2020 Mid-Year Book List!

Wow, this has become an epic year for reading!

As you know, for the last few years, I've given myself a goal of reading 2 books a month.
Each year, I celebrate this goal by publishing my reading list.

Here are my lists for 2018 and 2019.

I'd set the same goal for 2020, but once the lockdown hit, my reading took off like a shot!

Not being able to tour or perform for live audiences has been incredibly difficult in every possible way. I'm not exaggerating when I say that music, gardening and reading have kept me feeling sane and peaceful throughout this whole ordeal.

Since the lockdown started, my reading has increased 
from 2 books a month to 4 or 5 per month!

At this rate, I'll hit my annual goal of 24 in just a few weeks.

Rather than create an exhaustive list in December, 

I've decided to share a mid-year list with you now.

You'll find a good mix here:
fiction and non-fiction, some Canadian and local reads, a few books-in-translation,
and of course my favourite: historical fiction.

Hopefully, you'll find something that will be an inspiration or diversion for you this season!

Here's my 2020 Mid-Year Book List!

The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding
By Jennifer Robson

I started the year with this gorgeous historical fiction, imagining the lives of the women who created Queen (then "Princess") Elizabeth's wedding gown. I loved everything about this book - the characters, setting, and story were all fully engaging. But my favourite part of historical fiction is always taking the deep dive outside of the book itself. Search any of the dresses mentioned in the book, or even the designer himself, and you'll find a plethora of photos and videos that help flesh out the world of The Gown.









Beartown
By Fredrik Backman

My writing friend, Martha Tatarnic, lent me this book last spring, but I really felt a book about hockey should be read in winter. Set in Northern Sweden (this is one of my books-in-translation reads!), Beartown could easily be set in a small, northern Canada town. This compelling story asks important questions about where we place our values and priorities, especially when the stakes are high.










All the Light We Cannot See
By Anthony Doerr

Another historical fiction! I think everyone I know had already read this book, so I'm late to the party, but a complete superfan! A literary, layered, and engaging novel exploring the ravages of war through children and teenagers. I couldn't stop thinking or talking about this book.

The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou
By Maya Angelou

This winter, I decided that I wanted to start reading poetry. The idea was sparked late one night, when I wanted to read, but was too tired to delve into a few chapters. "Ah," I thought, "this would be the perfect time to just read a poem of two." It's really the only genre that's been missing from my reading list, and Maya seemed like the perfect place to start.

Praying Women: How to Pray When You Don't Know What to Say
By Sheila Walsh

I read this book for review. You can read my thoughts HERE.

In Calamity's Wake: A Novel
By Natalee Caple

In our travels, I've started visiting indie bookstores and picking up books by local authors. While visiting St. Catharines' latest indie bookstore, Someday Books, I realized I hadn't read any of our hometown authors yet! Inspired by the wild west, In Calamity's Wake tells the fictional story of Calamity Jane's daughter and her journey to find her mother. Steeped in historical details and wonderfully told - a treasure of a book!

Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
By Mary Oliver

I loved reading Maya Angelou, so I did a Facebook poll of friends to find their favourite poets, and Mary Oliver topped the list. I loooooved this collection! Her images of nature and gentleness were exactly what I wanted to read. I think I bookmarked about half the poems for repeated reading!

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living
By Meik Wiking

We entered lockdown in March, and this seemed like the perfect time to explore the idea of hygge. This Danish approach to comfort has been trendy for a while, and this is truly the perfect season to put it into practice. Candles, comfort food, soft blankets, quiet time at home - if we have to be in lockdown, we might as well make the most of it.

Daisy Jones and The Six
By Taylor Jenkins Reid

I'd definitely call this historical fiction a romp of a book! Daisy Jones and The Six tells the story of a fictional 70s rock band. Written in the style of a Rolling Stones interview, we get the story of the band from the varied perspectives and biases of the different band members. I particularly love the time dedicated to exploring the challenges and triumphs of the songwriting process.

More Than We Remember
By Christina Suzann Nelson

I read this book for review. You can read my thoughts HERE.

A Moveable Feast
By Ernest Hemingway

The Little Book of Hygge recommended this as a good hygge book. Hemingway's memoir of his years in Paris were a decadent treat, filled with cozy cafes, eclectic bookstores, long walks, and the eccentricities of the writer's life. Although not historical "fiction", it still gave me that great thrill of placing me in a more decadent time and place (such a treat during lockdown!) 

