Let's Talk Kayne West .... and Jesus

I was recently made aware of the new Kayne West album Jesus Is King.
I will admit I have not really ever been a fan of his, mostly because I don't really care for rap music all that much. I can listen to it in small amounts, but my young adults really seem to gravitate to this genre of music so I try to learn the artists they are listening to so, if nothing else I can rap along with them ... I probably can rap like maybe.... two three words and then my appreciation for this genre of music expands greatly because it is NOT easy to do. Needless to say,  I really like rap songs that have singing at the chorus, because then I can really participate in the song.  All that to say I know nothing about Kayne West except that he's married to Kim Kardashian(which I'm embarrassed to admit that's all I know), AND about 5 months ago I watched an interview with him and David Letterman. In this interview my radar for him went up because at the end of the interview he starts talking about this new music project he's doing AND that he is having CHURCH services on SUNDAYS!! (Insert wide eyed emoticon here) I went on the inter webs and tried to find every link, every  YOU- tube, every amount of info there was about what this man Kayne was up to, and my heart got all kinds of excited that he might be a brother now in the faith walk called Christianity.  Then this album came out and that excitement turned into full blown chills of Holy Spirit confirmation that this is a brother from another motha! 
Now, this is what I want to talk about in one of his songs he says about the Christians being the ones to judge him for this brand new insight and public display of praise and adoration for Jesus. It makes my heart so sad that the people group that should be the MOST supportive, the MOST encouraging, the MOST welcoming is often times found on the other side of that fence.  WHY is that? THIS SHOULD NOT BE.
I want to scream ... but of course I don't .... but I really want to scream out WHO MADE YOU THE JUDGE, THE JURY, and THE END ALL BE ALL for who is a Christian who isn't ?  What a pompous and un-Christ-like position to be found in. When you think you have it all figured out, and you get to say who is in or who is out... God forgive you for trying to take a seat in the THRONE of THRONES.  Only ONE gets that honor, privilege, and role and that is the DIVINE creator of all. This is why I love Jesus because all that I can see in the gospels is love. He had nothing but LOVE for all people except the religious hypocrisy that he saw in people. He still loved those who were judgmental hypocrites, but boy oh boy did he speak out against them. 
In the gospel of Mark 9:38-41 Jesus disciples come to him and say basically we are noticing these people coming out and doing work in your name, but they aren't one of us .. and Jesus probably with a wide eyed emoticon look on his face tells his friends, and followers, "Whoever is not against us, is for us!" I love this about Jesus because his main mission in walking among us was to welcome and save ALL people! You don't have to be anything but human, you don't have do anything but believe, and if you happen to express your love and adoration for Jesus in a rap song you better believe he's up there jamming with you!
Now, if you happen to read this and haven't yet listened to this new album go now and get your jam on. My favorite song is God Is. 
That's all for now ... happy listening and rapping along. 

The Rhythms of Life

Rhythm, I'm not talking about the musical kind like keeping the beat of a song or having moves to a dance. There is a rhythm to this life, as opposed to the musical rhythm.

Everyone has this kind of rhythm as opposed to musical rhythm which everyone does NOT have. 
 Life Rhythms are the soft quiet way we go about our day, week, month year.
Sometimes the rhythms of life can go by so quietly that we forget to look up and see how the world has changed. Other times, our lives rhythm can be hi-jacked by tragedy and we never really find that beat again. And still other times we can take on someone else's life rhythms and try to adopt them as our own, all the while we are dying inside.

The rhythm of a life looks different for everyone and takes everyone a certain amount of time to find what their true rhythm is. Some are upbeat and always on the go and this feeds their soul. Others life rhythm is much slower and requires much more down time.
I have realized after 40 years on this planet that mine is of the latter group.
Although I do ALOT I don't function well in that  "ALOT" category or rhythm section if you will. It has taken me many years to realize this and to be ok with it.  It's ok now for me to know that every week I need at least two days to regroup as opposed to the one day of Sabbath that every person on the planet really needs, but often denies themselves.
Finding your life's rhythm is somehow tied into finding your true authentic self. Some people never truly find that person that they were always intended to be. I believe finding your true self and life rhythm comes from slowing down long enough to hear the sound, the beat of your heart. Asking yourself questions like;
What makes my heart sing?
That's a saying that my mom has said so many times I can almost hear her saying it now with her east coast accent. It's a good questions because it opens up all kinds of other answers. What makes your heart sing can sometimes often lead you to your rhythm of life.
"When all the world appears to be in a tumult, and nature itself is feeling the assault of climate change, the seasons retain their essential rhythm. Yes, fall gives us a premonition of winter, but then, winter, will be forced to relent, once again, to the new beginnings of soft greens, longer light, and the sweet air of spring."

