Posts

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!

-
Image
 I am sure that you guessed the title of this post is in German. That is because this song was originally written in German. It is none other than Silent Night. This song has been recorded more than any other song in history. It also is the song at the forefront of one of my favorite historical events of all time.  In 1818, Joseph Mohr was placed in charge of the music for Christmas Eve Mass at his church,  St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. He had spent months planning every detail. As he made last-minute preparations, he discovered a horrible problem. The organ wouldn't play. He climbed underneath fiddling with the keys, stops, pedals, and anything he could possibly think of to fix it. He realized there was no fixing it. What was he going to do? Christmas Eve midnight mass was only hours away! He stopped and prayed for God to help him come up with a plan. That was when he remembered he had written a 6 stanza Christmas poem inspired by a walk from his grandfather's hom
Post a Comment
Read more

Go Tell....

-
Image
"Go Tell It on the Mountain" was the work of an unknown slave, before the Civil War. The idea is one of excitement, of not being able to contain your information. An idea that we should shout from the mountain tops and tell everyone we know that Jesus has come. The African American slave who created this beautiful song was probably imagining how the shepherds felt in the fields. Luke 2:9-11 says:  9 An angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and suddenly they became very frightened. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am bringing you some good news. It will be a joy to all the people. 11 Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord .  But why is His birth so significant? Why does it matter? Isn't every birth exciting? It is. The excitement of the birth of Jesus is not merely because He was born, as is with all other babies, but it was because He came to die. The literal defin
Post a Comment
Read more

The First Noel

-
Image
The First Noel was put to print in 1833, but it was written approximately 300 years before that. The author is unknown but was likely a peasant. During the Middle Ages, most people were illiterate. He didn't "write" the song in the traditional sense (on paper). It was a song of the people, a Christmas folk song. The church, at the time, would've rejected it as "new music". So it wouldn't have been sung in church. There is also a small scriptural discrepancy. Beings the author was illiterate, he/she wouldn't have been able to read the Bible on his/her own. Besides that fact, Bibles at that time were not well circulated, and most common people never saw an actual Bible in person. In the second verse is says , They looked up, and saw a star, shining in the east, beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light and so it continued both day and night. In actuality, the shepherds didn't follow the star to the stable to see Jesus. The angels appe
Post a Comment
Read more

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

-
Image
 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is known as one of America's greatest poets. He was born in 1807, and as a young boy he began school when he was 3 yrs old.  He was reading classic literature at the age of 6, and by the age of 19 he was a college professor. He got married in 1831 and by 1834 he was known as one of the most respected scholars in our country. Henry and his wife moved to Massachusetts so he could teach at Harvard. But soon after the move, his wife became sick and she died.  Henry was devastated.  He focused on his teaching as he dealt with his grief. It took him 7 long years to get over the tragedy enough to want to remarry, but remarry he did. Henry and his new lovely wife welcomed 5 children and it was a happy time. In 1861, after 18 years of marriage, another devastating event fell upon Henry's life. While his wife was lighting a match, her clothes caught fire and she burned to death.  While he was still in dark despair over the loss of his second wife, the American
Post a Comment
Read more

Mighty Christmas!

-
Image
 I haven't written in my blog for a long time. My goal is to start writing more frequently because it is something that I enjoy doing. I changed the name of my blog to Hearthstone Companion, because no matter the subject I write about, I'd love for you to imagine you and I sitting together and talking at a Hearthstone sipping coffee or hot chocolate.  For the month of December, I plan to blog about different Christmas carols and their meaning, history, or truths we can cling to this Christmas season.  The song I will begin with is "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". During the Middle Ages, most of the songs that were sung at church were dark, somber and melancholy.  They lacked the ability to evoke enthusiasm or inspiration. So the peasants took it upon themselves to make their own Christmas carols. In doing so they led a quiet rebellion against the current tone of religious music writing.  Although the church leaders would've disapproved of the song, it truly presente
Post a Comment
Read more

Plexus: My New Journey

-
Image
Last fall my friend started sharing posts about gut health. She had asked me if I wanted to try this "pink drink".  I didn't bite. But I always read her posts and it did interest me. She went on a weekend get away with her husband and posted a picture of herself,  she looked fabulous and happy. Her comment was, "I've never felt better!" My friend's before and current picture is here: Well, I would like to feel like I've never felt better. But, I continued to just watch her posts from afar. For 4 more months......... Beginning of January I decided to get in on a 7 day trial of this pink drink. It can't hurt and $20 was worth trying it. So I did it, I took the plunge. The pink drink is not sweet at all, kinda tastes like pink lemonade to me. But it is doable. I am a super picky person and I like the taste of it. What I found was that I had more energy, and my quality of sleep was astonishing, I also lost 7 lbs. I have hypothyroidism and there
Post a Comment
Read more

2000 Decembers Ago

-
Image
I love Christmas. It is full of memories and excitement. The lights, the decorations, the music, family time, all of it adds to the Christmas season. I am excited when Christmas music starts playing on the radio. I especially love all of the Christmas songs proclaiming the birth of Jesus. Just thinking about that night, the night Jesus was born, songs such as Silent Night, O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, and many more. A favorite song of mine about the birth of Jesus is "2000 Decembers Ago."  Below is not the song in its entirety, but the lyrics that are my favorite. Were the sheep as amazed as the shepherds At the new star that lit up the sky? Did the willow trees whisper excitement To the rivers and streams passing by? Did the joy ricochet off the mountains 'Til it filled up the valleys below? Did all the world sense love abounding 2000 Decembers ago? Was anyone able to look at the stable And not see a child but a King I wish, I could hear back over the y
1 comment
Read more