Author Archives: Chayli

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I gave myself a gift last Christmas.

I used to listen to Pandora all year long. (I still would but I can’t figure out how to get it back how it used to be and am afraid I have to actually pay something now to go back to the good old days.) But anyway, I especially listened around Christmas time, partly because I didn’t own a lot of Christmas music, and also because it was an easy way to get a good range of Christmas music, traditional and otherwise.

Away in a Manger? Pandora’s got thirty different renditions. That Capital Lights song I’ve loved ever since I heard it on the radio when I was a teenager and can’t ever remember the name of? Just thumbs-up it and rest assured it’ll show up again without having to go searching for it. Casting Crowns’ Peace on Earth? Thumbs-up it on Pandora but also go listen to it on Spotify to your heart’s content because once through is never enough. Dolly Parton’s With Bells On? Well, that one I finally just bought because my boys loved it as much as I did. ...continue reading →

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Since the day we got married, there’s one song I’ve played first every single time I’ve played the keyboard, and I plan to keep playing it first for the rest of my life. That song is “Gentle Shepherd,” and it was sung over us on our wedding day, right after we promised ourselves to each other.

We said our vows, and then we knelt as our dads prayed. When they stepped off the stage, we didn’t stand up. Instead our talented bridal party gathered around us and sang “Gentle Shepherd,” and it is still one of my favorite moments of the entire ceremony. ...continue reading →

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Once upon a time, October 25th didn’t mean much to me.

Who knew it would become a date looked forward to for months? Eric's birthday.

I had the funny idea to look back and see what I was doing on all the October 25ths before I met Eric. Apparently nothing picture-worthy, except for in 2008, when I was both chopping wood and wearing a wedding dress (not at the same time). The wedding dress seems like a funny coincidence. The dress was not mine, and neither was the wood actually, and I think I'll spare you the pictures, but suffice it to say, October 25th didn't mean much to me before 2014.

And once upon a time, come to think of it, Eric didn’t mean much to me either.

Who knew . . . 😊 ...continue reading →

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"Mom, do you want to see something cool I can do on the backyard swing?"

From the back door came the cold little voice, breathless with the fall air and the exertion of a newfound trick. I knew if I could see him his cheeks would be rosy, his hands would be grubby, and he would likely be holding a stick or a spade or a digging machine in the hand that wasn't still clasping the doorknob.

Just popping in from a lovely day outside to see if his mom wanted to come see him "do something cool on the backyard swing."

Fully expecting that I would.

Expecting my delight.

Unashamedly asking for it.

Knowing it would come, because he was my child, and I was his mother. ...continue reading →