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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

good news


Just found out about this. Very excited! This is the first song off their new album to be used on t.v. Hopefully this is the first of many. I have never watched this show but I will this friday, you should too:)

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Hurray!

The Mr. will be home for Easter! Can you tell I am excited? We were not sure if he was going to be able to come home. He has a five day break from the tour over Easter and normally he would just fly home. We have been blessed to have access to buddy passes so it has been easy to get him home when he has breaks, but this weekend there was an embargo put in place and no one can use buddy passes. Needless to say I was pretty bummed. We found some ok prices on tickets but things have been so tight financially. We are just getting into the touring season. For the past 2 years it seems like touring pretty much stops end of December to February. That was a blessing this year because he was able to be home for baby bird's arrival and for my mom's passing. But touring is how bands make money. We took a couple days to think about it and decided to go ahead and buy the tickets two nights ago. Today the Mr. called to pay a bill and somehow there was extra money on our account and the bill was covered. That extra money just happened to total almost exactly what the two plane tickets we just purchased cost (one for the Mr. and one for his brother). Coincidence? I think not. No one could even really explain where the extra money came from, they just guessed maybe we had over paid but I am pretty positive we never have. I am feeling very thankful right now. I asked and received. This will be the first Easter without my mom, it won't be easy but it will be so much better with my husband here. No request is to small for the one who loves us most.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Photography

I have always loved pictures. They can say so much about a moment in time. I have recently become interested in learning how to take good pictures. I have been reading about lighting and angles and trying to experiment with my simple point and shoot. I am hoping to upgrade to a DSLR in the next month or so. I was excited when I came across haveanepiphanie.com. They have the coolest looking camera bags. I will hopefully be getting one once I get my new camera. They are also doing a really great give away. You should definitely check it out. Below are some pictures of my birds that I took the other day. The sun was shining so beautifully I thought the lighting would be perfect. They were not so much into it. I think the pictures will speak for themselves:)


Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sorrow and Joy

" It used to be that sorrow was an island and joy was the ocean, but now joy is an island and sorrow is the ocean." This quote has been on my mind a lot lately, I think it really sums up how I have been feeling. Losing my mom is by far the hardest thing I have ever experienced. If you have ever lost someone close to you then you probably understand this. My world came crashing down on January 16 one day after celebrating my little birds second birthday. As I watched my mom take her last breaths I felt as though I was taking mine. That's the hard part. She is gone and I am here. My world felt like it came to a stop but the rest of the world kept going. I remember going to get some food late that day because I hadn't eaten anything and since baby bird relies on me for food I had to eat. The people at the restaurant of course greeted us by cheerfully saying, "How are you today?" Everything in me wanted to scream, "I am horrible I just lost my mom how can you be so happy?" Instead I just nodded. But that's the thing. Even though my world felt that it had stopped everyone else's kept going. And at some point you have to jump back in and continue life, though it will never be the same life. So that's what I am trying to do. There is no point in trying to make life like it was before, it will never be that way again. I am trying except this new season of life one day at a time. The quote above may seem very sad but there is a glimmer of hope in it. Though sorrow is much bigger than joy right now, there still is some joy. I am trying to find that bit of joy in the midst of sorrow each day and hold on to it. Some days I succeed in finding it, other days I fail miserable and those are very hard days. Over time I know the joy will grow bigger. The sorrow will never disappear but slowly in time the joy will out weigh the sorrow. I look forward to that time. The things bringing me the most joy right now are my three little birds. They are a lot of work especially when the Mr. is away, but to look into their sweet faces I can't help but smile. What things bring you joy in times of sadness?

Monday, March 22, 2010

Crazy Lady

I often get looked at like I am a crazy lady. Whenever I bring my kids to shows I get a few " ahh look how cute, those little ones love the music" looks, but usually its more "that lady is nuts bringing those kids to a rock concert, bad mom" kind of looks. We have always said we wanted this to be a family thing and I try hard to make it that way. It is a lot of work taking these little birds to shows but they absolutely love seeing their daddy play. They know every word to every song. I think its important for them to see their daddy at work, it helps them understand better when he is gone for long periods. They know what he is doing cause they have seen him do it. I do have to be picky about where I take the kids. I don't take them to bar shows or places were there could be questionable behavior. Big bird observes everything and asks lots of questions, some things I am just not ready to explain to her. They are so cute to watch at the shows with their hot pink headphones on to protect their ears. They dance and sing and have a ball, I can't help but smile. Here are some pictures of big and little bird at some shows. Baby bird hasn't made it to one yet. My camera was on some crazy setting so the pictures are really bad, but you get the idea.



