My Marbear is WICKED!!

hAPpy bIrThdAy to yOu BeAR!!

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressiable is muSic"

this beautiful quote reminds me of you!! why? simply because ANY time the universe hears our maria sing we REJOICE! we are in AWE! our souls are LIFTED and our hearts MELT!! we are So MOVED by the beauty we have witnessed we are without words!!

thank you felic for adding to my post!!!! Pie Jesu!
Do you know hearing you sing with felic at jessi & David's wedding is without a doubt one of my very MOST favourite moments of my life!!!
YES it was!!!
ABSOLuTELY B R E A T H T A K I N G!!
HEAVeNLY!!!
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
OH MY M E L T!!!!

Remember how when you sing i wish for a REWIND?
remember how you performed the song from wicked and had never even seen the play? and how i wish i were there to see you! oh man!!! you know what i miss!! i miss our college days in Hawaii!! yep i do!! oh man those were the days!! when you performed in various recitals & musicals!! and how i would run up after the show and have you autograph my program book!! and how i would throw roses on the stage after every performance!! and how i was the 1st one in the theatre every time you performed just so i could have the very best seat in the house!! and how often times you would see me in the audience and i was the one with the BIGGEST and HUGEST SMILE and how i was in awe and tears filled my eyes!! remember?? and i was the 1st one standing on my feet clapping when you finished and yelling bravo!! encore!! MORE!! REWIND!! and yay!! and hooray!! oh man!! & how i would go back stage and ask if i could have my pic taken with you!! and how i would wear a t-shirt saying my marbear rocks the house at every recital!! oh man i really do miss those moments!!

The very 1st time i heard you sing was even before we really spoke do u remember? we were in the cedar ave house.. the sisters and i were on jenn's bed and in walks maria from a very exhausting day at big girl school & work! you and jessbear sang for me!!!! oh my amazing!! YES!! another favourite & cherished moment in my life!!! MELT!! thank you!!

what i do know about you is when you sing you bless the lifes of your listeners your music is a gift it gets the hurt out into the open into the light and out of the darkness.
thank you!!
thank you for blessing my life!!
I M I S S Y O U!!
I've missed your company,
i ve missed your conversation
most of all i miss your smile!
thank you for gift of beauty you are in all of our lives!!

HapPy BiRthDaY bEaR!!

i love you

love forever!!
terr

happy birthday

hello maria!!

wanna sing it again sometime? :)



have a BEAUTIFUL 30th year!!!

loves and hugs
fel

hAppiEsT of DaYS

it's like how does your heart beat and why do you breathe?"



dearest mar-bear,

the quote from the song reminds me of a typical maria question...so thoughtful, so philosphical, full of wondering, wishing for answers, knowing there aren't always answers, and turning everyday questions into wonderful discussions or even better songs. thank you for that.

this song reminds me of you as it was one that i would be SO happy if you would sing along and harmonize with me.




this next song is of course, an obvious choice, as it is the first song i ALWAYS request you to play whenever the guitar is in your arms (where it should be. always.)

i love you woman. here's to another 30 wonderful years!!!! i'm SO excited for you to cash in on the "west coast" birthday coupon!!!

xoxoxoxoxooxxo jessi

30 is the new 20

Happy Birthday MARIA!!!

With all the good times I was blessed to see you this year, I didn't end up with too many photos of us or even just you. But the ones I have from the good times spent should be memorialized on your special blog forever, so here they are.



This one really doesn't have you in it, but I am pretty sure you took the picture and I love it! It totally captures the good times we get to have when we go on adventures with you.

Thank you so much for traveling down so many times to see us and play with us since you have been in Seattle. A very common question in our house when ever we are planning a rock climbing trip is, well, when can Maria come? We hope we can see you even more next year, when you are all grown up and 30!

I don't always remember the moment when I meet people, but I always remember the moment I met all my most special friends. I met you in Seattle, right after getting home from my mission while on a road trip with Chris. Chris told me all about you before we stopped by and assured me that I would think you were as cool as she did. She was right, you were an instant hit, super welcoming, and easy to talk to, no pretenses, you were you.

