Kris' Blogorama

my fav song

OK. So, music is one of my great loves in life. You prob know that by now.

I go in phases and right now - just today - I've listened to my current fav song like 4 times. Its funny, I can blog like a crazy person, but I've never been able to write songs or poetry. I find songs that say it for me and decide to adopt them as my own. Today is one of those days. I'm just overwhelmed w/how great these words are. So, its a short-cut-blog fo sho, but its where I am today. I'll bold the part that keeps replaying in my head and in my prayers today...greatness. Luv it.

"Poor Boy"

like a breath of fresh air and the wind at my back
toe to heel with strong strides taking miles off the map
in this journey called life where i’ve walked so far
under the heat of your sun and shine of your stars
step by step i’ve crept i’ve crawled and i’ve run
felt the palm of your hand and the barrel of death's gun
i ran for my life stood strong through strife
from a miscarried live to waiting for my life like
i heard it sung a thousand strong all night long
heard heavens bell gong something long
its like i’ve been there in total despair
now i’ve tasted and i’ve touched
a breath of fresh air

‘cause i do live and i hope and pray
for something better and brighter today
for something there for something there

‘cause i was just a poor boy living in a poor world
but you gave me more love that set me free
‘cause i was just a poor boy living in a poor world
but you gave me more love that set me free

like road trips on open roads
windows down sun setting a fresh new clothes
shoes off so you can stop reflecting on all these paths unfolding
with these staffs that are pulling in this world so controlling
its not always best to take the interstate
sometimes the most is on the winding coast way
‘cause wide is the path pulling astray
narrow is truth in these days
but all the while i hear a still small voice say
you climbed the cliffs rocked the desert on your very own
swam the seas, sang the songs with the sweetest tones
the beaches you’ve combed moons you’ve roamed
and love you've shown
but all the while a voice calls you home

like a coming of age on the road less traveled
from the concrete streets to the back woods gravel
from the cage to the stage as my wings unravel
you won the war though i’m still fighting battles
‘cause i’ve hoped and i’ve fallen
i’ve ran and i’ve stalled
i’ve hung up and i’ve called
i’ve laughed and i’ve balled
but through it all i’m standing tall
‘cause i heard your call, sing it out ya'll

rockette man

This is a friend of mine from high school (he actually sang at my wedding...Paul, dont forget I still have that video to bring out someday to the tabloids!!!) who is crazy-talented (you'll prob recognize him from that jeep comercial). Anyway, this is hilarious...enjoy:

Rockette Man from Paul Bartholomew on Vimeo.

5 new favs

5 new favs I'm listening to these days:

1. The Shins - thanks to my bro Jonny boy...this is my #1 running playlist right now

2. Band of Horses - hubby found them

3. Death Cab for Cutie - hubby again...we bought their newest on our HIM trip - they'll forever remind me of that trip!

4. David Crowder Band - OK, I've gotten almost ALL of their stuff now (shout out Dana and my sis, Tracy). Current fav is Can You Hear Us?

5. Interpol - I dont even know what album I like, it was on my ipod thanx to hubby and I do dig it yessireee

I'd love to hear what you are listening to...

cant blog now...no time...

My life is currently ENGULFED in this...

Will be back when we are done...it is truly one of the best things I've ever watched. Ever. Ever. Ever. Only one dvd left...then back to real life.

ok, seriously?

Have you heard? JLo's new babies are named...

Max and Emme.

Am I the only one who recognizes this STRANGE COINCIDENCE?

I am falling on the floor giggling so hard I think I'm gonna bust a gut...oh, all while chanting this familiar phrase:

"I wish, I wish with all my heart to fly w/dragons in a land apart..."

5 life changers

Have there been some books that have truly changed your life? There are so many books I've read in the past few years, but have been reading a GREAT one right now Good to Great in God's Eyes by Chip Ingram (among others...I'm a mult-book-readin-gal...again, another blog for another time) and the chp I just read had me think thru what the most influencial books have been in MY life. Hmmmm. Great Q to ask yourself. Here are MINE, what are YOURS?

The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom
How often can I look back and thank Him for the fleas in my life...seeing the purpose in them?? If there were a book that I learned more about true PURPOSE it was this book. You cannot read it and not walk away changed. I've spent many tearful moments on my knees begging for God to take away the fleas in my life...and then years later able to thank Him for those same fleas. Wow. Fleas.

