Goal #31--Go to a concert

Goal #31 of my 101 Goals is "Go to a concert" and until I was looking through my list today, I hadn't even realized that I totally met that goal last week when my family and I went to the Called to Love Tour concert! How cool is that, I met a goal and didn't even do it on purpose. So, I get to mark that one off my list. And for your entertainment, here is one of the songs that Jason Gray performed that night that I have really grown to like...

Piano

This past fall Kera began taking piano lessons from a very sweet neighbor lady. She'd expressed an interest in learning how to play piano for awhile, and even got a keyboard for her birthday last year. I was excited to get her into lessons because I've always wanted to know how to play the piano. I also think piano music can be so pretty. Kera has really taken to her piano playing and has just gobbled up her lessons and made her teacher, Miss Jan, just giddy because she loves to play so much. She's still in the beginner book, but she's gotten to the point where she can actually play songs that use both hands, sometimes at the same time. I'm so impressed. I'm also hopeful that she'll want to continue to play and could someday play beautiful, inspiring songs like "My Hope is In you Lord" by Aaron Shust. I heard that song on the radio and immediately fell in love with the opening piano part.

Check it out...


I also like the lyrics, too:


"I meet with You and my soul sings out
As your word throws doubt far away
I sing to you and my heart cries holy
Hallelujah, Father You're near


My hope is in you lord, all the day long
I won't be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song and I sing
My hope is in you alone."


Do you play the piano or enjoy the music? Have you gotten your kids into any lessons that you wished you'd have done?

Beautiful and Loved

I had to take a drive today, about an hour south to a smaller town, to pick up the quarter beef we'd recently put some dibs on. That's just where the steer lived his life and where he died, so it's where he was butchered. I had a pretty clear schedule today, so I took the opportunity to spend some time admiring the beautiful valley south of us while I gathered our meat.

I really wish I would've remembered my real camera. It was so beautiful  with the clouds, changing color trees and snow-kissed mountains. What passes for a camera on my cell phone really did not do it justice.

As I drove, I turned on the radio and sang along. I love being in the car alone and being able to sing at the top of my lungs. No one else really likes to hear my singing-if you could call it that. Lately I've been drawn to  the Christian radio station more than any others. It inspires and encourages me, but I also like that I can listen to it with the girls in the car and not have to worry about what lyrics they are singing--they are all good!

It was so refreshing to listen to the encouraging music while admiring the beauty around me--I could almost feel my heart lifting. It made me think that I need to make more time to just be still and think about all the ways God loves us.

This was one of the songs that just spoke to me this morning. How easily we forget that God thinks we're beautiful and his opinion is the only one that matters!

I am reading a book right now about security, which is something that we as women struggle with quite a bit. I am learning about how we need to anchor or feelings of security and acceptance onto God and not all the others things we try to measure ourselves against. It doesn't matter what others think of me or even how I feel about myself. What matters is that God loves and cares for us, and here's the part that gets me--he loves me no matter what I do.

And this song is one of my absolute favorites right now that says just that:

And now I not only do I feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead of me, but I have a freezer full of meat (including the tongue!) to  enjoy!

For Your Entertainment

My new favorite artist has a new cover/video, and I have already played it over and over a dozen times. I like it so much, I figured I'd share it with you. (For the record, I have always liked Michael Jackson--way back in 3rd grade I had the MJ doll and I use to listen to my "Thriller" cassette (because I'm old like that) every night while falling asleep. So, since this is a cover of his "PYT", I was bound to like it.)

Rolling in the Deep with Books

Okay, first things first. You have to watch this video.

   

This guy is simply amazing. I have been loving that song anyways, but seeing this guy using only his mouth to sing and make the music is just fantastic. He's my new favorite artist. I'm definitely going to put some of his stuff on my "Half-Marathon Playlist". I decided that I needed some new music for a special playlist to help me get through the half, since I figure I'll be running it mostly alone because I'll be so sssssslllllllloooooowwww.

Now, how about I tell you about some good books I've read recently? I haven't done that for awhile....

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. 
She's the one who wrote "The Time Traveler's Wife", which was an awesome book, so when I saw this one at the book exchange, I picked it up. I'm glad I did. It was very good and interesting. Well written and kept you wondering what was going to happen. The characters were very diverse and intriguing. I really liked this book. I especially liked that the end was unexpected.

