He's Alive!

I'm singing this song in church today. So powerful.

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

All in the family

Images in this photo are not as white as they appear

Our town hosts the annual "Tip Up Town." Originating here 62 years ago, ice fishing was the inspiration. Two weekends a year revolve around ice shantys, snowmobiles, dog sled races, queens pageants, and fun for the whole family. In more recent years the winter festival is better known for its' crowded beer tent and rowdy out of towners, who drive their snowmobiles too fast after a few cocktails. I've frequented Tip Up Town before during my formative years, but this is our first year actually being locals. And the truth is, we wanted to avoid all the hoopla and stay away from the madness.

Cousin, Alyssa, my mom's Uncle Roger, and me

The only thing that could drag me out this past weekend was the promise of family, fun, and some good music. Some of my cousins are in a band (4 out of the 5 brothers) called Herd. They're crazy talented. I should know, I sang in a different band with them 8 years ago--wow, time flies-- and they're even better now than they were back then.

Mike's the oldest. Can sing and play anything.

Josh is the next. He's the drummer, but I love when he gets up and sings.

JJ's the lead singer. Very entertaining.

Jason's the "baby" of the group. So impressed with his guitar playing. When I use to sing with them no one would let him do anything but play the bongos!

And here's a blast from the past, just for kicks:

Singing and dancing with the newly formed band in 2007 at my cousin's grad party.

Check out their facebook profile and hear some music HERE

mercies in disguise

I'm loving this song by Laura Story. Take the time to listen to the words.

I think I'm going to have to sing it.

 

fall in northern michigan

(Fall 2010, my parents' front yard)

 There are certain aspects of Northern Michigan that I have spent the last 10 years trying to escape but have come to find rather endearing. Like this time of year when all the critters come out. On my way home from our cabin yesterday I passed two cows, just walking alongside the road, stopping every couple feet to munch on some grass. Not a care in the world. Reminded me of last December when this friendly creature crossed the road right in front of my moving vehicle: and then started coming toward my car when I hollered out the window, "C'mere Baby."

That was interesting. I also passed some roadkill on my way home. Four dead racoons! Now, I know they're pests but it was a little disheartening to see 4 dead ones lying side by side on the shoulder of the road. So, if you're ever in my area, please drive slow or you might just take out an entire generation.
 How about the time I came home to find a huge, feathery, dead partridge on the front porch? The most northern michigan thing about that partridge is he was later laid to rest in my parent's kitchen freezer...

(Dead as a doornail. Birdie hit that window hard.)

More recently, the animals have gotten larger...

I was introduced to this bear last week. He had been shot dead by an eager and excited hunter. That's my fake sad face but I really felt sad. I kept thinking how he should have been running through the woods with his friends, or dipping his massive paws in the pond in search of a fishy dinner. But instead he laid dead in the back of some redneck's truck. Population control...yea, yea, I've heard it before.

These are the kind of animals I like to see in the Fall...and every other season as well. The live ones, who get plenty of love and ride quads with their papas:) Layla is so spoiled. Wait until you hear what she did the other day! I guess you'll have to wait for the animal chronicles part dos. Stay tuned.

In celebration of fall in northern michigan, check out one of my fave country songs:

"Storm Warning"

Just had to share one of my new favorite songs. And the artist with the smooth vocals?

Just a baby!

http://youtu.be/m5MPxz-8e6A

"I've been redeemed"

I have to confess, I am in love with the Duggar Family. Seriously, I am. They have 19 freakin' children! And they don't sit them in front of the tv, or hire multiple nannies to control the chaos, instead they teach them to serve and love more like Jesus (those were actual quotes), while actually spending quality time with them. And as for Mama Michelle, her sweet voice never changes. Does anyone think she sometimes loses her temper and screams at her family? I like to think that it's happened at least once...

(this is an older photo. They've had 2 more since.)

Watch 19 Kids and Counting Tuesday nights at 9 pm eastern on TLC.

In tonight's episode, a group of the younger ones brought back some sweet memories with their rendition of:

"I've been redeemed

I've been redeemed

By the blood of the lamb

By the blood of the lamb

I've been redeemed

I've been redeemed

By the blood of the laaaamb

I've been redeemed by the blood of the lamb

Filled with the Holy Ghost I am

All my sins are washed away

I've been redeemed"

"If you can't see my heart you must be blind."

It's been a difficult week, and since "we're" being honest, it's been a difficult two weeks. But everything's ok in the end, so if it's not ok, it's not the end, right? I'm going to leave you with a song and send you on your way into a great weekend!

