Category Archives: Music

One of My Favorite Songs

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Jennifer Juniper lives upon the hill
Jennifer Juniper sitting very still
Is she sleeping? I don’t think so
Is she breathing? Yes, very low
What’cha doin’, Jennifer my love?

Jennifer Juniper rides a dappled mare
Jennifer Juniper lilacs in her hair
Is she dreaming? Yes, I think so
Is she pretty? Yes, ever so
What’cha doin’, Jennifer my love?

I’m thinking of
What it would be like if she loved me
You know just lately this happy song
It came along and I like to somehow try and tell you

Jennifer Juniper, hair of golden flax
Jennifer Juniper, longs for what she lacks
Do you like her? Yes, I do, sir
Would you love her? Yes, I would, sir
What’cha doin’, Jennifer my love?
Jennifer Juniper, Jennifer Juniper, Jennifer Juniper

Jennifer Juniper vit sur la colline
Jennifer Juniper assise tres tranquille
Dort-elle, je ne crois pas
Respire-t’elle, oui, mais tout bas
Qu’estce tu fais, Jenny mon amour
Jennifer Juniper, Jennifer Juniper, Jennifer Juniper

My dad used to play the record of this song and I’d dance around the living room when I was 3 years old. It’s the kind of happy feeling that makes me cry.

(Lyrics c/o Song Facts)

Crazy Busy Life

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I did go to the wedding on Saturday and I shocked my parishioners by dressing up quite a bit. (The comment “Jen… you clean up well!” was uttered frequently. Apparently, me in a dress on Sunday doesn’t even compare?) I wore the dress my sister-in-law gave me for my birthday and I think I’ve found my Christmas dress for this year. (My ordination dress still fits but is loose enough to show my love handles which still need to be melted off.) I skipped the reception (wasn’t going to be able to eat the food and didn’t need the calories) and chilled at home.

I decided to skip the early service on Sunday and hitched a ride to church with some fellow church members. It was nice to be able to attend Sunday school and relax instead of having to be uber-social. After church, I came home, ate lunch, and took a nap until I had to get dressed again to go to an open house for a parishioner (who was turning 80) and then to Church #1 to decorate the church and go caroling afterwards.

Caroling was awesome! There were 10 of us and Jon and I were basically the youngest by far. (Everyone else had kids or grandkids our age.) Jon and a couple of the others sang a Christmas carol in Norwegian as well as one verse of Silent Night pa Norsk. We also sang a verse of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” as well as “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”. We went around and sang to some people in the church who were elderly and needed encouragement. One woman started crying and told us it was the best thing that had happened to them that year. After we’d sufficiently sung and frozen our butts off, we headed to someone’s farm for a potluck dinner. I ate waaaaaaaay too much and of course (as this is Minnesota), the food was NOT low-cal, low-fat, or low-carb.

Today, we did errands in Watertown and here in town. Tonight, I let Billy Blanks kick my butt for half an hour while Jon was at a Scout meeting. I just showered (and was pounced on by my gremlin who gets ferocious at the smell of my shower gel) and have that “beaten to a pulp but have an amazing high” feeling. I’m thinking I should be doing a whole lot more taebo or I should find some really good yoga tapes or something…

All Saints’ Day

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All Saints’ Day was technically a week ago, but we celebrated it yesterday in church. This was one of our hymns…

Rise, ye children of salvation,
All who cleave to Christ the Head;
Wake, awake, O mighty nation,
Ere the foe on Zion tread;
He draws nigh, and would defy
All the hosts of God most high.

Saints and martyrs long before us
Firmly on this ground have stood;
See their banner waving o’er us,
Conquerors through the Savior’s blood.
Ground we hold, whereon of old,
Fought the faithful and the bold.

Fighting, we shall be victorious
By the blood of Christ our Lord;
On our foreheads, bright and glorious,
Shines the witness of His Word;
Spear and shield on battlefield,
His great Name; we cannot yield.

When His servants stand before Him
Each receiving his reward,
When His saints in light adore Him,
Giving glory to the Lord;
“Victory!” our song shall be
Like the thunder of the sea.
—LBW 182

Give Me Jesus

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I’ve had the Fernando Ortega version of this in my head for the last few days…

In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
Give me Jesus.

Dark midnight was my cry,
Dark midnight was my cry,
Dark midnight was my cry,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
Give me Jesus.

Just about the break of day,
Just about the break of day,
Just about the break of day,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
Give me Jesus.

Oh, when I come to die,
Oh, when I come to die,
Oh, when I come to die,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
Give me Jesus.

And when I want to sing,
And when I want to sing,
And when I want to sing,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
Give me Jesus.
–African-American spiritual (taken from With One Voice)