• the fabulous denim jacket that my daughters helped pick out for my husband to give me — so I would get rid of the 12-year-old one they hate.
• the Pottery Barn charging station I bought with my birthday money and some Christmas money — I’ve plugged in all of my iPods, my phone, 2 USB hubs and my scanner, trackball and keyboard (the USB port on the back of my monitor doesn’t work). It also has a neat drawer to keep headphones, digital camera cables and iPod cases. Geek heaven with half the mess.
• the silver iPod nano I happened to get because my mother accidentally ordered two — and had them engraved (which negates the possibility of return). So I don’t care at all that it says, “Merry Christmas Martha Lou” on the back, I love the silver nano, which I had been looking for some excuse to get anyway. Actually I guess it’s not technically a present, but it is dang cool nonetheless.
• the licorice jelly bellies that Santa always leaves in my stocking
And lest I give the impression that my Christmas was all about the stuff — the special Christmas Eve secret that I share with my oldest daughter and the great quality time with extended family pretty much made it Christmas.
When I get really, really stressed (like lately!), I put on my headphones and zone out. I like to listen to music when I’m alone in my car, and while working on projects on the computer, but there is something about the headphones that just shuts out everything else. I have a 45-minute playlist on my iPod that I call Calm. It is a very eclectic list, to say the least. Here’s what’s on Calm:
Cantique de Jean Racine, Faure
Benedictus, Simon & Garfunkel
Bleecker Street, Simon & Garfunkel
And Now My Lifesong Sings, Casting Crowns
As We Seek/Jesus, Draw Me Close, Maranatha! Promise Band
Elijah\He Watching Over Israel, Felix Mendelssohn
Hello, Evanescence
Hymn, Jars Of Clay
If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot
Requiem\Lacrimosa, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
My Immortal, Evanescence
Song for a Winter’s Night, Jewel & Sarah Mclachlan
The Water Is Wide, Karla Bonoff
Thread of Scarlet, Wes King
Wonderful, Merciful Saviour, Selah
Angie, The Rolling Stones
Lullaby for an Anxious Child, Sting
O Sacred Head, Bach
Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton
Of all the songs, my favorite right now is the song by Jars of Clay called simply, Hymn.
Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine says the song is about “the depravity of man and the brilliance of God and the gap in between.” It’s very soft and quiet with a beautiful guitar part and to me it is comforting, poetic and soothing. The lyrics are so beautifully written, but the language makes their meaning less than obvious, which I think is why the song inspires me so. You have to use your mind, and in the process you absorb the words on a deeper level.
Oh refuge of my hardened heart
Oh fast pursuing lover come
As angels dance around Your throne
My life by captured fare You own
Not silhouette of trodden faith
Nor death shall not my steps be guide
I’ll pirouette upon my grave
For in Your path I’ll run and hide
Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee.
When beauty breaks the spell of pain
The bludgeoned heart shall burst in vain
But not when love be ‘pointed king
And truth shall Thee forever reign
Sweet Jesus carry me away
From cold of night, and dust of day
In ragged hour or salt worn eye
Be my desire, my wellspring lye
Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee
Here are some of my favorite presents:
When I get really, really stressed (like lately!), I put on my headphones and zone out. I like to listen to music when I’m alone in my car, and while working on projects on the computer, but there is something about the headphones that just shuts out everything else. I have a 45-minute playlist on my iPod that I call Calm. It is a very eclectic list, to say the least. Here’s what’s on Calm:
