Sunday Singings

Some of my grandmother's music that was left to me!

When I was a child I would attend "singings" with my grandmother.  "Singings" were gatherings of  people  from everywhere to the church, tent, or courthouse to sing "gospel" music.  My grandmother had a beautiful alto voice.  She knew the Stamps Quartet music backwards and forwards, as well as the hymns.  In later years she branched out into "contemporary" Christian music which she lead or performed in the "singings".


Before God called her home she called to let me know the songs she wanted sung by my husband at her funeral.
The week before her death I walked around my home singing the old hymns, hearing my grandmother's voice, knowing heaven was preparing for her arrival.


This week our home school community lost two mothers, leaving behind children and another young home school student.  The mother's lost their battles with cancer and the student went home to be with the Lord after a wreck.  Our close friends watched their elderly mother enter glory after her struggle with cancer.


So on Sundays I am going to post a song that spoke to my heart during the week.  The post will be dedicated to my grandmother, who is singing her lungs out in heaven.

This week's song is "Home Free" by Wayne Watson.  This is the song that God comforted my heart with when He gentle ushered my Aunt into heaven, after her struggle with cancer.  I don't know this woman, but she represents all the women I know who have had the Ultimate Healing and are "Home Free". *Please if the video is too much, just close your eyes and listen to the words...they are a healing balm.

Re-Energize - Day 4

This journey has been so refreshing and I am so glad I stopped to take it.  None of the things I have mentioned are new, but like old, comfortable jeans, they are sure nice to put back on.

I wish I had not let life squeeze out my times of re-energizing, but I did.  Creating is easy again, since I am not homeschooling five children, nor driving hours each day for events. The 3/4 of an empty nest allows more time to re-coop.

So, today I had to stop and add another one of my past energizers, while trying to put it back into practice!

Number 4 - Music and Dance!

Now who isn't energized by music and dance?  I already wrote a post on the power of music and stated my love for the classics in the Arts post.  So, I am going to touch on the other types of music that refresh me and why.

Our home is full of musicians, songwriters and composers, starting with my husband.  Most of our children play a couple of instruments. Me, however... well, I stick to singing and dancing...and my dancing isn't in public.

Praise and worship songs lift the spiritual side of my life.  Years ago it was the Imperials, Russ Taff, Dennis Jernigan in the 80's and 90's. Today, I am energized by such artists as Casting Crowns, Kutless, Mercy Me and many others.  I have noticed that I can change the atmosphere in my house simply by turning on praise and worship music.

Classical music will soothe everyone's soul and calm the rowdiest child.  It is very helpful with mental alertness and training a child's ear for music.  I love the peace and calmness it can bring to my day.

The form pf music that brings laughter and dancing into our house is when I pull out old CD's from my teen years, (yes, back then, it was albums!) or a new artist like Taylor Swift.  My daughter and I can be heard all the way down the street singing, "You Belong to Me."  My older ones laugh as I pull out the Eagles, Bee Gee's, Bette Midler and Elvis and blow the dust off their covers.

To show how effective this can be, I will tell you a story from last night.  My husband was listening to the radio, when it mentioned  that the Eagles have an upcoming concert in our town.  He came toward me with a smile on his face and his eyes lit up.  We had attended one of their concerts before we married....so over 30 years ago.  I looked up and said, "Please!".  The concert will be near our 30th anniversary and we will be able to (for a night) go back in time, forget our grey hairs (and the group's grey hairs also!) and remember the days of our early love. Music just has that kind of power.

The CD that makes my children all laugh and run for cover is when I put on "Mamma Mia".  Who my age doesn't just burst into song on "Dancing Queen"?  Yes, and I did out loud in the theater!  When it starts to blast through the house it warns everyone Mom is going to cut loose.  Laughs and giggles explode through our home, the four-year-old starts his break dancing....we ALL are energized.

So, for day four, I will stop for you to go put on that CD that will put your feet to dancing....dance like no one is watching and feel your energy come back.

I am posting a video from the song,  "Money, Money" from "Mamma Mia".  Our whole family gets a kick out of this one, including my husband.  There is no disrespect in our enjoyment of this song, just our way of laughing at our financial struggles....I hope you laugh also.

200th Birthday March 1, 2010

Spring is approaching as anticipation lingers in the cool breeze  March 1st announces earth's waking from her slumber.

March 1, 2010 also marks the 200th Birthday of Frederic Chopin, known as "the poet of the piano".

Can you even imagine anyone 200 years from now knowing you were alive?  I am sure I will just be dates in the record books, but some people leave their marks behind for centuries.


Today, I will play our Chopin CD's, stop a few minutes to read a short biography on his life and let my little one attempt to play a piece on the piano.  We might be able to coax my gifted husband's fingers to fly across the keys as we close our eyes to enjoy this beautiful, God-given gift of music from a man who lived 200 years ago.

A man that has a taste of music, paintings, or architecture is like one that has another sense, when compared with such as have no relish of those arts.  - Joseph Addison

As we look forward to the spring season, may we find ways in which to bring another sense, the love of the arts, into our home.

 A Source for reading from my home school library - "The Gift of Music" Jane Stuart Smith