The past two weeks

The past two weeks have been fun.  Last week John took Avett off to Colorado by himself, his grandfather passed and he went out for the funeral. (Obviously that was not the fun part)  Grandpa John will certainly be missed. ❤️ While Evaleigh and I were here at the house we had so many dates and did so many fun things together. I enjoyed being with her alone so much even though I was missing the boys. We made cookies did glitter nails went to target and bought a few new toys went on a movie date and to party city for birthday supplies for this weekend and read a lot of books and snuggled together for naps.

Sunday night I went on a midnight run to the airport to pick up the boys. I was so excited to see them and when they got here I got a huge surprise. John's Mom came for a visit! We were so happy to have her here since we don't get to be with her very often. We had a great time together and the children enjoyed her so much. She is the most incredibly helpful and wonderful Grammy! 

Last night was her last night here and John played guitar and we sang music for a couple of hours. It was so good to hear him play and harmonize together. Of course he played my favorite Avett Brothers song, Murder in the City.  I always tell him that I want him to play that at my funeral if I go first. If not somebody else better do it! 

"Always remember there is nothing worth sharing like the love that lets us share our name."

My mom and her husband left on their mission to Independence Missouri. We are so excited for them and so happy that they get to go off on this adventure and serve the Lord. We will miss them terribly but are keeping up with pictures and videos and face time.

positive vibes for Grover

Our Uncle Grover has been very sick the past couple of months. He is now in the hospital and is heading towards having a lung transplant. He is one of the most positive people we know and his wife is as strong as they come.

Today it was our plan to go to visit him in the hospital and serenade him with some tunes but last night we got a text at midnight saying that he has been moved back in to the ICU and no visitors could come. So we went to the next best thing and decided to record a couple of songs for him and Sally. We did 'Wonderful Tonight' because that is what Grover sang to Sally at their wedding. So we hope they enjoy that song again like newlyweds. The other song we did is 'Don't Worry, Be Happy', if Grover had the breath to sing this one, he would. Because that is the kind of man he is...happy, carefree, and fun.

We love you so much Grover. As soon as we are allowed will be there in person to make music for you. Til then every song we sing is for you.

If anyone out there could send him positive vibes or pray for him we know he would appreciate it. Also if you'd like to upload some music for Grover send us the link and we will send it to him!  Music brings him so much joy!

here's my heart

This weekend John and I got to play at Ponce Unplugged in Atlanta with a few friends. I love being married to someone who loves music just as much as I do. Some others who performed were Sam Crowley, Jenna Kimble (soon to be Zimmerman!), and Jenn Mack. John and I did two songs. The first one was a funky arrangement we wrote ourselves of Come Thou Fount, I'm in love with it. Then we did our original To Be. It was so much fun and we are going to try to make it a regular thing, so if anyone wants to come perform let me know, we are trying to get people together from all different denominations of religions to perform.

This song means so much to me. It reminds me of my freshman year of college singing the Mack Wilberg arrangement with Alan Raines and the University Singers. This song was a great comfort to me at that time, we had just found out my father had cancer and I thought of him each time we rehearsed that song and would pray for him as we sang it. Thank God he is ok now, but this song will always remind me of my father and my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Enjoy our version of a beautiful classic.

Sofia

This is husband playing a mean version of Classical Gas featuring our new baby, Sofia.

I don't know why in the world this song is named Classical Gas but I do know that I get the giggles every time I say it.  This is now one of my new favorite things John plays.

Please ignore the massive piles of things and boxes behind him, we are still in the moving process.

Here is John playing Sofie, like a boss.

To Be (or not to be...)

Well we have put it off long enough.  We have wanted to share this for quite some time now.

Here is the first song that John and I ever wrote together. 

Let me first say, we love our Savior. We love the gospel of Jesus Christ. We endeavor each day to try a little harder to do a little better. 

The Sermon on the Mount has always been something that has been so important to me. I have always felt that if we truly listened to it and lived by its words then it may have been all of the scripture we ever needed. (not really, but it has some pretty awesome stuff right?)  It is so powerful and contains so many deep truths and gospel principles that are essential to living a happy and beautiful life. 

In todays world it is hard to know what to be but the Lord has given us the scriptures as a "how to be" handbook.  That makes it easier for us to understand the way He would have us live our lives. We hope that each day we CHOOSE to be better and we CHOOSE to be more of what we are meant to be as Children of God.

Matthew 5:3-12

Here are the lyrics:

I hear Him say, "Blessed are the pure in heart."

Dear Lord, how do I start?

If I hunger and thirst after righteousness, He says that He will bless.

My heart is breaking, my body is shaking, can He fix and feed me now?

All these things He asks of me, I want to understand completely.

So, I'll talk to him on my knees and I'll plead...

"Help me to be."

And when I mourn, through His comfort I feel peace.

O Lord, how I need Thee.

My poor spirit is open and now I'm hoping that I can make this change.

And on that Mount a promise given, If we come unto Him, ours is the Kingdom of Heaven.

All these things He asks of me, I want to understand completely.

So, I'll talk to him on my knees and I'll plead...

"Help me to be."

(copyright 2010 John and Rachel Murphy)

Jammin' at the Murphy's

A few weeks ago we had a jam sesh with a big group of friends. It was perfection.  


