Worship Wednesdays - Prairies Road Trip Update!

A few months ago, we told you about our upcoming adventure:

Our first Prairies Road Trip!

6 weeks. 4 provinces. 7200+ kilometres. 

Our Prairies Road Trip tour route!

It's been a big challenge putting this all together. This will be our first time singing in Western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta. If you imagine it in terms of sales, that means 4 provinces worth of cold calls!

It's also been an incredibly encouraging season! 

• We have lots of concerts confirmed, and many more awaiting confirmation.

• We're planning events with other talented artists, including many people who will be part of GMA Week.

• We have a special visit planned with the St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission in Bruno, Saskatchewan, including time with students and a community concert.

• The Saskatchewan Anglican newspaper even wrote this great article for their September issue! 

The Saskatchewan Anglican, September 2015

If you're in Western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta, 

we would love to sing for you this fall! 

We're booking concerts in churches, living rooms, and colleges. 

We're also teaching workshops on Songwriting and/or Worship Leading. 

Please Contact us for more info!

Thank you! 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Side By Side Worship

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit in the congregation for a worship session.

As I slid into the seats, I could feel the energy of the people around me. Some were excited to be there. Others had probably been dragged by a well-meaning family member. Some were distracted as they sorted out purses and jackets. Others waited in anticipation.

The first song was How Great Thou Art. The people sang boisterously, and on the the chorus, you could hear faint harmony. I noticed a couple a few rows ahead of me. They were a little older, and seemed comfortable standing close, as you might after a lifetime together. As the last chords wrapped up the song, he leaned over and put his arm around her. It was an intentional action. He whispered something in her ear. She smiled and leaned her head to his shoulder. It was a brief, private moment in a large, public place. I wondered what had transpired. Had the song brought back a memory? Did she need a moment of comfort that only he could recognize?

The family in the row to the left of me started to sway. Four adults. You could tell they weren't singers by their faint lip syncing, but they loved the music. They changed rhythm with each song. They weren't dancers - just swayers. Every once in a while, one of them would close their eyes and lift a hand and belt out one or two lines of the chorus. The music and worship were in their bones.

Then, the Alto entered my row. At first, I only noticed her as a woman arriving late, fussing to make sure her elderly mother was comfortable in her seat. But once she was organized, her voice opened up and her presence was undeniable. A Soprano and Alto in the same row - here we go! I could feel my own voice lift as she added her rich, dark harmonies. As we sang together in our unscripted duet, I could feel the voices of those around us lifting in unison. As we hit the chorus of In Christ Alone, I heard bass and tenor notes drifting into the mix. It was glorious!

As we all sang and worshiped together, I was reminded of the importance of community. It's not just about having our attendance recorded and our offering collected. We are necessary to each other. You and your participation are a blessing to me. And, God-willing, I and my participation are a blessing to you.

Time and time again, Jesus demonstrated life in community. He told stories to large groups, ate meals at parties, and sang hymns with his friends. He knew that we needed each other in ways that are sometimes hard to define, but are palpable in experience.

As I see you offer yourself to God - perfectly, brokenly, honestly - it encourages me to do the same. I find courage in your strength. I feel compassion in your willingness to be weak. I see grace in our shared experience of coming together, marked by our failures and imperfections, and finding nothing but mercy and forgiveness waiting for us at the cross.

So this Sunday, let's stand together, side by side, and sing... 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

BIG NEWS: Our New House!

Gerald and I married on February 10, 2006.

Our first year of marriage, we sold everything we owned, tied the dogs to the roof of the car, 

and moved to Nashville!

We often tell this abbreviated story in our concerts, but most people don't realize that when we say 'everything', we actually mean - our house.

We literally sold our house, and almost everything in it, to move to Nashville.

It was a bold choice, but we had no doubts about the decision, and we have never regretted it.

Owning a home had been a long held dream of mine. When we sold our little townhouse, I told Gerald, "One day, I'll want to buy a house again."

Well, today, that dream has come true!

We are thrilled to announce that we have bought a new home! 

Our new home! 

Front porch, ready for a glass of sweet tea!

It's a beautiful century home built in 1913. It has the perfect mix of original character with fully updated wiring, plumbing, and appliances.

