As you well know, I've taken a break from blogging. Through all this IVF stuff I have been pretty well spent emotionally and physically and any extra gusto I have has been directed towards my family (and reading). It has been a crazy last couple of months, and I plan to update soon.
For now, I am basically an emotional basket-case recently. My thoughts are consistently turning to my next child whom I am desperate to have with me, and I am also trying to treasure my two babies I already have, in a way to show myself and God that I have enough room in my life and heart for as many children as He is willing to bless me with.
All that being said, onto the music! I usually don't get to watch Ellen, but I watch many of her videos, and this song couldn't have pierced my heart more. I am waiting for you, little one!
We've been in a bit of a new music drought, but new great music has been raining down upon us this weekend! We'll start with one that both Nick and I are loving right now!
It's been a crazy month with a government shutdown, a sealing, a baby blessing, visits from two sets of birth-parents and three sets of grandparents, a birthday, almost getting furloughed, and potty training (which is the worst, by the way). Here's a little tune to help you smile when your life gets similarly crazy.
When we first knew we would be moving this summer I immediately thought of this song.
How is it moving week already??
Colorado and the people here have become our family and it completely surprises me that I've been able to keep it together as well as I have so far.
So, this song has become my anthem as I travel to a metaphorical "frozen wasteland" (which is in fact a high dessert) as we clean out our home and move ahead to our new adventure:
We'll keep you posted througout moving week, including an incredible video from the lip-sync-off party our friends threw for us! You're not going to want to miss it!
So, Alexa started singing about bicycles this morning, and I told her about this awesome song about bicycles. We've been listening to it since then! She particularly likes the bell-part. It's been a fun morning!
I feel slightly silly having just purchased this French track from a Disney-Pixar film soundtrack, but I really can't help but smile when I hear it. And neither can Alexa, who is spinning and head-banging to this catchy song as I type.
I've been singing this song to James recently, and for now I've kinda coined it as our song. This version is on one of my new favorite albums, the entirety of which is incredible! I'd recommend Michael Bublé's "To Be Loved" album 100%! Really really great stuff!
Alexa has been really into The Tigger Movie on Netflix recently, and my favorite part (aside from how she gets so excited about "IGGER!") is the ending credits when this song comes on.
Call me an old sap, but Kenny Loggins is so great!
Last week I (Nick) drove to New Mexico to visit Los Alamos National Lab and in the process listened to the radio more in two days driving than I had in probably the previous six months. The rental car had satellite radio and there aren't very many other radio stations in southern Colorado or northern New Mexico. This song was definitely my favorite discovery.
It's nice to find a song that celebrates fidelity in a world where it seems to be in short supply.
My sister, Suzy, who is serving an LDS Mission in Houston, TX sent me her iPod and asked me to upload some new music and talks for her. I worked on this a while on Friday and Saturday, and it was a really good exercise to review the music I listen to with a missionary perspective. This is the guideline she gave me that is given to all missionaries (emphasis added):
"Listen to only to music that is consistent with the sacred spirit of
your calling. Music should invite the spirit, help you focus on the
work, and direct your thoughts and feelings to the Savior. Do not listen
to music that pulls your thoughts away from the work, merely
entertains, has romantic lyrics or overtones, or dulls your spiritual
sensitivity by its tempo, beats, loudness, lyrics, or intensity.
Listening to music must never interfere with your personal preparation
or proselyting."
One of the 13 basic beliefs to which all members of the LDS Church subscribe is another guideline that I used to evaluate the music and talks that I sent to her (emphasis added):
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in
doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition
of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many
things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything
virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these
things."
Suzy sent me a list of things she specifically wanted, and then I added to that list with some songs I thought fit missionary music requirements. One of the artists that she sent to me was Alex Boyé, of whom I have heard but not really appreciated, until I heard this song:
My friend's 16-year old daughter was killed in September when she was hit by a car and it has been such a faith-inspiring thing for me to watch this woman mourn and allow her faith to carry her through this tragedy. I was able to be a part of a small choir that sang this song at her funeral. It nearly moves me to tears every time I listen to it.
That's what good music should do for us. Not necessarily make us cry, but it should stir our souls and assist us in being able to feel the spirit of God, not deter or distract us from it. It should be praiseworthy or of good report -- something we would be excited to share with our mothers, mothers-in-law, spouses, or anyone else.
Music has profoundly impacted many of my life's most memorable moments, and I'm blown away by the seemingly endless talents of musicians who continue to make music that inspires and uplifts and simply makes me happy! I'm so grateful for the blessing of music in my life and the people that helped me to love it like I do (first and foremost my mom).
I have listened to this song dozens of times since first hearing it. I don't feel like there's a lot to say other than we are so grateful for our children's birth parents who are very much aware that children are not ours, but God's.
Thank you Ray, Melissa, and The Sneetch's birth family in particular! You have, do, and will bless our family's life in ways none of us can begin to imagine! We love you all!
I saw the movie over the break with my mom and sisters (who aren't serving missions). We had the best time! We laughed and cried and laughed again; it was wonderful! We literally passed a box of kleenex between us and enjoyed our snuck-in candy. It was such a great night!
Here's my review: Jackman as Jean ValJean was out of this world amazing! Hathaway as Fantine gave a really good acting performance which made up for her pretty good singing performance. Seyfried as Cosette was forgettable, but didn't ruin anything. Isabelle Allen, who played young Cosette, definitely helped me to love older Cosette more and filled in the Cosette character where Seyfried fell short. Allen was so incredible! Crowe as Javert was a huge disappointment, especially since Jackman was so good! You really need someone to equally counter ValJean's purity and goodness with coldness and malice, and Crowe just didn't even come close in acting or singing.
For me, the stand out performance (other than Jackman) was by Samantha Barks who played Eponine. Her voice, as you heard on the trailer, is gorgeous, and when she and Marius (played by Eddie Redmayne who also was incredibly wonderful) sang "A Little Fall of Rain" I bawled like a small child. It was so beautiful and heart-wrenchingly good! The whole movie was worth it just for that!
I would link-up to a clip of that song, but this version is the next best thing. I can't even buy it on iTunes yet, which is just not right to subject someone to such beauty and then withhold it from Amazon. But I'm strong, and I can be patient! Enjoy!
"How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria," The Sound of Music
My mom got me this movie for Christmas, and I watched it as soon as we got home from our vacation on Friday. As soon as this song came on I realized it describes Alexa perfectly! Definitely have a new appreciation for this particular song!
"But how do you make her stay and listen to all you say?"
"One More Sleep 'Till Christmas," Muppet Christmas Carol
This may stand as my favorite Christmas movie of all time. The movie follows Dickens' novel so well and only adds meaning and feeling to it through its wonderful music!
Have the merriest of Christmases tomorrow and try to get some sleep tonight, although I know the mounting excitement is hard to constrain!
It's after Thanksgiving, which means Christmas season at our house! We'll be getting our Christmas Tree on Saturday and decorate our house...two stockings are already up!
Other Christmas traditions include cookie/treat making and caroling to friends, we watch The Muppets Christmas Carol the day after Thanksgiving, and Nick always gets a chocolate orange in his stocking and I always get a pen in mine.
This was the first Christmas song I listened to this year, and it's just beautiful! I love Christmas!