Sonnets
By William Shakespeare

My poetry journey continued with Shakespeare! These are poems that were definitely written to be read aloud. Each is like a tiny meal, so I rarely read more than a few a day. And my copy was a sweet little vintage tome with a fabric cover, so the reading experience was satisfying (dare I say, "hygge") in so many ways!

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way
By Jesse Thistle

I included this in May's "Favourite Things." You can read about it HERE.

Saints: Becoming More Than "Christians"
By Addison D. Bevere

I read this book for review. You can read my thoughts HERE.

The River
By Peter Heller

A action adventure novel! Wynn and Jack set out for the long, leisurely canoe trip of their dreams. But the moment they discover a forest fire growing in the distance, everything changes. Very different than what I normally read! Fast-paced, suspenseful, and action packed - I couldn't put this down!

Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life
By Anne Bogel

I read this book for review. You can read my thoughts HERE.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold
By Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Another book-in-translation! What if there was a cafe you could visit that allowed you to time travel? You could go anywhere you wanted in the past, but you could only stay until your cup of coffee gets cold. This imaginative Japanese novel perfectly weaves the supernatural with gobs of humanity. A real find of a book!

The Garden of Small Beginnings
By Abbi Waxman

One of the unforeseen blessings of 2020 has been all the time I've been able to spend in my garden, so I was attracted to a novel with gardening as a theme. As I read the first few pages, I started laughing out loud, and it was then that I realized it: I never read funny books!! So, I need to amend that.... The Garden of Small Beginnings tells the story of Lilian, a widow and single mom of two small girls, whose life is upended when she starts a gardening course. There are no great twists in this story, but I still loved it. It never shies away from exploring the longterm struggles with grief, but still remains genuinely fun and inspiring.

God at Every Gate: Prayers and Blessings for Pilgrims
By Brendan O'Malley

I was chatting with my Dad about a desire to read some Celtic poetry, and he lent me this sweet book of devotions. Each daily reading included poetry and prayers from a variety of authors and sources. It also explored a variety of themes, including elements of nature, and the various ways we can express our own faith. I particularly fell in love with the writings of Hildegard of Bingen, so you can probably expect to see one of her books on my year end list.

The Bookshop On The Corner
By Jenny Colgan
AKA: The Little Shop of Happy Ever After

What happens when an introverted but passionate librarian is sacked due to downsizing? The Bookshop on the Corner tells a story of pushing past your comfort zone to discover the dreams you never knew you wanted. This charming book celebrates all things bookish, and left me with a craving to visit Scotland. I struggled with the generic title of the book (no spoilers, but it really doesn't fit the story). Apparently, this is the North American title. The original UK title - The Little Shop of Happy Ever After - is much more evocative and well suited.

Losing Control: Finding Freedom by Letting Go
By Mark Smeby

I first met Mark when we sang on the same worship team in Nashville. I was part of his advance reading team for his latest book, and I'll be posting my review later this week. Stay tuned!

There you have it - my 2020 reading, thus far!

What are you reading these days?

I'd love to hear your recommendations in the comments! 

Favourite Things - O CANADA EDITION!

Welcome to

Favourite Things - O CANADA EDITION!

For the last decade, we've spent about half of each year traveling from coast to coast, bringing our music to every province. (We definitely want to sing in the territories - we just haven't been able to make it happen yet!) 

Our tours are working trips, but we do all we can to explore and enjoy every corner of this beautiful country.

For this month's Favourite Things, 

I want to share some of the treasures 

we've discovered in our travels!

I'll warn you upfront: this list is by no means exhaustive!!

If you were to ask Gerald, or even ask me tomorrow, there might be a whole new list! I could have done a whole list on food or music or art or tourist destinations. And don't get me started on the jaw dropping beauty of mountains, prairies, hoodoos and oceans! Instead, I'm sharing a few hidden gems that I have particularly fallen in love with over the years.

Here are my

Favourite Things - O CANADA EDITION!

Patridgeberry pancakes!! 

