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Peach State says: I Can Name That Tune…
So there we were…gathered and ready to sing. But wait! This song won’t do…
What about ______? slow
What about ______? so-and-so is working and won’t be here
“I got it!” What about “Mirey Clay”?
That’s was the one…everyone agreed…and the nod was given to retrieve it from the Choir Room.
“The only problem was the fact that there is no song, called “Mirey Clay” in the filing cabinet.”
We had a momentary lapse in song titles and had sent someone to pull the song with the wrong information. I ran to help and the only thing to do was sing the song, over and over, as I looked through every title in the filing cabinet. Give me a chance…I will get this…I Can Name That Tune…
Shortly after I arrived and began sorting through the files of music another member of the praise team appeared to offer her help. The wafting music came through the door as the instrumentalists and our fearless leader continued, completely abandoned and neglected by our three voices. We giggled in giddy, boisterous laughter as we combed through the files of music. We found a couple of other songs that might work when…what to my wondering eyes did appear…Found It!
“That’s it!” How could we have forgotten?”
We headed, victoriously, back into practice with the file in hand. Rehearsal paused…as the song was passed out. Our fearless leader looked at the title and laughed. “There is nothing about “mirey clay” in the title…but that is what we call it…” He just shook his head. The funny thing about this renaming of a song is this is not the only one. You see…we find a phrase or word from our favorite songs that sticks in our heads and that is the way we refer to the title. “I do love the way our unique personalities find everyday truths in the words and phrases of the songs and hold them in our hearts.” It makes these songs sing…HeHe!
Why didn’t we just Google the song? Well…we are a techno-geeky savvy group and truth be told…the signal was too slow to wait and I have no battery left!
I do love singing…and singing with my dear friends…well it’s Priceless!
Have a great day!
Peach State
Peach State says: Solitary Reflections
This week has been a blur of movement and activity. Things have been accomplished and others have been added to the growing stack for this next week. Oh the joys of motherhood! For the first time, in my life as a mother, I find that my schedule does not revolve around the boys! WOW! When did this happen? They come and go as they respond to my well wishes for the day. I smile and proceed with my day…the ever present chores…conversations with friends…planning of dinner.
The head count for dinner seems to float between 3-5 instead of the original 6 mouths to feed. Thinking and reacting on my feet with a “shoot from the hip” mentality! Solitary Reflections!
I have been gone several nights, myself, this week. Of course this is due to our Easter Musical practices. Today is the last practice…what will I do next week? “Trio practices!” One of the trios that I am on has been asked to sing at a type of civic meeting. They meet throughout the month and would like to have music as a part of their meetings. This means the learning of new music and practices to organize. But that is next week and I don’t need to worry about that right now. My life is a consistent symphony, of sorts, with dramatic emotional transitions. I find contentment in my small corner of the world.
My grandmother celebrated another birthday yesterday and some members of the family will gather with her today. I wish I could have been able to attend…I did not know about it in time to try and make arrangements. But I do have practice today! I will miss spending this special day with my grandmother. She is in her mid-nineties and may not even know I am not there. I still miss her! She is one of my greatest inspirations and examples in my life. Her grace and wisdom overflowed into my life and for this I will be eternally thankful. I find myself thinking of her as statements and movements surface through me. The simple pleasures in life…beauty in the garden…love of the beach…walking…picnics… We are really alike in so many ways! I miss our talks and time together!
This next week begins a flurry of review for my youngest. They are getting ready for the series of standardized tests. I put him in a Saturday program to assist in this preparation. The school promptly cancelled one session because of two county-wide required furlough days for teachers. They got Thursday and Friday off and did not want to come back for a 3 hour session on Saturday. Can you really blame them? My son will not be able to attend today’s session because I cannot guarantee the availability of a ride home at the needed time. Sooo…he goes with me!
I was used to taking the boys with me to my extra practices. It was our way of life. It was the way I was raised and what I was used to! I guess I am thankful for the extra practices for the main fact that it gets me out of the house. I find myself a home-body of sorts. Not by choice but by necessity. I have accepted this flaw in my life and even embrace it from time to time. I have been invited to participate in group functions and had to turn them down for several reasons. No one to watch our youngest, economic deficiencies, and the wishes of my husband. I guess I am a unique and complicated person! Everyone else finds a way and seems to do whatever they want to do! They gather at peoples houses and share meals or go out together. I am never invited to those activities. “I resolve to do for my family and be there even when not needed.” Now that is a mouth full!
