Tuesday Tunes - Home

Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez!

As you're reading this, I am currently in New Orleans with my mom and sister, hopefully having a great time. Since I'm writing this about a week ahead of time, I can't say for sure. I am sure that I'm missing my hubby and my cats and my own bed though!

For today's edition of Tuesday Tunes, I'm going to introduce you to one of my absolute favorite musicians right now. His name is Marc Broussard, and since he is from Louisiana, I thought it was only too appropriate to bring him to you now.

He's got a killer blues voice, beats that will command uncontrollable car dancing, and a stage presence that had me in a trance. Seriously folks - his live show is one of the best I have EVER SEEN! He's great...and I hope you enjoy him too.

I couldn't embed this video, so please click this link to go to You Tube and watch it yourself. You won't be sorry! This is probably his biggest hit, "Home." If you're not at least tapping your feet by the middle of the song, you should probably check for a pulse.

CLICK ME! You won't be sorry...



HOME - Marc Broussard

Rolling down the road
Going no where
Guitar packed in the trunk
Somewhere round mile marker 112
Papa started hummin the funk
I gotta jones in my bones before we know
We were singing this melody
Stop the car pulled out the guitar
Halfway to New Orleans

Said take me home
Take me home

Could feel the sun about to rise
When I realized we ad nothing to fear
It's just me and my daddy and a kid named Cope
Making music that nobody would hear
And then the sun let up and it split the night

Said take me home
Take me home
Said take me home
Said take me home

This greyhound is delta bound mama
Baby boy done finally found
Said this greyhound is delta bound mama
Said take me home

Hot damn you should have felt the groove
Like I was swimming in a sea of soul
The sun was rising and the day was hot
And we was all about to lose control
My daddy turned his face up towards the sky
And I knew that there was nothing to lose
I felt the crow breathe in and I closed my eyes
And we disappeared into the groove

Said take me home
Said take me home
Take me home
Said take me home

Straight from the water
Straight from the water children
[repeat]
You don't know nothing about this

Take me home
Said take me home
[repeat]

Going Out and Coming In...

I leave tomorrow afternoon for a 6 day trip to New Orleans with my sister and mom. I am excited to spend some quality girl time with them in such a fun town. I joked earlier with someone that I was going to eat my way through that town like Godzilla...it's probably true! I can't wait to experience all the culinary treats NOLA has to offer me.

Matt is staying behind. He has churches to run you know. He can't go off on frivolous trips like I apparently can! I am going to miss him terribly.

Being away from him (especially when I'm flying) brings up a terrible kind of fear in me. I'm afraid of death - his or mine. I hate the thought of one of us having to mourn the other's passing. I hate the thought of one of us having to learn how to do this life thing on our own. It's horribly sad, and this kind of fear has a tendency to put a damper on my fun trips. I know we are both going to heaven if something happens, but it's still a really hard thing for me to think about.

So - now I'm getting ready to go to bed the night before my super-fun trip, and I'm filled with anxiety. Years ago I went to Florida with my cousins, and Matt stayed behind. My anxiety about that trip was even worse than it is tonight, and Matt and I sat in bed cuddling and reading through some scripture. We found a Psalm that really seemed to speak to us (and calmed me right down...that's probably the most important part!). I'm sharing it here more for my benefit than yours.

Psalm 121
(English Standard Version)

¹I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

³He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
⁸The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

Pray for me while I travel please, and pray for my hubby too. We'll be missing each other!

Blessings to you...
Katie

Tuesday Tunes - Glory

Hi friends!

Today's Tuesday Tune is "Glory" by Selah, featuring Nichole Nordeman. I must say, I wasn't really a big fan of Selah until recently. They seem to be a little saccharine for my tastes, but maybe my life needs a little sweetness right now. I have been a fan of Nichole Nordeman for many years though, and this song definitely doesn't disappoint. I believe she actually wrote this song for the duets album Selah released in 2006.

A friend's blog steered me towards this blog, which I quickly feel in love with. Angie is a beautiful writer, and she has written much about her walk through the valley as she lost her little girl. Angie always seems to be truthful and honest and real with her audience, and through it all she seems to keep her eye on God. Angie is also the wife of one of the members of Selah, so I think knowing a little about her story and her life has made me want to connect a little bit with this group.

