i am that person

so when we (really me) decided to start a blog i had in mind that derek would do most of the writing because he is the funny one and obvi the better writer.  but because i am that person who stalks and gets antsy when other people dont post for a week, i figure i should probably write something too.

a few updates:

we have been getting a little angry with american idol because if they are going to turn derek away, then i figure every guy that made it is surely amazing.  but, no.  he is better and they missed out.  as for derek and his music, i think he has to sing.  its like he was made to do it.  or like he has to do it to survive.  because of all the years of hurt he is in a mental/spiritual block when it comes to writing music.  i am praying that god would allow music to be an outlet for him again.  for worship.  for our enjoyment.  its beautiful.  if you haven't seen this video, you should watch it... livekite.com/artist/stipemusic

i had my first photography class last night at abtech.  i walked in and there were like 37 old people with their digital cameras they got for christmas.  they didn't even know how to turn them on, so i was getting a little frustrated thinking it was going to suck.  it turned out to be really great and the teacher is hilarious.  i hope it makes me feel more confident and i can leave there knowing more about techniques and from there i can develop my style.  its exciting, but scary.

as for my heart, i am really just overwhelmed with all of the sadness in the world.  i have multiple friends dealing with depression and despair and one in particular whose mom is about to be diagnosed with cancer.  it just really makes me question why we have to hurt so much.  i know that jesus is with us and i feel him and he helps me.  but despite the sadness, god is teaching me about what it looks like to be his daughter.  i have never really understood this concept of 'sonship' but with this new life he has given me as a believer, i get to be his daughter and this changes EVERYTHING.  this is mind blowing actually.  more on that later.  its too much for my mind right now.

just a few recommendations:  

1.  favorite movie currently, atonement.  its amaaazing and beautiful and real. 

2. book, grace eventually by anne lamott.  i love every piece of her.  

3. oh and of course planet earth.  i got derek the dvd set for christmas and its also life changing.  i love animals for the first time.  its really incredible this world that god created for our enjoyment.  as emily says at the beginning of every episode, "we live on that thing."  i love her, she is also one of my recommendations:).

-summer

Take Two on Tuesday

if you haven't read summer's blog "authenticity and courage", then stop now and start there. it's great. :)

I'd really like to echo her thoughts about last night's show being one of the best christmas presents she'd received, and also, feel pretty grateful she chose me to accompany her. thanks babe.

musical authenticity. kinda scarce these days, when a lipsynced bimbo can get her voice auto-tuned in the studio and sell 10 bagillion records without ever writing one line of music or poetry in her life. it does make me sick, but i'll try to stick to positives this time... moving on...

last night was not the lipsynced bimbo, or anything close for that matter. 4 chairs, 4 artists, and a few more than 4 guitars (when you make money playing music, looks like you can afford more than 1 good one... heheh). Emmylou Harris started the night, and she, along with everyone else, was excellent. No light show, no stage props, antics, or anything... and I can honestly say that it was one of the best shows i've been to in recent memory. Entertaining PEOPLE, with talent, very unlike a My Chemical Romance fireworks show. (I would apologize to you MCR fans, but I'd rather not actually.)

and from the first note sung, it only got better. the artists pulled me in and i got lost in their songs, their stories, and i too felt a bit of the joy and worship that summer mentioned in her post. to me, it felt like a bit of reawakening, and as they performed, hundreds of song ideas for my own writing flooded my mind. It was as if i was taking back a piece of my musical soul that had been slowy eaten away for the past 7 years dealing with the music industry. in that moment last night, i desired to create again, desired to write music, and i felt more alive in a musical way than in a very, very long time. lets see you do that lipsynced bimbo and pyro-hounds.

Regretfully, it had to end, and tomorrow the ideas and life i experienced there may fade out, but at least i know it's still there. i'm just thankful God used 3 girls and their buddy to let me know i still had that desire and ability. I've certainly doubted it as of late.

and thank you Patty Griffin, for the most gripping performance of any song i can remember seeing. "Up to the Mountain" nearly moved me to tears, as i felt Summer's emotions as well as my own, and was captured in a way i can't really describe.

Live anywhere this show is coming? Go buy tickets. Now.

-derek

authenticity and courage

for christmas i received some really great gifts, but i think my best to date were concert tickets from my brother. derek and i went to see patty griffin, emmylou harris, shawn colvin and buddy miller last night in asheville.

i cried before they even started singing. so it was good night:). it was actually one of the best nights i have had in a long time.

the stage was bare except for four chairs, mic stands, guitars and these crazy little monkeys that made noise. it was really evident that they wanted the music to make the show, and it did. i have had a real struggle worshipping lately and last night i felt like i loved jesus for the first time in a long time. in my head i know i love him, but i have a hard time getting any love out of my heart because of my grief. sometimes i blame him for my mom dying. but last night i felt joy in my heart and it was a nice feeling. i dont think i realized to what extent music affects me. it was really interesting that the concert had no "christian" labels on it, yet the honesty of the artists and the creativity and beauty that surrounded the stage was surely from God.

i love folk music because of that authenticity. they sing about real things, like pain and depression, yet also joy. my favorite part of the night was when they started talking about martin luther king, jr. (yesterday was his birthday). beforehand i had hoped that patty would sing 'up to the mountain', but then i knew she would. this was a song inspired by mlk. she started talking about courage and how we dont see it very much these days, and i agree, but kind of not.

i bought the cd with this song on it the day before my mom died and we used this song in her slideshow at the visitation. she was courageous. and i felt like last night in my heart i really honored her. gosh, i miss her so much. but i felt like i knew her again last night. if even just for a second.

-summer