Love at First ... Sound?

Yes, it's true. I've fallen in love. (Alex, I hope you're not too jealous.) I didn't mean to; I wasn't looking for it. It just happened.

In a way, it's Alex's fault. He just had to sing 4 little words tonight, "Somewhere over the rainbow." It wasn't even what he meant to sing, since I had just been talking about the new lullaby that I sang to M tonight from that classic film, "An American Tale." Yep, he meant to sing "Somewhere Out There," but then again he mixes his songs alot; and I love him for it.

Well, his mixup got me to thinking that "Somewhere over the Rainbow" would be a great lullaby too; and I already knew most of the words. And not too long ago I heard a acoustic jazz version (Nora Jones like) of the song that I just LOVED, but I couldn't remember the artist. So of course I had to get on the Internet and google it.

That's when it happened. I found a forum talking about several of the different people who have recorded that song. WOW! I had no idea so many people have done a version of Judy Garland's classic. In fact, did you know that it has been deemed the undisputed BEST movie song of all time? And in WWII, along with "White Christmas" it was determined to be the song that best represented the United States? Interesting... back to the forum.

There I was browsing some of the artists mentioned; thinking, "No, it wasn't Jamaican... No, it wasn't a guy... No, it wasn't Cher... Wait... Eva Cassidy...now there's a name it just might have been." I found a Youtube video made to her song and began to listen. Although it wasn't the exact version I was looking for; it was the same style, and most excellently done. Incredibly done, in fact; and that's it. I fell in love. There were a whole bunch of Youtubes done of some of her other songs, and the more I listened, the more she has climbed to one of my very favorite artists. (You should look up her rendition of "Danny Boy". WOW! I'm listening to it now, and I've got goosebumps. In fact, hold on.. I have to listen... I'll be right back.)

Ok, it's done. I can continue...

I'm a pretty focused person. I came from an intensely focused family. We Sherwoods are great at getting things done, because once we start, it's very, very, hard to stop before it's completely done. However this intense focus has a few drawbacks too. I can't multitask worth anything (don't get me talking while I'm driving a car); and "Just a minute... I'm almost done" could really mean 3 more hours. (You know, we honestly believe it's only going to be just a few more minutes... it's amazing how fast those hours fly when you're so focused.)

And yet, there are a couple songs out there that speak so completely to my soul, that I have to stop whatever I'm doing, close my eyes, and just listen, and feel my soul swell as I drink in the beauty of the music. Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata," The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Sarah Brightman/Andrea Boccelli's "Time to Say Goodbye" and her "Pie Jesu." Those immediately jump to mind. This version of "Danny Boy" may just have joined those ranks for me.

I would place her sound in my untrained ear as similar in style to Nora Jones(I love Nora!) and yet a little more pure in tone like Sarah Brightman (I love Sarah too). Not that she's new in any way. I think I read that she died young in the late 90's. It's just that I'm now discovering her music for the first time; and yes, I'm in love. (I really would love a cd... hint...hint...Alex)

My Parents are joining the Blogging World!

My sister just posted this, but for those of you who may be interested, but don't follow her blog, I'm announcing it again. My parents are preparing for a mission and have decided to start a blog for those of us who would like to follow them in their adventure. Check it out at http://topoftheforest.blogspot.com/

I'm excited to see where they will be called to serve.

Isn't it truly amazing what we are able to do these days to keep in touch? How very exciting it will be to follow a missionary couple through their sorrows and joys, successes and disappointments, and in their journey doing the Lord's work. My Dad has often told me that he wished he could be a fly on the wall and watch as I went through many of my life experiences. Now we really can, in a small way, participate through these instant media available to us.

This will be my Dad's 2nd mission and my Mom's 1st. I really hope they will write regularly despite all the time constraints of missionaries. What a fantastic living journal this would be. In any case though, I just know they will be fantastic missionaries. Whatever mission they get sent to will be very lucky to have them!

Oh, for reliable technology!

So a while back our camera stopped downloading. After a while we figured out it was the memory card. So we bought a new one, and yeah, we had success downloading again... to Alex's computer. But when I tried to save them to my computer, the new card froze up my entire screen...permanently. Had to remove the card and hard shut down my computer; every time. Meanwhile, we've been taking pictures, having fun things I want to blog about, and even specifically taking pictures just for the blog; but have not figured out how to conveniently get them to my computer for uploading to the blog. I tell you what, when I do get the system working again (need to buy a new card...again) then I'm going to have one long post to upload. Here's one recent event I'll throw out while we all wait. Last Friday was our ward's talent show and Princess M decided after we got there that she wanted to get up and sing a song for the ward. She was thrown on the program at the last second to get up and sing a cute little song that her Grandma Lynda taught her, "Sing a Song of Sixpence." It was really adorable, and she did a really great job, all by herself up there on stage (she's fearless!) Well since we hadn't planned on this performance, we of course, did not have a camera or my new flip with me. A great big thank you to the Mullis's for posting a bunch of pictures of the talent show on their blog, so I was able to get a picture of the event! (Thank goodness I brushed her hair before going to the ward activity!) Although I don't have a recording of the talent show performance, I do have a video of her singing the same song for an ecard to her Grandma Lynda. Enjoy!