That's a Strange Place to Put a Piano

If you have ever heard Jessica's Theme you will agree with me, it is a very beautiful song. Our friend Jesse Ormand has a beautiful rendition of it below. This is Risa's favorite, and she likes his cover even better than Jon Schmidt's!


You should visit his website; jesseormand.com. He has a lot of very beautiful arrangements. We really enjoy listening to them and hope you do too.

Have a beautiful day!
Mari

P.S. Kuddos if you know where the post title came from! ^-^

P.P.S. I think the word beautiful is simply . . . beautiful! Don't you?

Waiting in Hope

Revelation 22:7
“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Romans 8:18-23
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

1 Corinthians 13:9-12
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

Psalm 29:10
“The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.”





Andrew Peterson's newest album, Light for the Lost Boy, has just been released. I've become a fan, so naturally I pre-ordered the CD (in lieu of The Wolf and the Throne Warden, a book we are not-so-patiently waiting for him to write). Above is my favorite song from the album: “Come Back Soon” Words and Music by Andrew Peterson


Risa

My Trip

This post is over due, but better late then never! Maybe. =)

"More than half the pleasure of going is in the return, as any traveler knows. To go, to see the far place, the place beyond the horizon, is exciting; but to return is satysfying as few other things can ever be. To know after absence the familiar street and road and village and house is to know again the satisfaction of home. ...And that is the final satisfaction of a trip, whether it is a vacation or just a journey - the return itself. The homecoming. The trip back, and the home at the end. To go is good but to come back is best." -Hal Borland

Some of you know (and others do not ) that I had the opprotunity to be a "nanny" for a family and was out of town for four days. The trip was good, but in the words of Hal Borland, "but to come back is best."

I went with a fun, Christian family to a homeschool conference, to help watch their four children. Nick-named by the mom, Big-Big, Big-Middle, Little-Middle, and Little-Little. I though it was cute too! And if you wonder what they will do if they get five the mama has kindly commented informing me us! =)

Big-Middle, Little-Middle and I were running through the water.

 Sam made me take the camera and also made it very clear that I was supposed to use the camera while I was gone. I didn't take any picture at the homeschool conference, because I was busiest there, but I got some photos while the family and I were at the resort.

These are the two big slides that were at the resort we stayed at.

 It was so nice to finally swim this Summer! When we moved to our new house we lost access to any pools, and I'd been dying for a swim (so much that I told everyone I know who owns a pool how much I missed swimming with the hopes that I might get invited to swim at their house! haha)

A picture of yours truly going down the slide. Courtesy of my employer, a.k.a. the mom who's kids I watched.

 One slide went pretty fast, and that one was a lot of fun.

Form left to right: Little-Middle, Big-Big, Myself, and Big-Middle

 The children were very well behaved and a lot of fun to be with. Big-Big was happy to call me "sister" for those four days and told me if anyone asked if we were sisters I should just say yes so that I wouldn't have to spend all that time explaining who I was and why I was with them. In the end I wasn't mistaken for their sister as much as I was mistaken for their mother.

Big-Big, Big-Middle, Little-Middle, Myself

 When I came back home my entire family came to pick me up and they had made cute signs for me which they posted on the front door. I love them so much!

Prayer for Today - by Hilda Butler Farr

I only ask

That home shall be

A place where loved ones

Come to rest;

Where peace abides

And faith exists

Somehow because

I did my best.

Tomorrow -

It may never come -

And consequently I do pray

That I may have

Enough strength

To serve the ones

I love today.

Give us chocolate

For those of you celebrating S.A.D., this ^ is for you.

For those of you in the mood for something a little more romantic this Valentine's Day, the video below is for you.



Enjoy.

Promised video

The Sound of Music

Music is such a sweet gift from God, wouldn't you agree? Unfortunately God has not seen fit to gift our home with that particular gift. I am not the only one in the family who can't even clap to the beat correctly all the time! Yeah, it's that bad.
Well we may not be especially gifted with the skill of making beautiful music but we can still try.
"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all you lands!" I love that verse. Note it says noise, not song. Well there can be a lot of noise coming from within our house. As some of you may have already heard SquiRe has recently picked up the clarinet. He has not only picked it up, he has started playing as well. I also started an instrument, the guitar.
Recently our music classes hosted a Christmas party/concert that was a lot of fun!

Videos to come later.

Momo

John Schmidt and Steven Sharpe Nelson

These two musicians are both extremely talented, but put them together and . . . wow.





If you liked this, try The Cello Song or Moonlight.

Kingdom Come

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

In the Light

I love this song by DC Talk.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. - John 1:4-5



Sam

The Touch of the Master's Hand

It was battered and scarred,

And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.


"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"


But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.


The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.


"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.


The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."


And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin


A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.


But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.



Myra Brooks Welch



If ever your life is out of tune,

And no music soothes the soul,
Seek out The Master whose gentle touch
Will bless you and make you whole.


Like an old violin, weathered and worn
A life may not be so grand,
But may be uplifted, transformed, and renewed
By the touch of The Master's Hand.