(Kid Rock is one of my guilty pleasures, don't hate me. The video was taped in Northern Michigan--Beautiful.)

You Give Love

"You give love

Love I'm not worthy of

Love

Always more than enough

Love, You give love.

With no conditions

And no restraints

I am in Your grace

This will never change

You give love"

-House of Praise circa. 1995

Despite our shortcomings, our unbelief, our stubborness, and our sinful nature, He gives love. I love worship that takes me back to the nineties. Back to the days we sang on stage with bright colored foam microphone covers, and I danced and sang in front of the livingroom mirror pretending to be Darlene Zschech leading my Sydney congregation into worship. "You Give Love" is on repeat as we speak.

Country Strong

I'm a big Gwyneth Paltrow fan. I love her movies and I love her style. I even got my hair cut to mimic hers one time:)

So, we know she's stylish. But check out her pipes! She's starring in the new movie "Country Strong," playing an alcoholic country singer, and she really sings, just like she did in "Duets." She even had to learn to play guitar. See the music video below.



Can't wait to see "Country Strong"!

Powerless Part II

During a lonely time in my life I borrowed a CD from one of my roommates, and 4 years later, I still have it. (Sorry, Kristi!) It's Cherie Adam's The Sweet Life. She was once part of the Christian group, Avalon. Well, her and I went to the same church in Nashville and I was really curious what her album sounded like. There are several songs I love, but Powerless is probably my personal anthem, and I will sing it one of these days.

Powerless

VERSE 1

I have spent much of my life

Proving I am strong

Trying to hide my weaker side

As if weakness was something wrong

But I can't pretend to be something I'm not

And I learn through my frailty how much You are God

So teach me to see

Lord, help me to be...

CHORUS

Powerless

Totally dependent on Your faithfulness

I am powerless

Living in Your perfect will and nothing less

On my knees is where true strength begins

'Cause Lord I've learned you are strongest when I'm powerless

VERSE 2

Why do I feel such a need to be in control?

So into me I only see the parts and not the whole

Maybe it's just I don't trust you enough

To let all my resistance freefall into love

Take hold of me 'cause I want to be..

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE

You know I can't save myself

I can't even try

You know better than I do

Just how much I'm powerless

Listen to a clip HERE



God Gave Me You

In honor of our passing 1 year Anniversary....

an old friend

Spring Break 2002 my family, friend Sara, and I spent a couple of days in Nashville, on our way to Florida- where we met this guy shortly after he was signed to Dreamworks Records:

We became fast friends, and kept in touch over the next several years. I would often travel to another Michigan town to watch him perform and support his growing music career. We even lived in the same city for a while (Nashville). Fast forward nine years later....

We had been out of contact for about 3 years, he'd been busy performing and walking all over the country, while I've been busy getting married and stuff like that:) I heard on the radio that Jimmy Wayne would be performing in Traverse City friday night. Sara and I decided we should go.

We pushed our way to the front of the crowd, elbowing a lot of females out of our way. I told Sara I didn't want to act like a crazed fan and she was like "Who cares?! Get up there!" haha. It's not easy to get someone's attention when their eyes are closed 90% of the time! It took a couple of songs before he realized we were in the front row. We had officially surprised him, so we figured we could go sit back down and be civilized again:)

After the show, and a long line of picture-takers and autograph-getters, we caught up with Jimmy, and headed onto his tour bus to chat for a while. I hadn't seen or talked to him in about 3 years, so as you know, a lot's changed--the biggest shock being my new marriage:) I had to remind him that I'm not 15 anymore.

(please ignore this awful picture of me and focus on the other two!)

There were a lot of laughs as anyone who's ever been around Jimmy knows. We reminisced about the day we met, my mom's "sweet, conniving, southern girl" accent, his ex-girlfriends, and one heated phone conversation. In three years, he hasn't changed a bit. Isn't it comforting to see an old friend and feel like no time has passed at all? That's how it was. Until next time, buddy!

Check out the Meet Me Halfway organization that Jimmy's a part of and his latest album "Sara Smile."

An oldie but a goodie:

In case you wanna get your dance on this weekend-

Here are 3 songs that I can't help but dance to. All three ensure a shoulder shakin' good time, whether driving in the car or out and about.

I don't know about you, but I can't sit still. I'll be getting my dance on this evening, will you?

"If I Die Young"

Only takes a moment to guess who this song makes me think of.

"The sharp knife of a short life. But I've had just enough time."

Right now

I am totally loving two things:

The first being Caldrea for Target cleaning supplies! The Citron Ginger scent is absolutely amazing. Just a few squirts of countertop cleaner and my entire main level smells delicious!