While it is true that I really enjoy that you share your wonderful music talents with me, I appreciate even more whats inside your soul that makes the music so beautiful as it comes out of you. Someday I hope you write a philosophy book, it could be called the "introspection's of Maria" (or something better with more correct grammar if you prefer). Your thoughts on life and living are always insightful and your striving to make the way you live your life more meaningful everyday has always been an inspiration. When you do something important you do it with purpose and if you ever loose sight of that purpose, you do something about it. You don't just finish for the sake of being done, instead you take the time to recenter and redefine your purpose and you come out an even better Maria.

I hope on your special 30th birthday that you get to enjoy your family, and especially enjoy looking back on all the good times you have had so far in your adventure of life. Hopefully as you are thinking back on those times you will forget about the time I almost killed you in the raging flash flood in Hawaii and just remember the part about how I pulled you back in! :)

I love you and I am excited to spend some quality time with you as soon as we can make it happen!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Maria is 3-0! Yay!

You finally joined the party of our thirties dear! I love you so much! I am putting a couple songs on and we will see if they work since I am out of the country and this computer and internet are so much different, therefore they may be links since that is all I know how to do.

Sheesh woman, I love you. You are simply wonderful. You are thoughtful, and lovely and just absolutely fantastic. The songs I chose to put that remind me of you are: Azure Ray: Trees Keep Growing, since of course any time I hear these ladies I think of you, with your beautiful voice and amazing sense of lyrical writing. The second song I chose is Sigur Rós: Glósóli since I listened to them every night before going to bed and you used to tease me and still put up with it. Alas, now you have been to beautiful Iceland and seen where these lovely gentlemen reside and make this music that is so beloved by me, even more now since it reminds me of living with you!

So, click on the songs, see if they work, if they don't, google or youtube them and think of me. It won't let me bring them up on youtube in Germany saying I don't have the rights or some such thing, so if they don't work, look them up sister!

Happy Birthday my sweet friend. I miss you!

Love,
Jenn

You are my Star

I love whenever you play or sing or speak or primp or shop or drive or climb or run or study or laugh or dance or sip tea or wish you didn't need to prepare food or shout or roll your eyes or be your wonderful, beautiful, talented Self. I've gotta have you in my life!!!!

Love, LBear

I could drink a case of maria

These songs remind me of you. I don't know if we listedn to them togther at the Buddha house or they remind me of you because you have a lovely voice, write perfect songs, and are Canadian ;) Either way, whenever I listen to these songs, I think of Maria and feel content and happy. I forget about stress and fatigue for a moment and feel the songs. I am so glad I have songs linked to memories linked to you.

Enjoy your day. You are a truly thoughtful, smart, beautiful person.

mwah!
Chris

burnham beauty

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! (and my gift to you is a time-traveling machine, so that you can actually read this on your birthday...)

remember how lucky i was to see you for your special day? yep, i was. i'm sorry that over the years your special day of birth has been over-shadowed by all the traditions and hoopla that go along with christmas; at the same time, i think about the special significance of you being born during the time we celebrate Christ's birth. pretty cool if you think about it.

what can i say about you my dear? i echo the words of all the others: i love your humor, your killer sense of fashion, your beauty you radiate from the inside out, your honesty, your willingness to learn and grow, your loyalty, your gift-giving ability, your MUSIC, your friendship, and your love. i am so so happy that we are cross-the-ferry-buddies, although i miss walking down the stairs to see you, then driving across town to see you, then driving to another city to see you. i miss our times. thank you for being the buddy who is always up for a rock-climbing adventure, a late night talk, a road trip, a song to sing, and an ear to listen ;)

i love you. may you have the BEST year of your 20's thus far. xox

Wishing You A Fabulous Day!

Happy Birthday Maria!

Youre the best!

Wishing you a year filled with the same joy you bring to others!

Much Love,

Amber Mike Addi & Alex

B-DAY party!!

