Music to Love..........

We are a family that loves music!!
I have played music to our children from before they have been born.
I make up little tunes to sing to them when they are new babies and then as they get bigger I have made a name song for them with the rhyme of their name.

I sing in the car and have been known to turn the volume up really loud with just me and the kids in the car.
We love to sing out loud in the car either to music playing or without music.....it doesn't matter to us at all but the memories we have doing this are ones I treasure.

Singing and dancing while holding a  baby, toddler, and then holding hands as we dance around the kitchen as we clean up after a meal or just cause we love to have the music on is such a natural part of our lives.

I have mentioned before some of our favourite musical Artists, and looking at this post shows me we need to update this list along with the favourite family movies and tv series.

For now I would just like to share the music we are listening to now in our home.
I am always on the lookout for new Christian bands and so was very happy when Saxon and Vellvin discovered these latest favourites-
Perhaps you have heard of these artist before but we  have just discovered them:
Citizen Way
The Afters I can't find their web page so here is a facebook link
Brandon Heath

These artists are played constantly on the family I-pod dock as well as private I-pods and in the car  and it has been lovely learning these new songs as well

The interesting thing with having older children and music is that we tend to grow away from the songs I played to the older children when they were the little children and so our little children now often miss out unless I am careful to play these younger style songs.
Mind you the older kids still join in and I think in a way relive the memories of their younger days too.

Two favourites that have carried on through the years in our music selection that we listen to still the favourites from years ago becoming the new favourites are from:
The Donut Man and
Colin Buchanan -an Australian artist

If you have any favourites you would like to share please do!!

BTW I am typing up this post while my husband is on youtube listening to all his old 70-80 favourites - some of which I think should have died a death way back then too.
Of which he only plays part of before moving on......DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!!!!

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

Favourite Family Movies, TV Series, Audio Books and Music

Just thought I would share with you our listing of favourites within our family~

Favourite Family Movies ♥

• 5 Children and It
• A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Anne of Green Gables Trilogy
• Baby's Day Out
• Bedtime Stories
• Cheaper by the Dozen 1 and 2 (Steve Martin)
• Dudley Do right
• Enchanted
• Ever After
• Father of the Bride 1 and 2 
• George of the Jungle
• The Chronicles of Narnia Series
• Inkheart
• Lord of the Rings Trilogy
• Maverick ( 1 scene skip)
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding (scene skip)
• Nanny McPhee 1 and 2
• National Treasure 1 and 2
• Night at the Museum 1 and2
• The Star Wars Saga
• Pirates of the Carribean 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Spiderwick Chronicles
• The Forbidden Kingdom
• The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
• The Karate Kid Series 1,2,and 3
• The Pacifier
• The Princess Bride
• The Princess Diaries 1 and 2
• The Star Wars Saga
• Yours Mine And Ours (the Lucille Ball version.)
• The Theif Lord
• Dinotopia 
• The Parent Trap (1998)
• A Knight in Camelot
• The Three musketeers (older kids)
• X-men first class, X-men 1 & 2 and Wolverine
• Leap Year
• Kit Kittredge, Felicity, Mollly and Samantha - An American Girl Series

Some of my Favourite Music ♥

• Any Celtic Music
• Casting Crowns
• David Meece
• Edens Bridge
• Hillsong
• Jonas Brothers
• Michael Card
• Michael W Smith
• Mozart
• Newsboys
• Plumb
• Revival in Belfast (all Robin Mark in fact)
• Sons of Korah
• Steve Grace

Favourite Animated Family Movies ♥

Aladdin 1 and 3

Arthur and the Invisibles

Bee Movie

Cars 1 and 2

El Dorado

Finding Nemo

Hoodwinked

Horton Hears a Who

Kung Fu Panda 1 and 2

Monsters Inc

Mulan

Over the Hedge

Ratatouille

Robin Hood

Shrek 1, 2 and 3

Sinbad

The Adventures of Tintin (Series)

The Adventures of Tintin (new movie)

The Aristocats

The Incredibles

The Rescuers Down Under

The Sword in the Sword

The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends

Toy Story 1, 2 and 3

Megamind

Katie and Orbie (series)

Tangled

Dispicable Me

The Emperor's New Grove

Tarzan

Favourite TV Series ♥

Bewitched

Fawlty Towers

Get Smart (old ones)

Gilligans Island

Hogan's Heros

Tintin

Katie and Orbie

Home Improvements

Little House on the Prairie

Road to Avonlea

The Flying Nun

The Good Life

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew

The Waltons

Hornblower

North and South (Catherine Gaskill)

Pride and Predjudice

Robin Hood (BBC version)

McGuyver

Clone Wars

Favourite Family Musicals ♥

• Annie Get your Gun
• Calamity Jane
• Fiddler on the Roof
• Hello, Dolly !
• Mary Poppins
• My Fair Lady
• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers( all time fav)
• The Sound of Music
• Singing in the Rain
• Phantom of the Opera

My Favourite Authors and Illustrators ♥

• Eloise Wilkins
• Elsa Beskow
• Gene Stratton-Porter
• Jill Barklem
• Kate Greenaway
• Kim Lewis
• Louisa May Allcott
• Marguerite de Angeli
• Patricia Polacco
• Rosemary Suttcliff
• Shirley Hughes
• Tasha Tudor

