Hello all! It is a dreary Monday morning and I am sleepy. I really shouldn’t be writing at all, as it is time for work to start, but thought I would at least say hi! I really need to wake up a bit more, as I feel like I’m in that hazy mind state halfway between sleep and wakefulness…hopefully this mocha helps with that. We shall see. I have to say – I much enjoyed my music driving to work today…it’s maybe a bit sad how much pleasure my music brings me at times, but there you go! Started listening to Seaspray again – surely one of my very favourite mix CDs. Just delightful. Puts me in the mood to go down to the seashore and gaze off into the horizon…but anyways, I suppose I’ll now just take my leave and write more at a later date. Farewell, friends.
Tag: playlist
Heartsong
Hello friends!! I have – for once! – a relatively free and quiet Saturday morning. And it is glorious. It’s coming near on noon now and I’ve already enjoyed a good breakfast and much reading time and now I thought I could catch up on some chronicling. Except I’ve discovered I don’t really feel like writing too much. Hm. Well – one thing I have neglected – I haven’t shared my last few mix CDs I’ve so much enjoyed creating! I actually just finished a new one this past week…but first, let me share a mix I made right before Christmas(and hence – shared with Laura and Maryanne). It may be my all-time favorite…truly a joy to listen to. At least that is my own not-quite-humble opinion. I present…
Seaspray
1. Bohemian Dances – The Dø
2. Sweet Ophelia – Zella Day
3. The Suburbs – Mr Little Jeans
4. Nature Will Remain – The Dø
5. Thanatos – Soap&Skin
6. Shadow – Birdy
7. Perfection – Oh Land
8. The Way We Get By – Spoon
9. Heart Attack – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
10. Dug My Heart – BØRNS
11. Cloak & Dagger – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
12. They Never Got You – Spoon
13. Aha – The Dø
14. Let It Happen – Tame Impala
15. Crystalised – The XX
16. Nothing Better – The Postal Service
17. Slip Away – Josh Garrels
18. Wishing Well – The Oh Hellos
19. Searching Gold – The Dø
And in my usual fashion, this mix does have a theme to it, although it may be slightly more dark and depressing than is my usual. In Laura’s words – it “sounds like an emo girl and her battle to save the world”…or something like that? Anyway – in my own confused, slightly odd mind – this mix came into fruition and as I listened to it, my mind conjured up the image of a girl standing on a seashore, looking off into the distance. Bundled up against the cold and her scarf blowing in the breeze, she ponders her life and all that she has done to stay strong and keep on keeping on. But yet. Never enough. And yet. And so the mix takes this girl through that progression of being strong in herself, to being depressed in what she has not…to trying to make everything better through such artifices as dance, love, drugs and mental fortitude. And then…comes the realisation that there must be something more. A higher truth, a greater power, a more perfect love. And a most perfect Lover. And in that, comes life and life eternal. And then as the album ends, the last song is a stark reminder though of this world’s tantalising pleasures and dangerous temptations. As I joked with Laura yesterday – I call this my “1st John” CD…because it ends with the simple warning “Little children, keep yourself from idols.” Anyway – far too much of an explanation for such a silly thing as a track-list. Yet, I enjoy it.
Be well, my dear friends. Remember, as children of God – we are loved. We are known. Peace and love.
Seaspray
And hello again! It is (still) Saturday and (still) Starbucks. I have semi-finished my new CD. Ok, not really, but I’ve cut it down to an hour, 47 minutes and am listening to it while I write this. Honestly, don’t think it’s good enough yet, so may not finalize for a few weeks. Thought since I have been thinking of mix CDs, will post a track-list from my last one(not HymnSing – that is the post below this!). This is a particular favourite of mine…may be my all time favourite. But of course, it is mostly just a peek through the window of my heart to what I’ve been currently enjoying…although I do think I can say it is critically acclaimed, as both Julie and Laura have testified it is quite good! You may notice a preponderance of certain artists. I feel a bit guilty of overloading…but the songs were just so good I couldn’t help it. Anyways…
eyes closed, Heart Open
1. In Memoriam – The Oh Hellos
2. Second Child, Restless Child – The Oh Hellos
3. Jerome – Zella Day
4. The Arrow – Josh Garrels
5. Mainstream Kid – Brandi Carlile
6. Tales of Brave Ulysses – Cream
7. Gila – Beach House
8. Intro – The XX
9. VCR – The XX
10. 1965 – Zella Day
11. Past Lives – BØRNS
12. Clouds – BØRNS
13. Electric Love – BØRNS
14. Hypnotic – Zella Day
15. Shelter – The XX
16. Heart of Chambers – Beach House
17. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight – The Postal Service
18. Ulysses – Josh Garrels
19. Compass – Zella Day
20. Go – The Civil Wars
21. Caesar – The Oh Hellos
O For a Thousand Tongues
Hello friends and happy Saturday!!!
