Category Archives: Music

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 13 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 13

Love is…the best (and the worst) kind of mystery. –me

You may have noticed that I haven’t included much contemporary music in my love songs list. Not a diss really, I guess I’m just more old school. However, this song is currently on Billboard’s Top 10 and I find it especially moving. The lyrics could be interpreted a number of ways…pertaining to an unfulfilled or one-sided romantic relationship, a broken friendship, troubled family systems, a loved one dealing with illness, aging and maybe even loss. It could also be read spiritually. Like any good love song this one speaks directly to the soul, but it takes things one step further as song 13it addresses the difficult and unpleasant part of putting your heart on the line. Will you let go, are you willing to grow up and make tough decisions, how much are you able to give before it all becomes too overwhelming?

In this crazy world we never expect (or plan for) the rejection, hurt and pain that can accompany love.  The reality is that sometimes love sucks. Love isn’t fair. And often, as hard as it is to hear, it’s just not enough.  I’ve always believed that actions speak louder than words and when we finally get to the point of asking a loved one to “say something,” I presume that on a lot of levels we already know the answer.  And as difficult as that answer may be, it ultimately leads to this question…is it REALLY better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?  Yes..a hundred times, yes.

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 14

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 12 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 12

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1sBoaEXppc

Love is…talking about everything and nothing while sharing piles of French fries. –me

In the country music world, George Strait is king. And when it comes to heartfelt love songs, he easily keeps the crown. The song “I Cross My Heart” reads like wedding vows with sweet promises and pledges of fidelity. It’s the song 12kind of song that gives hope to the unattached, optimism to relationship newbies and profound joy to those who know and experience this kind of committed love. Easily one of my top three love songs of all time, not only does it ooze all the gushy goodness of love but between the lines it connotes dedication, respect and accountability. While this song may have been a number one hit in the early ‘90s, its timeless message will make it a favorite for decades to come.

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 13

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 11 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 11

Love is….knowing that I’m with you every step of the way (whether you like it or not.) –me

Love, laughter and loyalty. No, I’m not trying to impress you with some fancy alliteration; I’m simply listing the makings of a solid relationship. If we’re honest, we all know that love really isn’t enough. Sure, they say love can move mountains, it knows no boundaries, and it can conquer all, but there are too many instances out there where love alone is nothing more than a starting place.

song 11Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” addresses a cornerstone of any long lasting relationship—loyalty. Most of us can recall a time when someone’s unfaithfulness has brought us to our knees. Only time can heal those type of wounds. And in order for a relationship to truly have a solid foundation it has to be built on a mutual trust. Music historians say that King’s song was inspired by an old spiritual as well as the words of Psalm 46:2-3. This scripture expresses God’s willingness and His commitment to stand by His people through all things—both the highs and the lows. Loyalty and fidelity…having a confidence in the one who promises to love you everyday and in every way.  This is the best kind of love.

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 12

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 10 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 10

Love is….nothing to do and all day to do it (in optimum temperatures of course.) –me

No Valentine love song list would be complete without a little Frank. This classic crooner has so many wonderful songs to his credit that choosing one was difficult. So I went with my all time favorite Sinatra song—The Summer song 10Wind. While not his most well-known ballad, this tale of fleeting summer love seems timeless. Whether your story occurs ocean side, lakeside or poolside… those summer flings somehow manage to leave a lasting impression on us all. On a cold winter day in February, this song transports me to warm summer nights, staying out late stargazing, and (when I finally made it out of the Midwest) walks on the beach. I can practically hear the ocean waves crashing, the birds in the background, and that smell…salty and warm—oh, the summer wind!

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 11

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 8 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 8

Love is…laughing before the punch line (but the joke-teller doesn’t mind) because you both already know where this exchange is going.

What is love without laughter? Personally, I LOVE to laugh. It really is my favorite thing 🙂  This song made the list because it shows love from a yin and yang point of view. Keely Smith with her beautiful, sophisticated voice paired song 8up with Louis Prima and his talented, yet cut-up, vocal abilities. It’s the kind of duality that I can appreciate. I mean, I really think there’s something to this whole opposites attract theory. And as a more serious type, I love (and NEED) to be around others who can let loose and appreciate the lighter side of life. They keep me grounded. So maybe it’s not so much that opposites attract as it is that opposites complement and interconnect with one another. And when it comes to love, this dynamic just might be a good thing.

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 9

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 7 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 7

Love is…smiling like a fool at the first mention of his/her name. –me

I went 80s rock ballad today. And while this song was probably overplayed in it’s time (guilty as charged) I’m drawn to one aspect of it—and it’s not the “listen to your heart” chorus line. Rather, I think this song actually speaks to a “cause to pause” in love. Have you been there? Everything is moving so fast…you both have a thousand things in song 7common, you can’t spend enough time together, and a chemistry exists between the two of you that CANNOT be denied. This love train is racing down the track at full speed and the last thing you can think about is stopping to THINK. This is precisely the moment when you need to put on the brakes! Take a brief step back…I’m not talking about anything drastic. No dramatic break-up or ultimatum. Just a pause. Time to gain a little perspective. Reflect. While most of us use our hearts as a guide when it comes to love we all know it’s not a perfect gage.  So listen to your heart, but let your brain have a voice, too.

