Donna Cori Gibson News

18 Years Today!

2012-01-08T21:55:00.001-08:00

Praying "in your room"

2012-01-02T23:33:00.000-08:00

Please remember to keep your regular time for prayer with the Lord. And I mean a specific quite time IN ADDITION to prayer while driving, washing dishes and in the shower (the all day prayers). St. John of the Cross says, "...shutting the door upon thee (that is to say, closing your will toward all things save God), pray to thy Father in secret" (Spiritual Canticle 1,9). This does not mean to shut only the actual door of our room, but that it is necessary to close our will to everything, as he continues: "to shut all thy faculties upon all creatures." This requires a firm decision of the will to put aside everything - all cares, all thoughts of human things, and concentrate on God alone.

St. Theresa of Avila (my favorite saint) gives this advice, "Since we have resolved to devote to Him this very brief period of time...let us give it to Him freely with our minds unoccupied by other things and with a firm resolve never to take it back again, whatever we may suffer through trials, annoyances, or aridities" (Way of Perfection, 23)

While there is a time to pray for our worldly concerns and to mention them to God, it is not the only way, nor the best way, to pray. It is so hard to keep our prayer time free from the thoughts and cares of life and to just love God for the sake of God alone, but if we don't, we cannot enter that most intimate and interior "hiding place" where God resides. A spiritual director of mine would say, "We want to get heaven for a nickle." If we want more of God, we must give more of ourselves. It's going to cost. I don't know about you, but I want it all.

Stations 9 and 10 and concerts

2012-01-02T23:32:00.000-08:00

I know we are not even out of the Christmas season yet, until Fri. (Epiphany) unless you are in the north west and then it's not until Sunday, but I can't stop thinking about Lent.

Stations # 9 and #10 have just been uploaded to my YouTube channel. I hope you are able to watch them. Next month is the last month and they will all be up before the start of Lent. You can make a very interactive and engaging "Way of the Cross" by watching and listening to them all.

Also, at the end of February, I start my "Way of the Cross" concert with video tour. Now I'm traveling with even MORE gear. I start in Oregon and then NY at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (I'm a Lay Carmelite, so I can't wait to visit this place). Then I have 6 concerts in Nebraska and go directly to Indiana, then 4 in Massachusetts and finally a few dates in my favorite city, St. Louis, MO. There's also a women's conference I'm presenting at there. Details for each event is posted on my "Concerts" page I will be gone from home for 25 days straight, something I've never done before and am a little nervous about what is going to happen at home in my absence. I find the best way to deal with it is not to think about it. Just put alot of food in the freezer and pray alot.

I also have to think about how to pack all my gear and clothes into one carry on suitcase and one "personal item" \o/

If you think your parish would like a "Way of the Cross" concert/video presentation, we are now booking for Lent of 2013 and other Fridays or Sundays throughout this year. Other concert themes are listed here and it's never to early to book for Christmas.

A Happy Thought

2011-12-22T14:50:00.000-08:00

Today, while I was washing dishes, I was considering the fact that since the best that man could offer (gold, palaces, fine food, servants, etc.) is still not worthy of so great a King as our God, Creator, and Savior, and that God would still have to do without so much to be with us anyway, He decided to go without ANYTHING at all and be born in a cave, with no comforts of home, in the cold, and having to invite his own worshipers to boot and then flee for his life. Having nothing at all is more useful to Him than the paltry we could offer. Our best is still too meager. This made me think further...

Since God is so great and demanding of perfection ("be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect") and it seems like we as a people are acting so base these days that he should have enough of us any day now. It's a wonder He still puts up with us. But it's a joy in knowing that since we can't give Him anything good enough, He has supplied the perfect worship for us. We have only to participate in the meager way we can. We can not offer Him perfect worship without the Mass, no matter how hard we try. We are so inadequate. If mankind continues to become worse and completely degenerate, we will still continue to endure as long as some continue to offer the Perfect Sacrifice. Thank you, Jesus!

Lord, have mercy. "His mercy endures forever!" May the Mass endure on earth forever. Pray that it does.

Merry Christmas!

Getting Ready - Pt. 1

2011-12-16T13:14:00.000-08:00

Advent, like Lent, is a time of preparation. There is no better way to prepare your soul for God than with prayer. If you are serious about persuing God and in growing in the spiritual life, then the only way is by regular, that means daily, times of prayer. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Make a time of complete solitude, total avoidance of people, business and "stuff to do." Seek the God hidden within you. Without this regular prayer time, we are just pretending to live a spiritual life, even the most simple one.

