The first time I heard the song "Meadowlarks" by Fleet Foxes, it made me think of you.
Ever since then I've wanted to make this.
Let me start by saying I recognize the need, on a daily basis, to extend more grace and understanding to you. Many times I find myself being too hard on you and expecting more of you than you are able to give at the tender age of almost-three. In so many ways, you remind me of myself and maybe that's why - because I'm hard on myself too. Everyday, you deserve to hear of the value you hold not only in our family but in this great big world. To know that you are loved and cherished, unique and special.
My sweet little man - always know that you are precious in the eyes of God and worth more than my words could ever express. If I ever fail to say it enough, know that I love you to the depths of my bones and that my heart is held in the palm of your little hands.
Love always,
your Mother
*in case the video doesn't automatically load, here is the link
I love the idea of this - the operative word here being idea. I love the clean lines and how everything seems to have a place. I love that every possession seems thought out and completely intentional. But I think I'd find this kind of living a little suffocating long-term. The house looks immaculate, almost too immaculate. Stiff. Barely lived in. I feel like if I visited, I'd have to sit up straight and speak softly or read quietly from one of the very uniform set of hardcover tomes on the bookshelf. I think if this was my house I'd want a bookcase with some variety and I'd probably crave a bag of chips every now and then. But like I said, I like the idea. I love the underlying concept - of being organic and simple and living intentionally.
Today is a beauty if you're living in Cleveland, Ohio. The sun is shining, the windows are wide open and the curtains are blowing softly in the breeze. A perfect day for this song :
Last night we went to a John Mark McMillan concert. His songs are unlike any other kind of mainstream worship music out there; you'll never hear his original songs on the radio (although you'll hear his song How He Loves covered a hundred different ways) and you'll definitely never hear his songs sung in church. He reminds me of a modern day Johnny Appleseed (maybe it's the beard and plaid shirts); a grassroots Jesus follower whose music is more powerful than it is popular. And that's saying something.
The crowd was young - late teens, early twenties - and a bunch of kids with sweet hair, cool glasses and super trendy thrift store clothes: the quintessential hipsters. These are the kind of kids that church leaders have conferences about - the kind they want in their churches, but can never quite get in the doors... the ones they are constantly in state of unrest about... "Why isn't the twenty-something generation in church on Sunday? Where are they?!"
Answer: They're probably at John Mark McMillan concerts. Already worshiping their hearts out. McMillan's lyrics aren't exactly for the luke-warm either. Chances are, if you're young and you can't get enough of JMM's lyrics, you can't get enough of Jesus. I say all this as an observer; as someone who stood in that crowd in awe of all these unlikely followers of Christ, challenged and humbled in my half-hearted tendencies by their whole hearted passion.
When he broke into How He Loves, you just know the crowd had been waiting for it. Waiting to sing one of the biggest worship songs of the year with its humble author who had penned it many years ago. The experience was too powerful for words. If you don't know the story behind How He Loves, you can hear about it in the video below.
At one point John Mark sang the line, "Glory to One, God's murdered Son, who paid for my resurrection." He sang it a couple of times and then left the stage with the band, leaving the crowd in darkness as they repeated the line over, and over, and over. Then people started to stomp in time with the beat. And clap. And raise their hands. And the voices swelled and grew louder and more filled with the power of the lyric. And for five minutes I experienced something that was more powerful than a whole month, nay... year of church Sundays.
My dear and oldest friend Hayley has always been a faithful provider of some of the best music that's ever pitter-pattered on my ear drums. Of course, being from Britain means she always has the upper hand when it comes to exposure to such delicacies. With magical lyrics and a rhythm as smooth as slumber, this song is my favorite off her latest mix (Tara, I think this one has your name written all over it):
Per my last post, here is an example of double satire that is in fact... very funny. Coincidentally, there are even a couple of references to pancakes!
At first I scoffed at this movie's premise thinking, "Oh no, its just another mass production Pixar knock-off." But then I saw clips of the trailer, and then the WHOLE trailer and now I am dancing in my pants to go see it. It couldn't have a cuter premise. And it's funny. And sha-bam... this one looks like a hit. So I think we're going to go see it on our anniversary (per my request). I can't wait! Let's just hope that all the best parts are limited to the trailer and the rest of it is lame.
If you liked Zach Williams' Fears, you're going to love this:
I can't express how badly I wish I knew of this song when I lived in England. It's the perfect soundtrack to the train ride from Milton Keynes to London, with the British countryside passing by in flying colors. Trust me on that one.
Tonight we finally got together with the Foxes and Bradfords and it was so refreshing to see these old, dear friends of ours. Since having Jack, I could count on one hand how many times we've collectively gotten together with either couple. This makes us very sad, so it was high time we got together again.
We all met at Dewey's where I ate two delicious slices of pepperoni pizza and Jack did his very best to not pass out from the effects of Tylenol for his achin' gums. Back at the old a.p.t. we compared our favorite youtube videos (ours being amazing race watermelon to the face and sound of music flash mob) and played a boys vs girls best out of three euchre tournament with the B-fords - girls won, naturally. The following was also introduced to us tonight by Ashley, which for whatever reason had me bent over with laughter every time I watched it (which was more than a few times). I'm laughing now. It's THAT funny to me.