Favourite Audio Books ♥

• Classical Kids Series
• Dads Army
• Famous Five (any of these)
• Grimms Fairy Tales
• Josie Smith
• Just William Series
• Little House Series
• Narnia Series
• Olga da Polga
• Postman Pat
• Rangers Apprentice 1,2,3, 4, and 5 read by William Zappa
• Redwall ( any of the them)
• The Borrowers
• The Indian in the Cupboard
• The Inheritance Series
• The Lord of the Rings Series
• The Princess Bride
• The Twins of St Claire
• Inkheart series
• Noddy
• A Series of  Unfortunate Events
• The Princess Bride

Favourite Big kid and Grown up Movies ♥

• Batman Begins
• Emma
• Get Smart
• Gladiator
• King Arthur (scene skip)
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Little Women
• Miss Potter
• Mission Impossible 1 and 3
• Pride and Predjudice (BBC version)
• Sahara
• Sense and Sensibility
• The Bourne Series
• The last Samuri
• The Matrix 1,2 (skip scene here) and 3
• The Patriot
• X-men series 1 and 2
• X-men:Wolvarine
• X-men: First Class
• The Mask of Zorro
• The Lost Battalion
• Thor
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• Saving Private Ryan
• Inception
• The Last Samari

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

Will You Love Me as I Have Loved You???

Reflecting on this song from Mass today!

I actually love it even though it is not an old hymn which tend to be my favourites.
It is interesting as Stephen really doesn't like it at all, however I enjoy the words and the fact that they  challenge me to look at my relationship with Jesus.

Am I strong enough to follow Him when things go wrong for me? Do I trust Jesus with all the decisions in my life? Will I carry His cross each day?

My absolute favourite line is~
'is your love strong enough to endure?'

How hard this has been for me as we have struggled with many issues over the past few years. Wondering when God will answer the prayers we have asked over and over. How often I have asked the same question Jesus asked His Father ~
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and then come to the realisation that I am being asked to endure and I can have the strength if I rest in my faith in Jesus.

Perhaps this will be a great reflecting as for me as we come into the last week of Lent ~ HOLY WEEK

WILL YOU LOVE ME?  ( a youtube link for the melody, but I don't think it is performed  the best that this song can be sung)

Will you give me your life forever?
Will you carry my cross every day?
Will you walk in the light of my presence?
Will you follow the truth of my ways?

Will you love me as I have loved you?
Will you live with me
in the darkness as I die?
For the moon and the stars
will be gone like the night,
and the sun will be shining on you.

Like the purest of gold in the furnace
is your love strong enough to endure?
Does your faith carry on through the shadows?
Does it shine in the night for the world?

Will you love me as I have loved you?
Will you live with me
in the darkness as I die?
For the moon and the stars
will be gone like the night,
and the sun will be shining on you.

Can you walk in the footprints of silence?
Through the wilderness sands in the sun
From the desert of doubt and temptation,
to the glorious mountain of fire?

Will you love me as I have loved you?
Will you live with me
in the darkness as I die?
For the moon and the stars
will be gone like the night,
and the sun will be shining on you.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Inspiring Music

I am a person who loves music. I love listening to music (although I can't play at all) and I have found it can really help when I am down.
I have sung to our little babies from before they were born and I have danced with them like that too.
Even now we will sing and dance as we wash up after dinner sometimes and I will dance with the little ones and play a pretend guitar. Some of the children love it and the more shy ones get a bit embarrassed.

I know that music speaks to me and feeds my soul. I love to 'bop' to the music and just can't help myself. It really is part of who I am.......I love the music.

I have many favourite types of music and bands and just wanted to share these two songs from Newsboys an Aussie Christian Band.

We are listening to Christmas music mainly at the moment but I just thought as we are nearing the great celebration day of Jesus birth that both these speak to me, but especially at this moment.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!
This is such a beautiful song~

And although this one is really more appropriate for Easter in regards to lyrics it is on of my all time favourites.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Enjoying together

We are really enjoying this song at the moment as a family.
I like the tune and the words are really funny about buying on ebay.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
Note to reader: There is just one little word cr-p (we don't allow this word in our home but apart from that the song is fine)

Blessings,

Hymns we are Learning

As part of our Morning routine I often teach the children Hymns or Liturgical songs.
This is one I grew up on and loved singing at Church and for everyday.
I always loved the rousing spirit and strength to go forth and proclaim Jeus as Lord that it produced in me.
I love teaching our children these songs, especially as we don't get great old hymns at Church these days.

1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
his army shall he lead,
till every foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.

2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict,
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.

3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.

4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor's song.
To those who vanquish evil
a crown of life shall be;
they with the King of Glory
shall reign eternally.

Blessings,

Child of the Promise

For many years we have enjoyed, NO we have loved Child of the Promise.

WE have loved listening to this every year. We try not to play this during the year but save it for Advent and Christmas. This is so hard as the storyof Jesus birth put to music is so inspiring.
Most of us know a lot of the lyrics and we love to sing them aloud together, well most of us anyway.

This would be a great to do as a play or as a musical as well.
I keep thinking we will try to do this each year but it hasn't happened yet.

Has anyone else heard this before?
If you haven't see if you can get a copy I believe you would thoroughly enjoy it.

Blessings,

Spring and Vivaldi

Just becasue I am loving this Spring so much and of course I LOVE Vilvadi.

Blessings,

For my Man of Valour ♥

Christine recently had this version of one of my favourite songs for my Honey. The one I prefer is by Ronan Keating, but I couldn't find a good video of it.

One I have loved for many years that reminds me of my darling husband is this one from the movie Robin Hood.

You are the Man of my dreams and the feelings in both songs is as real today as it ever was.
All my love always ♥♥♥



Blessings,