NEWFOUNDLAND - The Treasure Box in Rocky Harbour
Gift emporium, homestyle kitchen, and the best place to find local conversation. I can't tell you how many hours Gerald and I have spent chatting with Boyd while stuffing our guts with Joyce's delectable comfort food (I'm drooling over her partridgeberry pancakes even as I write this...) And I've never left there without boxes and boxes of homemade preserves, hand-painted rock houses, and countless other gifts and souvenirs. 

Halifax Folklore Centre

NOVA SCOTIA - Halifax Folklore Centre
If you love stringed instruments, this is your dream store. Set in a 150-year-old house, this beautiful space will have you swooning over vintage finds while imagining yourself as the next great Celtic fiddler. Whenever we visit, Gerald remembers the time (long before we met) that he played one of his original songs in the store, only to be complimented by the great Garnet Rogers (brother to the legendary Stan Rogers). That'll tell you something of the Folklore Centre's clientele and community.

Swallowtail Lighthouse, Grand Manan

NEW BRUNSWICK - Grand Manan Island. 
People have only two reactions when I mention Grand Manan. They've either never heard of it, or they're madly in love with it. This tiny island is a world of its own. Every restaurant and B&B is filled with local creativity and character. Lighthouses, whales, and dramatic scenery in every direction. You're about to fall in love, so plan one more day than you think you'll need... trust me, you'll want to stay longer....

Anne of Green Gables Museum

PEI - LM Montgomery's Birthplace
Everyone goes to Green Gables (and you should definitely go there!) but this is a place for the SuperFans (of whom, I am one!) This tiny home gives a sweet history of Lucy Maud and her very humble beginnings. When you're done, drive down the road to the Anne Of Green Gables Museum, a family home where LM gained inspiration for her stories. In both cases, I recommend going when it's quiet and asking lots of questions of the docents. Not only are they knowledgeable of the facts, but if you're lucky, you may end up hearing some family stories!









QUEBEC - Maison Historique James Thompson
Old Quebec is probably one of my very favourite places, and this is our go-to place to stay. Originally built in 1793, this charming B&B features cozy unique rooms with onsite parking. That's all great, but what makes it truly special is your host, Guitta, and her fabulous breakfasts! I don't know what it is, but we've had some of our most interesting B&B breakfasts around that table. Her guests come from all over, and Guitta's genuine interest in each one elevates morning chitchat to intriguing conversation. Oh, and did I mention the  homemade crepes, French toast, and possibly best croissants in town??



ONTARIO - Inukshuks on the side of the road.
Our first Western Canada Tour was the first time we took the ON-17 route through Ontario. We'd driven east lots of times, so we thought, "No big deal." Wow, were we wrong! Northern and Southern ON are like two different provinces. The culture, the landscape, the art, the history - it's all incredible. I love every moment we get to spend in this part of the country. As we drive north, we start to see inukshuks on the side of the road. Just little ones, left by tourists and hikers. Seeing them, I know we're about to enter this completely different side of Ontario, and I just love it...



MANITOBA - Dauphin sunsets.
The first time we traveled west, we realized that we'd be alone for Thanksgiving. A friend on Facebook recommended we visit her friends in Dauphin, NW of Winnipeg. We made great friends that weekend, and it's become one of our must-visit places every tour. I don't even know what to tell you about the sunsets! They literally fill the entire sky. There was one evening when, because of the glorious reflections, it actually looked like the sun was setting in both the east and the west. Amazing...

Just a glimpse of a Dauphin sunset...

SASKATCHEWAN - The St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission.
Gerald will tell you, without reservation, that this is his favourite concert of the year. We discovered this small Catholic school of faith formation through friends in New Brunswick. Students live out the teachings of St. Therese, which translates into a powerful commitment to communal living, community outreach, and daily prayer and worship. Each year, we teach a songwriting workshop and then offer a concert. And every year, we leave even more inspired by these incredible young people. In their own gentle way (or to quote St. Therese herself, "the little way"), they have the power to change the world.

Gerald teaching the students at St. Therese.

ALBERTA - The Vintage Verandah in Cochrane.
On your way from Calgary to Banff, plan to spend an afternoon in the beautiful small town of Cochrane. And if you're an antiques lover, go prepared with an empty credit card and lots of space in your trunk. I could live in the Vintage Verandah. I'm not even kidding. Lovingly curated collections of antiques, found objects, vintage treasures, painted furniture. local handicrafts... Seriously, I've never walked out of there empty-handed!

Tiger Ramen!! And now, I'm hungry...

