iPod wOrthy: O.C. Supertones

Since it's the last day of the month, I need to roll out my monthly iPod wOrthy selection:

"What it Comes To" by the Orange County Supertones. This song keeps running around inside my head during the "TION" teaching series we're doing in Q222. The Supertones used to be my favorite group until they "retired". (single tear) Toby Mac also has a guest spot on this one. He has a knack for showing up on my favorite artist's CDs (Kirk Franklin, KJ-52 etc.)

Here's a link and the lyrics:

Every now and then i have a moment of authentication
Reveals the man inside me like illumination
Trial by fire purification
The day i die is the day that it's done
You might not realize when it comes
And only overome it by the grace of The Son.
Just try to stand your ground take it head on
Every moment in my life comes down to this one

At a fork in the road only two ways to go
The one untraveled and the one that you know
The broad and the wrong or the tight and the right
So die in the dim or fight in the light
So it comes down to this
Jesus Christ was betrayed by a kiss
Judas when he faced his moment he failed
Imprisoned in hell with a bail of three nails

This is what it comes to

It's me against my desires and inclinations
Pass through the fire into salvation
Bring water to the thirsty like irrigation
When you go toe to toe you don't go one on one
But Christ in my place in substitution
Showed me His grace propitiation
Heard the devil laugh and he thought he had won
But then came the comeback and resurrection

Listen everybody may i please have your attention
Only the wise will accept instruction
Fools laugh at knowledge and reject wisdom
Inevitably leading to destruction
Now it's on you it's your decision
The forecast of the future is confrontation
The beast or the King like revelation
A battle for your soul like armageddon

SKA SKA SKA Baby!!

B's Spinning Song for the week 2/29

Beautiful Scandalous Night by The Choir.

Ok....it isn't a spinner, but it IS and awesome song!! It was a close race, but this one came out on top :)

"Beautiful Scandalous Night"

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

Follow Christ to the Holy mountian
Sinner, sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flows
For you and for me and for all

CHORUS
At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful scandalous night

On the hillside you will be delivered
At the foot of the cross, justified
And your spirit restored
By the river that pours
From our blessed Saviour’s side

CHORUS

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

The Tale of the Grocery Run and the Snuggly Boy

Here is a story that very few of you will most likely not understand. But, it is part of the ins and outs of our life. :) You will soon see that I don't have a life!!

One day last week, as Ski was going into work, he met a coworker in the elevator. They were talking away and the subject of Whole Foods came up. Remember, Whole foods is a kind of Mecca for us. This is the place where we buy rice milk for our youngest ds. Amazingly, this is the only brand that we have found that we could deem safe for him to drink. So, for almost 5 yrs, we have been making trips to Whole Foods or asking friends to bring us cases. A few years ago, they announced that they would open two Whole Foods stores in Tidytown. Since that announcement, the progress has been very slow. In fact, one of the stores that was planned has been nixed. So we are still waiting for the one to open.

So, as he was speaking, his co-worker told Ski that Whole Foods was now open. Not only that, but a utter stranger in the elevator also confirmed this. So, my sweet Ski called me and told me the wonderful news. I was ecstatic!! In fact, since Ski had been in disbelief, he asked to be sure that the new store was Whole Foods. So, since I do not have enough to do during the day, I told my younger three to get their sock, shoes, and coats on and we left on a trek to find a local source for rice milk. To give you an idea of how desperate I was and how very important this is to us, I was going to a part of town I do not like to drive in, taking a huge 15 passenger van, and would be arriving at lunchtime.

So, I drove a back way to arrive at the corner that the store is supposed to be. My heart fell. On one corner was a shopping center with a banner proclaiming "Earth Fare Now Open." Hmmmm....Well, TWO people said that it was Whole Foods. So, I proceeded to the next corner. There, I did not find Whole Foods. I DID find a lady loading groceries into her cart. I asked her where the new store might be. I was agahst to find that she had NEVER HEARD of Whole Foods. Well, I thought this is certainly not a good sign. So, I drove around and ended up in the back of a hotel parking lot. My phone was dieing, but I called Ski and I said....."I think that they meant Earth Fare. Can you please ask and make sure?" 15 minutes later, Ski calls and tells me that he has come to the same conclusion. I was so disappointed that I almost wept right then and there.