Hey Happy Happy Birthday Maria Dear, Happy days will come to you all year, if I had a wish than it would be a happy happy birthday to you from me!
Holler, hope it was a fantastic B-day!
Brandon

Moss well have a party!

Happy day of birth! This is like the day you were born! Arent we are so glad you were born this day! Have a wickitt party!! Woo Woo
Love and squeeze
Adam

Happy day to you!

Wishing you all the best in the year to come. May your days be filled with beautiful sunshine and beautiful colors.And may your nights be filled with comforting dreams and wishes to come true !
Hope you have a fabulous/amazing birthday! You deserve it!
Love your guts!!
Shay, Brad, Berkley, and Boston

Surprise! Surprise!

To you this day we wish you the happiest of birthdays!
How spoiled are we that we have you in our life?! We love you!!
P to the S thank you for coming to the seattle show!!
Happy day to you lovely!
Kyle and Lissy

Maria knows how to ROCK!!!

This picture below is of Maria in the summertime at our little house on Cedar Ave.
Here's a fun little Short Story written by Literary Genius, Maria Burnham

There Was An Old Woman; or, The curious incident of the missing insulation
a story based (loosely) on true events

This story is lovingly dedicated to the memory of EDNA, who really liked wallpaper and renovations.

Once upon a summer, there was an old woman.
Once upon a summer, there was an old woman with a garage and a Big Idea.
The old woman was handy with her hands, so she took her garage and her Big Idea and with her hands she made... a brand new kitchen!
It was very hot that summer so the old woman said, "I will make this kitchen cool and airy. That way I will never feel too hot while I am cooking."
She put in windows.
She laid big red stones on the ground.
She installed appliances and counter tops.
When she was done, the kitchen was everything she had imagined. But she had forgotten one thing:

Insulation.

"no matter," the old woman said. "I will just add a fireplace. Then, when it gets cold in the winter, I will build a fire to keep me warm."
The old woman enjoyed her cool kitchen all throughout the summer.
She even enjoyed it in the fall.
But when the winter came, she realized that her kitchen was Too Cold!
The fireplace did not keep the room warm enough. Working hard did not keep her warm enough, either.
The olive oil froze in the cupboards.
The ice cream did not melt when she left it on the counter tops.
Icicles hung on the inside of the windows.

The old woman hated the very idea of cooking in her cold kitchen. Every time she felt hungry, she would walk into the kitchen, feel the cold air, and say, "No. It is too cold. I would rather go to bed hungry than cook dinner in that freezing kitchen."
She felt frustrated and sad that her kitchen was so cold.
She almost started to hate her beautiful kitchen until....
she realized that her cold kitchen was making her lose weight!
"What a wonderful kitchen I have built," She said to herself. "All my life I have tried to diet, but have never managed to lose a pound. Now, thanks to my cold kitchen, I can finally fit back into my jeans from high-school!"

Well, as is the way of life, the old woman grew older and older until one day, she died.
Her clothes were packed up
Her furniture was moved out.
Finally, her house (with its beautiful kitchen) was sold.

Once upon a summer, there were four best friends.
Once upon a summer, there were four best friends who needed a place to live.
They found a house with a beautiful kitchen.
They moved in.
Unfortunately, they didn't want to lose weight....
The end.

The Wonderful Faces of Maria

Wowzah, what an amazing woman Miss Maria Burnham is. I don't even know where to start when describing her wonderful characteristics. I remember the day I met Maria at the hippie house and wondered what it would be like to share a space with her. Lucky for me it turned out to be the most amazing experience of my "roommate life". Living in the basement of that house with Maria and Leilani taught me so much. What incredible women these 2 are.

Maria, our "running" days were and remain to be some of my most cherished memories. I love our connection and understanding. Being able to communicate with someone and not feel judged is, if anything, nearly impossible to find in this day and age, and yet you provided that for me, and you still do. As hard as it was to get up in the dark morning hours on those FREEZING winter mornings, you did it with me every day. Not only were you doing it for you, I know you were doing it for me, you are such a support in my life and I would be simply ungrateful if I didn't express how much that means to me. You have been an incredible pillar of strength through lots of times that were frankly, kinda hard. You are great at making a situation better for everyone, even when (maybe especially when) it is not the most comfortable for you!