I am currently at Starbucks(in Houston again!) and have been having a relaxing last couple of hours here. I recently have been putting together (another!) quality mix CD, purchasing various songs from hither and yon(er, or…from the wild Amazon) and now I’m at the point where I really need to listen to them together to judge the flow, etc. But I’m also rather silly and am refusing to do that since I’m currently listening to my Hymn playlist…and it is so joyous and marvelous and simply amazingly God-glorifying that I can’t listen to anything else just now. So thought I’d update this instead. Yay? And because I haven’t posted these track-lists yet, thought I’d record for posterity the last several mixes I’ve made…I rather enjoy them, but your tastes may(and will!) differ.
Firstly, the playlist I’m listening to now – HymnSing. I’ve long desired to have a proper CD with all my favourite hymns. During the course of making this, discovered that I have too many favourites for one CD. Oops? Anyways, I put this together and…it is rather wonderful. It may or may not have drawn tears during my first listen-through in my car one beautiful morning. Since these are all sung by various groups, not going to put the artists, just the title. Many of them are live recordings of simply amazing congregational and choir singing praises to our great God…who has forgiven us…everything. If you want a copy of this CD – message me on your preferred media and give me your address and I’ll send you a copy. Behold our God.
HymnSing:
1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
2. My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
3. Grace Greater Than All Our Sin
4. And Can It Be That I Should Gain
5. How Firm A Foundation
6. There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood
7. Before The Throne Of God Above
8. Behold Our God
9. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
10. O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus
11. Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
12. Jesus Paid It All
13. It Is Well With My Soul
14. Holy, Holy, Holy
15. O, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
16. All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name
17. Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain
18. Amen
Tears of Joy
Hello friends – and a happy Tuesday to you all!! I am going to write a quick update here before work begins…because this weekend has been quite a whirlwind, not at all the “free and relaxing” weekend I thought it was going to be! Well, it was a beautiful three day weekend but somehow I found a way to cram many many things into it. Hmm. Not one quiet night, what has become of me!!? Anyways! Friday night, had a fun time going to Torchy’s with Angela and John and having some good catch-up time with them(and delicious tacos, natch!) Saturday morning…somehow I got the brilliant idea that I needed to run since it’d been a while. So I got up uber early(to beat the heat, etc. Oh Houston) and ran my long run(10 mi). After I was halfway through, body was feeling great and so I was thinking I might push it to 13…but sadly my lack of hydration caught up with me about the 8 mile mark and so I most struggled those last couple miles. I decided not to be foolish and just finished my normal run. Anyway, once I hydrated, I felt great(albeit quite sore rest of day. And day after. And day after…) and I got to enjoy a nice coffee and reading morning at home. Eventually I went out, did various errands that needed doing(and buying books for people in Aberdeen, hurrah! I shall not name them here, just in case they’re reading this. Which is probably doubtful). Then I popped over to Starbucks for some online and writing time(which was very unsuccessful – I’m struggling with current story sadly). At this point, it was about 2pm and I realised I was very faint and dizzy and getting a headache. I wondered why. And then I remembered that I had sort of forgotten to eat anything all day. Even after my run. Oops? So I went to Trader Joe’s, got some hatch chile mac’n’cheese(which was quite good!) and then ate that at home while watching college football(which has returned! Houston beat Oklahoma and Texas A&M beat UCLA and Texas beat ND…so all is well in the state of Texas today).
And wow, this entry is a bit ridiculous – I am rambling overmuch and I would apologise, but I’m not done yet. I shall try to quicken the pace though, as I do need to start work soon. So where was I? Saturday? Oh yes. Right. So, after watching a bit of college football, I had plans with Jared to hang out and watch a movie at my place. Sadly, he had to cancel because of some family plans that came up…but since I have awesome friends that invited me to something else(thanks Lea and Marianna!), my evening did not go wasted. Went to the Miller Outdoor Theatre and enjoyed some quality baroque music and some even more quality conversation with the aforementioned Lea and Marianna. I got home at some point and promptly fell into bed. Sunday! Sunday was the day of days. Church(which was marvelous and encouraging and God exalting!), then missions prayer time, then had some good sushi with Jonathan and Julian for lunch. Afterwards when I was back at my place, invited Julie over for tea and reading time, but sadly(not really!) we got no reading done and just had a great time talking and talking and talking instead. She is such an encouraging and dear friend! After that…Jared came over and we had some dinner and watched the Texas-ND game(instead of movie, because who needs a movie when you have football?). And unsurprisingly, while we watched the game, the best part was just talking about life. And thus ended my Sunday, in which I got approximately one hour to myself. And I am not complaining one bit.