My Utmost for His Highest - Oswald Chambers
My sister gave me this in 1995...it is truly the way I start my day and have for all these years...the truths are amazing and it was written sometime in the early 1900s. Like these...

"Never believe that the so-called random events of life are anything less than God's appointed order. Be ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere."

"We begin to pout, become irritated with God, and then say, 'Oh well, I cant help it. I prayed and thing didnt turn out right anyway. So I'm simply going to give up on everything.' Just think what would happen if we acted like this in any other area of our lives?"

"Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots, like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives we look all right. When we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the hightest quality saints. But dont dare look at us when we are not in that mood"

Windows of the Soul - Ken Gire
This was one of the FIRST non-fiction books that really challenged me on what I believed and who I believed God is. It is truly the easiest read ever, but it was there at the beginning of a huge transformation that came in my life. My sister gave me this one, too. How do I describe it - hmmm, it was a book that helped me see that God is not just sitting on a throne in Heaven removed and frustrated from His creation. He is HERE. He is involved. He is acting and moving...the problem is that I'm not looking for Him. Greatness. Easy read, but a life-changer.

A Woman After God's Own Heart - Elizabeth George
This book reminded me of who I am to be...who He wants me to be in the midst of my life as wife, mom, sister, friend, daughter...and most of all, His daughter. Some of it I didnt exactly agree with, but it was a great way for me to examine what I DO really think about my 'place' in life right now.

Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
I dont care WHERE you are in your spiritual 'walk', this book will make you think about life and examine some very simple things. Its hilarious at times, and made me cry w/deep emotion at other times. Its written as essays on about a 5th grade level! There are even cartoons...its a book that I truly believe every single person needs to read...thru to the end. You'll love it or be perplexed by it...no matter what, it will impact you.

"Even our beliefs have become trend statements. We don’t even believe things because we believe them anymore. We only believe things because they are cool things to believe. The problem with Christian belief—I mean real Christian belief, the belief that there is a God and a devil and a heaven and a hell—is that it is not a fashionable thing to believe." - Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz, 107

What are yours?? I'm dying to know/read them...have you read these? What did you think? I need some feedback...thoughts??

have you heard THIS?

If not...YOU SHOULD.

These are 3 of my favorite songs playing on my ipod right now. I just felt compelled...not sure why, I was running today and each of them came up. They are the kind of songs that come up and you press the "replay" button to hear them again..."did I hear every word? what was he thinking when he wrote that?" Do you have some music like that...hubby and I call it our 'soundtrack'. We have so many times in our lives that we can just play part of the 'soundtrack' for that time and immediately we remember what our lives were like then.

For ex., Lyle Lovett = having our 1st baby...he even brought Step Inside This House to the hospital for me to listen to on our lil jambox. Chris Isaac = baby #2...specifically sitting in my bed nursing her and listening to Baja Sessions. The Sundays = driving in the car processional as we went to bury my sweet friend Kim. Jack Johnson = our 10 yr anniversary trip to SoCal. And on and on I could go...

For now, here are 3 that are pretty prominent to me/us. What will I look back years from now and remember about this time in my/our life/s?

1 - In the Sun - Michael Stipe, Chris Martin. Wow. REM reminds me so much of college...his voice is still just as awesome. But, the lyrics in this song find me in the deepest places of my soul...right now, working thru life stuff that can bog us down...fighting to look upward thru it. A sample...

"I picture you in the sun wondering what went wrong And falling down on your knees asking for sympathy And being caught in between all you wish for and all you seen And trying to find anything you can feel that you can believe in

May god’s love be with you
Always
May god’s love be with you

’cause if I find
If I find my own way
How much will I find
If I find
If I find my own way
How much will I find
You"

2 - My Hero - Foo Fighters. Its just greatness - you MUST hear the Skin and Bones version - its very acoustic. Its my fav swim song right now...during long swims (we have a SwimP3 player so we can listen to music while we swim for a gazillion mtrs!) I just love hearing the words..."there goes my hero, watch him as he goes...there goes my hero, he's ordinary." I love it. Who is he talking about? Who do I put up as a "hero" and truly they are just like me...flaws and all.

3 - Say - John Mayer. Its a new single. Its so true and good. I think he is so much deeper than he wants to let on. Around here we try to live our life by a lil thing hubby made up when he trained for his 1st 70.3 - "MTMOI". It means "make the most of it". This song is SO MTMOI to me...say it, do it, now, not later. Life is too short.