I love the many faces of Maria. Your hairstyles, your cute face (with or without glasses), your fun clothes, your classy clothes, (unfortunately I don't have access to my other computer right now which has my most favorite picture of you in purple tights, a grey sweatshirt, a nautical bikini, topped off with a houndstooth hat!) What a perfect friend you have been to me over the years. I love how you love me, I love how you love my husband and accepted him right off, that to me was something that I will ALWAYS be thankful for.

I love you Maria Noelle Burnham and I hope you have a most amazing birthday. You are simply wonderful. I miss you. I am proud of you. You have accomplished so much in your life. I love that this birthday could, but doesn't have a pinata in the snow ;). I LOVE you! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

ItS YoUr SpEcIAl daY! hiP hip HoO-RaY!!

tOdAy, i WaS tHiNkInG oF aLL tHe bEaUtIfUl tHiNgS GoD cReAtEd
aNd GuEsS WhO cAmE tO mY mInD? YoU!!


tHe ViEw fRom ThE rOcK coLlectiNg

aDvEnTUrEs!

WoW!! PrEttY kIds!
umm. remember how shirtless boY
nEedS to Be pHoTo SHopEd oUttA tHeRE?
oH maN! whEre's mY laNi wHeN i NeEd hEr??



wE LoVE rOcKs!

ThE mEaDoW ViEW fRom ThE CaBiN AdVenTuRes GlOrIoUS!!

rEmembEr yOuR medItAtion, in silencE SolO?

AwE! tHeRe's mY BRitiSh CoLuMBiAn bEAUtiFuL bUdDieS!!

rEaDy sEt Go!!

WhEw hOo! I dId iT!! i rEaLlY dId It!!!

i CaN't bEeeVee iT!!

lOok! jEssE lOoK!!

wHo LoVeS DaNciNg w/JeNN?

I dO! i dO!

pReTty wArRiOr pRiNcEss's!!

mOrE CAbIn aDvEnTuRe BeAutIfUl's!!

aWe! iTs mY

B.C. bEaUtY'S!! sO pReSh!

dear mar-beary,

happy day to you! to US!! We All rejoIce in this SpEcial dAy beCauSe oUr lives beCame MorE beautiful

WhEn yOu enTer Our UniVerSe!! :)

So Why is mY Mar-Beary a Treasure in my Life! in Our LivES?

you're PrIceleSS - tHats whY!!!!
remember how we aLl love rocks? remember tHe RocK adVenTure U, leeshie, jessE, lAni and i hAd?

Well, gUess wHat? U R a TreaSure! U roCk! and sPeakIng of Gems!!

gems become valued for a nUmber of reAsoNs-their natUral beauty, their rArity,thE warMth of colOur thAt iS caSt when liGht fAlls on thEm, AnD the ability thEy have to eNhance tHe appeArance of oThEr stones. All tHiS is a perfEct deScription of YOU! HoW grAteful IAm to haVe been fortUnate to bE able to coUnt aS a pArt of my lifE mY encounters wItH such a tReAsUrE!! U rOcK!!

mar-bear, your natural beAuty is what comes frOm within you-all that is GoOd and trUth and Light within you. your uniqueness as a peRson is of valued rarity, for tHe many wOnderful coMbinations of talents, loves, passions,experiences,wiSdom,dreams and hOpes thAt make up yOu are liKe no other. YOur serVice, lOve, enCourAgement, VOICE! , huMoR, brilliaNce, stYlE, wit aNd friendship hAve warmed mY heart on maNy a "cold night! ps.. thank you for yOuR continued bElief in mY abilities dUrning mY yeAR of biG gIRl SChooL!! thank you! fOr anY and evEry PrAyer U sEnd Up jUsT fOr mE! dO YOu kNoW the JoY you spread to OtHers is Of GrEaT bEaUtY?! hOw forunate i am to haVE sUcH a TrEaSuRe aS a PaRt oF mY liFe. thank you!! tHanK yOu for bEiNG a WonDerFul fRiend and for FinAllY!! letting me Get tO kNoW the mYstErIous CedAr Ave Sis- tHat tHe GirLs sPoke SO highly Of!

