Music Monday

My musical selection this week is a tribute to my London trip where we saw Wicked. I highly recommend it. I love this song, it's message, and the whole background behind it(go see it). Here is the Wickedly awesome duo of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth performing the abridged version of Defying Gravity at the Tony Awards.

London Weekend

So on Friday, I'm off to London for a quick girls weekend. We're doing the London Eye and have tickets to see Wicked! Cannot wait!

I hope this happens at Piccadilly Circus while I am there. I will join in and promise to video tape the whole thing. Don't worry I won't scare you and wear the spandex leotard.

Music Monday

See I didn't forget! It's been a week...I'll say that much. I'm off with sick kids tomorrow, so I'll try to post and update about that. Ireland pictures need to get posted. And I'm off to London on Friday...busy, busy.

But back to the business at hand. Once again I was going to go with another song, until I found something else. It just seemed more appropriate to my life right now. See we all have those days/weeks/months, where all we can do is exist at times. It happens. And perhaps my last week, or at least a few days were like that. So I found this song, and it made me feel good. Listen to it when you are having one of "those days." I'll pray you through it...

Somebodys Praying Me Through - Allen Asbury


And a bonus one...because I love Ricky Skaggs and it goes with my Music Monday theme...and I'm still praying...for you.

Music Monday

So I tossed around the idea of making a few "theme" days on my blog to help me focus and make it easier to channel my thoughts. It seems a little rigid....but I've always wanted to do Music Monday...so here goes.

I feel like I need to give a little background about me in order to fully grasp Music Monday. Music to me is like air...I cannot imagine living without it. It pulls me out of the pits, moves me, re-centers me...you get the picture. Music touches my soul like few things can. And I always figured that sharing my soul music would really give you a clearer picture inside my head.

I had a musical selection already lined up for today...and then I randomly stumbled on something else. I don't want to say too much...because I don't want to take away the effect. But please watch the clip below. I am unable to embed it, so clicking the link will take you there. It is about 7 minutes...but I promise you it's worth it. After you watch, you can scroll down for my take...but like I said, I didn't want to ruin anything for you.

Music Monday Video - Click Here



Okay...so read this only after you've watched the video. This video left me with goose bumps and tears streaming down my face. Guess you can't judge a book by it's cover. When this lady came on stage and others were laughing, I felt awful for her. Her story was sad....then the music started. One of my all time favorite Broadway songs, from my all time favorite Les Miserables. I'm thinking, "You're kidding me right? Who in their right mind tries a song like this?" And then she sang. And the tears came. Happy tears, beautiful tears. This woman who has basically nothing going for her, a person who people cast off at first glance; has been blessed with a voice that most only dream of. A true diamond in the rough.

So it moved me. Made me happy for her, and a little sad for me. Why am I so quick to judge? Just one of those life lessons to help me remember that talents and gifts are in all of us...no matter how insignificant this world makes us feel. So beautiful things come in all different shapes, sizes, and packaging.

Oh and in about 2 days, this video has been watched about 1.5 million times...crazy numbers....never again will this woman ever be called ordinary.

I forgot...

I forgot to add that the sun has been shining the past couple of days. It was almost warm! We played outside as much as we could and soaked up all that wonderful sunshine. Thank you God!

Chaos & Peace

Sorry it's been so long since I updated. As usual, we have been busy. To top it off, the hard drive on my computer died a horrible death and I have been without a computer for the past month. I should have it back next week.

We are leaving for Ireland on Monday! Hooray! I promise pictures once I can get them put on my computer.

I'll leave you with a song that moved me this week. It kind of felt like these words came right from my heart. I feel blessed that among all the chaos, I still have the peace.

The Simple Things

I wish I could write and tell you about my exciting event packed day, but I can't. To be honest today was just like any other weekday. Get the kids off to school, run some errands, clean up the house, do some paperwork...the usual....except with one huge difference...the sun! The sun decided it wanted to shine today. You do not know how much you take the sun for granted until you go long periods without seeing it. I decided to take advantage of it, and although it is still cold, I walked to pick up Caleigh from school. On the way, the sun was beaming down on my face and warming my skin. The air was fresh. Not a cloud in the sky. As I got about a block away I heard the children playing outside. Pure. Joy. Fresh laundry was hanging from most homes. The church bells ringing. Caleigh and I walked home slowly, hand in hand, just taking it all in. It's these simple things that make my life extraordinary.

Conversations with My Kids

This is a conversation that takes place between Caleigh and John every Monday through Friday. Usually it has the same ending...but the other day we got something different...

Caleigh: Daddy I missed you when you were at work.
Daddy: I missed you while I was at work.
Caleigh: I don't work.
Daddy: When you get older are you going to work?

This usually where Caleigh says no and the conversation ends. And knowing how Caleigh is, this isn't much of a shock. This girl may never want to work a day in her life...but you can bet she wants to be taken care of. So I'll continue with our glimmer of hope...

Caleigh: Yep
Daddy: Really? What do you want to do when you grow up?
Caleigh: I want to work at home and be a princess and make money.

Mommy: Honey that's called marrying rich....good luck.

Sigh....see it was only a glimmer of hope. Fair warning to any potential suitors…our daughter wants to be a princess at home and make lots of money. Please send in your suggestions on how this might be possible. I'd hate to squash her dream!

Conversations with My Kids

So to preface this conversation...Caden has decided he wants to be a dentist when he grows up. We had this conversation at lunch on Job Shadow Day, when he went to work with Dad to see what they did in the Air Force.

Me: Did you have fun today?
Caden: Yes
Me: Did you know you can be a dentist and be in the Air Force too?
Caden: Really?
Me: Yep, and then they pay for all your school (wink, wink) and once you serve your time, you get out, start your own practice, make lots of money, and buy your mom and dad something really nice...
Caden: Like a toothbrush?

This kid is going to make a great dentist someday. However, when I mentioned something really nice, I wasn't thinking about toothbrushes.

And so we wait....

Okay, if any of you really know me...you know I am not the most patient person. I hate waiting. I want instant gratification. Waiting plain stinks. It's unknown. You have no idea how long you will wait...you just wait.

I feel like that is my life right now. I have all these questions, and life decisions coming up and I have no direction...zero! I pray, I listen, and of course...I wait.

Caden and I had a conversation the other day about God and how he talks to us. I told him that when you feel like doing something you shouldn't and something inside you tells you it's wrong, that's God talking to you. His response was..."But I just don't hear Him."

I think we have the same problem. I'm listening...or at least I think I am....but I'm hearing nothing. So with every second, and every passing minute, God humbles me a little more. Just enough to remind me that I'm on His time....not mine. And so I wait...

After watching Fireproof the other night I heard a song I will post below. If I could have put my thoughts into eloquent words and melodies...it would have been this song. And so hear I am, praying, worshiping, serving, and yes....waiting.