Imogen Heap

Can I just talk for a moment about how much I love Imogen Heap?!?! And I do not use the word love flagrantly. Although I don't love her as a person (I don't NOT love her, I just don't know her, and how do you love someone without knowing them...I mean, I can love her in Christ....okay, but I digress) ANYWAY, I truly do LOVE LOVE LOVE her music! It is full of the most innovative and unique sounds I have ever heard. She is truly a creative genius.

Why am I abuzz all the sudden? Well you see, her last album came out in 2005 called "Speak for Yourself," and to put it plainly, it's incredible; Arguably my favorite album ever. She then released a single in July '08 called "Not Now but Soon," which of course, I snatched up right away. (and consequently, love!)

Then finally- FINALLY- she released a single from her new album last Tuesday called, "First Train Home." (the single, not the album) The album, "Ellipse" is currently slated for a release of August 25th. I've already pre-ordered it on iTunes and I am giddy with excitement!

Anyway, all that to say, I am listening to her today while I work...and it just has me all excited and fully anticipating the end of August. I've change my playlist at the bottom to play only Immy songs, so if you've never listened to her, enjoy some of my favorites with the music player.

LOVING the new Hillsong United album: Across the Earth. We got it a couple of week ago before leaving for camp, but I am just now, this week, getting a chance to listen to it. I added three of my favorite songs to my music player below, so if you have some time, give them a listen and GO BUY THE ALBUM if you haven't already!!

Heartless

So I guess I am definitely happy Kris made it through on American Idol- I think his performance of "Heartless" was pretty much the best AI performance I've ever seen. Just hoping that Danny's fans vote for Kris next week! Would love to see him win. If you didn't see it Tuesday, click HERE and watch it! It's awesome. And by the way, the song that starts when you click on my blog is the original by Kanye West- in case you haven't heard that either

Sharing my Heart

There is a song that has been really ministering to me in the past week: "In Christ Alone," by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend. I LOVE singing this song- it's more than words, it's more than a worship song, it's truly an anthem for me, and a story of what God is doing in my life right now! So I decided to record it- VERY ROUGHLY- on Garage band last night. I apologize for the quality (and the rough "punch-in" haha), but I thought I'd share it with you. Sometimes singing is better than talking (or writing) for me. Here are the words:

Click HERE for the song.

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My comforter my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the pow'r of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow'r of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand

Running! I am trying so hard to get back into it. My husband even got me a treadmill a couple of months ago. So, after I made dinner tonight- I had some time and decided to take a run. I was able to run 2 1/2 miles and walk 1/2 mile. I was excited! But for me- something that makes all the difference is music. Music totally motivates me. I have tried running while watching SportsCenter or The Office- and it's fine, but it's not quite the same. But, it can't be just ANY music- totally depends on my mood. So, tonight, my running playlist was:

"So Small" Carrie Underwood
"Mercy" Duffy
"Let Go" Frou Frou
"Stay With You" Goo Goo Dolls
"The Walk" Imogen Heap
"First Time" Lifehouse
"Heartbreaker" Michael Jackson
"Morningside" Sara Bareilles
"Forever & Always" Taylor Swift

And it was perfect!! I think I'll sleep well tonight!

i-pod survey

What does your iPod say about you?
I love music so I thought this would be fun- and funny. Stole it from Trish!

Here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

1. What's my mood like right now?
"Happily Ever After" Carol Burnett from the musical "Once Upon a Mattress"

2. How's tomorrow going to be for me?
"Let Your Mercy Rain"- Chris Tomlin

3. What kind of person am I?
"There's Joy in Your Presence" - Fuge

4. Am I loved?
"Constant" - Watermark

5. How can I achieve my highest potential?
"No One Needs to Know"- Shania Twain (that's funny)

6. What should I do with my life?
"Slow Down"- Alicia Keys (thats REALLY funny- I've been hearing this exact phrase from my dad for years!)

7. Is everything really going to be alright in the end?
"I Believe"- Natalie Grant
AMEN!

8. What is my best quality?
"Rejoice" Shirley Ceasar

9. How does my social life look?
"There's Always Something to Remember" -Brian Whitman

10. What's the meaning of life?
"I Belong to You" - Reuben Morgan

11. What do people think of me?
"My Winding Wheel" - Ryan Adams

12. How crazy am I?
"When You Get to Me" -Lee Ann Womack

13. Where will I be a year from now?
"Hope changes everything - Newsong

14. What is my fondest wish?
"Fall in Love" -Kenny Chesney - already happened!

15. How did my parents meet?
"Someday we'll know" Mandy Moore & Jonathon Foreman

16. What will I dream about tonight?
"Alone at the Drive-In" from Grease

17. What should I be working on right now?
"God Only Knows" -Joy williams

18. What's my roommate up to currently?
"Last Time Lover" - Spice Girls

19. What did I do last weekend?
"Baby Baby All the Time" Diana Krall

20. Describe me.
"Take the world but give me Jesus" Matt Redman

21. What does my music player think of me?
"I am Yours"- Misty Edwards

So, I know she's been out for a long time (I first heard her through Kelly when she was in Frou Frou), but I have recently been listening again to Imogen Heap. There's a website called MyPlay where you can click and listen to lots of different artists, and I've been listening to Imogen and LOVING it! I added a couple of my favorite songs at the bottom of the page, so take a listen, ("Hide and Seek" has to be one of the coolest songs I've ever heard) and if anyone still needs a Christmas idea for me....you know what to get me :-0)

We are going to meet up with family tonight for dinner and have an exciting weekend ahead of us, which I am looking forward to. I just love Christmastime and am loving this year!! Last night, Jordan and I were desperately trying to watch our Colts play the Jags on the NFL network, which is a paid channel we don't have. We were switching back and forth from nfl.com to Jordan's phone and then back again. It was funny and a serious game, and we both breathed a HUGE sigh of relief as Freeney sacked Garrad and took us into the playoffs!!