BRITISH COLUMBIA - Tiger Ramen in Kamloops.
We've only started to explore BC, and we can't get enough of it! Every turn of the road is more beautiful than the last. But in the theme of "hidden gems", I want to share our favourite noodle house with you! We discovered Tiger Ramen by accident, but we now plan our route intentionally so we can eat here. The food is cheap and the seating is limited, so expect a line up. You won't regret waiting once you're served that overflowing bowl of steamy, spicy, noodley goodness!

We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful, diverse, and glorious country!

Please stay safe in all your celebrations this year!

Physical distance.

Wash your hands.

Wear a mask.

We're all in this together!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!! 

What are some of your favourite Canadian things?

Please share in the comments below...

Favourite Things - May Roundup!

Welcome to the latest edition of 

Favourite Things!

Wow! What happened to May???

April seemed to last forever, but now I'm shocked that June is just around the corner!

Fortunately, I still managed to discover a few awesome things over the last few weeks...

Here are my

Favourite Things - May Roundup!

#1. SGN - Some Good News - in a world filled with fear and illness, we all need a little good news! John Krasinski has brought light into a dark season, and started a worldwide phenomenon with SGN! 

#2. From The Ashes - Jesse Thistle's striking memoir brought to mind Tara Westover's incredible Educated. His childhood of brokenness and addiction filled me with shock and anger. But as I'm reading it, I had to feel hope. After all, I know that this abused child grows up to become this eloquent writer. With each page, I marvelled at both the deep flaws in our society's systems, and the immense resiliency of the human spirit.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! 

#3. Garden Centres Are OPEN!!! - for most people, this is just a normal spring activity, but for me, this is a rare pleasure! Normally, we're on the road right now. In the 5 years since we've owned our home, I've never been able to plant my garden before late June! I'm seeing flowers bloom in my garden that I've literally never been able to witness in person! 
An unexpected blessing of lockdown...

#4. Crustless Quiche - we've managed to avoid the very decadent lockdown-bread-baking trend, but I'm pretty obsessed with this delicious, healthy recipe!

#5. The Beautiful Promise - okay, this one is a bit biased, but it's still one of my very favourite things! We've had so many amazing gifts of ministry support over the last few months, that we decided to create our own gift of thanks! Four very special songs, all sharing the promise of God's love and faithfulness. 

Please visit our site to receive your copy of 

The Beautiful Promise!

These are my Favourite Things for May!

Have you tried any of these?

What new things have you fallen in love with this month?

Please share in the comments below...

Book Review: Don't Overthink It, by Anne Bogel

What?? 

Two book reviews in a week?

And now you know how I'm spending my time in lockdown...

As I've recently shared with you, I've been reading a LOT this season! I'm really leaning into fiction, but I couldn't resist the chance to read Anne Bogel's new nonfiction: Don't Overthink It.

I've been a superfan of Anne's since I reviewed her charming book, I'd Rather Be Reading. Since then I've become an avid reader of her blog, and a lover of her fantastic book lists!

In the era of Covid-19, overthinking has almost become a national pastime. Who among us has not obsessed over daily stat-checking, worst case scenarios, and the constant worrying of an uncertain future?

This book wasn't written in the pandemic, 

but I think it landed at just the right time.

If you don't consider yourself an overthinker, Anne opens with this idea to ponder:

"When we talk about overthinking, we're talking about those times when we lavish mental energy on things that don't deserve it." 

Overthinking can look like worry, fretting the small stuff, second guessing, and indecision. Chapter by chapter, Anne looks at all the different facets of overthinking, exploring causes and discovering solutions.

Anne's topic is well researched, with scientific references and a great suggested reading list. Each page is filled with helpful suggestions, and each chapter ends with questions for personal reflection. But even with all that practicality, this is still a charming and personable book. Anne is honest about her own struggles with overthinking, sharing examples from her life. She communicates her ideas in the way that a warm, smart friend might share her thoughts over coffee.

I was struck by the idea of how much mental energy we waste on overthinking. 

The very first lines of the book are a quote from Proverbs:

Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.

Proverbs 4:23

In this global pandemic, it's easy for our thoughts to be ones of worry, stress, and fear. 

Don't Overthink It offers us a different choice.

As the lockdown is forcing us all to slow down, let's use this time to choose a new normal.

