Chug, Chug, Chugging Along

I realize elementary school music programs only matter to parents and grandparents, but they read this blog so here you go...

Cory was so proud he had a line to say at the program tonight.  He was the only one that didn't get a costume, but his line was more narration and the other kids were representing the lines of the character they wore.

The theme was something to do with the railroad and historical songs chants and songs that the slaves would have sung.  There was Harriett Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, a peg leg Joe, and a conductor.

I know the blanked out faces look weird, but I wanted to show the background (and of course my kid will always be standing in the back row!) and they were all too cute!

He also had a part where he played the xylophone, but I missed it as one little sister had to go to the bathroom and I'd already made her wait for him to say his lines!

Then little sisters stole my camera focus by helping put away all the folding chairs.

Yes, the chairs were pretty much as big as they were, but they did a really good job either carrying or dragging the chairs over to the rack for us to put them up.

Oceans

When we walked into church this morning, late as usual, this was the song they were singing.  Oceans by Hillsong.  It's been one of my favorite songs since I first heard it a couple years ago.

I love the ocean and they always have some background of waves or water or just movement on the screen behind the words.  It seems peaceful and calming.

But then I stop and think about the words of the song.  And the reality of walking out into the ocean, even on a calm day, is not so peaceful.  At least the ocean I'm familiar with here in the Pacific Northwest, is not generally calm.  I've been tumbled by those waves a few times.

Just like the tumbling of the waves, walking out into the great unknown of faith is probably not a guarantee for calm.  You will be tumbled. 

Asking for that?  Just seems like crazy talk!

But that's what this song is really saying.  When the oceans rise, because they will, I will still be calm, because HE will never fail me.

Pay special attention to the repeating bridge.  I don't like asking for trouble, but I DO want to be in that presence, in that grace, in the mystery that makes life sublime.

Listen to my favorite song this morning and then won't you share one with me?

"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

(x6)
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Oh, Jesus, you're my God!

I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

Gift...

Joy, with a simple smoothie that Daddy made

Almost every time I hear a random word it triggers a song in my brain.  This week's word, Gift, immediately started the Shaker song, Simple Gifts*, going around in my head and I've been thinking about it all day.

Because of that, I've been thinking about simple gifts.  The delight in nature, the laugh of a child, the gift of clean water.  The things we take for granted in our daily lives that are not so simple in other parts of the world.

Lately it seems like either there is more awareness or I'm simply more aware of things going on in the wide world beyond my four walls and my small community.  The things that are "problems" for me can often be described most easily using the hashtag "first world problems".

What a privilege we have been given, living the way we do.  It's not something to be taken lightly.  Yet there is the daily tension of living in the moment, dealing with all the little things (and there are a million of them when small children are involved), and still being aware of the greater story going on in the world.

How do we make the most of the gift we have been given?  To live with intention, this is my daily struggle.

And wow, I didn't realize it's been since January that I've participated.  Life has been busy and the blogging has been one of the first things to go.  Here's hoping to get back into it again!

Please enjoy one of my favorite songs!

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,

To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

Five minute Friday is hosted over at Kate's place. As always please join in or leave a comment!

Still...

The first thing that pops into my head when I see the Five Minute Friday word is usually a song, or sometimes a verse.  Today it's both.  One of my all time favorite albums is Steven Curtis Chapman's Speechless and this song on it titled Be Still and Know.  Please give it a listen and if you can't, the lyrics are at the bottom.

I keep trying to write a post.  In my head I've titled it November Blues, but I can't even seem to find the time for that!

We've all been sick for the last two weeks with days off school and middle of the night visits out to see the moon and stars in the cold air so little lungs can breathe easier.  This week everyone seems to be on the mend except me.  The sinus pressure is giving me a headache and everything kind of seemed to implode yesterday.

We woke up to wet carpet in the hallway and discovered our water heater leaking, the inlet and outlet pipes all corroded by our hard water.  I also couldn't breath deeply in certain positions so I took myself off to the chiropractor to find out that I had a rib out of place, a by product of lifting toddlers all day apparently.

