The Praise Baby Collection

A captive audience - by Megan

Last week was our Spring Break, and I was bound and determined to get out of town for a few days. My parents have a condo in Florida that they graciously offered us for the week, and I immediately told the kids that we had plans for a few days in the sun and sand. We think of their place as our “home away from home,” and we started planning all the things we wanted to do while we were there. It was going to be a blast. What I wasn’t counting on? Going it alone! My husband is a wonderful man…an awesome friend, partner, father, spiritual leader, and provider. It turns out he had too much going on with work to take any time off (I’m considering that a blessing in these hard economic times)! At first I considered bagging the whole thing, but I couldn’t bear telling my 3 kids that it wasn’t going to happen. I prayed about it, and had a peace that going it alone was better than not going at all. Hey, at least it would be a change of scenery and a great excuse to not have to cook or do laundry! There was no turning back!

As I was packing, my greatest fear became the long ride down. I had never taken such a journey all by myself, and I was anxious about driving such a distance (not to mention the inevitable squabbles, frequent pitstops, and tears). I filled my front seat with loveys, snacks, movies, and various other “toss-able” entertainment items, and off we went. We did pretty well on the first leg of the trip, and after a brief stop for dinner, we slipped into PJs and fastened our seatbelts clutching our blankets and pillows (well, everyone but me!). The kids were sleepy and I decided to slip in my new Praise Baby CD to set the tone. Let me tell you, that turned our simple car ride into one of the greatest bedtime devotions we have ever had.

We are new to Praise Baby. I never knew about the music when my older two were little, but my baby girl and I have been listening to it together over the past couple of months. She adores any music, and is especially drawn to the sweet Praise Baby melodies. I thought the older kids would find it “too babyish”, but I was amazed when they immediately started singing along. They recognized the familiar songs from our own worship experiences and the “adult” versions they had heard on my iPod. They started asking questions and asking me to “play that one again, Mommy!” We talked about the wonders of God, and Lucy even made up a few motions to go along with her favorite parts. She made me promise to choreograph an entire song once we got home! On the dark, windy roads of south Alabama, we talked and said our prayers and just listened. Before long they were all fast asleep. It was then that I had my own nightly devotion and I praised my Father in Heaven for giving me these precious souls. I thanked Him for the opportunity to teach my babies about all the wonderful things He has done for us and I was so thankful to have beautiful music to help illustrate His love for them. I look forward to having a “captive audience” again soon…with the sound of Praise Baby filling the air.

You can read more posts by this author at http://holdituptothelight.com.

My sunshine - by Trish

I remember rocking my daughter in the NICU when she was three days old. We had just learned that she had a heart defect, and I was singing to her,

Soundtrack of a life - by Jennifer

We all have one: a life soundtrack.

When we hit the playback on our lives, our soundtracks are filled with melodies of joy, songs of sorrow and refrains of head-tilted-back laughter.

For my part,

Music that’s for me, too - by April

As new parents we have it all planned out, don

Music soothes his soul - by Emilie

My precious third child was born less than two months ago but we have already figured out one very important key to keeping him happy

Inspired - by Lindsay

I

THIS is better for babies - by Janna

I have a four year old son and a six month old daughter. When my son was a baby we invested in (and were also given) some educational DVDs that he loved. He loved the vibrant colors, the real life scenes, and the classical music was what I had always heard was

Music is memories - by Mama Cass

For me, one of the best things about music is the way it can instantly take me back to a moment in my life, coloring the bits and pieces of a memory to make them whole. Be it a simple memory, like an evening out with friends, or the memory of my first dance with my husband at our wedding, music can make the past so real. I find this to be true among the ins and outs of daily life with my daughters, and it brings me great joy.

I laugh as I try to remember words to a little jig my grandmother used to sing to me as a child. I find myself teaching my daughter songs that have been passed down for generations in my family. Songs with words that no longer have relevance. Songs that are relevant now only to us. I hear my daughter singing them as she plays with her toys. My baby claps to ask for more. I know the moments we are sharing are glued together by song, and one day, they will share those moments with their own children. Music ages with the generations, but remains timeless in a memory.

When my first was a baby, I discovered accidentally that she would immediately find calm amidst a scream while riding in the car if we played “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Her little eyes would just light up, making the power of a song so clear. As she grows, I find new music that delights her in the same ways. I see her transferring the emotion of a song to herself. I hear her learning the words. Music is a way to bring happiness to her heart. It

Blah, blah - by Superchikk

I grew up listening to the quality music of the 80s. You know, the kind of music you listened to while donning your legwarmers, feathering your bangs a bit more, and depleting the ozone with a half a can of aerosol hairspray to ensure your hair stayed scrunched just so.

Then my parents made us start listening only to Christian music. After that, Amy Grant and Petra were considered risqu

Never let go - by Stephanie

You Never Let Go by Matt Redman will forever hold a special place in my heart.