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Showing posts from 2013

Last Day of 2013. Here today...Gone today.

Last sunrise of 2013. Whew...so thankful.     2013 and I did not get along as well as was hoped for. Just like sometimes after a fight we agreed to disagree. Along with some really fun and happy moments, it was challenging, stressful, at times depressing, and just downright hard. It easily could have defeated me. Some days I felt strong, resilient, tough enough to handle what came across the path, the desk, emails or phone. Then there were days when all I wanted to do was crawl back under a blanket, pull it up over my head and tell the day I wasn't having any of it.   As always, there are a few takeaways from this year. In no particular order, here's what I've observed:   Health is important. Gah! Really? For a large portion of this year, I was dealing with an undiagnosed problem, even after 5 doctors. One very smart Doctor did help me uncover an auto-immune issue that is going on and recommended that I go on a specific eating plan. She said it would hel

Where are you Christmas?

I'm reposting part of a blog and some photos from a previous Christmas. I remember finding songs or videos that were about the holidays and Christmas to count down the days, finding a meaning in them, using a photo to represent something in the song. This was especially nostalgic but equally invigorating as I found familiar clips and brand new ones I'd never seen. This song can still remind me of less joyful times when we were alone on Christmas, through no fault of anyone or anything. It just happened. But in a way, we were glad it did. It gave us time to be attentive to someone other than ourselves and reflect on just what blessings we do have. In glossing over this blog again, I suddenly found a new meaning. My photography. I always liked to use it when I write anything, it gives a broader context to the words. I like the sharpness and the colors in this set. At that time I was working hard to find the right look, lighting and composition. While I still like thes

Christmas: 5 Days and Counting - Do They Know It's Christmas?

More or Less: Choosing a Lifestyle of Excessive Generosity , by Jeff Shinabarger, is a book that I'm currently reading. It's quite appropriate for this season of year, what with giving being the theme and all. In the book, Jeff is challenging the reader to consider the fact that truthfully, we all have enough. Of everything. Food, clothes, shoes, toys, stuff. And if you were to stop and really think about it, having so much stuff can create stress, an organizational challenge, and feelings like we've reached the saturation point. It's easy when it becomes a burden to say that enough is enough. But when you're heading to the mall or your favorite store, or searching for that new pair of shoes, admitting that enough is enough doesn't even come close to being on your radar.  One of the stories Jeff tells in the book is the challenge he had after Christmas one year. In January when the credit card bill came, they didn't have the money to pay off what they spe

Christmas: 14 days and counting - The Simple Birth

In 14 days it will be Christmas. 2013. Today's blog is a little different. It's not about a particular song, although there is a song. One of my favorites actually. It's called The Simple Birth and I first heard it performed by Windham Hill Artists. Right now, I don't need a bunch of Christmas tunes or lyrics. I need simple. Simple music, simple moments, simple thoughts, simple days. Simple everything.  For some reason, complicated Christmas decorations, gift wrapping, dinners and parties, are too much. Maybe it's because of the busyness of the end of the year, busyness around the holiday itself, busyness of trying to be in the Christmas spirit. There's something beautiful about simplicity that feels right. Simple sounds create a peaceful thread through the air, simple menus make it easy to feel healthy, simple shopping creates a stress free kind of giving. Simple designs on a cake, simple strands of sparkling lights on the tree, simple ornaments with simple

Christmas: Day 16 and Counting - Mary Did you Know?

Don't bother looking for Day 17. It didn't happen. Well, it did happen, but the blog never happened. It was my goal to do this daily, and it's a worthy goal. However,  life and stuff happens. So, extending grace to myself, and moving on to Day 16. :) And it did give me an extra day to think and listen to more Christmas music. This song, Mary Did you Know, was written by Mary Lowry in 1984 and Buddy Greene. So many people have performed, recorded or sung this song since then. My absolute favorite was CeeLo Green. Not the most likely person in my mind to even sing it, but the notes just flowed from his voice. But that's not the video linked below. This link is to a version of the song sung by Mark Lowry, with an intro to the song at the beginning. This was his very first time recording it. He wrote the lyrics and Buddy wrote the music. Together they blended so perfectly into this beautiful song, with so much passion about the baby born of Mary, who was the creator of th

Christmas: Day 18 and Counting - 2000 Miles

Today, listening to Christmas music, I could not have been more surprised. This is one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs. The version we are most familiar with was recorded by Coldplay. Chris Martin plays the piano like no one else and sings even better. I love this version. The surprise...Coldplay didn't write this song. Originally it was written and performed by The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde in 1983. Now, I was a big fan of this group but never, ever heard this song. Until Coldplay. I feel so musically illiterate! Either way, the song triggers feelings many people experience around Christmas time and many other holidays. It's sad in a way because of the picture it draws of one being away from someone they love. But beautiful in a way because of the snowy winter, Christmas-y feeling that's portrayed. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders  He's gone, 2000 miles, Is very far. The snows falling down. It's colder day by day. I miss you. The children were s

Christmas: Day 19 and Counting - Santa Baby

We finally did it. We took the plunge into the great shopping fest that many are caught up in for Christmas. This afternoon, Michael and I needed to go take care of some errands. Before coming home, we ended up in a shopping plaza with all our favorite stores. We aren't shopaholics, so this was definitely a treat. We started out going in that direction because I wanted to stop at the Mall, purchase some toys and drop them off at the Toys for Tots collection center. It's a big deal around here, radio stations promote this with on-site remote broadcasts, law enforcement come out with the toys they've gathered and the marines are there to help with all the work involved in the collection. Because of the traffic flow, we decided to go to Best Buy first since it was on the way, to make a purchase of one thing. About 45 minutes later we were walking out with our one thing. As we came out of the store, we realized how nice the weather seemed and decided to just walk instead of t

Christmas: Day 20 and Counting - Unexpected

Yep. Tis the Season. For decorating the trees, buying gifts, cinnamon spiced latte, mistletoe, twinkling lights, spiked eggnog, ribbon and wrapping paper, Christmas cards, nativity scenes, neighborhood caroling, and TV commercials. Oh, ugh, you might say. And normally I would agree. The only time for a flood of commercials of this magnitude is right before the holidays. Well, then and the Superbowl. So, this might seem a little bit off the mark of this Christmas songs blog, but while looking for videos for songs I wanted to use today, I ran across this series of commercials. This blog is not a promo for the department store, which happens to be in London. So good luck with ordering anything from there and getting it on time. (Psst...I think the deadline is December 10th for international.)  While there are plenty of commercials at any time of the year, these were an unexpected surprise. Even though I didn't exactly know where the store was located or what the products were, I was

Christmas: 21 Days and Counting - Christmas Song

If you've never heard this song, you might think it to be a little unconventional for a Christmas song. But I absolutely love it. The simplicity, the acoustic guitar, the relevant-could-be-today lyrics and story telling piece of it captivates me every time. And Dave Matthews oh so sultry voice also causes me to melt into a trance. All in all, this song, is a true love story. From the part of Mary and Joseph, to Jesus and how He relates to all those around Him; to God, the Father and His Son. Take a listen:   Christmas Song - Dave Matthews The Christmas Song She was his girl; he was her boyfriend She be his wife; make him her husband A surprise on the way, any day, any day One healthy little giggling dribbling baby boy The wise men came three made their way To shower him with love While he lay in the hay Shower him with love love love Love love love Love love is all around Not very much of his childhood was known Kept his mother Mary worried Always out