Christmas is fast approaching, and I'm actually anticipating making our way to the Arkansas Delta. I'm excited about seeing our family and friends. I'm excited about seeing my parents' newly-renovated house. I'm excited to spend the holiday with people I love.
The older I get, the more I like Christmas. I love the music, the lights, shopping!, and spending time with the ones I love. I loved Christmastime as a child, but each year gives me new reasons to appreciate what I have and be thankful for the Reason we celebrate.
It's crazy to think about all the things we've done and places we've seen this past year. I've made some really wonderful friends and had some great experiences. I've also dealt with challenges that, at the time seemed to break me, but in retrospect, actually made me stronger and better. God has a very intricate plan for all of us, and it's incredible to look back and really see how His hand touched each moment. Even during the most difficult times when it seemed that God was nowhere to be found, I can see now that He was the the calm breaths in between the panic; He was the brief glimpses of the big picture when my focus was on the little disappointments.
I'm learning to take things as they are handed to me. During my short time dealing with the military, I've realized that having that attitude is the only way to maintain sanity. So, I've decided that carrying the "it is what it is" outlook over from military life to everyday living can't be a bad idea. Things are what they are. People are lousy, undependable, pathetic, and disappointing, but people are also helpful, forgiving, caring, and encouraging. Life sucks sometimes. But life is also an enormous gift that I'm pretty certain our Creator wants us to appreciate and cherish. I try to look at each new day as simply that: a new day with new situations and adventures and challenges. I hope I can face every day optimistically because God knows I've had years and years worth of bad attitude.
This year, I'm grateful for Christmas and what it really means. I'm grateful for my family and my friends, new and old. Being so far away from my parents and siblings and nieces and nephew really makes me appreciate them.
I'm sure y'all have all dealt with this at some point in the past few weeks, but it is so discouraging to come upon a Scrooge. It really bothers me when people get so furious when they can't find a parking spot or when they can't get their buggy through the isle or when someone makes a mistake in the turning lane (sorry 'bout that!). Here's the thing: does it really matter that you may have to walk a few extra feet because you couldn't snag the front row parking space? No. It's Christmas time and Christ came to this earth to show love and joy. I think we should all remember that, instead of showing anger and aggression over unimportant things. I'm preachin' to the choir here because I'm surely not perfectly patient when it comes to driving in traffic or shopping. I hope I can have an attitude of patience and joy, though, even when some fool tries to cut me off. I hope I can just smile and wave at the fool and pray that he doesn't smash some innocent pedestrian. ;)
Anyway, hopefully I will find the time to update the blog before Christmas, but if not, Merry Christmas to everyone! Here's one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs to put you in the mood:)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
"tonight we are young"
I've been feeling super nostalgic today. Well, for a couple weeks, I suppose. I think it's this time of year that makes me reflect and remember the conglomeration of days that all blend together now to make up my past and build up to my present. I'm listening to fun., one of the best bands in the world, and praying that they never become mainstream. Don't tell me you don't do that. I feel like it's the story of my life to love an "underground" band so much, only to discover all these hipster kids jammin' out to them the wrong way. Haha. Ok, I'm sounding like a hipster kid myself now....But for real. So many of "my bands" lose their touch when they become popularized. Sure, I want what's best for my bands. I want them to make the money honey and be successful. And now I sound like a mother of four.
Anyway, I facebooked about this dear, sweet band already today, so maybe I'm being redundant, but there is one particular band--actually two, to be correct--that seem to write all their songs directly to my soul. Do you have a band like that? It's honestly become a little creepy how so many of their lyrics are about things and places and people and time that are mine.
I'm talking about the band fun., fronted by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. I started really liking Nate's music in 2008 when I worked at the Gap. Since then, it's been a musical love affair. Laugh all you want, but I know you have "your band," and it better the heck not be Hinder or Nickelback. You are better than that. Sure, I have other bands and musicians that sing to me, and I can't even call fun. or The Format my favorite bands because I have too many that I love for different reasons. fun. is just "my band." That's all there is to it.
