A little humor for the holidays!

I rarely watch television at home but when I travel I’ll check to see if I’ve been missing anything (usually not!). We were staying at the Embassy Suites in Nashville and on the house channel they continuously looped through about a half dozen or so Embassy Suite commercials. They were really funny and we had a good time showing them to anyone who came to our room. (It was Gospel Music Association’s Music Week, so my band and some other family members were also staying at the hotel.) Anyway, I thought I’d share one of them with ya’ll just for fun!

-Marie

 

 

Memories of Catholic Underground

So….Last weekend I drove up to Connecticut with Clare (my dear friend and harpist) to play at a Catholic Underground in Connecticut. Catholic Underground (www.catholicunderground.net) is this amazing event that was started by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (www.franciscanfriars.com) The event includes a holy hour (beautiful hour to worship), fellowship with other committed Christians, and entertainment of some sort. Catholic Undergrounds are popping up all over the country, including L.A and NYC (where it was started).

The Connecticut Catholic Underground was awesome! Everyone was so friendly and open to Clare and me. My set ended with “Here I am to Worship”, and the whole room sang. So powerful!!

On the way home Clare and I stopped in NYC to busk (the art of performing on street corners). We played for about an hour at Columbia Circle and were able to soak in all the wonders of New York City. This was actually my second visit to NYC in a week. I went up earlier with my Dad for a Dietrich Von Hildebrand Legacy Project event. Von Hildebrand was a heroic Catholic philosopher (stood up to the Nazis) whose fans include Pope Benedict. The Legacy Project promotes Von Hildebrand’s writings.

NYC was fun, but Catholic Underground was amazing! I am talking to fellow blogger and Catholic Underground LA organizer Rebecca Christian about performing there! btw, youve got to check out Rebecca’s blog, it’s without doubt one of the best out there http://modestia.stblogs.com.

Yours,

Marie

Hillsong’s At The Cross – Great way to start the day!

Yesterday, I woke up to the sound of rain drops on our roof top which made me want to stay in bed and read all day! Do rainy days do that to you too? Once I finally got out of bed, my Dad showed me a video of Hillsong performing a song called “At the Cross”. This song/video is very powerful and I was deeply touched by the lyrics. It definitely exemplifies how prayer can be expressed through song. So here’s the video with the lyrics included. I pray that it moves you like it did me.

With love,

Tess

Cranford……AMAZING!

Cranford is witty, deep, light, romantic, and it will reach you in some way or another.  So enjoy the trailer, then watch this beautiful film. You and at least your mother (if not your whole family) are going to be swept away by the world of Cranford. I love it.  Enjoy! ~Marie

She put the “Happy” in my Birthday

Last Sunday I celebrated my 18th birthday. Well actually my birthday was on Wednesday, but we celebrated it on Sunday because that was the day everyone could be together. My day started out very nice. I woke up to Dad serving me a cup of coffee and I enjoyed it with my parents as we discussed the agenda for this special day. I came to the conclusion that I wanted to spend the day with Mom – my favorite person in the whole wide world. So mom and I grabbed a quick breakfast, went for a run, and then headed to Mass at Holy Trinity. After Mass we ate a big lunch to get energized for the mall! Yay! “Now were dangerous”, Mom said as we were driving towards the mall, and I wholeheartedly agreed.

I have to say that going shopping on your birthday is the best thing ever because you get so spoiled. Mom is the perfect person to shop with and our time together was precious. Spending my day with her was amazing and I felt that deep connection between mother and daughter. Mom put the “happy” in birthday. She gave me a day of great conversations, super shopping, treasured fellowship, and most importantly the warmth of her incredible love!

Mom and I got home around 8:00 and had pie and ice cream with the rest of my family.  Also my oldest brother, Joey, was there, and that always puts a smile on my face. I could never ask for a better birthday!

I would like to give a shout out to all fellow November babies. You are all in my prayers this month and I hope you have a very happy birthday!

