Brad Paisley. No biggie.

Around the time that I was pregnant with Grace, Steve and I simultaneously turned into country fans.  It was gradual to begin with and now it's pretty much all we listen to.

Earlier this year, I asked Steve if there was anyone artists he would ever want to see in concert.  Casually, like only he can, he said, "sure - maybe Brad Paisley".

I chalked down that information and when it came time to planning something for our anniversary, I talked him into concert tickets.  I bought us super cheap tickets in the front row of the 400's.  The outdoor concert was last Friday.  Warm summer night.  Vibrant purple and pink sky at sunset.  We were thrilled with our seats.  The atmosphere was hilarious, in the best possible way.  We felt a bit lost without a pick up truck, cowboy hat and boots - but whatever.

Halfway through Brad's (we're now on a first name basis) performance, we noticed a security guard walk by us with 2 guitars and put them on a little tiny stage by the sound booth, in front of us.  Steve wondered out loud if Brad was going to come and perform there.  I was like, "really, you think?"  A couple of minutes later, a microphone was put up.  By now, we're getting excited.  Next thing you know, he's walking in front of us heading up to the little stage.  I yelled for Steve to pass me his iPhone and before he could blink, I was off with every 19 year old girl in my section.  He sang 3 songs.  I videotaped 2 of them.  The beginning of the video is a bit shaky (honestly, can you blame me!) but the rest is amazing!

When I was Fourteen.

This photo is from a few months ago - her braces are now OFF!)

(this photo is from last August)

My Dad, known to my girls (and my nieces and nephew) as Granda has a tendency to write spontaneous and quirky poems for certain occasions.  A few years back, I gave him a blank journal and my Mom tells me that he is filling it up with poems, stories, thoughts and such.  Warms my heart.

Yesterday was Grace's 14th birthday.  She is our oldest daughter and my parents oldest grandchild.  As my parents like to say, "we've loved her the longest".  My parents have a way of making all of us kids and grandkids feel like we're all their favourite.

In honour of her birthday, here's the poem (or "wee verse" as he would call it) that my dad, Dave Sr. wrote.

Try to envision him saying it in his thick Northern Irish accent :)

When I was fourteen

and somewhat shy,

off to the movies

my Gran and I.

Was quiet in the house,

something was wrong.

Ah yes, I remember.

At camp - Eva was gone.

All my friends,

nowhere to be seen.

In days to come,

they'll all make the scene.

July 15, 2013

Excuse the Mess.

Why blog?

Earlier this month, a friend asked me why it is that I blog?  It may have even been something along the lines of "what is the value in blogging?"

Really great question and it left me pondering.

I like questions that make me think hard.  The kind of questions that create more questions than answers.

Anyways, as I have thought and wrested about it - it became obvious.

The reason I blog is because I have to write.

I love to write.  Always have.

I like putting words together.

I need a creative outlet.

Even more specifically, I'm learning and realizing that I need to write.  It's part of the way God has wired me and part of living a wholehearted life, for me, means writing in some form.

I want to be a voice for love and goodness.

That's where blogging comes in.

So, as much it's fun for me to share thoughts and recipes and photos and so on with you, this journey actually has less to do with you and more to do with me.  It has more to do with me developing my unique voice and finding the courage, bit by bit, to put myself out there and write.  It's more about me strengthening some muscles that have grown weak and been put on the back burner for years.

Kind of uncomfortable.  But I feel alive and I like it.  It's helping me grow in vulnerability too.  Keeps me intentional about life in general.

Can anyone relate? Is there something creative in your life that you feel rising up in you?  Anyone ever felt this way about an area of art or creativity?  I'd love to hear!