Another iTunes 10

THESE ARE SO FUN! No, really, I really enjoyed doing the last one so I wanted to do another.  Hopefully this time, my songs will be interesting!!!!! So. HERE. IT. GOES!!!!

1. Your Guardian Angel: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus- This is a gorgeous song.  This band has a pretty edgy, rocker sound normally, but this song is just completely stripped and raw and real. So beautiful and very captivating lyrics.  It really embraces love and the connection between two individuals.  It is about devotion and faithfulness for eternity.  "Even if saving you sends me to heaven."  I just like them a lot. AND this song.

2. The Carpal Tunnel Of Love: Fall Out Boy- I used to like this band a lot... but now, not so much.  I mean, they are fine, but they don't really intrigue me anymore.  I find this song rather whiney and honestly, I don't really understand anything he is saying.  It just sounds like usual Fall Out Boy... and it bores me.  

3. The More I Seek You: World Mandate 2006- First of all, if you love missions and worship music, you need to go to world mandate (missions conference in Waco, TX).  It is an incredible experience.  This song is stunning.  It is about learning to love God more and being completely devoted to him.  It expresses the longing each human being has to be closer to our CREATOR and our desire to love and be loved.  As the song says, It truly "is overwhelming." Not to mention the singers and musicians at world mandate are incredibly gifted.

4. The Prince You Charmed: Youngstown- AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Anyone remember these guys? Yeah, L-A-M-E boy band.  This is again one of those CD's I just found and imported.  But this song is especially hilarious because it was in that Disney Channel Original Movie  The Genius.  In case you need your memory refreshed, that is the one about the really smart kid who goes to college at a really young age, but then also goes to junior high and acts like a punk kid because he doesn't feel like he was ever a kid.  He also likes to play hockey. Hilariously awful movie... AND song.

5. Colors: The Rocket Summer- The Rocket Summer is incredible.  ONE man (Bryce Avary). Plays EVERY instrument by himself.  The only time he has a band is when he is doing concerts/on tour.  I saw him live and he recorded a song by himself right on stage... it was incredible!  So when you are listening to this song on the CD, it is ALLLLLL him.  That makes me like him even more because I know it is true talent. This song isn't one of my favorites, but it is still a really great song... mainly because Bryce makes is great.

6. Umbrella (Rihanna cover): All Time Low- Of course most of us have heard the Rihanna song "Umbrella" at some point, but have you ever heard a pop punk/alternative rock cover? Well this is one.  I love All Time Low and have for awhile now.  Ever since I went to college, I really started getting into the pop punk and alternative music, and these guys pretty much define the genre.  They are cocky and weird live, but they are some of the best entertainers I have seen live.  They bring so much life and personality to every song... enough to make a hip hop song FABULOUS in my eyes.  All Time Low... two big thumbs up!

7. It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door: UnderOath- Oh how well I remember my junior year of high school and my screamo/hard metal phase.  I have seen this band preform 4 times and I remember distinctly going CRAZY when this song played.  I remember the rest of the kids in the audience sweating and throwing punches while screaming the lyrics as loud as they could.  Although I am not quite a huge fan of screamo anymore, this is still one of my favorite UnderOath songs.

8. Far Away Girl: Drew Thomas- Drew Thomas went to high school with my two older sisters and he helped lead/guide the worship band in Wild Kingdom (junior high youth group) and SHYG (high school youth group).  I was around him just because I sang both bands.  You most likely have never heard this song and I don't know if you ever will, but if you really enjoy mellow, acoustic music and talented singers, ask me for his CD.  It is great. I love to just sit and listen to his music... it is really good thinking music.

9. Accidentally In Love: Counting Crows- This song makes me happy... I don't know exactly why, but it does!  It is just so upbeat and... well... happy.  I also think it is in Shrek 2.  If not, it reminds me of Shrek for some reason.  I associate songs with movies way too often. 

10. Would You Go With Me: Josh Turner- Josh Tuner= winner for the man with the lowest singing voice... ever... and, it's country.  Girls just swoon over his voice... personally, this song makes me just want to go line dancing.  I already told you, I am not a country fan.  

A Stolen Innocence

Right now, I am finishing up a book called A Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall.  Some of you may have heard about this book, but for those of you who haven't, it is about (and written by) a girl that grew up in the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) which was eventually run by Warren Jeffs.  Elissa tells of her family, her encounters with the prophets, her questioning her faith, her marriage at age 14 to her first cousin, her escape, and her struggle for justice.  

I don't want to get into details too much because I think YOU should read it.  It is incredible.  It isn't the fastest read, just because there are so many details and sometimes it gets confusing, but it is interesting every step of the way nonetheless.  So go read it.  

Song List? Most Random?

I am pretty notorious for the "mixes" I make.  If you look through my iTunes, you will notice right away that I have a pretty...umm..."eclectic" taste in music.  If you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of my mixes, you will not be disappointed... just amazed at how random and weird I truly am.  Nowhere else can you dive into the realms of 80's dance music, tv show theme songs, screamo, hip-hop radio jams, and those boy band classics (you pretend to hate) all in one than in a single one of my homemade, fabulous CD mixes... PERFECT for road trips.  Not joking.  How do you think I actually survive the 8-hour trek to Nebraska?

