1/1/2008
Happy New Year! To say I've taken some time off from putting out new music is quite the understatement (see date below!!). I do have a good excuse - I've been spending it with my little daughter. During this time, I've also been incredibly blessed to see "Take Me" still being played around the country by a number of Christian stations. I've also been so encouraged by people who have written in to tell me how it's impacted their lives. Thank you! Thank you! I've been busy writing with some friends new and old in Nashville and am looking forward to this next musical chapter, whatever it brings.

6/21/2005
I tend to go through times when I'm processing, thinking a lot, seeking direction. And I think that explains the last few months pretty well. I can't say I came to any conclusions, or at least any worth mentioning :). Well, that's not entirely true...I've been reminded of God's faithfulness and his perfect timing for events in our lives. It's simple, but powerful when you really believe it. And so now I feel like I'm on some forward trajectory, ready to start writing new material, see where it takes me. And that's exciting in and of itself. You never know what will come out! I'm also thrilled to have "Take Me" moving up on a few inspirational stations and to be planning the release of a second single in the near future. I'm really taking the music part of my life a day at a time, just walking through doors that open and trying to patiently wait when they seem to close. And honestly the support of friends and strangers, the occasional "hey, I like that song" mean so much more than being played on the radio. Happy Summertime to all of you! I'll let you know when I find out what doors are opening next...

3/10/2005
I haven't posted in awhile so I have much to tell you. Ryan and I have just been through a very difficult time, as we had two deaths in the family in a short period of time. So I've been distracted and have taken a step back from a lot of things. But we've continued to pursue music opportunities that opened to us and made sense. And I'm happy to report that "Take Me", track 4 on the album, is being picked up by two radio stations, KCBI in Dallas, TX and KVMV in McAllen, TX next week. These stations are going out on a limb for our little project and I'm so grateful! I also have some faithful callers requesting the song on their local stations. In addition, the album is going to be distributed online via Grassroots Music, one of my favorite places to check out independent artists. So thanks to everyone who has spread the word about "Center of Me" - it's starting to pay off! And it's come at a very sweet time, when truly everything in my life has been re-centered around God.

12/13/2004
There's nothing better than having someone believe in you. And I'm so grateful to have someone like that at KAXL FM radio in Bakersfield, CA. My first impression was lots of cows and cow smells, but I was assured there are half a million people there as well. I had an on air interview with Dan Schaeffer, who has added "Take Me" to his morning show and is looking to add a Christmas song, "What Child is This?", I just started/finished in the last couple of days, thanks to my very talented friend, Jesse Rhodes. You can download it online and burn it to CD or whatever. And of course if you're in Bakersfield it would mean the world to me if you would call in and let Dan know what you think of "Take Me".

The other WILD event was that my producer and I almost got into a major car pileup. I felt like we were in the middle of a Vin Diesel car scene when a car slammed into the right wall on the freeway, started spinning across the lanes toward the front of our (heretofore mentioned rental) car and then slammed into the left wall and starting careening toward my driver side door. It was one of those weird slow motion things. I managed to get over just in time without hitting anyone and the guy in the car got out and seemed OK. To add to the WOW factor of this story I got a call 10 min. later from a friend who called to say she had had a very vivid dream that I had died, had prayed for me that morning and was calling to make sure I was ok. Can you say "Weird"!? You never know what dangerous situations in life you might be avoiding. We laughed much of the way home, sang the classic Amy Grant song "Angels Watching Over Me" at the top of our lungs and laughed even harder about how I apparently screamed "Holy Jesus help us out!" in this funny high-pitched voice during all the commotion. Who says "Holy Jesus"?? At least I know that in a time of crisis my instincts are still intact. Certainly makes me want to have prayer be a consistent part of my life. I was high all day (metaphorically speaking), so happy to be alive. I'm afraid Nashville's going to seem a little sleepy when I get back!
p.s. on a lighter note, if you haven't checked out Gavin DeGraw's debut album, Chariot, please do so. You'll thank me.

12/10/2004
I just finished a radio interview at KLIFE in San Luis Obispo, CA with Noonie Fugler, one of my new favorite people. But let me back up a little first...I went to pick up my rental car, a compact I had reserved online. When I get there, OF COURSE, there are no compact cars available, only a Crown Royal. Wait, that's an alcoholic beverage...umm...anyway, whatever that BIG long car is called. It's not exactly the image I want to put out there when I show up at a radio station, right? But then the sales guy (keyword "sales") says, "or you could have that Mustang outside for just a few more dollars." I pivot around to see what he's pointing at, (cue Tom Petty's "Free Falling"), and there's a hot convertible mustang outside. Difficult choice. And the interview seemed to go well, although I did have some brain freezes and "deer in the headlight" looks, I was told. Thank God it's not TV. And the best part...I got to hone my fake laugh. Ever notice how radio people have these great, big laughs that fill empty spaces. I definitely felt like I was a funny person during that 10 minutes, for the first time in my life. So imagine...she asks a question, I answer, then she gives the requisite laugh. So I just start trying to fit in and respond with a fake laugh of my own. I felt the interview start to spiral into a ridiculous Dr. Evil moment. But I think I got through without embarrasing myself too much. And I even had an opportunity to give props to my favorite quadrapeds, Nash and Roxy. Good times.

12/6/2004
I decided to start putting personal little notes on the site since it seems like a good way to keep people in the loop without blasting them with emails on a regular basis. So here goes...I'm on a plane right now, headed to Santa Barbara, CA, one of my previous "home towns" for some fun and work. I have to admit I'm a bit funny about planes. I feel for every little bump and listen for any noise that doesn't sound quite right, as if I can really do anything about it if something goes wrong. And I was just reminded of what I was saying to my friend Cathy yesterday, that sometimes I think God puts us in situations where we are forced to trust - when there's no other way, there's nothing we can do in our own strength. We have to either sink or swim (which is actually one of my favorite songs by Plumb.) And I really need that sometimes. To have my training wheels taken off and be pushed down the driveway. That sounds cruel, doesn't it? My Dad actually did that. I guess he didn't have any other choice. Wonder if I can get a song out of training wheels. That might really expose too much dorkiness. Anyway...I have my first, real live radio interview on Monday, Dec. 8th, at KAXL in Bakersfield, CA, sometime during the early show. I'm really honored to have the opportunity. Let's just hope my sinuses clear up by then, so I don't scare the poor early morning drivers.