Two of my favorite modern instrumental artists in the world just collaborated to make one of the most epic music videos I think I have seen in my life, ever.

Glimpse

I think seeing Lindsey Stirling play Transcendence live last night was the best thing that has happened all month.

 

(Electric Daisy Violin)

Raymond and I decided she's the ultimate definition of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

I keep on giving in to the things that kill me, yeah.
Oh, tempted heart, come alive
I feel you burning inside.
Weary soul, lift your eyes
To a city where life will never die. 

This rusted world can't satisfy
There's nothing here that will survive
The night will end,
The sun will rise
On a city where life will never die.

Saw them live last Saturday. So good. 

Questing.

There are days where it seems as if transcendence is lost.

As if this quest might be a lost hope, deep in the darkness of the dungeon. 

  

But it is not. We will refuse to believe otherwise.We will press on through the darkness.

"Do you think it is a terrible thing to hope when there is really no reason to hope at all? Or is it (as the soldier said about happiness) something that you might just as well do, since,in the end, it really makes no difference to anyone but you?" (Kate DiCamillo)

Savour for a moment, if you will, this beautiful song, written by a newfound fellow blogger, Keeper of the Tardis.

One step closer to the end, my heart learns to sing again,

Life’s a journey, not a trial, not a race.

And when I am long gone, they’ll tell my story in a song.

I’ll have lived with a smile on my face.

And though it’s just a simple story, one more to join all the rest.

I lived, I loved, I gave it all I had.

I know that in the tales we dream, we dream of these same things.

Because it was you know… it was the best.

One step closer to the future,

Once more tread upon this road.

Roads go on whether I follow or I stay.

I have found a greater peace,

So come and sing with me.

In this love, I am happy, I am free.

Though I’m just a simple thread in the Tapestry of Time,

I mattered – we all matter in some way.

I’m content to live in grace

And to love with each new day…

And I think love’s all that matters in the end.

See the full lyrics and listen to it HERE. It is simply beautiful.

A thread in the Tapestry of Time.

Music of the week month summer {brave}

So, everyone sings about touching the sky.

Like. Everyone. Go ahead. Google "touch the sky" and "lyrics." If you make it through the second page there are at least 6 different artists with that as their song title.

Despite the cliche, banal (I just learned that word today. SAT studying for the win! not.) use of the title, this post is my shameless promotion of my undying love for the BRAVE soundtrack and its opening song.

As of yet, (the movie came out in June) I have not yet tired of listening to this music. At all.

Just...listen to this song...and let your spirit dance a little with joy.



"Touch the Sky" is probably in close running with "Learn Me Right."



We will run and scream
You will dance with me
We'll fulfill our dreams and we'll be free

Yes, it's gorgeous. And there are bagpipes.

Go outside. Blast this song out your windows. Spin in the sunshine. Climb a pine tree. Delight in the sheer beauty that surrounds you.

PS - if you haven't seen the movie Brave, you need to. There is no question. It is better than Dawn Treader (the movie) and that says something important.

See Where It Leads

It's that call for something beyond you.

For something Greater.

Purpose. Drive. Peace.

That's what this song is about.



Pardon the Bulgarian subtitles. I can't find a normal one. =P Here are the lyrics. Really, listen to the whole song, it's good.

It's our calling.

When we step aside
From the center of our lives
When we learn to love mercy
More than being right
Pursuing peace and honesty

Can I love mercy more than being right? I've thought a lot about that especially with debate lately. Debate, it seems, has recently been a battle of who is more right. But in reality, it's not about proving who is more right, but about what you learn along the way. It's not about being right but -- when it comes down to it -- about being honest and loving.

Yes, there really are loving ways to debate personal freedom and economic security.

Starting down the road of selflessness
And seeing where it leads

Lately I've been obsessed with the idea of not jumping into anything without knowing what it might hold. I've been consumed with trying to know that whatever choice I make, the outcome will be successful and fulfilling. (Who do I think I am, God?)