And…er, I really need to cut this off here, even though I haven’t even talked about yesterday(Labor Day) yet. Oh well – just know that it was good and God blessed. As always. I must simply praise my God for always blessing me oh so much. Of course, there are some parts of life that are sorrowful and so we must grieve. But when I am enjoying life, I must recognize that it is God my Father who has blessed me so – and I thank Him and Him alone.
This morning, I heartily enjoyed listening to my newest mix CD…it is maybe my best yet. It is all hymns(do not laugh!) and it is beautiful. It is very unoriginally entitled HymnSing and it contains pretty much all my favourite hymns. Singing them in the car this morning as I thought about the love of God…oh what tears, oh what joy. When someday God grants that I may return to Him(oh come that day!), I do hope that some of these songs are sung. Oh how wondrous it is, to think that the blood of Jesus has paid for all my sins. That is my theme, my song. I will at some point post the track-list, but now I shall simply end this very very long entry(my apologies, dear friends) and leave you with this…
Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine?
A Hint of Cinnamon
Hello friends!! It’s a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon here in Houston – I currently sit in Starbucks, as is my custom many a Saturday. I have been doing random things of an internet nature and have spent far too much time on crafting my next two mix CDs. One is a standard indie/alt/folk mix…still doesn’t quite flow right, but it’s getting there. Lots of Oh Hellos, Josh Garrels and Beach House!! The second CD is a dance mix…something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, but just haven’t got around to it. I’m not quite sure who else will like it besides me, but it’s coming together nicely. David Guetta, deadmau5, Laura Izibor…it’s a very interesting and peppy mix thus far!
Anyways, I’m also looking at random flights to Aberdeen…I really don’t know if I should travel there, but I miss people and I’m very tempted and the prices are actually decently reasonable. So we’ll see. Would flying out there in September be too rash of a decision?? Don’t answer that.
I’m also feeling rather tired and sick lately(not fun)…not sure if it’s allergy related or just some other random sickness, but I’m just extremely low on energy lately. Hence today, after having breakfast with Brandon and Chase, came back to my place and almost fell asleep again on my couch!! Well, today’s going to be a quiet day, so hopefully I regain some of my energy. Have leftover lasagna in the fridge…thinking I’ll have that with a fresh tomato salad for dinner. If anything will cheer me up, that’ll do it!
Now I really wanted to write something creative and inspiring today, but I’m really not feeling it now. Sadly. Even with multiple cups of coffee today. Alas, my muse, why do you leave me all alone??
I’m going to sign off and drink the rest of my coffee and just sit and think and pray here. Maybe I shall write something else too, maybe not. But whatever I do, thanking the Lord my God for who He is and what He has done for me – I owe all to Him. He is my Lord. He is my God!!!