Well, I needed bread anyway, so I decided to stop by Earth Fare. When we arrived, I snapped this pic of my kiddos:


It was supposed to be a pic of them smiling from ear to ear in front of a sparkling new Whole Foods. Alas, it is them trying their best to have grumpy faces. I was encouraging them to pout, but they were laughing hysterically. We did seriously think of buying tomatoes to throw at Earth Fare. They have a huge tomato on their signs. :) And wouldn't you know that they didn't have a single loaf of Iz's bread so I had to make another stop on my way home. My dream is a grocery store where I can buy everything that I need.

The good part of the story is that I was able to pick up Ski on his lunch hour and the kids had a snack while Ski had lunch. So, the race is still on. Which will open first? Whole Foods or Ikea?!?!?!

Not much went on this weekend. It was rather quiet, in fact.
When Iz is tired, he likes to climb up on the couch beside mom. But if dad is home, that is even better. He climbs up on Ski's lap and finds a comfy place to take a nap. Here is where Iz spent a lazy Sunday afternoon:

Isn't he just so cute?!?! It melts my heart every time to see him sleeping so happily in his daddy's arms. We both agree that Ski is the most cuddly guy ever!!

Sentimental Mush

I am a melancholy person I suppose -- full of emotion and stuff. I like books that make me cry, movies that do the same. I like music with words to make me think, laugh, and yes, even cry. I happened on a friend's blog today and she has lovely clips of Puccini. Ahhh.....I just looooooooove Puccini!!! We soooo agree on Nessun Dorma!! So as I was reading, I had her clip of Maria Callas playing. I was laughing like crazy. Hearing me laugh, Nathaniel said "What's so funny?" Sigh. My dc just do not understand me. Maybe it comes from when I played flute in orchestra and you hear that magical ringing when everything is perfect. Perhaps it is from singing with an amazing choir director who demanded perfection and somehow brought out of us something we never knew was there.

Tonight, I took my three oldest to hear a string quartet. I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful they were!! I wept at the Andante that they played from a Mozart quartet. A tango from Piazzolla left me laughing. But, oh...the Ravel!! Now, I have never been keen on Ravel. Ski has always liked "Bolero," but that piece has never been for me. But the String Quartet in F was magical for me. I was enchanted, entranced, and oh so moved. I had the gamut of emotions. My children think I have lost my mind. I so wish that Ski was with me. At least he enjoys to watch me get all goofy at a song. Once, Nessun Dorma was on the XM radio at Starbucks and I got all loopy. It freaks me out when I realize he is watching me with a goofy grin, but at least he doesn't think I have lost my mind. So, tonight I had tears in my eyes, chuckled under my breath, and sighed to the extreme. So heavenly is the gift of music!!!

I am now on a search for this piece that I have fallen in love with. Here is just a taste:



You can listen to all four movements if you want a treat, but this is just the first movement. This is not the group that we saw tonight, but it will give you a taste.

Yummy Dinner!!

On a board I frequent, there is a lady who is originally from Louisiana. Once, she shared her authentic cajun recipe for red beans and rice. This very inexpensive recipe has become a family favorite here. I must confess that I am NOT a big bean person. I like black beans on occasion. I love chili and I do make a lentil dish that I like. But this dish is super good!! From the moment I start the prep for it to the time we sit at the table, it smells delicious! I have also discovered that some of my children like HOT food. One of them has been known to sprinkle 13 shakes of Tony's on her beans.

If you'd like to try this recipe, go to this link. It's a little article on the lady above and her wonderful recipe. It is extra yummy paired with cornbread from Rosemarie Emro's cookbook.

Life is Beautiful

Right now we are studying WWII and the Holocaust. Oh, it is so very heartbreaking!! My three older children and I are watching films and just a few minutes ago, we got done watching "La Vita e Bella." This is just an awesome movie. It brings me to tears. But it seems that I am always crying lately. I was an utter mess at the end of this film!! Ski and I watched it before and Ski didn't like it. I think that he MUST watch it another time. I'll have to try to convince him again. My only regret is that I think that maybe I should have saved this film for last.

Milk and Flowers

Late in the day yesterday, I realized that we were running out of rice milk. I didn't think we had enough to last the week. So at the last minute, Ski took all of the little Ski-bums with him to the closest Whole Foods. We are trying to wait patiently for one to open here. We are told it's coming, but the wait is looooooong!! Until then, we have to travel about 3hrs round trip (not including gas and shopping time) to get to Mecca.

I had a meeting last night, so had to leave home before they returned. I came home tired and happy to see everyone. To my surprise, Ski had brought me this lovely and unique rose. Of course, Ski wanted it to be more of a surprise, but my dc were so excited that they kind of spoiled that for him.

Thanks, Sweetie!!