Madeleine M. Kunin

I want to retain my essential God given rhythm no matter what the seasons of change may bring, and the only way I know how to do that is to check back in again and again with the rhythm maker. 

The season changer.

The life giver.

The conductor if you will.

And of course by now your wondering what the point was to this lil here blog... Well I really just needed more Gloria Estefan in my life!
BIG SMILE

Happy October!

Velveteen Rabbit, Billy Ocean, and A New Tattoo (trust me I'm going to make this work)

“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

- Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

Yesterday afternoon my oldest daughter and her choir put on a concert for a 90 year old woman who has been an active influence in the world of art and music here in Reno for over 50 years. It was an awesome event to celebrate her life and while I watched her play on stage with the other band members I started to think about the above quote. I absolutely love the above quote.  It really applies to life as a human being as well as life as a Velveteen Rabbit. I miss the days of reading the Velveteen Rabbit, but when I was a child I never even knew the depth of this quote. One of the main reasons I love that quote is because it reminds me that life is a process. There is no final, or test that you take to say you have graduated, or you have now become who you are going to be.  You just become. It really does take a very long time to become. In watching the 90 year old woman last night I thought to myself, not even this lady has become. She still has more memories to make and more lessons to learn, although it seems hard to believe but I bet if you asked her she would tell you that it's true. You never stop learning. You never stop becoming.  It really does take a long time to become. Upon turning 40 years old I thought if a person was ever going to be done with the whole becoming process it should be about half way through this life don't cha think?  But no, as it turns out, it's really not even close. I mean, sure it's closer than it was when I turned 20 but still so much more becoming is needed. I look at older ladies in my life and see how secure they are in their skin and how confident their voices are and  I think I want that even more than I have it now, but I'm pretty sure its wrapped up in... you guessed it... more becoming. It really does take a long time to become. I don't want to be one that breaks easily either.  There's a scripture in Proverbs that says,   "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."  This scripture has always reminded me of that old Billy Ocean song, When the going gets tough the tough get going! I think we should listen to that song and have a little dance party at the end ...  What do you say, who's with me? Let's get back on topic for now though...  The wisdom in that proverb is that in this life there are going to be days, weeks, maybe even months or quite possibly years of adversity but that is when we have to push through and keep looking up, or  work on those tough muscles or get going like Billy says! Speaking of looking UP, this past Friday I finally got Carl here, from the Disney movie UP tattooed on my inner arm. Can you say OUCH!!

He (Carl) is a perfect example of this becoming business. He thought when his wife died his becoming was over... but OH what joy awaited him when he started to become someone else, someone he always wanted to be. I'm going to move on because even just thinking about that movie gets me weepy. (Because remember when Isaiah turned 5 and had an UP themed bday party?)

I'll be honest, one of the reasons that scripture has always stood out to me is because I don't like adversity. I don't do hard or complicated or tough very well.  I like happy, sunny, champaign wishes and caviar dreams, (only minus the caviar... bleh!) But real life is not like that.  We have to go through the bad that makes the good that much more betta! It really does take a long time to become.
And let's talk about sharp edges.  Have you ever noticed those grumpy old people with so many edges it's hard to be the same room with them? Kinda like Carl before he met Russell. Don't cha just love that Russell kid? Oh wait, sorry I keep getting distracted all I know is that I don't want to become... like that. I know for me there is still so much more life ahead and rather than being worn out and leathered by the storms of life that come my way I want to be like a fine wine that only gets better, not the kind that turns to vinegar. So that being said, let's become well together and don't forget to DANCE!!

From Entry To Entry

I just recently finished my old journal.  It's start date was June 16, 2013.  I don't know if you are the journaling type, Beloved Reader but this girl has journals that date back to the 80's.  Yeah, I'm old... see post below ©

Here's the thing, whenever I finish one journal I have to, no I am compelled to look back over the old pages and reminisce. Above all else,  this heart of mine, is so darn sentimental it's downright mushy overload up in here sometimes.   But, this time through this old journal I was reminded of God's faithfulness, and promises to me in the past year. I felt him remind me that  From journal entry to entry, From glory to glory, he is faithful to complete this work He started in my heart long ago. Instead of getting all weepy and mushy, I was inspired and reminded of this scripture;
"But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." 1 Cor 3:18