SOS

2011-12-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

Help!
My mini laptop doesn't make the cut as an instrument to present "The Way of the Cross" videos for my upcoming concerts. It is not powerful enough and the videos pause and skip. I need one with more "grunt", speed, software, and a projector as well (totaling $3,775.00) Ouch! Will you please help? I have two methods of donating. You could just send a check (click here for my contact info) or donate online on my website. Thanks so much! Our Lady, Immaculately Conceived, whose feast day is today, pray for us!

I leave tomorrow for NC for a Christmas concert. My video guy won't stop making videos for me. (I can't turn the water off) so I'm going to have him create some for my Christmas concert presentation - ooooooohhhhhhh.... He's already started with "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" on my YouTube channel. He's just so good! It's because he just loves God so much. It oozes all over his videos. The Holy Spirit can do so much in an open, willing, loving vessel. Praise the Lord! (and thank you, Francis)

Videos for Stations 7 & 8

2011-12-03T23:27:00.000-08:00

We have uploaded 3 more videos to my YouTube channel. One is in keeping with the season, O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL and the other two are stations #7 and #8 of THE WAY OF THE CROSS.

Please forward them to your friends. Don't forget to order your CDs if you haven't already at www.donnacorigibson.com/CatholicMusic.html. You can listen to all 8 albums online.

This Year

2011-12-02T23:29:00.000-08:00

I'd like to thank you all so much for your support and encouragement this year. It sure has been an exciting one, with the release of 2 albums and all these videos, concerts and so many changes. I am so honored that you have stuck with me through all my marketing experiments and new ideas. I have so many more videos and concert ideas planned for next year. I have Advent/Christmas concerts this month in Yelm, WA and Concord, NC. Visit my Concerts Page for details. I am also full for Lent 2012 with Way of the Cross concerts. (They are not all posted yet.) At one point I won't get to go home for 3 weeks. I'm a little scared of being away from home and kids for that long, though. I keep telling myself, "Once a year won't be that bad, will it?" We'll soon see. One can only....hope.

Hope

2011-12-01T23:28:00.000-08:00

It's that most wonderful time of the year again and I wanted to share a few things with you.

Advent is a time of HOPE and I love what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1817) says about it:

"Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life as our happiness...Relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit...Christian hope takes up and fulfills the hope of the chosen people which has its origin and model in the hope of Abraham, who was blessed abundantly by the promises of God fulfilled in Isaac, and who was purified by the test of the sacrifice. Paul'sLetter to the Romans says of Abraham that "hoping against hope, he believed, and thus became the father of many nations" (Rom 4:18).

And Psalm 56:9 "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust without a fear. What can flesh do to me?...This I know, that God is for me."

May God's words fill you with consolation and strength. Keep your hope in Him.

Be Careful

2011-11-30T23:29:00.002-08:00

I thought I'd share some very important info from Dr. Sears about safeguarding your health while you are out and about shopping:

I'm talking about the little slip of paper you tuck into your pocket or purse every time you buy anything. From gas to all those Christmas presents you're getting for all your friends and family this week.

That receipt is most likely covered with bisphenol A (BPA) - the cancer-causing, estrogen-mimicking chemical.

Paper receipts are coated with BPA to get the ink from the receipt printer to develop on the paper. Problem is, BPA doesn't stay on the receipt, making it easy to be absorbed by anyone handling the paper.

What's worse is that a new study found that BPA transfers readily from receipts to skin and can penetrate the skin to such a depth that it cannot be washed off.¹

BPA is dangerous, even in small amounts. Studies show that it may cause cancers, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and more.

Nearly every modern register uses this kind of paper. And every one of those receipts, according to new research, contains from 250 to 1,000 times more BPA than a plastic water bottle or soda can lining. Several states, and Canada and Europe, have banned using BPA in some of those kinds of products.

Two other new studies looked at how much of the BPA from each receipt gets from your skin into your bloodstream.

One looked at 15 different types of paper products. including thermal receipts, flyers, magazines, tickets, mailing envelopes, newspapers, food contact papers, food cartons, airplane boarding passes, luggage tags, printing papers, business cards, napkins, paper towels, and toilet paper, collected from several cities around the world.

