Have I mentioned that I sing in the choir at our church?

I do; I’m a choir member.

It is an experience that has blessed my life in so many ways. I love to sing, and I love to be around other people who love to sing. Singing makes me feel better, and the wonderful people I’ve gotten to know through the choir make me feel better.

There are a couple of women who amaze me every time I’m near them.

The wonderful lady I sit next to in the alto section is one of them. She is a mother to five children, but she lost one of her children a few years ago. She is a kindergarten teacher, a runner, and a wonderful mother. She is the daughter of two deaf parents, so she also does sign language flawlessly.

She also happens to have one of the most beautiful, soulful, inspirational voices I’ve ever heard. And her mother and daddy have never heard her. She may whisper to me that she has a sore throat that day or she thinks she’s having an “off” day, but as soon as I hear her, I know that her voice on its worst day is prettier than anything I’ve ever heard.

And she’s funny. She has a fantastic sense of humor and just loves to have a good time. She sings joyfully.

There’s another choir member who brings me to tears every time she sings. She is the sweetest lady, and she has been battling cancer for the last decade. She is in and out of chemo and radiation treatments, and unfortunately, new spots pop up frequently causing her to start new treatments again and again.

Her story is heart breaking, but it’s also awe-inspiring. She sings, and she sings with so much emotion and feeling. She has this angelic soprano voice, and even when she’s going through treatments she’s in the choir. She sings with a mask over her face.

You might ask, “If no one can hear her, why is she singing?” She’s singing because it’s not about her. She’s singing joyfully. She stops to ask how the boys are doing and is always so quick to laugh and offer a hug.

Her voice touches everyone who hears it, and even if you don’t know her story, just listening to her voice makes it obvious that there is a story.  And it’s a great one.

I recently saw the movie trailer for a new movie called “Joyful Noise”.

It stars Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton and is a funny and inspirational story of music, hope, love and renewal.

I love a good movie about a church choir that features great music because you know that, within that church choir, there are so many stories. People sing because it makes them feel better, and it makes everyone who is listening feel better. The music is transforming and encouraging. To know that despite someone’s rough past, their bad day or their troubling story, they’re still able to get up and sing joyfully?  That completely inspires me and makes me want to be more like them.

“Joyful Noise” opens in theaters on January 13th.

Until then, you can check out the movie and trailer on the official “Joyful Noise” website,  their Facebook, or the Warner Bros. Pictures Twitter and see what I’m talking about. Also check out the BlogHer.com Joyful Noise page to see what other bloggers thought of the movie.

What about you, do you know a wonderful woman who has been inspirational in your life? Tell me about her and how she has changed your life for the better in the comments!

I’m still here at my parents’ house. Bless their hearts. They invited us here for the week and I warned them it would be a long, loud week. They’re not used to noise. My brother and I have both left the nest. Our beloved Beaux went to doggy heaven two years ago and my parents enjoy their peace and quiet in the Midwest. (Have I mentioned they’re back in the Midwest?)

Anyway. We’re here, laying low. Enjoying ourselves. I thought I’d jot down a few of the funny things we’ve heard around here.

1. “Hudson, share with Hayes. Give him one of your toys.” – me

2. “Do I hear Hayes crying?”- Poppy *

3. “Hayes! Share!”- Hudson

4.  “Hudson, go to sleep.”- me

5. “Do I hear Hayes crying?”- Poppy

6. “What happens to Katniss in the third book?” – KK

7. “I wub you.” – Hudson

8. “I think I hear Hayes crying.” – Poppy

9. “Hayes spit up again.”- Hudson

10. “Watch Aladdin.” – Hudson **

11. “Watch Toy Story.” – Hudson **

12. “Watch Monsters.” – Hudson **

*My dad frequently thinks he hears Hayes crying. Sometimes he is, sometimes he’s not. Sometimes Hayes is just settling down for his nap and whining for a few minutes until he falls asleep. My mom said that she’s putting the words, “Do I hear Hayes crying?” on my Dad’s tombstone someday. Hilarious.

**It has been very cold here and even a little bit snowy. Hudson has watched almost the entire Disney collection over and over and over and over again.