We also found out we get to see Adam and Sarah Hubert and little baby Graham on Dec. 23! We are SO excited!!! Well, whatever your weekend holds- enjoy it and don't miss the little moments!

TOTALLY wonderful song over to the right- check it out!!

Okay- if you haven't gotten Brooke Fraser's CD, Albertine- now is your chance. It is just $5.99 on iTunes right now and is SO worth the buy.

This is one of my most favorite albums of all time and her voice is incredible! I love to support her, so PLEASE - go buy her album. I can't think of a better way for you to spend your 6 bucks!

I love finding new worship music. 10 years ago, there wasn't much out there, but then a revolution happened in modern worship and Passion & Hillsong began pumping out new stuff every other week it seemed, Chris Tomlin followed suit, and now we have a wonderful environment around the world of fresh new music constantly being poured out. Of course, granted, there are those who have taken their opportunity to capitalize on the chance to make some money, so there are plenty of "worship" albums out there that are anything but.

But I've been finding some great stuff. I am of course a huge fan of the stuff Hillsong produces and they've got a new one by United and Hillsong coming out in the very near future. VERY exciting! Chris Tomlin's got a new one coming out later this month, I think.

Here's what I'm listening to right now:



Gateway Worship, "Wake up the World" REALLY, REALLY enjoying this! Starting with the track "God of My Days," the next 4 tracks are incredible. Going to see about adding some of these to our worship rotation at church.



Jamie Jamgochian, "Above the Noise." Not all the songs on this are written by her, but I love her style. It's refreshing and pure, and I am looking forward to listening more and more to this record.



Jeremy Riddle, "Full Attention." I LOVE how he incorporates the choir on this record. It's a little "old school" style but it is BEAUTIFUL and POWERFUL! I've been enjoying this VERY much.

Anything you all are listening to that you're loving?

So I was totally in the mood for an old song. Click here to take a listen, and enjoy!



or

I couldn't embed this video- I guess Sony has it protected, but I am totally DIGGIN' this song. I actually stumbled on Sara Bareilles about 5 months ago on iTunes and loved her, but didn't buy the album. (it was $6.99 on iTunes- shoulda snatched it up) This is her second single and it's great!

Click HERE and take a listen

In addition to Rebox, and the new Hillsong United album, here's another great thing I've learned from Trish! (I'm telling you- if you don't have a Trish in your life, you need to get one pronto)

It's Pandora, and it's the best internet radio. You enter in the artists you like and it plays those artists and others like them. You can give thumbs up or down for songs you like or don't like. I don't typically listen to much music while I'm working unless it's really low, but this is a great option and I am really enjoying it. Here's a list of some of the artists in my pandora box: (where else could you get this grouping together?)
- Alcia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Brooke Fraser, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Chicago, Colbie Caillat, Jonny Lang, Jordin Sparks, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall, Keith Urban, Lifehouse, One Republic, Rascal Flatts, & U2! Fantastic!

Check out the song I updated on my "currently listening to" section to the right. If you've never listened to Phil Wickham, may I highly suggest this album. I absolutely love it!

Melinda

Melinda Doolittle was and still is my favorite American Idol contestant- I checked up on her today to see if there's any news. She has put out a single which I am definitely going to get...her singing "My Funny Valentine" is one of the best things I've ever heard AND she apparently has signed with BHCC for her management. This is the company I worked for for a year and half. How cool! I'm going to email my old boss and try to get the scoop.

Good morning. It's rainy and wet here in Tennesssee. We just got through a super cold weekend. And when I say cold, I mean COLD. Of course, watching that Green Bay game Sunday night, guess I really can't complain. By the end of the game it was an actual -4 degrees with a wind chill of -24. WHAT?!

Jordan and I had a great weekend, although he's feeling under the weather now. I've been trying to make sure he gets as much rest as possible, we have a youth in-town retreat this weekend so he needs ALL his energy.

We are doing well- more updates later. Check out the Alicia Keys song on the right. I've been diggin' this album. Jordan got it for Christmas, but I get to enjoy it too :-)

I pray you are filled today with the peace and joy of the Lord! Blessings,

I don't have time for a full post and update of our weekend, lots going on right now....so I give you a song for your listening pleasure. AMAZING song and AMAZING writer:

I'm adding a new element to my blog...that's right folks...very tech-savvy! I added a "What I'm currently listening to" section over on the right side next to the links. Check it out to hear an amazing Lifehouse song from their latest album. Really neat lyrics...

I think Jordan and I need to purchase some new Christmas music this year. It's been a while since I updated our collection and I know there are some really good things out there this year. Does anyone have any good recommendations they would like to share? We have the "standards:" Michael w. Smith, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Amy Grant, etc. but I'm looking for some new sounds. I like pretty traditional, no Black Eyed Peas Christmas or anything :-) But I am looking for some suggestions.

What I'm currently listening to on repeat:




I hope we can start doing this at church! Can't wait....