Thermal papers accounted for 98% of the BPA you are exposed to.

The second study says that you absorb as much as 60% of the BPA you get on your skin.²

Fortunately, there are some good ways to avoid taking in BPA while you're doing your seasonal shopping.

First, the easiest way to avoid getting BPA on your hands is to decline getting a receipt. If you don't need a receipt, leave it and ask the cashier not to print it if possible. For many small purchases and unless you're purchasing something you may want to take back, you probably don't need one anyway.

Second, shop at stores that don't have thermal printers that use BPA.

The Environmental Working Group's research shows that some of the stores that use BPA-containing receipts in at least some outlets include McDonald's, CVS, KFC, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Safeway and the U.S. Postal Service.

Receipts from some major chains including Target, Starbucks and Bank of America ATMs issued receipts that were BPA-free or contained only trace amounts.³

Third, handle your receipts as little as possible, and make sure you wash your hands the right way when you get home. Washing your hands is one of the quickest, safest, easiest and most overlooked things you can do to protect your health on many levels. Unfortunately, few of us do it properly. Keep these three things in mind:

You don't need a special soap. Expensive antibacterial soap is a waste of money and can contain toxic chemicals. Same goes for hand sanitizers.

Ordinary, plain, unscented soap is the best. It kills just as many microbes and bacteria as antibacterial soap. A U.S. FDA advisory committee found that use of antibacterial soaps provides no benefits over plain soap and water.⁴
Your choice of hot or cold water makes no difference. For comfort, I like warm water.
The length of time washing your hands is important. Twenty seconds is the optimum length - that's about the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song - twice.
Make sure you rinse the soap off your hands with running water and dry them well - preferably on a disposable paper towel.

May you have a hope-filled and very blessed Advent and Christmas,

Much love,

Donna

"Turn the Other Cheek"

2011-11-18T10:32:00.001-08:00

Hether Fisher Klopping posted in Catholic faithhook.

Hether Fisher Klopping

5:22am Nov 18

I heard a great reflection on "turning the other cheek" from Fr. Barron's Catholicism Series the other night. He said it was NOT meant to mean you simply offer the other cheek to be hit, too, as many think. It was meant to suggest you literally turn your chin away to reflect invalidation and say, "I'm not going to play this with you." (I'll add here, "Back away from me, Satan!") Fr. Barron shared a story about how Blessed Mother Teresa once found a starving girl in the streets and brought her into a bakery nearby to ask if the baker could give her something to eat. The man spat in her face, full on. She responded, "Thank you for that for me, but how about the child?"

Where sin abounds...

2011-11-14T23:25:00.001-08:00

...grace abounds all the more."
This is especially true in Vegas. Just got back. I love, love love the shows there. Saw Phantom of the Opera and Cirque de Soliel "Le Reve". Great art, architecture, gardens, food and admired the excellence of human achievement. Even the cantor at Mass on Sunday was amazing and I'm very glad. It would be a horrible testimony to all the people who come from all over the world to experience great quality of everything, only to go to God's house to be subjected to the lowest levels of human ability (and even pain - as it is many times for me.) I only bought one pair of shoes and a Jacob's ladder rosary to replace the one that was stolen from me when I was singing at a church years ago. Viva Las Vegas!
...and since the Bible says only to "think on all things pure and lovely, true and excellent..." etc. we don't need to talk about the "sin" that abounds there. There is plenty of Grace. God be praised!

TV Shows

2011-10-27T22:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, in between concerts in OR, I managed to record a TV show for the Country Gospel Riny Horst show - 3 actually - and one was for a Christmas program. It's shown throughout the country, perhaps you've heard of it. If I was really on the ball, I would have had my camera to take a picture and all that, but it was all I could do to just show up and leave on time so I could make it to my next gig, remember my words, and make myself presentable (I had to change my clothes 3 times). I tend to forget the details when I have bigger fish to fry. So, I will share with you a photo that was taken at a gig earlier this month. The mother of this beautiful baby sent this to me so it was no work on my part. This is Cecelia Eisenbacher. It was a joy to hold such a tiny one again. My youngest is now 3.

Video for Station #4 and ANOTHER New Album

2011-10-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

Jesus Meets His Holy Mother

You will LOVE this one. It is so beautiful the way it portrays how close they were in life and mission - and the song is awesome too.
Click this link to view: "She Was There." - Enjoy.

