Free Music

Our family LOVES music of all kinds.  On any evening you might find us listening to a wide variety of artists.  Toby Mac, Selah, Revive, Francesca Battistelli, Sanctus Real, Third Day, Need to Breath, and The Apologetics

But on the other hand

You might see Steve dancing with kids to Christmas songs in July.

or. . .

Thank God I am a Country Boy by John Denver

or. . .

Rocky Top by Conway Twitty

or. . .

Johnny Horton singing Johnny Reb

So we have lot of CDs and sometimes it drives me crazy to have them out everywhere.  They get damaged(we do have kids) and then we cannot use them. 

We do rip them & put them on the ipod/mp3 players but I don’t like to put on headphones much. 

It also costs a lot to buy CDs.  We do occasionally get things from I-tunes but not recently.

We’ve been using

It is a free site where you can build play lists of your favorite songs.  I have several different ones that I use depending upon my mood.  Try it out!  I am getting no kick back here—we just enjoy the wide variety of music we can find on this site!  You can click on the image above to go there.

I didn’t forget the blog hop I was going to host regarding Making Plans!  It just hasn’t been possible with recovery.  Still one of my goals. . . maybe next Monday.   Taking it one day at a time.

Hibernating & Projects

Life has been moving really slow here this week. 

We are pretty much snowed in because of me being on crutches.  I can’t see navigating in 8 inches of snow that way.  We canceled things that weren’t snowed out and just hibernated here at home.
I had all these great crafts to work on while I was down and out.  Unfortunately using crutches makes your arms so sore that it is hard to do repetitive motions.  Like making a rug, like crocheting or anything else!

I have worked some just not as much as I would like.

Here is an update on my rag rug.  It is coming right along.  It measures 28 x 16 right now.  If you are interested in all the instructions go to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

Instead of just working on my crafts I have been sitting at the table(yea!) planning/grading some school things and teaching Joshua his cursive letters. 

He doesn’t like to write but Handwriting without Tears makes it fun to learn.  We just did the first 3 pages today but he didn’t complain a bit!  We’ve also been working some Mind Benders.  He LOVES those!  The are challenging to a young man whose mind love to work out problems.

While we sit & work the birds are going crazy over our feeders because of the 8 inches of snow on the ground.  I love how they act and get possessive over where they sit.  Beautiful colors in the middle of all the white.

Hmm we might have to make some bird cakes soon.  Birds love them!  I will post the recipe as soon as I can!

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Things I love: Music that touches hearts

All 4 of our kids have or are learning to play the piano. 

It is part of their daily school work.  

 

It’s a gift we want to give them.  So that they can bless others with their ability.

 

Now in the beginning it is hard to listen to the notes that aren’t so melodic.  However in a relatively short amount of time there is beautiful music coming to my ears.

At one time I was learning to play the guitar and I passed a song on to Michael.  It is now one of our favorites.  When he plays it—no matter where I am in the house I just have to stop and listen(and sometime cry).  Not because he butchers it but because the notes, words & every part just touch me.

Music can be that way.

Here is that song.  Unfortunately I don’t have a video of Michael playing it.

Hold to the truth

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:31-32

A few days ago my niece posted

Truth is . . . .

I don’t know her motivation or why she put it there.  She had 7 people who “liked” her status but no one replied.  That bugged me.

Why not?  That is why we are here.  To point the way to Truth. 

But do we?

I started to think about the ways that I point to the truth.  I had to break down the verse that came to mind from John(above).

Hold to my teaching

I read my Bible daily.  I listen to various scriptures daily as my girls memorize for Bible Quizzing.  I love to listen to Christian radio & the messages there.  Right now I am in a lull & have been for a while.  There are seasons in our lives where God works on changing us & then it seems there is a reprieve for a bit.  I am in the reprieve & I am anticipating the work/change that is coming.  I hope that my actions & lifestyle speaks of my “holding” to Jesus’s teaching.

Really my disciples

Disciple means to be a student of someone.  To sit under their teaching.  I want to live my life that way.  One thing we’ve been doing as a family(provides an example to the kids & gives opportunity for discussion) is to read through Proverbs.  We read aloud & discuss the topic presented.  It has been great to read together & really see how we can apply God’s instructions to us in our lives.  It is a simple thing but it required  a sacrifice of time.  I strive to listen/watch for ways that God’s word applies to where I am at.  He is faithful to give answers where I have questions.

Know the TRUTH

It is so easy to be lost. So many ways to just wander around doing what pleases us & not think about what is true & enduring.  I want to KNOW what truth is & be able to share that with my family & friends.  I remember times when I was young & not sure of the truth.  It was a time full of hurt, anxiety & despair.  I don’t want anyone to have to live in that frightening place.

Treasure maps send us looking for hidden treasure.  We have to search & I think that if we look to God’s word we will find jewels & riches created for us.  It can provided the guidance we need to find the treasure(which is not financial alone) which has been waiting to be found.  There are dangers but there is no bigger adventure to set out on.  And the reward is great, more than we can imagine or foresee.

Truth will set you FREE

Are you free? 

Why not? 

What keeps you trapped and held bondage?  Wouldn’t you like to be set free?   It is amazing how knowing the truth about something will bring a freedom you never knew.   If you want to be free why not pick up a Bible or go to BibleGateway.com.  See what else it says about freedom.  There is a lot there—more than you can imagine.

Wednesday Blog Hops

Joining in today!  Welcome to everyone!