Front rooms with 10-foot ceilings, fire place, and original woodwork.

Original stained glass, in all my favourite colours!

The sellers had painted a forest in the nursery. This is my new creative space!

We even have pillars in the master bedroom!

Perfect size for a Newfoundland kitchen party! 

Why yes, that is a clawfoot tub...

Gerald scoured hundreds of listings searching for my perfect dream home. We spent the summer visiting open houses and touring homes. Because we're a freelance ministry, we're not locked into any location, so we actually looked at several different towns and cities. We finally settled on beautiful St. Catharines - The Garden City!

Can't wait to see our puppies running around here! 

Hydrangeas in the yard...

We're so excited to share this news with you! We wanted you to join in the celebrations, but I also wanted to share this thought with you:

Throughout this whole process, I've been reminded of God's faithfulness. These words keep running through my mind:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

If you know our story, you'll know that we've faced some significant challenges in the days since we first sold that house. Perhaps you've also had to put aside a dream to pursue something else. But remember, God knows the desires of your heart.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

C.S. Lewis

The timing or the results might not be quite what you had in mind. Maybe the dream will look different in reality than in your imagination. Or perhaps as your life changes, you discover dreams you didn't even know you wanted.

On this day, I encourage you to pursue your dreams. 

Big dreams, small dreams, impossible dreams. 

They may come true. They may not. 

But in pursuing them, we make the world a better place. 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - 7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour

Sonicbids has fantastic articles for indie musicians. They offer inspiring, practical tips for booking tours, promoting your music, and surviving the industry. Last week, they posted an article that caught my eye: 7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour. Being a touring musician myself, I clicked the article. I'm such a fan of their advice, but this was pretty much useless. A skateboard? A solar-powered shower? Seriously? Since when are these things considered 'essential' to touring?

In response, I started writing my own list.

Here are my 

7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour:

#1. Contracts in Triplicate

We never leave for tour without well-organized contracts. I have copies online, copies on my computer, and a binder with printed copies. It gives me all the practical info about time, place, and contacts. The printed copies are handy to pull out when you arrive at the gig and there are disagreements about fees, etc.

#2. Non-Perscription Drugs

Obviously you need your prescriptions, but I also bring a stash of antihistamines, aspirins, and vitamins. I've been known to put a thermometer and cold medication in my bag during cold/flu season. To save space, I pack our pills in small baggies (one baggie for each pill type). Write the name, dose, and instructions for each pill on the baggie with a sharpie. You never know when a headache or sniffle will hit, and Murphy's Law tells you the closest Walmart will be an hour away.

#3. GPS - Online & Offline

We love the ease of using Google Maps on our iPhones. However, on our first few tours, we found ourselves in rural areas with no signal. Since then, we've added an offline GPS to our phones. They take up a bit of space as you need to download the maps to your phone, but they're worth it. If space is an issue, just add the ones you need before the tour and delete them after.

#4. Car Care

In the rush before the tour, your car can be overlooked, but on the tour itself, a healthy car is vital. Before leaving, get an oil change, ideally at a garage that includes an overall safety check. Make sure your CAA/AAA membership is up to date. And depending on season and area, consider purchasing new windshield wipers or snow tires.

#5. Change of Season Clothes

Before leaving for tour, check out the general weather reports for your tour area, and be aware of changing seasons. In our first tours, we packed for fall, but winter came early. We found ourselves shopping for winter coats and mittens. It was annoying to have to buy items we already had at home, not to mention the added time, and trying to find space for big coats in an already full car. Now, we pack a bag for our daily clothes, and store anything extra in vacuum-packed bags under the seats.

#6. Your Smart Phone

Okay, I know you're not going to forget your phone, but taking advantage of apps will save you a tonne of space when packing. In addition to being our phone, my iPhone is also my camera, video camera, alarm clock, tuner, metronome, voice recorder, GPS, and e-book reader. We use songwriting apps to turn hours of driving into creative time. My phone contains my vocal warm-up, my Bible, and my morning devotional. And one of the most valuable tools: my phone takes credit card payments! How, you ask? Read on...