The first entry from my old journal was actually on Father's Day last year, and I was bemoaning the fact that Moses wasn't with us. It's hard to have Fathers Day when the Father of the house is 700+ miles away. There were so many things I didn't understand at that moment, why others close to me had lost their Father for good, and still others Fathers had just checked out. I was grateful that my Giant was only leading a path ahead of us in a move back home to Nevada that was for our good. Still, my heart was weary with questions, worries, and concerns. We(me and my Fab4)were in Washington finishing up the school year there, and he(My Giant) had already started working in Nevada.
The reason I wrote a journal entry that day was because I started to feel sad, and overwhelmed at the prospect of moving my family to Nevada all by myself. To say I was a tad bit emotional, would be quite the understatement. I was all over the place as this BIG move was approaching.  Ya see, a big move wreaks havoc on us sentimental types.
To be quite honest I was having a pity party and I may have had some words in said journal that weren't so nice. I also may have had some not so nice words written all over our moving boxes that My Giant later read. Hee hee hee... Ahem... note to self don't take out your emotions on the boxes that others will later read.  The point is...
I started to feel very much alone.
I had been packing for weeks all by myself. I had been going to baseball games by myself. I had been going to end of the school year parties, all by myself. I had been saying goodbyes by myself.  I had been having sleep overs, parties, hikes and a whole long list of to do's by myself. I had been doing 4 kids, ya know that whole raising a family of 4  thing, by myself for one too many weeks, days, hours, too long.
And at the moment of this entry I was feeling what my friend Louie likes to call, "Whelmed!" Ya know, so overwhelmed that you can't even muster out saying the whole word.
In that moment God gave me this scripture,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
He was reminding me that I was not alone! He was reminding me that even in this move back to Nevada He had a plan for my life and it was Good. He was reminding me of His faithfulness, that He would never leave me or forsake me. He was there in that moment, and I was no longer feeling alone.
And now almost one year later, as I look back over this past year I can see so clearly like in a mirror, that He was doing something so beautiful, so good ... he was filling my tank from 1/2 empty to overflowing.
My only regret, is that I didn't run to Him quicker.
From journal entry to entry,  From glory to glory...
"You have called me higher, you have called me deeper and I'll go where you will lead me Lord."

I Will Wait

Hello There Beloved Reader and Happy Halloween!

I hope this evening or morning depending on when you read this finds you healthy, happy and dressed in costume. 

I also want to say before I start my rant for today that my heart is heavy for all of you out there on the East Coast. You are in my prayers.

The other day I was driving around taxi-cabbin it up.  Driving my kids from here to there, I'm sure.  One of my favorite things to do while driving is to listen to my favorite bands, and turn up the music. I sing like no one is listening, because... well no one is, except for one. I sing loud. I sing proud. AND  I turn a lot of songs into praise. Sometimes that is what the songs are. Sometimes they are not, but I make them my praise songs.

I Will Wait,  is one of my all time favorite songs right now. It's from Mumford and Sons.  Have you heard of them? Well if you haven't, do your ears a favor and listen to the song below.  The lyrics of this song talk about feeling heavy like a stone, and being in days of darkness.  Sometimes I feel heavy with the burdens of this life. Not so much my burdens, but the burdens of others. I feel deeply "my peoples" burdens. I have a sentimental heart and don't easily let these heavy things go without much prayer and a sad heart.  This song talks of a new day coming and these burdens will blow away "with this new sun." Um.. I'm pretty sure that sun should be spelled son, but okay.  Moving on. Then the song speaks of kneeling down and waiting. And this is where the song turned into worship for me. Did you know you could turn any song into a song about God? Well, now you know. And that's what I did with this song, I Will Wait  by Mumford and Sons  has a whole new meaning to me now because after listening to it the other day and feeling what I felt when singing it, I am changed. I feel renewed by this song that I am now singing as a declaration. I WILL WAIT. Because the one I wait for is faithful and he "raises my hands" as I wait on him. I try not to raise those hands while driving, but ya know on the inside they are raised. And I came home
Like a stone
And I fell heavy into your arms
These days of darkness
Which we've known
Will blow away with this new sun

And I'll kneel down
Wait for now
And I'll kneel downKnow my ground

And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So break my step
And relent
You forgave and I won't forget
Know what we've seen
And him with less
Now in some way
Shake the excess

But I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So I'll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh
And fix my eyes
That tethered mind free from the lies

But I'll kneel down
Wait for now
I'll kneel down
Know my ground

Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow

Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

Thankful Thursday

There are moments in life when you know someone, somewhere, somehow, should be recording the chronicle of events that you are witnessing. The other night was one of those moments. My oldest daughter had her first High School Choir concert.

Wait. I'm feeling a little Va-Klempt!! Talk amongst yourselves. No really, it was a circle of life moment. I was Mufasa telling my young Simba someday this land will all be yours. Or something like that. Ya see folks, I was a Choir student. That's right. I didn't play sports.  I wasn't a cheerleader.  I was Rachel on Glee, and I loved it. I was in my element in that choir room with Mr. Peebles. Yep, me and Mr. Peeb's we were friends. No, for real we are friends. 

