songs and memories

funny how a song
can conjure up memories.

i can be driving down the road,
a song will come on the radio
and memories will come flooding
over me.

good & bad the memories
are usually pretty strong.

music
has that ability.

to take me away.

this is why at church
when i am worshipping
the music is what brings my
heart in to complete surrender.
i am open and ready to hear His word.

music
has that ability.

there are a few songs
that are just so lovely
that when i hear them
i have to stop what i am doing
and just
sigh & smile
at the beauty
and the warm feeling
that comes over me.

two of the songs
right off the top of my head?

via: pintrest

i started singing this
little song to my
grandson when he was quite small.
when i think of a song to sing to him,
this is what i always think of!

he brings me sunshine!

the other day my daughter
posted on facebook a video
my 4 year old grandson singing this song!

it made me smile!
such joy.
what a memory to hold on to!

photo by: melody-mae

i went shopping the other day
this sign was in a gift shop.
i hurried and snapped a photo
before the lady could tell me not to! :)

this song;
what can i say?
when i hear this song
a warm feeling washes over me.

it is such a perfect song.

the song evokes
the kind of attitude

that. i. strive. for. every. day!

yes, the song sums it up for me:

and i think to myself what a wonderful world!!!


have a lovely friday my friends~
& be blessed.

The sun comes out

this morning as i was on my walk

this song came to my mind.

we sing it at our church;
and every single time we do,
it blesses me!
truly. blesses. me.

Matt Redman - Ten Thousand Reasons (10,000 Reasons) (Bless the Lord), New Album - 10,000 reasons, Year: 2011

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name

oh, how sweet!

my daughter and son in law
were a huge part of the worship team
at our church for the past 4 years or so.
the last two sundays before they moved
i was asked to sing with them
as part of the team
and was honored,
as it blessed me so much to
be up there singing with my girl
(we use to do quite a bit when she was younger)

so, now that they are in austria
there is a huge hole in the worship team-
& i have been asked to sing with
them on a regular basis which is so much fun!
*i love lifting my voice and praising!

anyway, the story goes like this;
i am at worship practice last night
and during a break i grabbed
my phone to check to see if i had
anything, and lo and behold...
i had a text message from a high school friend!

before she left our class reunion the other night,
we exchanged emails and phone numbers
i told her to text me anytime-
the next morning i texted her to tell
her how awesome it had been to reconnect
with her and that i would love to see her again.
she was going back home to arizona
and swore the next time she was home
she would let me know...

so, i get a text from HER!

the text says: are u walking in the morning?
me: yes! are you here?
her: yes, i am at my parents house.
where do you walk?
so i proceed to tell her some of my walking
'spots'
we made a date to walk this morning
at 7am.
we walked and talked for over an hour and a half
and i mean we WALKED, this was not a not stroll!! ;)
*no wonder she looked so amazing at the reunion,
that girl can WALK!

we had such a great time visiting
and catching up some more!

i also found out she comes home every
couple months or so to visit her parents!
she promises to let me know when we can
get together again!

oh, how sweet is that?!

life is lovely!

i am SO thankful today, for friends
yes, thankful indeed!

how about you?
do you have something you
are thankful for today?

will you share it with me?
i would love to know what makes
you happy and thankful! :)

let's shine!
see beautiful today!

sing

when i thought this morning
of the letter s
singing came to my mind.

music and singing
is a HUGE part of our life-
in fact, yesterday on the
way to watch hunger games
we listened to our daughter and son in law's
 CD in our car!!
if you click on their page;
a fine pair of misfits
you can listen to a few of the songs for FREE...
you can buy it on that site as well.  ;)
number five is my current FAVORITE right now...
oh, i am so blessed by that song, it just really touches me!
of course i would love for you to head over to their
facebook page and 'like' them: https://www.facebook.com/AFPOMmusic
if you do, let them know i sent you! ;)

may you have a wonderful weekend
it is so gorgeous out today
here in the pacific northwest!
i think a bike ride or a long walk
is part of the plan! :)



psalm 95:2 
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms


shine,

my first blog giveaway!!

i am
 super excited

to have my first giveaway!

many of my friends/followers have

heard me talking 

about my daughter and son in law

and their music.

well...

they have an AMAZING CD

that was just released 

and i could not be more 

proud of the two of them!

