Vote for Van.

A little request:
A friend of mine Van Rissegham is a musical artist and has enter this contest, to open for Toby Mac, and a few other amazing opportunities. The thing is you have to have people vote for you. I of course will be voting, I really think his music is inspiring. Take a look at his myspace, by clicking on this link :http://www.myspace.com/
If you are wondering who Toby Mac is you can stop by his myspace as well http://www.myspace.com/tobymac. He is a Christian musical artist, who has an incredible voice, and awesome lyrics.

Van, has sent me some info on how to vote and when. You can start voting 12EST, which means starting Monday morning at 12am, your time ( USA)! Though you don't have to stay up tell then...you can vote later on. ha
"You can go to:http://rockthecamp.endavomedia.com/audio/1EA140A21
A/the-motions You'll have to register a user name in order to vote (which is easy to find button to click on.) People can also vote multiple times if they register multiple accounts. Soo, rock on!"

Steps:
1. go to website
2. Click Fan Registration
3. Fill in your info
4. They will send you a confirmation email ( check that) there you can click the link, and your password will be held in that email they sent you.
5. Once you have enter back into the site, you will retype your password, and enter what time zone you are in.
6. After wards click save at the bottom, and it will register you.
7. Now that you are register, you can go back to the link Feb. 1-Feb 28th and vote for van.

Let me know is this make sense.... : )

So please please please, on behalf of friend to another friend. lets come together, and make this happen! All things are possible! It will be fun, if it happens... to say we were all a part of it.

Here is a little about Van, in case you can't make it to his page:
( this was not written by me...ha)
"If you feel you’ve been going through the motions, take your hands and just let go." twenty-one year old Tulsa native, Jonathan Van Risseghem sings on his new full length release, The Motions. The motion of his music career has greatly accelerated recently, as he experiences a fast growing following throughout the Midwest.

Within 6 months of releasing The Motions, Van Risseghem's title track has been featured in nationwide AMC and Cinemark theaters, frequent rotation in nationwide Kohls and Wild Oats stores, featured as Delta Airlines' boarding entertainment for worldwide flights, and nominated for the Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Van Risseghem's songs are also featured on the Z104.5 compilation CD, the Hollywood Music In Media Awards Compilation CD, and voted for K-HITS 106.9 Listener's Choice.

Van Risseghem's song craft shows no sign of artistic compromise, but rather a deepening of signature aesthetics and concise songwriting galvanized into a high-energy live show. Like a painter who masters the fundamentals of drafting before becoming an Expressionist or Cubist, Jonathan leverages solid lyricism as a foundation on which to build the colorful melodious constructions of the imagination.

Perhaps it's something about the excessively commercial nature of pop music these days that make people want to reach back in time. Or, maybe it is just the music itself – spirited, direct, colorful. Whatever it is, Van Risseghem taps that energy of yesterday’s music with it’s tones and rhythms, producing a rich-textured sound topped off with an engaging vocal delivery. He joins these solid arrangements with ear catching melodies in any chart topper of today’s music. "

Thanks so much for taking the time to vote, if you did. If not, for taking the time to read all the way to the bottom of this blog...ha

Sincerely,
Laura

Darren Walker ( TEXAS RANGER)

I just found my fantastic friends blog aka. Darren Walker. I knew he had one, but I couldn't ever get to it. Thought tonight, I clicked something and it took me there...I should bookmark that page before I can't find it again. I was so excited I took the time to read all his blogs...ha. A real friend I am. He shares a lot about awesome God revelations he has. I really look up to his true honesty, and passion to learn more about God. I wanted to quote him on here, something he just wrote about, and I was laughing so hard. I had no idea.

"But, I'm not writing this so you can start the gossip on how hard this is on me :) I'm writing this because I hardly ever talk about myself in my blog and I want to change that. Laura is my inspiration for doing this. She can talk about the paper weight on her desk and how it made her feel and I'd be riveted by every word!"

Darren. you are too fun, thanks for the shout out. and keep sharing your heart, I love it!

