A Music Discovery

I have a dream to write songs, even just one song would make me really, really happy.  There's probably only about two people in the world who know that about me, but now I guess there will be about twenty of you that know.  I don't know why I'm incapable of coming up with a simple song, but I get a total mental block whenever I've attempted it.  It's very frustrating. 

I think of all the millions of music artists who sit down and write music all the time.  I'm musical.  I'm talented.  But the words and music just don't come.  So I just have to listen to everyone else's music until God gives me a song. 

Speaking of everyone else's music... have you all heard Kari Jobe?  I think I've seen her name out there, but I'm not real "up" on all the new music these days.  Well, let me tell you what.  She's great.  I discovered her the other day, and I am totally lovin' her.  Don't get me wrong.  No way am I ditching my pretend BFF Sara Groves by any means, but this girl Kari has got a beautiful voice.  I'm thinking if God doesn't give me a song of my own, it will be okay.  I'll just keep singing Sara's and Kari's songs.

If you're unfamiliar with her, you can check out this video I found.  The picture quality isn't great because somebody recorded off of a big screen, but it's really the song I am going for here.  Take a listen, if you like.

You Are For Me

Okay, just one more thing.  Could you all do me a favor, and come back tomorrow?  I have a special post going up for ohamanda's Top Ten Tuesday that's super important to me.  I'll see you then, bright and early Tuesday morning.

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Steven Curtis Chapman

I just wanted to share this Steven Curtis Chapman blog site with you.  They have a place for you to express condolences and a video posted of him and Maria washing dishes together a few months ago, and it is adorable.  I can imagine living in that house is a lot of fun.  It makes their trial seem so vivid when you contrast the laughter with the grief they're experiencing today.

I'm posting the video here because it's so precious.

Ready For Another Discovery?

Are you ready to learn that there is yet one more facet to my life that I have not yet exposed you to?  I know.  It's exciting, isn't it?  I'm giddy and nervous all at once over what I'm about to show you.

Did you know I am a singer?  Yes, I am.  I mostly sing in the bathroom when I'm curling my hair in the morning or in the car on my way to work.  It is rare for me to break out into song in front of other people, though.  That makes me feel self-conscious.  And when I say rare, I mean I've only done it once or twice in the last couple of years. 

Since I am so self-conscious, I'm not really sure why I ever got it into my head that I would want to sing in front of people at church, but I do.  I used to sing solo, but a couple years ago I decided to go duet because it reduces the amount of jitters and hand sweating that takes place when you're in front of a crowd.  I joined forces with my friend Judy, which was a really smart move because she makes me look good.  Anyway, they let us do what we love to do every couple of months at church.

Getting this video here on this blog post has been a process, let me tell ya.  In the video you will see me in the center (during my blonde phase), my Judy on the right (the lovely guitarist), and our friend Jamie to the left, playing violin (she's awesome!).  Oh and just a side note...you can see my parents sitting in the front pew at the very bottom left of the video.  They are looking adoringly at me, their firstborn.  'Cuz that's what they always do.  :)  

Sweet Jesus 

On Music...Continued

Dear Kat,

Your question has a long answer, which is a good thing because I like a very meaty post.  Don't you?

What kind of musician are you?

I am a musician in a variety of ways, but my main thing is the piano.  I started lessons at the age of 4 and continued on until I was 16.  We didn't even own a piano when I began lessons, and I had to go to a neighbor's house to practice.  Please don't let that time span fool you, though.  Other people who took lessons for that long are much more accomplished than I am. 

My dad tells of his aspirations for me when I was young, that he would like me to have become a concert pianist.  Ummm... he really should've checked with me first on that ambition because that was the farthest thing from my mind.  I just played for enjoyment, and I wasn't really sure anything would come of it.  Little did I know what God had planned for me.

Right around the time I turned 16 we went from attending a church of 1,200+ to a little church of about 25, including mice.  Our family was there for a year to help the church get on its feet and basically start from the ground up, and we ended up staying past a year.  Actually, we're still there and will celebrate 20 years as a church in July.  But back to what I was saying.  There was a pianist who filled that need when we got to the church, but after a few years she moved out of state.  There was no one to play piano.  NO. ONE.  Guess who they looked for to fill that ministry?  Yep.  Me.

So, just fresh into college, I took on that ministry with hardly any experience of having people sing while I played.  I had to accompany the choir, too, and we started with very basic songs.  I got stretched through the years by our choir directors, and however the Lord works those things out, I can now play accompaniment that I never could've tackled when I first started.  I guess you learn as you go.

As for other instruments, I played French Horn from 5th grade through the 11th.  I haven't touched it in a couple years, but it is a very cool instrument.  I also bought a flute on eBay several years ago because that's the instrument I always wanted to play.  I taught myself some basics on it and then set it aside, being distracted by other interests.  I ended up selling it on eBay in order to turn around and purchase something else.  I don't remember if it was a guitar or my purebred dog.  Anyway, I eventually bought a guitar because I wanted something portable I could sing with.  As you can imagine, it's very hard to drag a piano anywhere.  I love that guitar.  Of course, I missed the flute then, so I had to grab another one off eBay.  It now sits next to the piano, waiting for some new pads.  But it's there when I'm ready for it.

