It's Almost Here!

I am so thankful that although September is not generally a very fallish month around here, today is nice and cloudy!  Humid...but cloudy.

And in my mind that means it's time to break out the Fall music, order a pumpkin spice latte and go buy a pumpkin!  Well, maybe save the pumpkins for October.

 

 

Go outside and enjoy this weather!

 

 

Mad About... (Christmas Edition)

The Nutcracker!

I think I can safely say that this year, I am obsessed with The Nutcracker.  I have listened to the whole thing in my car probably around ten times this Christmas season.  Everytime track #10 is about to end, I think, "Okay, it's time to take a break." But then it just moves on to track #1 and before I know it, I've listened to the whole thing again!  I just can't get enough of it!  The music is beautiful and I am just amazed that anyone could compose something like that!  Is it totally nerdy that sometimes I get a little teary eyed listening to it?  Um yeah, thought so.  #9 gets me every time.

But what is better than listening to the music in my car?  Why, going to see the ballet of course!  I've seen the ballet a number of times but the best performance I witnessed was done by the Moscow Ballet at some theater in L.A. 

We had balcony seats...not really expensive ones, but a great view nonetheless.  The setup of the stage was amazing.  It wasn't just a single curtain that they kept changing with little room for the dancers.  It was huge and open with props and real set design.  And there was a live orchestra!

I don't think we'll be able to go this year because it's turned into an extremely busy season.  (We can't even find a whole open day to go to Disneyland.)  So I'll just keep listening to the music in my car...and imagine visions of sugar-plums dancing in my head.  ;)

Fall (or Autumn) Music

If you've heard me say it once, you've heard (or will hear) me say it a million times. I love Fall! Which I interchange with the word Autumn. Sometimes I like one word better than the other. I like to say, "Fall weather." But I'm not sure if I like "Fall music," or "Autumn music" better. But that's not the point of this post.
Yesterday was the PERFECT day. I decided that God can't make everyday be like that or else I'd already think I was in Heaven. Okay, I wouldn't go that far, but I really really really love days like that. It started out with clouds and rain. But not just any kind of clouds. Dark thunderstormy looking clouds. The clouds that look like they're pregnant and about to pop! Then in the afternoon it started to clear. Bright, blue, crisp sky with white puffy clouds. And at evening time there was a delicious breeze and when the sun began to set there was pink and gold. But weather is not really the point of this post either.
The point of this post is to let you in on my Fall playlist. Season's need a particular sound. Which is why I SAVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS!!! Ah, there...got that out. Right now is the perfect time for Bluegrass! Music that makes me want to go outside and rake leaves and jump in them, buy big old pumpkins and carve them, bake yummy honey cornbread and put on fuzzy socks and wrap myself in a blanket and sip apple cider. Oh my word.
Onto the playlist:

Although I'm not thrilled, to say the least, with the Dixie Chicks personality as a whole, I do love this album. And I listened to it in Autumn way back in high school when I was just starting to realize that I had a favorite season. I even remember an outfit I wore one day in high school when I went to Lombardy to get a pumpkin and I was listening to this album. Is that weird? I was wearing white chords. Yep. White. And a pale blue turtleneck. And probably some warm coat. Mmm. Cowboy Take Me Away is a classic. And Hole in My Head is just fun.



I've been listening to Nickel Creek since...I think college actually. Maybe high school. Thanks to Christen. We've seen them in person a few different times, my favorite place being Largo. Small little restaurant in LA somewhere. Wondeful ravioli.



I first heard Alison Krauss, unbeknownst to me that it was her, in the movie, Oh Brother Where Art Thou? She sang some classic gospel songs like Down to the River to Pray and I'll Fly Away for the soundtrack. I liked her...and then I found out who she was and I gave one of her albums to my mom for her birthday. I think she has a beautiful quality to her voice.



Very new find, through Pandora. Like 'em.