When was the last time I just started down a path just to see where it lead -- as opposed to always worrying about which one will take me to the best place possible?

Am I that daring? Could I surrender my precious dreams for something greater that I can't yet see? It's not just a dream like a dream of being a famous gymnast or a world renowned debater.

No, this is the dream of thrill, adventure, laughter, friendship, happiness, contentment. Of being a person of worth on my own merit. The dream of being confident, capable, likeable. The dream of having control over my life and what happens in it - as if my own thwarted agenda will make me content.

It's the dream of a fulfilled life. What better could there be right?

My 7th grade teacher taught me that the key to happiness is fulfilling your purpose. But do you have any idea how stressful (not to mention impossible and vain) this kind of a dream this is? I wasn't created for this kind of purpose.

I was created for something more. A purpose that only a wildly glorious Creator could instill. And somehow, it's one that only he can fulfill.

There's a better way to live.

Music of the week {Lindsey Stirling}

Oh man I love this girl's music.

Lindsey Stirling is, to put it quite lightly, an absolutely amazing violinist. I love the passion and joy that radiates from her face, and that she's taken an instrument everyone plays and is doing something new and amazing with it.

Let's start out with the most epic one....



Next, I think this one is definitely my favorite. "Transcend" is one of my favorite words, and I love love love the message behind this song. Watch the behind the scenes afterwards -- she has some really good things to say.



Lastly, this one makes me want to run off and live in New Zealand and learn to sail a boat and climb trees and dance in a field of wildflowers and spin and spin and soak up the fresh, glorious, beautiful air and love and play music and shout to the whole world how beautiful life is.



Check out more of her amazing videos HERE. Ahhhh! Makes me want to play violin.

Oops.

I accidentally just posted another Taylor Swift/Hunger Games song.

But it's kind of amazing.



The tricky thing
Is yesterday we were just children
Playing soldiers
Just pretending
Dreaming dreams with happy endings
In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords
But now we've stepped into a cruel world
Where everybody stands and keeps score

Music of the week

Since we're still on the topic of the Hunger Games (largely due to me having to be at school for 5 hours this quarter instead of 2...isn't that just *great?*), I think now would be a good time for me to share with you my absolute favorite song from the movie, Safe and Sound by none other than Taylor Swift.

It's completely different from her normal style, so if you aren't a fan of Taylor Swift, you just might like this one.

I love how...simple it all is.

Don't you dare look out your window darling
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when the music's gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Ahem.

I have a bit of an announcement to make.

Something very amazing will be happening on August 21st.

Yes, that's right.

Tenth Avenue North is releasing their next album.

The kind of restraint it is taking for me to not use ten billion exclamation points is a little bit overpowering.

I give in.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Music of the week {Revive}

Many thanks to my friend Paul, I am now a fan of the band Revive. Actually I have been a fan for quite awhile, but have only recently forked over the currency required for legal ownership of their music.

I'd say they're definitely in the running with Trading Yesterday.They also get bonus points because if you watch some of their videos where they're talking instead of singing, they have cool Australian accents!! Because they're from Australia. (go figure.)

The saddest part? THEY'RE NOT A BAND ANYMORE EITHER.

Why do all the awesome bands stop making music? I think I might die if tenth avenue north does that.

Alright. Enough about that.

My current most favorite song is:

Hold On Love


There's fear in your eyes
As you face the unknown
You keep asking why
For a reason to hold on
But hold on love

The life that you plan
The dreams are all gone
You don't understand why you should hold on
But hold on love

I'll be here
Whatever comes your way
I'll be here
It's a promise I have made
When you close your eyes
And say your last goodbye
I'll be here

I'm strong enough
I'll be your hope
I made a way
I just need you to hold on
Hold on love

I'll be here
Whatever comes your way
I'll be here
It's a promise I have made
When you close your eyes
And say your last goodbye
I'll be here

No matter what you're facing now
As you're drowning in a sea of doubt
You should know I won't let you go
No matter what you're going through
Just remember I have been there too
You should know I won't let you go

I'll be here
Whatever comes your way
I'll be here
It's a promise I have made
When you close your eyes
And say your last goodbye
I'll be here

Hold on
Hold on love

Also, when you have time to kill and feel like listening to more awesome music, check out:

Don't give up the fight:

We Were Meant to Be:


And last but not least,

Blink:

Music of the week.

