Aw Man!

I just sometimes wish I didn't run across stuff like this. It makes me pine. And, would ya look at Sunday's lineup?

Music Monday, "Orphan Girl"

I first heard Gillian Welch waaay back when in my freshman year of college, the year I was piddling around and learning to play the guitar. One of the first "real" songs I learned to play on the guitar was "Orphan Girl." I loved that song then, but it's funny how a song can take on a whole new meaning and new depth to you personally as you live life. This happened to me yesterday, too, in the car on the three hour ride home from the lake.

My two boys had full bellies, were quietly looking out their windows at the lush greenery and I saw signs of heavy eyes. To encourage that slip into slumber, I scanned my iPod and remembered that the Garden State movie soundtrack was chill. A couple songs in, wonderful, quiet sleep. If you have that soundtrack, I encourage you to give her another listen. But ... THIS Music Monday post is about "Orphan Girl" so without further ado, here is a killer live performance of Gillian Welch's "Orphan Girl" with the incredibly talented David Rawlings at ACL Fest 2008. I saw them play together at George's back in 2001 here in Fayetteville and that simple show, at which I saw my then Psychology professor, remains one of my most favorite shows I've ever seen. I hope y'all enjoy it.

Orphan Girl

I am an orphan on God's highway
But I'll share my troubles if you go my way
I have no mother no father
No sister no brother
I am an orphan girl

I have had friendships pure and golden
But the ties of kinship I have not known them
I know no mother no father
No sister no brother
I am an orphan girl

But when He calls me I will be able
To meet my family at God's table
I'll meet my mother my father
My sister my brother
No more an orphan girl

Blessed Savior make me willing
And walk beside me until I'm with them
Be my mother my father
My sister my brother
I am an orphan girl
I am an orphan girl

Off to Gulley We Go

Last month, we packed an outdoor blanket, drinks, our camping chairs and a 9x13 dish of freshly made Rice Krispies Treats for the boys first "Concert in the Park" put on by Gulley Park here in Fayetteville. We took Thomas as a baby and have gone since, but have gotten babysitters for shows we really wanted to see because it can be a lot of work to coral two spunky and curious little boys. So, this was the first time all four of us have gone.

What an interesting study of our two kids to take them to something like this. Besides little things we've noticed here and there, we're just now really being able to tell about their differences, their distinctness. Here's what I found that night:

Thomas thought it was loud and plugged his ears, a little irritated. He wanted to go play.

Wyatt, loving every loud minute of it, just about hopped the fence to get to the band.

Not Music Monday, But ...

... It is new release Tuesday.

While it's not Music Monday on Vaught Thoughts, I have a delightful exception to bring to you on this Summer Tuesday. Wilco's new album, "Wilco (the album)" drops today. Check here for a link to check them out. I'm downloading it to my 3GS as I type. As soon as it's done, I'll be checking it out with you. Also, if you're not familiar with the incredible band, Wilco, and would like a listen, go to their MySpace page here.

Also newly released:

Bjork - Voltaic
Moby - Wait for Me
Wu-Tang - Chamber Music
Levon Helm - Electric Dirt
Paul Simon - Questions for the Angels (single)
& for you 90's fans, Alice In Chains - A Looking In View (single)

My Dubbs

Then

Wyatt, born 06.25.07

Now

Happy 2nd birthday, my sweet, sweet Wyatt!

Adalynn

Fond of miracles and want to hear about one? A dear friend of mine delivered a healthy, premature, 5 lbs. 1 oz. baby girl yesterday named Adalynn Mirakel. Science said this baby was impossible to conceive. Due to an issue with Karen's body and a blood-clotting disease she has, a procedure was performed almost two years ago, making pregnancy an impossibility, so Tom and Karen were told. Four months into what they were told was impossible, Karen learned she was pregnant.

While grateful, this was also a shock and concern. Karen was told she couldn't sustain a healthy pregnancy because of this procedure she'd had AND this pregnancy could put Karen in harm because of her clotting disorder. She was told by a specialist that her uterus was like the inside of a balloon after the procedure she had. He said that there was nothing for a placenta to attach to and it was a great concern for her health and the baby's health. He also told them the odds of this pregnancy happening were so small, he had no way to explain it.

To learn more about this miracle baby and the Olsen's amazing journey through this, read the archives of Karen's blog here. She has been in the hospital in Little Rock since May 19, the day she started leaking amniotic fluid. Having just delivered Adalynn yesterday, that would make Karen being in a hospital bed for FIVE WEEKS! I'm happy to tell that everything went smoothly yesterday. Karen is healthy, Adalynn is healthy. They are now a family of six. Pretty wonderful, huh?

I'm helping Karen out a little, posting the latest greatest to her blog while she's recovering and I thought I'd link her up here so you all could go about hear this amazing story.