Let the Love in

Ever since I can remember, I've loved to sing. I was the kid who sang their heart out in the public bathroom because the acoustics were just so enjoyable.  

Jacob reminded me of this song from our childhoods a few weeks ago, and we sang it together during a particularly challenging afternoon, Tenzin latched onto it and asked for it again and again throughout the next few weeks and even started to sing himself (the first time and how it grabs at my Mama heart and pulls all the strings!) 

Now it is a standard in our house, bedtime, car-time, hard-time and easy-time. Music (as everyone says again and again) is such powerful stuff. Like all powerful medicine, it can be used for or against your health and joy and I feel a renewed desire and sense of urgency to surround myself with as much love and light as I can cram into whatever space I'm in. 

The chords are really really easy which makes it even better. C, G, F. Can you get any easier than that? so sing your hearts out folks, let your joy overcome your embarrassment and remember Love Conquers All ;)

Love At Home

John H. McNaughton, 1854

1. There is beauty all around,
   When there’s love at home;
   There is joy in every sound,
   When there’s love at home;
   Peace and plenty here abide,
   Smiling sweet on every side,
   Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
   When there’s love at home.
   • Refrain 1:
     Love at home, love at home;
     Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
     When there’s love at home.
2. In the cottage there is joy,
   When there’s love at home;
   Hate and envy ne’er annoy,
   When there’s love at home;
   Roses bloom beneath our feet,
   All the earth’s a garden sweet,
   Making life a bliss complete,
   When there’s love at home.
   • Refrain 2:
     Love at home, love at home;
     Making life a bliss complete,
     When there’s love at home.
3. Love becomes a way of life,
   When there’s love at home;
   Sweet, insistent end to strife,
   When there’s love at home;
   Glad submission each one’s gift,
   Willing pledge to love and lift,
   Healing balm for every rift,
   When there’s love at home.
   • Refrain 3:
     Love at home, love at home;
     Healing balm for every rift,
     When there’s love at home.
4. Anger cools and pressures cease,
   When there’s love at home;
   Children learn to live in peace,
   When there’s love at home;
   Courage to reach out in grace,
   Meet a stranger face to face,
   Find a reconciling place,
   When there’s love at home.
   • Refrain 4:
     Love at home, love at home;
     Find a reconciling place,
     When there’s love at home.
5. There’s no question you can’t ask,
   When there’s love at home;
   There is strength for any task,
   When there’s love at home;
   Sharing joy in work or play,
   Confidence to face the day,
   Knowing love will find a way,
   When there’s love at home.
   • Refrain 5:
     Love at home, love at home;
     Knowing love will find a way,
     When there’s love at home.
6. Kindly heaven smiles above,
   When there’s love at home;
   All the world is filled with love,
   When there’s love at home;
   Sweeter sings the brooklet by,
   Brighter beams the azure sky;
   Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
   When there’s love at home.
   • Refrain 6:
     Love at home, love at home;
     Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
     When there’s love at home.

Hello World!

Hi!

I'm Annabanana (really, everyone named Anna becomes, at some point in their life, Annabanana).
I am a dedicated Mama (to Zen), wife (to El Cultivador Calliente) and homemaker. I also work as a Massage Therapist and run a small handmade jewelry business called Hawaiian Magpie. We'll get into why it's called Hawaiian Magpie later.

I love life. Like, ferociously. I've been blessed with circumstances that have helped me to cultivate this joy throughout my life and continue to motivate my pursuit of all things lovely and of good report and praiseworthy ( do you get that reference? Good! It's one of the main tenets of my personal belief system. We can get into that later, too, if you wish)

What I'd really like to talk about (alphebetized) are:

Business. You know, I'm in the business of life, and to keep business stuff out of my posts would be ignoring a big chunk of my projects, milestones and life.

Happiness. I have found that dwelling on happy events, ideas and viewpoints makes a fertile breeding ground for more of those same things.

Methods. When I learn how to do something well I just want to share and strut just a little bit.

Projects. I'm always working on some project, and telling other people about it really enhances my enjoyment of it, especially when divulging sparks ideas for other people.

P.S. sometimes the lighting in my bathroom makes me feel like a rockstar