I discovered this band quite a bit ago, but I'm only finally posting about it now. Props go to Gray for hitting a radio station in the car on the way home that was playing this song, and to Shrimpy for introducing it to me when we got there. I always like it when I find new bands.

This is OneRepublic.

They are not as awesome as tenth ave or Trading Yesterday. Some of their songs are a little bit weird. They have creepy-ish music videos.

But nevertheless, I really like some of their music, and the new style is really refreshing to me. Favorite songs so far are:

Good Life
Marchin' On
Someone to save you
Say (all I need)

This is why I love tenth avenue north.

ALSO THEY ARE RECORDING A NEW ALBUM...CAN YOU SAY 'EXCITED?! '

Tonight the wall is coming down.

Alright, here's another song from Taylor Swift. Again. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I really couldn't. It's just too cute.

Best of all, it's unique, and original. There's no break in the story for singing, or any face-melting-stage-dancing or anything like that. It's like she's human, for once.



ALSO THERE IS AN ASIAN MAN WITH A BANANA.

this war's not over.

I want my soul wide awake.

I want to sail

Into the sunrise

Right to the edge of the new

Way beyond me, out ‘cross the sea

Into a beautiful truth

A journey awaits

Incredible stories

I’ll live to tell you the tales

I want to know.

I want to go.

I want to sail.

Right through waves of my fear

Out where the waters run clear

I want to sail.



Tell me, what spell must I break?

I want my soul wide awake.

Early's on time.

My favorite part of halloween is when the local Christian radio station plays Christmas music all day. I used to be a Christmas-music-is-only-for-December purist, but I have since changed from my old ways and now listen to it in November.

And just today, my favorite band (tenth avenue north, of course) released A NEW CHRISTMAS SONG! (que massive excitement)

Yes, it's dumb, it's not the best Christmas song ever, but it's tenth avenue north, and it's Christmas.





Even though I'm really excited for Christmas, I am absolutely loving the fall weather - no rain, crisp, cold mornings, fog, hot tea, and crunchy leaves.

:)

Live What I am Dreaming of

Yeah, I'm posting another Trading Yesterday song.

Yes, I just posted about them last time. But I had to share with you another awesome song.

See, a lot of my life recently has been along the lines of:

School planning
Debate about economic security vs. personal freedom
School planning
Debate about economic security vs. personal freedom
Wonder what in the world God is doing with my life
School planning vs. personal freedom
Wonder what God's will is for my life
Debate about economic security
School planning
Wonder about what God is doing with my life
School planning

....you get the idea. It's rigid, kind of intense, and full of all the kind of structure and organisation that I kind of enjoy. (not the stress, the organisation)

But even us non-free-spirited people who love organisation feel a little stuffy at times, and especially after having a deep conversation with your father and brother about personal freedom vs. economic security, long conversations with your mother about school schedules, and long conversations with God about what is going on in your life.....yeah never mind.

(your brain quits working, that's what)

Also what happens after you read books like "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung. (more about that later, I think)

It's like that excitement you get when you start to feel that all that rigidity and organisation and stuff might be paying off, but it hasn't actually happened yet so you aren't sure.

It sparks something. I'm not sure what, because it's too late in the night. But it's in this song. So if you want to know, listen to it. That is, if the above even made sense to you. Which it quite possibly didn't. I'll never know unless you comment.



I'm taking my chances as I go // Life is more than just survival // Love will be the thing that sets me free // Just a little faith is all I need // To live what I am dreaming of.