Some ramblings on life as I know it in December 2010

This is a peppermint mocha from Chicago Coffee, a place I once frequented, but now remember only once in a while, when I'm being nostalgic and looking through old pictures, or when I eat a cinnamon roll (they had delicious ones), or an iced brownie (um, espresso brownie? Yes, please.) I guess I'm being nostalgic today...looking through pictures from the last couple of years, wondering at all the places I've been in that short amount of time. I've traveled to four different countries, and called three (four, if you count moving from Brier Creek to my current home a different city...B.C. is almost Durham, right?) different cities home. I've gone through culture shock (upon arriving in Asia), been a "missionary", gone through reverse culture shock (upon returning to the US), been stuck in a dark place (Psalm 38), been brought out to the light (Psalm 30).

I got engaged

I got a job, got a roommate
got married
and, fast forward five months, here we are. Last night I thought "how in the world did I end up working at [my job]?" Sometimes I feel like I have no explanation for what things are now. When I'm meeting someone at church, and they ask me "Oh, are you in school?", or I see someone I knew in college and they ask "So what are you doing now?", I just laugh, because how am I gonna sum up the last couple years of my life in a couple sentences? I don't even know the summary, really. I know that all these things aren't for nothing---I know they're a part of a bigger story within The Big Story that God is writing---so I'm not without hope. But, sometimes, I am just lost as to where this thing is going. Or if I'm going the I right direction. Sometimes I wish I had a map. I suppose this is where faith begins...will I trust God? Will I believe His promise that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)? Will I be honest with Him in my frustration, and confusion, and disappointment even? All the while, trusting that no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless (Psalm 84:11)? And will I remember that though I mess up, if I confess my sin, He is faithful and just to forgive me my sin and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)? And will I, without doubt, believe what Jesus said---"Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom(Luke 12:32)."

Casey's Cheesey End of Year Blog, Part 1: Best MUSIC of 2010

This post dedicated to Jeff Johnson, my all-time favorite friend to discuss music with.  This post may bore you, or it could open your mind to some beautiful tunes yet undiscovered.  Listening, exploring, attempting to describe music is one of my favorite things to do in life.  To hear samples of each artist below, click the Orange album titles and you'll be led to the artist's Myspace page with free streaming melodies.

Fun. Aim & Ignite
There could be no more fitting name for this band.  Lyrically creative, high-energy technically-skilled instrumentation, passionate vocals, great harmonies.  "Balances serious subjects with buoyant tunes" (Ben Keene- EMusic).  Most of these songs sound like something straight out of a musical--and Cristina can attest I often feel I'm caught up in that musical, bursting into random dance when Fun. is playing.  And no, you can't see that.  I would compare lead singer Nate Ruess to a more polished, sophisticated version of Justin Hawkins (formerly) of The Darkness.

Notables: Be Calm, Walk the Dog, Take Your Time, Barlights, I Wanna Be The One...but I really love them all.

The Swell Season, Strict Joy 
If you've never heard of Swell Season then you should watch the movie Once as your introduction.  Andrew Liggitt may hate me for this comparison, but Glen Hansard (lead vocals) reminds me of Dave Matthews.  No, Glen sings through his mouth & not his nostrils, and you can actually understand most of what he sings, but Glen acquaints with Dave by the passion he sings with.  There's some great singing...and then there's yelling too.  Most of the lyrics are rather sad, but Glen has a way of making grief beautiful (the album acquires its name from a poem of this subject).  Instrumentally, this album's great.  Good acoustic guitars, drums, violin, & a lot of variety in the sounds.

Notables:  Low Rising, Feeling The Pull, The Rain, I Have Loved You Wrong, High Horses, The Verb...I love this whole album (and I recommend the Deluxe Edition for some great live tunes, most of them from the Once soundtrack).

Colm Mac Con Iomaire, The Hares Corner
Colm is native Irish, as you may have discerned from his name, and this album is tribute to the sounds of his beloved culture.  Colm is also the violinist of the aforementioned Swell Season and another band of like members called The Frames.  This album is like a dream to me--Celtic sounds & the violin have been growing loves for me over the past couple years, and this album indulges deeply in both.  Highly technical, soothing sounds, rich textures, lots of acoustic instrumention other than violin--I feel like maybe these sounds somehow beckon to the ancient Irishman within me, I just get plum happy yearn for Guinness when I'm listening to this.

Notables:  So I've said this on all three albums so far...but EVERY SONG IS AWESOME.  Seriously though, I like Secondwave, Time Will Tell, Court of New Town, The Cuckoo of Glen, Ronnie's Theme.


Jon Foreman, (4 Albums) Fall, Winter, Spring, & Summer
Foreman knows perfectly the purpose of a poem or song, expressing beautifully a message from the heart that mere prose couldn't capture.  Foreman:  “I write questioning songs,” he says. “I’m interested in reading philosophy and trying to figure things out. The melodies come to me quite easily so it’s the poets, philosophers and psalmists that help me put the melodies where they belong. The songs assist me in the challenge of knowing who I am, so the shoulders of great writers are a good place to start” (Amazon).  24 songs are spread out into 4 albums, 6 songs for each season, and the moods of each season are captured well.  There's a lot of variety in these songs.  To be explicitly cheesy, these songs are as varied as the seasons of life themselves.  I mean that though.  I've learned from these albums.


