"The Elephant Diet" Day # 91 New York

One year ago two ladies began sensing that God was nudging them to do something for the women of their community. They started meeting every week to pray and seek God as to what they should do.

They began to sense a leading to host a women's conference in their town. They began to gather other ladies to help catch the vision.

Tonight, their dream is coming true. The tables are set, the centerpieces have been beautifully crafted of bricks, sand, candles and flowers.

Tomorrow they will see their dream fulfilled. They took a big step of faith and women have been signing up. (See a pic of the program they designed below).

I arrived tonight as the guest speaker and musician for the weekend conference. It's located in a town called Endwell, New York at Our Savior Lutheran Church. They came up with the theme "Lord Help Me, I'm Stuck." I believe this will be a powerful theme and that God will meet many women in an hour of need. He often does at these kinds of things.

As it turns out, many of us have experienced set backs this week but we have all made it here and are looking forward to seeing a vision fulfilled.

I was touched by their passion and excitement. This is a new venture for them and I believe it will pay off.

It took me 4 hours to get here, with a bad accident starting off my trip (not me) and construction delays, but I had a beautiful drive up interstate 81 North. I snapped a picture along the way, but it doesn't do justice to the views I enjoyed. (Pic below)

As I drove, I pondered what kind of rewards I would offer if I do a crowd-funded campaign for my own vision. I'm curious to have your feedback. Rewards are offered for different levels of giving when you do a campaign.

Do you think people would enjoy the opportunity to take a trip to Nashville with me as a reward for a larger gift?
What would you be interested in observing about my trips if you had the chance to go?......Recording, photo shoot, live producer coaching sessions??

(I'm trying to think of creative things to offer back to those who will help sponsor this Christmas show idea.)

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What about....
A music lesson?
An hour to sit and talk about your own dream and how I could help you achieve your's?
Free tickets to the show?
Free CDs with a personalized message written on the inside?
What about a personalized song for someone you love (or maybe even for you?)

Just thinking......

"The Elephant Diet" Day 90 Possibilities!

"If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." - Dale Carnegie

I saw that posting this morning and thought to myself - well, that's exactly what I've been doing! I certainly think about many things, but I am putting feet to my thoughts. It is definitely one way to confront fears.

I got home very late last night from the event that I did and decided to blog today instead.
The venue I did last night was a packed event! It was amazing to hear stories from the mother of Tim Tebow. What an inspiration.

But even more touching than that, was the fact that one of my fans and now friend who also reads this blog was there and came up to my table asking me if I needed help, just about 3 minutes after I thought to myself, I sure could use some help! Thank you Gary and Annette! What a blessing at just the right time.

Now on to the time I spent at HACC, looking at their performing arts theatre. Lori has been very helpful and prompt in all of our communication so far and yesterday was no exception. It was easy to converse with her and ask lots of questions. That is a very key element for me in the venue I choose to use. I need these people to be on my team and I certainly got the feeling that she would be there to support me all the way.

They only advertise events that they have sponsored. That means all advertising is up to me (although they will hang posters on their campus if I supply them with posters). I asked if there is a possibility that they would sponsor me if I fill the venue and put on a quality show. I let her know that I'd like this to be an annual event and hope to build it over the years. They have never done that before and don't plan to in the future. I would like to see that change. We'll see.

Later on in our time together, she told me that if I could get the Christian student group on campus to sponsor the event, I wouldn't have to pay anything for using the Rose. Now isn't that an interesting possibility? I have not told her that I'm a Christian artist. Apparently she has been visiting my website. My goal in every encounter I have with people in this endeavor is to be professional and deliver quality in every way. If that sets a great example, so be it.

So as you can imagine, my mind is spinning some more and I already emailed her this morning to ask her what the name of the Christian student group is. I think I'll find out who the leader is, take them to lunch and see what comes of it.

The white cyst in my throat is gone, thank God!!! Still have a sore throat, but it doesn't seem to be getting worse. Today, I must turn toward my New York trip.

Thanks for your prayers and support. Things continue to move forward. I close with 2 photos from the event I did last night.

Faith Mayfield was one of the dancers at the banquet for Morning Star Pregnancy Services.
Her older sister used to dance to some of my songs for various events.

850 + people attended the Morning Star Pregnancy Services dinner.
Pam Tebow was the speaker and I did some of the music.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 89 Sore Throats and Singers

I woke up this morning with a sore throat and when I looked in the mirror, noticed a very large white spot on my tonsil.

You guessed it.  I immediately thought....strep throat.

Not NOW!  I've been healthy all winter and just as my bookings pick up again, I wake up with a sore throat???

Tomorrow night I sing in front of 850+ people to help raise money for an agency that supports young women in their unplanned pregnancies as an alternative to abortion.  I plan to sing "Wonderfully Created" - a song I wrote based on Psalm 139.

I wonder how many dreams have been cut short by abortion?  Way too many.  I'm glad to be a part of this event.

Friday I head to New York to speak and sing all weekend.

Strep is a singer's dreaded disease (I know that we are not the only ones who don't want it!)  Neither does a dancer want a broken foot.

I stopped in at the local medical clinic on my way home from the church and after being tested negative for strep, went home thankful to at least know that it's not what I thought.  The white spot is apparently a cyst and has no correlation with the soreness.

Prayers are appreciated as I travel and minister this weekend.

For more information about Morning Star Pregnancy Services click here.  Tim Tebow's mother, Pam, will be the keynote speaker at the banquet tomorrow night.  I'm looking forward to hearing her story.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 88 Confronting Fears!

Last night as I was peeling potatoes for supper, I heard myself say, "Oh My", out loud.

I stopped and wondered if my husband heard me in the other room.  I didn't even know I was going to say it.  How loud did I say it?  It felt like I shouted it.

Fear.  That's what caused it.  I realized that I am getting very close to where the rubber meets the road.

It's so easy to dream about what will be, until you actually have to make a commitment.  Like the guy who decides to actually propose to the one he loves and make a life time promise.  Or the man who realizes that in about one month, he's going to actually have a baby in the house and for the rest of his life (or at least 2 decades) he will have another life to care for.

At 4:00 on Thursday I will be visiting the venue I'm considering.  If I like it, I'll need to put a deposit on it.  I will set something in motion that will be very difficult to stop.

Fears:

What if people don't come?
What if the CD isn't done by Nov. 23?
What if I can't find the musicians I need?
What if I charge too much for tickets?
What if I don't charge enough?
Will I really have the courage to promote this?
What if people come and don't like it?

On and on.......

The whys.....the who....the what ifs.......

At some point, one must rise up and speak to the fears and tell them to leave you alone.

On the way home from the church - I prayed.  I cast all the cares and details of this dream on my Father and asked Him to continue to lead every step and to give me divine appointments.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 87 Pick A Date?

There are two dates available in November for the venue I am considering for my show.  Professional musicians are almost impossible to hire any time after December 1, so I've been looking at November.  I was hoping for the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  Guess what's available?

November 2 and November 23 (the Sat. before Thanksgiving).

Thursday I hope to go look at Live At Rose Lehrman to see if it will be suitable for my needs.  Once I have a green light from a few key people, I will have to make a decision.  Do I actually follow through with the idea of having a Christmas Show?

I feel nervous and excited - all in the same breath.