Sunday's Songs: Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

The song I want to share with you today is one that has been pounding through my mind a lot lately. I hear it most days at least once, usually more on the radio and I'm so glad. It get stuck in my head and honestly I need it there. I need it to resonate in my thoughts and in the way I live my life. Without futher ado, here is Big Daddy Weave and "Redeemed."

Mother's Day 2013

Happy Mother's Day!

As you are reading this I am (hopefully) hanging out with my mom! I surprised her for Mother's Day because I had a friend who needed to go to my hometown as well this week. This is the first time I've spent the day with my mom since 2007. I am very excited. 

My mom loves the song "I Hope you Dance" by Leann Womack. She always told me it was her song for me, so I want to share it with you today!

I hope that you are spending time with your mom, or at least don't forget to call her!

Today

Its funny but lately I've felt very strongly that I'm so not qualified to give an opinion about anything spiritual. I'm not an expert by any means, but I know Jesus. He is my Savior. All I want is for others to see that in me. 

Its a scary thing to speak truth as a Christian. What I mean is this: when I say that its wrong to lie and then I lie, I feel like people see me as a hypocrite. The real issue isn't me purposely being a hypocrite, its that I'm a sinner.

Thats why I try to keep things encouraging around here. Its also why lately I've been quiet on my usual Word for Wednesday posts. I just haven't been able to find words to express these things. 

I love sharing encouraging music here. Mostly because music is what gets me going. Its what makes me excited and I'm always eager to share it. Thats why I do the Sunday's Songs posts. I hope that they are as encouraging to you as they are to me. 

So anyway I have another song that I want to share with you today. I know its not Sunday, but alas here is a song that I love. I hope you enjoy!

The House on Moody Avenue by Celestine Hannemann

The House on Moody Avenue is the story of a house. Of course you can't tell the story of a house without telling the stories of those who live in it. Hannemann begins her story after the American Civil War, with Lisette, a young girl whose life is quite simply, really sad. Lisette's story is very tangled up with the story of Julia. Julia is determined to find her way into the top of the social sphere of New York City and finds that the house is a tool to do just that. 

After Lisette and Julia move away from the house, it sits empty for many years. In the 1920's it is restored by a former showgirl and becomes a boarding house to an interesting cast of characters. Their stories are told quickly, but interestingly. Each of them are very different and find their dreams (or not) in the Big Apple. 

Fast forward to the sixties and the house is condemned, the question though is how will its end come?

Generally I love stories that take place over many decades and tell people's whole story. This book however left me wanting. There were many grammatical errors and many superfluous words used. I read this book on my Kindle and when I would look up the words there wouldn't even be a definition in the dictionary.

The first story of Lisette and Julia is very sad and takes up the majority of the book. I was expecting each of the parts of the book to be equal so I was confused by this. However the story was interesting and kept me engrossed.

The stories from the sixties were very interesting, but now that I am thinking back on them, I feel like they were incomplete. I would have liked to know what happened after the stories ended, but I guess I will just have to imagine it. The tone of the book is so sad that I’m sure the endings just weren’t very happy.Overall, I'm not really sure that I would recommend this book. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sunday's Songs: 5.5.13

A few weeks ago one of my favorite recording artists announced that he would be retiring from music at the end of this year. Bebo Norman's songs are often songs that I relate to in ways that I rarely find elsewhere. His songwriting is raw and honest. I've seen him in concert several times and each time I found his talent impressive and his person real. With that I want to share one of his more recent songs, "God of My Everything." I hope it speaks to you like it does to me.

 

An Update

So the other day, I shared some interesting facts about myself in my Sunshine Awards post. I hope you learned something or at least smiled.Sorry that I've been so quiet over here lately. I've only posted a few times in the past while and I thought I would share some of what's been going on in my life. 

Back in February I got to feeling really unwell. The pain got really bad one night and I ended up in the emergency room. Long story short the end result was that I had to have some "minor" surgery. As some people say, "Minor surgery is only done on someone else." I realize that for the doctor it wasn't a big deal, but for me it was huge. 

Pop Rocks is amazing at taking care of me. When I had to go the ER, I woke him up in the middle of the night and he never once complained. I wasn't even planning on waking him up, but somehow my body did without my brain's consent. He was ready to go right then. I called the nurse line from my insurance (which I love BTW) and after her series of questions the nurse on the line recommended that I get help within the next three hours. Oh, and that I not drive myself. That was more than enough to get me in the car (though I insisted that Mary go out first). 

My parents came to town and helped to get me on the road to recovery and I missed a week at work. It was interesting to be home from work for a whole week. Typically if I'm off that long, we are on vacation (like this time last year) or its a major holiday. It was pretty restful, but t.v. gets pretty boring after a few days. There was a local murder trial on all week, so I ended up watching a lot of that coverage. It was really interesting, but so so sad.

Since then, I've been adjusting back to real life (and life post operation) and working on lots of little projects. I should show you some pictures. I only have after pictures, but that should be okay.

Oh, one of my dearest friends came to visit a couple weekends back and spent one night with me before her family got to town. I've also had some really long and wonderful conversations with my other bestie's and its been so great. Those girls make my life so much more beautiful and rich! 

Merry Mary Monday: 4.29.13

Mary loves her Daddy. Whenever she can she finds a way to cuddle up with him.

 

 

But if he's not around and mama is no where to be found, she'll make her own nest.

 

 

Happy Monday, Friends. I hope these pictures help to make it even more cheerful!