wake up, play music, eat, run, pray, play music…..repeat.

Wow! These last couple weeks have been busy and amazing and allot of fun. My wonderfully, talented producer Mark Heimmerman and me have been working in the studio. Two of my new songs are now demoed (is that a word?) and will hopefully be up on this site soon. Both of the the songs are about unrequited love which is always what I seem to be writing about.

This morning I wrote with Margaret Becker, songwriter/recording artist/amazing woman! After songwriting for awhile, She fixed me and her lunch as we chatted about anything and everything. Margaret is both wise and cool, what a sweet combination.

Most of my stay in Nashville have been like today: wake up, play music, eat, run, pray, play music…..repeat.

Yes!

Marie

Confessions of a Shopaholic- a cute movie.

Confessions of a Shopaholic is a really cute movie! It’s a story of a girl who is completely addicted to shopping but finds herself in a crisis that eventually leads her to discover what’s really important in life. If you love a good chick flick, then I recommend this movie.

It’s rated PG. Morally it’s much better than most movies out there today, but it’s Hollywood, so they must throw in the obligatory references to pre-marital sex.

Here’s the trailer…

A Marie song that you haven’t heard before

As you may know, Marie is down in Nashville writing and recording. Here’s a demo of a song called You are Enough. It’s a love song! Enjoy.

-Tess

 

 You are Enough [3:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!! Here are a few Irish fun facts to help make your day a little more festive!

-The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia, in County Galway.

-An odd Irish birthday tradition is to lift the birthday child upside down and give his head a few gentle bumps on the floor for good luck. The number of bumps should allegedly correspond to the child’s age plus one.

-A single day of good weather that pops up in a long stretch of bad days is known in Ireland as a “pet day.”

-In the olden days, a pig was often allowed to live in the house with the family on an Irish farm. It was commonly referred to as “the gentleman who pays the rent.”

-Ballygally Castle in County Antrim, currently a hotel owned by a major chain, is allegedly one of the most haunted places in the country of Ireland.

-Famous wit Oscar Wilde was born Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde in Dublin in 1854.

-The national symbol of Ireland is the Celtic harp, not the shamrock.

-According to tradition, an Irish wedding party should always take the longest road home from church.

-The tallest identical twins ever born were the Knipe Brothers from Magherafelt in County Derry in Ireland who were 7ft 2in. They were born in 1761.

Finding Your Lazarus

Yesterday the gospel reading was Luke’s story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. This parable deals with the most fundamental duty that we as persons owe to one another: To love our neighbor as ourselves. But every time a parable comes up about riches I usually hit the spiritual ”snooze” button, because I don’t have really have any money to give. Almost everything I own was given to me by my parents. How could I give money when I don’t really have any?  Well two ideas came to mind about how we as young people can dive into this parable, but first here’s the beginning of the parable from Luke chapter 16.

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  ²⁰And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  ²¹And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  ²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;”

So How do I not make the mistake the rich man made by ignoring the poor?

So my first thought is to practice the corporal works of mercy. So basically to feed the hungry, to give to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to give shelter to the homeless, to visit the sick, to visit the imprisoned. All these acts are way of serving the poor in your community no cash needed. 

Secondly, I think our Lord is talking about “riches” not only in regards to money but in richness in relationships, talent, beauty, or time. I need to figure where I am rich and share the wealth! My Lazerus could be the girl I see everyday who doesn’t really have any friends or a brother who needs help with his homework. I starting to see that the poor our often times in our families, schools, and work places. Another great place to serve the poor is in the pro-life movement. There is no one more helpless than a unborn child.

Riches come in many different forms. All I have to do is find my Lazarus and start giving!

Hair has never been better

Sometimes I wish I lived in the era when women wore fancy dresses, corsets, and gloves. That style of clothing is to die for! Wouldn’t it be amazing to walk out your front door looking like this?

Although there is one thing I do love about living in the modern day; the hairstyles. Hair can say so much and now a days we really know how to make it “speak”. Here’s a few modern day hairstyles to show you what I mean.

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Driving – a rite of passage

Yesterday was Monday and every Monday I drive my sister Tess and Tess D. (her close friend) to their tutor’s house for Math and Writing classes. Tess and Tess D. both have their permits and are about to start behind-the-wheel together. They can hardly wait to be able to drive without a parent in the passenger seat. I think all drivers can recall the anticipation of getting a license. Its all you think/talk about!! I remember the topic being of great interest when I was playing on a U-16 soccer team. The focus (besides soccer of course) was, “Has she gotten her license yet?” and “Oh my gosh! You got your license! No way!” or “I’m not getting mine for another two weeks and my dad is buying me a Jetta!”.

Nashville and me

Hello! Today I am sipping my coffee in a foreign land…..Nashville! The next couple months I will be immersing myself in this wonderful city, full of music and sometimes cowboy boots. I just love the south.

My older sister Tina lives in Nashville as a FOCUS missionary, and I knew wanted to spend sometime songwriting and simply hanging out with other musicians, so I took the jump and here I am. Dedicating my year to music has been an adventure, and I feel like this will seal the deal for an interesting year.

My AMAZING friend Margaret drove down with me and is flying back in a couple days. I can’t even tell you how nice it is to spend time with her. Yesterday we went to old town Franklin, which is what ever old town should be, and then we went to a beautiful mass at Vanderbilt University’s chapel.

Although this Nashville adventure is what I wanted, I already miss my family so much! I’m not one those kids that just wants to ”break free” from home. Of course I love to travel and be off on my own, but I already miss the rhythm of my family. I miss the sounds of their laughter and busyness of one single day. Most of all I miss constant friendship of my younger sisters.

In some ways I am happy to experience this sadness. As I get older I only realize more what a gift my family is to me. I know this time away will only magnify this realization.

Marie

Athletics and friendship

I love to run and play soccer. I’ve been realizing how much sports bring people together. Sports are such a bridge to fellowship and long lasting friendships. Through running and soccer I have developed and strengthened relationships with people that I now cherish. For example, I would not be so close with my friend Cecilia if it wasn’t for our years and years of playing soccer together. It was a bridge to an amazing friendship with her. Soccer also brought me to know Mandee Wheelock who trained me for several years. Mandee has been such a wonderful person in my life and I’m so happy I’ve gotten to know her through soccer.

Marie left today. So sad!!

Marie left this morning for Nashville. She is going to be living there for a few months to do music which means my days of laughter and smiles are over! Seriously, Marie is so amazing and she can make any situation fun. She has so many talents! One of my favorites is her skill of putting on foreign accents. I love when she pretends to be “Maria”, a spanish gal who relates everything back to her spanish boyfriend, Carlos. When she’s “Maria” I will ask her a question like, “do you like dancing?” and she she’ll respond (with the accent of course), “oh yes!! Carlos takes me salsa dancing all the time!”. It is so funny!

Marie and I get along really well and there’s nothing I enjoy more then hanging out with her. I am really going to miss her! The good news is that she won’t be gone too long and I might go visit her in April. Here’s a pic of Marie and me. Can’t you just feel the sisterly love?

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