Two Years Ago...

Two years ago, in 2010, I was eagerly embarking on an exciting journey with my songwriting. I had an opportunity to co-write with a professional Nashville songwriter and I was underway with development of the Character Trail Roundup program. Doors were opening and excitement was in the air.

Now, in the fall of 2012, things look alot different than I imagined they would look this time two years ago.

My friend, CJ Watson, and I DID complete a great country song! It is currently in production and we're searching all the time for placement opportunities. I still can't believe I have cowritten a song with a professional Nashville songwriter! Me? Crazy!

On a sadder note, the project, Character Trail Roundup, fizzled and my partner and I have parted ways. I have learned some very hard lessons during this process and I trust that ALL things work to the good!

Sometimes God takes us through a wilderness and does some heavy pruning on us so we can bloom even greater in the future. Right now that's where I am. Pruned...

Many doors have closed during this past year, but other, more exciting doors have opened.

My next project, is slowly taking shape. It is my vision of a program to teach children good character values and morals.

It is called the Good Character Roundup and it will be a puppet show! The initial songs are written and in production. The puppets are made and are itching to reveal themselves to the world.

However, God's timing is what I'm waiting on.

Soon, very soon, I will be able to show y'all what I have been working on for many, many months!

Stubborn as a Mule

I'm sure you've heard the saying "stubborn as a mule". Well, it generally fits me pretty well. Maybe it also applies to many of you.

My latest book, Gracie's Greatest Gift, explores the character trait of stubborness and looks at it from a different perspective.

We all know our personalities are a mixture of qualities, good and bad. However, I am of the opinion that our bad qualities can often be our greatest qualities, if properly applied.

Let's take for example, Gracie's tendency to be stubborn or headstrong. She sets her mind on what she wants and she goes after it. That's an admirable quality, right? Of course, it is. Life coaches tell us all the time you have to know what you want and aim towards it to be successful in life. You have to want a college degree or to be an Olympic athlete, or whatever.

So, being goal-directed is admirable. Some folks have this ability naturally - a gift, if you will. They tend to be visionaries, movers, shakers - in a word, successful. They stay on course, on mission and are unwaverable in their focus. Great! Right?

So, when someone digs in their heels and won't change direction, we label them stubborn, headstrong or willful. Don't we? Of course we do. But, isn't that persistence the quality we also admire in them? So is stubborness a gift?

I believe all our personality characteristics are gifts. Isn't everything we have a gift from God? I believe so. So, yes, being headstrong is a gift as long as it's headed in the right direction. We just don't tend to label it as so.

In my book, Gracie begins to learn that her gift of stubborness can get in the way of following God's path in her life. She has her plans, her desires and her heart is burning with the desire of achieving her goals. But, are her goals God's goals for her? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out.

Gracie's Greatest Gift is for intermediate level readers but may also be enjoyed by older "kids" as well. It contains a message children need to hear. God gives all gifts and sometimes our greatest gift isn't what we thought it was at all...

See you down the trail...

Why Reba's Ranch House?

If you've been following the story behind the story of "Gracie's Greatest Gift" then you know Reba McEntire was part of the inspiration for this book. When I'm deeply inspired by something or someone, I feel obligated to give something back to the source of the inspiration, if possible.

So, could I donate some money from the book sales to Reba? Sure I could. But would Reba take it or would she prefer the money be donated to one of her causes? Well, since I couldn't pick up the phone and call her, I figured she'd prefer I donate to one of her causes. I researched all of her "pet projects" and was inspired to donate to Reba's Ranch House.

Little cowgirl Gracie would make a bit of money to support a charity that is housed in a ranch house. It just made sense! Plus, I know the importance of the mission of the ranch house having treated patients whose families desperately needed the services of homes away from home.

Therefore, ALL profits made from the sale of "Gracie's Greatest Gift" will be donated to Reba's Ranch House. I wanted to give 20% - but after checking with God on the amount He made it immediately clear in my heart I needed to give 100%.

I argued with God for awhile, but knew I had to give 100%. Trusting Him to take this book wherever He wants it to go and knowing He will provide everything I need...