November 10, 2012

The Saturday Post: Thanksgiving carol edition

November 10, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

One of the radio stations in my city started playing Christmas music this past week. Which is ridiculous. That station is not allowed to be played in my house. Not yet.

I love Christmas music. In my house, though, Christmas carols are forbidden until the day after Thanksgiving. At the very earliest—if we really cannot wait—they're allowed Thanksgiving night, once all the Thanksgiving festivities are done and over.

With too much rush to get from Halloween to Christmas, Thanksgiving is fast becoming a forgotten holiday. Except for the turkey.

Perhaps part of the problem with Thanksgiving's appeal and popularity is the lack of Thanksgiving songs and carols. There is one, though. And I think it should be shared with grandkids and big kids alike. I'm pretty sure all will enjoy it. Except for the turkey.

It goes like this:

Celebrate the season. The Thanksgiving season. Thanksgiving Day will be here and gone far sooner than we all might hope. Especially for the turkey.

Happy Saturday!

November 07, 2012

One-word Wednesday: Abandoned

November 07, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

Today's question:

What hobby or interest have you abandoned but hope to return to soon?

October 29, 2012

Collaboration is key plus the GRAND Social grandparent linky — October 29

October 29, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

The GRAND Social has always been a collaboration of sorts. People add links and people read links to create an enjoyable experience for all. Without those posting, there'd be no GRAND Social. Without those reading, there'd be no GRAND Social, at least not as it's meant to be—a collaboration.

Here is another sort of collaboration, one in which commuters in the United Kingdom add notes here and there to create something beautiful, something worth sharing. A collaboration.

Thank you for collaborating with me today on the GRAND Social. I appreciate those who link, as well as those who read. Together we, too, are creating something beautiful, something worth sharing.

How it works:

All grandparent bloggers are invited to add a link. You don't have to blog specifically about grandparenting, but you must be a grandparent who blogs.

Posts shared can be an old one or a recent one, your choice. I like to link up to older posts that current readers likely haven't seen.

To link up, copy the direct link to the specific post you want to share, not the link to your blog's home page. Then click the blue "Click here to enter" text below and follow the directions to add your post to the list.

You can add up to three posts, but no duplicates, please, and none you have promoted on a previous GRAND Social linky.

No contests, giveaways, or Etsy sites.

Adding a mention at the bottom of your linked posts, such as This post has been linked to the GRAND Social linky, is appreciated. Or, you can post the GRAND Social button using the following code:

Grandma’sBriefs.com

The GRAND Social linky is open for new posts through Wednesday evening, so please come back to see those added after your first visit.

Looking for another grandparent linky? Be sure to visit Connie's Grandparent's Say It Saturday Link Party each Saturday (open to links through Monday nights).

If you're not a blogger, you have the pleasure of being a reader. All bloggers who link up would be honored to have you click, visit, read and comment.

READERS and PARTICIPATING BLOGGERS: Please visit the posts others have linked to by clicking on the thumbnail photos. Comments are always appreciated by the bloggers whose links you visit, even if it's simply "Hey, stopping by from GRAND Social."

Thank you for participating in the GRAND Social grandparent linky!

October 06, 2012

The Saturday Post: May I Suggest edition

October 06, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

I recently had the privilege of becoming part of a private Facebook group of mid-life bloggers and writers. The creative women in that group inspire me daily, and I'm so honored to be in their midst.

One of the co-creators of the group, the beautiful inside and out Chloe Jeffreys, posted last week a video of a conference she attended. The music she attached to the footage was hauntingly beautiful and resonated, soul deep.

Of course I had to search for that song and share it with you here:

May I Suggest — by Susan Warner (thanks to Chloe for graciously including the lyrics)

May I suggest
May I suggest to you
May I suggest this is the best part of of your life

May I suggest
this time is blessed for you
this time is blessed and shining almost blinding bright
just turn your head
and you’ll begin to see
the thousand reasons that were just beyond your sight

the reasons why
why I suggest to you
why I suggest this is the best part of your life

there is a world
that’s been addressed to you
addressed to you, intended only for your eyes
a secret world
a treasure chest to you
of private scenes and brilliant dreams that mesmerize

a tender lover’s smile
a tiny baby’s hands
the million stars that fill the turning sky at night

Oh I suggest
Yes I suggest to you
Yes I suggest this is the best part of your life

There is a hope
that’s been expressed in you
the hope of seven generations, maybe more
this is the fate
that they invest in you
it’s that you’ll do one better than was done before

inside you know
inside you understand
inside you know what’s yours to finally set right

and I suggest
and I suggest to you
and I suggest this is the best part of your life

this is a song
comes from the west to you
comes from the west, comes from the slowly setting sun
this is a song
with a request of you
to see how very short the endless days will run
and when they’re gone
and when the dark descends
we’d give anything for one more hour of life

may I suggest
this is best part of your life

Have a beautiful Saturday.