#7. Square

If you sell CDs or any kind of product, you need Square! Perfect for the indie musician, Square is a free app that allows you to take credit card payments. I could write an entire blogpost about how much I love Square. It's easy to use with lots of free resources. They take a small percentage (which you can write off) and handle the full transaction for you. The money is literally deposited into your bank account, so you're not responsible for handling anyone's credit info. And you'll find a huge increase in sales. People without cash will be able to purchase CDs, but also, folks with only a $10 in their pocket will sometimes choose credit cards so they can make a larger purchase. Seriously, I could talk all day about Square...

BONUS: #8. Paper Towels

Poke a roll of paper towels and/or wet wipes in the back seat. At some point, a drink will spill or mud will get on the speaker or some other type of mess will happen. At that moment, you'll be so glad you thought to pack them!

So, these are my 8 essentials for your tour. It should go without saying, but remember extra cords, batteries, chargers, and any other small tech thing you might need. Have a backup of any midi programs, tracks, etc, on a hard drive.

Our motto: It's better to have it than wish we did!

Please feel free to add your suggestions in the Comments section.

Happy Touring!!!! 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Where Does The Music Go?

When you arrive at our concert, you'll notice a long green table covered with our CDs. Our 'product table'. We believe strongly in the ministry of recorded music. Not only do you get to take our music home with you, but at the table, we also have the chance to meet people and exchange stories.

At the product table, after our recent concert at St. John's Ida.
Meeting with Darrin Gaudreau, director of Street Hope Peterborough. 

At the end of the night, we pack up, and move on to the next venue. As our travels continue, we often talk about the church, the event, the community, or someone special who really touched our hearts. But you know what we never used to think about? The CDs.

Yes, the CDs.

We would lay them on the table, sell them, and never think of them again.

That was, until this spring in Trinity, Newfoundland. Partway through the first half of the show, I introduced our original song, "Every Church Is A Small Town." I heard a woman gasp, "Oh, I love this song!" It caught my ear, but by then Gerald was playing the opening chords and singing the first verse. The chorus arrived and I added my harmony. But what was I hearing? Was there some kind of feedback, or echo? Why was I hearing other voices?

Because they were singing along! 

A number of audience members who had bought CDs on our last visit had listened to them so much they had learned to sing along on their favourite songs.

Gerald and I were humbled and thrilled. We'd heard stories over the years of people sharing their favourite songs, or letting us know how a particular CD had encouraged them during a rough time, but this was something different. It's already pretty awesome when you lead a group in a song you wrote, but when they start singing along uninvited, well, I just have no words for that.

After that moment, we started to become very aware of what was happening to our CDs when they leave our possession. We imagined people playing the discs in living rooms or loading the mp3s on their iPod. They might listen on their drive to work, or while making dinner. Maybe it's their exam soundtrack, or perhaps they choose a favourite song when they need some encouragement.

It was brought home to us again this past Sunday at a church in Toronto. A woman told us that she uses our CDs in an exercise class that she teaches! It's not a 'Christian exercise class', but the group loves the songs, so she includes them in her playlist. A use for our music we never imagined on our own!

I once heard Gloria Gaither speak about her and Bill's classic song, "Because He Lives." She talked about the third verse and its powerful message of passing from this world to the next. She said she chose that topic for the verse because she felt it was the strongest songwriting choice. A few years later, when struggling with the death of a family member, that was the verse that gave her the most comfort. She told us, "Write great songs, because you never know when you'll need them to minister to you."

I would also add, "Write great songs, because you never know where they'll end up."

Write great songs. 

Use amazing craft. 

Be intentional with your message. 

Make beautiful recordings. 

Then, send them out into the world.

You may never know where they land, but if you've created something meaningful, 

it may just change someone's life.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - 10 Years Ago Today...

... everything changed.

All summer long, I'd been praying for direction. What should I do with my life, my art, my passions?

"Dear Lord. Smack me over the head!"

And then, 10 years ago tonight, it happened.

I could have happened a hundred different ways, but there in the heart of Nashville, it happened.

Last winter, I told the story as part of our Musical Residency in 

St. Andrews By-the-Sea, New Brunswick:

The past 10 years have been an extraordinary journey. Gerald and I married, moved to Nashville, and began the greatest adventure of our lives. I pursued a solo Gospel career that brought me into Music Row studios and the National Quartet Convention. Gerald wrote hundreds of songs, some with Grammy winners and Hall of Fame songwriters. 