And now almost 20 years later, my Emmer's well...  she's a Choir student. Sniff. Sigh. Vaklempt. I was so proud of her, and also Ahem... I have to admit,  I was VERY proud of my parents. Let me explain.  As I sat there for each and every performance, many of which Em  wasn't even on the stage for I realized, My parents did this for me. They sat through each and every painful, off key performance just so they could hear their daughter sing some Mozart song that says Hallelujah over and over, and over, and O-V-E-R again! As I looked up at her and then down the row with my other 3 munchkins I had a moment. Sniff. Sigh. Vaklempt. My other 3 kids were so cute to watch as their faces were beaming to see their sister up there on stage.  My boys were totally cracking me up as they were trying as hard as they could to make their older sister laugh. Yep, it was a circle of life moment that I was thankful for. Thankful for life. Thankful for Emma and the choices she has made to follow in my footsteps. Thankful for my parents and how incredibly supportive, encouraging, and amazing they have always been. Thankful for music. Thankful for music teachers. Thankful people who can sing on key, and even thankful for those who can't. Thankful for all of my kids. Thankful for my parents. Thankful.  Linking up here

Flashback Friday

I dedicate this song to all my girls at the Influence conference. It's such a great video that brings me right back to being a young girl and a time that was so different. It's a good Flashback song, and just an all around great song to start off your weekend. Check out those hair styles. They are just making me giggle right now.  What really happened to the other side of Cyndi's hair?  Did you ever hear jokes about her hair in the 80's? I remember one about her getting in a fight with a lawn mower or something like that.  Where were her girls to tell her that it probably wasn't the best look for her? Please tell me that you would have my back and tell me not to go out of the house with a hair do like that?  Ok, enough hating on Cyndi this morning. I really do thank for her this all time classic fun song, but I gotta say she's a tad bit strange to me. I hope it starts your weekend off right. It's time for what I like to call a little FBF- if you are new here this is a link up for blogs that are a year or older. You find an old post that you want others to read or re-read and link it up. Then you read each others and I hope comment and get to know your fellow FBF'ers.

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Bleh.

Hello There Beloved Reader-

I dropped a ball this morning. Well, not a literal ball, but you know the balls that we busy people have in the air. The kind that you have balanced and juggled since the day you became an adult. The kind that stay right where they are supposed to be, and life is great and everyone is happy,  until.... one day you drop one. Well, I dropped one, and it couldn't have come at a worst time cause I was already in a funk inside my head. Oh, that dangerous place inside my head. That dreadful, dark, funk of a place. You know it's bad when you are tired of yourself. That's where I'm at.  Kinda, really tired of the inside of my head right now. Does this ever happen to you? Don't get me wrong, Sometimes my inner voice is great.  It can be very encouraging and wonderful. I can feel like I could conquer the world one moment  or at least my portion of it and the next moment All I hear is Bla, Bla, Bla, Judgement, Sarcasm, Tired, and Anxious.  

Yep, that's me right now. I'm tired of how selfish my thoughts are. I'm over how lame my inner dialogue has been. I'm irritated that I have to keep biting my tongue til it bleeds. I'm wishing I could take back or just not even think certain thoughts in the first place. And I am really hot and bothered by the fact that every month or so...  well ya know what happens every month for us lovely ladies, no need to go on there. I know dropping balls is part of a busy life. I know that people drop balls everyday. It's just that I feel by almost the age of 40 I should have things neatly tied up, and organized, and planned out, and prepared, and all those responsible grown up words that just aren't coming to me right now.  Instead what I seem to feel is  frustration, irritation, condemnation,  and all those other 'tion words that are not very helpful to a person already in a funk. I feel like I suck at life right now. Don't fret over me I'll get those ball up again. Like on my girls volleyball team when they scream, "Balls UP!"  That's what  I'm saying this morning. "Balls UP!!" I'm getting the funk out of my head with you all,   and I'm moving on . That, and I know the other prescription I need to get rid of the funk. A Pumpkin Spice Candle, THE best book, A Good Long walk, And some music like this, The words are really appropriate for me this morning.    

Dinner Bell, Dinner Bell Ring

Good Morning beloved reader. I hope you all had a wonderful, restful weekend. I am happy to report that I successfully unplugged yesterday, and it felt fantastic. I didn't post a single picture, answer a single tweet, peek to see who had emailed, (wink, wink Kelly), or even get on the computer at all.
I did however have this lighting bolt, came out of no where, thought for a blog, and so I wrote it down to bring up with you this happy Monday morning. Hope you all have a good cup of coffee, and let's get started.

Can we talk about our front doors for a moment? A strange topic I know, but just stick with me here.

I once had a real estate agent tell me that "the doorway to a home is a very important selling point because it tells the buyer whether or not the rest of the home has been cared for." By looking around I could clearly see what she was getting at.
We were standing outside our second home that we wanted to sell and I believe she was sadly disappointed with our presentation. There were leaves that had collected in the bottom right corner since November, it was now April. There were cobwebs in the upper left  corner of the deck, and a broken ceramic stone thing that my kids had made me. I was pregnant with our fourth child, and barely surviving the other 3. I think my look must have said it all to her because she quickly said, "Moving On."

