt.
Anyone who knows me knows where I stand politically: very much to the right! I come from a long line of conservative Republicans, huge fans of Ronald Reagan, always IN FAVOR of a strong military, AGAINST unnecessary regulation and thousands of social programs. I am grateful, beyond words, to our brave and dedicated military!! They are true heroes. I am also thankful to their family members who sacrifice tremendously as well.
It just feels wrong to be so HAPPY at the news of someone's death, no matter how much evil he has done.
I am also feeling a little sick because I see the people of America looking, yet again, to put their hope in something/someone who can never fulfill their needs. There is only One who can satisfy all of our needs, who can heal the brokenhearted, who can bring true peace.
Rather than cheer or rant, rather than fight and debate, I will pray that those who are so desperately seeking will find the One, the Beginning and the End, the Way, the Truth and the Life, Jesus Christ, God's own Son, Savior of the world.

Week in Review...while amped up on too much coffee

Let me start by saying I had WAY too much coffee a little while ago. We had enjoyed turkey dinner here, complete with wild mushroom rice pilaf and a green bean/carrot medley. I served up the pink cake (with lots of sprinkles, thanks to my helpers) and then began to sip coffee...I offered my parents and sister more, and helped myself to another cup, and another...yikes! Now my company has gone, the kids are playing happily with new Easter treats (flip flops, sunglasses, chalk, bubbles, etc), outside in the rain, yes the rain! I've done my usual facebook update, tidied up the house, and put Matt Maher radio on Pandora...but I'm jittery and full of restless energy! So what to do? Update the poor, neglected blog? Sure, why not!
It's been a wonderful week of school vacation. Of course we've missed hubby and NCH, as they've been helping with roofing and tiling in New Mexico all week! But my girls have been INSEPARABLE!!!! It makes my heart patter with joy to see them getting along so well! CAH had a friend over one morning, and after the friend left, CAH remarked that she would rather have playdates with her sister!! NJH has been my little helper, but it's pretty obvious he's missing the other men of the house (he sauntered up to our pastor during Wednesday night's choir practice, gave a high five and stated, "Hey dude!" He proceeded to talk our pastor's ear off during the rehearsal, commenting on the chairs, how the choir sounded, etc.)
So what have we been up to? Unfortunately, my phone isn't uploading pictures right now (or I would post pictures of our adventures)...
we've:
- changed over the clothing for all the kiddos from winter to summer,
- packed up bags and bags of clothes and dropped them off to Salvation Army,
- enjoyed some take out (a little Country Drive In, a little Moe's),
- played restaurant,
- played at the park,
- dyed eggs,
- made Easter cake,
- set and decorated the table for Easter dinner,
- shopped for Easter dinner,
- talked about the Resurrection Eggs,
- visited our canine cousin and my parents who were dogsitting and went on a hike,
- had a yummy treat at the new yogurt bar "16 Handles",
- raked the yard,
- installed new swings,
- filled the sandbox with new sand,
- had a couple playdates,
- stopped in at Starbucks on Earth Day for a free cup of coffee,
- watched "Barbie Island Princess" and "Despicable Me" and Veggie Tales "Twas the Night Before Easter",
- cleaned the basement play room (three times now),
- attended an amazing Good Friday service at church,
- celebrated Jesus' resurrection this morning at church,
- enjoyed listening to CAH and the children's choir sing at church
- spent today with my parents, my sister and her hubby and their adorable baby girl
I am just so thankful for the many blessings in my life!
Here are my favorite lines to my new favorite song, "Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher:
"O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the Light!
Our God is not dead, He's alive! He's alive!!!!"
Do you know the living God? Do you wonder why I am so excited? So full of joy? Do you want to know more? I am happy to share more with you!