Odds and Ends

A friend came over today and gave me a pair of shoes. They are VERY nice, and she didn't want to give them to Goodwill.

They weren't right for her, they are perfect for me. Thankful.

Remember, health issues are never interesting to chat about, but I must reiterate that mine can be very affective, and they have been lately.

Pain, sickness, bi-polar issues, moods, seasons! How about barometric pressure? Hormones, age, injury...

Blah. Doesn't it just make you BEG for our Lord to come back an save us from our human condition?

I wish. I pray. I say, Maranatha.

These shoes are like Birkenstocks of old, but these are made in Israel, and they are wondrously comfortable! They came just when I needed them. God and my friend are good.

It's very green outside. These late spring days are always my favorite times of this season. There are few flowers out there, as the roses haven't started to bloom.

The lilacs had their brief moment of heady glory. I am waiting for my peonies to open. Their greens are looking tall and healthy this year. The apple trees have budded and flowered, no frost to thwart the crop this year. Even our cherries look promising! For the long, long winter, this spring seems well.

I heard there are ice bergs on Lake Superior still-----and June is half over! Amazing.

Spring days are long now. As the solstice approaches I get a sadness. The dark days are again on their way.

Ed suffers. Tonsillitis did a number on him. He remains pale and weary. I am trying a new cure on him, giving him refrigerated acidophiles 3 times a day. I am hopeful that he will benefit from it.

I wish natural cures would be speedier.

Having tea in the garden with a new friend today. She's on her way, so I'd better get the water on.

Spring.

VOCES8: Eventide Preview

Voces8

If you like choral music, you want to order this cd. Trust me. It's phenom.

Thanks to my son for the spectacular gift! :)

EVENTIDE

Remember?

 

Are you fed up with bad church music? It's a group I've found on Facebook. I laugh at some of the posts, but sometimes I want to cry.

When I was a little girl we had these books in the pews of our church. About three times during Sunday morning service, more on Sunday evening at the evening service, we pulled these books out of the wooden pockets at the back of the pews and sang songs from them, reading the music as we sang.

I realize that may seem really archaic to many people these days, but I really miss it.

For one, I am an alto, or was an alto. (That's another story, not for here). I sang the alto line on every hymn because the soprano line was just too high. I could read the notes and the words and how the music was supposed to sound with the accompaniment---piano, organ or both. 

Because I attended church faithfully my entire upbringing, (I think when the church doors were unlocked I was there. My mom was a preacher's kid and an avid helper at any church she ever attended. Because I was her daughter I followed suit.) I learned almost every hymn in the old church hymnal. We switched hymnals when I was in middle school, and I still remember the grave discussion surrounding the big decision on which new version to buy for the entire church. Yes, it was expensive. It WAS a big decision.

I learned hymns. I learned the melodies and the harmonies. I even learned to play the accompaniment on the piano. Sometimes I played obbligato on my flute, even with services, especially at Christmas time.

I sang in the choir when I was able to. I sang in a girls' sextet, "The Daughters of the King," with five of my best friends from high school. Our pianist was a life-long friend of mine too, since kindergarten.

We sang old gospel songs, pretty contemporary melodies, Amy Grant, and HYMNS.

I wonder if this new generation knows what they are missing.

I heard that a church recently picked a music director who doesn't read music. He plays guitar, I think.

It must be by ear or something.

Every church service I've been to in recent memory has had a projector at the back of the church shining words up at the front on a ginormous screen. 

I realize that some people must like that kind of thing.

I don't. At all. I miss the old hymnals and the notes I read during the singing. I miss seeing who wrote it, when I look up at the top of the song. I miss the staffs and the clefs, and the notes corresponding with the words. I miss those old hymnals.

I also miss that my children are not learning to sing parts by singing rich hymns from the hymn book every Sunday.

I really don't mind praise songs. I just miss the hymnbooks.

I have tried to help my kids learn some of those more obscure hymns here at home in our home-school, but it just isn't the same.

Time passes, things change.

But I miss those things.

This is what church sounded like growing up:

Nearer Still Nearer

We did have the piano and organ, but isn't this amazing, how these people sing PARTS?

The other day I was at a service where the words were up on the screen. The song was pretty, but I didn't know it. I think we were supposed to sing it. 

Isn't that what words on the screen mean?

I ventured a few notes once in awhile, but without the music I was pretty lost.

I guess I wasn't supposed to sing.

Worship is for the chosen few at the front of the church. Those with the notes, right?

Tea

Pretty assurance

Thoughts from these full spring days full of birdsong and showers.

We're still in the thick of activities. Cherie returned home after a week at her grandparents. I am happy she's home. She had a wonderful time.

Eldest son moved out of his apartment today with his wife. They leave for his first army reserves assignment next week. Exciting.

Margaret found out she nabbed a lifeguarding job today. This one will involve a lifetime adventure, so I am very pleased for her.

Today Ed and I listened to a cd set from Diane Kraft about nutritional behavior.  We are excited to see how a regiment of acidophilus will affect our neurological systems.

Music, new and inspiring, daily brings joy. My son gave me "voces8" "Eventide" for mother's day. I strongly recommend it!

Margaret and I take turns pressing play on the cd player.

Blue skies and thunderclouds, vividly green fields and lawns, flowering trees of every pink hue...

Sound and color.

If Christ comes soon, as we expect, we are having a brilliant beginning to this season of days.  I sense His calming assurance that He cares so deeply for each of us.

I am with you

Ich bin bei dir: http://youtu.be/OmN3f4QqxkA