Let's choose something better for ourselves...

If you love added content, visit Anne's page 

where you can get discussion guides, digital bonuses, 

and info on purchasing autographed copies!

https://modernmrsdarcy.com/dont-overthink-it/

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Book Review: Saints, by Addison Bevere

"

So, who else is devouring books these days?

I started the year (remember January, when we thought we could make plans?) with a goal of reading 2 books a month, but I've quickly doubled that to 4!

Navigating lockdown has occupied a lot of my practical brain, so I'll admit that fiction is truly capturing my imagination right now. But that said, I'm so excited to share this brand new nonfiction with you today!

"Saints" is a word that brings up lots of images - holy people, living stained glass lives, very separate from us "normal" people. We imagine Victorian paintings, glowing halos, and gruesome martyr deaths.

Not really something most of us aspire to live out...

Addison Bevere thinks that, not only should we want to be Saints, but it's really the most authentic path of faith we could be following.

Did you know the word "Christians" is only used three times in the New Testament? But over 60 times, these new followers are called "Saints," which simply referred to those whose relationship with God is maintained through faith in Jesus.

By that definition, we're all saints.

But how do we reclaim a word with so much weight and history?

Saints is a brave new message to abandon our own ideas of goodness and faith, 

and ask the deeper questions of grace and glory.

I underlined half of this book and turned down so many pages I almost cracked the spine! Addison is calling us to rediscover who we truly are in Christ, and to create a new language for the living out of our faith. Saints captures a great balance between deep, meaty ideas and a relatable writing style. Before hearing the interview linked below, I'd never heard Addison speak, and yet, reading Saints felt like being in an inspiring conversation over frothy cappuccinos (anyone else missing cafes these days?)

There are so many great ideas in this book! I love Addison's thoughts on salvation as a "change of identity," holiness as otherness, and how we "undersell" grace. I actually couldn't stop thinking about this idea of a limited, "sloppy" grace, "devoid of imagination" that shortchanges both people and God.

 But this is probably my favourite sentence in the whole book:

"The greatest injustice facing our world today is 

our refusal to become the expression of Christ on the earth. 

Period." 

Whoa... What a challenge to all of us, both as individuals and as communities of faith. 

What would the world look like if we changed our idea of how we express Christ? 

How would our priorities shift if we chose to fully express God's grace to a broken world? 

How many lives would be transformed if we simply reimagined who we are in Christ?

This is the challenge of Saints. 

Addison recently did a great interview with

 Johnny Rocket and Hollie Taylor of the Why Me Project. 

You can find the whole interview HERE.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Favourite Things - April Roundup!

Welcome to the latest edition of 

Favourite Things!

Did anyone else feel like April had 92 days?

This month was loooooong!

Fortunately, there were some awesome things to inspire us in this difficult season.

Here are my 
Favourite Things - April Roundup!

#1. Free Musicals - Few things make me happier than musicals!! Every Friday, Andrew Lloyd Webber is posting one of his famous shows for free. They only stay up for 48 hours, so pop some corn and enjoy...


#2. Free Sondheim - Stephen Sondheim's 90th birthday celebration is a glorious collection of songs, stories and performances. The performers are home with no fancy lighting, no props, sometimes just sitting on their bathroom floors, and yet the songs are still deeply moving. Must see for any music theatre fan!


#3. Free Shakespeare - Ontario's world renowned Stratford Festival is offering free Shakespeare plays! Filmed in their wonderful theatres with their incredible cast of talent. The company has recently cancelled their entire 2020 season, so please support them any way you can.


#4. Whipped Coffee - Need to stay awake for all these awesome performances? I recently jumped on the bandwagon and tried this new coffee trend. Too much sugar for my everyday beverage, but wow, what a kick!


#5. Takeout Night - Even with tightening our bootstraps, we're still enjoying takeout once a week! We're sticking to indie restaurants only, so it's a fun treat that's also serving our community. Our St. Catharines Downtown Association has a great list of local businesses and their current delivery options. I'm sure your community has a similar list. Shop local and support your neighbours!

On a personal note:
We are one of many music groups affected by the closure of churches 
and banning of community gatherings. 
As you can imagine, this is having a serious impact on our creativity and livelihood.

We'd love for you to please partner with our ministry this season:

5 WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY!

These are my Favourite Things for April!

Have you tried any of these?