"

Walkin like a one man army
Fightin with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead
If you could only
Say what you need to say"

So, if 2008 has you looking for some inspiration...check these out. What songs are your soundtrack right now? I'm always looking for new inspiration/motivation and new additions to MY soundtrack.

Joy to the World - He HAS Come

Well...potatoes are boiling, pecans are chopped and had to do a quick check of my emails and bloglines. I saw THIS (from a link of a GREAT blog I read) and applied. SO, stay tuned...once I receive my cd, I'll be blogging about it. As for NOW, its kinda fun to cook Tgiving dinner goodies w/Christmas music. It just grounds me...reminds me...and makes me thankful.

Gobble gobble.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

inspired

What inspires you?

For me, there are so many things...words, stillness, memories, moments, creation, music. Music. I know I'm a little wierd when it comes to music. Not sure why I'm wired the way I am...maybe bc I grew up in a home w/lots of music, I'm not sure. It inspires me...it changes me...it motivates me...it teaches me about the things that matter.

Friday nite we went to see my current OBSESSION in concert. Mat Kearney. I'm a bit over-the-top. Brent is concerned. Seriously, I do this w/music...I'll get HOOKED on someone and listen 100% of the time. He's even my ringtone (ok, this IS serious). Every run - he's my playlist. Every time I'm in the car - he's on. I'm brainwashing the kids, truly. I'm a singer/songwriter gal...he is so ON. I feel his theology...I taste his questions and frustrations...I feel like I couldve written his record. I feel like he wrote it for me. (and trust me, I tried to convince Brent, Todd, and Sharon after the concert that he WAS in fact singing directly to ME) Dont laugh - when I listen, I feel spoken to. I feel like Someone is using it to tell me something.

One of my favorite books of all time is called Windows of the Soul - by Ken GIre. He talks about how there are windows to our soul...ways that God speaks to us thru life. He doenst need to use a burning bush and some big ol booming God-voice to tell us stuff...and He doesnt (at least, I dont think He does anymore). If thats what you find yourself listening for - you're missing Him in the now. Our God is bigger than that...and, might I say, way more creative than that. And so, there are so many times that I'm listening and I hear Him tell me...I hear Him show me...He inspires me.

So, I'm a little over-the-top on Mat right now...but, I'm hearing something that I need to hear. WHat about you? Where do you find inspiration? Do you stop long enough to let Him inspire you? Are we too busy driving thru Starbucks...filling our minds with empty information...going to soccer games...busy busy busy busy. Do I give Him the space to show me some stuff...do I really really watch/listen?

Ya know, there's a verse in Psalms (I think) that talks about how He whispers to use thru the wind. He whispers. I can hear Him when I stop and listen. He whispers to me thru music.

What about you?

In Depth Video

In Depth lyrics - Mat Kearney lyrics

Mat Kearney Music Videos

Music Video Codes by VideoCure

i'm not who i was

i've written often about the 'change'...the markers in my life when i realized, He wants more of me...that i cant be who i was. i love this song. first time i heard it, it made me grin..."i'm not who i was". knowing that we dont have to be who we WERE...regardless of opinions of others or even memories of our own - we dont have to be who we were. for me, daily i feel satan trying to remind me "you're no different than you were...you're no better...you're not making a difference...you're a failure". i think that's his MO really, creating doubt...creating uncertainty...confusing us and trying to take our focus off the purpose He defines for us.

but i can trust Him...i can be changed...i can be the one He wants me to be. love that. endless possibilities...i just have to trust...regardless of circumstances, good or bad. i hope you like it too. listen to the words...i'm sure we can all relate

<oh, and i forgot the last time i put a video on here to suggest you pause the video on the sidebar>

I’m not who I was – Brandon Heath

I wish you could see me now I wish I could show you how I'm not who I was I used to be mad at you A little on the hurt side too But I'm not who I was I found my way around To forgiving you Some time ago But I never got to tell you so I found us in a photograph I saw me and I had to laugh You know, I'm not who I was You were there, you were right above me And I wonder if you ever loved me Just for who I was When the pain came back again Like a bitter friend It was all that I could do To keep myself from blaming you I reckon it's a funny thing I figured out I can sing Now I'm not who I was I write about love and such Maybe 'cause I want it so much I'm not who I was I was thinking maybe I I should let you know I am not the same But I never did forget your name Hello Well the thing I find most amazing In amazing grace Is the chance to give it out Maybe that's what love is all about I wish you could see me now I wish I could show you how I'm not who I was