~ Ken Brown ~

 
-Momo

My Times Are In Thy Hand (My God, I Wish Them There)

Written by William F. Lloyd

My times are in Thy hand;
My God, I wish them there;
My life, my friends, my soul I leave
Entirely to Thy care.

My times are in Thy hand;
Whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to Thee.

My times are in Thy hand;
Why should I doubt or fear?
My Father’s hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.

My times are in Thy hand,
Jesus, the crucified!
Those hands my cruel sins had pierced
Are now my guard and guide.

My times are in Thy hand,
I’ll always trust in Thee;
And, after death, at Thy right hand
I shall forever be.


Risa

Dancing in the Minefields

I recently bought the book On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson. After reading aloud a snippet the prologue, most of my family is clamoring to read it as well! According to the cover it's a tale of "Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree." And they are fearsome! I look forward to finishing this book and moving on to its sequel, North! Or be Eaten.

Since I've started reading his books, I decided to finally listen to some of his music. Wow! We may have found a new Christian artist to listen to! Below is a beautiful song, Dancing in the Mineifelds, from his latest album Counting the Stars.




Risa

Do the Next Thing

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, "Do the next thing."


Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.


Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, do the next thing.


Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Do the next thing.

                     ~Author Unknown

Risa

Music

Aha! Finally Momo posts. I believe I find it hardest of all to find something to post about. Even if I find something to post about, I never can post it right. It sounds weird and takes a long time until I've written it in a way that sounds alright.

I thought of something to post about but I didn't know what to write. "There was good music" and "We had fun" was about all I could think of until I asked Mom for advice. When in doubt ask Mom. Moms have larger, busier brains than anyone else's in the world. (My theory anyway!) She told me to write a compare and contrast essay.

What?!? This is a blog? Not a place to do homework! But you have a Mom and you have a teacher; combine the two (if not already combined) and bah-da-bing this is the type of answer you get from her! Moms (especially homeschooling moms) are women who don't just say "Charismatic means someone has charm and influence" they say "You want to know what it means? Well you should look it up in the dictionary." Or if you say "Mom, what else did John Bunyan do?" moms don't say "He wrote a couple other books and was a preacher." No, moms say "Here this is a book that is about him and I can also show you a website that talks about him." But that's another blog post, right?

I am not going to write a compare and contrast essay but I am going to write a blog post in similar form.

Recently we went to a News Boys concert and a Maxwell Family concert. Some things about them were the same and some things were different.



DIFFERENT:

The Newsboys called it a concert, the Maxwell family said it was not a concert but called it a time for encouragement.

Newsboys play contemporary Christian music, Maxwell family plays bluegrass.

Newsboys concert was outside, Maxwell family's music was played inside.

Newsboys had other bands play first, the Maxwell family were the only ones who played.

Newsboys asked those who had just accepted Christ to come forward, Maxwell Family didn't.

Newsboys are not related to one another, Maxwell Family. . . . Do I have to finish that sentence?

Newsboys ended very late, Maxwell Family ended only a little late.

Only one of the Newsboys gave a testimony, 7 of the Maxwell's gave their testimonies.

Newsboys played familiar songs, Maxwell family played some songs I'd never heard.


SAME:

I sang along to both of them.

I was uplifted by both of them.

They were both in the evening.

Only half of the family went to them.

I clapped to the music during both of the concerts.

The music played was Christian.

They were both on a Saturday.



I personally preferred the hymns that were played by the Maxwell Family but I was glad that the Lord allowed me to go to both of them.

~Momo

If that's what it takes to praise you

There is a song that I really love called "Bring the Rain." (Chances are, you've heard of it too.) Anyway, I was reminded of it this week and I thought that I would share this song, which has become so special and encouraging to me, with all of you.





“Bring the Rain”
MercyMe

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through

The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty



Risa

Thy work alone

I recently read this hymn by Horatius Bonar on another blog and it really touched me. I hope you enjoy it!

Not what my hands have done

Can save my guilty soul;

Not what my toiling flesh has borne

Can make my spirit whole.

Not what I feel or do

Can give me peace with God;

Not all my prayers,

And sighs and tears

Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,

Can ease this weight of sin

Thy blood alone O Lamb of God,

Can give me peace within.

Thy love to me O God,

Not mine, O Lord, to Thee

Can rid me of

This dark unrest,

And set my spirit free!

Thy grace alone, O God,

To me can pardon speak;

Thy power alone O Son of God,

Can this sore bondage break.

No other work, save Thine,

No other blood will do,

No strength save that,

Which is divine,

Can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God;

I rest on love divine;

And with unfaltering lip and heart,

I call this Savior mine.

His cross dispels each doubt,

I bury in His tomb

My unbelief,

And all my fear,

Each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace,

I trust His truth and might

He calls me His, I call Him mine,

My God, my joy, my light

’Tis He Who saveth me,

And freely pardon gives

I love because

He loveth me,

I live because He lives!

In Christ,

Risa