Outfit | Spring Fling

 

I may be Scottish on my father's side, but I'm every bit as Irish on my mother's.  

That must be in part why the Spring sunshine feels like quicksilver in my veins, sending my feet tipping into a fling and my heart pounding to the double step of a lilting jig.  What little I know, anyway.

But then... The High Kings always have that effect on me.

As does sunshine and running water in Spring.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.

My poor computer has been out of commission for several days, so I'm rather thankful I had this post ready to go beforehand! :)  Things will hopefully be back to normal in a few days once my wonderful brother gets everything fixed up.   

Stay tuned for the giveaway winner to be announced, and looking forward to many, many more adventures before March is over!

So blessed by the tremendous results from the Spring Clearance sale.  The shop is pretty near empty.  So, if you've been hesitating over that something you know you want, this week will be your Last Chance, as everything not sold by the time the new collection is ready will be removed to sell locally.

UPDATE!

Use coupon code HAPPINESS to receive an extra 10% off already marked down prices in the shop!

Plus - my fabric shipment has arrived, and the 2013 Spring skirt collection is just around the corner!  Excited?  You better believe it.

Be back soon.

Love,

--me

Sweater | Tulle

 Denim Skirt - coming soon to the shop! | Kellie Falconer Design

tee | Thrifted

Boots | Sorelia Earhart

headband | gift

♥

Linking with:
 Plane Pretty | Sunday Style &  
Lily Among Thorns

Freedom of the Nations - New lyrics for an old celtic favorite

About two years ago, I sat down and wrote some lyrics to a favorite celtic air of mine.  The Foggy Dew is a beautiful, haunting tune that I first learned from a celtic harp instrumental by Bonnie Leigh Barnum.  Several different lyrics have been set to this song over the years, most notably the Easter rising of 1916 in Ireland.  

I took my inspiration from 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 -

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place."

And also Psalms chapter 2 -

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

I sang this song with Tasha twice in front of an audience (with my trusty accordion:), which was wonderful!  It was during one of these performances that I was approached afterwards by a kind lady who gave me two white accordions.  What a unexpected blessing that was!

I recently recorded my version of the tune using some wonderful recording software, Mixcraft.  (Thank you, Aubrey!)  A midi cable connected to my keyboard created all of the tracks except the accordion, which is a live recordion.  I mean recording. :D

The mix isn't perfect yet by any means, but I thought I'd share it with you all in honor of the celtic holiday=)

I'm hoping to get the vocals recorded in the near future, also.

Oh, and by the way, I added several more of my recordings to the music player on my home page.  Feel free to go listen!

Enjoy!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Freedom of the Nations

~ by Kellie Falconer ~

1). If my people's hearts are humbled, if they pray and seek my face,
if they turn away from evil, I will not withhold my grace.

I will hear their prayers from heaven, I will pardon every sin,
if my people call upon me, I will heal them from within.

For if my people shall come as one, if they seek to know my face;
I will pour the grace of heaven down upon their broken land,
all shall see - my mighty hand.


2). The kings of the earth set themselves against the Lord,
and my people heard not my cries.

They are scattered and broken, they trust not in my name,
their hearts are filled with greed - and lies.

Oh ye are weak, but I am strong, why will ye trust not in me?
Be wise, now therefore, all ye judges of the earth,
serve the Lord, with fear - and rejoice.


3). If my people's hearts are humbled, if they pray and seek my face,
if they turn away from evil - I will not withhold my grace.

mine eyes will see their sorrow, and my ears will hear their plea,
if my people's hearts are humbled, I will set their nation free.

For if my people come to my throne, and repent of their wicked ways;
I will pour the grace of heaven down upon their broken land,
they shall have freedom in my mighty hand.

Vive Ut Vivas!

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Feel free to take the .mp3 file of this song to use on your personal music player!

I hope you will be blessed in some small way by my music.

Freedom of the Nations.mp3

P.S. Pinch yourself if you aren't wearing green! ;)

Sunday Hymn history ~ Be Thou My Vision

http://www.johnroachemusic.com/ragtime.html

I have been writing up some hymn stories that I was researching recently, and decided to share them here.

I am fascinated by the amazing histories behind many of the hymns we know and love.  It is inspiring to know that christians who have gone before have experienced the same trials and difficulties as we undergo today. . . and that God used those times to bring us some of the most uplifting and well-loved hymns in history.

 "Be Thou My Vision" is a hymn derived from an old folk song. It expresses a desire for God’s hand in our lives and a longing to be in His presence. The first words are credited to Dallan Forgaill in a work entitled, in gaelic, Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride. 

The folk song got its start in Ireland around 433 AD, when St. Patrick lit a fire in defiance of a royal decree. 

It was the eve of Easter and the Spring Equinox. St. Patrick knew that High King Logaire would be at Tara to celebrate  the pagan festival. In direct defiance to the law that no fire should be lit in the vicinity of the sacred festival fire at Tara, St. Patrick lit a bonfire on the Hill of Slane! King Logaire drove his chariot in a towering passion to the Hill of Slane to arrest the rebel, but St. Patrick was so eloquent in his preaching, the King was soon pacified and St. Patrick was allowed to preach Christianity to the entire pagan army. 

The traditional tune setting for this hymn is called Slane, after the hill on which St. Patrick preached.

Only in this century did the text find its English translation, when Mary Byrne rendered it into literal English prose in 1905.  It remained for Eleanor M. Hull, in her 1912 Poem Book of the Gael to offer a metrical, poetic version of Byrne's work in twelve rhymed couplets that have been used by editors since to arrive at versions of the four-stanza hymn so widely loved and treasured today.  

Here is the literal english translation from the original gaelic.

Be thou my vision,

O Lord of my heart.

None other is aught

but the King of the seven heavens.

Be thou my meditation

by day and night;

May it be thou that I behold 

even in my sleep.

Be thou my speech,

be thou my understanding,

Be thou with me, 

be I with thee.

Be thou my father,

be I thy son.

Mayst thou be mine,

may I be thine.

Be thou my battle-shield,

be thou my sword.

Be thou my dignity,

be thou my delight.

Be thou my shelter,

be thou my stronghold.

Mayst thou raise me up

to the company of the angels.

Be thou every good

to my body and soul.

Be thou my kingdom 

in heaven and on earth.

Be thou solely

chief love of my heart.

Let there be none other,

O high King of Heaven.

Till I am able

to pass into thy hands,

My treasure, my beloved,

through the greatness of thy love.

Be thou alone

my noble and wondrous estate.

I seek not men,

nor lifeless wealth.

Be thou the constant guardian

of every possession and every life.

For our corrupt desires are dead

at the mere sight of thee.

Thy love in my soul

and in my heart—

Grant this to me,

O King of the seven heavens.

O King of the seven heavens

grant me this—

Thy love to be in my heart

and in my soul.

With the King of all, with him

after victory won by piety

May I be in the kingdom of heaven

O brightness of the son.

Beloved Father,

hear, hear my lamentations;

Timely is the cry of woe 

of this miserable wretch.

O heart of my heart,

whate'er befall me,

O ruler of all,

be thou my vision.

Gute Nacht, meine Damen!