-Carol Lynn

Viva la Vida

If you’re anything like me or my sisters, then you probably have been listening to Coldplay since their Yellow days. Chris Martin’s voice has always had that kind of resonance that immediately grabs you and pulls you into the song, but in their latest release, Viva La Vida, his vocals are even richer. Personally, it’s my favorite Coldplay CD so far. Another thing that I love about it is that a portion of the songs have some spirituality at play in the lyrics.

Life Teen’s movie and music reviewer, Jose Martinez, writes that Coldplay’s song, “Cemeteries of London” says a lot about not being able to hear God because of not being open to Him. Here are a few lines from the song:

“God is in the houses / and God is in my head / and all the cemeteries of London / I see God come in my garden / But I don’t know what He said / For my heart, it wasn’t open.”

So if you aren’t already a Coldplay fan, you should check them out at www.coldplay.com.

Cool weather brings cool clothes

One great thing about cool weather is the great clothes that come with it! Layering can make ordinary clothes look pretty extraordinary. And you don’t have to be a millionaire to get the job done! I love Macy’s sale rack, Ross and Marshalls are pretty good, and thrift stores are always fun.  I went to instyle online, and found some amazing coats. For me, coats are where its at. Talk about making a outfit look complete. All you need is a nice fitted coat and a cool scarf, and you’re good.

Make your passion your prayer

I’ve learned that prayer is conversing with God not only through dialogue but also through actions. What a great concept! We can actually make our passions and talents a prayer! It’s an incredible thing to be an athlete, artist, singer, or dancer, but its even more incredible to be something for Someone.

Think about your passions and all the time you put into them. I used to play travel soccer and I remember how much time I spent at practice, and driving to games. Possessing a passion for something takes time, energy , and effort. The good news is that we can transform our passion into a prayer simply by giving everything to and  doing everything for God.

By giving our talents to God we become bearers of Him because we carry Him with us every time we show up at the soccer field, basketball and volleyball courts, dance class, music lessons, and so on. In other words, if you’re present then He’s present!

Mother Teresa taught us how to give all to Christ when she said, “Let us spend ourselves with Him and for Him. Let Him see with your eyes, speak with your tongue, work with your hands, walk with your feet, think with your head and love with your heart.” Living in this way will allow us to live a prayer.

Carol Lynn

An Enchanted Evening

This weekend my sisters and I performed for our friend Regina Doman (author of four fairy tale novels) and her lovely fans.  As the girls and I walked up to Regina’s cozy cottage we were greeted by other girls dressed up as princesses, medieval maidens, and gypsies. I looked more like a hippie (are you surprised?), while Carol Lynn and Teresa had dressed themselves with a bit of fairy flare. My sister Michelle and her friend Maria Lee were Cinderella and Cinderella’s fairy godmother (so cute!).

The performance was so much fun. At each praise and worship song a loud chorus of female voices filled the warm and happy house. After we played we opened up the stage and many of the guests shared their own musical talents. Danny Schneible, a good friend of ours, played some lively music and we all danced the ”Virginia Reel”.  It was a wonderful night, and perhaps it was the timeless blessings of friends, live music, and laughter, that made me feel as though I had, for a brief period, escaped the “real” world. I was half expecting Sleeping Beauty and Snow White to come through the door.  It was one of those nights where the everyday world and the fairy tale world were the same.

I hope all is well with everyone!

Blessings,

Marie

Sidenote:  Enjoying a traditional dance like the ”Virginia Reel” or watching a Jane Austen film or a musical like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, reminds me just how much fun dancing can be. If you have the time, check out ballroom, contra, or caeli dancing in your local area. If you feel that traditional dancing is just too “nerdy” to bother with, then I recommend that you watch a video of today’s free style dance. Is it really that “cool”? I agree that it feels good to bounce around to the latest radio hits, but I’m not so sure that the “awkward hug” (i.e., current slow dance form) is as fun (or as cool) as a waltz.

Banner picture on home page by Kayla Algrani

Mother Must be Praying

Here’s Marie’s tribute to the power of intercessory prayer. We dedicate this song to all Moms. Praise Jesus for choosing a humble virgin to be his Mother and for choosing Roxanne Marie Miller to be our Mom!