What new things have you fallen in love with this month?

Please share in the comments below...

Book Review: More Than We Remember, by Christina Suzann Nelson

I don't know about you, but since the lockdown started,
I've been reading like a maniac. 

In March, I read 5 books. 

FIVE BOOKS!!!

I know for some of you, that's an average month, but for me, that was huge! I haven't been reading this much since university. This month, I'm on track to finish 4 books, including a sweet vintage copy of Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Our current environment can't help but shape our reading experiences, and that's why I'm really happy to share this novel with you today.

More Than We Remember is a portrait of crisis in a small town. On a quiet summer's evening, a car veers into the wrong lane, killing a single mother and leaving an entire town shaken and divided.

We follow the stories of three women - Emilia, Addison, and Brianne. Neither are friends before this moment, but the accident weaves their stories together in unexpected and powerful ways. Unravelling their secrets takes us on a journey through family dynamics, illness, suicide, and lies. The story is compelling with a great twist and a satisfying conclusion.

Ultimately, this is a story about the choices we make in crisis.

How do we treat those who are on our side and those who are not? 

How do we care for others when we're in deep pain? 

How do we love someone who seems to have changed?

How do we choose compassion when anger and blame are so much easier? 

How can we help others find the truth they so desperately need, 

even if that truth is painful for us?

As I was reading this, I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift outside my home and into my own neighbourhood. We are in unprecedented times. Our entire world is in pain. No one is unaffected.

The women of More Than We Remember discover the power of loving others through the most difficult of circumstances. And, in doing so, we are gifted with a story of mercy, grace, and inspiration.

This is one of those wonderful times when fiction can serve up a good dose of truth:

Love one another.... 

with good meals, a open mind, your gentle presence, 

and above all, a generous heart.

Stay safe, everyone! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Between Gratitude and Grief

I shouldn't be writing today. 

I should be packing CDs, getting an oil change, confirming concert details, 

and making a checklist that includes "don't forget socks!"
(a detail learned from experience...)

I should be getting ready to pack the car for our two-month, five-province 

10th Anniversary East Coast Tour. A time of music, celebrating and joy!

But that was before the world fell apart.

Instead, I'm home. 

My fridge is full, my family is healthy, and I have a comformable roof over my head. 

I have a lot to be thankful for. 

But I also have an empty tour calendar, an unclear vision of the future, 

and unexpected waves of anxiety over the safety of our world.

My emotions are a mess these days.

Can anyone else relate?

These days, I'm swimming between Gratitude and Grief.

Many psychiatrists have spoken about this season as being one of grief and trauma. 

No two mourning experiences are ever the same. Our symptoms come from the same list, but we're each having our own unique struggle.

For some, it's the loss of human connection and the everyday movement of society. For others, it's a loss of work, productivity, and purpose. And for far too many, it's the nuts and bolts grief of losing loved ones to a deadly virus, coupled with the pain of mourning in isolation.

Our talented friend, Drew Brown, recently wrote about the pandemic bringing up "new waves of grief" as we all find cancelled events and holidays popping up on the calendar. 

This resonated deeply with me. Our East Coast Tour has become a treasured part of our year. We love - and I mean, LOVE!!! - this annual tour. It grounds and spiritually renews us.

Yes, there's the financial loss, and that's difficult and significant. But there's more than that.
We're missing brunch with my family, my cousin's graduation, and galavanting about town with my childhood BFF. I can't quantify that loss, and I know I'm not alone in this. Many of you are missing weddings, reunions, and all kinds of special occasions. This is the stuff of life! Real, in the flesh, hug your loved ones kind of life. It's great to connect online, but certain moments are built for human contact. We need to acknowledge these losses, and take the time to mourn them. 

But in saying that, I'm so thankful for technology! I'm thankful for churches who are struggling with a learning curve to connect us in worship and prayer. I'm grateful for open-minded senior parents who are trying Skype and Facetime for the first time (I'm looking at you, H&H!) I'm grateful for musicians, writers, and theatres who are finding new ways to uplift us with their inspiring art.

And once I get thinking about it, I start to feel a rush of gratitude: for neighbours, who offer to pick up necessities on their grocery run. For our Canadian leadership, and the countless ways they're working to provide us with clear information and financial support. For the beauty of spring and its promise of new life...