For Emma
Hello friends!! I am at Starbucks in Houston…and really wanted to write something good and proper on this second day of the year 2016. But I can’t think of what to say. Tragedy of tragedies. And so just to fill this space, will post the track list for my most recent mix CD(one I gave to Maryanne and Laura for Christmas! Oh, and to John too. And Julie). And we’ll see if it stands the test of time, but I am very pleased with it and think it may be my most favourite mix yet. Thus, I present:
the tragic fall and most surprising Redemption of anakin skywalker
1. Thus Always to Tyrants – The Oh Hellos
2. Pressing Flowers – The Civil Wars
3. Poison and Wine – The Civil Wars
4. Tip of My Tongue – The Civil Wars
5. Flume – Bon Iver
6. Master of None – Beach House
7. Danse Macabre – The Oh Hellos
8. Auburn and Ivory – Beach House
9. Re: Stacks – Bon Iver
10. Seven Swans – Sufjan Stevens
11. Paths – Seryn
12. I Was Wrong – The Oh Hellos
13. Hold On – Seryn
14. To The Desert – The Branches
15. Going Home – The Branches
16. Lay Me Down – The Oh Hellos
17. At the Table – Josh Garrels
18. The Sower’s Song – Andrew Peterson
19. Revelator – Josh Garrels
20. Trees – The Oh Hellos
And you may notice quite a bit of repetition..but I just couldn’t help it. This list very much reflects my new favourite artists and albums of 2015 – you’ll see Beach House, Bon Iver, Sufjan, Branches, Josh Garrels, Andrew Peterson, etc…and what I’m saying is my very favourite of this past year – The Oh Hellos(many many thanks to John for introducing me to them and persuading me to go to a most awesome concert of theirs in Austin!!! I am most grateful). This mix is also very much thematically arranged. My sisters and Caisson had much fun trying to figure out how this mix mapped to Anakin’s journey…and while that somewhat works, this mix is most of all designed to show the journey of a lonely broken person from darkness into light…from the great sickness of the soul(complete with pride and sorrow and supreme self love…) to the realisation that we cannot save ourselves and that we are totally broken and lost…and there is only One who can save. And that is the story and metaphor of this mix. Although it’s not perfect, I do love it and it also happily matches my current music tastes as well. What can I say?
And that was a bit longer than I even thought I could write today!! Now it’s already far too late in the afternoon and I am off to Trader Joe’s to do some food shopping(thinking sausage and mash tonight for dinner!) and then back to my place to enjoy a relaxing Saturday afternoon. Will most likely read some more of my George Whitefield bio…it’s so so good. I can now un-categorically state that it is my favourite ever biography(sorry Edwards!!) and I am very sad that I am already almost halfway through Volume 2. So good and so encouraging. Oh that I could be blessed by God in such manner as Whitefield! Oh that I could serve my God in so wholehearted a fashion and with such pure and passionate love! And I then muse upon my current state and realise how very blessed I am. I am known by God. I am loved by God. This I know and in this I rejoice. And now I pray – in this knowledge and joy may I live my life and walk day by day. May my heart’s song ever be raised up to my Lord and my God. Forever and always I sing,
Oh for a thousand tongues to sing – my great Redeemer’s praise!
Veil of Stars
Hello friends – happy Saturday!! I’ve just finished some quality mix-CD-creating…at some later date(after Christmas maybe?), I’ll share the song-lists with you. As of now, both CDs(one for Maryanne and one for Laura!) are titled “Veil of Stars” and “Lilies on the Sun”. Pretty quality mix of songs, if I do say so myself. I’m actually super excited to give these CDs to them!! (Sisters, hope you’re not reading this. If so…oops?) Anyways, it’s already almost 2:30 in the afternoon, so I should probably start progressing my afternoon. I will soon(on to grocery store to shop for dinner…dinner being lasagna…YES), but figured I could squeeze in a quick entry. A week from now, I will be in Florida – hometime once again. It shall be glorious.
And the main reason I wanted to write a bit is to describe last night – and the awesomeness that it contained. Andrew Peterson(a recent favorite artist of mine, which you’d know if you’ve read previous entries…) is doing his annual Christmas tour – “Behold the Lamb of God”. Me and Daniel decided a few weeks ago that it’d be fun to hit it up, but I have to say, as of yesterday afternoon, I was not feeling it. It’d been a long week and a long day of working frantically and I was worn out. But – tickets were bought and plans were laid and I wasn’t about to back out. So as soon as I got back home from work, turned around in ten minutes(after filling up a travel cup with delicious honey-laden coffee…thank you Daniel for that suggestion!) and off we drove. Conveniently(said sarcastically), the concert was on the far southeastern side of Houston and so we made the fun drive through all of Houston to get to our destination. Happily(not sarcastically!), that meant me and Daniel got some quality chat as I drove the hour plus journey through the heart of Houston. And soon enough, we made it to the concert and enjoyed some super quality music. The first half of the show consisted of songs from a lot of the support singer/songwriters accompanying Andrew Peterson. I must confess, I was a bit annoyed at first – I’d come to hear Andrew Peterson, after all – didn’t really want to hear a bunch of other people! But seriously, all of the other artists were simply magnificent. Their songs were gorgeous, dripping with longing and love, passion and awe. And so at the intermission point, me and Daniel promptly went out and bought some of their CDs. I had promised myself early on not to buy very much…and I failed miserably. Ended the night with four new albums and one new book! Quality Christmas presents for myself. Yes? Oh and…Andrew Peterson finished the first half of the show by playing “Don’t You Want to Thank Someone”, one of my very very very favorite songs of late. He started off reciting the words as poetry…before playing/singing the rest. It was beautiful. I was overwrought with emotion. Thank You, God. …And the second half of the show was Andrew Peterson and his accompanists playing straight through his “Behold the Lamb of God” album. And it was gorgeous. A tale weaving stories from the Old Testament and New, focusing on the most glorious Person of Christ, the very Son of God. I rejoiced. Love and joy and hope and wonder!!! The songs finished and as we rose to applaud, all the musicians came together to accept our adulation…and then stop it – as they started all singing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”. The rest of us joined and we worshiped God together. Beautiful majestic God, do we worship You. After that song finished, Andrew started off the Doxology, which we all said together in reverent praise. By the time we finished, the artists were off-stage and we were all thinking about the most glorious God of Heaven. As it should be. Praise be to God. Amen and Amen.
