Because I Knew You...

I've heard it said

that people come into our lives 

for a reason

bringing something we must learn

and we are led to those

who help us most to grow

if we let them

and we help them in return.

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true,

but I know I'm who I am today

because I knew you...

I believe with all my heart that God brings people into our lives as we need them. Some people, like our families, we need for a lifetime. Others, who we may only need for a short period of time, leave lifetime impacts on our hearts. This man is one of those short-time, lifetime impact type of people. I officially met Mr. John Grundwald on the first day of 5th grade music class. Little did I know that day just how much time I would end up spending with him over the next 8 years. I always liked music, but this teacher made me fall in love with it!

During my middle school days, he encouraged my love of music {and theatre} by choosing me as one of the lead vocalist roles in the middle school production of Tom Sawyer in 7th grade. In 8th grade, he started planting ideas in my head of being the high school accompanist, which starting my Freshman year, I did. 

High School for me, as it is for most, was fraught with drama, but the one place I always found a calm oasis was the choir room. Mr. G was always ready with a listening ear and an encouraging word. He pushed me to be better than I was and to not settle for "just ok," both as a pianist and in life. My Sophomore year, he took part of the choir to NYC. I had originally signed up, but had to drop out because I just couldn't seem to get the money scraped together. Long story short, a few months before they left, he approached me about taking the spot of another girl for a discounted price. So I went. And it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! My Senior year, he took me to several vocal festivals and {helped} gift me with my choice of "The Christmas Shoes" for the winter production at Harmony. All four years of high school, he encouraged me to try out for the local theatre productions, and finally, my Senior year, I did. I joined the cast for an exciting production of Bye, Bye Birdie. I met many people along the way with whom I still keep contact today. 

As a teacher, the expectation is that you will change lives, leave huge impacts, and create a better future for those you teach. I'm not a teacher in a school, but I'm sure there are times of great discouragement, when it feels like you're not making any difference for anyone.

But, at least for THIS man, I hope there is never a doubt in his mind that his work matters - this his life has affected so many and changed us...

For Good.

It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas!

I love Christmas music, and I tend to pull it out somewhere in early November every year.  I don't go into full-on Christmas mode until after Thanksgiving, but come December first, LOOK OUT!

I have a hugely eclectic taste when it comes to music, and Christmas tunes are no different.  Here is a list of my top 10 favorite Christmas songs... at least for this year!

1. O, Holy Night by Josh Groban 
2. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen by Celtic Thunder
3. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
4. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire by Nat King Cole
5. All I Want for Christmas is You by Michael Buble
6. Christ is Born by the Carpenters
7. One King by David Phelps
8. What Christmas Means to Me by Mandisa
9. Believe from the Polar Express soundtrack (sung by Josh Groban)
10. Christmas This Year by Toby Mac

Day 21: Memories in Music

Have you ever been going about your day, not really noticing what's playing on the radio, when all of a sudden, you hear the opening notes to one of your favorite memories?  If not, I feel sorry for you.

I'm so THANKFUL for these unexpected trips down memory lane.  Music has been, is, and always will be one of the best communication tools in my life.  So many feelings, memories, thoughts, and emotions can be conveyed with the simple words or notes of a song.

Every time I hear one of these songs, I take a moment to be thankful for the memories.  Life passes by so quickly (yes, this is coming from a 23-year-old), but our memories last a lifetime.

There's one song that, for the past year and three months, every single time I hear it, I hope to myself that I will ALWAYS turn up the radio when I hear the opening notes and sing my heart out.  I hope that the memories of the best Summer of my life will always be fresh and wonderful and enchanting. Happy memories. The people.  The places.  The smells.  The sounds.

The love.

This is just one instance of a Musical Memory, but there are so many.  I love that music has the ability to effortlessly take me to a different time and place.

What a great thing to be thankful for!

An Autumn Favorite

Maybe it's the weather: the overcast skies, the chill in the air, the Artist's spectacular handiwork in the changing of the leaves. Maybe it's the sweaters and the scarves and the boots.  Or the opportunity to drink hot coffee (or tea, if you have a sore throat like I do at present) nonstop without judgement.

I can't put my finger on it, but there's just something about this time of year that completely changes me.  I go from being a nice normal laid back (HA!  When does this EVER describe me, right?) gal who enjoys music to an OBSESSED CRAZY FANATIC of something completely out of the ordinary:

Celtic Thunder.

Have you HEARD these guys?!  I remember exactly when I fell in love with them.  I was a Freshman at Faith, casually perusing the public library for some "approved" tunes, when I found "Celtic Thunder The Show" on CD. I thought to myself, "Hmmm.... this looks promising."  So I picked it up, played it as I drove around town (because the opening notes assured me it was NOT an approved selection), and

Completely.