ALSO, on November 2nd, I will be releasing the second edition of the "Our Catholic Faith" album. It is completely rearranged and includes new spoken stories and apologetics, features different songs, a whole new recording of "Anima Chrisi" featuring the real string section I hired for the Way of the Cross album, AND a BRAND NEW song: "You Are Not Alone." Then, and for 5 days only, I will be offering it at a very special price. Look for my email announcement on Nov. 2nd!

Please share with me any particularly significant thoughts/meditations which crossed your mind as you listened to this new track/video. It's always nice to hear from you. Please post the comment on FaceBook so I can keep all the comments together.

If you are in Oregon and would like a Way of the Cross concert at your parish for Feb. 25 or 26. Please call 406-754-3204 or email me at donna@donnacorig..... (you know the rest).
Also still available for a Lenten Way of the Cross concert is March 2,3,4,30,31 and April 1 and 6 - anywhere.

Keep praying,
Donna

CLICK HERE FOR"She Was There"VIDEO

This is the fourth track from my new album The Way of the Cross - a song for each station. Please spread the word and tell your friends and forward this email as Catholic music gets so little exposure. Together we can do something beautiful for Christ. Oh, may God be exceedingly praised!

To order the CD click HERE.

Here is the description from the website:

Perfect for anyone who loves Jesus or anyone who wants to love him more, this album is a tremendous aid for meditation on the passion of Christ. Considered Donna's "magnum opus," the "experience" of these songs transports you directly to the heart of Jesus as you share this very intimate and emotional walk with him to his death on a cross. Inviting you to respond with the heart, the words to each song/station are taken from scripture and inspired by St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Jose Maria Escriva, Mother Angelica and other approved devotionals. The lush arrangements and words draw you into the depth, meaning and emotion of the passion of Christ, helped by a full band and over 40 string players.

Meditating on our Lord's passion is a practice not limited to a particular season. Since Jesus was made perfect through what he suffered (Heb. 2:13, Heb. 5:8) we learn by this example, how to become "other Christs" and true Christians through suffering, the greatest gift on earth we could have. As we share in Christ's passion, so will we also share in his resurrection/glory (Phil 3:10).

A Better Way to Pray

2011-10-15T16:58:00.001-07:00

I like to pray a rosary every day but my schedule is so very hectic with 4 kids, homeschool, work, travel and homekeeping (which more often than not gets skipped in favor of preparing healthy meals instead of "fast" food) that, sometimes, I never get to finish my rosary.

I have fallen into taking St. Teresa of Avila's advice of "saying one Our Father" extremely well, which is better than saying a whole string of them poorly. Since I never know which prayer of the rosary will end up being my last, I pray each prayer like it is with my last breath, with very great attention. Once, I was tearing up before the end of just the Creed! I continue in the same way with the rest of the prayers. I may get interrupted or run out of time (I continue in increments throughout the day) but I know what was offered up already was gold and not straw. - Better a little gold than alot of straw, right?

Many times I even finish! Wow! I have to do it this way because there is only so much time available to set aside for prayer and there's already liturgy of the hours, dedicated meditation time and Mass. Try it!

Video for Station #3 now ready

2011-10-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

Jesus Falls the First Time

The song is "He Thought of Me" I am so glad to be able to share it with you. There's not as much drama as there are opportunities for meditation. I particularly like the way the ending sequences turned out with the overlay.

First, I'd like to say "thank you so much" for your feedback on the first two videos. Your insights and comments were very enlightening as to what you are really thinking.

Please share with me any particularly significant thoughts/meditations which crossed your mind as you listened to one of these tracks or watched one of these videos. Images and lyrics affect different people differently, as you know, and it's always nice to hear of the insights/inspirations which the Spirit provides... it helps us to grow collectively as His family. Please post a comment here or on FaceBook so I can keep all the comments together.

Keep praying,
Donna

I Have Something For You

2011-09-27T22:55:00.000-07:00

I Want To Give You A Free Download
This one is of an unreleased song, never been heard anywhere before...from my private archives.

For the Rest of My Life is a song I wrote my husband and sang to him for the first time at our wedding reception, 17 years ago. The words speak of trusting in God to help us make it work and include verses from the "Song of Songs" book of the Bible. A song for any married couple. It was the last song I wrote coming out of my secular music days - just before embarking on Catholic music - and it was recorded and produced in NY by Barry Hartglass with that "era's" radio sound.

