Scripture Sunday

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Our church service today was one of those that you just want to play over and over in your head.  The music was over the top good and the sermon – oh the sermon.  Have you ever listened to a sermon and just felt so convicted - and to be honest, even a little uncomfortable?  And I mean that in a very good way.  Sometimes the words you hear are some that you don’t really want to hear or face, but oh we are better for it.

What I find interesting about this is that we overslept this morning, which meant that we missed the service that we actually wanted to go to.  Instead, we went to the service that God wanted us to attend, though we didn’t realize it at the time.

Things like this always make me think of my Grandmother’s words: “It’s not odd, it’s God.”  AMEN!

I found one of the songs from our service on YouTube by the original artist.  Beautiful song and when you sing it at a service there is just no way to stand there without lifting those arms heavenward.

Brooklyn Loves Rock Band

After we finished eating our Thanksgiving dinner the kids got out the Beatles Rock Band.  I absolutely loved it!  The best part is that Beatles music goes across all generations, so everybody from little Brooklyn to the great-grandparents were singing along.

Now clearly she is destined to be in the arts, whether it be drums, singing or dancing.  She does seem to love it all and especially being part of it with everybody. 

If you are so inclined to watch the video, please be gentle on our singing abilities.  ;)  Notice at the end how Brooklyn holds her drumsticks in the air.  You'd think she's been doing this forever!  And I'm not just saying that because I'm a proud grandma......

Joshua Bell - At Home With Friends

Throughout their school years both of my kids played the viola in the school orchestra.  We went to many programs and competitions through the years, including once travelling to New York City to compete (from Dallas - that was awesome!). So when I got the opportunity to review this CD I was thrilled.  

Joshua Bell's newest CD, At Home With Friends, is far different than you'd first think of violin music.  He’s well known for holding ‘musical soirées’ at his Manhattan residence – parties with musicians, actors, comics and authors who get together just for the sheer joy of sharing their art. So with this new album, Joshua fulfilled a life-long career dream of recording a CD of instrumental and vocal duets with an amazing roster of musicians and friends.

Here is the list of songs on the CD and who is preforming with:
I Loves You Porgy   featuring Chris Botti, trumpet
Come Again   featuring Sting, vocals
Oblivion   featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Cinema Paradiso   featuring Josh Groban, vocals
Para Tí   featuring Tiempo Libre, various
My Funny Valentine   featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals
Maybe So   featuring Edgar Meyer Sam Bush and Mike Marshall, strings
Grieg: Sonata No. 3   featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph re-performance)
Eleanor Rigby   featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals
O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair   featuring Nathan Gunn, baritone
Il Postino   featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Left Hand Song   featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals
Chovendo Na Roseira   featuring Dave Grusin, piano
Look Away   featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolin
Variant Moods: Duet for Sitar & Violin   featuring Anoushka Shankar, sitar
I'll Take Manhattan   featuring Marvin Hamlisch, piano
Left Hand   featuring Regina Spektor, vocals

I can honestly say I've had this CD playing often in our home since we received it.  We play it while eating dinner, while relaxing in the evening with my knitting and it's on my iPhone to play while working.  It is amazing music and I'm so glad to have found this artist.

Disclosure:  I was sent a free copy of this CD in order to do a review on my blog.   

Harry Connick Jr. - Your Songs

I think I first fell in love with Harry (I can call him that because I adore him) when he was in the movie Hope Floats.  But it was the more recent movie P.S. I Love You that I really became a fan.  His mellow, easy going, romantic nature really shows through.

And I say all that to set the scene for his new CD, Your Songs.  These are songs that we know and love from other fabulous artists, but now with a Harry Connick, Jr. spin to them.  His crooning voice is wonderful for the perfectly chosen songs.  Listening to them will certainly bring to mind the romantic characters he plays in movies.


This is the list of songs and the original artists that you will find on this cd (I almost put album - does that date me?):

All The Way (Frank Sinatra)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)
And I Love Her (The Beatles)
(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)
Besame Mucho
The Way You Look Tonight
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)
Your Song (Elton John)
Some Enchanted Evening
And I Love You So (Don McLean)
Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)
Smile (Charlie Chaplin)
Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole)

This is a great CD that any Harry Connick, Jr., fan is sure to love.

Disclosure:  I was sent a free copy of this CD in order to do a review on my blog.