Musical Mondays

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! We are still in Cleveland Tennessee getting ready to move our Grandmum to our home in Charlotte! I'll have to share some more about our trip in another post, but today here's a magnificent song for you to enjoy.

Hearing Damage - Thom Yorke




- Emily

Expecting...

That's right, our household is about to expand by one, there is going to be a new addition to the family! We've been expecting and waiting for this day for many months now and the day is finally almost here! Sometime at the end of this month out grandma will be moving in with us!

(What did you think I was talking about?)

My grandpa died a few years ago and my grandma has been living in Tennessee by herself. But she keeps getting older and has been having some health issues, so she's going to be moving in with us.

We're in the process of getting permits to add a suite for g-ma to our house, but for right now we're all consolidating to accommodate our new addition.

While I'm not thrilled to have to share my room with Emily, I'm looking forward to this new adventure. I think (as Michael Bluth would say) family is one of the most important things (after breakfast:)) and we all have a lot to contribute and learn from each other.

Plus my g-ma is pretty awesome.

So, for us 2010 is not just a new year, but the beginning of a new phase of life for our family. How incredibly exciting!

~Katie

Musical Mondays

Since I wasn't able to post a song last Monday, I thought I'd post two today. Both of these are renditions of my favorite Christmas songs. Enjoy! 

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Matthew Perryman Jones



Silent Night - Priscilla Ahn

- Emily 

Dear...

Dear Finals,
I am sooooo glad you're over!

Dear Christmas,
Wow, you're sneaky. How did you creep up on me so fast?

Dear Hair,
I know there's not as much moisture in the air, but couldn't you pretty please hold onto your volume?

Dear Skin,
Why do you have to get so dry in the winter?

Dear Broccoli and Cheese Soup,
Thank you for being so delicious, I need to find someone who likes you as much as I do so I don't keep eating whole cans of you by myself.

Dear Urban Outfitters,
You are amazing, I want you're entire inventory.

Dear Creepy (carnivorous) Plant in the bathroom,
You unnerve me more than I thought a plant ever could (especially when I find you hanging in the shower as i step in).

Dear Dad,
Please move the creepy plant. I know you like it, so maybe it should live in your room.

Dear Christmas Cookies,
I think I'm in love!

Yours truly,
Katie

Awesome Day

Today was amazing. I got a whole lot of school done, and then went Christmas shopping. And knocked out about half of my shopping, which feels really nice. Emily and I were listening to music in the car and Paparazzi by Lady Gaga came on about fifty times. I mean its a cool song, but a little creepy. You'll follow him until he's yours? I don't think thats the best way to catch a man. Maybe someone should tell her that. . . also Katie just made reindeer cookies. Which are awesome. I think they alone would make my day good even if it hadn't been good. And I have done a bunch of extra credit for a class, which makes me feel productive. :) And when my dad sang falsetto tonight it made me snort I was laughing so hard. He also is on a garlic kick and announced he had eaten six cloves and is now researching it. Its pretty hilariously awesome.  He is currently whistling very fast and loud, with headphones in and he can't hear us when we talk. I love my family.

 - Abigail

Great Books

This week I have been sick. At first it was just a sore throat and headache, then it progressed to congestion and now has turned into pink eye. Let me tell you, it is not fun. But on a better note, I have been surrounded by wonderful books, due to my family's excessive book buying habits. Here is one of my  favorites from this week:

A Ring of Endless Light by Madeline L'Engle

In this book I discovered some poems by other authors, such as this one by Sir Thomas Browne

If thou could'st empty all thyself of self, 
Like to a shell dishabited,
Then might He find thee on the ocean shelf, 
And say, "This is not dead,"
And fill thee with Himself instead.

But thou are all replete with very thou
And hast such shrewd activity,
That when He comes He says, "This is enow
Unto itself - 'twere better let it be,
It is so small and full, there is no room for me."

And this by Henry Vaughn

 I saw Eternity the other night


Like a great Ring of pure and endless light,


          All calm as it was bright ;


And round beneath it, Time, in hours, days, years . . .  

  

Madeline L'Engle is one of my favorite authors and I asked for several of her books for Christmas... which is coming up WAY too soon. I still need to buy presents for pretty much everyone on my list... yay. 

 

Also, I really really want to watch the movie Amelie. 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 - Abigail

The Young Victoria

I really hope this movie is showing in Charlotte. The cast looks brilliant!

- Emily

Musical Mondays

"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music."

- Sergei Rachmaninov

Dark Hotel - K.S. Rhoads 


I hope you enjoy this song! Happy Monday!

- Emily

Blessed

Isn't that a gorgeous sunset?

Photo taken by moi in Cleveland Tennessee 

This past week has been rough for me. I got a cold last Saturday and everyday it seems to get worse. In addition to my cold I've now developed pink eye. Gross. Even though I feel awful and haven't been as productive as I want to be, I'm still very blessed. I have a mum who is taking care of me, a fire in the fireplace, and hot chocolate awaiting me tonight! Here's an inspiring passage about being blessed.

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."

- Matthew 5:3-12

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

- Emily

measure your words

                                              by frank chimero

i found this on 1001 rules for my unborn son,

it has inspired me to (try) to think before i speak.

~katie