Amazing Christmas Carol Lines

I love the rich, beautiful lines found in familiar Christmas carols.  We hear these songs everywhere during the holiday season - in elevators, in department stores, on TV, on the radio - but do we really hear the words?  Usually, I don't!  But when you sit back and meditate on them, they are pretty amazing.  Oh to write some words like these!


What are your favorite carols or your favorite lines?  Here are some of mine....

"No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found."


He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.


- "Joy to the World"


Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.


- "O Holy Night"


So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.


- "What Child is This"

Stay-at-Home Mom/Songwriter

I read this article by Keirsten Casella just now as I was feeding Ellie her bottle.  It made me laugh out loud, it made me cry, and it is beautifully written.

As a stay-at-home mom and a songwriter, I am constantly struggling with how these two identities fit together.  What is my purpose?  Where is the creativity and beauty in piles of laundry and poopy diapers and spit up?  Why do I feel so selfish whenever I put Ellie in Mother's Day Out so I can work on writing and recording?

This article helped me see that I'm not alone in this struggle and tension.  It reminded me of the beauty of motherhood - even in the midst of monotonous things like diaper changes and picking up soggy cheerios off the floor.  At the same time, it reminded me of the importance of carving out time to be creative.

Here are some key paragraphs from the article:
  
"My children, with all their enthusiasm to play and explore the world, provide an endless fountain of imagination from which to drink. But they also produce a mountain of laundry the size of California, and it isn’t going to wash itself. My kids, like most, necessitate a certain rhythm to their daily lives, and it doesn’t usually leave room to dash over to the local museum for a Renoir fix whenever I need one. Quite frankly, I’ve discovered that motherhood can feel isolating at times, especially for a free-spirited person like me who doesn’t thrive on structure.

Making art, whether in the form of a painting, a photograph, or an essay, is a way for me to break out of that rhythm for a while. It is so gratifying to accomplish something that cannot be undone or that doesn’t need repeating day-in and day-out. Scraping syrupy bits of waffle off my kitchen floor, for example, can feel like I’m living in a scene from Groundhog Day for as often as I repeat the task. With art, there’s no déjà vu. A stark white canvas comes alive with color and abstractness, and I can keep layering the paint until something emerges that never will be replicated in quite the same way.

For me, pressing my brush against a canvas shakes the snow globe of monotony. It’s how I process this season of life and refill my cup. More than that, it’s the way I etch toward beauty, contemplate truth, and lasso the wayward bits of myself so I have more to give to the people I love."

"I study my children and never cease to be amazed by the complexity and uniqueness of their delicate faces. They are small, priceless masterpieces. I know, without a doubt, that their existence makes me want to escape to my upstairs studio to make art, and not just because it gives me time alone."

Things That Make Us Laugh: Elf

"Bye Buddy! Hope you find your dad!"
"Thanks, Mr. Narwhal."

We are watching this tonight.  I cannot WAIT!



"I love you, I love you, I LOOOVE you!"



"You DID it!"