God blessed me with a husband who knows good music. Thank you for that, God. I always knew I would marry someone with good musical taste because if I ended up with someone who loved Nickelback, I know I would be locked away with domestic abuse charges. I'm even more blessed because Derick has musical ability of his own. (If you haven't heard him sing, you're missing out). So the Lord was both gracious to me by giving me Derick, and gracious to some other Nickelback-loving poor soul by sparing his life. God is good.
Anyway, yes, Derick has an ear for good music, and we normally agree on bands. He doesn't quite dig the slow, lovey, folky music that sountracks teen dramas. I like those bands: Joshua Radin (who also tends to sing directly to me), Eric Hutchinson, Ron Pope, etc. He likes it, but he'd rather hear something less, well, romantic. I'm not into screaming music or bands like mewithoutyou. I just don't feel it, but Derick likes it. He also likes country music a lot more than I do, although I can take it in small doses.
When it comes to my band, fun., Derick is apathetic. He listens to them to please me. He likes some of their songs, and knows the majority of the words because of me. But if the C.D. is in the car, you can guarantee he will change it to NPR. This is how I know this band is mine. Sounds weird, I know. You'd think for me to label a band "mine," Derick would have to think more highly of them. But that would make it "our band," and "our band" (well, "our musician") is Ben Kweller. Ben Kweller sings to us collectively. Nate Ruess just sings to me. Derick doesn't have a decorative past as mine. He doesn't really relate to losing your way time after time after time after time. He's always been good at learning the first time. I admire that about him, and I hope am more like that. I'm just estimating from the outside in, but I think fun.'s lyrics aren't as potent to him as they are to me. And that's fine. So, some advice for the marrieds or soon-to-be marrieds: Don't lose your individuality. Rather, just invent a new part of you that intertwines with someone else. You'll find out that that part of you was there all along, just waiting to find it's mate.
Enough about lovey dovey stuff. You know how people post music videos on Facebook all the time, and you don't bother listening to it? I do that a lot. Maybe I'm the only one that skips music video posts. That's probably because it's usually Dirt Road Anthem or some rap song I don't like. I always, always post songs that say something to me, and hey, maybe Dirt Road Anthem says something to someone, but really, let's be honest, it's about drinking and driving, which is illegal. And Kem don't break no law!
Anyway, I will make an effort to listen to more music posts on facebook from now on. Legitimate music posts. Which, if you're still following means, no Hinder, no Nickelback, and what?? That's right, no Dirt Road Anthems.
So, this is supposed to be a military wife blog. Let's see if I can put my costly education to use and tie it all together and keep with the running theme. How 'bouts?!
Sometimes, when our husbands work all day and we don't have full-time jobs or kids to tend to, we are left with a lot of extra time on our hands to listen to songs that puncture our hearts with their honesty and relevance. I've done that today. I went to the gym, watched an episode of Vampire Diaries, ate some leftover tacos, and started listening to my band, which in turn, made me think about myself and those I love and all the things that being Kem encompasses, good and bad. My house is relatively clean and I have to go to work and make actual money at 3, so I'm permitted some me time, right? Right.
Although Nate Ruess sings our songs (or whoever sings that awful Dirt Road song), we are the true artists. We are the musicians of our own song. We are writing new lyrics every day and turning them into the bridge, adding it to the verses of our past. My song is a crazy wild compilation of sad and happy and lonely and fulfilled and excited and anxious and selfish and thankful. I hope one day, when it's finished, that it's worth replaying over and over.
This is the cast of Glee performing a fun. song, "Tonight We are Young."
You should look up some fun. songs. Just for fun. Ha!
Anyway, I facebooked about this dear, sweet band already today, so maybe I'm being redundant, but there is one particular band--actually two, to be correct--that seem to write all their songs directly to my soul. Do you have a band like that? It's honestly become a little creepy how so many of their lyrics are about things and places and people and time that are mine.