Here is the link to his blog in case you are wanting to investigate his words. http://thepowerinus.blogspot.com/


Yesterday I sat down at a borrowed desk. Currently I have been using someone else computer space while they are away. Then BAM I looked down and there was the most beautiful paper weight I had ever seen. It was small for a paper weight, but I could tell it could "get the job done". It was bright green, with little white poka dots all over it. I truly feel like there is a story behind how it got there, and how it has been used. I believe we will bond, and it will hold my papers well over these next few days. Thanks little paper weight. ( this was a made up story for you darren...) ha

CHEERS MATE!

Enclosed is My heart, share it with the world.

I wrote a song that I will add on this blog post, so you can listen to it if you'd like.
I wrote it about what the real God is, and what the real gods aren't. I wrote it just from my heart, after going to India and seeing with my own eyes, bible stories coming to life. People in temples, covered in ash, and bowing before an idol. It is a strange feeling, actually knowing that these things not only happen now, but were happening years and years ago. Every time I make a decision, or write a song, or really talk to someone about what I believe, I really desire to have scripture to back it up. With this song, I didn't go searching for anything, the song just came out. Now its been a few months, and I opened to these words in Psalms, and realized I had accidentally copied one of Davids psalms from the bible. : ) not really. I just found these verses, that seemed like a version of my lyrics. Here it is.
Psalm chapter 115: verses 1-8
" Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth, Why should the Gentiles say, " So where is their God?" But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them."

I read those words, and was just so excited to see that David felt just like me years ago when he wrote those words.

The Stream

Hey Blog readers. Hope you are doing well, I have been a bit behind on blogging, so here is a new song I just wrote to pay you back! Enjoy.

SURPRISE: Its new years...again!

As we all know, the new year has arrived...on time, once again. I want to thank you for coming by to say hello, though you left in such a hurry. Is it not strange how new years only last for a day? Then it becomes a term used until the end of January, and by October you begin to start planning once more for the next year. Its funny how one day can get the whole world together, to plan for good things to happen! Its fantastic really, we don't realize we've all been sucked into a pattern of "Start over one more time...again,and if you mess up, don't worry January will come soon enough". I am proud to say I usually forget to make new years resolutions. This year is a new year though! So I, of course decided to read the bible every day. Though I usually try to do this, I want to truly do it. Not because I can throw a party, and Jesus will give me a high five on December 31st MIDNIGHT. I just realize the more I read the bible, the more I stay focused on what God has for me. The more I learn about whats True, when I am surrounded by so many lies all through the day. Keeping my mind on things that are positive, and real is what makes my days go by with ease. When I read every day, I can remind myself Who is along side me as I walk to work. I want this year to be full of moments that I remember Who is guiding my steps. I want it to be full of loving people because I can, and not because I should. To be full of joy, because I have it. Be full of ministry through just being who God made me to be. I want to walk in confidence, and be a light as I go here and there. No matter what God has in store for my year, I just want to know that I know I am right where I should be, and being content, and showing a little bit of Him every where.

While I have been reading, I am loving it. Though there are nights/days when I'd rather lay in bed and eat chocolate covered pretzels, and think about nothing. I honestly enjoy reading all these stories in the bible. ( God loves chocolate covered preztels, and He loves that I love them). When I read about these people, their lives, and all their mistakes...it makes me think about us. All of us, and how we all try so hard to become these people, and then when we make a mistake, we feel like, " That's it...". When I read, I realize, God picks all the right people, but they happen to make bad choices too ( and good ones). Like Abraham told a king, his wife, was his sister. Then the king almost married her...FAIL. Could you imagine, if I was Sarah his wife, I would be so angry. I would probably say, " Are you joking? this is ridiculous, NO I will not pretend to be your sister...ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Then you see all these siblings that fight, and steal things. On and on and on. I like it. I like that its true, God knows us so well. He doesn't care about our failures, He see's our success's, He see's beyond our comprehension. Thats why He tell us that NOTHING is impossible with Him. When He looks at us, He see possibility!

