"Asking somebody to be a leader [songwriter, etc.] can be intimidating and overwhelming; whereas, asking them to think like one takes the pressure off, allows them to be less-than-perfect, and grow into the job!"  I definitely like the less-than-perfect angle...and growing into the job.  Those things  sound almost "possible"!  (Which is very, very important when you're "dwelling in possibility" ala Emily D.)

Of course, growing into the job takes hours of practice.  The infamous "think system" of Professor Harold Hill (aka The Music Man) just ain't gonna cut it - no matter how good of a sales job I pitch to my psyche.

So I've decided to grab today's dose of Miracle Gro - whether that means writing, brainstorming, networking, or simply soaking in my surroundings - and sprinkle it around.  To tell you the truth, sometimes it doesn't seem like it's making any difference.  Day after day I remind myself that I am a songwriter, even if it feels presumptuous to say it out loud to anyone else, and I get back to work.  And then all of a sudden I'll see hints of lush foliage here and there - and I marvel.  "God, where did that come from?  Oh!!  It came straight from Your hand!  I might have known."  (Actually, I'm thanking God right now for a recent blossom or two...more on that later.) 

Anyway, I'm feeling greener by the minute....

Signed,
Mere Ukklz Hap P'n

You know how you can be working on a song, and then have it stuck in your head when you're trying to grab some zzz's?  Well....

Our home was invaded today by Rock Band for Wii, and I suspect my brain will be spinning Bon Jovi's "Dead Or Alive" especially for me, over and over, when I try to get to sleep tonight.  In fact, it will probably be playing all - night - long.

Signed,
Tur Knit Awf!

On January 18, 2005, I wrote my very first "morning pages" entry.  Thus, with no fanfare whatsoever, Journal #1 was birthed.  Blue ink.

I began writing "morning pages" after reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.  What a trip!  I've used those pages to celebrate victories, sludge through the low lands, and chat with God at our dining room table about life.  Actually, I'd say He writes my morning pages as much as I do.   On rare occasion I've missed 3 or 4 days in a row - but I can always tell when that's happened because I get cranky and out of sorts. 

This morning I completed Journal #10.  Pink ink.

I've journaled in other ways - off and on - over the years.  But morning pages are different...and I believe they're here to stay.  Actually, they're sort of like a "mind dump" first thing in the morning.  No trying to impress.  No thinking things through.  Just get it on the page as fast as you can - no matter how ugly.  I have my favorite pen in about ten different colors of ink and, believe it or not, I truly look forward to seeing which pen is going to "rise to the top" each morning.  (I guess I'm easily entertained.)  They wait expectantly for me in a burgundy velvet and satin box sitting to the right of my Mac - shouting "Pick me!  Pick me!'  (At least that's what I imagine.)   The box is nothing special - in fact, it unceremoniously housed some costume jewelry in our Herrema Christmas Grab Bag gift exchange one year - but I know my pens are happy there.

Tomorrow will mark the birth of Journal #11.  Ink color to be determined.

I wonder how many journals I'll fill before I die.  And I wonder what will happen to the journals after I'm gone.  I suppose someone will read them, but the only way I see to avoid that is to burn each journal as it gets filled up, and I just can't bring myself to do that.  I haven't sugar-coated anything in those journals, which means there are days when I complain to God about things I shouldn't be complaining about.  But I'm choosing to believe that my husband and children will be able to discern an over-riding theme of love, gratitude, and trust, even as I rant and rave about the days that don't seem to deserve the cheery ink color they've been given.  I'm a sinner - and I'm weak.  No big surprises there.

If you were to sit down right now and write three pages about today, what color ink would you choose? 

Signed,
Reign Beau

Synchronicity strikes again.

My co-writer and I have been gradually working on a song ever since we got together in Nashville last March.  Now it's four months later and you might think we're about ready to wrap things up.  But no....

I started having second thoughts about the music - this gut feeling that wouldn't go away.  (BTW - This isn't a criticism of my co-writer, because I wrote the music.)  We've been gathering feedback, and we have received positive comments on the music.  One evaluator said, "Wow!  I am weeping from your story and your music."  And yet, I just wasn't sure.  So I finally wrote an email suggesting that maybe we should try country.

I hit send, and immediately found an email in my inbox from my co-writer saying he was having second thoughts about the music, and wondered if I thought maybe country would be worth a try.

Indeed!  After four months of basically being on the same page, suddenly our emails - and synchronistic thoughts - actually crossed in cyberspace!

Huh.  Doesn't that seem just a tad strange to you?  ....  If it doesn't, then perhaps you're well-acquainted with GOD-things!   (I think we're going to try a "drastic" rewrite on the angle of the lyric while we're at it.  One day after those emails crossed in the mail, we got feedback from another evaluator who had some intriguing lyric ideas for us to try on our rewrite.  We can always go back to what we had, right?)