And far too many words, my friends. My apologies! And now I am off to do some errands and be about the rest of my day. Peace and love, my dear friends.
Lilies on the Sun
Hello friends! On this beautiful and most delightful Saturday, I sit here at Beans coffeeshop, about to head out. But I must not let the opportunity to write a quick update pass me by! I’ve just enjoyed a pretty awesome morning here, sipping on first my mocha, then a nice honey-flavored green tea. Now, the afternoon is beginning to wear on, and I really should get back to the house. Me and Daniel are planning to see Interstellar at the cinema, and I’ve been here long enough, methinks! Last night had a sweet relaxing Friday night, involving eating a delicious dinner(grilled burgers! green bean casserole! deliciousness!) and watching random videos with Daniel(Legend of Korra!!). And today, I really should be prepping for Tuesday bible study, but I’ve been doing Christmas shopping instead. And mixing up an awesome playlist(I think I’ll burn it for Maryanne’s Christmas present…but it’s so great, I’ll make myself a copy too I think). Now though, as disjointed as this entry is, time for me to go. One of these days, I’ll write something properly, but this will have to do for now.
Peace always, friends!!!
Ariel
Just going to write a few words this afternoon – don’t feel in much of a writing mood, to be honest! But as it is Saturday, thought I couldn’t just leave this page blank. Just got done doing some cleaning around the flat – vacuuming, laundry, etc. Also threw a bunch of old papers out in preparation for upcoming move(current date is set in September – about a month to go here in Scotland). Now, sipping my coffee and debating on whether I want to go out in the garden to sit and read or not. The weather is a bit inconstant, fluctuating between sun and clouds. We shall see. Anyways, for now I write!
This past week’s been another busy week, so having a day of rest today is just oh so lovely. And this morning got to catch up with Jackie at Books and Beans – fantastic! First time I’ve seen her in a while – as always, awesome chat.
And now I sit and ponder on the words I’ve just read in Isaiah – frightening and terrifying and glorious. The judgment of God sits heavy upon the land of Israel(and yea, even the whole earth). It is terrible to think of us, the clay who rebels against our Maker. And we think we know better and we think we are gods. And we are as nothing. We are but dust. And yet we rage.
But then we come to these beautiful words!
Is it not yet just a little while before Lebanon will be turned into a fertile field,
and the fertile field will be considered as a forest?
On that day the deaf will hear words out of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD,
and the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. – Isaiah 29:17-19
And now I think I may go outside after all! Trying to figure out what to read though – Lord of the Rings is my normal outside-reading book and I finished it yesterday. Oh such a good book!
Before I do go outside and enjoy the sun…I leave you with my latest CD, “The Homestretch II”:
1. Let There Be – Gungor
2. Build Your Kingdom Here – Rend Collective
3. In Your Sleep – Andrew Belle
4. Lover of the Light – Mumford and Sons
5. Maybe They’re On To Us – Needtobreathe
6. Hello Again – Lost Prophets
7. Taikatalvi – Nightwish
8. Storytime – Nightwish
9. Stars – Philip Quast – Les Mis
10. Night Castle – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
11. Butterflies and Hurricanes – Muse
12. The Scientist – Coldplay
13. Never Grow Up – Taylor Swift
14. Make My Life a Prayer to You – Keith Green
15. War – Trip Lee
16. It is Well with my Soul – Bob Kauflin
17. This is Not the End – Gungor
18. Finish the Fight – Martin O Donnell – Halo 3
Now – time for garden and sun and being with my Lord.
Peace, my friends – and much love!
Something Weird 