But then, right there, I get hit by the wave again:
We're in lockdown. 
This is not normal. 
A deadly illness is attacking our world. 
People are dying....

And just like that, once again, 

I find myself swimming between Gratitude and Grief.

This mess of feelings that doesn't make sense, doesn't feel good. 

These emotions that clash against one another in an endless cycle.
It's exhausting.

But maybe... what if... just for now... 

What if living in this clash, in this mess of feelings, is our new normal? 

After all, isn't the mess where most great things happen?

We all love the boldness of the grand finish. We all appreciate the clarity of an obvious loss. 

But isn't it in that in-between space where most of life actually happens? 

Struggle and overcoming happens in the mess. 

It's where we grow, expand our perspective, and discover new views of the world. 

It's in the mess where we learn compassion, empathy, and generosity.

Maybe this mess of Gratitude and Grief is exactly where we need to be right now?

Maybe it's only in this space where we can gain the fullest and most loving perception of our reality?

It's good and right to mourn with those who mourn. 

It's also good and right to give thanks in all things.

So, today, I invite you to take a deep breath. 

Recognize the things you've lost. 

And then, give thanks for the blessings around you.

Please join me, in the space between Gratitude and Grief. 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *   

Like many artists, our livelihood has been decimated by COVID-19.

Please consider partnering with us in this difficult season:

5 Ways You Can Support Our Ministry!

Our Good Friday Choice...

"Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace; and they called together the whole cohort.  And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him.  And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.  After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him.  

Then they led him out to crucify him." 

(Mk 15:16-20)

They called together “the whole cohort.” 

A group of people have come together to beat and mock a single man.

And the irony? These are the people he came to save. “For God so loved the world” – the whole world. When Jesus preached, he didn’t sort the crowd into those worth saving and those not. His message of love and grace was for everyone. It was a gift, freely offered.

These men are literally touching the messenger of love, and all they can feel is violence and vitriol. 

They’re missing the whole point.

Most of us, if we were in Jesus’s position, would glare up at these men with anger glinting in our eyes, but not Jesus. Not long after this, in his dying moments, he’ll look at these same, hate-filled men and forgive them.

Right up 'til his final breath, Jesus is offering love. 

Not just to those deemed worthy, but to everyone.

In this difficult season of pain, are we allowing anger or fear rule our hearts, to make our decisions for us? Because it’s tempting and understandable to do that. But what if we make a different choice? What if we follow the example of Jesus? What if, in this dark season, we choose to be light, God’s light?

Where are the moments when we could choose patience over frustration? 

Where could we offer more gratitude to those caring for us? 

And where are the people whom we might consider to be less than worthy of resources or protection? 

How can we be generous with them in this season of scarcity?

In his greatest moment of suffering, Jesus responded with love. 

Now, it’s our turn.

I shared this reflection as part of today's Good Friday Ecumenical Prayer Service, 

here our hometown of St. Catharines.

You can find the full service HERE.

East Coast Tour - Cancelled!

I hope this finds you keeping safe and well! 

Gerald and I been following the Coronavirus situation across the country. 

Originally, we cut the first four weeks of our upcoming East Coast Tour, 

in the hopes that things would start to return to normal by late May. 

Unfortunately, all governments are giving longer and increasingly more intensive directives 

for social distancing and self isolating. 

We have made the heartbreaking decision to cancel
our entire East Coast Tour. 

Even if things start to clear up by late May, we recognize that churches will have lots of rebuilding to do in their communities, and advertising a concert won't and shouldn't be at the top of that list.

Right now, our plan is to put all touring on hold, 

until things start to change across the country.

Our prayer is that we can hit the road again in the fall. 

We won't make any plans until we feel it will be 

safe and practical for everyone. 

We ask you to please lift a prayer for our ministry. 

With this decision, we have no income for the foreseeable future. 

We're pursuing all options available to us. 

Please pray for discernment, resources, and peace.

We'd love for you to please consider supporting 

our ministry in this difficult time. 

We've created 5 ways you can partner with us HERE

We will continue to create music and find ways to spread the Gospel through song! 

We're looking into new ways to share our ministry in a virtual setting, 

as well as creating new resources for churches. 

Now more than ever, we all need the power of God's music and love.

Stay home. Stay safe.

We love you and are praying for you...

Blessings,

Allison + Gerald

Infinitely More