Time to Laugh

Recently my granddaughter, Cordelia, and I were talking about each other's personality traits.  She said that one thing she knew about me was that I love to laugh. That made me so happy to know that was something she noticed. She also noticed that I love to hum a lot.

If I can pass on to my kids and grandkids a sense of joy, then I am satisfied. 

Almost.

I also want to pass that on to others, so, here's a laugh for your day.

2016 - Year of Music and Needles!

I made a couple resolutions for 2016.  I have the usual thoughts of eating better, exercising more, etc.  However, I decided that this is a good year for me to put some new effort into exercising my brain.  I want to do it in a fun way, though.

Over the course of my adult life I have often been learning new things.  I went through an EMT course and really learned a lot through that.  I took a CNA course and then went back to college, graduating with my nursing degree at age 40.  I certainly felt that I learned a lot of new things during those years.

Once I was a nurse, I kept learning and studying.  I earned certifications in a few different areas.  The hardest was gaining certification as an oncology nurse.  It was stressful but I really enjoyed learning so much and feeling more competent when I was working as an oncology nurse.

I've learned some new things at my current job but I admit I've been cruising a bit over the last 2 years.  I have areas of nursing I need to further explore, more to learn, but I think I need to focus some on different areas of learning.

So...

I decided to try to learn two new, fun things this year.

I want to learn to knit and I want to learn to play the clarinet.  I've started already with the clarinet. My generous mother-in-law gave us each Christmas money and I took the opportunity to order a clarinet. Nope, I am not planning on doing anything too fancy but I have decided to at least learn to play enough to enjoy it myself.  So, meet my new clarinet!  Don't worry.  I know it is not a flute and that is not how I should hold it.  It was just difficult to take a selfie that included me and the clarinet if I held it downward.

I bought a couple of books and I've started learning.  It sounds pretty!  OK, that is NOT true.  Actually, it sounds PRETTY AWFUL!  I don't care.  I'm having fun!  I can play Hot Cross Buns all by myself!

These are my teachers...

I am not the only one in the family pursuing music this year.  I don't want to brag about our grandchildren (that was a big lie) but I would like to point out that this little beauty, practicing for a church talent show, is only 6 years old.  

She and her Daddy are going to do "My Girl."  Isn't that just the most adorable thing you ever saw/heard?

Lennon and Maisy and The Stellas

I love the old-fashioned sound of this family! It makes me feel like we should all hang out on a big porch, sip some sweet tea and just relax.  Yep, that's what this music makes me want to do.

My friend, Terri, shared this on Facebook this morning. I was charmed!

I had to look these girls up.  They are Lennon and Maisy and I found they can be seen on the show, Nashville. I've never watched that show, but I'm going to have to check it out.

I also found these girls have musical parents. I love their sound as well! They are known as The Stellas.

Check this one out!  It is such a sweet song and their harmonies are beautiful.

OK, I just needed to share something that added some sparkle to my day. My job is done here.

Made Alive

I like this song and this group. The drummer, Adam Skatula, was the drummer at our church when he was in high school. He's very talented and a nice person as well! If you like this song, please share it on Facebook or other sites to let others get to know this young group.

Ancient Liturgy and For King and Country

Earlier this week Mike and I went to a funeral at a Catholic Church. We were all there to honor the mother of one of our friends. We aren't Catholics but we recognize a lot of the liturgy they speak and sing, as it is from Bible verses. We sing much of it at our church services as well, although often to different melodies.

There was a young woman there who sang several solos as well as led us all in the congregational singing. She had one of those voices, one that I wished came out of my mouth as well. It was just so beautiful! She sang with such reverence; I could close my eyes and imagine it was an angel singing. I could have listened to her sing all day. I hope she has children and I hope she sings them to sleep sometimes. Her voice was that relaxing.

Two days after that angel-singing-liturgy experience, I went to hear a concert with my friend, Nicole. We loved listening to For King and Country as well as Building 429! It was loud and stimulating. We stood, we clapped, we swayed, we bounced on the balls of our feet a bit. I could feel the drum beats vibrate through my chest.The grandstands were loaded with Christians singing their hearts out. It was really an uplifting experience.

So, did I enjoy the angel voice or the bands best? I couldn't say one way or the other, really. They were both quite rewarding. What they both reminded me of, though, was how very powerful music is. Music makes you FEEL something that spoken words can't quite do, at least for me. It must be true for many others as well.