Tonight Mr. Bird is playing at a place where I wouldn't take the kids and since baby bird only goes a few hours between feedings I knew I would be sitting this show out too. Instead I headed down to the venue with baby bird to have dinner with the Mr. before the show started. He wasn't quite ready to leave so baby bird and I just waited in the back. I got several of the crazy lady looks while waiting. "Why in the world would you bring a baby here," was written all over their faces. I thought it was funny, I have brought my kids to lots of shows but I know when to draw the line. So to all of those who stare, no I am not crazy. I am just a mom who loves her kids and her husband and wants us to enjoy life together. Where is the craziest place you have taken your kids?

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Music City



Recently the Mr. and I took a short trip to Nashville. Babybird came too since we can't seem to get her to take a bottle. Its ok though she is a great traveler, slept most of the trip. I always enjoy visiting Nashville, there are so many great friends there who we do not get to see enough, yummy food and cool vintage shops. The main reason for our trip was to meet with a man named Al. He (Al) has a great ministry called Porter's Call which offers counseling to individuals and families in the music industry. With the addition of a new new baby followed quickly by the death of my mother, we have been in need of some good advice. Life is so different now and we knew that before the Mr. hit the road again we were going to need to work through some things. Al was wonderful. He was such a great listener and so compassionate, you can tell right away he has a heart for people. Most of what we talked about was how I was dealing with losing my mom. Al was able to offer some great ideas and even some books for me to read. I am so thankful for Porter's Call, everyone should check them out. Since they are a ministry they offer their services free of charge, isn't that amazing? I am sure some of the musicians you like to listen to have sat on the same couch as us and received help from Al. I know in the near future they will be doing some fundraising. I will let you know when in case you would like to get involved.

When the band first got signed and started touring full time we were warned about the toll it can take on families especially marriages. There are so many stories of the marriages of musicians falling apart. Its really sad. When a spouse is on the road for long periods of time and sometimes bringing home little to nothing financially, it can cause some tension. I think jealousy can easily set in when one person gets to play cool shows, hangout with awesome people, sign autographs and travel around the country, while the other stays back and works or cares for kids. Communication with someone always in a van or on a tour bus with lots of other people is really difficult. I could go on and on but you can see how these things can add to all the pressure there already is on marriage. We have tried to always be aware of this so that way when things get difficult we can deal with it head on. Sometimes we succeed and other times we fail. But I am very thankful that I have a husband who is willing to invest in our marriage even if it means driving long distances to receive some advice and help. I hope this encourages you and challenges you to take some time to pour into your relationships. Whether it's working on communication, having sometime away or even receiving some counseling. It will be so worth it in the end. Now go tell that someone you love them !

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Sunshine




I have always loved the cold weather. I am pretty fair skinned so sunshine hasn't always been my friend. I love hoodies and feeling cozy and warm. I think the snow is beautiful and could stare at it all day. But this year its different, I am so excited for spring. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I now have 3 little birds and they are getting some serious cabin fever. We have had some great sunny days recently and we have been really enjoying them. Taking walks, going to parks, lots of sidewalk chalk drawings as well. Mr. Bird is getting ready to hit the road again for a bit so things always get a little crazy right before he leaves. This will be the longest trip that he has been on since we added babybird. I am a little nervous but I am hoping for lots more sunny days that we can get out and enjoy. I am excited to share about our recent trip to Nashville, but I will have to save that for another post. I need to get these little birds to bed, they are worn out from all the fun in the sunshine. Have you been enjoying the sun too?

Monday, March 1, 2010

Our Life

Most people would say that their life is not normal, but what is normal? No one's life is exactly the same, I know mine is like no others. But that's what makes it mine and I think that is a great thing. Unfortunately many of us do not embrace the differences in our life. We generally look at other people's lives and long to have them, the grass is always greener right? I am all too guilty of doing this but I don't want to anymore. I want to embrace my life, for this is the only one I get. I recently lost my mother and it has become very real to me how short life can be. I want to view my life as an adventure, doesn't that sound much more positive? That is what it is, one big adventure made up of lots of little adventures.

My husband, Mr. Bird, is in the entertainment business, musical entertainment that is. He plays guitar full time in a rock band ( it still sounds crazy to me to say those words). We have 3 little birds that I stay home and take care of. Mr. Bird travels ALOT, and sometimes we tag along. It is quite an adventure taking these little birds on the road but they sure love it. We have always said that we want to do this as a family and that's what we are trying to do.

So here is a window into our adventures. Some are on the road and some at home. Some are a lot of fun, most are a lot of work. But they are our adventures and they are what make up our life.