And in a twist no one saw coming (or at least, that we didn't see coming), all our hopes, dreams and talents came together in the birth of Infinitely More. Since our 2013 debut album, we've toured thousands of kilometres, recorded 4 CDs, received 6 national music award nominations, and were recently honoured with a Stonebridge Guitar artist deal.

On this day, I'm filled with memories of that awesome summer, and overwhelmed with gratitude for this journey. I'm humbled beyond thought that God would see fit to call Me - broken, faulty, messy Me - to spread His message. I'm honoured by the countless people who have brought our Infinitely More music into their homes and churches. I'm thankful for the many talented and supportive friends we've met along the way. 

And I'm lost for words in this one fact: I get to share this all with my creative, amazing, generous husband. Gerald, I can't imagine this adventure without you. 

Thank you for being my partner in all things good and true.

So today, I look to the future with great anticipation and excitement. We're planning a radio release, new concerts, and our first Prairies Road Trip. We have new songs bubbling up every day, and we find endless inspiration in the incredible people we meet on musical adventures.

And the thing that continues to amaze me the most: every day, I get to make music that shares God's unfailing mercy, grace, and love. I can't imagine a better way to spend a life.

Here's to the next 10 years! 

Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do 

Infinitely More than we can ask or imagine. 

Eph. 3:20

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Booking the Prairies Road Trip!

This fall, we take on a new Adventure:

Our first Prairies Road Trip!

For the last five years, we've toured East, but for the first time, we're heading West.

We'll leave Burlington, Ontario, in the final days of September. Throughout October, we'll sing concerts, lead worship, and teach workshops in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

By the first weekend of November, we'll hit Edmonton, Alberta, for GMA Canada Week! We'll have 4 days of workshops, showcases, and other great events with our fellow GMA artists.

From there, we'll drive home to Burlington with just enough time to take a little break before jumping into the Christmas season.

To summarize: 6 weeks. 4 provinces. 7200 kilometres. 

Our tour route! 

Booking a tour of this size is always a challenge, but booking a tour this size when we've never sung in any of these areas is a particular challenge! We need a huge number of events to make this happen. My days are currently filled with reaching out to churches across our tour route, introducing our Infinitely More ministry, and asking the all-important question, "Would you like to host a concert?"

How can you help?

- If you're in the any of these areas, or you know friends in the area, we'd love to sing for you! We'll be performing church, community, and house concerts. Please contact me for more information.

- Please keep us in prayer that we'll book the number of events that we need.

- Please feel free to share this post with anyone who might be interested!

- Join our mailing list or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the most recent news.

Thank you! We're so excited about this new adventure, and this opportunity to share our music and message with a whole new audience.

I'll keep you updated on how things shape up!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Concert Tomorrow Night!

We're looking forward to our return visit to St. John's Ida tomorrow night!

This special concert will be a fundraiser for Threshold Ministries, 

which provides outreach to people in the Peterborough area.

Please come join us!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Book Review: Aloof, by Tony Kriz

I first fell in love with the writing of Tony Kriz when I reviewed Neighbors and Wise Men. I jumped at the chance to review Aloof, with its intriguing subtitle: Figuring Out Life With A God Who Hides.

What do we do with a God who says He wants to be in relationship with us, yet so often seems distant and silent? Through stories, memories, and theological wrestling, Kriz takes on this most difficult and ultimately unanswerable question. Throughout the book, I found myself drifting away to ponder the ideas and possibilities raised in his vibrant and engaging stories. I turned down page corners and wrote my own thoughts in the margins. I circled my favourite chapters in the table of contents.

This is a book for anyone who has straddled the thin line between doubt and wonder. It's a book for people who understand that recognizing how far we are from God is our first step towards intimacy with God.

I highly recommend it.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Worship Wednesdays - Happy Canada Day!

One year ago today, we were in Nashville, recording How The Light Gets In. We celebrated Canada Day with Tim Horton's coffee, maple syrup candies, and Laura Secord Miniatures for all the musicians.

Today, we're blessed to celebrate in Canada with our family!

Wherever you find yourself today, we hope you celebrate our beautiful country.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - What Worship Leaders Can Learn From Wedding DJs...

