Tag: music

Mary, did you know?

Happy 9th Day of Christmas!  I don’t have ladies dancing today but I have two of my favorite Christmas songs to share with you.

The first is a popular song and I will share the version sung by Pentatonix.  There is something about acapella singing I adore, it goes straight to my heart.

Mary, did you Know? https://binged.it/2R3TqvN

I have always had a special place in my heart for Mary, the Mother of God.  Maybe because I have her name, maybe it got stronger while I was pregnant.  To have new life inside of you and to know that you are a part of God’s plan to CREATE life.  Pretty spectacular feeling!  I can be certain that Mary felt the same things all pregnant mothers feel, but on top of that she had the Angel of God tell her this was the Savior, the Lamb of God, the Son of God.  What might she have been feeling with those added pressures? 

The song looks at our perspective – did she know all the details of her Son’s life?  Well, no she didn’t but she had the same hopeful feelings during her pregnancy that all mothers do.  What will my child look like?  What will he or she become or do in the world?  Don’t all Mothers aspire to leave the world a better place and hope that our offspring are part of making it a better place?  Mary had one more thing to rely on and that was her faith that these promises told to her by the Angel and to Joseph in a dream were in fact the voice of God telling her who this child really was – the Son of God!

This next song is not as well know but really speaks to my heart and is probably one of my all time favorite songs.  This is a song more from the perspective of what Mary was thinking and helps me connect with what she might have been feeling and how she got through hard times of doubt and pain.

Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) https://youtu.be/TOQRtYYERGo

Again, it connects me to Mary –  Even after the message from the Angel, even after the dream Joseph had, surely she had her doubts about this baby?  I can believe it was her faith that kept her going.  Well, her faith along with the occasional visits from strangers (the king bearing gifts) and the words from strangers (Simeon).

“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also),that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” – Luke 2:25, RSV-2CE  

Those encounters must have kept her and Joseph going every single time they doubted.  And in those times of doubt Mary’s faith led her to pray and ask for that light Breath of Heaven to be with her.  I have sung this song and said this prayer through hard times of my own and asked that God just send a small breath of heaven to push me through the hard time and remind me of His love and promise to take care of me always.  Maybe that is what Mary prayed for – the breath of God to help her through the task of raising the Son of God.

 

 

Christmas Past

Christmas past

Many childhood memories surface around the Christmas Holiday.  Many of them include music – Adeste Fidelis Oh come All Ye Faithful – I can still HEAR my Mom singing that hymn literally I hear her voice singing it in latin.  Adeste Fideles

I was the youngest of three girls and there was quite a gap in our ages.  My oldest sister A was 16 when I was born and my middle sister C was 11 when I was born so I really was “the baby”.  My Mom called me her baby until she passed away.  It was almost like I was an only child with all of us being so far apart. So, when I became conscious of Santa I was the only one in the house getting Santa presents and it was pretty cool to have all the attention.

I few gifts that stick out in my memory was the year I REALLY wanted a puppy – but did not get one – a real one at least.  I had my pretend puppy in the basement and he was there every time I went down there to play, he walked with me to school and waited for me each afternoon. I believe I had that “puppy” until at least May – maybe I was just lonely?

The year I got my own stereo and headphones was the best – I could listen to my music as loud as I wanted anytime I wanted – it was most likely the Osmonds! The Osmonds

I loved Christmas, I still do.  The music, I love listening to it, I love singing it I love playing it.  Even this year as a member of our community band I still enjoy, really enjoy playing all of the traditional Christmas music.  You’d think after playing Christmas Festival almost every year since I was in high school I would be sick of it by now but noooo I LOVE IT! Christmas Festival – Boston Pops

Music has always carried me away to a happy place, it touches something inside me that is very hard to explain and Christmas music even more so because of all of the memories attached to it.

TO all who took the time to read this entry, thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you! 

Welcome to my life!

I have been planning to start this Blog for many months now and finally on December 2, 2018 it is done.  What will I write about?  Well, my first love has always been and will always be music so you will read my thoughts on musical pieces and how they have affected my life.  I also will include personal thoughts about my life and the world around me.  I hope this will allow my children and grandchildren to know me better.  I love discussion and welcome comments, but remember this is all my own opinion so you might not agree with everything I share, but I am adult enough to hear your side.  So, Happy First day of Advent 2018 and Welcome to my Life!!!