"The Elephant Diet" Day # 125 The Mountain (A special announcement)

It was cold and windy, but incredibly beautiful.

It was April in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and I was there to do music for a women's conference, but in my spare time, I went for hikes.

As I was walking, a blog began to form in my mind.  I started taking pictures and video with my iPad and writing this blog in my imagination (it wasn't real handy to hike with an ipad, but I'm so glad I did).  It's a perfect way to make a special announcement.

Click here to view video on youtube.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 124 A Dog's Life

I was finally able to accomplish a very big item on my Christmas 'to do' list this morning!  I sorted through 556 pictures from my photo shoot in June and chose my favorites.  I have picked 30.

My producer and photographer will have to narrow it down from there.  Good luck guys.

What does this have to do with a dog's life?

Well - there is one special pup in Nashville, TN who gets to go on photo shoots all day long with his master.  His name is Ezio and he lives up to his name.  He was 'easy' to have around.

I doubt he'll make the CD cover, but he etched his way into my heart immediately.

Tomorrow is Day # 125 on this journey and I have a very special announcement planned.  Stay tuned!

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 123 Broadway or Pop?

Yesterday my producer asked me to send him a 'scratch vocal' of the latest song to be completed for the project.  It is the last song waiting to have the lead vocal done when I return in August to finish all the vocals.  Eager to work on it, I spent most of the afternoon yesterday recording my vocal ideas for the song and excitedly sent it over to him waiting for his reply.

This morning I got an email from him telling me it sounds too much like Broadway and he wants me to do it in 'pop' style.

Now I must confess, I appreciate the feedback - that's why I have a producer in the first place.  But, I grew up on classical music, never even saw "The Sound of Music" until I was in my late teens and that was at my Aunt's house in Oklahoma - far away from the watchful eye of my parents.  (Have I ever mentioned that we weren't allowed to see movies in the theaters either?).

I just haven't had exposure to music that many musicians typically have (except what was allowed in our house and it was a very short playlist, believe me).  I've spent many years just trying to catch up with musical styles, let alone learn the new ones that keep coming and still trying to settle in on who I am as an artist.  Not an easy task!!!!

I simply responded back to him by telling him that I will need help knowing what he means and what that sounds like when I record the vocal.  I'm sure Phil can help me with that.  It left me feeling a bit frustrated because I really like what I did and since I'm not sure what style it is, I don't know quite how to make it sound like something different.

Broadway or Pop.......another musical lesson I need to learn.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 122 The Jitters

I have the jitters.  Bells are ringing and I'm about to make a life-long commitment to my Christmas CD. I received the final two songs in my mail box this morning.  Christmas bells are ringing and I'm excited....with jitters.

I remember when Tom and I got the jitters before we got married.  I think it's probably normal.  You realize you're making a life-long commitment to someone.

As I now realize that the songs are pretty much completed instrumentally, that means we are nearing the marriage date of vocals, instruments, back up vocals and photo shoots.  It will be a glorious snapshot of my creative ideas I've had for years.  Oh yes, the music will still evolve and change when I do it in front of live audiences, but the printed CD will become final and that gives me the jitters.

That's ok.  It's all part of the process.  Can you hear the bells??

# 22 Chris Fabry Live interview

Hear an interview with Moody Radio Host Chris Fabry from 2009.  Get a glimpse into writing songs for children - something I have really enjoyed doing as an artist and how it inspired me to keep going.

Check out this episode!

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 121 Take Another Look

This morning my 'in-box' contained another Christmas song.   Oh boy!!!!

"Take Another Look" has now gone from solo piano to oboe, harp, strings, cymbals and I think I even hear some synth in there.  It's absolutely beautiful!  The lead vocals are already done so now we can put it all together. 

The song is all about giving things another chance.  Don't make judgements based on one look alone.  Take another look.  Stop and ponder.

Yesterday I did this with my Mother.  I finally had a day to give to her and it was a great day.  We went for a long walk (long for her) and visited the gardens at the home where she is a resident.

Gardening used to be so therapeutic for her.  Now she's not even allowed to go outside to walk (unless I go with her.) Medicare rules I guess.  (Not that she always listens).

We sat and pondered the garden for a long time and talked about days gone by when she would make me special breakfast foods fresh from the garden. 

It was good for both of us to stop and take another look.

After a long stay at the eye Dr.'s office for another eye injection, we stopped and had lunch together.  THIS was our dessert. 

Go ahead.....Take Another Look!!!

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 120 A String of Lights

Christmas lights in July at the cabin across from mine at Camp Lamar.

Christmas in July. It's a common expression.

It's a reality for me, here at Lamar Lighthouse Camp.

The cabin across from me decided to hang a string of Christmas lights this week. The owners have all of my CD projects (bless their souls) and seem to be eagerly waiting for the Christmas CD to be done.

Sunday night I ended my concert here with my rendition of Joy to the World on the piano and received a standing ovation. I hardly knew what to do. This is the second time in a matter of weeks that I have ended my concert with that song and received a standing ovation. Guess I better start coming up with an encore.

Next day, as I was strolling across the campgrounds I heard a loud "Christmas in July" cheer and saw my dear fan hanging the lights. Perfect!

It is so symbolic of this Christmas journey. The plastic cord is the vision of the dream. The individual lights represent the people along the way who are lighting my path with their personal flashes of light. Eventually, I will have a complete string of lights to share with the world.

Here are a couple of examples of the way people are lighting my path with their lights:

Before landing in St. Louis, MO recently, I had begun to sense a stirring to start spending 5 minutes a day in prayer about this show.

Light # 1:

* a woman in St. Louis, MO took my card at the breakfast where I led worship and told me she was going to hang it on her fridge and begin praying for the vision of my show. She told me not to underestimate the power of this dream and to not limit God on this journey.

(Her encouragement to me caused me to realize I really needed to take this seriously and begin heeding the urge to pray daily about it)

Light # 2:

* I was riding in a shuttle from the Grand Rapids, MI airport later that same week and met a woman who is now having her book published because she obeyed her nudges. She sensed God nudging her to write her story. She complained to Him that she had a job, a husband and children. When would she ever find time to write her story? When He asked her "how about 5 a.m.", she said "yes", though I could tell that wasn't a great time for her. But she beamed with excitement at the results. When I heard the fruit of her perseverance, that sealed it for me. I was now sure (as sure as a human can be) that God is indeed nudging me to pray, so I have started doing that every day.

How can you be someone's light in their string of lights? You might just be one bulb, but when it all comes together, it will light someone's home and you will have been part of it!

I might hang lights this year with a whole new perspective!