The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen
I really enjoy fiction set in history, and this one was right in there with the best. I found this one really interesting because of the whole apothecary aspect and how people dealt with illness back in the day. It's got some romance too, which is always a nice addition.

The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent
Another historical fiction, this one set back in the time of Marie Antionette, which is always fascinating to me. Another cool aspect is the dollmaking, which I enjoyed. Another great romance and story of a woman making her own way in a time when that was uncommon. A great read.

Okay, your turn! Hear any good music lately? Have a suggestion for my "Half-Marathon Playlist"? Maybe you have a great book suggestion? I'll be heading to the library with the girls next week and I need some new reads!!

Soundtrack of my Life

For the first time, I am writing on a prompt today. I found it at Mama's Losin' It, I guess she does a weekly prompt, giving you several to choose from. I saw it on another blog I follow and it sounded like fun, so I'm giving it a whirl. I chose the first prompt:

1.) Soundtrack of your life: Pick 10 songs that you would have on a soundtrack for your life, pick a line from each that you most identify with and write a short statement of why this song made it.

(inspired by Pua at Dino Momma)

In no particular order, this is what I came up with:

1. Praise You in the Storm by Casting Crowns

"And I'll praise you in this storm and I will life my hands
For you are who you are no matter where I am
And every tear I've cried you hold in your hand
You never left my side and through my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm."

This kind of says it all. I've faced some sad things, and although I may have lost hope for a while, it always came back to the fact that God is (and was) there to comfort me, even when I didn't think I wanted him there. I'm still figuring out the whole part about praising him when things are tough, but I think thats one of those life long lessons.

2. Ironic by  Alanis Morisette

"Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
when you think everything's okay and everything's going right
and ya well life has a funny way of helping you out..."

I've always liked this song, it might be the writer in me getting a kick out of all the examples of irony that she lists. (You know, us writers are a moody bunch.) But it rings true for me. I laugh about it now, but in college, especially towards the end, all I wanted to do with my life was get my Masters in Creative Writing and live in a cabin in the woods by myself. I wanted nothing to do with marriage or children or helping people (that last part stems from a unfinished social work degree). Yet, that is exactly where I ended up! I think its cool how life just flips around on us sometimes, and I'm very grateful mine did, as I can't imagine it any different than it is right now.

3. Hanging by a Moment by  Lifehouse

"Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now"

I heard this song on the radio on the way to one of our pre-marriage counseling sessions and it was perfect. I don't know why, but I had a tough time with that time. I was in love with the man of my dreams and was ready to marry him, but I think I had some anxiety and self-consciousness about letting him really get to know me. I really had to work at that during this time and for some reason this song really spoke to me. Of course I wasn't perfect, but he loved (still does!) me exactly as I was.

4. Too Much -- Dave Matthews Band

"I eat too much
I drink too much
I want too much
Too much"

This just about sums up college in these simple six words.

5. Smile by Vitamin C

"Put a smile on your face
make the world a better place
put a smile on your face
whatcha wanna do, say, whatcha gonna do?"

I'm a pessimist by nature, but I've always known the power of a smile, back when I was younger I use to say that smiling was the second best thing you could do with your mouth. Not exactly sure what the first thing was, but still. I just like this song. :-)

6. Fear by Sarah McLachlan

I think all of Sarah's albums could be my life soundtrack. I can't even tell you how many lines of poetry or chapters of novels have been written while listening to her music. But this one has always been one of my favorites:

"But I fear
I have nothing to give.
I have so much
to lose here in this lonely place.
Tangled up in your embrace
there's nothing I'd like better than
to fall.
But I fear
I have nothing to give."

I have a tendency towards self-doubt and a general feeling of unworthiness.

7. Jumper by Third Eye Blind

"Wish you would step back from that ledge my friend."

Unfortunately, I've lost two loved ones to suicide. This song has just always struck a chord with me.

8. The Hardway by DC Talk

"Some people gotta learn the hard way
I guess I'm the kind of guy who has to find out for myself
I had to learn the hard way, Father
I'm on my knees and I'm crying for help...

It took so long for me to see
that I'm a victim of nature and me
Left to myself, I realize
I am the maker of my own demise."