I can't get over this song! I can't get it out of my head. I play it over and over again. I hope you enjoy it as much. What a strong and beautiful message in a time where hope is hard to come by and heaven seems so far away.



One day eyes that are blind will see you clearly
And one day all who deny will finally believe
One day hearts made of stone will break in pieces
And one day chains once unbroken will fall down at your feet
So we wait for that one day come quickly

Chorus
We want to see your Glory
Every knee falls down before thee
Every tongue offers you praise
With every hand raised
Singing Glory
To you and unto you only
We'll sing Glory to Your name

One day voices that lie will all be silent
One day all that's divided will be whole again
One day death will retreat and wave it's white flag
One day love will defeat the strongest enemy
So we wait for that one day come quickly

Chorus

We know not the day or the hour
Or the moments in between
But we know the end of the story
When we'll see

Chorus

Tuesday Tunes - The Losing End

Happy Tuesday!

This Tuesday Tune is "The Losing End" from Neil Young's Album Everybody Knows this is Nowhere.

I grew up listening to Neil Young, because my parents loved him. For the first 12 years or so of my life, I hated him! I would groan every time they put his albums on, and I always preferred Debbie Gibson over Neil Young - no question. Oh, how silly and dumb we are when we're young...

Sometime during the 8th grade, I started to enjoy Neil Young's music. I'm not sure what happened in my life to change my mind. I like to think that perhaps my taste in music was maturing, much like my taste in boys or my taste in fashion (buh-bye acid wash and shoulder pads!). Whatever the case, I began to really enjoy Neil Young, and my affinity for him has only grown over the years.

The Losing End will never be his most popular song. In fact, outside of my family, I'm not sure many other people even notice it's there! I chose to Tune this song today because it reminds me of home. I always loved the Kermeen "Family Jams" where my parents would play guitar, and we would sing. We love songs that have nice harmonies and this is no exception. A few weeks ago the Kermeens had their first Family Jam in years, and this is one of the songs we did. Mom played and sang, while Kelly and I sang along. It was the best feeling ever to know that years could go by, but we are still able to connect together through music. Harmonizing together and laughing as we mess up the words.

For your Tuning pleasure, I bring to you "The Losing End"...




I went into town to see you yesterday
but you were not home.
So I talked to some old friends for a while
before I wandered off alone.

It's so hard for me now
But I'll make it somehow,
Though I know I'll never be the same.
Won't you ever change your ways,
It's so hard to make love pay
When you're on the losing end,
And I feel that way again.

Well, I miss you more than ever,
since you've gone
I can hardly maintain.
Things are different round here
every night,
my tears fall down like rain.

It's so hard for me now
But I'll make it somehow,
Though I know I'll never be the same.
Won't you ever change your ways,
It's so hard to make love pay
When you're on the losing end,
And I feel that way again.

I am possessed by nail polish demons...

A few months ago I found e-polish blog - a great blog about nail polish and caring for your nails by a lady named Katee. I subscribed to Katee's blog, and really began to enjoy all the new colors of polish she had been "swatching." Suddenly, I began to subscribe to other nail blogs like Vampy Varnish, All Laquered Up and Scrangie. Now I'm finding that I am OBSESSED with nail polish! I have been painting my nails every three days or so, always trying new colors each time I change. I have been looking for fun new colors everywhere I go, and have a small army of nail colors to try. Here is a picture of the colors I have bought in the last month alone:



















I must ask people...WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???

Back in the game with a new weekly feature!

HI FRIENDS!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since O'Bama's inauguration. I'm sure most of my readers have gone buh-bye by now, but for those who have stuck around...HOLA!

I don't really have a good excuse for being gone for so long. Work has been a little stressful lately. Church is going well. Matt and the kitties and I are just trying to keep up with everything around the house. Lots of everyday, normal life things have shoved blogging down to the bottom of my priority list. (Actually, it's not quite to the bottom. Cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, and organizing the refrigerator have fallen way below blogging!) I'm sorry to have neglected you for so long.

Good news though - I'm coming back to you with a NEW WEEKLY FEATURE! Yes folks, I'm going to attempt to make my mark on the internet with a weekly feature I'm calling Tuesday Tunes. Every Tuesday I am going to introduce you to a song that I am loving that week. It could be an old classic rock song, an 80's pop favorite or a new Christian worship track. Whatever the song, I'll give you a little insight into why I love it, fun trivia about the artist and where you can get the song for yourself.

