I Am Woman

This movement is so powerful. I get chills when I read about it and see the pictures. I will let it speak for itself.



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stirrupsandstories.mosaicglobe.com/

Be sure to check out #9 on the first set of stories.

Awesomeness of Late

For a week or so I couldn't think of anything to blog about, and then all of a sudden I realized that I have a billion things to blog!
I'll go in chronological order, cuz that's just how I roll, mmkay?

So last Wednesday Dan, Al and I went to the last concert of our high school choir teacher, Norm Lister. I can't even begin to tell you what an amazing man he is and how many people's lives he has changed. He brings music out in kids that sometimes they didn't even know was there. He cultivated a love for music in me that I will never forget or be rid of. He was paid tribute to in so many ways that night and he went up to the mic and said "It's never been about me, or anyone else, it's always been about the music." And I wanted to shout from the audience that he WAS the reason that so many of us have the music!! Needless to say, there were many tears and touched hearts. This community has been changed because of him and he will be missed.
This is us at the concert (before all the tears).

The next night (yes, it was a very busy week) I had craft night with my lovely lady friends. I love craft night! It is so much fun to get together and be girly. This craft was kind of difficult to get the hang of, but since then I think I've gone a little overboard. I was up until 1:30 one night doing them.... Here are a few, and I've made more since this :)


Close-up of some of my favorites


Then it was Alex's birthday weekend! I was in a Lieto! concert Saturday night, which was also accompanied by tears for Mr. Lister, especially as we sang a song called "The Awakening". If you have never heard this song... well, you should! It is even more powerful to sing it, though. It talks about a silent dream, with no music, no choirs, a world filled with pride. And then it says ... okay, I'm just going to post all of the words because I just can't do it justice otherwise. Well, I can't do it justice unless you sing it for yourself, but I won't rob the words of their incredible power.

"I dreamed a dream, a silent dream of a land not far away where no bird sang, no steeples rang, and teardrops fell like rain. I dreamed a dream; a silent dream. I dreamed a dream of a land so filled with pride that every song, both weak and strong, withered and died. I dreamed a dream No hallelujah; not one hosanna! No song of love, no lullaby. And no choir sang to change the world. No pipers played, no dancers twirled. I dreamed a dream; a silent dream. Awake, awake! Soli deo gloria! Awake, Awake! Awake my soul and sing, the time for praise has come. The silence of the night has passed, a new day has begun! Let music never die in me; forever let my spirit sing! Wherever emptiness is found let there be joy and glorious sound. Let music never die in me; forever let my spirit sing! Let all our voices join as one to praise the giver of the sun! Awake, awake! Let music live!"

Chills. Chills, I tell you.


So anyway, after that we went to dinner with friends and fam and Alex got a birthday treat.


Then on Sunday (his birthday) we just hung out and then I threw him a surprise party that night. He was super surprised! This is us cutting his cake because we didn't cut the cake at our wedding :D


And this is a panoramic view of the decorations (and me, working on flowers!) taken with our freakin awesome camera!!



It was a really fun time, but both of us were exhausted all day yesterday, and we probably will be today because we didn't go to bed early last night, either.

How fun is our life?!

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

This is what I get to plant in front of my house this week!

Wish me luck, because I kill pretty much every plant I breathe on.
I have massacred like 6 plants in my office over the last 3 years. But I like to blame it on the Sahara-Desert-like conditions in the heated glass encased place they like to call "the lobby".

Isn't it funny how much you change after you get married? And by "you" I mean "I".
I was never one for cooking, crafts, gardening, being homely-ish, etc. And now I am all of these! Even homely, as I basically never do my hair anymore. Up in a bun with a headband. It's my trademark. I'm working on a copyright.
Any-hoo, the point being that I love to cook, I love crafts (sometimes to a ridiculous amount... of money), and I am starting to feel the itch for gardening. I read a quote the other day about the mother coming into existence once the child is born, for before she never existed. I kind of feel the same way as the wife. I specifically remember telling Alex that I was not the "Sure, I'll get some snacks together for your friends while you sit on the couch and jam" kind of wife or mother, and to be prepared for that. Guess what I did just two days ago? "Here you go, boys. Chips and dip, bread and dip, and ice-cold Mountain Dews." (Then an internal wink to myself - yes, I just scored "best wife ever" points.)

Sometimes I wish I was more eccentric. Poll: do you think I'm eccentric? I feel like sometimes my life is kind of blah. I wish that I had something that I was like killer passionate about. Like my sister and child birth. Or my mom and indexing (ha!). Or Reagan and bikes. Or - or! It would be totally awesome if it was something that would guide me in choosing my education. I so envy those people who have known what they've wanted to do since they were 10.

So that's my rant for today. Tonight: Quality time with friends and delicious food. (Didn't that sound like a horoscope? I should write those).

Blip

Sometimes I read other people's blogs and love how funny, witty and intelligent they are and I don't even like my blog and feel no desire to try to make it interesting because I feel like it will be to no avail.
The end.