Last week, this article appeared in the Toronto Star.

The basic idea behind the article is that many new couples are choosing to program their own wedding playlist instead of hiring a professional DJ. The bride and groom load up their iPod with their favourite songs, and ask a willing guest to run the list throughout the night.

As someone who chose to have a friend make our wedding video, and as someone who will go through life with no wedding video, I'm a fan of hiring professionals to do professional jobs on your big day. But I digress...

The reasons for not hiring a DJ ran from budget to simplifying the wedding process, but the biggest reason was music choice.

"Outside of the budget-conscious, the couples most likely to program their own playlist tend to have — as (DJ Scott) Rideout puts it — 'specific tastes.'"

Couples want a particular kind of music, only their favourite songs, played throughout the evening. It makes sense on first glance, but this is the statement that really caught my eye:

“Generally, I find those people try to cater to a smaller number of people and don’t look at the big picture,” Rideout said. “You’ve got a room of 100 people — 

you want 100 people to know the songs you’re playing.”

Wow. My mind flashed to the many conversations I've had with worship leaders and music directors.

In most churches, the music director will have the job of choosing all the music for Sunday morning. There may be input and consultation with clergy, but the main direction for a congregation's song choice will often come from one person.

What happens when that one person allows their personal taste 

to dominate the musical voice of a congregation?

I've talked with music directors who only want hymns, from one specific hymnal. I've chatted with worship leaders who only choose songs from the CCLI Top 20 list. I've met others who insist that their congregation only likes Country, or refuses to listen to Jazz, or some other genre prejudice.

But here's the truth: 

You want your 100 (or 10 or 1000) people on Sunday to know the songs you're playing.

I'm certainly not saying we shouldn't introduce new music or stretch our musical boundaries - anyone familiar with our Infinitely More ministry knows that we're big fans of creating and sharing new music. And yes, the personal taste, knowledge, and skill set of any worship leader will always affect the music we play. But we need to think about all 100 people when we're planning our songs for worship. They may not 'know' every song, but wouldn't it be great if they could at least find one song that connects with them personally in worship?

Do you have folks in your congregation who love hymns? Include some. 

New worship songs? Teach some of those too. 

Do you have children in your worship? Make sure there's a song for them. 

Do you have songwriters? How could their music influence your worship?

Music style influences worship, but no one style dictates or defines worship. 

All music styles can be used for worship when directed towards God.

What I'm proposing definitely makes our jobs harder. Searching multiple sources, creating new music, finding fresh ways to play ancient songs, performing a variety of styles, and being cognizant of the full diversity of your congregation is a lot of work. But here's the payoff: at the end of Sunday worship, the Soccer Mom, the Overworked CEO, the Rebel Teen, the Kind Grandmother, the Struggling Doubter, the Tween, the Lifelong Faithful, the Visitor, the Flag Waver, and the Prayerbook Defender can all leave saying, "I felt connected in that worship. That song... That song was for me."

Let's rise to the challenge. We can't please all the people all the time, but perhaps, by expanding our own personal palette, we can create a musical voice that represents our full church family, draws us closer into worship, and brings joy to God.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Infinitely More named Stonebridge Guitar Artists!

Yesterday, we shared the story of our recent Guitar Hunt. 

You can read all the details HERE.

Today, we're sharing the awesome conclusion!

As we searched and played, Gerald discovered a guitar he'd never heard of before: Stonebridge.

We hadn't seen them in any stores (and we visited a lot!) yet we saw them in videos, played by master finger-style guitarists.

A quick Google search uncovered the story behind these European gems. Only in North America for less than a decade, Stonebridge Guitars are distributed in a handful of select, boutique guitar stores. Some of the stores even feature an appointment-only policy. Fortunately, their North American distribution - Brickhouse Guitars - is only an hour from us.

It was a short trip from Discovery to Love. Gorgeous handcrafted instruments with stunning tone and playability. The search for our dream guitar had ended.

It wasn't long before we discovered the Artist Collaboration Program and filled out our application.

We're proud to announce that Infinitely More 

is the newest Stonebridge Artist!

Infinitely More, with our new band member! 

We're honoured to represent this wonderful guitar, and can't wait to add its beautiful sound to our live shows.

Elegant and beautiful! 