I sing, too.  I have video I want to share here on the blog of some stuff I've done, but I haven't yet figured out how to format it correctly in order to make that happen.  One of these days I'll get it figured out.

I'm sure that more than answers your question, Kat.  Thanks for asking.

Sincerely ~ Liz

It's Like Heaven

Internet Friends, since I've recently been talking about music loves, I have to add this little side post.  Yet another facet you may not know about me.  I love me some Disney music.  If you are a kindred spirit of the Disney sort and have not yet discovered you can listen to streaming Disney park music on Live365, then I need to introduce you to the beauty that it is.  If you go to this Live365 station and close your eyes, it's almost like you're there.  If you sit at a bus station that is landscaped with cedar chips after a freshly fallen rain and inhale bus fumes, it's even better.  (Unfortunately, you will not understand that last statement unless you've been to Walt Disney World.  Either that or me and my family are just really quirky about the smells.)

Do you know what's playing right this very moment?  Space Mountain Entrance Area Music (big sigh)  Can you even stand it?  And I don't even ride Space Mountain because it's a coaster, and I don't do coasters.  But I could savor the music ALL. DAY. LONG.

Okay, it's back to work for me... work and Disney music, that is.

On Music

Dear Reader Sarah,

Thank you for visiting my blog yesterday and for asking such a great question -

What's your favorite song and why?  Do you remember where you heard it first or who it was written by?

That's also a tough question because I enjoy a variety of music genres, so to narrow myself down to one favorite song is next to impossible.  I have many that I'd name as favorites.  Of course, anyone who knows me very well, knows that I would quickly claim He Ain't Never Done Me Nothin' But Good as my all-time favorite.  It was written by Dottie Rambo and sung by The Isaacs.  The first reason I love it is because I enjoy Bluegrass, and it is a real doozy of a Bluegrass song.  Beyond that, I love the words to the song.  They speak of the goodness of God in the midst of suffering.  That's something I need to be reminded of all the time.

I enjoy other Christian musicians like Margaret Becker, Watermark, LordSong, Kristyn & Keith Getty, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns and Caedmon's Call.  What's currently in my CD player, though, is my newest favorite.  Sara Groves.  Her words really speak to me.  She says things that I think and feel.  She's real.  If I had to choose just one favorite from her collection, I just couldn't do it.  I love most of her CD Conversations and much from two of her other CD's Add To the Beauty and Past the Wishing.

I just have to add an extra personal note on this topic.  There are three particular singers who will always bring tears to my eyes. 

• John Denver - because I was raised on his music, he has the clearest and purest voice, and sunshine in my eyes always makes me cry
• James Taylor - because his voice is so smooth it could make you fall in love and put you to sleep, all at the same time
• Alison Krauss - because, oh my word, that woman sings like an angel

I've enjoyed talking about one of my favorite topics, so I appreciate that you asked the question, Sarah.

Sincerely ~ Liz

Some Musical Fun

Enjoy this video of a performance by a men's a capella group from IU. These guys are pretty fun. This is their Sitcom Medley.

I'm Singing Tonight

We're getting ready to go to our church's Christmas banquet tonight. It's at a dutch-themed restaurant/bakery/gift shop, and they serve fried chicken, noodles, mashed potatoes & gravy, and a different flavored slice of pie at each place setting. It's very enjoyable!

I will be singing with my bosom friend J as part of the program. I sing lead, and she sings harmony and plays the guitar. She's written a song especially for the occasion. We've been memorizing Romans 8 together, and many truths from that scripture passage are in the song. We agreed to make it the theme of the song when we were conferring on the songwriting process. It's about the glory of Christ that is being revealed in us now as we are being sanctified, but also the groaning that all creation has in waiting for the full glory that will one day be revealed when Christ redeems our bodies. That's possible because of the hope Jesus brought to us when He chose to humble Himself to become a baby born in Bethlehem, that He might one day die on the cross for our sin, so we could be reconciled to the Father.

I guess that's what will make it very special for us. Not only did J write the song, but it's written for us...it speaks our heart.

I'm looking forward to a fun evening. Maybe I'll have some pictures or something to share afterward.

Wordless Wednesday

Margaret Becker in concert

Getting Into the Holiday Mood

I'm responding to a question on OhAmanda's blog. She asked what puts me into the Christmas spirit. Typically for me, it's music.

I like to begin listening to Christmas music on Thanksgiving. I always anticipate that it will be playing when I walk through the door at my parents' house on Thanksgiving. I remember one year Dad had something else playing when I arrived, and I was really disappointed, even a little depressed. Why would you play anything else?

My favorites go back to my growing-up years... Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and The Carpenters. These are my all-time favorites! I don't think I could choose a favorite song, though. So many good ones: White Christmas, Sleigh Ride, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Winter Wonderland... the list goes on and on.

A couple years ago I discovered a piano CD that is my new favorite. It's called Christmas at the Movies by Michael Chertock. It is the most RELAXING music. If you're one to get stressed out during the holidays, pop this baby in and your nerves will be soothed. The best song on this CD is from the movie "Scrooge" (with Albert Finney). It's called You. I love that song because it's kind of a sad love song. There is also a fun rendition of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. I'm telling ya, you've got to have this CD.

I have many childhood memories that revolve around music, but I want to save those for my December blogs, since I set a personal challenge to blog about my Christmas memories through December 25th. I hope you'll be back to read more.