Ha ha …this picture is Krimminator, Judiful and Piaseckmeister being our goofy selves!  All three of us are in ministry, and we were tired from the busy weekend, yet had to take some time out to have fun together, and went to a local Rush Of Fools worship concert. (To see more fun pics from the evening, as well as some other fun  pics from the weekend of leading worship and seeing agb perform in a movie, check out this Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237832&id=668255034&l=1e9d3e2c63.) As was said in a dear card I received from a Jamie yesterday, “The secret to life is to hang out with the people who can appreciate what a huge goofball you are.”  One thing I think about as I read that phrase, in our busy world today, is that it’s SOOO NEEDED to simply have FUN!  Our world is sooooooo full of distractions (busyness certainly being one of them!) every which direction we look, that I’ve found it hard at times to simply have fun!  Have you been there?  What does your monthly, weekly and even daily schedule look like?  Are you simply too busy???  Yeah, much of our demanding schedules look like (if you ask me) we are that mouse in the cage simply running around and around and around, faster and faster,..and we’re tired and more tired, and eventually sheer exhaustion kicks in.  My manager reminds me often of how important it is to ’schedule’ into my day and week rest times, and especially fun times too.  So I ask you today, what have you done lately simply to have fun?  How have you fed your specific, unique being with adequate doses of fun just for fun’s sake?  That ‘To Do List’ will always be there …there’s always something else to ‘run after.’  But how about those memories you can make with dear family and friends who won’t always be around?  Just my thoughts for you today.

“It was so awesome meeting you, and I think you are AMAZING at what you do.  Especially for kids.  I never had a positive role model like you in my life when I was that age and I really went down a bad path, seeking love in all the wrong ways!!  God has since put some wonderful people in my life and I have changed SOO much.  Please keep doing what you’re doing!!”  -B. Rood of Hilton Head Island, SC

Thank you for the encouragement and prayers …and for coming to last week’s concert too! =)

Like this pillar I’m leaning against here, I’m  reminded of God’s incredible strength, and how He shows it when we lean upon Him!  This past weekend was full of fun and ministry for both Travis and I; a weekend where we needed lots of strength.  While Travis had some Teens for Christ events he was busy hosting as well as speaking for Saturday, after my busy week of computer drama, I decided to take a drive to Columbus to meet Linda and have some sister time.  (Here are some fun pictures we took on our phones during our whirlwind of a visit and oodles of fun day!:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=235174&id=668255034&l=a1644e148d) The drive home was actually easier than the drive earlier that day, thanks to the caffeine, yet that same caffeine kept me up ’till 5am …the same day I needed my energetic self for a concert to kick off the church’s Sunday night reoccurring youth service!  Needless to say, I was a little more than tired as we showed up at New Stanton United Methodist Church, however that didn’t stop God …nor me from giving it my all.  Despite my weariness and even fears of inadequacy, God reminded me Who was in control and Who would in fact reach hearts as I counted on Him and faithfully gave what I had to give.  The service was amazing, and I couldn’t even count all the hands that went up during the response time …so many teenagers (and some adults too!) wanted me to pray for them.  Our God never ceases to amaze me.  (Click here to view more pics from New Stanton UMC’s concert: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=235122&id=668255034&l=2d537d12d9) 

As a dear Vision Team Member and friend encouraged me recently, (and what this ministry is all about!!!), God uses our hardships to bring His truth and blessing.  He uses our pain so that He can change lives.  The Apostle Paul writes in Corinthians 1:8-11, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia.  We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.  On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.  Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”  That same God who powerfully raises from the dead is the same God that is in us and uses us in our weakest moments too.  Don’t doubt His ability or His plan He has for you, amidst your inadequacy, fear or pain.

See this mess of chords and equipment that should be in my studio but is now scattered around my office?  Well, my brain feels like it’s been twisted up, and now a complete mess like this live work scene.  Since the last time I blogged about our Pro Tools Adventures, we’ve had difficulty after difficulty in getting this recording up and running.  Thank God for people who know so much more about this than I!  My Facebook friend brought some helpful stuff to my attention (you’re the man, Stephen!), and so did my Songwriting Coach and Producer husband and wife team from Incubator (thanks so much, Sheryl and Leon!)  They walked Travis and I through some things to test. And we just got off the phone with the dear folks at Sweetwater who sold me this equipment. (Thanks for bearing with such ProTools newbies, Jonathan!)  We think we have the problem source identified (the little purple and grey box sitting on the couch in the picture), so we’re at least one step closer!.. Who would have thought this Pro Tools Adventure would compare to a detective mystery? ha ha.  So now it’s waiting to hear from the fella at Sweetwater for our ‘next step’.  Travis and I would sure love your prayers for this part of the venture!  I’ll be in Columbus, Ohio Saturday and then a concert in New Stanton, Pennsylvania Sunday night … hopefully this will get tackled and solved on Monday!  I’ll talk to ya more when we’ve got this figured out..