the 

songs

will

speak straight to your heart!

do not be surprised 

if

you are like me...

and find yourself humming

a chorus or two from

one or more

the great songs!

this is

 a self-titled CD:

A Fine Pair of Misfits

so here is the deal;

i have 3 ways for you

to WIN their CD-

visit  here

there are 4 songs

on the website you can listen to

for free.

tell me which song you liked best

in the comment box for 

1 entry.

then you can:

'like' A Fine Pair of Misfits

on facebook!

then leave me a comment below

telling me you did-

this will give you
 1 entry.

and finally...

follow A Fine Pair of Misfits

on twitter!

then

leave me a comment below

telling me you did
and this will give you
1 entry!

of course you can

always order

the CD

here

i promise you will 

not be disappointed!

i will draw a name

next friday

march 16th
and post it
in saturday's post!

good luck! 

~~~~

may you

have a lovely weekend-

i pray

 that you would

see the beauty

that surrounds

us

each and every day!

that you would take

time

to be thankful

for it all...

won't you join me

in sharing

your smile 

with others?

such a small effort

can mean so much

to the receiver 

of just one

 YOUR smiles.

 :)

let's shine our light

my friends

shine.

It's Friday, Friday...getting down on Friday

okay so if you are like our household
then you have heard the RIDICULOUS (ugh)
catchy   song by rebecca black...
oh my goodness, since i actually have
a daughter/son in law who write
REAL meaningful, soulful christain music/lyrics,
this song has been somewhat funny
for us here in this household
but, i will admit (much to my dismay) the tune is catchy
even if the lyrics ARE just plain ridiculous!
i have read that
the song  'friday' by rebecca black
is an internet sensation
receiving over 1 million hits on youtube
on its premiere day!!!!


so i am watching the grandson
today, the babysitter was busy
so granny to the rescue!
i am going to try and meet my friend
for coffee later this afternoon though
so here is what day twenty looks like...
wearing the same cardi today but,
switched it up with a skirt  and tank
instead of the jeans and button up-
super duper comfy for a
coffee date with a friend!

so see, i told you yesterday that i LOVED this cardi and could wear it everyday...;)

i am wearing pearls that were thrifted...a tank top from urban outfitters, khaki skirt is so old... blue nylons from target and super cool boots are lucky brand from tjmaxx

may you have a wonderful and lovely weekend...
the sun is shining here AGAIN...but weather man
says it won't last...sigh...
anyway, be happy....shine your light my friends
life is truly wonderful

blessings,
melody-mae

*taking the good with the bad*

You take the good, you take the bad

You take them both and there you have

The facts of life, the facts of life

do you remember this show in the 80's?
yeah, i know i am aging myself here...
but, this theme song kept running through my head this morning...

The Facts of Life

You take the good,
You take the bad,
You take them both and there you have the facts of life.
*********
when the day seems dark and lonely
the problems make you feel alone
oh yes, those day will come
my only prayer is you keep
looking towards the Son
we all have them
good days and bad
i try to count my many blessings
and be thankful
but, it is sometimes hard
when you have people you know & love
who are hurting...some with such a deep hurt
that only God can heal them
though we know God never promised us
a life without sorrow
it is hard sometimes to see beyond it
and look towards the happiness

i know, yes i know, i have been there

when the darkness seemed overwhelming

and all i could do was fall on my knees
when i turned my face upwards seeking the Son

it is then i am reminded of the many gifts i have

and i treasure those little things
the small and simple pleasures
things like:
a coffee date with the hubbie
an arby's burger and curly fries when i know full well i should not be eating them
a spontaneous date to a movie in the afternoon with my hubs
brand new pillows for my bed that just make you want to sink in and not come out
& fresh clean sheets on that bed
playing with my two year old grandson
watching his face light up when he comes to visit
how he says, " Hi Granny!"
how spending time with him just makes me smile
how blessed can one granny be?
he is growing so fast and it is pure joy watching him
learn new things each day
or  how about holding my little grandbaby in my arms
and watching him smile when i talk to him or
how just yesterday he fell asleep in my arms while we
were walking in the mall, he layed his head on my shoulder and went limp and fell asleep,
fulling trusting his granny to hold him and keep him safe

an amazing worship team at church that just blesses me each and every week
(two who happen to be my daughter and son in law) ;)