If you're interested in doing Tuesday Tunes on your blog, feel free to copy the graphic below to use on your posts. If you do a Tuesday Tune, please let me know, link back to me, etc., so we can get the Tuesday Tune love going! It will be fun to discover new music and learn more about each other through the songs we love, won't it? Here goes...

This week's Tuesday Tune is "Lover" by Derek Webb. It's from his album She Must and Shall Go Free.

I love Derek Webb. His sound, his lyrics, his heart - they're all so rich and authentic and relevant. He gets down and dirty about God, faith and the Church. So often as Christians we try to sugar-coat our lives to make it seem like with God everything is easy and happy. It's just not the case, and Derek always seems to make it okay to be real with ourselves about the suffering we sometimes endure as Christians.

This song is probably my second favorite on this album (my favorite is "Wedding Dress" - maybe I'll Tune it in the future.). I have been stuck on it for a few weeks now. The version on the actual album is a little better (IMHO) because of the vocal harmony, but this video is still pretty good. I love the way Derek portrays Jesus as a lover who will do anything for the one he is in love with - his Church. I think this is a beautiful song, and I hope you like it.

Lover
words and music by derek webb

like a man comes to an alter i came into this town
with the world upon my shoulders and promises passed down
and i went into the water and my father, he was pleased
i built it and i’ll tear it down so you will be set free

but i found thieves and salesmen living in my father’s house
i know how they got in here and i know how to get ‘em out
i’m turning this place over from floor to balcony
and then just like these doves and sheep you will be set free

i’ve always been a lover from before i drew a breath
some things i loved easy and some i loved to death
because love’s no politician, it listens carefully
of those who come i can’t lose one, so you will be set free

but go on and take my picture, go on and make me up
i’ll still be your defender, you’ll be my missing son
and i’ll send out an army just to bring you back to me
because regardless of your brother’s lies you will be set free

i am my beloveds and my beloved’s mine
so you bring all your history and i’ll bring the bread and wine
and we’ll have us a party where all the drinks are on me
then as surely as the rising sun you will be set free

Barack O'Pocalypse?

You probably don't know this, but Barack Obama is being sworn in today. I'm a little dismayed at the lack of media coverage myself. You would think it would be covered on every single channel or something. Psh...

This election was a crazy one, wasn't it? Never in my lifetime has there been such excitement and energy about choosing a new leader for our country. I'm not really interested in politics too much, but as election day closed in, even I was comparing the candidates, weighing my options. In fact, even my dad voted for the first time in all of his 57 years.

Throughout the months leading up to the election, much mud was slung from one side to the other. Suddenly our friends and neighbors became political experts. Everyone was desperate to convince us that their candidate was the right choice, and that the other candidate was trash.

Some people even tried to tell us that Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ.

Before I go further with this post, I need to make a few things clear. First, I don't think Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ. Has it occured to me that he might be? Sure. BUT I've also wondered if Oprah or Bono or many others are the Anti-Christ. (I don't discriminate: black women, white men, they're all considered for the role!) Second, this isn't some crazy attempt to slam Obama on his big day. After I weighed all my options, opinions, etc., I chose him over McCain. I know this is an exciting time for America, and I am not trying to put a damper on the day.

People have been trying to identify the Anti-Christ for hundreds of years. Since the ressurection of Christ, it seems like there has been someone shouting from the street corner that Jesus is coming soon - The End is Near! Generations upon generations of people have lived in expectation of the second coming, and died having never seen it.

I believe that one day Christ will return, and a whole cavalcade of awful events will usher in His coming. I believe that there will probably be an Anti-Christ, but I'm not 100% sure on who it would be, what he or she will be like, etc. There are hordes of people out there who have very exact images in their minds about how this all will go down, and I'm sure a lot of that certainty comes from their reading of the popular Christian fiction series "Left Behind." There are probably even a few people out there who have opinions on the end times based on eschatological studies. (Did I just make up a word? I don't even know...) I am neither of these. I am simply a Christian who waits, and lives in the meantime.

