President Abraham Lincoln...

Marty left yesterday to go back to Atlanta. It's always so bittersweet when he leaves. I want him to go back to his family and fellow church members because they really need him back there, and I want him to get there safely. However, despite it all, I already begin to miss him terribly when he pulls away from the house... thankfully, he arrived home safely!

Yesterday was also our 2-year anniversary of our first meeting! I can't believe it has been 2-years!

In honor of both of these strong and amazing INTPs (Abe and Marty!), on Saturday, we spent the day by visiting the President Abraham Lincoln's Museum in Springfield, and what a extraordinary museum it was! The holograms, the Gettysburg Address AND the handwritten Emancipation Proclamation, the artifacts, the interactive theatres, we poured through every part of this museum. It was a wondrous and very humbling experience that I will not soon forget.

Because we were really running out of time, we zipped through the presidential library and headed to view his quaint home, just blocks away, that he and his family shared while he was a lawyer. Before the darkness took over, we headed to visit his tomb. We didn't get to go inside due to the late hour, but we did marvel at the beautiful structure.

We witnessed 3 wonderfully educational yet sobering shows at the museum. The trials this amazing man endured was staggering. My favorite show was a heart-breaking and emotional one called "Lincoln's Eyes"; the 2nd very moving show was called "The Civil War in 4-Minutes"; the last was called "Ghosts of the Library". Here's a REVIEW I found on the Internet from someone that explains this awe-inspired journey much better than I could have, and like him, this exceeded all of my expectations!

SONG ON MY MIND: After witnessing this museum and the unbelievable loss this country faced because of the Civil War, the song I have added, BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, seemed fitting for this particular blog. This particular song was made in 2001 and is sang by the Harmony Plains Singers on the CD called Triumphal Feast with Marty Smith singing the solo...

BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPULIC - Julia W. Howe

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on...

(chorus)
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on...

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on...

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet
Our GOD is marching on...

In the beauty of the lilies CHRIST was born across the sea
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free
While GOD is marching on...

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Well, like I said, it's the night before Christmas. My ceramic tree is burning pretty in the next room, and my candles are in the windows. My boys are at their Dad's house, and all is well and peaceful here in this Autumn-feeling night.

I am relaxing here at my computer, and I am feeling very thankful to GOD for everything He has done for me - the lessons... the joys... everything! I am so grateful for my family and friends. I am thankful to Him sending CHRIST JESUS to this Earth for all of us who do not deserve Him and His Grace.

SONG ON MY MIND: One of my very FAVORITE Christmas songs EVER, is a song written by Mark Lowry and composed by Buddy Greene. It doesn't matter how many times I hear this song, this song moves me to tears... it's SO beautiful! This song is sung with so much feeling, I just love it. *sigh* There are many versions of this song, however this is my favorite.

MARY, DID YOU KNOW - Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene

Mary, did you know... that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know... that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know... that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you deliver... will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know... that your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know... that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with His hands?

Did you know... that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?

And when you kissed your little baby...
You kissed the face of GOD...

The blind will see... the deaf will hear,
And the dead will live again

The lame will leap... the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know... that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know... that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?

Did you know... that your baby boy
Was heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding...
Is the GREAT I AM...

Watch the video HERE!
You can purchase Buddy Greene items HERE!
You can purchase Mark Lowry items HERE!
You can purchase the Gaither Family items HERE!

Today is... what?

Hi Everyone! I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I haven't had any time to really enjoy anyone's blogs and post on my own mainly because of the holidays and everything that goes into preparing for successful holidays. The other big distraction was due to the ice storm clean-up at work. I'm tired of overtime.

Here it is... the night before Christmas; the boys are at their Dad's house, and I am alone. I actually feel like I can relax now. I may even go to bed early tonight.

The Imposter...

Okay, it's time to talk about the 3rd element of one of my favorite groups of all time - Kevin Smith AKA Kevin Max. I am not sure exactly what it is about him, but Kevin is someone I sort of identify with.

I tend to see and hear Kevin as dark, complex, unusual... someone not mainstream... someone on the outside. These types of descriptions in an artist always intrigues me. These descriptions probably fits my line of thinking, because personally, I always consider myself outside of the mainstream as well.

I do know that we have similar, eclectic taste in music styles, and to me, of the 3 DC Talk members, with Kevin's most unusual voice, he has the most range. Even with their last CD together, I've noticed that he brought to their music a certain middle-eastern sound, which also strikes a chord within me for some reason.

As much as I enjoy each singer/songwriter in their own right, in my experience, their own individual style pales in comparison to when they combine each of their strengths. To me, their collaboration is magic...

SONG ON MY MIND: So far, I have enjoyed each song from Kevin's newest CD called The Imposter. HERE's a better review...

FADE TO RED - Kevin Max

Scriptural References: Rev. 6:12-13 & 22:1-3, Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:14-21

(bridge)
And we want everything to end
Just like Nostradamus said
Everything is left for dead
...fade to red

In the gust...of the wind...on your back...in your gut...in the tracks...of your mind
This is how it ends
Everywhere there's hope
There is oblivion

And we want everything to end
Just like Moses said
Everything that is parted then
...will fade to red

In the crest...of a wave...on the fields...of a plain...in a faraway land
It's all the same
Even when there's love
There is also hate

(chorus)
And when the sun breaks through the dark
We know were close to it... close to it
And when the sun shines through my heart
I know I am close to it... close to it

From the words of a mystic monk...to a drunk...on the edge...of a nightmare
So it is
Everywhere there's joy
There is also dread

From the throne...of a militant king...with the wings...of the fallen
As they start to sing
Inside I am just like you

These are all of the words that were formed before the blood
after the flood, feel the hand of love,
...and sing the song of songs from up above

To purchase this fantastic CD, please go HERE!
Kevin is also on MYSPACE!