The Big Picture

Well, no photo shoot yet again. More rain, more thunder, so no shooting outside. We've postponed the shoot til tomorrow, which is supposed to be beautiful and sunny.

"But wait - Tomorrow's your birthday!"

Yay! Yes, it is my birthday! Thank you for remembering!

Tomorrow is my big day, and I'm so excited about it. Sunday was the official start of Birthday Week, and we'll keep celebrating right through til Saturday. I had planned to keep tomorrow totally open, but the CD must come first right now. And really, how awesome is it to be spending my birthday getting photos taken, by Allison and Brian Speer, for my new CD?

It really got me thinking about this past year.

Last year this time: We had an empty apartment. We had to pay a-dollar-a-minute on my Canadian cell phone for my birthday call from home. We barely knew anyone in Nashville. We had just sold our house in Toronto. We had no jobs, no visas, and no back-up plan.

In the past year: We received visas. We moved and settled into a different country. We moved Mom and Dad into their new city. We adopted a new furry baby. We wrote a slew of new songs. We tried fried turkey, fried biscuits and fried Snickers bars. We attended NSAI Song Camps and NQC. We performed at the Bluebird, Indiefest, and onstage with the Speers. We bought furniture. We received interested from publishers. We made a whole new community of friends.

And in this moment in time: I'm working for Ben Speer. Gerald is co-writing with pro-writers on "The Row". I'm making a CD that is surpassing my own expectations. I have a second possible job lined up for next year. People I knew for years through TV and arena concerts are now friends and colleagues. Gerald and I are making a business plan for the next stage of my ministry, as well as making plans for his first CD. We are also in the early stages of writing two books.

Without a doubt, this has been the most dynamic and exciting year of my life. Anthony Robbins says that people overestimate what they can do in one year, and underestimate what they can do in three. When I look back at the last 12 months, I am just amazed at all that has happened. I couldn't always see it in the moment, but I guess that's why days like this are so important - So we can step back and see the big picture, and just be grateful for it all!

So Happy Birthday to everyone, whether today's your day or not!