Each jam sesh is completely different.  Sometimes we all play songs we know and sometimes we just improv. No matter what we are doing be assured that the lights are low and there are candles in the fireplace and on the tables.  


We made:


Caramel Apple Pork Chops with a Pecan Glaze Sauce (absolutely a hit and a perfect fall dinner!)
Steamed Broccoli
Squash with Onions and Parmesan
Homemade Bread (which is becoming a staple in our house)
and
Homemade Strawberry Jam (also a staple)


My only complaint about our perfect little apartment is the lack of counter space.  Its so bad that when I am cooking in there I have to open up the dishwasher to get more space.  Its ok, it does the trick.  
Smaller kitchen= less space to have to clean.

the prep...

I used the picture frame that eventually became my (earring holder) as a center piece to hold all of our condiments, gravy, salt, and pepper. (and a couple of teacups and candles just for looks)

(these beautiful floral napkins came from my one and only Lisa who is serving her mission in Finland.  She sent two different packs of them to John and I as a wedding gift.)

Those in attendance:

Me- uke and vocals

Husband- guitar

Belen- rocking it on the drums

Jenna- keyboard

Lina- on her mac

Brandy- the most fierce egg shaker we know

Clark & Monique- the "just marrieds" & our new neighbors! Tambourine and Xylophone

Here is a little taste of what we like to do.  Sometimes things come out great and other times its a flop, but we all liked this one a lot.  I like it when Jenna shakes her hiney in front of the camera in the end.  No one knew I was recording this.  Clark is quite the rapper, wish you could hear what he is saying better.  Listen...

We all had a really fun time.  Everyone left...

(goodbye friends!)

...and then I got to be with this guy.

And we got to do these together.  

It looked like a dishware massacre in there.  But it was nothing a little love and elbow grease couldn't take care of.  We love knowing that these dishes belong to us.  We love that this is our mess and we are the only ones who can clean it up.  If we don't do it, it doesn't get done.  We are big kids now and get to take care of all our own things.  

Growing up is fun.  

I turn 23 tomorrow.

I feel old.

Growing Young and Playing Dress-up

Tonight I washed makeup off of my face two times.

The Mr. and I were getting ready to go to bed after an amazing night of vegetarian cuisine and then the music hit us. (spontaneity gets the best of us every dang time.) I looked in to my bag of headbands, bobby pins, and tricks and I spied the two pairs of old people glasses that I got for wedding picture props.  We never used them and now I am glad we didn't.  I was disappointed when we forgot to use them for wedding photos but tonight these glasses filled the measure of their creation.

John and I put on our best "old people" wear, I reapplied my makeup, and we learned a special song.  

I wore my great-aunt Annelle's real fur mink coat.  It is in perfect condition and was handed down to me by my Nanny (my perfect mother's perfect mother).  On the inside on the right her name is embroidered.  (Annelle S. Julian, such a beautiful name, they just don't make em' like that anymore.)  This coat is the classiest thing I own.  I can't wait to wear it to an opera someday.  Oh Mr. Murphy, won't you take me to see La Boheme?

So, here is our treat for you.  Our spontaneous midnight dress-up party.  We have fun and we don't care who sees it.  Life is perfect and we can't wait to grow old with each other. (though being young together is pretty awesome too!)

First Official TUNES Post!

Despite what you may think, one of the whole reasons we created this blog was so we could share some of our music too.  We aren't just fatties who like to try cool recipes.

So, tonight we were feeling rather musical after our Mexican dinner. (for more reasons than one)*wink

 So, we got out our girls (our children) and made some sweet music.  I have recently picked up the Uke and John is always a natural at the guitar.  We were feeling pretty chill and did a Norah Jones cover of, "Sunrise".  Hopefully you like it, and hopefully my voice teacher doesn't see this.  (I probably shouldn't be singing this low, no one tell Mrs. Stephenson!)

Like it, love it, hate it, whatever...just listen to it!

We had a recording session this evening in our bedroom.  The acoustics are actually quite nice!  Stay tuned for more tunes...

Our Children

Since we don't have real children yet we have instruments.

Hannah- A Martin DM. John's most prized possession other than his testimony and me. He bought her one summer after working in a harvest in Walsh. He saved up all of his money from the harvest to buy her. She sounds glorious.

Ava Marie- A 1970's vintage Atlas F-111. We purchased her in lieu of a guestbook for our wedding reception. All of our family and friends signed her as they came in. She is tat tat tatted up.

Evie- Mahalo U-50G Ukulele. The newest addition to our family. We purchased her in Tennessee at a music outlet in Pigeon Forge. She has the power to make anyone feel happy.

Here are the girls...

Lately John and I have been on a music writing kick. Maybe someday we will grow up and become real musicians or something. When John blessed our home when we first moved in, he prayed that it would always be full of music. Everyday we fulfill that blessing. Whether we are playing the girls or playing a new record on our record playa, music fills the air in our home. We like to go to Goodwill and get old records for 50 cents to a dollar. Some of our favs...

James Taylor- Mud Slide Slim

BB King

The best of Marvin Gaye

The best of Elton John

Benny Goodman

Norman Lubhoff Choir

Barbara Streisand

Loggins and Messina

Traffic

(Our record playa. Like gangsta playa not like the Spanish word for beach.)

"When words fail, music speaks."

That's how it is in our house.