Fell.

In Love!

Then last October, the greatest thing happened: Celtic Thunder came to Des Moines!  And of course, I, being the rational individual I am, decided not to go because I chose instead to take Helen on a sister date to see Beauty and the Beast (and I couldn't afford both).  On the night of the concert, I remember calling my dad crying because I wanted to go SO BADLY!

Anyhow, missed opportunities, tears of regret, you know the drill.

I can't say exactly what it is, but there comes a moment every Autumn for the past five years when the day is just crisp enough, and the sky just overcast enough that I am inspired to pull out my favorite Celtic Thunder CD (so far) and put it on in my car.

That day was about two weeks ago.  And it has been on constant replay ever since.  And I just can't get enough!

Here is a preview of my favorite CD "Voyage" for your listening enjoyment.  So listen... and ENJOY!

Sound & Silence

During one of the times I was living away from home, my mom once told me that she didn't worry about me when I called everyday; she worried about me when she didn't hear from me for days... that turned into weeks.

For me, silence is a very good indicator that something is wrong. For someone who likes to talk, most people find this part of my personality very surprising. 

I fully intended to blog about vacation weeks ago. After all, it was quite simply wonderful.  It was everything vacations are supposed to be: relaxing, refreshing, and rejuvenating. I spent the first few days all by myself in my favorite place in the world, then I spent a few more days there with my family.  

THEN, we got home, and I went back to work.

Without going into sordid details, I will just say that I switched locations upon my return to work, and after speaking with the proper personnel on Friday, I think this particular switch will be short-lived.  This is the reason for the silence.   I haven't been myself since we got home from Colorado.  However, I am optimistic that I will be back to my spunky, life-enjoying self very soon.

During these times of silence (which are rare, but do happen), I tend to listen to music or watch tv more than usual.  I think this is because it's easier to forget about my own troubles when I'm caught up in the unreality of some non-existent person's perfect "it always works out in the end" life.

While I was spending two whole days to myself in my favorite place in the world on vacation, I watched all 10 episodes of a new summer show on ABC Family.  This is the theme song, and it has been stuck in my head because (1) it's fantastic and (2) it makes me feel happy:

 (For those of you who receive this via email, the video probably won't show, so I'll just tell you that the song is Where You Belong by Kari Kimmel.)

Enjoy!

New Bublé

Ok.  So a few weeks ago, I found out that one of my absolute favorite artists (as a singer, anyhow... I've heard he's kind of raunchy in concert)- Michael Bublé- has a new album coming out in 
April.

And I literally did a happy dance.  I LOVE his stuff!

TODAY, the first single was released from his new album
 "To Be Loved," and...

I.

Am.

In.

LOVE.

I downloaded it from itunes, and I've literally listened to
 this pretty much nonstop for like an hour.

Have a listen for yourself!!

Yes.  I can NOT wait for this album to drop on April 23rd!!

Up Close & Personal

I recently came across this post at Princess of Something (a blog I follow), and I really enjoyed reading it.  So... I stole it so I could catch you all up on what's new and exciting in MY life... not just what's going on in my life! :)

Current Books: I just finished Finally & Forever  by Robin Jones Gunn.  I didn't even know this book existed, although I was sincerely hoping she would eventually finish off this series with something a little more final.  Great  book!  I'm currently reading Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury (which I must say was titled and published LONG before...other... books with similar titles...).  Great book about a couple that overcomes tragic life choices (abortion) and finds the redeeming love and grace of God to change their lives.  I'm also eagerly anticipating reading Coming Home also by Karen Kingsbury, which is the final book in the Baxter books.

Current Playlist: Well... since it's July, and it's a million and seven degrees outside, I'm listening to a lot of Christmas music.  Seriously.  It's one of the quickest ways to cool off!  I'm also listening to Mandisa's new cd & Jamie Grace's new CD.  Oh, yeah, and I'm also listening to Some Nights by Fun.  Because it makes me smile... :)

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Hmmm.... Shame-Inducing?  Well... I can't say there's any of THOSE... but I have been eating a larger portion of ice cream lately due to the previously mentioned weather issue... Like the other night when Helen and I ate almost an entire 1/2 gallon buy ourselves... yeah.

Current Colors: Brights.  Anything that is bright and bold that goes well under a black dress or shirt.  I almost ALWAYS wear black.  Oh!  And bright pink or yellow sandals! :)

Current Fetish: Pinterest.  Just like everyone else out in the cyber webs.

Current Food: Fresh garden veggies!  Cucumbers, Squash, & Greenbeans. Soon, I'll add tomatoes, too!

