Flash Back Friday 147

John & Maria, October 1992

Mamma Mia

I admit it: I love ABBA music. It brings back some actually good memories of high school times and all of their 8-track tapes that I had. Weirdly, I know almost every one of their songs by heart even though I haven't played or even had these tapes for years. So last weekend, John & I finally saw Mamma Mia. John didn't realize he was going to be subjected to 2 hours of ABBA music, but I guess that's what he gets for not paying attention.

So sad that they had to break up...

Yoo Hoo

Sunday night, Maria and the South Christian High School Symphonic Orchestra gave us this enjoyable rendition of Sleigh Ride.

Flash Back Friday 90

Sister Paula playing the guitar for Maria and the ballerinas, April 2000

That's Just the Way We Roll

Maria and her friends Abby and Marie made this hilarious music video for all you Jonas Brothers fans out there! It's very cute. Really. Watch it, ok?

Singing in the Rain

This past weekend, the Festival of the Arts took place in downtown Grand Rapids. Vintage Grand Rapidian that I am, I went 4 times! Yikes. The first time I was on a walk with a friend but the other 3, John & I went to see someone we know play in their band. The above shots are of MCC's band. They played Sunday and had to fold up after 2 songs, Not to Us and Salvation is Here, because of a thunderstorm. What we heard was excellent!

The Weekend!

The girls finished their exams on Thursday & Friday, John & I got through very busy work weeks (we had a speaker at the Family Institute), and Edward finished his first week at his new job at Calvin in the IT department. Needless to say, we are glad the weekend has arrived. My intestines are happy, too.

In the midst of it, I discovered that my favorite singer sings this awesome song:

Phantom of the Opera

The following is a very dramatic orchestral rendition of the Phantom of the Opera with some very dramatic close-ups of Edward and Maria.


South Christian High School Symphonic Orchestra, May 2008

Brother & Sister Strings

Last evening, Edward & Maria played in their laaaast orchestra concert together, so I lined them up for the pose. The orchestra played 3 pieces and then the symphonic orchestra played 2 more. One of these was an arrangement of music from Phantom of the Opera and the grand finale of Edward's high school orchestra career? Russian Sailor Dance. It was actually a cool piece which contained an outstanding cello part! I took this nice photo of Edward and his cello buddies Liz & Marie looking at their conductor.

At the end, the symphonic orchestra got a standing O. I asked Edward and Maria how that felt. Maria said, "Don't they always do that?" and Edward said he didn't notice.

Close to You

Last weekend when we went my mom & dad's house in Ohio for the wedding, we saw their new baby grand piano. I thought it was a bit unusual that they got this piano when neither of them really play that much, but even a novice like Maria made a beautiful sound from this instrument. Yes, that's me, swaying in the mirror, sorry.


Another video brought to you by Bridget.

Never Too Much Beauty

Edward playing the cello with Elizabeth

Sunday night, we went to a choir/band/orchestra concert at South Christian to hear Edward & Maria in the orchestra. Again, they graced us with a combined rendition of "For the Beauty of the Earth" and Bridget took the video below with her little camera. Everyone was all, "Bridgie did this?" You can see Edward on the right side of the stage, Maria is in the back middle so you have to use your imagination to see her. This song always makes me happy. If you are reading this before bed and you listen to it, you will have a good song in your head while you dream!

My Truest Resolution

I never jumped on the MP3 player bandwagon before, but this Christmas, John gave one to me. So now I'm cool. I put all 10 of my Fernando Ortega cd's on it along with some others of a more classical genre. It has been fun to listen to old favorites on random play as they greet me like old friends. When this old gem of a song by Third Day came on, I just said "ahhhhhhh":

All the Heavens

As Your children gather in peace
All the angels sing in Heaven
In Your temple all that I seek
Is to glimpse Your holy presence
All the heavens COULD NOT hold You, Lord
How much less to dwell in me?
I can only make my one desire
Holding on to Thee.

All the angels exalt You on high
What a kingdom to depart!
But You left Your throne in the sky
Just to live inside my heart
I will always make my one desire
Holding on to Thee



One really awesome thing is when I put it on repeat now, no one gives me a hard time about it.

For the Beauty of the Earth

Last evening, we had the privilege of attending Edward & Maria's orchestra concert at South Christian. Since Edward is always in the front row with his cello, I am able to get his picture from the audience. For the first time ever, the orchestra and band performed in the same program with the choirs. At the end, the choirs and the orchestra did the piece "For the Beauty of the Earth" which they had been practicing, but never together. At the end, they got a standing ovation which I think was more for our Creator.

For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour, Of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r, Sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

We left the concert with that beautiful song vibrating in our hearts. Soft, thick snowflakes were floating from the sky and I wanted to hold it. We arrived home after 10 pm, and Edward left to go on his run. Our conversation went like this:

Mom: Enjoy the snow.
Edward: What?
Mom: Enjoy the snow.
Edward: Oh yeah, it's good to run on.
Mom: No, I mean just look at the trees, it's beautiful.
Edward: Oh... yeah, I know.

Kitchen

If my vision fails when I'm crossing over
I'll use my hands like anyone
Sometimes a nail in my kitchen table rises
I hammer it down like I would in anyone else's kitchen.

I find this song rather soothing.

Fun Website

This is a cool music website. Thanks to Meaghan and Codepoke for finding it.