A very Happy & Blessed New Year to every single one of you!!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I'm back home after a wonderful time in Idaho...visiting my daughter & her lovely family, seeing dear friends & having a "ball" playing the piano in new-to-me places plus a couple full-blown concerts.
I wish each of you a blessed Christmas surrounded by those you love! May you especially feel the blessing of the precious Christ-child!
I wish each of you a blessed Christmas surrounded by those you love! May you especially feel the blessing of the precious Christ-child!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Concerts, Christmas & Community!
I've had such a wonderful week! Wednesday & Thursday, I got to be with my daughter, Tamika, & her family in Rathdrum, ID (close to Coeur d'Alene)...which, by the way, includes my 3 darling grandkids! What a treat to be with dear friends, Doug & Marge Ness & their awesome kids Thursday & Friday!
Friday was a very busy day. At 2:30 pm, I went to Charity Fay's The Coffee Cottage for goodies, Christmas music & fellowship with all the family & friends who'd come to visit & hear me play. Thanks to all of you who came to see me. You warmed my heart with your love! Thanks, Charity, for letting me come do what I love best...play the piano for people. Thanks for all the goodies, too. You're an awesome barista & goodie-maker! I hope lots of new customers will be regulars now.
Carri Lauson, my childhood friend, from Homedale, ID, picked me up at the Nesses around 6 pm & took me to her church, Mountain View Church of the Nazarene in Wilder, ID, to get ready for my concert there at 7:30 pm. The MVCN sound guy was waiting for Carri & me when we got to the church. He helped us get the piano situated & then did such a great job having my lapel mike on at the right times & the filler CD Christmas music going when it should.
The night before, I'd gotten the email from Nels Wilson, owner/manager of KBGN (Caldwell, ID), saying he would be my MC for the evening. I was ecstatic that we'd have a great MC for the concert. Nels did an incredible job MC'ing, & I deeply appreciate his help. Also, thanks, Nels, for all the kind things you said about me. It was wonderful to have you & your sweet wife & grandsons. Thanks for making a special evening even more special!
Thanks, Carri, for making sure I had everything I needed, for making it possible for me to have a concert at your church, for doing all the little things that made the evening go smoothly, for taking care of CD sales & the other things you just did without saying anything. It's been awesome to be able to be together again after so many years. It was so much fun visiting after the concert, reminiscing about where my music ministry journey began all those years ago, remembering the direct providences of God leading my life from a young age. God's been good to us. It's wonderful to have you as my friend!
I really appreciate all of you who attended the Wilder concert. You blessed me with your responsiveness...& your singing when we did the Christmas carol sing-along after the intermission. Ya'll truly sounded like a choir of angels--all singing in such beautiful, smooth harmony. I so wish I could have had a recording going from the platform. I had to work to keep from crying when your singing first reached the platform on that first carol. I hope ya'll were as blessed by the evening as I was. I'm really looking forward to next year's Treasure Valley concert. I'll let ya'll in on a little secret: it looks like we might already have a venue! I'll publish the info when things are all arranged.
The Nesses & I got to visit around the concerts. Doug, Marge, Lydia & Tabitha: you were so great...waiting on me while I visited with everybody, then helping me get all my things collected & in your vehicle, taking me home & letting me "chill" with ya'll. Thanks, Abbie, for coming over & getting a long visit in that night! Micah, it was so neat to watch & hear you play the guitar & sing. It was fun harmonizing with you & Abbie. I'm proud to call all of you Nesses my friends! And thanks so much for letting me stay with ya'll. Your hospitality is always just right for me...& I love it!
My dear friend, Marci Golay, picked me up at the Nesses Sat. morning. Marci had invited 14 of her girlfriends over for a Christmas tea at her house Sat. night. We had a wonderful time. I got to play background music while the ladies gathered in. Then I played a few more Christmas songs after we ate all the delectable goodies everyone had brought & drank the very delicious Candy Lane (I think that's the name) tea. I enjoyed taking requests at the end. Thanks, Marci, for letting me be part of your special annual event! I loved it!
What a unexpected serendipity, blessing, providence, whatever you want to call it...straight from the Lord, anyway.... I got to play Christmas music yesterday evening for the good people at the Wesleyan Holiness Church in Twin Falls, ID. Pastor John Sander told me the people wanted me to come for the evening service. I'd forgotten that Bro. Sander had a Yamaha Clavinova electric keyboard (piano) almost like mine. I had fun using some of the features I use at home on my piano. Everyone was so responsive, & I loved sharing my music & thoughts about Christmas with them. I got to get reacquainted with some old friends & be able to see some friends I hadn't seen for a really long time. Thanks, ya'll, for having me at your church! I'm really excited about coming again next Christmas season!!
Today was a restful day. I enjoyed trying some new food at a new-to-me restaurant here in Twin. Geoffroi, Marci's husband who is a chiropractor here, gifted me with an adjustment. He got some of the kinks out of my neck that have been plaguing me for 2 or 3 months. Thanks, Geoffroi, for being so kind. I guess this was my 1st Christmas present this year!
Then the lights we got to see tonight way out a country road in the South Hills. Was it ever cold here! We were all bundled up...like Eskimos, maybe?! The light display was incredible. And the camel, Bully...he was a gem!
Well, maybe this will give you a little update on my goings-on these days. Tomorrow evening, Tues., I get to go back to Tamika's house, read stories to my grandbabies (who aren't babies anymore, really), visit with my girl, "hang out" with my family the rest of the week. We're gonna have a great time together!