In addition to the incredible scent, the product is all natural. Love.  Main ingredients: Natural essential oils of grapefruit, ginger, and basil. If you're near a Target, go out and get some. I think it's safe to assume everyone reading this cleans their house (don't worry, my brother doesnt read this).

And the second thing is:

My favorite lyrics are:

I've got sunsets to witness

  dreams to dance with

beaches to walk on

        and lovers to kiss (babies to kiss)

           there's a whole lot of world out there

            that I can't wait to see

            My best days are ahead of me

The House that Built Me

I have been in love with this song since I first heard it, then just the other day Jake said he finally found a song sung by a female country singer that he really likes! (miracle?) Apparently, we can both relate to this one. Fortunate for us, our parents still live in the houses we have most of our childhood memories in, but every time my brother and I pass my grandparents old house in the town they still live in (separately now), we talk about how we would like to go up, knock on that door, and politely ask if we can take a look around. And reminisce, of course. There are so many memories packed  into that big, brown, house on the lake. Like the time my cousin and I were locked in the bathroom and cried hysterically until my uncle broke in. Or hiding the porcelin faced dolls so they wouldn't stare at us when we were made to sleep in the "blue room". The times we played house in the apartment over the garage, or when my friend dropped Grandpa's weights and broke her foot while my brother was babysitting, the day my 2 yr old cousin fell off the pontoon boat and quickly learned to swim:) Or how about birthday parties on the back deck, and singing in the livingroom on our brand new karaoke machine? And of course, those Christmases where the entire family stayed the night on Christmas Eve, we got to open all of our presents surrounded by cousins in matching dresses, and listen to Uncle sing "Walkin in a Winter Wonderland." Those were the days. If only we could go back.

I was so happy that Miranda won Female Vocalist of the Year!

Take me down..

No, not the Paradise City, the Little White Church:)

I love this new song by Little Big Town! It makes me think of all those couples who date for years and years and years, while everyone wonders why they don't just get married (especially if they're living together). I have a hard time with those couples (sorry if you're one). I understand people have their reasons, but the bottom line is, if you're willing to spend several years of your life devoted to one person but are still unsure of whether or not you want to marry them, something's wrong. Afraid of commitment? Please. Who isn't. Worried your companion won't turn out to be your Prince/Princess Charming? Get a dog. I'm being serious. Marriage is not for the weak, that's for sure. But neither is any relationship. So, "bite the bullet", "sh** or get off the pot". "go big or go home", and whatever else people say.

You have to listen to this song:

bugs

So, for some reason I couldn't type text AND post a video...gotta work out the bugs I guess. But I LOVE Lady Antebellum's new single, "American Honey", and felt it was very relevant to the "Simple Life" post:)

American Honey

simple life

Lately I've been thinking about the future; Where we will live, what we will do. This first year of marriage is  a "transitional" period for us. At this point, we could end up anywhere. Of course, I'm praying it's south of here! (as HUGE snowflakes hit the ground.) I can definitely imagine living in a southern town, preferably on the outskirts of a big city. (Think- Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia..) I want to live in a big farm house, either renovated or built from the ground up, on several acres. I told Jake we could get chickens, and cows, and start our own little farm. lol. He didn't fall for it because he thinks he'll be the one taking care of them all. I guess milking cows probably isn't my thing.
But we will definitely have a couple dogs, and maybe even a little pony (seemed like less work than "horses"...baby steps, people.) Maybe my fascination with living on a farm comes from the fact that my family lived in a barn for 9 months in Colorado. For those of you who don't know me, it honestly was a barn...and that's what all the kids on the school bus called it:) But there was an outside entrance to the upstairs, that opened up to a two bedroom apartment. Which is where I actually shared a BED with my little brother for nine months! Thank God, it was only my 6th grade year and I clearly had more patience back then. I would find sand in the bed, you name it....
I want to live like Little House on the Prairie, with a few more modern conveniences! Live on lush, green rollings hills, like in Kentucky, where the future kids and Layla have a lot of room to run, and the weather's mild enough to ride bikes 8 months out of the year. I want to look out the kitchen window and see horses grazing in the distance.

flickr

bhg

unknown

flickr

I LOVE this stone Pennsylvania home. Doesn't it look like the house from "Marley and Me?"

flickr

Perfect little, white, Tennessee farm house.

unknown.

The ideal white farm house...please, please:)

bhg

Every front porch needs a couple of rockers.

We will wear jeans, designer flannels, and have multiple pairs of wellies:)

Ahh...the life of a "farmer."

Go HERE to check out Carolyn Dawn Johnson's video "The Simple Life."