Me with retreat organizers and dear friends, Amy Pedrotty, Debi Durbin, and Kathy McIntyre

Last night I went up to Camp Mowana to do a concert for the St. Luke’s women’s retreat. I got to be with them last year as well, and it was so great to catch them up on everything that’s happened, and on what we saw in Kenya – a lot of those women supported our trip!

Camp Mowana, as I said last year, is very gorgeous, and does not look like the set of a movie with Chevy Chase or goofy kids covering their camp counselors with honey and twine. I forgot to take a picture last year to prove it, but not this time – the picture is the window I got to give a concert in front of. Pretty great view, even in winter.

This morning, I got to do worship at my home church again, and it was so good to be back with my church family and play with my band! I really miss them when I’m traveling. Yea, Faith Covenant!

With Mike Shelley at WRAF, Toccoa, GA

With Dave Purin at WHCB, Bristol, TN

Wednesday night after the tapings we drove up to Toccoa, GA, and spent the night in a very cool 100 year old bed and breakfast. I had to be on the air at WRAF at 7, which for anyone who knows me, means I am being absolutely heroic!! I am not a morning person. 🙂

The only hotels we could find were either a little scary, or really far away, and we stumbled on this, and it was perfect. One mile from the station, and turned out to be run by a wonderful Christian family. If you’re ever in Toccoa, that’s the place to be!

Had a great time that morning with Mike Shelley, loved meeting him, and being on the air for the morning show. Then mom and I headed up to Bristol, TN.

Absolutely amazing scenery and drive going there – we were in the Appalachian mountains, and I was sure glad it wasn’t icy, but it was so gorgeous. God is so creative and majestic! I love how we can see His work all around us!

After a little adventure finding WCRB, I had a great time hanging out with Dave Purin and doing the afternoon show. It’s always so fun to meet the people you’ve talked to or heard about in person, and I loved seeing the ministry that both of those guys have.

And then (drumroll please!!) we drove… HOME!! Yep. Drove all the way home last night, and it was so good to see my kiddos and my husband. Even though it’s only been a few days since they left in Florida, they’ve been so packed it felt a lot longer. Good to be home. 🙂

Mom on the couch on “Right Now!”

Me with Jennifer Schuchmann at WATC TV, Atlanta, GA

Mom and I were up early, and drove about 6 hours to north Atlanta to tape a couple of shows for WATC TV. Mom started – she did an interview for the show “Right Now” with Jennifer Schuchmann about her book. She did a great job, and I’m so proud to see how God is using her!

After mom’s interview, I also taped an episode of “Right Now” with Jennifer, and then we taped several songs for the show which will also to be used on another show “Atlanta Live!” God has really been so good to us both – I never get nervous to sing anywhere, or to speak, but for some reason, TV used to make me really nervous. Neither of us has been nervous for any of these tapings, and we take it as a real answer to prayer. Thank you, God!

The opening worship band at “The Rock”, WECC

Tonight I went and did the live radio show, “The Rock” at WECC (The Lighthouse) in St Marys, GA. It’s a really cool idea. It’s a live youth concert for about 100 teens that WECC broadcasts live. Most of the kids who were there were not church kids, and it definitely felt more like a rock concert than a youth night. What a cool outreach!

I was talking with one of the leaders who runs the house worship band, and he was telling me how many of the kids come to him and don’t know how to play anything at all. He teaches them an instrument, and about doing worship, and gets them plugged in. With my background in youth ministries, I was really impressed by the way they were thinking outside the box, and reaching a lot of kids for Christ. Way to go!

Did the show, loved the kids, and I’m going to bed – have a long drive tomorrow to get up to Atlanta before a taping.

Night!

Beautiful Amelia Island at sunset

You know how sometimes God just arranges your life in a lovely way?

I had one free night between radio visits in Palatka, FL and in St. Marys, GA. My mom is with me, and we were trying to figure out where we should spend it. Maybe Jacksonville? That’s on the way. Then mom said, “Hey, I remember someone telling me that Amelia Island is beautiful – let’s check that out.” Okay.

Then her phone rings. It’s a friend, and she’s coming down to Florida, will we be anywhere near her? She’s going to be flying into Jacksonville and her plane is landing when we’ll be driving by the airport. Oh, and she’s going to stay with her family on Amelia Island, any chance we could come and spend the night with them? Any chance we can give her a ride from the airport?

Isn’t God awesome!? So we get to give her a ride which she needed, and we got a place to stay, which we needed, and we got to stay in exactly the place my mom wanted to see. He is so good!

With Pastor Randy at Peniel Baptist

With Robin Robinson of WHIF at the concert

Well, my family left on Saturday, which is never fun, and my mom and I headed up to Palatka, FL. Sunday morning I did the worship services at Peniel Baptist church, and they were just wonderful – I felt like I’d known them forever. 🙂

I came back that night and did a concert/ministry event in place of their regular Sunday night worship, sponsored by the church and by the Christian radio station up there, WHIF. It was a really fun night of ministry!

This morning I was on the morning show at WHIF with Robin Robinson. She was at the concert last night too, and she’s so much braver than I am! She had to get to the station a lot earlier. 🙂 We had a great prayer time at the station too. Altogether, a great time in Palatka!

Mom and I with Herman and Sharron on CTN

Today I went back to CTN to shoot 2 shows.

First we did “It’s Time for Herman and Sharron”, and I got to do that with my mom, who’s also out right now with my dad’s book “No One Tells a Dying Guy to Shut Up”. They did such an excellent job of expressing what a great thing God has done through this book – if you haven’t gotten it yet, you need to. You can see it here.

After that I taped several songs for “The Good Life” which will air on February 12th at 9 across the network. The people we met there were just wonderful. Thanks so much for having us in! We can’t wait to come back.

With the Bechtels and the whole gang, and yes, we ate that whole sundae!!

Today I got to take the day off and spend it with my family, which is awesome, but we also got to spend it with wonderful friends, Bobby and Lisa Bechtel. They are the missionaries we stayed with in Mombasa, and we really loved them so much. What a blessing that they were in Florida on furlough when we were! We got to catch up with them and their kids, and also meet Kristen who is interning with them. What a blessed day! I love how God gave us that time, so unexpected – who thinks we get to catch up with friends from Mombasa!!

Singing at Church on the Rock, Plant City, FL

Yesterday we were at Church on the Rock in Plant City, FL. What awesome people! And how fun, my family came down on Saturday, so they were with me, which is always such a blessing for me.

I sang on the morning service and did some guest worship and also my own music. Then we went out with the pastor’s family, and what a blessing to get to know them – what a wonderful family! Getting to know people on the road is one of the greatest blessings of this ministry.

That afternoon we came back, and I gave a concert. Such a great time, and I know the Lord used it. Be praying for this church – they have a great ministry to Haiti, and right now, they are hoping God will really use them there.

On the set of “Homekeepers” on CTN

Today I taped the show “Homekeepers” for CTN (Christian Television Network)with Arthelene Rippy. What a lovely woman – we had a great time, and it’s always fun to see “behind the scenes” on a television show. Thanks, Arthelene, what a privilege to meet you!