Moving Day!

I haven't been writing anything lately as I was packing and preparing for my move to North Carolina. But after months (or years) of waiting for this day it is finally here.

It's a little after 4:00 in the morning and I have a couple of little chores to do here at the home I have shared with my sister for the past year, but then I'm on the road.

The U-Haul is loaded down and the snacks are packed.

Time to drive.

Song Stuck In My Head - Video: Save You

Save You by Matthew Perryman Jones

Photos: Bookshelves

I love books.

I even love reading books.

But if I didn't love to read, I think I'd still love books.

There is so many reasons I love books, and this post isn't the time to list them.

But more specifically, I love the way they look on a shelf.

Which is why I love bookshelves.

Here are some photos I've been collecting:

Quote: Paulo Coelho

"You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle."

-Paulo Coelho

It's a pet peeve of mine when people use the term miracle in reference to everyday occurrences. A miracle, with a biblical understanding, requires divine intervention in the natural order of events. Technically things like sunrises, births, recovering from a cold, and other occurrences that happen on a regular basis, while amazing, are not miracles.

That being said, "you can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one" is rattling around in my head. It's when I assume the possibilities of today are the same as yesterday, and will be the same as tomorrow that I get bored. I can live better than that.

Consider The Parts, Not The Whole

This is perfect material for a multi-layered Christian song. Are they singing about Jesus or about the lady of their dreams?

I heard another quote recently from Audrey Hepburn that went something like this: "I don't think I'm that pretty. But when they focus on certain individual aspects of me I can look rather good."

That's me.

I'm without a doubt a horrible mess. But certain aspects of me, when considered separately can make me seem like quite a guy.

And that can be interpreted on a cheesy multi-layered Christian song level.

I wouldn't mind someday realizing that I've grown to a place where I'm willing to lay myself out there to love audaciously and be loved recklessly.

Photo: One Minute

Here's some interesting facts about the current minute of your life...

Video: Pigeon Impossible

Here's a fun little digital film that only reminds us about the trouble with pigeons.

Video (Christmas 2009 #28): You Gotta Get Up

Here it is! Christmas song #29 of our 2009 playlist.

Unfortunately I could only find this cheesy slideshow video for the song. So press play and then minimize your screen.

This song is a classic in my life. Growing up my family and I, definitely my oldest brother Trenton, love the music of Rich Mullins. I think I've played this song every Christmas morning since the early 90s.

(again press play, minimize the screen and just listen to avoid the cheesy slideshow video)

Today is December 25th...

Video (Christmas 2009 #28): Up On The Rooftop

Up On The Rooftop - Jackson 5

"Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling"

I watched High Noon tonight. That's a great film.
Gary Cooper has a steely-eyed look mixed with worry, fear, and resolve throughout the story. Although that may have been due to his bleeding ulcers and severe back pains. Nevertheless it's an amazing performance that earned Gary Cooper an Academy Award.
It's also stars Lloyd Bridges and Grace Kelly in one of their earliest movie roles.
The history of the film is just as interesting as the movie itself. It was an allegorical tale against the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) during the Red Scare. John Wayne called it "the most un-American thing I've ever seen in my whole life." Strangely enough Wayne accepted Cooper's award for him since Cooper was unable to attend the ceremony.
Also, High Noon was edited in an attempt to present the story in real time. Take that Jack Bauer.
But perhaps one of my favorite pieces of the movie is Tex Ritter's (the late John Ritter's father) Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling. The video below is a version of the song. Take a listen:

Video: Alma

Wanna see a beautiful digital short film with a slight hint of creepy?
It's got some winter elements in it, but I wouldn't call it Christmas-y at all.
It's by a former Pixar artist named Rodrigo Blaas.
Enjoy.

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Video (Christmas 2009 #27): Labor of Love

Labor of Love by Andrew Peterson; preformed by Jill Phillips.

This is an incredible song.

Labor of Love

Andrew Peterson

-----------------------------------------------------

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David's town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

Video (Christmas 2009 #26): Born To Die

(this is the only video i could really find...sorry)

Born to Die  Bebo Norman -------------------------------------- They never knew a dark night always had the Son's light on their face Perfect in glory Broken by the story of untold grace... come that day  Majesty had come down  Glory had succumed now  to flesh and bone In the arms of a manger In the hands of strangers that could not know Just who they hold  Chorus: And the angels filled the sky  All of heaven wondered why Why their King would choose to be  Be a baby born to die  And all fell silent  For the cry of an infant, the voice of God Was dividing history For those with eyes to see, the Son would shine From earth that night  Chorus   Bridge: To break the chains Of guilt and sin To find us here  To pull us in  So we can join in Heaven's song And with one voice around the throne  Chorus: All the Angels filled the sky And I can't help but wonder why  Why the King would choose to be Be a baby born for me Be a baby born to die

Video (Christmas 2009 #19-25):

My apologies. I'm a little behind on this Christmas project. It's kind of a busy season you know, between the natural holiday festivities and packing to move. But no excuses...let's catch up. Here is 19-25:

-------------------------------------------------------------

#19 Oh Holy Night by Celtic Women

Thanks to TBS for this special number...

#20 All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

A modern classic no doubt.

#21 I Wanna Hippopotamus for Christmas by ???

I have no clue who originally preformed this. It's ridiculous.

#22 Merry Christmas Happy Holidays by N'Sync

My sister Cayla requested this...

#23 Grown Up Christmas List by Kelly Clarkson

Kelly can sing anything and I'm gonna shut and listen. Especially at Christmas.

#24 Love Came Down at Christmas by Jars of Clay

I love this song.

#25 Horatio's Christmas Treat from SNL

Merry Christmas! How fun is this video?

Photo: Mario's Closet

"You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure."
- Zig Ziglar

Photo: Sleeping In

It's Saturday and I'm sleeping in. I'm not lazy, I'm just trying to...

Photo: Breakfast Adventure

I don't particularly enjoy trying new foods.

What if it's gross? Worse, what if I just don't like it?

That's not to say that I won't try something new, because sometimes I do. Unless the something I'm trying with mushrooms or olives, then I definitely won't try it.

But I saw this photo of a breakfast item recently; it was called a breakfast trifle. I wasn't sure if this is something I'd wanna eat. Which isn't to say that it looks gross, just unusual.

I couldn't decide if this is something I would try.

Would you?

Photos: SNL Head Shots

Did you know that the person who takes the head shots used on the Saturday Night Live is Mary Ellen Matthews. Mary has been responsible for the photos each weekend since 1999.

Here are many of her photos, but visit this link to see some more.

I love these photos. They're, strangely, some of my favorite part of the shows.

Tina Fey

Amy Adams

Scarlett Johansson

Alec Baldwin

Anne Hathaway

Ben Affleck

Brian Williams

Christopher Walken

David Spade

Ellen Page

Eminem

Eva Longoria

Jack Black

James Franco

Jon Heder

Jonah Hill

Jude Law

Justin Timberlake

Kanye West

Kate Winslet

Lindsay Lohan

Megan Fox

Natalie Portman

Paul Giamatti

Robert DeNiro

Renee Zellweger

Salma Hayek

Seth Rogan

SNL Cast

The Killers

Tom Hanks

U2

Will Ferrell