I'm talking about the band fun., fronted by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. I started really liking Nate's music in 2008 when I worked at the Gap. Since then, it's been a musical love affair. Laugh all you want, but I know you have "your band," and it better the heck not be Hinder or Nickelback. You are better than that. Sure, I have other bands and musicians that sing to me, and I can't even call fun. or The Format my favorite bands because I have too many that I love for different reasons. fun. is just "my band." That's all there is to it.
God blessed me with a husband who knows good music. Thank you for that, God. I always knew I would marry someone with good musical taste because if I ended up with someone who loved Nickelback, I know I would be locked away with domestic abuse charges. I'm even more blessed because Derick has musical ability of his own. (If you haven't heard him sing, you're missing out). So the Lord was both gracious to me by giving me Derick, and gracious to some other Nickelback-loving poor soul by sparing his life. God is good.
Anyway, yes, Derick has an ear for good music, and we normally agree on bands. He doesn't quite dig the slow, lovey, folky music that sountracks teen dramas. I like those bands: Joshua Radin (who also tends to sing directly to me), Eric Hutchinson, Ron Pope, etc. He likes it, but he'd rather hear something less, well, romantic. I'm not into screaming music or bands like mewithoutyou. I just don't feel it, but Derick likes it. He also likes country music a lot more than I do, although I can take it in small doses.
When it comes to my band, fun., Derick is apathetic. He listens to them to please me. He likes some of their songs, and knows the majority of the words because of me. But if the C.D. is in the car, you can guarantee he will change it to NPR. This is how I know this band is mine. Sounds weird, I know. You'd think for me to label a band "mine," Derick would have to think more highly of them. But that would make it "our band," and "our band" (well, "our musician") is Ben Kweller. Ben Kweller sings to us collectively. Nate Ruess just sings to me. Derick doesn't have a decorative past as mine. He doesn't really relate to losing your way time after time after time after time. He's always been good at learning the first time. I admire that about him, and I hope am more like that. I'm just estimating from the outside in, but I think fun.'s lyrics aren't as potent to him as they are to me. And that's fine. So, some advice for the marrieds or soon-to-be marrieds: Don't lose your individuality. Rather, just invent a new part of you that intertwines with someone else. You'll find out that that part of you was there all along, just waiting to find it's mate.
Enough about lovey dovey stuff. You know how people post music videos on Facebook all the time, and you don't bother listening to it? I do that a lot. Maybe I'm the only one that skips music video posts. That's probably because it's usually Dirt Road Anthem or some rap song I don't like. I always, always post songs that say something to me, and hey, maybe Dirt Road Anthem says something to someone, but really, let's be honest, it's about drinking and driving, which is illegal. And Kem don't break no law!
Anyway, I will make an effort to listen to more music posts on facebook from now on. Legitimate music posts. Which, if you're still following means, no Hinder, no Nickelback, and what?? That's right, no Dirt Road Anthems.
So, this is supposed to be a military wife blog. Let's see if I can put my costly education to use and tie it all together and keep with the running theme. How 'bouts?!
Sometimes, when our husbands work all day and we don't have full-time jobs or kids to tend to, we are left with a lot of extra time on our hands to listen to songs that puncture our hearts with their honesty and relevance. I've done that today. I went to the gym, watched an episode of Vampire Diaries, ate some leftover tacos, and started listening to my band, which in turn, made me think about myself and those I love and all the things that being Kem encompasses, good and bad. My house is relatively clean and I have to go to work and make actual money at 3, so I'm permitted some me time, right? Right.
Although Nate Ruess sings our songs (or whoever sings that awful Dirt Road song), we are the true artists. We are the musicians of our own song. We are writing new lyrics every day and turning them into the bridge, adding it to the verses of our past. My song is a crazy wild compilation of sad and happy and lonely and fulfilled and excited and anxious and selfish and thankful. I hope one day, when it's finished, that it's worth replaying over and over.
This is the cast of Glee performing a fun. song, "Tonight We are Young."
You should look up some fun. songs. Just for fun. Ha!
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