visiting a friend and knowing she loves me unconditional

that we take good with the bad in our relationship

we have been through both the good and bad and know

we are there for each other always

being one of five lucky winners of a beautiful 8x8 print from:
http://trishabrinkdesign.blogspot.com/

yes when the world keeps spinning and life keeps comin' at ya

we know it will have sadness and gladness

my prayer today is that your GLADNESS

totally outweighs your sadness
that you are able to see through the darkness
maybe it is only a pinhole of light coming through that cloud
but concentrate on that light...let it fill you

may you have happiness today

know you are loved

and life is good

it is a gift and it is good!

for those of you who have asked about my friend's grandson, Cash...those who have offered prayers
you can read his blog here:

 http://acashofhope.blogspot.com/

sweet Saturday

what a beautiful feeling it is

my 'body's alarm' went off this morning just like every other morning only today
I decided that I would ignore that alarm! I looked out our window and the sun was shining
and I thought I really should get up and get something done...but I rolled over, and went back to sleep!
oh my goodness, it feels so wonderful to get up slowly, and drink coffee and just think about what
is in store for today...just slowly taking my time...how sweet is that!?

I really 'should' be cleaning and organizing the house since we are having a DINOSAUR birthday party
tomorrow for a sweet TWO year old! But, you know what? I am sitting here with coffee in front of our fireplace
just enjoying the day! If the house isn't as clean as I really would like, will others know or will it just be me?
Sometimes I think I take the fun right out of entertaining others because I am so darn stressed about it all and then
who in the world has fun? Today, I thought maybe just the basics...and call it good! The reason they are coming
over tomorrow is to celebrate J-man's big day not to see if I cleaned the house! Okay I am trying to talk myself into this. ;)

As I fill up my coffee cup one more time, my honey is putting together a Jr. Drum set for J-man...oh man he is going to go crazy!!
I cannot wait to see his face...hopefully I will have some pictures of the moment he sees his big gift!
You see my grandson comes from two parents who are crazy musically talented....my daughter writes her own songs and sings and my son in law... plays pretty much every instrument there is and sings harmony with her as well.
They lived in Nashville for 3 years and cut a couple of demo cds...now I get to hear them each and every week at church, as they sing on the worship team! Anyway I digress, my grandson has been playing 'drums' with any and every bucket and stick he can find for months now and so a real drum set is going to be a huge hit!! My only rule: it goes home with his parents!!!LOL
So again, I sit here thinking of all I should be doing...hmm, maybe I should at least get out of my jammies??!!
hehe, here's hoping each and every one of you has a wonderful and blessed weekend!

the honey aka 'gramps' putting the drum set together. (excuse the bad phone picture...)
 melody

on being thankful #6

What a wonderful full day we had

We had a Women's Retreat this morning/afternoon at our church.

My middle daughter was on the worship team
who lead us in music ministry
plus she sang two solos...
I am thankful to attend the same church that her and her
sweet familly worship at

I am thankful
I was able to attend the retreat today with
My mom, my mom-in-law and
ALL three of my darling daughters
how lucky can one lady be?

It was a great day
wonderful speakers
beautiful music, food...
the decorations were gorgeous
the company at my table
the BEST

I am very thankful today
for all my many blessings
but today I am thankful for
my family, music and christian fellowship

So, today what are you thankful for?

this is ONE of the songs my daughter sang today...:)
may you be blessed by this beautiful song.

My Sunday Song

Holy Spirit Have Your Way by : Leeland

I am so blessed each Sunday to hear my daughter and son- in- law, play and sing on our church worship team!
Today my daughter sang a solo with her husband accompanying her, they did this song for communion. How blessed...

'More of you and less of me'

linking to:

sunday thought

This chorus from Jeremy Riddle's song 'Sweetly Broken'
really touches me...


At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I am sweetly broken, wholly surrendered...


happy sunday-

Better Than A Hallelujah Amy Grant

I am and always will be a huge, huge Amy Grant fan!

When the girls were small, Amy Grant and Micheal W. Smith were household names. Their songs were sung along to in the car and in the house constantly. I don't think the girls knew that there was any other kind of music BUT praise music for a very long time!!