Even though at the time I was in no mood to hear this agents helpful words of advice, they have always kind of stuck with me. There is something about the doorway to a persons home. Have you ever gone over to a complete strangers home and taken in all the clues that are outside that door?  Before you even really know them, you feel you kind of know them. Do you know what I mean?

There are certain things that I think door signs tell about a person.
A sign that says, "Shoes Off Please" means they a "good, responsible" carpet people. I am not a good carpet person which is why I no longer have much carpet in my home. I just can't keep it clean, so I prefer hard wood floors.
A sign that says, "Welcome One and All" means these people love people, and probably are even friends with their postman.
A sign that says, "Happy Everything" and has all the holiday signs below it means that persons life is so full, so busy, they don't have time to change door signs. So get with the program already people!!

Do you see what I'm saying?

In addition to door signs there are other clues outside a persons home that can really fill it all in for the random onlooker. Toys all over the lawn means kid friendly home. Potted flowers means, well that you have time to put some flowers in a pot and brighten the world. Little animal trinkets here and there means of course this person loves animals. Bird feeders means we have a bird watcher on our hands, an observer of life if you will.

Well I wonder what it means if you have a dinner bell and you don't live on a farm? Before you answer that I think that it's only fair that you should know; I have a new dinner bell.
Well, I have had it since winter but it hasn't really been put into use until the last few weeks of nice weather have provided just such a scenario. When I look at this dinner bell I think back to that agents words and I think if she could only see me now. Decking it up. Sweeping off my front porch. Getting rid of the cobwebs. She would be so proud.

Also, when I look at my dinner bell it brings me great joy, because I have always wanted to have a dinner bell. I'm not exactly sure why? I just think it's from all those days of watching Little House on the Prairie.
It kind of makes me laugh when I ring it and my kids come running.
Make No mistake, they are indeed being herded. Like Cattle. 4 Kids. Eh, I guess it works.
It is also used to get my three dogs attention if I see them wandering a bit too far down our driveway, I just ring that dinner bell.
And then of course I don't have a door bell so if you ever come over feel free to use it and get my attention. I need to be herded from time to time too.

Do you have some thoughts about your doorway? A favorite piece to welcome friends? A certain color that you have always dreamed of having on your front door. Do you think it's true what that agent said?

And now I give you a happy lil diddy from They Might Be Giants.
Happy Monday Friends <3



 

EMP

There is this place; Experience Music Project here in Seattle that I was introduced to over a year ago, when my Brother Greg and girlfriend Tanya came for a visit.

It is filled from top to bottom with all things music and entertainment. One of my favorite things about this place, other than the tree of guitars, is the exhibit on Jimmy Hendrix.

I am a Hendrix fan. I have always been a Hendrix fan. Well, ok maybe not when I was a baby, or a 8 year old girl with piggy tails, but somewhere around the time that I was a zit faced teen. So that's like, a really long time. Sidenote- now I am a zit faced thirties something! Just thought you might like to know.

Recently, when I brought my good friend Dre and her three girls there she pointed out this the beginning lyrics to the song "Straight Ahead" that Hendrix wrote. I thought it was so cool.

If you can't make out what it says, let me repeat that for ya.

"You got to tell the children the truth.
They don't need a whole lot of lies.
Because one of these times they'll be running things.
So when you give them Love you make it right.
Woman and Child, Man and Wife.
The best Love to have is the LOVE for life."



IF you haven't heard the song, here ya go.

HOpe you Enjoy, and get your Groove thing on.

Question

This morning the song Hotel California came on while dropping my kids off at the bus stop. They all know the song from Guitar Hero, but it got me thinking how I really love this song, and at the same time it kinda creeps me out.

Then it got me thinking, I wonder if anyone else feels this way?

Do you like the song Hotel California or not?




Sometimes it makes me want to put a flower in my mouth, and slide across the kitchen floor.

Happy Thursday everyone!

One Less Lonely Girl

I realize that at this point I might actually lose those new followers(heck, I might even lose some friends on this one) that I so shamelessly begged to come follow my blog, but at the risk of not being authentic ... I'm going to go ahead and take my chances, because this is a portion of what I was thinking about today.

How many of you are Justin Bieber fans?

Well I am probably one of the only moms in America, who has teenage and pre teen daughters that are NOT his fans!
My girls room is NOT covered with his posters. I do NOT hear his songs over and over and over again. In fact, I do NOT even know any of his songs except ones that have been played, and announced on the radio as his songs.

