Music Monday: 12 Days

I don't know how it is at your house, but around here Christmas music starts playing no later than the day after Thanksgiving. This year it started even before Thanksgiving.

Last year we bought a very specific CD during the Christmas season for the entire family to enjoy. We listened to it too many times to count.

A few weeks before Thanksgiving this year my 13 year old son was asking to get this CD out and listen. And so we did.



Although he does not enjoy music near to the extent that I do, he did learn that he enjoys this album just as much as I do. In fact, it was his enjoyment of this album that caused him to realize he enjoys a cappella music in general.

This is the song that is responsible for getting us hooked on their music and buying their album, which of course includes this song.

Sit back, put your feet up... and enjoy... just for fun.



12 Days
by Straight No Chaser

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christ--
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five golden rings
four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the ninth day of Christmas, On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me my true love gave to me
9 ladies dancing 8 maids a milking
8 maids a milking 7 swans a swimming
7 swans a swimming 6 geese a laying
6 geese a laying 5---
Better not shout, you better not cry, you better not-- in a pear tree

On the ninth-- NO! On the eighth-- NO!

On the seventh day of Christmas deck the halls
my true love gave to me with boughs of holly
7 swans a swimming here we come a wassailing
6 geese a laying among the leaves so---
5 golden rings Faaa-laaa-la-la-la
4 calling birds
3 french hens
2 turtle doves here we come a wassailing
The boar's head in hand bear I among the leaves so green
Bedeck'd with bays

and partridge in a pear tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
11 pipers piping (ding)
10 lords a leaping (dong)
9 ladies dancing (ding)
8 maids a milking (dong)
7 swans a swimming (ding)
6 geese a laying (dong)
5 golden rings
4 calling birds
3 french hens
2 turtle doves
and--rudolph the red nosed reindeer!

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me--

I have a little dradle, I made it out of clay, and when it's dry and ready, my dradle I shall play
Oh dradle......dradle....dradle..................(sorry)

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me--

doo doo do do doot dooooooo-(do de do de do de do de do de)
doo doo do do doot dooooooo-(do de do de do de do de do de)

On the twelfth day my true love gave to me
12 drummers drumming like olympus upon the serengeti
11 pipers piping, 10 lords a leaping

9 ladies dancing they were dancing for meeee
8 maids a milking they were milking just for me

I had Christmas down in Africa I had Christmas down in Africa
I had Christmas down in Africa (5 golden rings) I had Christmas down in Africa (5 golden rings)
I had Christmas down in Africa (5 golden rings) couldnt take the halls into the things we never had

doo doo do do doot dooooooo-(do de do de do de do de do de)
doo doo do do doot dooooooo-(do de do de do de do de do de)
partridge in a big pear tree-(do de do de do de do de do de)
partridge in a big pear tree



Head over to Shawntele's to see what others are saying about music they are enjoying.

Sacred in the Ordinary: It is Well

I am tempted to search for the extraordinary. I catch myself longing for the incredible. I fight the urge to notice the spectacular. In doing so, I risk missing the most extraordinary, incredible and spectacular of all... the sacred in the ordinary.

My Moment...

It is our nighttime routine to rock our little guy while giving him a bottle of warm milk before putting him to bed. As we are rocking him we sing to him. I always include the hymn "It is Well" in my bedtime rocking selections.

My MIL was introducing me to a new singing group online. The song she selected to have them sing for me to listen to was "It is Well". I was holding our little guy on my lap at the time. As they started to sing I simply said, "It's our song."

As we listened, we watched him and his reaction to the music on the computer screen. Suddenly, I saw something that astonished me. In the same instant I started looking to my MIL to see if she had seen the same thing, she said, "He knows the words!"

I had not imagined it. I really had seen what my eyes thought. Our little guy who turns 21 months old today, who speaks just a very few spoken words.... mouthed a few of the words when they got to the chorus!

My friends, I don't know of an ordinary moment that could have become more sacred for me this week than the experience of that moment. Watching his little lips mouth those simple yet profound words.

It truly is... well with my soul.


It Is Well
By Horatio. G. Spafford, 1873

Verse 1:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Verse 2:
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Verse 3:
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Verse 4:
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul.

Chorus:
It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

What ordinary moment became sacred to you this week?

Share your moment in the comments or do your own post at your own blog and link to Mr. Linky below. Guidelines for participating can be found here.



Read more about my thoughts behind the Sacred in the Ordinary.

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." -Alexander Woollcott

Friday's Fave Five

Five of my favorite things from this week hosted by Susanne.

1. No school today: The little guy and I have both been feeling under the weather. In fact, I heard him coughing through the night. Having no school today has allowed me to let him sleep instead of needing to get him up to get the older ones to school. In fact, he is still sleeping... shhhhh....

2. My Hubby, Father son time, and electricity: You may remember that last week I did not have electricity in parts of my house. So thankful my husband is able to do electrical work! He has re-wired the parts that needed it.

Daddy also had a very interested little helper!


3. Jobs: Although I would have loved for my husband to have today off, this is peak season in the delivery business. I have been reminded of others this week that are not as fortunate to work, even if they want to. In this economy a job is a favorite for sure!

