As you can see we all had a wonderful time and it was a great way to celebrate my parents anniversary! I am going to back, just not sure when yet, but I will sometime.

Needless to say, I think everyone should take a vacation to Hawaii sometime in their lives! Maybe we will run into each other and we’ll just say Aloha!

On a side note to my last post; Hawaii was amazing and I loved every minute of it. I will be sure to do a post about it soon!

Now let’s see, in April I spread my wings and moved out. That’s right, adios parents! I actually moved in with my older sister Bethany in downtown Denver.

If anyone knows Bethany and I at all, it would come as a shocker that we would actually be moving in together. It’s not like we use to fight all the time or anything. But for the 3 months we’ve been leaving there it has been great! Downtown Denver is a lot of fun to live in. I still every once in a while get lost but I am learning. I have at least a year to figure it out since that is how long or lease is. Then by that time just ask me how to get anywhere downtown and I can be your personal GPS! The one thing I don’t like is there is only street parking and you know what that means…parallel parking. Yikes! I never really learned how to parallel park and I am not good at it one bit. I am the person who instead of backing into the spot,  I go front first and I become the one people laugh at. But I don’t care because I happen to like how I park and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that Let’s just hope I don’t do anything like this anytime soon:

Also, I am that person that if can’t get it right the first time, I will leave the spot and try to find one that is a little bigger and easier to park.

Living on my own is nice. I still am at my parents house for laundry and various things. But other than that it’s just me. I love the neighborhood I live in. It’s a historic neighborhood so all of the house around are cute and quaint. There are many places such as coffee shops or clothing stores etc. that are in walking distance. So far so good!

I now thing though that the next step is that I should buy a dog…but my dad said this when I mentioned it, “Now that you think you should have a dog, wait three years and see if you still want one or are ready to have one. ” So insightful Dad.

Maybe I have a little more growing up to do

Only 103 more days, 103… roughly

Hey everyone! We are super excited to be on the verge of releasing our first full length record! If you have seen us live, then you know that we have been playing a lot of new songs that aren’t on our first EP. We want to get these new songs into your ears. The songs that make up this record work together and fit nicely under the title of Happy/Sad.

We have been recording Happy/Sad for the past six months and tracking is done. Ho…wever, there is still a lot more that goes into making a record. It needs to be mixed, mastered, and printed – all of which costs money. The cool thing about giving to this project is that all of the money given will go directly to funding this project. There are no record labels or other “hands” in the pocket of this project. It all goes to help us finish Happy/Sad.

If you’re new to kickstarter, here are a couple of things to know:
1) The project needs to be 100% funded in order for us to receive anything.
2) If the project isn’t funded, no money is taken from you.
3) If the project isn’t funded, then no one receives their rewards…bummer!!
4) There is a deadline: 30 days!

We really want you to be a part of this record with us, so pick your favorite reward, tell your friends, and jump on the Happy/Sad train with us! This is going to be a fun ride!

To support this project go to this link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/churchilltheband/churchill-happy-sad-project

Please put a penny in the old mans hat.

If you haven’t got a penny then a hay penny will do.

If you haven’t got a hay penny then God bless you!

That is the song that my mom, my sisters, and I always sing when Christmas is coming. I started singing that song already. I know Halloween is just around the corner and that Thanksgiving isn’t even here, but I cannot wait for Christmas and everything that comes with it! I have already started listening to Christmas music too!

For me personally I think it puts people in a better mood. Christmas makes people happy.

I love the traditions my family has. The first is we always have whiskey shrimp dinner on Christmas Eve. And that is with the whole family; cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. We light the shrimp on fire so we all will gather in the kitchen, turn the lights down low, and watch. It only lasts like a minute, but it is those minutes that you remember most and makes memories. The whiskey shrimp tastes delicious! It is a must have. Then we are all stuffed it is time for everyone to head home. When we arrive home my family gets to open one gift, and it is always a pair of new pajamas. Even though I know what it’ll be each year I still get excited to open it Christmas Eve night. Then off to bed with the anticipation of Christmas morning.

Ah Christmas morning. I know for a fact when I was little I never slept the night before. I was too anxious. Every Christmas morning we all wake up to the song You Gotta Get up (its Christmas morning) by Rich Mullins. That is the cue to get out of bed and run to the Christmas tree. Even if I am up before the song I just lay in bed until I hear that intro, then I jump out of bed and run upstairs. The morning is spent with just my family all opening our gifts from each other. Then later on more friends and family come over for brunch and we open gifts with them. The best part about it is we stay in our pajamas the whole time. It’s wonderful. After everyone leaves it’s hurry run take a shower and get ready. Then our family and others go to the movies. And it is always a double feature. Two movies back to back. It’s great. And that is how my family spends Christmas and I couldn’t ask for a better ways to do it!