My Girls, they used to completely detest him. I am not sure why. I think they take after their dad in that way in that they just want to be different. If I even tried to turn the radio up when he was on my whole clan would break out in an uproar and not the good kind. So strange my Fab 4.??
Honestly, it used to be kind of fun for me to tease them about this. A way to get a rise out of all of them.

But as for me and my ...(not house) just me I am a fan, and I'll tell ya why.
You want to know why don't you?
Well, I read some article about his life story and heard him on an interview, and then I was completely blown away by his kind heart. I became a fan. Not a cra cray Bieber fan, but a fan none the less.

I would say that his music to me is catchy for sure, and his voice is at least tolerable(which is more than what I would say of Miley Cyrus voice... who the girls did like at one point, glad that phase is over) but that's not really what I like about him. I like him because of his life story, because it's a good one. I think it's amazing truly that he didn't have a single,solitary, person in the business that knew him and gave him his start. I appreciate that he started out singing church music.
And I love how he is constantly encouraging others to pursue their dreams.

Today I finally got to watch his movie. I wanted to go watch it in theaters when it first came out. I wanted to go with my girls so as not to look like the crazy old lady, but that wasn't going to happen. So today I got to watch the movie finally on netflix, and that's what inspired this post.

First I have to say that lil boy can drum.
What a precious little boy.
Now I suppose he would be better described as a man-child.
Seriously, how can anyone not recognize that pure talent?
But what I really wanted to talk about was this;

There is a song he sings I guess at every concert, called One Less Lonely Girl.
When he sings this song his people go into the audience and they choose one girl to come on stage and be serenaded by him,
and he gives them roses,
and they are weeping,
and shaking,
and the hysteria is nauseating... but you can see the power behind these words.

Here are some of the lyrics that stood out to me:

"I'm coming for you, I'm gonna put you first
I'm coming for you, I'll show you what you're worth
That's what I'm gonna do, if you let me inside your world
There's gonna be one less lonely girl

I can fix up your broken heart
I can give you a brand new start
I can make you believe, yeah
I just wanna set one girl free to fall, free to fall
She's free to fall, fall in love with me "


These words and this song are so powerful not because of the "Bieber Fever" or because the girls are on that stage in front of millions,(although I do think this contributes), they are not even made more powerful because they come with a dozen roses handed to the girl by Bieber himself. No, I believe with all my heart, they are powerful words because that is the Heart of God for each and everyone of his children.

If the Father God could sing to us His children that's what he would say.

**I would like to point out at this point that some of you would not appreciate being called a girl, but I am sure God knows that and therefore wouldn't refer to you as such.

He would say to us, I want to make you one less lonely boy or girl.
I want to show you what you are worth.
I can fix your broken heart, give you a brand new start.
It's what we all want to hear.
It's what we all long for.

Sorry to those of you that are true blue fans, even if you are the future Mrs. Bieber not even that would come close to what it is that your Creator could offer you.

Those lyrics were born from these words from your Creator:

"For GOD, so loved the world
That he GAVE his one and only Son.
That who ever would believe in him
Would not perish but have everlasting LIFE." John 3:16

If you haven't heard the song give it a listen, or don't if you share the same sentiment as My Emmers.

But know this YOU ARE LOVED!
You are never truly ALONE.
And I am done being cheesy now.

Do you like how I just talked about Justin Bieber and mentioned John 3:16?

I'm pretty impressed myself.

Music and Me

I am sitting here having church with Amos Lee this morning.
His song Black River just really gets to me every time.

Thinking about all the things I have to be thankful for.
One of those things would be music.
Not only do I come from a musical family that I am grateful for, but
The ability to express myself with my voice in song is something I don't ever take for granted.

There is something strange that happens when the emotion to sing comes over me.
It is a like a deep gushing wave of water that pushes it's way to the top and I just can't stop it.
I love to sing.
I love to sing best when no one but my Creator is listening.




I love to hear my children sing.
One of the many other things I am thankful for is my children's talent in music.
Emma is currently writing a song for her Auntie Jenny's upcoming wedding and it just makes me smile to hear her practice this.
Isaiah got an electric guitar for Christmas, and I have an old acoustic guitar(thank you Uncle Jimmy) that the kids have been having jam sessions with.
I can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me.

I should say that,
I am sure because I am their mom it sounds beautiful to me, but to the average ear it would just sound like noise.
So don't go knocking down my door ready to be their agent (BIG SMILE)


If I were the type of parent who lived out their dreams in their children I would have already exploited these
beautiful gifts.
Alas, I am not so the rest of the world will have to wait to hear these Fab 4.

Everything is always made better with music.
Music is powerful.
So powerful in fact that, that is why often times back in the day the musicians would lead the army onto the battlefield.(Glad I wasn't a musician in this day and age)
I remember an old friend told me that certain notes even had the power to break things in us, or fix things (whatever way you want to look at that) spiritually.
I believe this to be true.