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 8

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 6 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 6

Love is…the ability to love oneself in (and through) both good and bad times. –me

Probably one of my more controversial love song picks…. Some may find fault with the language in this one, others with the graphic themes presented in the video, but this song spoke to me the very first time I heard it. Let’s face it…loving oneself can be a tricky thing. On one hand we’re called to put others before ourselves and “make nice” yet song 6somehow maintain a healthy self-esteem without being too prideful. It can be a tough line to walk. Often in this world, though, it seems we are all too willing to sell ourselves out for love and acceptance. We see this play out time and time again and often it begins at a very young age. Playground antics have gotten meaner, bullying is all too real and extremely scarring, and the constant competitiveness in today’s society doesn’t leave much room for loving YOU. In an age where we are constantly picking ourselves apart and fearing the critique of our peers, it’s important to hear and receive the gift that we are all “wonderfully made” and of great value. Love yourself.

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 7

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 5 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 5

Love is…slow dancing in the kitchen before dinner (no music required.) –me

Of all the songs on the list, this one is definitely in my top 3 (yes—the list is not in any particular order.) I’m not necessarily an Eric Clapton fan, but I find this song especially moving because it represents a very beautiful (yet simple) moment in a love story. So often we hear about these grandiose relationship gestures…epic first dates, extreme engagement stories (just Google flash mob proposals and you’ll see dozens come up) and extravagant destination weddings. These things aren’t inherently bad, some of them are quite romantic, but most lifelong love song 5stories consist of a lot of mundane and simpler moments. When the adventure is gone and all that’s left is morning breath and the laundry, I pray that we have something deeper to hold onto in our relationships. I know they’re out there, but I don’t know many sky-diving lovers in their 80s…however, nothing melts my heart like seeing a couple in their golden years walking hand in hand in the grocery store. Here’s to “little” love moments 🙂

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 6

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 4 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 4

Love is…spending the day with people that you love and NOT feeling like you’ve wasted a single second of your time. –me

This little ditty marks a coming of age…when the thought of boys goes from “eeewww” to “hey there!” And what sweet little Joey McIntyre and the NKOTB crew didn’t know is that their ‘80s ballad set the bar high for what thousands of little girls were EXPECTING from their teen romances.

song 4We wanted boyfriends who would woo us, chase us, call us, be there for us, and write songs that talk about how their lives would absolutely END if we didn’t exist. That’s not too much to ask, right? The funny thing is that I’m not sure the guys ever got the message 🙂  Thank goodness for the New Kids on the Block Reunion tour—lol!

Coming Up: Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul: Song 5

***This post is part of an ongoing series. As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul. Ambitious? Yes! Bold? Absolutely! Crazy? You betcha! Pointless? On just about every level. Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar. Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin! I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?

February…How Do I LOVE Thee? (Song 3 in the Countdown)

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Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul:  Song 3

Love is…coming home to all my favorite things (people and pets included.)  -me

Home.  There’s no place like it.  It all comes back to that familiar quote—home is where the heart is.

Wherever and whatever you consider home…there’s nothing that compares to that feeling.  The familiarity, the comfort, the little things that make it “just right.”  I LOVE going home.  Home is where you can take your shoes off, where you can breathe, where you can find true peace.  And like the song says…”I wanna go home.”

There are three places that I personally consider “home.”  First, my hometown.  Although at this point in my life I’ve spent more time away from western Kansas that I actually spent growing up there, I still consider it home.  I know where (just about) everything is.  It’s where my old schools are, where great memories were made, and most importantly—it’s where most of my family still live.  Home.

song 3Second, is Lawrence, Kansas.  While attending college I had the opportunity to grow and spread my wings.  I learned to be self-reliant and develop character.  I found out my strengths and weaknesses.  I had my first taste of life on my own.  Still to this day, whenever I visit I am immediately transported back in time to a carefree existence where there was nothing but possibility and adventure at every turn.  Home.

Finally, my actual home…you know, where my stuff is at.  I think this one is more of an emotion  than an actual location.  Over the past 20+ years, I’ve moved a number of times and not just in the same town.  And, for as much as I hate packing, I actually don’t mind the moving all that much.  Wherever we can all be together that becomes my sanctuary and safe haven.  Home. 

Coming Up:  Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul:  Song 4

***This post is part of an ongoing series.  As part of my cup half full approach to loving the month of February, I vow to jump in with both feet and embrace the whole Valentine thing with my own custom list of Love Songs to Melt Your Heart and Move Your Soul.  Ambitious?  Yes!  Bold?  Absolutely!  Crazy?  You betcha!  Pointless?  On just about every level.  Regardless, let’s give it a go—I mean it’s February and how else am I going to get through the coldest, bleakest, cloudiest, shortest (and longest at the same time) month on the calendar.  Let the countdown to Valentine’s Day begin!  I (gritting teeth) LOVE February, how about YOU?