4. Family Time: We have been spending more time playing games as a family instead of choosing to do other things. So enjoyable!

5. Thanksgiving Day: It was relaxing. It was restful. It was a day that I was reminded of truly how very blessed I am!

~~~~~
Obviously I did not go out and participate in early morning Black Friday shopping. To be honest, I wasn't even tempted this year.

Did you go? What good deals did you find?

I now hear the little guy stirring. That is my cue that the day is about to become fully alive. As I get moving, I would thoroughly enjoy hearing what things have filled your week.

Giving Thanks

I have a throat that is burning, ears that are throbbing and a body that is aching. It seems it is my turn to experience the crud that is going around.

No matter... It does not change the fact that I have SO MUCH to be thankful for! I am beyond blessed....

My heart is full of gratefulness not only for what God has done, but more importantly for who He is!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends in the United States. Happy weekend to those that are not.

May we all find reasons to give thanks whether is it being driven by a holiday or not!!

Happy Giving Thanks to all of you!

Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup

With Thanksgiving being this Thursday here in the states, I have a feeling there will be a lot of turkey being served which leaves the potential for a lot of leftovers. Leftover turkey is good for a few days, but after that I find I need a little variety.

I learned from my MIL to make the most delicious turkey noodle soup. I use my leftover turkey.

Often times I even dice 2 cups of turkey, put it into freezer bags and then throw it in the freezer.

Once the holidays have passed and we're needing a quick, warm meal for a cold day... I just pull my diced turkey from the freezer and dinner is served in less than 30 minutes.


The Recipe

4 Qt Broth/ Chicken Bouillon
1/2 - 1 c. chopped celery
1/2 - 1 c. chopped carrots
1/2 onion
2 c. turkey
pepper (0ptional)
1 pkg Reames noodles (found in the freezer section of the grocery store)

Add ingredients, boil then simmer for 20 minutes.

The wonderful thing is that all of the amounts of the added ingredients can be altered to your family's liking. No need for accurate measuring with this soup. Now that's my kind of cooking!

Be sure to also check out my friend Sandy's recipe for chicken noodle soup. She uses a few different ingredients in her soup that I plan to try in the future.

Now or Later

Just think... you don't have to serve this only with Thanksgiving turkey. If you're like me you may be buying an extra turkey at the low prices to have in the freezer for a later date. The cold months here last for quite some time. Of course you could also substitute chicken for the turkey as well.


For Others

You could even make this soup to share with a friend or neighbor... just because. We made this a few weeks ago. One batch makes enough that I was able to take some to our neighbors while it was still warm to eat as their dinner that night or save it for later in the week.

What an easy way to give the gift of thought without requiring extra time or money. Who do you know that could use a warm bowl of homemade soup?

Do you make homemade turkey/chicken noodle soup? What ingredients do you use?

What are your other menu ideas for leftover Thanksgiving turkey?

Music Monday: Faithful One

This Thanksgiving season I am so thankful for God's love and faithfulness!

What are you thankful for?

Psalm 89:1 (Message)
"Your love, God, is my song, and I'll sing it! I'm forever telling everyone how faithful you are."



Faithful One
By Selah

I find no hope within to call my own
For I am frail of heart, my strength is gone
But deep within my soul is rising up a song
Here in the comfort of the faithful one

I walk a narrow road through valleys deep
In search of higher ground, on mountains steep
And though with feet unsure, I still keep pressing on.
For I am guided by the faithful one.

Faithful, faithful to the end,
My true and precious friend,
You have been faithful,
Faithful, so faithful to me

I see your wounded hands, I touch your side
With thorns upon your brow you bled and died
But there’s an empty tomb, a love for all who come
And give their hearts to you, the faithful one.

Faithful, faithful to the end,
My true and precious friend,
You have been faithful,
Faithful, so faithful to me

And when the day is dawned and when the race is run
I will bow down before God’s only Son
And I will lift my hands in praise for all you’ve done
And I will worship you, my faithful one.



Head over to Shawntele's to see what others are saying about music they are enjoying.

Sacred in the Ordinary: A Moment in Time

I am tempted to search for the extraordinary. I catch myself longing for the incredible. I fight the urge to notice the spectacular. In doing so, I risk missing the most extraordinary, incredible and spectacular of all... the sacred in the ordinary.

My Moment...


My 13 year old almost 6ft tall son sat next to me. As he was there, he laid his head on my shoulder. We just sat and talked. Time seemed to stop in that moment...


What ordinary moment became sacred to you this week?

Share your moment in the comments or do your own post at your own blog and link to Mr. Linky below. Guidelines for participating can be found here.



Read more about my thoughts behind the Sacred in the Ordinary.

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." -Alexander Woollcott

Friday's Fave Five: The Bright Side

If I am not careful, I could dwell on what all seemed to go wrong this last week. I could complain, moan and whine about the events of the week.

I am going to put a twist on my week's Fave Five hosted by Susanne.


Instead of seeing the "wrong" in each situation, I am intentionally choosing to look at the bright side.

1. A Clutch and My Car: The clutch went out in my car. Instead of one day in the shop it has been there all week. Instead of the original quote given, it is costing 3x as much.

The Bright Side: The clutch didn't go completely out while I was driving. It was only slipping. I was able to drive it to the shop safely with my husband following.

2. Early Morning Bus: Due to #1 we have been left with one car. Early every morning I have driven my hubby to the bus stop to catch the bus for work so I could have the car during the day. That has also meant I pick him up every evening from the bus stop.

The Bright Side: At least we still have a car to use. This arrangement has also provided about 10 minutes of conversation in the car every morning between my hubby and I as we start our days. That is not always the case when we are a two car family. I am usually just waking when he is leaving.

3. Smell of Smoke: After smelling smoke and a burning smell in our basement for numerous hours, my hubby and son discovered the cause. A wad of melted wires that had all burned and fused together.

The Bright Side: Our house is still standing and we are all safe. Hubby said it could have easily burned down the entire house.


4. Loss of Electricity: Due to #3, until we have electrical re-wiring in our house, I no longer have electricity on one entire wall in my living room. We also do not have lights in most of the basement, the garage, or our master bathroom.

The Bright Side: All of my major appliances still work. Lamps and flashlights have been pulled from other areas in the house to accommodate.

5. Infant Alarm Clock: Just this morning our little guy was awake at 5:30 AM. Even with a warm bottle he decided it was time to start the day.

The Bright Side: Breakfast is done. Clothes are on. The dishwasher is running and it's barely 7 AM. I may be needing a second cup of coffee soon, but for now my day is well underway. I'm guessing this also guarantees he will sleep during his nap today!