Signed,
Kun Tree Ih Tiz

Our two oldest boys work at a golf course about 30-45 minutes from here.  They leave the house every morning at 4:20 a.m., but then get off at a fairly early hour in the afternoon.  ....  So on Wed. our oldest came home and said he almost got hit in the head that day by a golf ball at close range.  Yikes! 

So on Thursday when they got home from work, I said, "So, did anyone try to kill you today?"  Our oldest responded with, "Well, only Chris."  Uhh...say what?  Chris is one of the boys they carpool with.  It turns out Chris fell asleep at the wheel on their way home going 70 miles an hour in a Mustang, was airborne for a bit, and then ended up in a ditch.  Sounds like it was a wild ride.  And needless to say, the boys were pretty shook up.

So was their mom.

(But as teenagers in true form, they definitely downplayed things as much as they could.  Basically the "Mom, don't get your pantyhose tied up in a knot" approach.  I informed them that I was allowed to be their "mom" and I could ask as many questions as I liked.  So there!)

I'm thanking God for their safety tonight, even as they left a few hours ago for a short-term missions project in downtown Denver.  God protected them in Nicaragua, God protected them in a flying Mustang, and I trust He'll protect them in downtown Denver as well.  And if something amiss happens?  Then I know He'll take us through that too...moment by moment.

Signed,
Lead Dingo

"Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It's all about timing." -- Stacey Charter

Signed,
Wayt 'n Wurk

Just found out that GMA's Music in the Rockies will be held for the final time this August in Estes Park, Colorado.  It's moving to Music City.

Nothing against Nashville or anything, but I feel incredibly sad.  Apart from actually attending the week-long conference, I also have fond memories of trekking up from Denver for some intimate concerts by both big names and unknowns, sitting on those silly bleachers (the cheap seats) but knowing that even in the black of night I was surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains, and knowing that the long drive home would be worth every minute of it.

Sometimes change is hard.

Signed,
Thee Yend

Abraham Lincoln:  "I will prepare and some day my chance will come."

Benjamin Disraeli:  "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes."

Abraham Lincoln:  "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe."

Sharpening an axe is hard work, and yet ... how else are you ever gonna chop down that tree?

Signed,
Howz Yorr Blayd

Remember that birthday I mentioned having last week?  Maybe that's why I'm so worn out from shopping "ahead" for Homecoming dresses with my daughter.

I'll admit I pay too much for stuff - plenty often.  But today we found a dress that Shelby loves...and so do I, because it's a $120 dress for $9.99.

:-)

Signed,
Jewel I Kleer Unts

Life's been busy - and I've been scarce.  (sorry)  But life's been anything but dull!

June 27 - The last time I blogged.

June 28 - Our 2 oldest returned home from Nicaragua.  We headed right up to the mountains for a family vacation - the perfect relaxed setting to hear all about their missions trip, starting with a solid two-hour update on the way there!

June 29 - My birthday!  Pretty much a perfect day.  And instead of birthday cake, I chose ice cream cones in Grand Lake - the only place I've ever found chocolate dipped sugar cones.  Decadent!

June 30 to July 2 - More vacationing.  I'll spare you the details, but I think it was one of our best vacations ever.  For me, anyway.

We now interrupt this blog to bring you an important update.  In the mountains we played Mad Gab, a crazy game by Mattel which only proves that I have been going too easy on my readers in my sign-offs.  In the game there are these crazy word puzzles that you have to figure out.  For example, "These If Hill Wore" when pronounced quickly sounds like "The Civil War."  Like I said, I think I've been going too easy on you.  I may have to ratchet things up a notch or two....

July 3 - Marathon writing day on a "co-write rewrite", as promised.  I gotta tell ya - I had so much fun researching, experimenting, and deciding on what seemed to work best.  I love it when I've specifically blocked out time and don't have to feel guilty about writing.  (Besides, I did rotate laundry along the way.  So there!)  Very rewarding.  (I hope my co-writer feels the same when she hears the work tape!)

July 4 - HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!  This morning I took the younger two kids to local festivities.  This afternoon I finished a work-tape from yesterday's labors, which takes me longer than I care to admit, and also touched up another song for a bit.  Then our family went out for burgers (thanks, Scott!) and are heading out to see fireworks in about an hour.  (Have you heard Josh Turner's song "Firecracker"?  Fun!)

Seems like life has been crammed to the gills with activities and deadlines, and yet it's felt really good.  I think I especially like having all four kids home.  They get along incredibly well, and seem to constantly be laughing, sharing some crazy YouTube video, showing off something they designed on Adobe Acrobat, comparing iTunes snippets of their favorite new releases, planning an outing with youth group friends, watching an occasional favorite TV show (Deadliest Catch seems to rise to the top)...you get the picture.   Frenetic fun!

Life here in Colorado is certainly full.  (Man oh man.)  I hope your life is too!

Signed,
Bah Kin thuh Sad Dull