I first heard about Patty Griffin a few years ago when our friend told Em and me about her song, O Heavenly Day. I loved this song, but I never checked out the rest of her music and I forgot her name. Well, the other day Em and I bought tickets to take my mom to see Emmylou Harris at the Greek Theater and Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller were opening for her. I read their names and hoped they would be good, then Em told me who Patty Griffin was. And oh my goodness! I loved every song she did! Then I went home and listened to more of her songs on Grooveshark and now I just want to go and buy all her albums!



Then some non Bluegrass honorable mentions:
Norah Jones
James Taylor

There you go! Enjoy!

Ten Reasons Why My Grandpa Was the Coolest

(Can I just say how much I love this picture? I think it's so funny the way my Grandpa is holding my arm.)

10. He always wore turquoise. Whether it was a ring, a string tie, or a belt buckle. He couldn't get enough of the stuff.

9. He used the word paw instead of hand, claws instead of fingers and fangs instead of teeth.

8. He drove this rad retro yellow van with only one seat in the back. The rest was open and so we got to sit on the floor whenever we went anywhere, which is super fun for a kid.

7. He was a fly fisherman and he tied his own flies. He had a room in his basement with a desk where he tied the flies and there were tons of little compartments all over the room that stored them. He and my Grandma retired to Bozeman, Montana because of the fly fishing.

6. He always wore cowboy boots.

5. He would write me letters. And I loved his handwriting. He often put a P.S. that would say, "When you come visit us, I will rock you to sleep."

4. He loved kids. He was really good with Em, Jeremy and me. He even drove a school bus for awhile when he was older.

3. He had good taste in music. He liked a lot of the big band stuff.

2. After he got saved, (which was late in life but before I was born), he treated my Grandma like an angel. My mom said he used to embarrass her when people came over because he would just stare at my Grandma and say, "Isn't Frances wonderful?"

1. He was just so loving and loveable. One time, after my Grandma died and when his health had really declined, we went to Montana and Em, Jeremy and me were at his neighbor's house playing with their dog. The owner's were gone but they let us go in the back. My parents and aunt and uncle were all gone so my Grandpa was the only one at home. Jeremy decided to hang from the door frame and I copied him and fell and landed on my back on the raised door jam on the ground. It hurt really bad and I was crying when we got back. My Grandpa felt so bad for me but didn't really know what to do. He was almost in tears as he lay me down on the couch and put a blanket over me. For some reason I will never forget that. He died when I was in 9th grade but I love him so much and can't wait to see him in Heaven!

Oh and one more thing, his name was Jack! I love that name!

Mad About...

Piano



I think I could listen to piano music for hours. Especially when I can hear a friend play in person. There's just something about it.


I found out in recent years that I am absolutely not a natural when it comes to playing musical instruments. A depressing discovery seeing as I have played the piano since I was in the fourth grade, when my Grandma bought us a Baldwin. I can read music, slowly, but I can't just sit down and play a piece off the top of my head. Sure I memorized a few when I was younger for recitals, but they all left my brain and my muscle memory long ago. Nevertheless, I love to sit down (with music) and play. I've also found it's a nice way to relax at the end of a long day.


That being said, Erin gave Emily a book about a month ago that has chords for a heapful of classic rock songs. (Emily plays the guitar now. For awhile I said that "Emily is learning to play the guitar" but I think she is beyond that now. For sure.) The three of us along with Sarah (am I allowed to let this out?) will get together every now and then for the particular purpose of...well...jamming. I mainly watch and listen, but I enjoy it. It's opened up a new apect of music to me, playing with other people! So now, on my own, I am trying to kinda teach myself how to improvise with chords. We'll see how it goes. (Did I mention that Sarah is really good at piano??)