I am certain of one thing though, and that is what I want to make very clear to you today. Nothing we do will change these events. Let's just say for the sake of argument that Barack Obama is indeed the Anti-Christ. Does anyone really think that by keeping him from becoming president, we might hinder his demonic abilities? Do we really think that we can keep Jesus from coming back by keeping Obama out of the White House? I don't think so. I'm not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination, but I really don't think it would make a big difference.

If you really think the Anti-Christ is coming, why not channel that anxious energy into some serious, hard-core evangelism? If the end really is near, shouldn't we be doing all we can to show our friends and family the truth about God?

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? I look forward to your comments...

50 Nifty United States

When I was a kid, I used to keep a checklist of all the states, and proudly cross them off when I had visited or driven through them. For some reason this still is fun to do, and now technology makes it a little more interesting! Below is my "big girl" checklist:


visited 28 states (56%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or try another Douwe Osinga project

"Visit all 50 states" is officially added to my bucket list!

Etsy Feature

My mother discovered Etsy this year, and I couldn't have been more exited! She bought this awesome cross for me for Christmas:

CLICK ME!

Check out this fun and funky Etsy shop for more awesome treats like this one!

THANKS MOM!

Fa-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra

...and to all a good night!

Just a quick post to say MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope each of you has a peaceful and blessed holiday with lots of family and friends.

A Christmas Miracle

I have blogged here about my struggle with getting pregnant. Matt and I have wished for a baby for quite a few years now, but still don't have a baby to add to our little family. It's something we pray about all the time, and we really do have faith that God will bring us children someday.

I always fantasize about how we will tell our family we are pregnant. One of my favorite fantasies is one where we announce it at the big family Christmas gathering. I imagine us giving my grandmother a gift that reveals our news like a framed sonogram picture, and as she opens it and realizes what it means, everyone explodes with excitement for us. I can't even picture it in my head without tearing up a bit, and I know that if it were to actually happen, I would be bawling like a baby.

This is the fourth Christmas that we have wished to make an announcement like this, but have been unable to. Someday I'm sure we'll be able to reveal the expansion of our family, but every Christmas that goes by until then, I can't help but feel sad that it's not time yet.

Our niece slept with us last night, and as I laid there watching her sleep, I couldn't help but wish that we had one just like her. If we had been able to conceive when we first started trying, our child would be around Kamryn's age. I watch her grow, and I fall in love with her over and over again...and I wonder what our life would be like if we had a little cousin for her.

Sorry for such a sad post so close to Christmas. I am actually feeling quite upbeat about Christmas this year, but I did have this moment of sadness last night (and early this morning) that I wanted to share. Maybe no one reads my sad blogs, but it sure feels good to put it out there, ya know?

Regardless of whether I have a child or not, I'm not letting my sadness cloak the importance of this season. While I yearn for a baby to call my own, I know that many years ago a baby came call me His, and THAT is what Christmas is all about.

Merry Christmas to each of you. May you know who you are and WHOSE you are...

Reality Check

This made me laugh, but oh, how true it is! Enjoy...

First day of winter...

See that below? That's our digital thermometer. See the time listed? It's wrong - it's actually 6:06. I just haven't adjusted for Daylight Savings yet. See the temperature? At first glance, you might think it's 36 degrees. You would be WRONG. It is currently 3.6 degrees here. 3.6 DEGREES! Today is the first day of winter. If this is what we're in for, I'm moving.

Silent Night...

I know I haven't blogged in a while. Forgive me - it's been quite messy around here lately. I was sick for almost 10 days. I had tonsilitis, laryngitis and a cold all at the same time. My boss's wife passed away last week. My great-uncle passed away too. We were in Indy for two funerals on two consecutive days, and my heart is feeling a little heavy from it all. We also just found out that our good friend had open-heart surgery last week. I'm thinking it's not such a lucky time to be friends with me right now!

Christmas can get so hectic, can't it? All the shopping, baking, parties, programs, blah, blah, blah. Don't get me wrong - I love shopping and baking and parties and programs. They really create a special buzz in the air - a bustle, if you will. The energy and spirit I see at Christmastime is like none other. Still, sometimes I can do without the bustle. Sometimes I just want the peace. The Silent Night.

I have to say that I am really kind of sick of Silent Night. We sing it at every single Christmas Eve service, and year after year I can't help but think, "Let's sing something different this year! What about 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel' or 'O Holy Night'?" We always sing "Silent Night," and always lift our candles in the dark sanctuary for the last verse. It has seemed a little cheesy to me for a while, and I'm over it.

