By HeartI wrote this song a couple of years after my dad died. I had been thinking a lot about my growing up years and about his life...this is what transpired. I'm thankful that it is the painful things in life most often end up shaping us in positive ways. God redeems the lost and stolen years.
ShadowlandI wrote this demo version of Shadowland after I heard my sister talk about the "shadowed lands" we walk through in life. I've had many long years in the shadowed lands--either as a result of my own doing or simply because of life's circumstances. The beauty of walking with Jesus is that He is there in shadowed lands as well as the sunlight. If we look we'll see Him there--it's not always easy to keep trusting, but when we do we'll never fails to see that He is good of and always wanting to capture us with His love and mercy.
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Give You WingsI wrote this lullaby for my son, Jake. He's grown now, but it seems yesterday he was toddling around the house, looking up at me with those big blue eyes..."Mama hold you baby?" Where did the time go? It all started with my six year heart cry to have a child of my own, then the answered prayer and the joy of loving this boy as he grows. Time flies so fast.
MirrorI wrote this song with my husband Boomer, for our friends Bill and Pam Farrel. Their story really struck a chord with us when we heard it--I could relate to Pam's feelings of insecurity from a young age and how it had affected every area of her life. As we talked about their story, this song developed. We recorded it for LifeWay Christian Resources, to be included on Bill and Pam's DVD Series, Men are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti.
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A Few Thoughts
I fell in love with music at an early age. At night after we were tucked in bed in our prospective bedrooms, my sister and I would have song wars; we'd sing at the top of our lungs in an attempt to drown out the other. We also sang along with every commercial and sitcom theme from the time we could remotely talk.
She started playing the violin in grade school and I started piano lessons at the age of 7 when we moved my grandmother's antique upright from her house to our dining room. I first played by ear and spent hours imitating songs I heard on the radio. I clearly remember the day I got my cassette player. My first tape was of Olivia Newton John. I really wanted to be her someday. I used to put the cassette player in the basket of my green bike with the sparkly banana seat and ride down the hill to my elementary school--there was an echoey tunnel type area where I could be alone and sing along to "I honestly Love You" at the perfect power-ballad volume. Then I went to see Evie at the Portland Memorial Coliseum and almost cried--after that I wanted to be her someday. The list grew longer over the years...Amy Grant, The Imperials, The Second Chapter of Acts, Kelly Willard, Sandi Patty, Point of Grace. My love of music broaded to Jazz, R&B, Folk, Country...I spent most of my youthful energy playing, singing, writing and accompanying anyone who asked, secretly hoping I'd be someone someday.
I met Jesus at the age of 12, and He took the passion for music He had put in my soul and gave it a purpose. It was the most amazing thing. For years I have worked this out in various forms: solo ministry, worship leading, church music ministry, touring, studio session work, background singing, piano solo and accompanying work, event singing, teaching and coaching. I've loved it all, and still do...the love of music is indelibly written on the very heart of me.
I've written music since I was a young girl (my first song was entitled "Sam's Song"-- an aptly named and very cheesy rhyming song for a boy I thought I loved), but only recently began finishing the songs I've started. People used to ask me when I was going to do something with my music. I thought that was an interesting question because as far as I was concerned I had been doing something with my music. At least I have tried to. I think what they meant was that anyone who was a real musician would make a CD--like that would really be doing something. I'd like to do that with some of the music I'm writing and I'm working on it...it's just such a slow and painstaking process for me. I have friends that are prolific writers and recorders...frustratingly, that's not me. I've learned to stop comparing myself. Maybe I'll finally finish it this year. Then maybe I can pass my musical thoughts down to future generations so they can be encouraged in their walk with the Lord. But even if it never gets completed I think I've still been doing what God has asked me to do and has gifted me for, which I think is what truly matters in the end.
For more information about my first solo project, please check back or contact me.
She started playing the violin in grade school and I started piano lessons at the age of 7 when we moved my grandmother's antique upright from her house to our dining room. I first played by ear and spent hours imitating songs I heard on the radio. I clearly remember the day I got my cassette player. My first tape was of Olivia Newton John. I really wanted to be her someday. I used to put the cassette player in the basket of my green bike with the sparkly banana seat and ride down the hill to my elementary school--there was an echoey tunnel type area where I could be alone and sing along to "I honestly Love You" at the perfect power-ballad volume. Then I went to see Evie at the Portland Memorial Coliseum and almost cried--after that I wanted to be her someday. The list grew longer over the years...Amy Grant, The Imperials, The Second Chapter of Acts, Kelly Willard, Sandi Patty, Point of Grace. My love of music broaded to Jazz, R&B, Folk, Country...I spent most of my youthful energy playing, singing, writing and accompanying anyone who asked, secretly hoping I'd be someone someday.
I met Jesus at the age of 12, and He took the passion for music He had put in my soul and gave it a purpose. It was the most amazing thing. For years I have worked this out in various forms: solo ministry, worship leading, church music ministry, touring, studio session work, background singing, piano solo and accompanying work, event singing, teaching and coaching. I've loved it all, and still do...the love of music is indelibly written on the very heart of me.
I've written music since I was a young girl (my first song was entitled "Sam's Song"-- an aptly named and very cheesy rhyming song for a boy I thought I loved), but only recently began finishing the songs I've started. People used to ask me when I was going to do something with my music. I thought that was an interesting question because as far as I was concerned I had been doing something with my music. At least I have tried to. I think what they meant was that anyone who was a real musician would make a CD--like that would really be doing something. I'd like to do that with some of the music I'm writing and I'm working on it...it's just such a slow and painstaking process for me. I have friends that are prolific writers and recorders...frustratingly, that's not me. I've learned to stop comparing myself. Maybe I'll finally finish it this year. Then maybe I can pass my musical thoughts down to future generations so they can be encouraged in their walk with the Lord. But even if it never gets completed I think I've still been doing what God has asked me to do and has gifted me for, which I think is what truly matters in the end.
For more information about my first solo project, please check back or contact me.