Song for Sunday: What if I've been blue?

When the Red Red Robin
Comes Bob, Bobbin' Along
by Harry Woods

When the red, red robin comes
Bob-bob-bobbin' along, along,
There'll be no more sobbin' when
He starts throbbin' his old, sweet song.
Wake up, wake up, you sleepy head;
Get up, get up, get out of bed.
Cheer up, cheer up - the sun is red.
Live, love, laugh and be happy.
What if I've been blue,
Now I'm walkin' through fields of flowers.
Rain may glisten, but
Still I listen for hours and hours.
I'm just a kid again,
Doin' what I did again,
Singin' a song
When the red, red robin comes
Bob-bob-bobbin' along.

Big Sis & I have been singing this song while playing outside in the lovely spring weather. I've been trying to spend more time just enjoying the weather, the birdsong, and my girls. We're particular to the version of this song by Carmen McRae found on Jazz for Kids.

Disney magic

Okay, so if you're a cheesy sap like me, and especially if you're one of the few people I've talked to about getting all teary-eyed over all things pertaining to little children and the magic of Disneyworld...

you must read this.

See if you're not a blubbering idiot by the time you finish.

Book Review: The Voice New Testament

I'm supposed to try to keep these reviews at around 200 words. But this one was hard! I cut it as much as I felt I could. Sorry if it is a choppy read.


The Voice is "a scripture project to rediscover the story of the Bible." It's not your grandpa's KJV. In fact, it's unlike any version of scripture I've ever read.

Scholars, writers, poets, pastors and artists worked together to produce a text that engages the reader with the Story of God and humanity. (In addition to this New Testament, there are music projects and an Old Testament collaboration.) At the beginning, there is an introduction to sort through some of the extras.

For example, for the book of John, there is an introduction like others found in various study Bibles. Then there is a text box with more "from John himself." There are text boxes on each page, offering extra insight but also transitions. Many devotional Bibles have similar boxes with verses pulled out to showcase. But with The Voice, these boxes weren't placed to enhance the design. They were placed to enhance the Story. So were lots of italicized phrases to convey context or what gets "lost in translation" and conversations written in screenplay format. This could be very beneficial for congregational reading.

The language used is intentionally different. My guess is that this is due not only to the input of poets and artists, but also to the goal of engaging a new generation. "Christ" is "Liberating King" to help readers re-realize the meaning of the Name. Other commonly used phrases undergo similar makeovers. This can be good or bad- sometimes it seems awkward or forced.

I'm sure this new version will meet resistance, but it should be embraced. The notion of creating a dramatic narrative is nothing new- it's how Scriptures were passed down for centuries. Anything said outside of the original text is obvious through the format. The scholars consulted were chosen to work together because they had different viewpoints, to avoid any bias. This project was undertaken carefully and reverently. And ultimately, God's message of love and redemption is proclaimed anew.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Swagbucks!

I signed on with Swagbucks a little over a week ago. Yesterday I was able to cash in for my first Amazon gift card!

It wasn't huge (just a $5 one, actually). But considering that all I did to earn it was use my Swagbucks toolbar for my online searches and check the Swagbucks widget a few times to find special bonus codes, I'd say it was a pretty good deal! Even if I only go along at my current rate, I might get three to four $5 cards per month.

I've seen other people online who have earned MUCH more because of their referrals and other Swag-savvy ways. One blogger wrote about using Swagbucks to fund her family's entire Christmas. Another, Kristin at Couponing to Disney, just got herself a new iphone, just from Swagbucks!

If you're like me & trying to make/save a few dollars wherever you can, maybe you'd like to try out Swagbucks too!

Our Easter

Easter baskets


Cute little Easter dresses for church

Worshiping a risen Savior

Yummy Easter dinner (Hooray for ham and Strawberry Pretzel Salad!)

Naps

Egg hunting (& finding)





Sharing (and swiping)


Snacking in the shade


New movie (Princess & the Frog) on new (super deal) Blu-Ray player

Carrot Cake

Clean Up

Bedtime (and special prayers of thanks for all of the extra blessings)

Hope yours was Happy!

Song for Sunday: more faithful than the morning...

My first thought for today was one of my favorite songs of all time, U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love). Not only is the song about Christ coming to justify, it is also about Martin Luther King giving his life on this day 42 years ago. Click here to read the lyrics, or scroll down to play it on my playlist. Instead, I offer a song we sang in our Easter Encounter service at church today...

True Love
By Phil Wickham

Come close listen to the story
About a love more faithful than the morning
The Father gave His only Son just to save us

The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the Fathers Broken Heart
Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes
The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Search your heart you know you can't deny it
Come on, lose your life just so you can find it
The Father gave His only Son just to save us

The Earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt The Fathers broken heart
Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes
The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Now, Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Oh, He is alive
He rose again

When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Come close listen to the story...

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

(Matthew 28, The Message)

Is anybody listening?

This morning we had an egg hunt at Mom's Morning Out.

We only had nine kids, so it was on a very small scale. I had a little over two dozen eggs. They decorated sandwich baggies, and I stuffed some colorful Easter grass inside.

When we finished our snack, it was time for the hunt. I got everyone's attention (okay, as much as you can with a room filled with nine children ranging in age from 15 months to 3 & 1/2 years old.)

"Okay, everyone, we're going to hunt for Easter Eggs! Are you ready?" I started. "There are enough eggs for everyone to have three. When you find your eggs, put them in your bag. The bags are small, and there aren't very many eggs, so everybody will get three. When you have three, you can help someone else find some. Count your eggs and stop at three. Don't get more than three for yourself."

"Everybody understand?" I asked.

"Yeah!" They answered.

"Okay, how many eggs are you going to get?"

They were loud, excited & confident in their answer. Nearly in unison, the kids called out:


"TWO!!!"