Songs

I will admit that I am sleep deprived this morning so hopefully this will make sense. I have been thinking about this all morning.

I love music. It was the way I learned my multiplication facts, how I calmed myself down as a kid, and how I praise God most often. I was listening to my ipod this morning thinking about the different songs I have downloaded. I started thinking about the songs that mean the most to me. So here are some songs that mean so much to me (in no particular order)
1). Praise You In This Storm by the Casting Crowns- this song is what helped me get through the loss of my baby girl in 2007.
2). Happy Am I- this is a song we have sang at church since Todd was little. He loved this song and I can remember him singing as loud as he could "ME MY".
3). It Is Well With My Soul- This song was sang at my grandmother's funeral. My mom and her siblings sang it so beautifully in honor of their mom. I still can't get through this song without crying.
4). Life Is A Highway by Rascal Flatts and I Just Can't Wait To Be King- Todd loved the movie Cars and The Lion King we would sing and dance to these songs over and over.
5). The Lily Of The Valley- On old song that makes me laugh. My brother and I used a Howdy-Dowdy puppet and put on a puppet show and this is one of the songs he sang. It was one of the most hilarious things my brother and I did.
6). I'm Yours by Jason Mraz- this song would quiet Jackson down as a baby and I heard it often! I remember his curled up in my arms relaxing as I sang this song.
7) Pachabel's Cannon- the song played in our wedding. It was a day I married my best friend and my soul mate! It makes me happy to hear it play.
8). It's So Hard To Say Goodbye by Boys To Men- The song they played at my brother's graduation. It still makes me sad to hear that song.
9). Purer In Heart Oh God (and many other hymns)- my mom would sing or whistle hymns while she worked. As a kid, I can member her voice singing. It makes me think of my childhood.
10). Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice- We can't leave out such an icon of my days!

I could go on and on. I love the meaning of song and the way they impact our lives. So, what songs bring back memories for you?

Cast Of Characters by Max Lucado

I was able to review the book Cast Of Characters: Commom People in the Hands of an Uncommon God by Max Lucado. I enjoyed the book greatly. This book was an easy to read book but was packed with insighful words. In this book, Max Lucado looks at many characters from the Bible that were common people. He shows the way that God used those common people to further His kingdom. Some of these characters are very familiar one and others are less common people in the Bible. In each chapter, he helps relate that to our lives today. There are also a few questions at the end of each chapter as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was not hard to read but challenged me at the same time. I will say that if you are an avid Max Lucado reader, you may not like this book. Each of these chapters are pulled from previous books of his. You may have already read these ideas before. I would recommend this book to someone that wants an easy, fast book to read that will still challenge you to become a better person and to realize that God can use even the common person for His work!

Overwhelmed

That pretty much sums up my feeling right now. As January approaches, I realize how much I need to get done before we add another baby to this family! I have just moved Jackson from a bottle to a sippy cup, which was a HUGE battle. I also am going to move him out of the crib over Fall Break so it does not mess up Todd at school. I would also like to start the potty training process some. Add on top of all of that the organizational stuff that has to be done and I am thinking January of 2012 I might be ready for a 3 child!

No, really, I am really starting to wonder how I am going to deal with a 8 1/2 year old, a 27 month old that is in to EVERYTHING, and a newborn!! I know I will do it and it has been done before but sometimes I wonder if I will come out of this experience sane! I may be so tired that I sleep for 10 years after they are grown!!

However, I think about the this verse: Psalm 127:3-5 (The Message)
"Don't you see that children are God's best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don't stand a chance against you;
you'll sweep them right off your doorstep."

I am blessed with 2 amazing kids and God found fit to bless us with another child. We will be full of children in our house but also full of laughter and joy. So, I will turn the worries and fears over to God and enjoy my little blessings!