I confess, I'm thick headed, and unfortunately that means I had to learn the hard way. I am just grateful that my friends, family and especially my God, are gracious. Besides being true, this song brings me back to some really great high school memories.

9. Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle

"Oh with all that I've done wrong, I must of done something right,
to deserve a hug every morning, and butterfly kisses at night."

My dad sang this song at my wedding and it does speak about our relationship as father and daughter. I always thought it was just the daddy-daughter thing, but now that I have kids of my own, I think its more of a parent-kid thing. Especially these lyrics, that us parents would be blessed with the love and affection of our sweet kids is a miracle. I can't listen to this whole song anymore, it makes me cry too easily.

10. Thriller by Michael Jackson

Honestly, none of the lyrics of this song really speak of my life. (Seriously, have you read the actual lyrics to this song!?) But the Thriller album is actually the first one I ever owned and I use to listen to the cassette (only one side, of course) at night as I fell asleep. Except I couldn't listen to the side that ended with the actual Thriller song, because that scared my 1st grade self. I was a big fan, in fact one year for Christmas I got the Michael Jackson doll, complete with sparkly glove. I use to carry him around the house, making him dance as I listened to my tape player Walkman and sang out loud.

Yes, I've always been a bit weird. ;-)

My new favorite song.

If you haven't heard this song, you should google it and listen to it. It's really pretty and encouraging. I've been listening to it on the treadmill when I run and it just gets me going, though I'm not sure why.



Something Beautiful by Newsboys

I wanna start it over
I wanna start again
I want a new beginning
One without an end
I feel it inside
Calling out to me

CHORUS
It's a voice that whispers my name
It's a kiss without any shame
Something beautiful(Yeah Yeah)
Like a song that stirs in my head
Singing love will take us where
Somethings beautiful

I've heard it in the silence
Seen it on a face
I've felt it in a long hour
Like a sweet embrace
I know this is true
It's calling out to me

It's the child on her wedding day
It's the daddy that gives her away
Something beautiful
When we laugh so hard we cry
Oh the love between you and I
Something beautiful

Why I will never be a Mac

One of my friends gave me a gift card to iTunes this year for my birthday. Seeing as I'm always needing musical inspiration for either running or writing, I was excited. I have like this ongoing/everchanging list in my head of songs I like, so I couldn't wait to sit down and download them. Last night after the girls went to bed I had a few moments to myself to do this, so I pulled out the gift card and player and sat down at the laptop.

My first hurdle was the fact that my mp3 player's memory was full. I'm seriously thinking about asking for one with more for Christmas, this one barely has half a gig, which just isn't much. Anyway, I checked the memory and sure enough no space. So I hooked it up to the laptop only to find that I couldn't see any of the music on it in order ot delete some. I googled the website for the manufacturer of my player, got some tips and tried a few things only to figure out that my media player on the laptop was like 2 versions old. Thus began the download of the most current version. Once that was finally set I could see all the music, yay, so I copied it onto the computer and then went through the list and deleted some songs that I typically skip over in the course of a run anyways. Okay, so I had some free space.

Next, I headed on over to iTunes only to figure out that I had to download it in order to buy anything. That was kind of a pain becuase I don't use it for managing my media, but I was able to download it without it taking over, which is the case sometimes.

Finally, I got to the iTunes store, plugged in the gift card number to redeem and lo and behold, I have to have an iTunes account. So, I sign up for an account. Then, finally, I'm browsing through music. It takes me a few minutes to figure out how to get to where I want, but I do and I'm finding music that I just can't wait to listen to on that uphill section of my regular running route. I spent all but eleven cents and then decided I wanted that music on my player right then so I could use it today.

Wait, how do I get my music from the iTunes thingy to my player? I couldn't see any sync command within the program so I tried finding the music folder and copying and pasting into my player. It worked but that's weird, that one song I just copied is not in mp3 format. Hmmm, I wasn't sure about it, so I searched through the iTunes help quickly and found my answer.

What? iTunes will only sync with iPods? What!?!

Yeah, all that time spent on that music and its stuck on my laptop. I was too frustrated to search around too much for a solution to this problem, although I'm sure there's one out there. It just boils down to how propriatary Apple is in their products, which is why we don't deal with them at our computer store and why I will never purposely purchase anything else from them.