I have been able to see the change in seasons in dramatic ways this week. If you have watched the news our state reached record high levels in pollen counts this week. With pollen comes new growth…blooms of color and explosions of green fill the landscape. We had some rain which washed some of the yellow haze away…but another burst of spring followed the rain. The fluffy white blossoms have blown away in the breezes, creating a flurry of petals. Green leaves appeared as the trees begin to take on their full refreshed appearance.
It has been a good week all in all. I count myself blessed and look forward to what this next week will bring. You know…grocery shopping, loading and unloading of the groceries, normal daily activities with an assortment of daily challenges to overcome. I am ready! “Are you?”
I look forward to sharing the funny and humorous parts of my life this next week. For now I will close and start getting ready for practice. I will drink in the morning…what I have left of it…as I finish my coffee. I should text a friend of mine to pick up a coffee for me as he goes thought he drive thru at Starbucks. “He owes me!” I will get to see my dearest of friends and spend the good part of the morning with them and most of the day tomorrow. What a way to spend the weekend!
What are your plans for the weekend? Did you have a fulfilling week? Take a moment and consider your Solitary Reflections!
Peach State
Peach State says: Curve Balls
This has been a very busy weekend and I have survived. The weekend started with a Prayer Conference, a planned activity I signed up for, at my church. It started Friday evening and then again on Saturday morning. On Sunday we had a special emphasis for the New Family Life Center Dedication with lots of music and Guest Speaker. Everything was fine and falling into place! Then the proverbial “Curve Ball” hit the fan. Let’s just say I have run the gambit of emotions this weekend. I am in a state of calm shakiness feeling peacefully distraught. I know you may think I am one of the craziest people you have ever known. “I would have to agree with you right now!”
I wish I could go into details! “Maybe another time.”
All I can say about this “Curve Ball” is that it is probably the best thing that could happen. Inconvenient and tragic but, all in all, a “silver lining”.
“Curve Balls“, when thrown at you, can put your life is such disarray. One moment the crowd is cheering and banners and signs are flying high and the next is a collective and silenced hush. You have two options..you can hold your head high with an “everything will turn out okay” spirit or you can throw your bat down and storm off crying. Let me just speak from experience for a moment and say that the latter of the two choices is sometimes the easier of the two options. We have to face the circumstances thrown at us on a daily basis and learn to make that darn lemonade. We have to listen to the inner commanding officer barking orders on the battlefield. “Get up soldier!” “But I have been shot sir!” “Where?” “My leg sir!” “Walk it off soldier..That’s and order!” “Yes sir!” We get up and start walking, as the pain increases our resolve increases, and we continue on with the path before us.
I had the special yesterday and it was a tough one…or was it? It was almost word for word Psalm 121. “I love singing the Psalms.” I was fearful, to say the least, about being able to sing this song on this very important day. Five people knew the situation that had occurred the day before and after the song was over the looks on their faces reflected the radiating warmth I had flowing through my body. I was told later it was incredible and outstanding…I can’t believe you could get through that song….I was praying for you! I think the look I got from the pastor said it all. He simply looked up and smiled before I started and bowed his head. As the song reached the huge, voice filled, end…the entire church was in a clapping frenzy and the pastor looked up again and caught my eye, and with the broadest and whitest grin, nodded. I don’t remember walking back to the choir after the song. The other special was just as powerful and held my heart in that one two…but I was with the Ensemble and there is strength in numbers. The congregation rose to new heights by the end of this song and the Guest Speaker rose to take his place.
Knowing where my help and strength come allows me to hold my head up and courageously walk off the field. I know that when the next “Curve Ball” is thrown I will face it with determination and strength. I may actually swing and connect with the ball causing a reverberating crack to echo throughout the stadium. I may also be the only one who knows I hit that “Curve Ball” out of the park…and that’s okay!
How will you react when you get throw a “Curve Ball”?
Peach State