I don't know, I am really enjoying learning about life and people in it. Learning that maybe life isn't all I think it may be. God is showing me a side to life, where perfection isn't the Key. He is the Key, and He is perfection. If I've got the Key, then I carry perfection, I carry possibilty, I carry success. Not because of me, of my amazingness( that is now a word)...but because of Him and His ability to live inside me, and use me to move mountains and change lives. It exciting to realize, I can mess up and He still see's me as a miracle and an opportunity to love people. He see's Jesus inside me. When He looked at people in the bible, He saw their hearts, and knew His plan could work with them.

On a Random, more informative note: Yesterday I wrote a new song, all too exciting. See as I haven't been able to write much music in a while. Last I wrote a song was in October. I believe I will be writing much much more. I also watched the Golden Globes, and couldn't help but personally congratulate Meryl Streep from my living room. I fall in love with each character she plays in the films. I would love, with all my heart, to sit down with her and have a chat about how she does it. She is marvelous and humble, yet stunning, down to earth, and with a perfect taste of wit. I would like to one day, rent all her movies, and spend a good amount of my time watching them, and falling in love with all the characters all over again. Out of Africa was the first movie I saw with her in it, and its been love at first film.

anyways, here's to Monday being over with, and Tuesday just ahead.
blessings abounding!
Laura

I love music, and not filing

At work today I decided with a fellow worker "bee" named Alex, the transcript warrior, that I could create a list of ways to avoid filing. Kristina ( boss ) if you happen to stubble upon this, don't tell me you wouldn't be able to come up with a list of ways to avoid signing transcripts.ha
1. Show up a little late to work, so then filing may be hugely reduced in size.
2. Stop by each persons desk, and ask them about their nights, and then respond positively, then they will ask you about your evening ( a good 15 mins )
3. Then go back around and ask if anyone needs help
4. use the restroom...and wash your hands...twice.
5. When someone gives you a task on the computer, take your time, and try to find any mistake, and ask a few different people in the office what they think about it.
6. Twilight chat with Peggy ( another office friend)
7.Anti-Twilight chat with Alex ( transcript warrior)
8. Talk about ways to avoid filing with other people in the office.
9. Think about actually filing...
10.Water Kristina ( my bosses) plants....

So really in the end, I have to file because I am called their "filing fairy". Though today I got a new assignment... I am now the Friday Microwave cleaner...Let me tell you that thing is sparkling by the time I'm done with. Seeing as I find cleaning a microwave another option of avoiding filing. its great.

oh yes, if you are at work reading this and need a "avoid what I should be doing" task, check out my recent find of brilliant music
http://www.myspace.com/vanrisseghem

la la la

Hey I figured out I can add videos to my music page. So If you want to enjoy some easy listening here is my music page for you. There are some songs that you can see, and others you can just hear. Hope you love them!
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=330288254

So close your eyes for a moment, and just imagine that perfect song. When you put it on, you feel as if the whole world can hear it. That moment in the chorus where the music gets louder, and more drums are played, and you just know that you are in the song. As if you are almost singing it.

Today as I walked home I had this song come on my ipod, and it changed the way I walked home. I felt as if the world could see me, and hear all the words and beats. I walked to the beat, and could hear my boots making that clicking noise. I just get this incredible music feeling, when the music hits the climax and you are walking and you can't help but want to start dancing, or spin around. Then you almost do, and then stop yourself when you realize no one else can hear the music, you may frighten a few people around you. So instead you have this " music smile". You can find it on most ipod walkers. Those people that have their ipods in, and you can tell by the look on their face, they want to be dancing. Its an almost smile, and they sorta carry themselves all confidently. I love it.

So here is the song I was listening to, take a listen and imagine me dancing in wellington. ha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnXrfksTjZ8

Fairy Tales Happen

I was reading tonight in Genesis, and came across the story of Jacob and Rachel. ( in case your searching its in chapter 29). When Jacob saw Rachel, he kissed her and then cried. Its like the things you see in the movies. Then Rachel's father wouldn't let him marry her til he worked for him, " Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, " I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." So Jacob worked for him. Then at the end of seven years it says, " So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her".