The more I thought about the power of music and how it makes you feel, I felt even more convinced that we need to be proactive about the music to which we listen. I listen to music that isn't necessarily Christian music and I don't think that is wrong. However, I think it is important to me to often listen to uplifting, inspiring music if I want to live my life in an uplifting way.  I want to FEEL the music, to really absorb its meaning into my soul. That is why I want to be careful what kind of music I am absorbing. While I enjoy many different styles, I want to be careful what kind of content I let into my brain.

That is what I was thinking about today.

Part of Something More

Some of you may not know that Mike is also a musician. He is a remarkably talented songwriter!

Recently I googled my own husband to see if his music was still available out there in Internet Land. Not only is it available, but even Amazon still has it. Isn't that cool!?  I love the songs on this CD and I think a lot of people would enjoy it, if only they knew it was available. By the way, I also found it on ITunes and CDBaby and it was cheaper than at Amazon. Weird.

WAIT! Back up...

I was just looking through my photographs and realized I had some good ones from Saturday that I didn't yet show. Around noon Saturday we gathered at a local park for a Father's Day celebration of some sort. There was time for lots of good people-watching.

Cotton Candy!

Snuggling...

Fancy Dance Moves

Elise got a little wild!

Cordy was looking all summery.

We were there to watch Eric and his band play.

Eric is quite a musician!

It was a fun time!

Marching Band Competition

Remember my trumpet-playing nephew, Steven?  Last night Mike & I got to go to see him perform in a competition with his band.  His mom (my sister)  wasn't able to be there so I took some photos for her.  You can look, too. though.  It was fun to watch!  I think I would've enjoyed being in a marching band.  I know that Steven does!

And because it is Sunday here is a passage from the book of Amos.


"Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you..."

Lord I Lift Your Name on High

I love to sing.  I love to hum.  I do it a lot.  As I clean, as I drive... I'm sure that is not unusual.  Music has a lot of power!  It has so much power, I've decided to be careful what music I listen to as it influences me so much.  Several years ago I decided to keep the radio in my car set on KLOVE.  Why?  Well, they refer to their music as being "positive and encouraging".  Hey!  That's what I want to be!  I learned that if I listened to that on my way to work, I was able to maintain a positive and encouraging attitude a bit more throughout the day.

  

I am also on our Worship Team at church.  I enjoy that a lot!  

(stock photo from 123rf.com)

OK, that photo may not be of me but I'm pretty sure I look kind of like that when I sing...except I am older...and I would not wear sunglasses in church...and my microphone is on a stand which I am scared to approach... I don't usually wear a hat because I think my head is already kind of large... and the wind machine is not ever on me when I sing... there may be a few other differences as well.   OK, I'm no more than an average singer, I'm middle-aged and I generally sing standing very still with my hands to my side.  Even clapping when singing is difficult for me.  Other than that, I pretty much look like this person.

Seriously now...

Music has come naturally to me when helping a really frightened patient.  Whether starting an IV or wiping a bottom, humming lightens the moment.  Maybe it just lightens my mood but I think it helps the patient focus on something besides the task at hand as well.

I was once called to the side of a young adult patient nearing the end of her life.  She was conscious and uneasy.  She'd previously told me she was a Christian so with her permission I prayed for her.   Then, knowing she had been active in her congregation, I asked if she wanted me to sing to her to help her relax.  She said that she did.  I started singing Amazing Grace  then moved on to the The Old Rugged Cross.  She listened politely but I didn't feel it was calming her that much.  Then, I decided to sing Jesus Loves Me.  Even though she could only barely make sounds, she started to sing along!  I kept singing but tears were rolling down my face.  She looked and sounded so beautiful to me.  

I thought she fell asleep at the end of that song so I sat quietly by her side for a bit.  When I was about to leave she opened her eyes and whispered a question.  I had to ask her to repeat it several times but finally realized she was asking if I knew the song, Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.  I was so happy because it is a song our worship team sings so I knew all the words.   We sang that song over and over and over with her voice only a whisper and mine choked with tears.  The quality of our voices did not matter.  Finally, she was tired and able to rest.  I left quietly, fully aware that I'd just been allowed to be part of something truly beautiful.  

Maybe I will have the opportunity to sing with her someday in heaven when we will have strong, pure voices.

To hear a sample of the song that meant so much to her, click here.