Monday afternoon my office hosted a luncheon for retired United Methodist clergy in our area. We do this every year as a way to keep in touch with them, help them keep in touch with each other, and show our thanks for their many years of faithful ministry. It really was a nice event. We had a great turnout, even though the weather was a little nasty, and people seemed to have a nice time. My friend Julie came to entertain the crowd with her beautiful singing. She has a spectacular voice, and she really is a wonderful entertainer. She has this way of drawing you in, and making you feel like she's singing just for you. It's awesome!

After a few songs, she asked if they would like to sing some Christmas carols together, and they all seemed up for it. She asked if there were any requests to start us off. A voice from across the room suggested "Silent Night." I remember thinking, "Ugh. I am SO over this song!" But I decided to be a good sport, and sing along.

I couldn't sing for very long. That crowd could SING! They sang "Silent Night" in four (maybe five) part harmony, with so much passion and reverence, it brought tears to my eyes! Here were over 100 people who had served countless congregations for decades upon decades, who had probably sung this song at every Christmas Eve service they ever preached or attended - and they were singing that song as if they were singing it to Jesus himself.

I felt so convicted right there. If THEY can feel this much reverence for this ordinary, over-played song, what's wrong with me? Isn't that what Christmas is about? Jesus came to bring the "extra" in front of "ordinary," didn't He? This extraordinary savior was born to an ordinary woman. The man who would shepherd us all the way to the gates of an extraordinary Heaven was born in a very ordinary Bethlehem. His extraordinary, redeeming blood was spilled on an ordinary cross, built for ordinary criminals. An extraordinary Lord for very ordinary people - like you and me.

So this year at Christmas, I'm reclaiming Silent Night for myself. In the midst of the ordinary: the malls, the parties, the gifts, the decorations, the commercials, the cha-ching at the registers, the cards, the BUSTLE, I am going to remember that extraordinary baby sitting in the creche under my tree. I will remember that He came to add the "extra" to my "ordinary." And I will sing an ordinary song like "Silent Night" with a lot more reverence. At the end of the day, we all know that Christmas is about so much more than the bustle that permeates our world at this time of year. Behind it all there is a peace to be found...a Silent Night.

Have you seen this?

Have you seen this commercial? Matt and I saw it last night, and just about died!

All Time Top 5 Christmas Movies *UPDATED!*

What are your all time top 5 Christmas movies? Here are mine:

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
2. A Christmas Story
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
4. The Holiday
5. Scrooged

I am sheepishly admitting that I have never seen It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street. Don't worry - I'm adding them to my Netflix queue right now!

Go on...comment away!

*UPDATE*
Elf was playing this morning at CVS, and I was immediately horrified that I forgot to put it on my list! So, I think Scrooged is being bumped, and Elf will be placed in the #4 spot. :)

The 12 Days of Christmas...INDY STYLE!

If you're near Indianapolis, check out the 12 FREE Days of Christmas in Indy. Sounds fun!

Playing the Part

The coming weekend will be a busy one for us. Veedersburg's Christmas Parade is Saturday, and Veedersburg UMC is going to have a float in the parade. I'm excited about attending this event, if only for the chance to get out of the house and maybe meet some people in our new town. Sunday our other church, Hillsboro UMC, will be having their Live Nativity and Chili Supper. Again, this is going to be an opportunity for us to meet some people in Hillsboro (and to have some yummy chili).

I wouldn't be lying if I told you I wasn't 100% comfortable about Matt and I playing Mary and Joseph in the Live Nativity. When the biggest struggle in our life the past few years has been conceiving a child, I imagine I might have some difficulty playing a new mother. Then again, maybe it will all be just fine, and I won't be bothered by it at all.

I think I've dealt with a lot of this transition by operating in "autopilot." There are days when I push my emotions to the back burner, and just work at checking things off my to-do list. Every now and then my emotions boil over as if to remind me that they're still there. Someday soon I think I'll address this pot of emotions, but right now I'm praying that God will allow me to keep them pushed back for this Live Nativity...

I want to be a winner too...

Okay - just trying to win some computers here. You should too! Check it out here: http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q408-hp-magic-giveaway-enter-our-contest-to-win-over-6000-in-electronics/