Thankfully by evening we had managed to fix the plumbing and I could more or less breathe again.  But I got to trade places with my husband and take the boys to Awana for the evening.  I screwed up a few things, but at least I remembered enough from years ago to be a little bit of a help I hope!  I even got to play dodgeball. *grin*

Unfortunately while Brian was fixing the plumbing he forgot that he was supposed to be giving the lesson to the 3rd and 4th graders.  My old friend Jeff, the director, took pity on me and didn't make me stand in, but did it himself last minute.

There's a reason we all are middle school teachers, but you know, things that are said to 3rd and 4th graders apply to adults too.  He asked the kids if they were ever anxious about anything and after that veered off severely into the territory of "I almost died when" with every story he finally brought it back to things that we can't control in our every day lives, like tests, and having to do lessons impromptu, and maybe even hot water heaters that leak.

What is the source of our anxiety? Well, thinking that we actually controlled these things to begin with.  Who really controls everything? God, of course. And the cure for our anxiety is letting go of the control (that we really don't have anyway) and trusting that HE knows what he's doing.

Which finally brings me back around to my favorite song.  Be still and know that He is God.  And be calmed, rested, and at peace!

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still Oh restless heart of mine
Bow before the Prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still
Be speechless

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is our Father
Come and rest your head upon His breast
Listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
Beating for his little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still
Be still

Five minute Friday is now hosted over at Kate's place. As always please join in or leave a comment!

Norah Jones ... Featuring Review

I've got Norah Jones first two albums and I love them so when I heard about this opportunity to review her latest release ...Featuring I jumped on it!  Sadly, I was less than impressed.

Of course I should have realized ahead of time that this album is a set of covers of other songs and collaborations.  Many other musicians are included, which is cool, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of new material.  One of the songs I recognized from the albums I have, while another is an old classic.

The songs are described as ranging from jazz to country, hip-hop to rock.  I admit there are definitely different styles to some of the songs, but the overlying theme is still what I'd recognize as Norah Jones style.  Basically if there are smooth, "easy listening" versions of each of those styles you'll find that on this album.

However, the biggest reason I won't be adding this album to my line-up is that a couple of the songs are definitely not kid friendly and way too explicit to be brushed over.  I'm talking particularly about track #10, but there are others I don't really want my son to pick up on either.

If you absolutely love Norah Jones, or have never heard of her, then this album might be for you.  It releases tomorrow, November 16th, but you can pre-order a copy from Amazon (that is, if you're not boycotting them right now!)

All that to say... if you want to give it a listen, I'm giving away my copy.  So just leave me a relevant comment (no "pick me" or "yes please" comments) and I'll pick a winner one week from today.  US addresses only please.

I received this album for review from One 2 One network.  I was not compensated in any other way although I am entered to win a gift card by posting this review.

Introducing Diane Birch

When the people at One2One Network contacted me about reviewing Diane Birch's new CD, Bible Belt, I thought I'd be getting a Christian music CD. Obviously I don't read my email very carefully!


But I was pleasantly surprised after all. I've been listening to it for the last few days trying to figure out what to call it. Mostly it reminds me of Norah Jones (who I love), but with different instrumentation and a bit more upbeat tempo on some of the songs. Overall though there's the laid back feeling that makes the whole thing easy to listen to.

The song I've had stuck in my head is called Mirror Mirror and I love the way it talks about our image.

Here's the official bio on Diane Birch:

For singer-songwriter Diane Birch, music was a refuge. Although Diane was born in Michigan, her childhood was spent on the move as the daughter of a preacher, living between Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia, before her parents finally settled in Portland, Oregon. When she was in her early teens, Diane absorbed a unique and cosmopolitan perspective on life that shines through her music and makes a simple categorization of it impossible.

The result? Diane Birch sounds like an old favorite, with all the sparkle and magic of a breakthrough talent. People says she sounds like a combination of early Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, with a little Joss Stone and Cat Power mixed in. Bible Belt is only her first record, but it’s one of the most accomplished albums you’ll hear all year. From the opening track “Fire Escape” to the closing “Magic View,” Diane’s stunning voice is mesmerizing.

Written entirely by Diane, Bible Belt was recorded in New York City and New Orleans with an impressive team of Grammy-winning producers: S-Curve Records founder Steve Greenberg, soul legend Betty Wright and Mike Mangini, in their first project together since producing Joss Stone’s first albums.

And here's a link to the first song on the album to check out for yourself: Fire Escape