September 22, 2012

The Saturday Post: Playing for Change Day edition

September 22, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

Today is the second annual Playing for Change Day. In my book, it's the perfect celebration for the first day of fall. There's far more to it than that, though. Here are the details:

This organization touches my heart in so many ways. I've purchased their CDs, and I've shared their videos on Grandma's Briefs a few times. On my so-called bucket list is the goal to one day attend one of their concerts.

For now, though, here is my favorite Playing for Change video so far. You may recall seeing it here before. If so, I hope you'll still stick around, for it's just as soul stirring the second—and twenty-second—time, I promise:

For more information and more videos, visit Playing for Change. To find a live PFC Day event near you, visit Playing for Change Day.

Happy Saturday! May your first day of fall be filled with music!

Disclosure: I have no affiliation whatsoever with Playing for Change. I just love the organization and its mission and wanted to share.

September 01, 2012

The Saturday Post: Call Me Maybe - Grandparents Day edition

September 01, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

Seems there's a lip-synching Call Me Maybe video by and for anyone and everyone.

This one by and for grandparents and Grandparents Day ranks as one of my favorites.

Best wishes for a happy Labor Day weekend!

August 25, 2012

The Saturday Post: Too Soon edition

August 25, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

This song first stirred my soul several years ago, when EastMountainSouth was the opening act at a Tracy Chapman concert. I've loved the song ever since, yet never really in relation to one specific person. Until now.

This is for Margie, who left us Friday morning, far too soon.

August 06, 2012

GRAND Social — Grandparent linky — August 6

August 06, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

It's Monday, which means time for another always awesome GRAND Social linky party for grandparent bloggers as well as grandparent—and non-grandparent—readers.

First, though, a song that gets stuck in my head nearly every single Monday of late, despite my being just a tot when the song was released.

Yes, there it is—your earworm for the day. You're welcome!

Now, please join me in linking and reading in today's GRAND Social!

Happy Monday Monday!

How it works:

All grandparent bloggers are invited to add a link. You don't have to blog specifically about grandparenting, but you must be a grandparent who blogs.

Posts shared can be an old one or a recent one, your choice. I like to link up to older posts that current readers likely haven't seen.

To link up, copy the direct link to the specific post you want to share, not the link to your blog's home page. Then click the blue "Click here to enter" text below and follow the directions to add your post to the list.

You can add up to three posts, but no duplicates, please, and none you have promoted on a previous GRAND Social linky.

No contests, giveaways, or Etsy sites.

Adding a mention at the bottom of your linked posts, such as This post has been linked to the GRAND Social linky, is appreciated. Or, you can post the GRAND Social button using the following code:

Grandma’sBriefs.com

The GRAND Social linky is open for new posts through Wednesday evening, so please come back to see those added after your first visit.

Looking for another grandparent linky? Be sure to visit Connie's Grandparent's Say It Saturday Link Party each Saturday (open to links through Monday nights).

If you're not a blogger, you have the pleasure of being a reader. All bloggers who link up would be honored to have you click, visit, read and comment.

Thank you for participating in the GRAND Social grandparent linky!

August 04, 2012

The Saturday Post: Stop this train edition

August 04, 2012/ Lisa Carpenter

Two weeks from today, my oldest daughter will turn 30 years old.

THIRTY!

How can that be?

I'm not usually one to balk about my age or getting older, but by golly, I think it's time to stop this train—or at least slow it down a bit, just long enough for me to wrap my head around this thing.

Stop This Train by John Mayer

No I'm not color blind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind but...
I just can't sleep on this tonight

Stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly won't someone stop this train

Don't know how else to say it, don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own

Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't but honestly won't someone stop this train

So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game to find a way to say my life has just begun
Had a talk with my old man
Said help me understand
He said turn 68, you'll renegotiate
Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
Don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train

Now, once in a while when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
'til you cry when you're driving away in the dark

Singing stop this train I want to get off and go back home again
I can't take the speed this thing is moving in
I know I can't
Cause now I see I'm never gonna stop this train