Another weekend is here!

I just wanted everyone to know that I will be in Belize next week for the San Pedro Summer Concert Series. We are looking forward to a great time as we share faith-based country music with the islanders of San Pedro. The concerts are being heavily promoted through local television and print media. This could possibly be one of the most advertised events I have ever been a part of.

Keep us in your prayers and have a great weekend.

Good morning!

I received some interesting news a few days ago that I wanted to share with you. A former inmate of a Florida Correctional Facility contacted me and shared this story with me. First he wanted me to know that he had given his heart to the Lord and it was evident in his writing that he was on fire for God! He then told me that while he was incarcerated, he would listen to a radio station where they played one of my songs. He was really moved by the song and so he somehow obtained one of my CDs. The prisoners were allowed to submit music to be broadcast during recreation time out in the yard. He told of how they would play two songs from each genre of music and soon two of my songs were being played frequently. My new friend even overheard the guards commenting about how much they enjoyed these songs! It just goes to show you how powerful music is and especially country music with a message! I am so thankful that the gifts that God has given to me were instrumental in this man's conversion.

The weekend starts today! I was thinking this morning about life in general. What makes me happy, brings peace to my life, and what keeps me smiling more than frowning? First of all, I believe for the most part we all have our times of trouble, but it's our reaction to trouble that directs us down a sad or happy path. I have spent hours entertaining thoughts that were negative. Thoughts that had no value about things I could not change.  I think the enemy of our soul loves it when we get on the bad path and he can fuel our negative fire which results in us having a "bad day!" So as we head into the weekend, let's keep our minds on good things, pure things, things that strengthen us rather than things that tear us down.  I believe you will notice you are creating a good day in your life.

It's another cloudy morning here in Florida. It appears that the sun should burn away the overcast sky soon and we'll get to go swimming. I have certainly enjoyed this week with my family and hope you have enjoyed these little update snippets of our vacation.

Next week will be a busy time trying to catch up with everything pertaining to music, then we're off to Belize for the summer concert series. Thanks for staying in touch!

Well, here we are in the middle of the week! I am writing this from the second story balcony of a beach house in Florida. Once again, we have sun! A wonderful thing when the weather forecaster said rain all week. So Tennessee and Florida do have something in common.......inaccurate weather forecasts!  I'm reminded that the sun is taking its toll on my skin as I feel the burning sensation this morning. I am having a few difficulties with the SPF numbers, but I should crust over soon!  Have a blessed day.

Hello and Good Morning Everyone!

Here's something to think about today.  Have you ever noticed that time has a way of smoothing things out? Sometimes things happen in our lives and at that time they seem so bad.  In that moment we make a huge choice to push through or lay around for awhile in self pity. Signs of this choice are sayings like "he'll never get over that" or "she just couldn't ever overcome that."  I believe life, however cruel, still leaves us with choices. If you lived in my home, you got your usual recovery time with some sympathy then you got on with your life! Looking back I am so thankful for parents who drilled this little saying into us, "everything's gonna be alright," and if it wasn't today it would be soon!! It kind of makes me wonder if all the depression talk in the world today is created by society's unwillingness to just get up and get on with life. Now I don't know it all, just giving you my thoughts for today.

Well, I woke up this morning to a gentle ocean breeze and an overcast sky.  My family and I are enjoying a few days of R & R in Florida this week.  We went to the beach yesterday and its funny how you just can't ever get all the sand off no matter how hard you try!  We didn't stay long after seeing a baby shark swimming around us.  I tried to suppress the fear with "it's only a baby shark," but was quickly reminded the shark has a mother!  

Have a great day while we're here swimming with the sharks!

Have you had breakfast yet?

Well, it wouldn't be right to talk most of the week about food and leave out my most wonderful culinary memories!

Please allow me to introduce you to the one and only GFP! That would be "Granny's Fried Pies." It all begins with a combination of inexpensive ingredients placed into Granny's skilled hands. Things like tortilla flour, powdered sugar and fruit are carefully fashioned into a variety of delicious pies that will make you slap your momma!

Of course, there are a few secret ingredients that will not be revealed at this time!

Those who have had them, never forget them. Those who have not, are just not complete!

Hopefully, you are in the first group!

I will be vacationing for a week, so I won't be posting any blogs again until around July 30th.  Have a great week!

Hello!

Thought I would pick up where I left off yesterday with another food story.

I remember several times when I was still living with my parents, Granny would need something done. Like kids sometimes do, I would have things I would rather be doing than helping Granny with one of her many requests. I felt she always had an unfair advantage in convincing her grandchildren to do things for her. Have you figured out what it was yet? You guessed it! She would bribe me with her famous burrito dinner! I never remember her wanting something for nothing. She would always approach me with "if you'll pick these limbs up around the house, I'll fix you a burrito dinner."  Nothing in the world topped that when I was 16 years old! Good Lord that woman could cook!

You may be getting hungry for some Mexican food by now, but I've got to tell you they don't sell what Granny made in restaurants!