Music festival

Allison and I had the opportunity to attend a music festival this past weekend.  We had a lot of a wonderful time...

...At the beach...

...  Listening to bands...



The violinists from Reilly, one of the groups I was excited to see.

...  And hanging out with friends...

 

Allison and I even found these flowers while we were walking around the festival grounds: black-eyed susans and yellow snapdragons. 

 

 

Mon Amie

     It's been almost a year since I saw this girl...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...And it's gonna be a bit longer before I see her again.

 

For those of you who don't know, the lovely girl in the picture above is my pen pal, Chelsea.

Right now, she's in Australia.

 

God has been doing some awesome things in her life over the past couple of years, and I've loved reading about them on her blog.  Now, she's also posting updates about her trip.  I recommend checking it out.  :) 

 

 

I miss this girl!  Even though we don't live in the same state.  :)



 



Flamingo love

 

As a fundraiser at our camp, you can "flamingo" other people's campsites.  As a target, you wake up in the morning to find a bunch of plastic flamingos outside your door.  If you don't like that idea, you can purchase insurance.  It's goofy.

 

My niece, who often stays with us, told Allison and I this year that she really hoped we were flamingoed.  While other people are buying insurance, she's wishing that it happens.  :)

 

Happily for her, her wish was granted, and happily for me, their appearance made her more than happy to pose for some photos.  :)

Flashback Friday- Another song

I'm going to spare you from having to listen to me singing this one for multiple reasons, most of which pertain to my own embarrassment.  :)
Enjoy the transcription, if you wish. 


I'd understand if you couldn't help me,
or if you said I was too far gone
If I'd made too many mistakes and messed
it all up.  I wouldn't blame you if you told
me I was too far down in this grave I dug myself.

But you didn't.



Instead, you said I was your child.  Instead
you said I was forgiven.  Instead you said I
was a new person.  And you set me free.

Somebody told me about this baby born in
a manger.  How he grew up to be a teacher and how
he died on the cross and he rose again
'cause he's God's son and he's the
only one to save you.  When you confess to God he
forgives you 'cause he loves you.  He'll never leave
you or forsake you.

Christian(?) Music

"Do you like Justin Beiber?" my niece asked.

     "No."

     "Why?!  He has a song called 'Pray.'"

     I had two options: try to reason with a nine year old who has a crush on a celebrity twice her age, or drop the subject as soon as possible.  Not surprisingly, I chose the latter.

     "Oh, he does?  Good for him."

     That conversation last weekend was followed by the release of Relient K's new album on Tuesday, which caused much discussion about the topic of Christian versus secular music between Allison, Molly, and myself.  (You can read Molly's blog post on the subject here.)

     I don't listen to much music outside of the contemporary Christian genre, based on the fact that I prefer the thoughts it spawns.  I'm aware that it's not a choice most people make, and that's fine.  Still, I have conversations with a lot of people who feel a need to justify their musical taste to me- and it dawned on me after my conversation with Leta the other day that their logic is very similar.

     "They say they're Christians.  I looked it up."

     "It's not bad music.  I mean, they don't swear or anything."

    Those are general statements.  This one is a direct quote when a friend and I were discussing my distaste and his love of Relient K:

     "I like them because they're Christian, but if one of my friends walks up while I'm listening to them, they won't know that it's Christian."

    

     While I don't necessarily think that we have to listen to Christian music all the time, I think a distinction needs to be made.  I am all for listening to music without bad words and supporting fellow Christians, but if the music doesn't cause you to lift your eyes and your mind to Jesus, then it's not Christian.

     So...  Favorite bands, anyone?  Christian or non-Christian?  :)

Flashback Friday- Thank You For Coming

Even as a child, I had an aptitude for songwriting.

Or not.

Flashback Friday 2- Interview With the Princess

May I have a word with you?

Before you read this interview?

Wow!  I rhymed.

That was off topic.

Moving on...

I want to take this opportunity to point out what we all already know.

My sister is an absolute sweetheart.

Why?

Well, let's put it this way: at the time of my life when this story was written, I considered Allison's only purpose in life to be keeping me entertained.  So I made things up that I thought we should do, and used every possible means of persuasion I possessed to get her to go along with my schemes.

In other words, I was obnoxiously bossy.

I still am, except that she's learned that two can play that game.

Yeah, the bossing thing doesn't always go so well for me these days.

Anyway, although I don't remember writing this, I can picture the circumstances that brought it about:  Me deciding that I wanted to play reporter, and roping Allison into being something interesting for me to interview.  I'm pretty sure I changed her name and probably fed her some answers, too.  Poor dear.  I'm glad we're still friends.

So, without further ado, I give you... 

Interview With the Princess

Sorry about the weird facial expression at the beginning...  Oh, well.  At least I didn't burst into giggles.  :)