Mix Master

If I ever come across a genie in a bottle I already know that one of my wishes will be for a soundtrack to accompany my life. That there will always be music playing in perfect tune with the highs and lows of my day. I'd wish for that, and a personal hair and make-up stylist to be waiting for me in my bathroom every morning so I can drink coffee and catch up on the latest US Weekly current events. Ahh, it would be grand.

A few weeks ago when I was knee-deep in repainting the office, I found my collection of CD's stashed away underneath our desk. When I put the room back together, instead of replacing them there, I stuck them in my car so I could listen to all of my old favorites. And ever since, every drive I take has become a trip down memory lane. Before Ipods and MP3 players were all the rage, I used to pride myself on making a mean mixed CD. I made them for myself, for my friends, and for my sisters. Music is totally therapy for me so I have mixes made to cover every emotion and for every occasion. For example, the short list of CD titles includes...

The Feel Better Mix (aka the break-up mix)

Songs to Cry With

Ride to Work Mix

The Long Drive Home Mix

Party Mix

Morning Mix

Morning Mix Vol 2

Pure Country Lovin' Mix

Alum Creek Mix

Praise and Worship Vol 1, 2, 3, and 4 mix

Songs that Make me Happy Mix

Cool-down Mix

Date Night Mix

I love Celine Mix

God Bless America Mix

Random Mix

Love Songs 

Love Songs Vol 2

Love Songs Vol 3

Ultimate Love Songs mix

Angry Mix

Running Mix

Rachel Mix

Rachel's Awesome Pop Mix

Oldies But Goodies Mix

And the list goes on and on and on. I love how you can not hear a favorite song for 10 years and yet when you hear it again you remember every single word to perfection, even the extra
"yeah's" and "uh-huhs". And it takes you right back to the time when that song really meant something to you and you can remember all those emotions again like it was yesterday.  I cannot listen to the Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces CD without remembering how much I loved driving to high school with my sisters, blasting our music and stopping at McDonald's to get Cappuccinos and breakfast burritos on the way. Or when Aerosmith croons I don't Want To Miss A Thing I am 18 again watching Armageddon with John and he's telling me he loves me for the first time so unexpectedly. And even with those first few beats of Lose Yourself, (the one and only Eminem song that I have ever liked) I can see myself pounding the pavement, running the mile loop around the UC campus again and again while I trained for my first marathon and played this song on repeat so I wouldn't quit. I don't think I would have completed it without that song. And I still get goosebumps when I play the mix of our wedding music and I remember how it felt to stand there with my dad and see John so overcome with emotion waiting for me at the end of the isle and the beginning of our new life. Music is powerful, at least it is to me. I used to tell John when we were dating,"If you want to know what kind of mood I'm in, just pay attention to the mix I'm listening to." And I think that still holds true today. 

A Sleep-Over Visit

Eli has this super cheesy book called A Sleep-Over Visit  which is a Little Golden Book that was actually John's from his childhood. It is the story of a little boy named Michael who spends his first night away from home at his friend's house down the street. It is the kind of book that feminists would want to burn with its outdated concepts of high-heeled, hoop-skirt, button down blouse wearing, bacon frying housewives; however, Eli loves it and we read it often. The book was purchased for a whopping 89 cents back in 1986 and it is selling today on Amazon for $25. Hmm, looks like we'd better hold onto it for another 20 years.

All of that information really doesn't have anything to do with this post. But if you were in any way curious as to the current value of a vintage Little Golden Book, then there you have it . 2700% value increase.

Anyhoo, last weekend we had our own sleep-over visit with my nieces Lily and Callie. I was so looking forward to having the girls here and getting some one-on-one time with them. Eli was also pumped and very easily slipped into the role of being "just one of the gals." We played with babies, baked and decorated a giant cookie, took a jacuzzi bubble bath (them, not me), made popcorn, and snuggled in for a fun movie which we started way after their bedtime. It was such a special time to spend with these adorable, giggling girls and I cherished it. Watching the three of them together with their tender hearts and unblemished innocence is such a reminder of God's abundant delight in His children. Thanks Kim and Sarah for letting us steal the girls away for a night. We hope its a tradition we can continue in the future.