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, and ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

On Friday night at the hospital a group of us sang some hymns while my dad was in ICU. Someone chose to sing Great is Thy Faithfulness and I remembered that this is my Dad's favorite hymn. This was just one of the many little ways that God has showed His faithfulness to us in my Dad's death. And because of Christ we can say, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

A few weeks back I had noticed that God has been surrounding me with multiple friends who had lost one of their parents at a young age, a few were very recent. I started to wonder why this was the case. I believe it was just one of the ways God was preparing me for what was to come. What was to come in His perfect timing. My Dad had complications with the medicine he was on for Valley Fever and so it would be easy to question, "What if he had never entered the hospital?" and so on. But it was another blessing that God allowed Rick Holland (along with many others) to be there with us. He encouraged us on Friday night not to ask the what if's or why's, not to even allow our minds to go there, but to trust in God's perfect will. This helped me a lot while lying on the waiting room floor praying that God might let him live, but knowing it might be his time to go home. We didn't know that much about Valley Fever and we have no idea how hard it would have been for my Dad if he had kept on living.

I will miss my Dad terribly. Everyone keeps talking about his big, booming laugh. Definitely true. It embarrassed my Mom at the movies and Em and I used it as a means to find my parents at church after the service got out. I loved my Dad's sense of humor. Ever so often a bit cheesy...but he could handle teasing well. And Em and I teased him as he did us. He teased my Mom a lot too. Thinking of that brought me to tears the other day when my Mom said something that he would have totally teased her about. He loved sports and movies and road trips and spent a ton of time with us. I never ever felt neglected by my Dad. He was SUPER organized, he loved making lists and itineraries. Something that has helped us since he's been gone. He wasn't the most patient man but now he is! He's sinless now! And seeing my Savior's face!

Three things stuck out to me recently about how my Dad encouraged me spiritually. When my Grandma died he had me read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 in the car while we were parked outside someone's house. On Sunday, the day after he died, John Rourke read this passage in church.

I remember we were in the "Sewing Room" (really the Den) in our house when he taught me about election. I don't know how it came up, but he explained how God loves everyone but He has chosen to love and save particular people.

When I doubted my salvation in high school he went over Hebrews 11 with me pointing out that we live by faith. We trust God and obey Him just like countless others did in that passage.

My Dad was a saved sinner. A wonderful father. I love him and rejoice that I will see him again someday, because my heavenly Father is most loving of all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
"For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?"
"Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?"

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Tagged, I'm It (Not another post about Kindergarteners)

The rules are:


-Link to the person who tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
-Share 7 random and or weird facts about yourself.
-Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
-Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My friend Deidre tagged me, so here goes:

1. When I was five years old, my top front four permanent teeth grew in behind my baby teeth, so for a short while, I had two rows of four teeth! Apparently it's pretty rare.

2. I write left-handed but I do everything else with my right hand.

3. I took accordion lessons for a month or two in fourth grade with a rented accordion and I received an accordion trophy at the end of it. Sadly, I threw the trophy away. It would have made the PERFECT white elephant gift.

4. I hate bacon. Maybe hate is too strong of a word. I really do not care for bacon.

5. Emily was scheduled to be born on my birthday. This would have not been cool since we already get asked if we are twins.

6. I only have one first cousin and he has always lived only a mile away from me. So he's more like a brother.

7. My favorite songs are The Prodigal Son Suite by Keith Green and Dream On by Aerosmith...if you're going for one Christian and one secular.



I tag Hayley, Marietjie, Amber, Melissa, Nicole, Monica, and Cassia.

That's Life...(that's what all the people say)

I figured it's high time to bump down that picture of the virus attacker. Thankfully, my cold is just about over. In fact, I think this morning was the first one where I didn't wake up with...well...you know. That reminds me of Runaway Bride, the morning show, "Wake up with Flem". Haha. Okay...anyways...

So, because I have nothing to write about and yet I still need to post something, I am going to answer a random question: "What traditions do you carry on during your day, consciously or otherwise?"

Hmmm...more than I thought when I thought about it. It's funny that most of my traditions center somewhat around mealtimes.