Blessings on all of you who read this. I appreciate if you'll keep me in your prayers. I have a community Christmas concert coming up Sun., Dec. 18, 3:00 pm, in Lewiston, ID, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church. During the prelude before the 40th Community Christmas Cantata at the same church the afternoon before (Sat., 4:00 pm), I'll be playing a 20-minute Christmas carol medley. I hope to see lots of you there...those of you who live in or near Lewiston, or who can drive in for the events. I want to glorify Jesus, the incredible Christ-child, our Savior, this Christmas season!
Friday was a very busy day. At 2:30 pm, I went to Charity Fay's The Coffee Cottage for goodies, Christmas music & fellowship with all the family & friends who'd come to visit & hear me play. Thanks to all of you who came to see me. You warmed my heart with your love! Thanks, Charity, for letting me come do what I love best...play the piano for people. Thanks for all the goodies, too. You're an awesome barista & goodie-maker! I hope lots of new customers will be regulars now.
Carri Lauson, my childhood friend, from Homedale, ID, picked me up at the Nesses around 6 pm & took me to her church, Mountain View Church of the Nazarene in Wilder, ID, to get ready for my concert there at 7:30 pm. The MVCN sound guy was waiting for Carri & me when we got to the church. He helped us get the piano situated & then did such a great job having my lapel mike on at the right times & the filler CD Christmas music going when it should.
The night before, I'd gotten the email from Nels Wilson, owner/manager of KBGN (Caldwell, ID), saying he would be my MC for the evening. I was ecstatic that we'd have a great MC for the concert. Nels did an incredible job MC'ing, & I deeply appreciate his help. Also, thanks, Nels, for all the kind things you said about me. It was wonderful to have you & your sweet wife & grandsons. Thanks for making a special evening even more special!
Thanks, Carri, for making sure I had everything I needed, for making it possible for me to have a concert at your church, for doing all the little things that made the evening go smoothly, for taking care of CD sales & the other things you just did without saying anything. It's been awesome to be able to be together again after so many years. It was so much fun visiting after the concert, reminiscing about where my music ministry journey began all those years ago, remembering the direct providences of God leading my life from a young age. God's been good to us. It's wonderful to have you as my friend!
I really appreciate all of you who attended the Wilder concert. You blessed me with your responsiveness...& your singing when we did the Christmas carol sing-along after the intermission. Ya'll truly sounded like a choir of angels--all singing in such beautiful, smooth harmony. I so wish I could have had a recording going from the platform. I had to work to keep from crying when your singing first reached the platform on that first carol. I hope ya'll were as blessed by the evening as I was. I'm really looking forward to next year's Treasure Valley concert. I'll let ya'll in on a little secret: it looks like we might already have a venue! I'll publish the info when things are all arranged.
The Nesses & I got to visit around the concerts. Doug, Marge, Lydia & Tabitha: you were so great...waiting on me while I visited with everybody, then helping me get all my things collected & in your vehicle, taking me home & letting me "chill" with ya'll. Thanks, Abbie, for coming over & getting a long visit in that night! Micah, it was so neat to watch & hear you play the guitar & sing. It was fun harmonizing with you & Abbie. I'm proud to call all of you Nesses my friends! And thanks so much for letting me stay with ya'll. Your hospitality is always just right for me...& I love it!
My dear friend, Marci Golay, picked me up at the Nesses Sat. morning. Marci had invited 14 of her girlfriends over for a Christmas tea at her house Sat. night. We had a wonderful time. I got to play background music while the ladies gathered in. Then I played a few more Christmas songs after we ate all the delectable goodies everyone had brought & drank the very delicious Candy Lane (I think that's the name) tea. I enjoyed taking requests at the end. Thanks, Marci, for letting me be part of your special annual event! I loved it!
What a unexpected serendipity, blessing, providence, whatever you want to call it...straight from the Lord, anyway.... I got to play Christmas music yesterday evening for the good people at the Wesleyan Holiness Church in Twin Falls, ID. Pastor John Sander told me the people wanted me to come for the evening service. I'd forgotten that Bro. Sander had a Yamaha Clavinova electric keyboard (piano) almost like mine. I had fun using some of the features I use at home on my piano. Everyone was so responsive, & I loved sharing my music & thoughts about Christmas with them. I got to get reacquainted with some old friends & be able to see some friends I hadn't seen for a really long time. Thanks, ya'll, for having me at your church! I'm really excited about coming again next Christmas season!!
Today was a restful day. I enjoyed trying some new food at a new-to-me restaurant here in Twin. Geoffroi, Marci's husband who is a chiropractor here, gifted me with an adjustment. He got some of the kinks out of my neck that have been plaguing me for 2 or 3 months. Thanks, Geoffroi, for being so kind. I guess this was my 1st Christmas present this year!
Then the lights we got to see tonight way out a country road in the South Hills. Was it ever cold here! We were all bundled up...like Eskimos, maybe?! The light display was incredible. And the camel, Bully...he was a gem!
Well, maybe this will give you a little update on my goings-on these days. Tomorrow evening, Tues., I get to go back to Tamika's house, read stories to my grandbabies (who aren't babies anymore, really), visit with my girl, "hang out" with my family the rest of the week. We're gonna have a great time together!
Blessings on all of you who read this. I appreciate if you'll keep me in your prayers. I have a community Christmas concert coming up Sun., Dec. 18, 3:00 pm, in Lewiston, ID, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church. During the prelude before the 40th Community Christmas Cantata at the same church the afternoon before (Sat., 4:00 pm), I'll be playing a 20-minute Christmas carol medley. I hope to see lots of you there...those of you who live in or near Lewiston, or who can drive in for the events. I want to glorify Jesus, the incredible Christ-child, our Savior, this Christmas season!
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