So as you prepare for this week ahead
whether it's been one you have been looking forward to for a long time
or one that you have been dreading
don't forget "to put your records on and sing your favorite song"

Some things... about cleaning... and Me

Some things I hate cleaning...

The Inside of a Microwave when something has exploded.

The underbelly of a Toilet.

The remnants of any and all excretions from my Dog.

Any and all dusting.

The inside of my junk drawers.

The corners of my kitchen floor.

Food that has been left to forever change the shape of a dish.




Some things I enjoy cleaning....

(Pshh, who am I trying to kid you all know I hate to clean!! )

Still there are a few things I don't mind cleaning...

My Bed, love the smell of clean sheets

Ironing, love the smell and warmth (I have shared this before but thought it deserved mentioning since my list is so short)

The outside of a dishwasher, oven, refrigerator and microwave.

My Car.


Some people that make all cleaning tolerable for me ...

Dean Martin

Frank Sinatra

Billy Holiday

and ... Louie Armstrong

Billy Holiday

There is no finer music on this planet. 

Her voice will never again be mimicked. 

She is a true blues singer unlike any other. 

Her life is really very sad to me. 

When I listen to her music it just puts me in a happy place.

Just thought I would share that, and I wonder what if you could choose would be your music that puts you in a happy place???

Some of my thoughts

Here are some of my thoughts for this Thursday afternoon-

-My love/hate relationship with my dogs is one that I have been pondering lately. They are the cutest dogs I have ever owned they are also the most destructive annoying dogs. I am not sure why I have allowed as much as I have with their shenanigans!! I am not sure why I agreed and even sought out this scenario in my life again. They do bring me some small piece of joy or I am sure I wouldn't keep them. However, this morning when they had eaten a whole pack of new bubble gum I was considering doing alot of things to these 4 legged creatures and these things were not nice.

-My thoughts on all writers being egocentric - I had this thought the other day. All writers have to have a certain sense of ego in order to think that their ideas are first of all good enough to be published in a book and second of all great enough ideas that people should pay money to read them. This thought had me a bit perplexed once again about my aspirations of becoming a published author and even why I have a blog. 

-Friends and some disappointments that I have finally come to realize in that area of life are this; some of my friends that have left stronger imprints than others still influence me today even though I haven't seen or heard from them in a while. One friend I have used to love to write with a plain old Bic pen , still to this day I like to write with a Bic pen because of her and when school supply shopping time comes around that is one item that is always on my list. Other friends I wonder was it just that we went to the same church that even barely classified us as friends. I am excited that Louie is blogging about this topic because it's something that I have been thinking alot about lately. Also, I am quickly learning in my 30's that every person who wants to be my friend maybe I don't want to be theirs and how to navigate through that one has been interesting. There are circles of friendships. The inner circle for me consists of my family first which right there makes it a big circle, then a middle circle of friends that are like family to me and that I share everything with, and finally an outer surface circle or what I would like to say is the acquaintance circle of friends.

-Music, why have I been given so many songs and what should I do with them. Why are we given certain gifts without the time to really pursue them. Will I ever move these songs out from the notebook and on to a recording. Dunno. I am however looking forward to going back to my Uncle's recording studio and getting some songs that my Grandmother wrote recorded. 

-The current political thoughts, honestly isn't this over already? But in reality I told Mo the other night that I think either of these guys are crazy for signing up for this job. You could not pay me enough money... no way would I ever take this job. Not on your life!! Also to the shock and awe of those of you who think I am an Obama groupie I will have you know that I do believe both of these gentlemen would do a fine enough job and I don't really care at this point. By that I mean, I won't be moving to Canada if Mc Cain does win. But he won't!! Last debate sure was interesting.

-Motivation, where it comes from , why it's lacking for me right now, and What can I do about that?

-Deja Vu's - This is my topic of research currently in my Psych class, lots of thoughts there. What are they really? Why do some have more than others and some none at all?

-School , I am so over it. Really, what's the point that I am going through all these hoops and for what? To get paid a measly teacher's salary. Sorry but I am just thinking it might not be worth it anymore. Although if Obama gets in, he has mention ECE several times in all his speeches and has some good plans for those of us pursuing that degree, hint hint Jessica :)

Those are them folks, hope you enjoyed the journey inside my brain for this week.

A workout during worship

My calves are sore. I must have walked up and down the Old Oak Ranch camp hill at least 100 times in the last week or so. But, that is not why my calves are sore, they are aching from jumping up and down during worship this week. I can't remember when this last happened to me but it reminds me of many moons ago when I was young and every worship time I had , even privately was an athletic event. 

There is something truly special about gathering together with perfect strangers for one purpose, to worship Jesus.  It is even more special when 99% of those people are in their teens and have a whole new way to worship, an expression completely original, untainted, and not at all apprehended by their peers around them. 

