What Can I do...I'm A Product of the 80's

I spent a little time yesterday putting together some workout music. I love good rhythm and usually can't sit still when I hear one. Ask my husband. We chaperone the dances at the high school, and it is torture to just stand there, looking cool (don't get me wrong, the last thing I would want is to be Mr. & Mrs. Jensen, the fox-trotting uber-chaperones). It takes all my focus to just stand and tap my toe... Once, though, the theme for prom was something that allowed music from different eras and the kids had learned some of the dances, so I got to swing, waltz, and cha cha to a live band, all in good fun. The kids seemed to appreciate that, and my B was a good sport, and a good partner. But could we just go out there and get down with our bad selves? NO! No, no, no.
But what is a girl like me supposed to do? I was born too late for disco, and too early for mosh pits. Thank heaven. I grew up with Madonna, Bon Jovi, U2, Erasure, INXS, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Def Leppard, etc., etc... There were good bands in the 90's, but I felt like the nation forgot to dance. Seal, Janet Jackson, Savage Garden, Smashmouth, Matchbox 20, and most of those mentioned earlier, arguably kept it going though. I noticed the kids, instead of dancing, would just jump up and down with their hands in the air. Like they were at a concert. Hmmm. It bothered me, and I thought, "Am I old?" Nawww. I was in my 20's in the nineties! It's better now. But I am not in my 20's anymore.
So, I rock out in my car. I tap out the drums and sing, and play air guitar on my seatbelt. I try to be subtle. If Chels is driving and I am in the passenger seat, or the whole fam is in the car, though, it is not so subtle, and we have too much fun. Hooray for satellite radio. My sister and I grinning from ear to ear, flying down the highway to a farmers market, listening and rocking out as our parents giggle at us from the back seat. Last summer, people.
And I dance at home. In the kitchen while I cook, in the family room as I put away laundry, right here by the computer if a great song hits just right and my kids are up for some dance practice.
What do I listen to now, when I want to move (exercise, clean the house, drive my kids all over town)? I dare you to listen and not move (press pause on My Playlist on the right). I could seriously just keep walking as I listen... 3 miles? Piece of cake.
And, this does have it's place. Quiet, restful, peaceful music is appreciated...Josh Grobin, Nora Jones, classical piano, my country music, inspirational compositions all have their turn. The music I choose for this blog is upbeat, positive thinking, and usually has something to do with my posts. It is music I love.
When I want to move, get stuff done, smile at myself, I hit this stuff.

For Braeden... and the Bullies

Storm
by Lifehouse


How long have I been in this storm?
So overwhelmed by the ocean’s shapeless form
Water's getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I could see you
This darkness would turn to light

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be all right
I know everything is all right

I know you didn’t bring me out here to drown
So why am I ten feet under and upside down
Barely surviving has become my purpose
Because I’m so used to living underneath the surface

If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I could see you
This darkness would turn to light

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be all right

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be all right
I know everything is all right


You are not alone, ever.
We are fighting for you.

What I Needed This Christmas

I have been waiting for inspiration to strike so I can write this December blog, but at this inspirational time of year, I find my mind is a bit over-inspired, and my body is constantly on the move. Today, however, I have a minute. I have emailed my family and sent out some recent photos of Jacob's Christmas play. We have been to church, fed the missionaries and the dishes are washing. The Christmas cards are addressed and waiting for the copies of the family letter, also finished today. We usually send a picture, but we just haven't gotten to it yet(by the way, check out the antlers growing out of Braeden's head). I think I may forego the plates of cookies I usually make... chewy ginger, minty candy canes, snickerdoodles, and frosted sugar cookies, but now that I see their names in front of me, how can I possibly? We will see. I have sewing to do, gift projects to finish. This year we are having an "old-fashioned" Christmas, keeping gifts simple. It is amazing how much more we think of what we really want to give when the budget is thin. It is far less stressful than being pulled a thousand different directions in the toy section. As I hum along to the carols playing all day, or steal a moment to sit and stare at the memory-inducing decorations and lights on our tree, I am subdued by thoughts of the goings on in the world: the wars and soldiers, families apart, natural disasters, world leaders in contention and struggle, deceit, the decay of morality...why our house in Washington hasn't sold yet, and what would I be getting Brandon for Christmas if it had. But, I was fortunate to view the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Sunday morning last week, singing a carol I had not heard before, called "Nowell, Nowell, Nowell". The singers were joyous, exuberant, shouting in jubilation for the tiny baby born in Bethlehem who would save the world, even to the point of getting after the shepherds, asking, and I am paraphrasing, "How can you just stand there? You should be leaping and dancing and shouting for joy, sharing the news! This baby brings HOPE to us!" I am not often moved to tears, but I was. Because I have these weighty matters on my mind, because I wished I could give a bigger gift to my husband, and because this song reached out to those worries and plinked them like a piano wire (we had our piano tuned and the tuner told me there were about 2 tons of torque on those wires) and I realized that this joy, this is all we need, this hope. They say the heavens shouted, and I think we, all of us here, were part of that, and that is what I felt during that noisy, beautiful song... I remembered.
A merry, joyful, hopeful Christmas to you all.

An Autumn Winter Wonderland

(You know the tune)

When it snows
In October,
I can't believe
That its October!
Its not even Halloween,
The grass is still green,
Its an Autumn Winter Wonderland.
When it snows
In December,
That's O.K.
'Cause its December!
October's for leaves
And colors on trees,
But its an Autumn Winter Wonderland.
In the yard, the kids,
They built a snowman.
They scrambled for a scarf and matching hat.
We hadn't even unpacked winter coats, yet.
Not even our vampire, ghost, and bat!
In the front, we are landscaping,
So the work, Brandon's escaping.
We can't dig the ground
With snow all around,
Its an Autumn Winter Wonderland!

My Heart Beats to Bach

Braeden, my 10 year old, had his last piano recital of the season last Sunday. It was at the Christ Lutheran Church, which is a little more intimidating to perform in than his teacher's living room. But, she is in the middle of moving, so there we were. Braeden watched for his turn on the program, took a deep breath and walked the mile up to the piano with all eyes on him. He was playing "Bouree" by Johann Sebastian Bach and all of us sitting in our pew knew it by heart...had listened to it humming in our heads throughout the weeks, had dahdahdeedah-ed it as we washed dishes, mowed the lawn, brushed our teeth. Braeden loves this song, and loves his teacher. I saw his shoulders raise, lower, another breath. I took a breath, but didn't let it out. Wrists up, then he began. His fingers firmly, lightly bounced on the keys, hitting each note. His song danced through the church and my heart pounded with the rhythm. My smile got bigger with every beat and I knew he would be playing this song for weeks to come without a care, because he had nailed it when it was time to nail it. I glanced at my husband, Brandon, and I knew he was thinking the same thing, feeling it. Then, the song ended, and there was a pause. In that split second, Braeden turned to the congregation and flashed a big-eyed, coy grin, and applause and laughter broke. It was a quicker trip back to our pew, but all eyes smiled at him and I couldn't help but feel the few that met mine were saying, "That was something... that was potential being sought after."