Does that not sound like the most romantic thing someone could say...It only felt as if I was working for a few days, these past seven years, because of the love I have for you.

Maybe. just maybe I would totally completely, ask to press pause, rewind, and watch it all over again...to make sure it wasn't a dream. Then again it could be a nightmare if it was a guy you didn't love...I would be praying every day for seven years that he would give up, quite, realize that its just not gonna work.

That is what is so unique about love...you get your own choice in the matter.

I guess what I loved most about reading this, was just seeing how God displayed romance along with so many other things in the bible.

Its funny how the movies usually stop at happy ever after...cause if we were to see the next stage it could be a bit rocky. Example: Jacob and Rachel.... they did love each other, but they 100% had to deal with life along with their love. It seems a bit twisted, but God works it all out for good.

Life is good with God.

Things I love that I don't think most people know.

1. Linen. Bed Linen. The perfect bedding that when you snuggle in bed, you couldn't imagine being anywhere else. I love buying bedding that matches what I imagine, I have in my head. example: If I were to sleep under a cream colored down comforter, traced with brown leaves and green steams... I think I would wake up in a really great mood.

I just find some sort of comfort in 200 count bedding. I can hear my mothers voice, " Never buy less then 200 count sheets." She is wise, you can absolutely tell when there is less then 200.

Whenever I get the store magazines in the mail, I look through the bedding and find the ones I love, then try to ignore the prices and pretend I am going to buy them all. I always find it so sad that bedding cost so much.

Walking into any sort of bedding shop is like a dream, I love to feel all the sheets, and sit on the fake beds. I look through all the throw pillows and carry around a set of bedding that I like, as if I will actually purchase them. I eventually find the strength to set them down, and proceed to the check out with a chocolate bar instead.

2. PORK. need I saw more. the only pork I have found that I do not love is pork belly. I think its more the idea that I am eating a belly that makes it taste not so fantastic.

Over my holiday I have had so much pork, and never realized my genuine love for it tell recently. I was eating a sausage, and its tasted so amazing. I asked what is was from, and they replied, "Pork." It was then my world changed, I realized that I had a love for a meat that I had no clue about.

The taste of pork is now officially my favorite savory taste. I always would have meat, and would tell myself I should be a veggie-tary-an. I never loved it. Then every now and again I would have really good meat, and never know what it was. Then I started asking, and now I know each time its pork.

Its so good.

3. Dark Men. My sister still finds this shocking. She was asking about my type of guy, and I pretty such summed it up to black man. Ever since: Love and Basketball, Save and Last Dance, Finding Forester, Remember the Titans, and pretty much any film relating to beautiful dark men I couldn't not help but thoroughly enjoy the movie that much more.

I love the fact that there is a bit of culture there. A bit more of something you can't find in that golden haired, blued eyed prince fairy tale male. Sort of mysterious.

Jessica now finds it hilarious to call out any stunner that goes walking past us, and checks to see if I have blushed. I find it more fun that I now have her checking out black men all over Wellington...

4. High Action Films: example: Mission Impossible 3. I left the movie theater and my knees were shaking. Those movies where no one important dies, but the whole movie you think they will. You are stuck staring into the screen, praying that Tom Cruz makes it out alive, so they can make another movie.

I think why I love it is that you leave feeling that you just rode 16 roller coasters. Its like your heart is racing, and you didn't go for a jog. The two things I don't really love to do, go on roller coasters, and jogs. People say they like roller coasters, cause you feel like you might die, and see I just feel sick on them. So instead I can go see a action packed movie, and then get that roller coaster feeling, without the dizziness afterward. I just love them so much.

5. not quite sure what else... that's all I can think of for the moment.

A bit of a strange blog for today, but I thought it would be more fun and informative.

Hope your New year is lovely and full of only good things.