More Good Stuff to See (And On a Personal Note)

I know my blogging lately has been sparse.  I think mostly it's just been spring and lovely weather and I have a need to be out there doing stuff, enjoying the days and haven't had as much need to sit by my computer and write.  Everything has a season, right?

The blogging season will return, I am sure of it.

In the meantime, the Lord has been bombarding me with a lot of good music and videos and other messages that draw me closer to Him.  I'm loving it.  So much I wish I could share here, but then don't take the time to do it.

I Wonder

For Mother's Day. my family got me, among other things, the new WOW 2012 CD compilation.  I love the WOW CDs because they are like a compilation of my favorite songs from the year (last year).

I got through listening to disc two in the set today while driving N to school and near the end was the bonus track.  The song is I Wonder by Leeland.

Honestly, I'd never heard of this group until today.  Now, I can't wait to look for more of their songs.

There is something about this song, I Wonder, that because of the moment or where it caught me in my train of thought that just really moved me.  I love the vulnerability of the lyrics and the music and now I'm anxious to hear my husband sing this song in his style and voice.

To me, the best songs are only made better by listening to him sing them.   So hopefully, he'll jump at the opportunity to impress me (ha -- he does that every day) and learn this song.  I'm hopefully anticipating the results.

In the meantime, here is the official video of the song to tide me over...

Listen.  Enjoy.  Don't mind the background people paid to sway (or so it seems in my cynical heart).

Update:  I had heard of Leeland, I just didn't know it!  They sing Follow You featuring Brandon Heath (another favorite of mine).  See Leeland's website here.  Take the About tab to read about their background.  The three on stools (in video above) are siblings.  How cool.

"For Someone Wired to Please"

Say what you will about Amy Grant, but she was one of the first contemporary Christian artists and my preference for that kind of music is largely based on listening to her as a teenager (and Michael W. Smith).  I can still go back to her early songs and just really reflect on points in my life where her music and life impacted me greatly.

Right now, she's got a new song out on the radio and once again, it matches me in this season of life.  It's a great reminder for us as mamas (and as wives, daughters, sisters and friends).  I heard that Amy wrote this song as a reminder for herself.  Like her, I am definitely wired to please and I have to constantly remind myself of the theme in this song and that is that grace is given freely -- we cannot earn it.

Here's a video of Don't Try So Hard by Amy Grant for you...

I hope you enjoy it.

Pheelings on Photography

So my readers probably all know by now that I enjoy writing.  Some of you also know that I can go on and on in my posts, too.  Fewer of you know that I also enjoy taking pictures -- mostly because I post so few of them here on my blog.

I have spent the past ten years or so, taking a lot of pictures.  When the kids came, C upgraded my 35mm Pentax camera to a digital HP camera and I began documenting pretty much every day of their lives.  I missed so much of their lives already that I didn't want to forget a single day that I got to spend with them.  Well, I don't take pictures every day anymore (but still most of them) because the kids are older and less cooperative and they don't really change in appearance as much at this point from one day to the next.

Over the years, I've been blessed to go from that first HP to a Nikon Coolpix to a Nikon D90 DSLR with three lenses and a great tripod (add a couple video cameras in the mix).  When people see my camera as almost a permanent fixture around my neck, I tell them that C doesn't get me jewelry like some husbands get their wives, he gets me camera equipment.  It really suits me better anyway -- I like the usefulness of it and I'm not allergic to it like I am most jewelry.

In all this time, photographing our kids and wildlife and landscapes as opportunities arise, then adding in church and sporting events just for something else to do in my slow-paced, un-busy life (ha), I have been satisfied being a picture-taker.  I snap pictures and photo journal, if you will, the goings on of life.

Over the years, I distanced myself from the word photographer.   The word terrifies me.

Never Give Up Hope

While I've spent years saying I'd easily fit into a hermit lifestyle if my family vanished suddenly -- that's my introverted side poking out -- in recent years, I've learned the blessing of friendships beyond my family.

This morning, I was reminded why the Lord gives us community and friendships. 

One of my dear friends from New England called me first thing this morning while I was still cozily (and lazily) laying in my bed.  The house was quiet.  C had already gone to work and the kids were still in their beds.  Her timing for a more-than-five-minute phone call was perfect.  Truly. 

Will Spring Break Ever End?

So, I'm starting to ask myself when I stop calling our unintentionally long break from regular school our "Spring Break," and when I should start calling it "Summer Vacation"? I have been so caught up in so many things since -- well, let's face it -- forever, that proactively teaching the younger four kids in our family has nearly become a distant memory.

We have really been on our spring break for about four weeks now.  It started when things got really busy around here and a lot of plans were being made for graduation and everything else.  But this week, as I continue recovering from our two-party weekend, I am verging on actual laziness, I think.

Speaking of Graduation

We've been very graduation-focused lately and it's had me reflecting a lot on my own high school graduation (and C's) waaaaaay back in 1991.

Yep, that's me at 17 with my Dad and Mom.  This was probably my favorite year for my hair when I look at these old photos of me as I was growing up.  The "bob" just suited me back then.  Back when I was cute.  Haha.

On Faith, Trust and Dating

Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, NM

In recent months, our daughter, S, has been forging a very good friendship with a young man her age.  They are at a point where they are holding hands now and then (so cute) and when I ask them to pose for a picture, they instinctively lean together and sometimes he puts his arm around her (even though for a long time, photos of the two of them might lead people to think they were complete strangers who happened to end up in the same shot).

Graduation, Anniversary, Birthday Party and the Zoo

In an effort to quickly recap our very busy weekend (and Monday), I'm combining three big events and a trip to the zoo into one post.  Sad, I know, but it's this or wait a long time because I still have makeup posts to do from months ago (it seems).

1.  Graduation

The day we've been waiting for finally arrived.  First of all, let me just say that without my husband, my extended family and my very helpful and kind friends, this day would have been a disaster in the making!  First of all, some public thank you's ...

"Hey Mom... Breathe."

The title encapsulates the most recent reminder our son, Z, said to me moments ago as I sighed heavily and plopped into my chair at the computer.  I have about ten things I need to do while sitting here and I just barely walked in the door from the last thing I accomplished on the to-do list today.

On Monday (was that only yesterday?!), Z was having a rough morning and so I spent some time talking to him about stuff and then I enlisted his help.