"a happy family is but an earlier heaven"

It began with make-your-own-burritos for dinner, four 2-liter bottles of soda (only because it was a special occasion), everyone around the big table, and way too much conversation to follow.

Next it's rock 'n roll blaring and 7 Morrow kids dancing. After dinner, mom goes to clean up and Nicholas (the DJ) starts the music. Alexander immediately whips out the electric air guitar and with that, the dance-a-thon is inevitable. B and I get Anderson (2 years old) involved with head banging and spinning in circles. With a grin plastered across his adorable chunky cheeks, he dances nonstop for 20 minutes. In baby code, this is a long, long time.

We decide to go get ice cream. But within the time it takes for us to get out the door and loaded into the van, all the ice cream places have closed. Instead we opt for the grocery store where we buy the ice cream, waffle cones, and sundae toppings. We set it all up along the counter and it's buffet style -- all you can eat. We realize it truly is much better that way.

After the parents and the children 10 & under go to bed, we pick a movie (which is always an ordeal). Thankfully, my brothers can appreciate a good chick flick -- in fact, they love them. The girls multi-task and do manicures at the table, while Landon and Nicholas watch Zac Efron.

Yes, it was family night at the Morrow house tonight.

ps. we miss you, Taylor.

worship: reverent love and devotion

"...that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."

- Psalms 30:12

Worship is my passion. Worship is my calling. Worship is what God desires from me and is, amazingly, something that I am capable of giving to Him.

As I was contemplating this today, I realized a few things:

Music is much, much more than what I have always believed it to be. Music is not just the sounds that delve deep into our souls, that strike a chord within us and make us believe in something. Its purpose is more than just leaving you speechless from a 3 minute song that figuratively washes over your body, soaking it with magic and hope. Music should never be confined to our stereos or ipods. And it should never, ever be confined to the feelings we get from listening to a mixture of instruments. The point is: music is not meant to solely be received from talented bands or known names. Music can - and should - be given back to God. He is the maker of music. He is the one who gave us music. If he is the designer, don't you think he longs to hear your creations?

My boyfriend has mastered this. He writes such beautiful songs -- songs from the deepest parts of his heart, songs that he dedicates entirely to his Lord. I sometimes wonder where his lyrics come from. I wonder how he conjures up those perfectly poetic lines that allow his music to remain personal while still proving relevant. I recently told him how much I love his words...but more than that, I love how he uses his words. He is so careful and meticulous and precise with the words he chooses as praise to God. It's so evident that Ben strives to present the most worthy and pure worship. My heart swells and oozes with happiness because I have found a man who lives for the full purpose of music. He expresses his love and passion through worship, through music, through song, through words sung unto God. I love the words he gives Jesus. They are precious and humble.

Today, I am thankful for the reminder that worship is our reason for existing.

"hearing the music is like someone calling out to me...making music is like I'm calling out back...to the one who gave me the music" - August Rush

- d