To hear 300 plus teenagers worshiping Jesus in every way possible and every way imaginable , with all their beautiful gifts of expression is something I truly , truly enjoy. 

God I pray for more and more freedom in worship in days ahead. I pray for all those incredibly gifted teenagers who are world changers to continue to use their gifts and talents for you and you alone.  I pray that I won't soon forget that you are worthy of worship like this. And I am thankful to you Jesus for this wonderful week.

IPOD organizing

Yesterday I spent the greater part of the day organizing my music on my IPOD. It was tedious but at the same time alot of fun. I kinda turned it into a game of "name that tune" when I got down to all the un-named tracks. I would play the song and then try and guess who it was. I had alot of burned music on there , which I know my recording artist friends and family would probably not approve of but whatever. To that topic I just say, if you can record an album you have enough money already and chances are you will keep making money if you are good enough and if your not nobody wants to hear you anyways. Is that a little harsh? What are your thoughts on pirating music? You now have mine. Back to the topic at hand, my music. Music to me is so amazing. I love how a song can come on and completely change the mood in the room. As much as I get alot of crap for the music I listen to from my very own Mr. Big, I really do enjoy all genres. Except for maybe the stuff that makes you want to murder the closet living breathing thing next to you because of all the noise coming out of the speakers that I wouldn't really call music, I just call that noise. I really don't have a name for that genre of music except maybe murder music. My all time favorite sounds though I would have to say either come from Billy Holiday or well....yeah just Billy. I love listening to Billy. She has a voice no one will ever have. I have heard before from Mr. Big why she has that voice and that I could have one too if I did drugs , drank, and smoked alot but really her voice is so unique and it just puts a smile on my face. Speaking of other Billy sounds that I like there is Billy Joel of course he is an all time favorite and then someone who will be in concert here in Reno at the end of month Billy Idol. I would totally go see and old man Billy Idol in concert but alas , we will be camping. IF you could only pick one sound to listen to , who would it be?

Vienna Austria

My thoughts on this day are mixed. I was so completely exhausted at this point in my travels and emotions were kinda raw and I really did not want to go when we got up that morning. Still, I went and I am glad that I did get to see Vienna. I had forgotten that it is the city of music and all things Mozart and Renaissance. It is absolutely beautiful and our day there was COLD, but still very memorable. I sang outside the opera house and thought to myself, " Mr. Peebles would be proud." Mr. Peebles was my music instructor all through elementary, Jr. High, and High School. In my eighth grade year I started taking private lessons from him and continued all through High School. He had the privilege of studying music in Vienna and had always hoped that some of his students would make it there as well. He had connections to get you there if you wanted and were good enough, I was neither, wanting nor good enough. He did send one of his students there on scholarship, (Mo's ex girlfriend Heather, but that's a blog for another day) but I never had ambitions of being an Opera singer. My voice is much too quiet for that. Anyhew, going there brought back all these emotions about music back to me some of which I am still not so sure I have sorted out yet. Music has always brought joy to my soul. It is an incredible gift given to be able to express yourself in anyway musically and I do not take that for granted. Still, I often wonder how much of this gift has been buried deep, deep down in the sands of life. Will there be a time to rediscover this treasure box ? Do I want to find it again? The emotions and questions it brings to the surface sometimes scare me. I am working through all of that and I am thankful for family, and friends who are along side me for this journey. I thankful for my mom who paid for all those expensive music lessons along the years (even if she does compare me to Trisha Yearwood). I am thankful to have been given the chance to see this spot on the planet.

Working at the Car Wash...

I have a funny story to share . Short and sweet. So, the other day despite my reservations to use up a car wash ticket on such a cloudy day , I threw caution to the wind and went for it. As I finish going thru the automatic wash I pull in to vacuum out the food that is in the back of my car that could probably feed a small family and while I am getting out of the car I notice the teenage boys next to me have decided that the whole state of Nevada should be listening to their music. Now, normally I wouldn't mind this but the rap music that they were listening to was.....Well.....NOT so nice. Very vulgar actually. Anyhew, I go about my business and I am trying not react with the look on my face. They were very nice boys who handed me the bottle of windex when they were done and the vacuum also, but their choice in music was again not so nice.
Everything is going along just fine when in pulls next to me on the other side an older gentleman in a brand new SUV. He steps out of the car and after hearing the music looks at me with a smile , but also kinda in shock and says, " Only in America" to which I reply with only a look of , "I agree" and I chuckle while shaking my head. As I am finishing up he then says to me, "Oh, I thought that was you bumping to that music!" I laughed so hard I had a hard time responding to him because if he only knew how funny that would be, and I say "Now that is funny" and he says, "Well, I am a pretty funny guy" Mister you have no idea.