read.

if you have a heart for adoption, read this.

http://aaronhalemusic.blogspot.com

also, check out his music. he writes some great tunes.

lately.

this list could be very long but here are just a few artists that have been inspiring me lately. some new records, some old.

We Could Be Happy.

new song...played for the first time last Wednesday at my NNU show. and, before i go on, cheers to Two Girls who opened for me. i thoroughly enjoyed your set!

writing music is truly one of the greatest pleasures. i adore it. those who know me well and have been to my shows the past year know that my writing continues to change and i believe it has developed. i have finally found my sound. my songwriting journey is a long one so if you'd like to know the story in it's entirety, just ask! lately, i've been writing about people. mostly people i know well, some i do not. people inspire me. here is my new song/story...i hope you can picture it like a movie.

We Could Be Happy

verse 1:
All the answers floating in the air
All the heartache waving to despair
In the morning you will pass me by
But I will wait, I'll wait for you to try
Oh, when will you see that I am the girl for you

verse 2:
In the warm sun skies begin to grey
And the flowers all begin to fade
On the doorstep you will stop and sigh
But I will stay, I'll stay another night
Oh, when will you see that I am the girl for you

chorus:
You are all I have, you're all I have
You are all I see, you're all I see
Oh, don't you see, don't you see
We could be so happy

verse 3:
Past the meadow out into the light
We will wander in eachother's eyes
To the old house set upon a hill
And we will write, we'll write about the thrill
Oh, when will you see that I am the girl for you

bridge:
Backward and forward the time races on
Moving and pacing, stumbling upon
Another world where my heart isn't worn
Take me and place me in love evermore

--it is so much fun to play! added excitement: me and some hip video dudes will be making this song or Sweet as the Morning Sky into a music video - we are going to start shooting in a few weeks!

"Hide and Seek"

I should start by saying that Jr. High isn't my favorite age to teach...Kindergarten-6th grade? Bring it on...love it...but Jr. Highers are just hard. They are in such a different season than the young ones. Everything is such a big deal to them, and some of them are just too cool for music class, which is lame really. However, I have learned to love and appreciate them throughout the year more than I expected to. This week has been the best week yet with my Jr. High...

...I am currently going through one of my favorite lessons of the year with my 7th and 8th graders: musical analysis. I love hearing their opinions on music - what they like/dislike - what they notice first in a song or listen for - what emotion it evokes in them...and so on. And what's crazy is that it has brought each class closer together. I could write pages and pages of stories I have heard this week...and all of them have come out of discussions about music. Amazing. Here is an example:

Being that this is the intro. week to the lesson, musical analysis, we have been listening and discussing. I comprised a playlist of 17 of the most "popular" songs in the last 5 years. We have been going through the list and analyzing each one - genre, instrumentation, lyrics, guitar tones, and so on. #13 on the playlist is "Hide and Seek" - Imogen Heap. Yesterday morning the 7th graders and myself were listening to this song. After we were done listening and were discussing the emotions in the song, one of my favorite 7th graders raised her hand. She had tears in her eyes. This is what she said.

"One of my good friends did a dance routine to this song last year. Her mom had died the day before, but she danced anyway. She wanted to dance and she knew her mom would want her to. No one said a word while she danced. It was a very sad, beautiful moment. All that to say, this song makes me think of my friend's strength."

I have a feeling analyzing music with the Jr. High is going to be more meaningful than I thought. It has already moved me.

sweet as the morning sky.

ok, so a few people have requested i post the words to one of my newer tunes..."sweet as the morning sky." i start by saying that these words aren't deep, nor are they meant to be. i was simply writing a song about my dashing man and the words just came. it's one of my favorites to play live.

verse 1:
there was a time when i was sure
doubt and love were one
that starry night, that old, old town
memories undone
then you came and filled my heart dear
words can pray to tell
of love so wonderful, so sweet of
how i fell for you

chorus:
love of my life
sweet as the morning sky, are you, are you
love of my life
all i do is sigh, for you, for you

verse 2:
flowers growing in the yard
birdies sing our tune
a brick cottage, an old, old town
a bright red balloon
oh the love that fills my heart dear
words cannot express
your vest, your smile, your gentle voice
our love will stand the test

"all you need is love"

the past week has literally felt like a month in length. so many important decisions...so many different emotions. i will share one of them with you.

Derek and i were so excited to get into our first home. we had been praying and praying for the right home, and knew it was an important decision. after making 3 offers that did not go through we made a 4th - and our offer was accepted! we began to make arrangements to get out of our apartment lease and prepare to have a home of our own. the inspection was supposed to happen today and then we would have closed on it in a week's time. we have been a bit confused through this process because there have been so many open doors and closed doors - we would have enjoyed one or the other really. but sometimes things don't work that way. what seems perfect might be the wrong decision. Derek and i pulled our offer on the house on Friday for many reasons that i won't get in to. it was an emotional decision for us for a few reasons:
1. we had grown to love this house and were excited to have our own place
2. the 8,000 tax credit - options are endless
3. investing money into something
4. many i can't think of right now

yesterday was Valentine's day. i spent it with the love of my life. we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, had romantic pizza (but the best romantic pizza ever), slept in, went to coffee, talked about love, hope, and life. it was truly incredible. i was reminded of God's love. his endless love...the love that wants the best for us. He has a perfect plan for Derek and i.

as i right this i am listening to my sweet man write a new worship song. a few of the lines are resonating in my soul - "Savior of the world you hold my gaze. You've taken all my words to sing Your praise." He loves us. i love Him. i love Derek. i love my life.

"all you need is love."

!

this is in the mail on it's way to me! isn't it lovely???

i found it here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lovenostalgicwhimsy