So one of my friends at school does this little thing on her blog called "iTunes 10".  She puts her iTunes on shuffle, then lists the first 10 songs that play and talks a little about each song and what it means to her.  She suggested I do this because of m

y random musical taste...so here I go...

iTunes 10

1) Fin: Anberlin- I have been a HUGE fan of Anberlin for years.  They are incredible live as well as on their CD's.  This is one of my favorite Anberlin songs... it is not only beautiful musically, but this band never fails to deliver heartfelt lyrics that are really impacting when you just sit back and listen.  Just beautiful.  Nothing bad to say... not to mention, I like the gothic choir touch in the middle and end.

2) I'll Forever Sing: Run Kid Run- This is a band that I heard about within the past year or so.  I haven't gotten too into them quite yet, but this is for sure my favorite style of music.  They have great potential... I just need to give them some more time.  This is the first song I heard of theirs, so it is the one I am most familiar with at this point.

3) The Runaways: Anberlin- Another Anberlin song... so good.  This is one of those songs that just really hits home, unfortunately.  This band is just not afraid to deliver powerful lyircs... nothing bad to say... 

4) Penny & Me: Hanson- HANSON! Of course we all remember them during their adolescent "MMM Bop" days, but this song is definitely more recent and I think fairly represents who they are musically.  Of course they will always be those long haired brothers that wooed me with their high voices, but this song shows that these guys actually do have talent, despite the public's tainted view of them.  They have really good voices and amazing harmonies. 

5) Popular: Wicked Musical- For anyone that hasn't seen "Wicked", do me a favor and GO SEE IT.  It is incredible.  Hilarious, gorgeous, and touching.  This song is so funny... but if you listen to it, I suggest watching the scene on youtube or something, because just listening to it doesn't do it true justice.  Kristen Chenoweth has an INCREDIBLE voice and this song just fits her character to the tea... just watch/listen to it.

6) Dreamer: Bethany Dillon- Bethany Dillon is an incredible Christian artist with stunning vocals and an incredible gift of playing the guitar.  The message of this song is powerful.  It addresses faith as well as the power and the love of GOD.  The King in this song is Christ, doing all he can for his kingdom, us.  He fights for us, calls us, loves us... and we believe in Him no matter what.  We answer his call and we can dream of a Heavenly Kingdom for eternity.  

7) This Side: Nickel Creek- I am not a huge country music fan, but the bluegrass style of this band is compelling.  This song, although I like it, doesn't show off the instrumental talent of these three individuals.  Although the vocals are quite impressive and the harmonies are nothing less of great, the actual playing of the guitar, violin, and mandolin are not showcased at their best in this song.  Still a good song though.

8) My Love: Justin Timberlake- Make fun of me all you want for having him on here, but anyone who doubts his talent is psycho.  I am definitely not his biggest fan (See Jackie Cavender for this one...), but he is an incredible entertainer and singer.  This song to me is just a feel good song that is so easy to just put on in the car and drive to.  This is just a really fun song that happens to be sung by a very talented individual.

9) Never Giving Up: 98 Degrees- Okay, this one deserves to be made fun of.  I was cleaning out my room recently and I found a ton of old CD's.  I just imported all of them and this CD just happened to be one of them.  They are ridiculous.  This is just one boy band that will never ever measure up to NSYNC or Backstreet Boys... ever.  This song has actually never even been played on my iTunes yet... so there you go.

10) If Your Lucky No One Will Get Hurt: Daphne Loves Derby- I first heard this band when they opened up for Anberlin at Sokol Auditorium.  I like them a lot.  Even thought they are rock/alternative, the main singer's voice is super soothing and this song is just a good relaxing song.  This song to me is perfect study music.  Not soft enough to go to sleep to, but perfect when writing a paper or studying for some test.  Just good atmosphere music. 

Well, my list wasn't too incredibly random, but y'all just got a little taste of some of my music.  I will have to do another one of these sometime soon.  They are kind of fun!  Hopefully next time we won't encounter any 98 degrees.

Here is a little keepsake for you....

Faith

Tomorrow will mark the 3 week period my dad has spent in the hospital receiving treatment for AML. Originally, the plan was for him to be in for about a month, but now, plans have changed. After a bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday, the physicians still found some traces of the leukemic blasts. They are going to be doing another biopsy tomorrow to get a clearer picture, but it looks like my dad is going to be going through another round of chemo treatment. So the estimated 3-4 weeks in the hospital is looking more like 8 weeks by the end of this specific treatment.

It is so easy to get caught up in the "why me?" and "why our family?" This experience has been the most stressful and broken times our lives, and yet, remarkably and by God's GRACE, we are able to look to Him. This past month has been an incredible time of learning. Learning how to trust in Him, learning patience, learning how to trust physicians, learning compassion, learning how to spend more time with our Creator, our GREATEST LOVER. Today's sermon at church hit so close to home (y'all should have been there... it was great!). During times of struggle and brokenness, we should be thankful. We should rejoice in the fact that the world is not perfect and that we all fall short and that there is pain. I know that sounds nuts. I thought so too... but here is the punchline: Then we can fully accept God's MERCY, GRACE, and LOVE. If the world was perfect and just, we wouldn't need God. We fall short of the GLORY of GOD so that when we are in our most vulnerable and broken position, He heals us. We can then say with full confidence, "God is Great".

It would be so easy to blame God and curse His name for the stress and heart ache He is causing my family... but instead, we choose to rejoice and worship because that is Faith. That is where HE is calling us.