1. Despite not having watched Ashley’s season of The Bachelorette and my goal to eliminate reality TV from my life, I watched The Bachelor. This show just gets worse and worse, doesn’t it? It may just be a good show to have on while I catch up on emails.

2. Catching up on emails while watching The Bachelor doesn’t sound very “quiet”, does it? Maybe I won’t watch The Bachelor.

3. I haven’t had a Diet Coke in five days. I have been convicted. I blame Megan, even though she means well and is just trying to save my life when she tells me the bad stuff about Diet Coke! Here’s to no Diet Coke in 2012. (I will likely have to avoid movie theaters and Mexican restaurants to maintain this goal.)

4. If you don’t have the My Fitness Pal app, you need it! I’m hoping that I can get to pre-pregnancy weight by Hayes’s first birthday.

5. Speaking of Hayes’s first birthday… I’m starting to plan his party, for real! Pinterest has made party planning so much easier. I do wish I could make my boards private for a while so my party plans and inspiration aren’t “exposed” before the party.

6. While we’ve been away, TC has accomplished so many little tasks around the house that just needed to get done. These are all just tedious little odd jobs and I’m so excited that they’re complete.

7. I am getting my hair highlighted today. My family is excited!

8. We had a really delicious New Year’s Day feast of pulled pork, cabbage rolls, black eyed peas, creamed corn, corn bread and pineapple pretzel salad. Yum!

9. TC and I saw War Horse in the theater last week and it was really one of the most wonderful movies I’ve ever seen. It was so beautiful and such a great story. I highly recommend it to all animal lovers.

It’s January 2. We have the privilege of seeing another year. It’s a fresh beginning and an opportunity to make this year different.

Hudson, Hayes and I are at my parents’ house. We drove up here with my mom and dad after Christmas and will be here for a few more days. The boys and I had a pretty rough week a couple of weeks ago. We were all sick. Hudson wasn’t on his best behavior. He was actually pretty bored because he didn’t have school. He was asking every day when he was going to get to go to school. We were all stuck inside the house because we were sick and none of us were happy about it.

You know things aren’t good when you’re wearing your pajamas for the second day in a row. You can see yesterday’s eye makeup under your eyes. Your hair is disgusting and you can see every single wrinkle on your forehead. And your husband comes home and just has no idea what’s been going on all day, but he can tell it wasn’t anything good.

That’s how we were. It was just a bad few days.

So much whining. So much fussing. So many tantrums and tears. Over silly stuff.

My boys needed a vacation. They needed a change of scenery. I needed a change of scenery.

So we came to KK and Poppie’s house. And I’m so glad we did. We have been having the best, most relaxing time.

My mom has spoiled us with delicious meals. Hudson and Hayes are both getting constant attention and are constantly laughing. They love their grandparents and the new/different toys at their house.

We’ve watched movies and I’ve started reading again. My mom and I drooled over Ryan Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love while Hudson played with his Cozy Coupe in the garage with Poppie.

My mom has a room set up for the boys at their house. It has two twin beds and the crib is in there. I didn’t think Hudson and Hayes should share a room because they’d wake each other up. So, because TC is at home, Hudson and I are sharing a room.

I’ve tucked him in every day for his nap and fallen asleep with him in the big bed. And every night when I tuck him in, he asks to cuddle. He just smiles at me and says, “sleep tight, Mommy.”

I’ve loved every single second of this uninterrupted time with him. He is the sweetest little guy I know and I’m so proud that he’s mine. This little vacation has been so good for him. He has had a few 2.5 year old moments, of course, but he has also been so polite and kind. He’s so content to sit and play and enjoy our company.

I tucked him in tonight and waited for him to fall asleep before pulling out my computer to write. He’s breathing deeply next to me right now and I could just scoop him up just to take in that sweet Dreft smell and those precious toddler hugs.

We miss TC so much, but I’m glad we got away for a little while. I’m happy we all get to go home with a renewed spirit ready to start 2012 as a family. A week or so away from the every day routine is good for the soul. And a little grandparent spoiling never hurt anybody!