Favorites:  The Cure for Pain, Southbound Train, Lord Save Me From Myself, My Love Goes Free, Learning How to Die, Behind Blue Eyes, I Am Still Running, Your Love Is Strong (performed at our wedding), Baptize My Mind, Revenge, Resurrect Me, House of God Forever (also performed for our wedding..thanks East Rock!)


The Autumn Film, The Ship and The Sea
Piano-driven, drums-heavy, mostly upbeat, gifted vocals, rich-textured spacey sounds.  I first heard Autumn Film when we were in Colorado preparing to leave for China, and the three-piece band was charged with leading us in worship (see more on the Hymns-II album below).  I really thought they were awesome and so bought one of their albums...a disappointment.  It was just, well, flat.  Big change here.  The drums hit hard and hit fast, especially on "Ships on the Ocean Floor," and lead singer Tifah's voice is amazing, particularly on "Mended".  The guitarist is not your typical guitarist--most of the stuff he plays is distorted to create a sort of spacey sounding ambience.  And there's a sea theme here in the lyrics too--haven't figured that one out yet, but I just got the album and it seems pretty interesting.  Lots of variation in sound, particularly when you consider a song like "Always the Same" where the rhythm of the song is played on the lowest register of the piano.  And "Sirens" sounds like it would fit on a soundtrack to The Wire.

Favorites:  Roll Over Me, Always the Same, Mended, Ships on the Ocean Floor, Sirens, Follow the Sound, March On  (if you click on the Myspace link, most of this album is available for free listening)


Page CXVI, Hymns-II
Page CXVI is the Autumn Film published under a different name for the release of their 4-part Hymns project.  The band is named for the 116th page of their copy of C.S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew, the chronologically first book of The Chronicles of Narnia where Aslan sings creation into existence.  Most of the seven hymns on this album (and the 7 each on their other releases) are fairly well known, but very well mixed up on these releases.  Though they sometimes get too far away from the original melodies, these songs are sung with great passion that invite me to worship.  Most of my friends who know Page CXVI didn't like this release as much as Hymns-I, but "How Great Thou Art" may be the best hymn remake I've ever heard.  I'm honestly not a big fan of the original, but hearing it sung with Tifah's big heart and booming voice takes it to a new level for me.  "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is also well-done.  This album was a real encouragement to me earlier in the year.  Thanks Daniel for the gift bro.

Notables:  How Great Thou Art, Rock of Ages, Battle Hymn of the Republic



Sandra McCracken, In Feast or Fallow
Sandra McCracken is a really special artist to me, though I can't exactly pinpoint why.  I think because she reminds me of that female folk-singer type that I feel like my dad must have listened to a lot when I was growing up.  Great female voice & an acoustic guitar singing about real life (not some poppy teenage crush)--what more could you ask for?  She has some good folk albums (Red Balloon, Gypsy Flat Road), this one here's another hymns album, a follow-up to the much beloved The Builder & The Architect (which also got hits at our wedding).  Though this new album isn't quite as good as The Builder, I really like its sound.  The Builder had much more of a polished, almost orchestral, heavenly sound, but this one is much more rootsy, Nashville, and kinda-country, though some still pertain the stately sounding Builder & The Architect.  Unlike Page CXVI, most of the hymns Sandra has chosen are those lost to our common recollection (with the exception of an AWESOME remake of Amazing Grace here).  It seems she's taken it upon herself to keep these lyrically-rich, lesser-known treasures alive to the modern ear.  I appreciate that.

Favorites:  Justice Will Roll Down, In Feast or Fallow, New Wonders, Give Reviving, I Glory in Christ, Sweet Sorrow, Petition, Faith's Review & Expectation (Amazing Grace)

Derek Webb, Stockholm Syndrome
Wow...How to describe this album?? Derek Webb may be my favorite "Christian artist" if for no other reason than how he approaches writing "Christian music."  Living outside of American culture for a year in China allowed me to see a few things, perhaps the most important being how in America we often divide realms of life into "sacred" and "secular."  For example, there's the attitude that says, "I may sing to God on Sunday, but God has nothing to do with my work, how I raise my family, how I vote, how I work, how I study & think about important issues."  There's not many lies further from the Bible.  Paul spoke of being "transformed by the renewing of your mind," allowing the gospel to affect how you approach all areas of life.  The gospel should give you new lens for seeing the world around you.  See this post for my attempt to approach my job this way, or this astute YouTube video to hear Derek describe his philosophy himself.  Basically, all of life is worship, and not just those songs & hymns of adoration sung directly to God.  That being said, the beats & the lyrics both hit hard on this album.  Derek steps away from his folk-rock roots on this one for some experiemental, hiphop-esque territory.  Since setting out solo from Caedmon's Call, Derek has been somewhat of a protest artist in the likes of Bob Dylan, protesting both the evangelical subculture and our American & Western cultures at-large, and according to my friend Andrew, Derek saw how protest music has transitioned from the folk Dylan-stuff over the years to hip-hop today, and he wanted to follow likewise.  Definitely an attention getting ablum, as Derek critiques Westboro's Fred Phelps, our discomfort with the Holy Spirit, protest riots, his own apathy, Sweden's apathy, my own apathy, the club scene, high-interest credit cards, immigration, Fox News & other ultra-conservatives, neo-colonialism, & evangelical attitudes toward homosexuals--for starters.  A dropping of the s- and d- bombs in What Matters More got that song cut from the official release, so if you buy the album, be sure to get that addendum free from Noisetrade.