Current Drink: LOTS of water.  It's rediculous how much water I've consumed lately.  Also, anything iced.  Iced coffee, Iced tea, Iced Grape Koolaid... just make sure you serve it over ice.

Current Favorite Favorite: My new family. The one that lives at the Yellow House by the airport.  I love them!

Current Wishlist: Enough money to afford my own place.

Current Needs: None.  All I have need of, God has provided!

Current Triumph: It should have worn off by now concerning the "triumphant" feeling, but sticking with my June Cleanse for two whole weeks (mostly the excercising) still makes me feel like a winner.

Current Bane of my Existence: Hmmm... I would tell you, but I can't.  Anyone that has spent much time at all with me over the last month and a half knows the name of this person...

Current Indulgence: Iced Coffee.  If I make it at home, I either a) make chocolate macadamia nut coffee & add White Chocolate macadamia creamer or b) make regular dark roast coffee & add Almond Joy creamer.  IF I treat myself to Starbucks, I either do the Mocha Coconut OR the Peppermint Mocha. Or sometimes I treat myself to a Caramel Mocha Frappe from McDonald's and think of my daddy while I drink it!

Current Mood: Honestly? Bored.  But also relaxed!  It's a 3-person day in the office! :)

Current #1 Blessing: Two families that adore & love me!  Couldn't ask for more than that!  Also that I didn't get headlice... That almost trumps the two familiy thing... LOL

Current Slang or Saying: Saying "Can I get the bugspray on that?" when asking for the details of something.

Current Picture: from this weekend...at the park... with part of my adopted family & my for-real sister... and also, I didn't center it very well... hence my missing chin... :P

My Current Soundtrack

Every morning while I'm getting ready for the day, I listen to my iPod.

Every night, I fall asleep listening to my iPod.

During the times in between, I have songs from my iPod stuck in my head.

The other day it occured to me that probably only 5-10% of those tunes are spiritually uplifting.  Not that the other 90-95% of the songs are bad, they're just not particularly spiritual.  They're mostly just upbeat and fun!  When I realized just how much I listen to my iPod and how few of those songs directed my attention UPward, I decided it was time to start finding some fun, upbeat, UPLIFTING music to add to the mix. 

Here are two of the songs I've recently added, and I must say... I LOVE these songs! 

"You Lead" by Jamie Grace

"Stronger" by Mandisa

I hope you find encouragement from these songs like I did!  Feel free to share any suggestions you might have of fun, upbeat, UPLIFTING music for me to try! :)

Beautiful Music

I'm a big fan of music- anyone who knows me knows that I'm constantly listening to something!  Lately, I've been on a soundtracks kick. I LOVE soundtrack music.  Some of it is really quite beautiful and makes me all glowy inside!  

Here is a list of

Lacy's Top 5 Movie Soundtracks 

for the Office

To listen to samples, click on the Title and you will be directed to

Amazon, where you may also purchase these titles!

1. The Holiday by Hans Zimmer

2. 27 Dresses by Randy Edelman

3. It's Complicated

4. Spanglish

5. Julie & Julia

I just LOVE these soundtracks!  So joyful and fun!  

If you haven't discovered Grooveshark yet,

 check it out now!  

That's where I listen to all this wonderful music!

Please note that, while the soundtracks to these movies are fantabulous, that does not mean you will all enjoy the movies themselves.  I happen to enjoy all five of these movies, and own 4/5 of them.  Please use audience discretion should you chose to check them out for yourselves.  Enjoy!

Greater than MY sin!!

I recently came by this song by Building 429.  I chose to add it to my playlist because it's a rendition of one of my favorite hymns.  The words & music are SO encouraging!  Enjoy!

Click to Listen

Search me O God

And know my every thought

Discern my every way

And speak into my soul

Point out to me my wrongs

Convict me until

I follow down the path

That leads me to your will

Because my heart

Sometimes can wander

And my faith 

at times can stray

But I know

That when I fix my eyes on You

That I will always remain

Safe in the shadows of Your 

Grace, grace

God’s grace

Grace that will pardon

And cleanse within

Grace, grace

God’s grace

Grace that is greater

Than all my sin

I praise You because

I am fearfully made

You formed my frame

In a secret place

All of my days

Ordained before I breathed

Written in Your book

Before I came to be

Because Your love

I stand and wonder

You know I come to Thee

And knowing that

When I fix my eyes on You

That I will always remain

Safe in the shadow of Your 

Grace, grace

God’s grace

Grace that will pardon

And cleanse within

Grace, grace

God’s grace

Grace that is greater

Than all my sin