Have a BEAUTIfUL DaY!! and ps.. i pRay u will permit Yourself to TrulY rEalIze ALL of the LoVe that PeEps haVe fOr YOU!! and one more thing my bear! remember how u shArE this day With other joyful mOments!! pLeasE knOw YoU are tHe essence of JoYful!! it iS mY SinCeRe wIsh that yOu kNow HoW mUch yOu ArE trUly LoVE, HoNOred, aPprEcIateD, neEded and AdOrED bY aLL oF uS!!

thank you for EvErYtHiNg!

i lOvE YoU!

lOvE fOrEvEr,

terr

ps.. um... remember how i would haVe haD u edit my writings but tHis iS a pRiZe!!!yAY! xoxo!!

happy birthday!!

From Chris

Once upon a semester in 2003 I met Maria. She had just come out to BYU-Hawaii and was our new roomie at the Buddha House. To say that she fit right in, would be an understatement. We had a group of friends that were abnormally good at singing and guitaring. One of her first nights, we gathered around those filthy dijon mustard- colored cordoroy couches for some guitar passing. I was only an on-looker and appreciator of these times and have never quite understood how on earth these people could make such magic with their voices and fingers. I still don't. No, really someone tell me! Maria sat quietly until Jess urged her to play and she accepted. I remember this lovely wee thing taking over the guitar and within the first strum, I knew this girl was something else; a perfect solution to our empty bed. She played, "Misty"

I graduated and said my goodbyes assuming I would see all of these people soon but life took me far far away and we all took our chosen paths until finally in October 2010 our beautiful Leilani's wedding brought us back together. 7 years is a long time to be apart but it didn't even take seconds to fit right back the way we all did. Maria had just cut her hair, got her first job, and was radiating with a new life ahead of her. Then we spent a wonderful weekend in Washington a month later, solidifying that yes, indeed, this group of people we know is remarkable.

You, Miss Maria, kinda, sorta amaze me with your pore oozing talented self, your beauty, your punk spirit, and absolute determination. Happy Birthday. Merry Christmas. See you soon!
all my love, Chris

2003: Buddha House, Hawaii

2010: Snapdragon Inn, Vermont

2010: Washington

The Coolest x 10,000 x 10,000,000

Happy Birthday, Maria Bear!

So, do you remember that time, when you were the most thoughtful, and the smartest, to gather all our friends to share love with Alicia for her birthday?!! And that your birthday was just three days after her birthday?! And that we all LOVE you too :) Don't be mad that we're stealing your idea, and giving it to you as a gift as well, okay?!! Ha ha!

I love you, loveliest Maria. I love remembering this, and every climbing day we shared together in P-town. You've got all these sweet climbing moves, even though you don't think you do and you're not actually trying to look cool, you just do.


I love your attitude, I love your desire, for the beauty and meaning of life. You are really and truly fun. Do you know what I'm trying to say?! You have this ability to bring the most unsuspecting person into a playful debate, and before they know it, they're thinking about things in ways they haven't thought before, and defending things they don't even feel strongly about simply to try and out-do you, but they do not succeed because you are always right! Ha ha. In a very good way :) You see so many things wrong with the world, and so many things right. And you want things to be right, and good. Purely.


And like I said, you are really and truly fun. Wearing the Campbell's soup costume. Posing for photo shoots. With your beautiful face. Your adorable figure. I will always remember your solo performance with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, hearing such amazing, massive, growing, flowing sound coming for your petite figure. I was in awe then, and I'm in awe now. I love when you share your talents with me.


I wish you a happy day. I love you, my friend. Thank you for your constant thoughtfulness. Thank you for sharing your love and life with me :) Love, L-Bear