Notables:  (again the whole album is awesome, but if I have to choose...) Opening Credits/Black Eye, Cobra Con, Spirit vs. the Kick Drum, What Matters More, The State, I Love-Hate You, Jena & Jimmy, American Flag Umbrella


There's more albums & songs I could write on for this year, but I've been working on this post for two days now and gotta stop somewhere.  Hope you enjoy, and you should let me know if end up checking out one of these recommendations.  I'm always up for new recommendations myself, so feel free to drop comments of your new discoveries below.  My baby's asleep on the couch now, pink blanket over her head to block out the light & the Stockholm Syndrome she so adores that I was listening to earlier.  I should probably get her to bed :)

Growing Up

Some things we've been learning in 2010:

1. We are learning what a budget is. (my props to Casey who has been learning this longer than I have. He started when he wanted to save for a ring to marry me, and has been faithfully budgeting ever since, and leading me in that. good job Babe!)
2. We are learning that you have to take out the trash Monday night because even though you THINK you'll do it before the trash pickup men get here Tuesday morning, you are wrong. And that trash stinks.
3. I'm learning that even though it's "Casey's job" to take out the trash, I can still serve him by taking it out for him when he's running late for work.
4. I am learning how to grocery shop. Seriously, Harris Teeter and I have a relationship now. It's literally across the street, they have great deals after coupons, and I now know exactly where each product is in the grocery store via the map in my head.
5. I am slowly, slowly, learning how to grocery shop with coupons. Jenny, the author of the blog Southern Savers, is one of my heroes.
6. I am learning how to grocery shop with coupons when you live with a boy who eats everything in sight.
7. I am learning when to let go of little things. Like how much Casey eats. Or the fact that we don't have the same idea of where his glasses should go when he's not using them. (Me: But I have that pretty little dish on the counter JUST for the glasses?!)
8. I am learning how to keep a house clean (if you have come to my house recently and you would like to dispute this claim, I would remind you...I am still learning). My friend Leah used to tell me how her mom would say if you just clean for 15 minutes at the end of the day it will help things not pile up. Good word Mama Horton.
9. We are learning (again) that new relationships take time, and effort, to build. We were really happy to become members of our church, The Summit (North Raleigh Campus), a month or two ago. We help with the kids' ministry on Sunday mornings, we've been going to a small group on Sunday nights, but it's still taking time. We're still not at that point where there are people there who know us inside and out and vice versa, but we will persist!
10. This is not a cheesy end summary lesson we're learning, but by far the biggest lesson we've learned this year. At least, the biggest one I've learned. And it will be an understatement, but we've really learned to TRUST God to take care of us ("Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." Luke 12:32). We started out this year engaged and hopeful, but without a clue of how many things would work out. Where would we live? Where would I work? Where would we find furniture we could afford? How would we afford a honeymoon? How were we going to pay the bills? etc, etc, etc. But, oh how God has provided! Exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). "And God, who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, with Him, freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)

She who has been forgiven much, loves much.

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^c]">[c] and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50 NIV)

This is the woman I want to be.

Snapshots of Turkey Day 2010

This was our first holiday spent completely together, as a married couple. I'd say it went pretty well. I kicked off the holiday by cutting up magazines to make leaf shapes that I hung from our otherwise useless "window" between the kitchen and living room areas. You say "tacky", I say "fall" (I did feel a little like Buddy the Elf). The week before Thanksgiving poor little mommy got in a car wreck, so I headed down to give her a hug, and also to help cook a turkey that she'd gotten for about $2 with a coupon (oh coupons). I think we did a pretty good job, if you don't count the fact that we left the bag of organs in tact while we cooked it. That Friday, Casey and I headed to our small group (a group of 3 other married couples from our church who get together and get to know each other while studying the Word) for an awesome pre-Thanksgiving-meal, which constituted my only holiday cooking yet (I'd say that's a pretty good deal). On the actual Thanksgiving Day, to my regret, we did not dress up like pilgrims and Indians (see "Holidays 2008" ) , but we did start our tradition of Thanksgiving morning cinnamon rolls...mmm....then we headed to Burlington for the Cheek's and the Wase's, headed back to Raleigh that night so Casey could work the next morning and I could decorate for Christmas(!), and finally, headed to Roxboro Saturday afternoon for time with the Adams'. It's been a fun-filled couple weeks, and I'm glad Christmas season is officially here. Off to listen to some Christmas music now...(as if I haven't been listening to it since November 1st anyway)...