I'm giving this away for FREE. Click here Wedding Song...

Station #1Video

2011-09-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Most comments I've received concerning my new videos were very deep. I have some cool listeners. Others were disturbed by my graphic pictures. Scripture says in Is 53:14-15, “He’ll startle the nations, so marred is his look beyond that of Man.” I sing this word for word and the video shows the Sacred Heart morphing into a “mummified (I see it as more of a marring) eerie image.” Some were startled. But, the bloodiness of some short scenes illustrate more accurately the depth of Jesus' love. You’ve heard “Love is patient, love is kind…” well, the definition of patient, if you look it up, means “suffering without complaining.” True and great love suffers a lot – to your bones kind of suffering. Even today’s world is not sterile. If we meditate on Jesus’ death without the horror and blood, then we are not meditating on the real Jesus and have a poor grasp of real life and how to live it - suffering. And how can we imitate what we don’t know? He gave us an example. Most people choose to refuse the cross, but we should get in there. Get dirty. A greater crown awaits you. Also, the songs are scripture, so we get more out of it the more we hear it. We should spread the videos around. Invite many to a closer walk with Jesus. Important – if the children of Fatima were shown hell at the ages of 6,7 and 9, then ours certainly should know about the sufferings of their Savior. That’s how saints are made – by true love.

The first video is more jolting than the rest of the 14 will be. It’s only natural, the condemnation sets the scene and was jolting then. The rest of the stations are carrying out the orders. Many scenes will be of the sufferings and sins of today, how they relate to the Passion as well as our own lives, for meditation without resolutions is mostly fruitless. Jesus says, “Learn of me…” Let’s really dig in and study and follow… God bless you. D

Music Videos for First Two Stations Songs

2011-09-03T23:44:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! This month we have uploaded MUSIC VIDEOS to accompany the first two songs from the new Stations of the Cross album, "The Way of the Cross - a song for each station." These videos help you to really experience and "enter into" each station. Masterfully done by expert video maker Francis Choudhury from Austrailia, the scenes relate directly to each lyric and promise to grab you by the heart.

Every month we will upload 2 more station videos, having all 14 posted by Lent. You will be guided in making a very meaningful walk with Jesus and I promise it will be one you will never forget.

These videos will eventually be compiled and presented at each of my Lenten "Stations" concerts starting Lent 2012. They will be showing behind me while I sing. We'll be passing out a tissue with every program. You won't want to miss it.

PLEASE, go to my FACEBOOK page and post a comment and tell me what you think of these first two stations, or at least click the "like" button, if you haven't already, and really help me out. Thanks. Of course, if you love it, you will want your friends to see them, so please tell them about it.

You're awesome. Enjoy!

15 Seconds

2011-08-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

Another major point I got from my retreat this year is the exercise of keeping a concentrated 15 seconds of attention or "focused meditation" without distractions. Really, isn't it really hard to just keep focused on one thought for 15 seconds? Even St. Teresa of Avila, great mystic and Doctor of the Church, would complain that her distractions at prayer were like "mad men" invading her thoughts. She required a meditation book for 16 years in order to stay focused at prayer.

So, on your way to receiving communion, the God of the universe, instead of thinking about what line you're going to get in, if you're walking to slow or fast, if junior is going bump his sister, who the Eucharistic minister is, smiling at so-and-so, etc. try to REALLY concentrate for 15 seconds on WHO you are going to receive and really prepare yourself. Same thing with the first 15 seconds after receiving or with keeping a straight 15 seconds at your meditation time at home before a "mad man" comes into your thoughts and interrupts you with how pleasant or rough a day it is, or what you are going to do next, or who's making that particular noise you hear. Hard, isn't it? Recollection. 15 seconds at a time. Practice, practice, practice. You'll eventually get quite good at anything with enough practice.

A Firey Furnace

2011-08-16T22:41:00.001-07:00

The director of the Carmelite retreat said that each soul is like a different kind of metal. They each have their own melting point. Some are hotter than others. Eventually, when the furnace gets hot enough, it WILL melt. If some people respond quicker to your prayers than others, then they have a lower melting point. Some souls require HEAPS of sacrifices, prayers, offerings, and sufferings on their behalf before any change can take place. Keep that in mind when you are praying for someone for a long time and there's no visible change. You just have to "step up" the prayer. Turn up the furnace. Yes, there's a cost. It's gonna hurt. Some souls are VERY costly. Oh, Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love for souls, make my heart like unto thine.

