Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Isabelle-isms

"Mom, your tongue is licky.  And teeth are chewy."

Logical thinking from a 3 year old.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

~Something About MINDY~



While I was laying in my bed for countless hours and what seemed like endless days after my accident, I watched a ridiculous amount of movies and entire seasons of television shows on Netflix.  I think it's the only time when I could actually get away with something like that.  Anyway, one of my friends, Daren Falter, heard what happened and had a little suggestion to break up the monotony and ease the hours of pain and loneliness (said with a sarcastic undertone).  He introduced me to the fabulous music of miss Mindy Gledhill.  He said that I should look her up on YouTube and told me that he truly believed her music would help me heal faster.  I had heard some of her songs before.  She sings the Emma song on the Nashville Tribute to the Prophet CD which is my absolute favorite song on there.  And come to find out, I had a few of her songs on my itunes.  So I skipped on over to YouTube and was immediately drawn in by her new whimsically fascinating songs.  Her voice is smooth and lovely and so easy to listen to. Her songs tell such imaginative stories that bring you into a whole new eccentrically beautiful world.  And man, do they make you smile!!  I listened to as many of her songs as they had on YouTube over and over.  And of course, while listening, I cried!!  I promptly got onto amazon to order all 3 of her CD's. 
My husband (and a few of my friends) were forced to listen as well because I just wanted to share it with them.  Doug was also taken in.
But...there was one song in particular that grabbed onto both our hearts and hasn't let go.  "Anchor" is the title track to Mindy's newest CD and has become a very special song for Doug and I.
The CD's got here a few days before traveling up to Seattle for my surgery.  As soon as we got in the car, I popped those things in the player and planned on letting them ease my nerves during the drive.  When ANCHOR came on my husband took my hand in his and we both began to cry.  In those moments the words of that song sunk deep into our souls as an anthem to the situation we had been facing.  Doug had been my anchor.  He knew it as well as I did.  No words were spoken.  Just tears and looks of a deeper love and appreciation for each other.  We listened to it about 3 times and just let this tender moment resonate within us. 
The few weeks following the surgery my thoughts would drift back to those moments in the car.  I had pretty much memorized all of the songs on that CD...I just couldn't get enough.  Hearing Anchor time and time again I noticed that the piano part didn't seem to be too complicated.  So...an idea was born.  I wanted to learn this song on the piano and surprise Doug with it.  Only problem.  I don't play the piano and I don't read music.  So, I enlisted some help.  I shared the idea with my friend, Heidi and she was very willing to help me out.  She found the sheet music, ordered it and came to my house with her teaching hat on.  Doug was out of town for work for a few days so I would have time to fiddle around with it before he got home.  My plan was to learn it and practice it as often as possible until it was perfect and then perform it for Doug on Valentines Day.  Well, I learned it a lot faster then I expected and just couldn't wait that long.  Two days after Heidi showed me how to play it, I was ready!!   Being the impatient soul that I am, Valentines Day was just too far away. (Not to mention the kids had been hearing me play and I was afraid they would let the cat out of the bag.) When Doug got home from his business trip, I banished him to the family room so I could get things set up.  I surrounded our piano and dining room floor with candles and turned off most of the lights.  I lead him to his seat by the piano.  He had no idea what was going on.  I had this little speech planned out to say beforehand, but when it came time, words just didn't seem necessary.  I began the song and I think his jaw dropped.  I can't really say I sang it well because emotions seem to mess my voice up while trying to sing, but it didn't matter.  I finished the song and turned to him.  He was beaming with pride and was pretty amazed that I had learned it.  We sat together for a while...sharing another tender moment with this song. 

So, needless to say...we have all become huge Mindy Gledhill fans.  I tell people about her all the time and play that song every day.  The girls ask for her music and dance around to it.  We all love it!!

A few weeks ago, Daren informed me that they were trying to get Mindy to come do a concert in Olympia.  Well, my friends...SHE'S COMING!!  And I couldn't be more excited, thrilled, ecstatic, giddy...  She will be performing at the South Bay grange hall in Olympia on March 30th at 7 pm.  I, along with my family will be there with bells on.  (I am also making it a Young Women's activity.)  So, spread the word and come find out for yourself that there's just something about Mindy!!