It's a stunning instrument - rich cedar top, master grade shimmering koa sides and back, paduak binding and appointments.

The light shimmers off the stunning koa!

The sound is incredible, but when we sang with it, and heard its tone blend with our voices, well, that was just magic. We brought it home on Tuesday and it's already inspired at least one new song!

Deep cutaway and simple inlays add the perfect finishing touches.

What an awesome end to our Guitar Hunt! 

We hope you'll come out to see our new guitar at an upcoming event.

In the meantime, we're off to make some great music with the newest member of our band...

Worship Wednesdays - The Guitar Hunt!

"I want a new guitar."

Common words from a guitar player like Gerald, but when he said it this spring, I knew something was in the air.

Years ago, Gerald found a stunningly beautiful Martin Simpson Bourgeois guitar. This handmade instrument has a rich tone and moving sound. It's so special, it's actually featured in 1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die.

The Bourgeois guitar as featured on Be Thou My Vision (How The Light Gets In)

But we're not playing the Bourgeois live. We just drove it 9767 KM throughout the East Coast, and it barely left its case.

"I want to sell the Bourgeois, and buy a new cornerstone acoustic guitar for us."

So, the hunt began.

We've bought a number of instruments and lots of gear since we first met, and nothing, nothing has been as intensive as this guitar search.

It started in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where we met this charming limited edition Taylor. Only 75 were made, exclusively for Long & McQuade. Mahogany body with a burgundy finish and maple leaf inlays in the fretboard. Lovely.

Limited edition Taylor in Dartmouth

We visited stores in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. At each one we played Taylors, Martins, Breedloves, Collings, and all kinds of locally made treasures. (We actually played 3 of the 75 limited edition Taylors as we visited Long & McQuades across the country. The Dartmouth one is best.)

A few weeks in, we visited Musicfest at Cosmo Music. There, we attended the Taylor road show, getting an education on the various effects of body shape and tone woods on the sound of each guitar. We spent the better part of the day with the Taylor reps, playing instruments and hearing stories about how their guitars are made.

Taylor Guitars road show

Later in the day, we were introduced to Cole Clark guitars. These gorgeous instruments are made in Australia, primarily with indigenous woods. Interesting look and great sound.

Trying Cole Clark Guitars at Cosmo

Our search began to occupy all our waking thoughts. At home, Gerald was pouring over hours and hours of Youtube videos. He watched finger-style superstars like Don Ross and Calum Graham to see what they're playing. He studied guitar manufacturing, and the fascinating work of Andy Powers, who's using techniques used on violins and cellos to bring a new sound to Taylor guitars.

We began visiting guitar stores all around Southern Ontario. Every day we found a new one. No store was too big or too small to be excluded from our search. Along the way, we found fantastic stores, each one owned and staffed by people with a passion for guitars. As we played close to 100 guitars, we began to narrow down our requirements of size, shape, tone ...

At one point in the search, we realized that we weren't just looking for a guitar - it was like we were searching for a 3rd member for our band. Since our live concert is basically guitar and two voices, we needed an instrument that wasn't just beautiful sounding. It also needed to fit into our blend. It will shape and influence our sound, our vibe, and our creativity.

The hunt continued....

We discovered The Guitar Shop in Mississauga. The search was narrowing to the new line of maple Taylors. We sampled and played, and started to weigh our options.

Waves of guitars at The Guitar Shop

The Acoustic Room in Hamilton had only opened a few days earlier. We played Taylors and more Cole Clarks in this gorgeous, intimate store.

The Acoustic Room - worth the drive to Hamilton

We finally found ourselves in Brickhouse Guitars in Kitchener. Probably the smallest store we visited but one that held the biggest surprise...

Guitar dreaming at Brickhouse Guitars...

What did we find at Brickhouse Guitars? 

Will we ever find our dream guitar?

Stay tuned tomorrow for the exciting conclusion, 

and our big news!!!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worships Wednesdays on Vacation!

Well, technically it's a STAYcation! 

We had an amazing time on our recent East Coast Tour, 

and now as the song goes, we're 'home for a rest.'

You can see photos from the tour on our SITE and FACEBOOK page.

We'll be back next week with a brand new post...

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Our 5th East Coast Tour is Complete!

