Have A Little Faith

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you have two choices: 1. Let it take control by focusing on yourself and your misery, 2. Allow it to help you grow and make you a stronger and more well rounded person. Obviously I chose the latter.

This morning I took a morning walk through a nearby nature park just to clear my head and to rejuvenate myself for the day. Lately I've been making more of an effort to be healthier and to have more of a clear mind. Well in doing this, I was able to reflect on different situations and receive some inspiration. I should also mention that I was listening to music while doing this as well. If you know me or are familiar with this blog then you know that pretty much all of my aha! or inspirational moments come to me through music. Well once again I was inspired by music.

As I was walking and listening to my playlist (which I had on random), most of them seemed to have a similar message. Three in particular: Stand By You by Rachel Platten, Have a Little Faith in Me by Joe Cocker, and Home by Phillip Phillips. The message that all of these songs seemed to have was having faith, being willing to love and understand someone when it isn't easy, and helping them to find their way when times are tough.

I'm not entirely sure why these songs spoke to me the way that they did. All I know is that they did. Sometimes it's hard to understand what someone else is going through and why, but today I felt like my heart and my mind was opened a little bit more.

Below are the songs for you to listen to.

Dad's Words Part II (A Love Story)

Last May I wrote a blog post about hearing my dad's words in my head whilst trying to make some life changing decisions regarding the direction of my life. Mainly my career path. Little did I know that when I made the decision to come out to Texas to work with my aunt on Life Is Delightable, that I was ultimately being lead to my future husband.

After being in Texas for 2 weeks, Aunt Irene was inquiring about any cute boys I had met. I hadn't really met any, nor did dating seem like much of a priority to me. What I didn't realize was that she was asking because she already had somebody in mind. "I think you would really like this guy Roman." She told me, while showing me his Facebook profile on her phone. I began stifling through his pictures. Of course I thought he was cute, but it still wasn't enough to sway me.

I forgot all about this Roman guy, until the next Sunday at church, when of course that's who would be the greeter. I walked in right behind my cousin Marcus and he greeted him but seemed very confused when I walked in with him. He ended up sitting right next to us in church and was convinced that we knew each other, which we didn't.

The next week he took me on a date to The Scat Jazz Lounge. We started dating right after that, and after Marcus's suicide he was right there by my side ready and willing to do anything to help me and my family. I knew that I couldn't let him go after that.

Fast forward to just a month ago, on Valentine's Day, I had no idea that a marriage proposal was coming! He hadn't been wanting to talk a lot about marriage and wedding stuff, so I thought maybe he wasn't ready or just wasn't all that excited about the thought of marrying me. I had been going back and forth about making that kind of commitment. Mostly because of my own fears and not because of my lack of desire to be with him.

Anyway since we hadn't talked a whole lot about it, rather than we both wanted it to move in that direction, I wasn't expecting anything to happen. However, I was getting pretty strong feelings about it, which made me even more nervous. I thought I was just being crazy until we were at the Scat Jazz Lounge again and he was called up to the stage. He finished making his speech and called me up to the stage. My heart was pounding and my mind was racing. By the time I made it up there Roman was down on one knee.

I didn't feel ready for this! I knew that i didn't want to say no, but was I ready to say yes? I think it was only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity that I was just standing there staring at the ring. That's when I heard Dad's voice again. "Lizzie, just don't take so long to make a decision." I knew I had to say yes. As soon as I did, everything immediately calmed down and I felt at ease. I knew that I had made the right decision.

It was even more confirmed when the band began performing "I Will Always Love You," right after we sat down. This was the song that played when my dad passed away and I felt like he was saying goodbye, so it's been a really special song for me.

The craziest part is that I hadn't told Roman about this song and it's meaning and they just happened to perform it! I got really emotional and after explaining it's meaning, he asked me to dance and decided that this needed to be our wedding song. That was the ultimate confirmation from Dad that marrying Roman was a good choice.

We have set our date for June 10th, 2017 and I couldn't be more excited!

Click the link below if you'd like to see the proposal video :)

https://www.facebook.com/BoyCan0y/videos/10206506896830948/

I Left My Heart In Oregon

If you've read any of my previous blog posts, then you know that a lot of my answers and inspiration come through different songs. It happens to me every so often, and when it does I get the urge to share my experience. Well my most recent experience has to do with my love for Oregon and how much I've missed it since I've been here in the great and proud state of Texas.

Most of you know that I moved out here to Texas to help my aunt, the marvelous artist and publisher, Irene Titera, with our Inbox Magazine called Life Is Delightable. Don't worry, it's coming SOON! Anyway in the mean time I am also working part time as a receptionist at Dollamur Sports Surfaces. I started this gig last week and I was having a pretty stressful day just learning the ropes of my position and the company. I felt like I was doing everything wrong and some of the girls are a little gossipy, which I was forewarned about in my interview. Long story short I was having a hard time and just missing my life back in Oregon.

Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for this opportunity to work so closely with my aunt here in Texas.  Not to mention I have a phenomenal, loving boyfriend, who I wouldn't have met and fallen in love with otherwise, but I still miss Oregon like crazy ALL the time. Maybe it was just the stress of everything, but I was missing it a little more than I usually do. As I was driving home feeling like a failure in multiple aspects of my life I couldn't help but think about how much I missed Oregon and how much I wished that I could go back. Just as this thought entered my mind a song came on randomly on a Spotify playlist. And that song was called Coming Home (Oregon) by Matt Kearney. Of course the words that rang the loudest in my ears were "I left my heart in Oregon."

Coincidence? Well I don't believe in coincidences. Maybe Dad was trying to tell me something. Only time will tell. I hope that I will eventually find myself back in Oregon, even though Washington is technically my home. For now though, Texas is where I need to be.

6 Songs That Promote Celebrating Life

When you think of celebrations, music is right up their with food. Good music and good food make for a great celebration right? Well let the evidence show that music is inspiring from the melody right down to the message. Here are 6 songs that prove that music promotes celebrating life everyday!

1. Growing Up – Macklemore
   

Macklemore's song is a message to his daughter to live life to the fullest and enjoy it while you can. Take a look at some of the lyrics.

“The quickest way to happiness?
Learning to be selfless
Ask more questions, talk about yourself less
Study David Bowie, James Baldwin and 2Pac
Watch the sun set with best friends from a rooftop
Wear a helmet - don't be stupid!
Jaywalk, but look before you do it
If it snows, go outside, build a jump, get some help
Get a sled, thrash the hill with your friends, 'til it melts
Go to festivals, camp, fall in love and dance
You're only young once, my love, one, this is your chance
Take risks, cause life moves so fast
You're only young once, my love, one, this is your chance” 


Along with living life to the fullest, his lyrics also inspire change in the world through enjoying the things that you love most.

“You put the work in, don't worry about the praise, my love
Don't try to change the world, find something that you love
And do it every day
Do that for the rest of your life
And eventually, the world will change”

2. Live – One Republic
   

If you've ever listened to this song then you know it has a fun, powerful, and uplifting melody, but the lyrics are even more motivating. Through this song, the band encourages us all to appreciate everything that we are given and to not take life for granted.

"I owned every second that this world could give
I saw so many places, the things that I did
With every broken bone, I swear I lived"

Along with not taking life for granted the lyrics also inspire us to lift are spirits even when times are tough.

"Hope that you spend your days, but they all add up
And when that sun goes down, hope you raise your cup
Oh, I wish that I could witness all your joy and all your pain
But until my moment comes, I'll say...I did it all."

3. Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae

How often are we bogged down with all of the cares of the world? Life shouldn't be as stressful as we make it. Corinne Bailey Rae's message in this song is to sit back, relax, and just enjoy life. Let your hair down, listen to some good music, and enjoy yourself. If not because Corrine says so, then for your own peace of mind.

“T'was more than I could take, pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realize, that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to.”

“Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.”

4. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

This Beatles classic not only inspires love, which is essential to life, but it also promotes believing in yourself and enjoying the simple things in life.

“There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how the play the game
It's easy.”

Because life is full of the unknown and life is full of adventure, even the Beatles agreed that everything happens for a reason. So we might as well enjoy the ride.

“There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
No where you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy.”

      5. Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra 

 

If you ever need a friendly reminder to celebrate the little things in life, then let Electric Light Orchestra lift your spirit with Mr. Blue Sky. This song not only has a fun, motivating sound, but even the lyrics validate that life should be a regular celebration. Through tough times as well as good.

"Hey you with the pretty face
Welcome to the human race
A celebration
Mister Blue Sky's up there waitin' and today
Is the day we've waited for, ah"

"Mister Blue, you did it right
But soon comes Mister Night
Creepin' over
Now his hand is on your shoulder
Never mind I'll remember you this
I'll remember you this way"

  
       6.  What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

 

There's a reason that Louis Armstrong's classic has become such a popular wedding song. It's because the song is an advocate for celebrating life and it's many miracles. And weddings are of course the ultimate miraculous event, but this song is great for just everyday listening and celebrating.

"The colors of the rainbow,
So pretty in the sky.
Are also on the faces,
Of people going by,
I see friends shaking hands.
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying,
"I love you".

"I hear babies cry,
I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more,
Than I'll ever know.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world."