I sure love Christmas!

One year we did have a BCE party (Best Christmas Ever) and it was an ugly sweater party. It was wonderful. So much fun hanging out with everyone and seeing all the “interesting” sweaters/outfits. You can just see a taste of it in the picture above. We may need to have a BCE party again. Who knows, or maybe something different this year.

I am sure many of you love Christmas as much as I do. What are your traditions? Favorite memories?

Christmas,

I cannot wait for you to come this year and everything that you bring with you!

The first would be Bon Iver. I love his style of music. It is perfect for a relaxing day reading or writing and sipping some coffee!

I love all of his stuff, but these songs especially.

• Woods
• Skinny Love
• Flume
• Blood Bank

You can check him out in itunes or http://www.boniver.org/

And then there is Ray LaMontagne

I love this guy’s voice and his music! All of his stuff is awesome! And I am still bitter at my parents because they went to his concert without me!

Here are some of my favorites

• Trouble
• You are the Best Thing
• Hold you in my Arms
• Live Rock & Roll and Radio
• For the Summer

Can also check him out on itunes or http://www.raylamontagne.com/us/home

Hope you find something you like, again Happy Listening!

Here are a few pics

It was a great getaway; away from work and reality. Having my whole family there was great, I love spending time with them and I am so happy we are all so close. I love em! We ate a lot of food, drank a lot of coffee, a lot of reading, relaxing, games, laughter, and my new love of ATVing.

Thanks you Hathoot’s so much for a splendid weekend!!

Can I just say that kinda made my day I guess now it’s my turn to pay it forward. How awesome!!

I will waste my life,
I’ll be tested and tried.
With no regrets inside of me,
Just to find I’m at your feet,
Let me find I’m at your feet.

I leave my father’s house, and
I leave my Mother.
I leave all I have known, and
I’ll have no other.

For I am in love with you,
and there is no cost.
I am in love with you,
and there is no loss.
I am in love with you,
I want to take your name.
I am in love with you,
I want to cling to you, Jesus,
Just let me cling to you, Jesus.

I say goodbye to my father, my mother,
I turn my back on every other lover, and I
Press on, yes I press on.
I say goodbye to my father, my mother,
I turn my back on every other lover, and I press on, yes I press on.

For I am in love with you,
and there is no cost.
I am in love with you,
and there is no loss.
I am in love with you,
I want to take your name.
I am in love with you,
I want to cling to you, Jesus,
just let me cling to you, Jesus,
I want to cling to you…

I have been listening to this song constantly and worshiping on it. I love the chorus, there is no cost for the love of Jesus it’s FREE, and you don’t lose anything. It is so amazing how much God loves us and how much he has done for us and is doing for us. I think many times we including myself take that for granted. We left selfishness get in the way. We need to be willing to give everything up to God, like the song says, “with no regrets just to find I am at your feet.” Can you just imagine what it is going to be like when we are face to face with God. It’ll be AMAZING! This song has made me realize that I shouldn’t worry about tomorrow, or money, or material things or anything because in the end you can’t take anything with you and you won’t want to because all you need is Jesus. We need to just put our faith in God and trust and know he has our best interest and amazing plans to be used by him. WE need to be sold out for Jesus Christ. Be willing to go where he wants us to go, do what he wants us to do, all in his name. Lately I have been finding it myself talking the talk and not really doing any of this. It’s easy to say it but to actually do it? I have been trying to just give it all up to God but I won’t lie it is hard, hard, hard. I know for a fact I do take for granted the love of Jesus Christ and what he has done. If you just take a step back from your life and think about it, it is crazy! Just look around how beautiful the Earth is, or look how blessed you are with all you have and your family! God has given us so much so why is it so hard to give the same love back to him! God wants you to have a willing heart! Willing to leave others and pursue him!

1 Chronicles 29:14-18

“But me- who am I, and who are these my people, that we should presume to be giving something to you? Everything comes from you; all we’re doing is giving back what we’ve been given from your generous hand. As far as you’re concerned , we’re homeless, shiftless, wanderers like our ancestors, our lives mere shadows, hardly anything to us. God, our God, all these materials-these piles of stuff for building a house of worship for you, honoring your Holy Name- it all came from you! It was all yours in the first place! I know, dear God, that you care nothing for the surface- you want us, our true selves- and so I given from the heart,  honestly and happily. And now see all these people doing the same, giving freely, WILLINGLY- what a joy! O God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this generous spirit alive forever in these people always, keep their hearts set firmly in you.” (The Message)

Man I just love this song! Sorry that I kinda rambled about things but I had to get all my thoughts out. I hope that in some way you were encouraged by this. You can also listen to the song here. It is awesome!!

Sorry it’s not an ‘actual’ video. I couldn’t find one, but at least you can still listen to it.