For the first time in over 2 months, I'm writing you from the comfort of my own home.

Our 5th annual East Coast Tour was an amazing experience, 

filled with music, stories, adventures, and yes, lots and lots of driving!

Here are the numbers:

Thanks to everyone who supported this tour in any way. 

We couldn't do any of this without you!

See you in 2016!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Peggy's Cove & The "Art" of Hope

In Canada, we just enjoyed the annual tradition of a relaxing Victoria Day Weekend. As one of our activities, we decided to visit Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia - one of the most celebrated and beautiful spots in the country.

We strolled throughout the tiny fishing village, enjoying the artisans, feasting on lobster, and soaking in the beauty of the iconic lighthouse.

One of the most inspiring moments of the day was our visit to the William deGarthe Museum. 

DeGarthe was born in Finland, but emigrated to Canada in the late 1920's where he built his career as a painter and sculptor. In the 1930's, he became one of a growing group of artists to discover the unique beauty of Peggy's Cove. He eventually bought a house in the community and moved his full-time studio to a home overlooking the water.

Peggy's Cove is a geological wonder with it's amazingly sculptural granite. It seems to erupt from the ground, pushing grass and trees aside and peppering the landscape with oversized boulders.

Every day, deGarthe would pass a particular outcropping. It was long and narrow. He envisioned it as a canvas, and figures began to emerge in his imagination...

William deGarthe's Fishermen's Monument, in its beautiful natural setting.

In the 1970's, he began his most ambitious project to date: a Fisherman's Monument. This 30 metre (100 ft) carving would be inspired by and a tribute to the people of Peggy's Cove.

DeGarthe imagined the mural in three sections: Grace, Bounty, and Work. In Grace, we see St. Elmo spreading his wings of protection over the fishing family. In Bounty, we see the legendary Peggy of the Cove holding a basket of fish, and representing the "Keeper of the Bounty." In Work, we see the people of Peggy's Cove, casting nets and providing the lifeblood of the village. There are 32 figures in all, including men, women, and children. 

Local men & women served as the models for each figure.

The fisherman leads the whole monument.

Everything was carved by hand. The display of the tools used show small chisels and hammers.

The work has stood for over 30 years, with minimal damage despite its exposure to hurricanes, harsh winters, salt spray, and ocean winds.

The Fisherman's Monument is an amazing work of art and, coupled with the museum, is truly worth the visit. It's easy to find inspiration in its beauty, craft, and story.

But here's the part that blew me away:

deGarthe began his masterpiece when he was in his 70's!

That's right. At over 70 years old, he took on a 10 year project of intense physical labour and deep artistic commitment.

This just amazes me. What an act of hope!

A detail of St. Elmo watching over the fisher men & women.

So many people choose to slow down as they get older. I know people in their 40's and 50's who are already saying things like, "Well, I haven't accomplished it yet, so I guess I won't in this lifetime."

I know there are realistic limits to our ages. I know there are a finite number of things we can do in our time on this earth. But when I heard this story, I was reminded of one of my favourite quotes:

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

C.S. Lewis

As the story goes, deGarthe wasn't able to finish the final details his masterpiece. But that didn't stop the dream. After his death, a team of artists completed his vision. Because of his passion and commitment, thousands of people continue to be inspired by this wonderful work of art.

Our skills and talents are not gifts to be held in check. They are not for our satisfaction alone. We are meant to create and share with the world.

So I challenge myself, and I ask you as well: 

What is your next goal? What is your next dream?

And now, let's go make it happen! 

Our East Coast Tour is in its final weeks! 

Please visit our Calendar for a concert near you.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - A Time To Rest...

I'm writing today from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. We're now in the 7th week of our East Coast Tour. So far, we've sung concerts, led worship, and taught worships. We've celebrated Easter, and a very memorable Maundy Thursday. We've sung for seniors homes, a youth conference, a hospital visit, and participated in East Coast Music Week. We've driven several thousand kilometres and taken two ferries. We've driven from Spring to Winter and back into Spring again.

And now, it's time for a rest.

This weekend, Canada celebrates Victoria Day - a long weekend commonly dedicated to cottages, BBQs, and depending on your area, fishing. Churches expect a surplus of empty pews this Sunday. Needless to say, it was impossible to book any concerts for the weekend.