There always seems to be nothing short of an adventure around these parts …these past few weeks’ adventures tend to focus on the recording aspect of my home studio.  As you might recall from earlier posts, making/putting together this home studio was also an adventure in and of itself, as well as a dream of mine coming into reality.  Well, after the studio was in place, the recording software was a must, and we had lots of ‘computer drama’ along the way as my laptop didn’t have the required ‘fire wire’ port for the recording’s external hard drive, etc.  So… that led to the adventures of getting a new computer which fit Pro Tools (the recording software) specifications.  We finally purchased the Mac Mini and installed the recording software, and last night was our time to venture out in learning how to use it!  While watching the instructional DVD the folks at Digidesign provided (Thank you so much!), Travis and I ventured on a whole new ‘field of expertise’ and enjoyed this art, science, and once again gaining a whole new understanding and appreciation for you techy folks!  We are having difficulties in the actual recording/sound right now, so a call’s in to Sweetwater Sound (thank you GOD for their tech support!) so we can hopefully figure this all out and get some sample recordings in place tonight and tomorrow night.  If you’re reading this post, would you pray for us on this specific adventures?  THANK YOU!

Here’s a link to how you can see some on Facebook, should you like! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=233193&id=668255034&l=fe88d5930a Bless you!

I sit here today, totally in awe of all God did at A Resting Place yesterday morning.  Travis and I woke up waaaaaaaay early this past Sunday to get ready and drive to Mahaffey, PA where my next concert stop was scheduled.  Upon meeting Dr. Doug and Dawn Green when we arrived at the Grange Building where A Resting Place’s services were held, we knew this was going to be anything but an ‘ordinary’ morning concert.

A Resting Place is a church started by Doug and Dawn, just a year ago now.  The typical attendance has currently been 70-80 men, women and children, but 90 packed the meeting room to it’s maximum capacity this Sunday.  After Travis and I set up, did a quick sound check and I talked even more with Dawn while the worship team was rehearsing, people began trickling in and filling up the chairs.  The joyful chatter and hugs filled the room and we began shortly after 10am.  Our hearts were especially blessed as we enjoyed worshipping with the church’s Newsboys, Delirious, Aaron Shust and Chris Tomlin songs, each person in the room giving their all in worshipping God.  A few things were spoken from others about praising God in the difficult times, realizing that His plans for you are good – no matter what happened up until now, etc.  that I felt like God Himself told each person who was speaking or leading a song EXACTLY what to say to make this concert message even then all the more impacting.  The concert began an hour later (this church doesn’t have an ending time … they just accomplish all that God shows them they need to accomplish for that day!) and I’ve never been in front of more hungry and expectant people!  God did so much!!!  Each moment was sweet – even the moments at the keyboard when my calf muscle wanted to give out on me and prevent me from continuing to stand, but I wouldn’t let it!  Oh, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat!  And the ministry didn’t stop once the concert was over … oh no.  At my table down in the fellowship area many sweet conversations took place of God’s working in lives, chuckles heard, and countless hugs being exchanged.  I met the sweetest little two year old and her mom, prayed with an especially endearing woman, and even talked with a gentleman about bringing this concert program to prison inmates.  God was so vividly at work!  And I just about fainted when I saw the generous love offering coming from this -though small, NOT small hearted!- church family.  Through this honorarium alone, my recording studio computer is now just about paid off!  I am more than in awe, to say the least.  Lunch thereafter with Dr. Doug and Dawn (and some of their family!) was then the icing on the cake, as we enjoyed each other’s company, stories, and made plans for future get togethers and minsitry.  Our God is so good … He is nothing short of AMAZING!

Click here to view picures from my time at A Resting Place: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=232015&id=668255034&l=12b6856967

Click this link to sign the online petition: http://www.beheardproject.com

Yeah, I know I might be slightly biased, but my dad is the absolute greatest! I was hanging out at my folks house last night as Travis was speaking at a lock-in, and Dad and I decided to put together the displaly case Travis and I randomly stumbled upon the other day, and place the model house he made me a few months back into the beautiful case. My dad is so incredibly talented and artistic … anything he makes me is a treasure indeed. And any time I can spend with him, even better. Now I’ve got the memory of this ‘adventure’ together, and something to proudly display his love and artwork in my home. My dad’s simple acts of love (that stuff that comes natural to him like creating this replica of my first home), have made an impact on me and helped create who I am to this very day. He is leaving a tremendous legacy.

How are you investing in and making an eternal difference in someone’s life this very day?  And how are you treasuring that special time you have with your loved ones, friends! Make the most of every opportunity.

Have you got a few freinds in your life who encourage you silly and love you beyond measure?!!  May I suggest you get some? =)

Travis was working in Columbus this past weekend, so I ventured out west with him.  When not working, I hung out with some special people God’s brought into my life over the years – my sisters, nephew, a fellow recording artist, and a dear college friend and her beautiful girls.  Click here if you’d like to see some pics from the visit: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=224923&id=668255034&l=4aaaa

Since my husband works with youth pastors and teens, he recently forwarded me this Teenager Audio Test. He couldn’t hear anything and was curious if I could. I guess I’m a teen then, ’cause I could hear this so distinct that it hurt my ears! And I’m on a loud stage a lot … I must be young. ha ha. Take the test to see if you ARE your actual age, and let me know!