In the morning, I always wake up around 5:45 and 6:00. I stumble to the bathroom to take my shower. My mom ALWAYS says "Good morning!" in the brightest, cheeriest voice that makes me want to...well...scream. But I usually grumble back, good morning, and turn on the hot water. It's funny the things a shower can do for your mood. After that I always go and make coffe. Three cups, one spoonful for each cup. While that's gurgling up I eat my cereal. Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Best. Cereal. Ever. Lately I've been eating it on the couch, cuz it's cozier. And my dad has recently taken to eating his breakfast at the same time at the table with his laptop and there is just not enough room for what I would like. Plus it's colder at the table near the open window. After the coffee is poured, I dry and straighten my hair. Then I go and pick out something to wear. I ALWAYS tell myself that for now on I will pick out my outfit the night before. But this never happens. And this is 99.9% reason why I never make it out the door at the time I would like. Usually, if I've forgotten to make my lunch after the cereal, I frantically make it now. Then I frantically do my make-up, than I frantically run out the door, sometimes having to put on mascara or something in the car. In this I am well-skilled.

If I don't listen and sing to my music on the way to work, I am in grave danger of falling asleep at the wheel. There have been some close calls lately. I don't have an i-pod thingy in my car, but I'm glad...anyone can just listen to a shuffle mix of their songs. I am a big fan of making mixes myself. I like to have certain themes...road trip...mellow...fun and peppy. I pull in, drop off my lunch at the fridge, enter my office, and turn on my computer. Here is where the morning tradition ends. Who knows what I will find at work???

I ALWAYS have lunch at 12:30 on Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. Well, pretty much always. On Wed. I eat at 1:00. This is because I eat with Emily and on Wednesday's she likes to eat later because she comes in later and it breaks up her day more. Em and I ALWAYS eat on this one particular bench. We get made fun of for always eating on this bench.

I leave work at 4:30. Again, I am in danger of falling asleep on the way home if I'm not singing. I have recently been trying to pray though while I drive. It works out being a really good time to pray and think.

There's not many nightly traditions I carry on. I like having SOME part of my day unpredictable. I do generally hang out with Megan and Amber at least once if not more during the week. Amber and I just started a hip hop class at the gym. THAT'S interesting considering I am TERRIBLE AT DANCING. Amber just happens to be the best in the class.

Before bed I ALWAYS brush my teeth and wash my face. That's one of my least favorite parts of the day. :0( However, I LOVE the part where I turn off my light and hit the pillow. :0)

What a Friend

I have really been struggling with setting my mind on God throughout the day at school. It seems like everything moves so fast there and my mind is focusing on teaching and what I have to do next and I start trying to do everything completely on my own.
Rick Holland's message on Sunday night was so good about knowing God. I really do want to be thinking about Him throughout the day. For some reason this hymn has been super helpful.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer:

Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus Knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge; Take it to the Lord in prayer:

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He'll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.

It helps to know that I can pray to God about anything throughout the day. Listening to this hymn in the morning on the way to school helps me to think about how God is present with me throughout the day and He knows everything that I am doing or thinking about. Nothing is hidden from Him.

The Extra Hour

I have just got to say, I am thankful for daylight savings time! My neighbors next door are a young couple that are apparently obsessed with Halloween. They created a musicians graveyard out front. Come on over if you want to pay your respects to Johnny Cash, Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, Ringo, and a few others. There's also a lovely little headstone that says, "U must die." Hm... Anyway, they are having a massive Halloween party tonight and I don't think I will ever fall asleep. So ya, I'm thankful for that extra hour. It's kinda funny though, that extra hour. I don't think I know a single person who actually takes advantage of it. If anything, it seems that people stay up later than they normally would.
I remember when I used to dress up for Halloween...it was fun, but now I really like what my Bible study does. We have a Reformation day party. This year it was really cool because John Glass came and talked about John Calvin and showed us pictures of Geneva. It was encouraging remembering what happened long ago on what is now Halloween. It's a great reminder of men who stood firm for the truth, God's Word and His glory, no matter what opposition they faced. It was very convicting to me, as lately I have easily been caught up in school (and Lost, pathetic as it may sound) and other things...and not in what really matters most. Jesus said in Luke 21:34, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with...cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly." It's really easy to get caught up in the "cares of this life" but I want to focus on Jesus instead.
Hm...it sounds like the techno music is starting up...maybe I should try and fall asleep fast before it gets louder.