Come On – Join The Band!

We were watching yesterday’s Spicks and Specks at lunch today, and one of the answers was a song I haven’t heard in years! It was under the heading “Concept Albums” and, as Myf said, it used to be on children’s television All The Time… if I’m remembering correctly, there was Sesame Street, Play School, then “Butterfly Ball”. I saw it so many times as a child – I remember enjoying it, and I’m pretty sure I wandered around the house singing it ๐Ÿ™‚
I had to look it up after (and share with Sweet Bean). I felt like the years just fell away… not sure I quite realised back then just how weird it was, though ๐Ÿ˜‰

I wasn’t planning to post today. We don’t really celebrate Australia Day in our house, partly because the years spent living overseas made it seem less important to me, and partly because of the “Change The Date” views. For the record, I have no issue with changing the date. If the day is just about celebrating the whole of the nation, and all the good things in it, then there can be no reason not to change it, and the hope of healing and reconciliation if we do.
Nevertheless, I thought that something along the lines of “Love is all” would be OK to post today.

Just to finish – here’s a thought on changing the date…

Ring the bell and let the people know!

Published in: on January 26, 2020 at 10:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Merry Christmas!

The light has come!

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Published in: on December 25, 2019 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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This Is The Story

 

Here is the story, from the beginning…

I haven’t seen the full clip of this – you have to buy it from the Skit Guys – but this is the Christmas story up until the manger ๐Ÿ™‚

Published in: on December 23, 2019 at 10:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Peace On Earth

A memory, from another Christmas…
A turbulent time – but peace was still possible.

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (Peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
(Peace on Earth, peace on Earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men

And the bells they’re ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (Peace on Earth)
And with our hearts we’ll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they’re ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The life the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on Earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men

Published in: on December 20, 2019 at 10:26 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Tree’s Up!

Finally got the tree up!
We’re a bit behind with decorating this year, but it’s looking cheery now ๐Ÿ™‚

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Even Fred got in on the celebrations…

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Someone asked about family Christmas traditions the other day – we thought we didn’t really have any. On reflection, there are things we do every year, even now the boys are so much older.
We always put the tree up together. The boys put the lights on the tree, then I put the angel on the top. I do the breakable decorations, then they do the rest.
Christmas Eve we have a family lunch, and we go to the Christmas Eve service in the evening. Christmas Day morning the boys bring the stockings in to our room, then we all sit on the bed to open the stocking presents. We then have a special Christmas breakfast – this year we’re planning to have chocolate marbled brioche…
Everything else is decided on depending on how we feel. Even if we do different things later in the day I still feel happy if we’ve had our breakfast and stockings!

Another thing I like to do in the Advent season is listen to some new Christmas songs. I try to, at least once, sit with my cup of coffee and listen without any other distractions. Today was that day ๐Ÿ™‚
I was blessed with a cloud heart as I listened.

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…and I enjoyed some new songs.
Here’s one for anyone feeling frazzled by the Christmas rush.

Published in: on December 14, 2019 at 9:38 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Universe Is Singing

Thursday we went to a school workshop – art, drama and music – fun! The music component involved each age group of kids learningย “How Great Is Our God”, either singing or percussion (Sweet Bean did some nice work on a drum box, or cajรณn ), then coming together at the end for a big, glorious finale.
Before the lesson, they played this clip.

And then we all rejoiced…

Published in: on November 3, 2019 at 7:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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OK?

You know how YouTube gives suggestions, generally based on previous browsing?
I’m not quite sure why it thought I was having a bad time (surely not because I was bingeing 80s memories and BBC comedy?), but these were the first three suggestions for me recently…



I don’t feel like I was in need of them particularly, but I enjoyed them.
Perhaps they were meant to be shared?

…and here’s one that caught my ear last week.

Published in: on October 26, 2019 at 7:40 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Come On – Get Happy!

Chase all your cares away!
I’ve been on a quest for “happy” songs, which has lead me around YouTube, and found not just the feel good, dancey, not too much thinking needed songs… I’ve enjoyed a bit of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and gone back to the 70s for classic rock.

Not exactly theย most feel-good lyrics, but makes me want to dance.
It’s the bagpipes…

I’ve been reminded of the importance of standing up for what’s right, even if it starts with little things.

I’ve experienced again one of those moments where a beautiful voice, a connection with others, a memory and an iconic event combine to form magic.

The happy songs? I’m sure there are many, but I’ve only included a random selection.
An obvious choice if you feel like you need to walk on sunshine!

Or need to remember every little thing will be alright.

Just shake it off…

…and make your own kind of music!

Just say yes ๐Ÿ™‚

Rainbow Down The Barricades

I’ve had a very inspirational weekend and early week – feeling like making/doing/being… in the past I’ve gone so far, then run up against walls. God has been speaking to me, specifically this weekend, but also throughout this year.
Today we went out for coffee, and I decided to dress in my rainbows… not just my shirt but various bits of colourful jewellery. I have quite a lot of it but don’t often wear it. Today seemed like a day for a bit of overkill.

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We hid away on the sofa at the cafe, and dreamed… looked through some of the books stacked there (also used as tables)

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Came home, did some work.
All things are possible, but they still require a bit of deliberation, dreaming – and doing!

Here’s a sign from the Women’s Conference at church on Saturday.
Now – to live the life…

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Published in: on July 23, 2019 at 3:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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What Was; What Is

I’ve been listening to this song, which was a recommendation for me on YouTube. Made me think…

We all have regrets – those things we’ve done, or haven’t done. Life rolls over us. Events happen, and we end up feeling scoured out by circumstance… cleaned out and hollow. The person we thought we were, wanted to be, lost in time.
Sometimes it’s the appropriate time to mourn and to heal.
Sometimes it’s time to get up again and move forward.
It’s never too late to find the good things again,
and to rekindle the fire.
What used to be can still be.
Just changed, and even sweetened, by personal history.
I can never be who I used to be – not completely.
I can be the best of who I am now.
And so can you โค

Published in: on July 14, 2019 at 8:20 pm  Leave a Comment  
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