~~~~~~~~~~

What has filled your week? Have there been situations that have found you a bit frustrated? I have found looking for the bright side to be a good exercise in thankfulness... and that is definitely a favorite in my week!

In the Hospital...Offering Support

You may recall this last summer one of our dear friends was in ICU unexpectedly fighting for his life after what was to be a routine surgery.

You may also be familiar with my own story and how our daughter literally fought for survival twice in the first eight years of her life.

We often think of what to take or do for the one who is the patient in the hospital, and we should. But I want to take a bit of a different spin on it.

Using the experience of this last summer as well as my personal experience of finding myself living in a hospital for weeks at a time, I thought I would offer some suggestions of what you can do to show support for the one staying at the bedside of their ill loved one.


What can I say?

Often you don't need to say any one thing in particular. I have found that just slowing your schedule enough to offer your presence and being willing to just sit for awhile is enough.


What can I do?

Offer to...

* keep their children at your home
* facilitate places for their children to stay
* do their personal laundry
* pick up their mail or newspaper
* transport their children to the hospital for visits and to the places they are staying
* mow lawn/ shovel driveway and sidewalks
* water grass/flowers/ plants
* arrange for meals upon their release
* run errands
* notify other's and keep updates circulating
* care for their pets

Pray



What can I bring?

* books for them to read (They don't need to be new. Books from your own bookshelf might be helpful to pass the time. Make sure they are one's you won't be wanting for awhile to give them time to get back home and get some sense of normal before needing to return them.)

* magazines
* their favorite drink
* a meal (Hospital food can get old very quickly.)
* items they may need or want from their home
* clean clothes
* soaps, lotions, special toiletries for showering and freshening
* a sweatshirt or jacket (Even if it is hot weather outside, hospital rooms can be cold.)


I think perhaps we underestimate the blessings these type of things bring to the one facing such unexpected circumstances. I still remember many of the small acts of the kindness and thoughtfulness shown to me by others as I lived in the hospital while my daughter was so ill.

Might I be willing to slow my schedule enough to bestow small gifts of my time to others, even if I feel it means nothing or makes no difference?

Being on this side of it, I believe it means more than we know!

I know there are many other ideas. What have you done or think to do to support the one at the hospital with their ill loved one?

Music Monday: Still

Music. I am a lover of music. I can't remember a time in my life that I did not enjoy music. I appreciate a wide variety of music styles. Not only my love of music, but also being the music worship leader at church keeps me immersed in music both new and old.

Music reaches to depths of my soul that often nothing else can penetrate. Music often helps me to define an emotion, think through a situation and focus my heart.

This last week I was encouraged and challenged powerfully by the following song. It was one of those weeks where my emotions seemed to be on a roller coaster.

I sensed that I was beginning to feel the spray from the waves as they increased, possibly leading to a storm on my ocean of life. It seemed my heart began to hear the distant roll of thunder as the storm approached.

I found my heart being reminded that He is King over my flood.

I felt my heart prodded...
* to seek refuge under His wings and His mighty hand
* to find rest in Him alone
* to know his power through quietness and trust

I am being challenged, that as the storm of life potentially approaches... to be still, to cease striving, to know that He is God... even if I find my storm increasing and raging in full force.

Psalm 91:4 "... Under His wings you will find refuge..."
Psalm 29:10 "The Lord sits enthroned over the flood..."
Isaiah 30:15 "... In quietness and trust is your strength..."
Psalm 46: 10 " Be still (cease striving), and know that I am God..."



Still
by Hillsong United

Hide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still and know You are God



Head over to Shawntele's to see what other's are saying about music they are enjoying.