So instead, we will join with the rest of the country in a few days of resting, relaxing, and not doing much of anything.

And the timing couldn't be better.

As a self-confessed workaholic, I've learned the value of taking time off. In a non-traveling week, I am firm about stopping work by a certain hour, and I vigorously claim Monday as our Official Day Off.

When we're on the road, that's a lot harder to do. With over 30 events in 9 weeks, with 5 provinces worth of driving, finding time off can be a challenge. Our concert days are obviously very active, and even on our non-performing days, I always need to spend a few hours catching up on admin, or booking summer and fall events.


But then I remember verses like these:

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."

Genesis 2:2 

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

Mark 1:35 

"[Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."

Mark 6:31b-32 

God - the Creator of all things - rested. 

Jesus - Messiah, Redeemer, Saviour, Healer - rested.

If God rested, why do I think I can run 24-7 without a break?

Jesus took time to be still, to be alone, to hear his own breath. He spent time in prayer, refreshing his soul and reconnecting with God.

He also took time to be along with his disciples - his closest friends and companions.

His was work was physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. It's the kind of work that can easily lead to burnout. And if that had happened, look at all that would have been lost...

So this weekend, I'll do the same. I'll close my calendar, and spend time with silence. I won't look at my watch, except when I get hungry. I'll spend time exploring the fabulous Halifax area with my beautiful husband and good friends.

And by the time next week arrives, I'll be ready to head out on the next chapter of our Infinitely More adventure...

Our East Coast Tour is in its final weeks! 

Please visit our Calendar for a concert near you.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Will Beauty Come From These Ashes?

The news was devastating - 

St. Mary The Virgin Church in Indian Bay, Newfoundland, had burned to the ground.

The fire had started early in the morning, and by the time the fire crew arrived, the old building was burned beyond saving. Even though we'd never sung in this church, we are good friends with its minister, Rev. David, and had sung for the community twice on our East Coast Tours.

On Sunday, we sang for the community again at St. Alban's Church in Trinity. 

On Monday, Gerald, Rev. David, and I visited the fire site.

As we opened the car doors, the first thing that hit us was the smell. It's been weeks since the fire, yet a charred smell still fills the air. The next thing to catch our attention were the steps to nowhere. The front steps and the ramp remain completely intact, only burned on the edge that met the building.

The unburned steps...

We approached the rectangular remains. Despite strong winds, the building had burned down cleanly, the fire never touching the surrounding woods or homes. This is a church that had been lovingly built by hand. Stretching out before us was a haunting black skeleton, burnished and shining in the sunshine.

The devastation. You can see the broken baptismal font lower right.

The remains changed as we came closer to the altar area. Pages of hymnals, Bibles, and prayer books were scattered in the ashes. The spines of the books had burned and separated, and the individual pages were only singed on the edges. The white pages floated on the black mess, their messages of hope and comfort gleaming in the sun.

This hymn seemed hauntingly appropriate in the ashes... 

"I think that's a paten!" David called out. The silver plate used to hold the Communion bread was poking out of the ash. Gerald climbed over the beams and pulled it out. The tiny round plate was still hot and horribly misshapen. We began to notice other pieces of the Communion set - cups, plates, and stems, their silver finish burned off and fused with soot.

Communion pieces pulled from the soot.

It was then that we noticed the most remarkable sight of the day. Floating above the decimated wreckage, their orange wings caught the sunlight. Two bright, glorious butterflies flitted in the warm air. Below them lay the black, charred devastation. The contrast was striking.

Our sign of hope!

This church was a cornerstone of the town. It was filled with memories of weddings, baptisms, social nights, music, and family. Its loss brought grief and mourning. And yet, these butterflies danced and played. The three of us watched and marvelled at their lightness. They were in the blackest spot in the area, and yet, they rejoiced. They seemed to say, "Life is still here. There is hope. There is joy. Let the dance continue..."

We will continue to pray for the congregation of Indian Bay as they work through this transition. We don't know what the future will hold for them, but we know there is hope. We know there is joy. We know the dance will continue...

"... and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair."

Isaiah 61:3 NIV

Our East Coast Tour is in full swing! 

Please visit our Calendar for a concert near you.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!