Silence!

2011-08-10T10:37:00.001-07:00

Oh, this was so good I just HAD to share it. For prayer time lately, I've been working my way through the devotional, My Daily Bread, and I just reached the end of the section called "The Way of Purification" which is about half way through the book. The whole meditation was awesome, but the prayer at the end reads like this:

Dear Holy Spirit, my God, teach me to talk well and wisely. Let me avoid useless conversations. Help me to speak often for You. Grant that my words may never hurt men of good will. May my words always bring consolation to those in sorrow, guidance to those who are confused, light to the ignorant, hope to those who despair, comfort to those who are troubled, and good advice to those in need. Take my lips and make them Yours. Take possession of my mind and make it an instrument of Your goodness and a channel of Your truth. I hope to become a man of silence, that is, one who preferes to talk to God rather than to men. In my human conversations, may I always bring You closer to them and them closer to You. Amen.

Spiritual Thoughts

2011-08-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

Well, now that the new CD is out there and getting good responses, I can turn my attention from Catholic music to talking about more spiritual matters.

I just came back from my yearly Lay-Carmelite silent retreat. Oh, I love the silence. and was thinking that it would be a worth-while idea to share some spiritual gems from time to time, so hear is one that has been of utmost importance in my life, especially with the busy, business of everything around here and the fact that there are just not enough hours in the day to get it all done. I just have to do my best and let God do the rest.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2193: "'On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound (BOUND!)... to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body' (CIC, can. 1247)."

I have found this to be very liberating. I am COMMANDED to NOT WORK. Phew!! Thank you, Jesus. I really need a break and now I don't feel guilty for not being "productive." I hope you all can take joy in the rest of the Lord.

It's ready for purchase! Come and get it!

2011-07-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

My new album, my greatest, non-child related project is finally available! This is soooooo exciting! I just know you're going to be blessed when you hear it. Oh! God bless you!!

http://donnacorigibson.com/StationsOftheCrossInSong.html

My Parents

2011-07-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

My parents were here from FL for 10 days. They just left and so now life is starting to get back to normal. I spent 7 hours at my desk yesterday. It was a good visit. I even got to have my Dad come to the studio with me while I recorded vocals in Seattle for my new song "You Are Not Alone" which will be on the 2nd edition of the "Our Catholic Faith" album due to be released this October. I'm also adding new apologetics, changing out songs and including the new version of "Anima Christi" which has the real string players that I hired when doing the "Way of the Cross" album. (I try to get my money's worth.) My Dad hasn't been to a studio with me since I was a teenager in Miami.

We also spent an entire day making meatballs and "gravy" the New York Italian way. They call it "gravy" because you start with the fat renderings from frying the meatballs and/or other meat, just like you would turkey gravy. If you call it "sauce" it's made without meat. But Italians in Italy refer to it either way as a "sauce." Depending on who you are talking to, be careful to get your terms correct. It's just one of those cultural things you get used to with practice. Which ever way you call it, it's Divine!

Retraction

2011-07-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

Regarding my former support of Fr. Corapi, after the official and shocking press release by his religious order SOLT, I so sadly withdraw my favorable opinion. I'm am really too stunned to comment as I'm sure many of you are, except to say, "Lord, have mercy."

Sheet Music

2011-06-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from the pain and detail of creating sheet music for all 14 songs of the "Way of the Cross" album. I've been putting it off and putting it off. I did one song in January and another in March. I just finished, we'll I'm just about finished, with the third one today. My goal was to be done by summer so I could have some time off, but I just didn't want to do it. Good news, though, I got an updated Finale program and it plays back everything without a hitch and some of the features got the glitches out of them, so it's alot easier than in the past. I know it's not very exciting news, but that's really what I'm up to and will be doing for the next month. When am I EVER going to get to clean my house?

Facebook

2011-06-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

I missed my Saturday afternoon tea time today. I LOVE to take a break and have tea on Saturday afternoons, but today I was so busy updating my Facebook page. It has been sorely neglected. I confirmed lots of new friends and added new pictures. If you enjoy or prefer to receive news and updates from me through Facebook you could "like" my page or website (there's a new link there now), which would also make it easy for you to share info with your friends and you can even request to be "friends" with me. I'll probably say yes...

It is Finished!

2011-06-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

It is kind of hard to believe and a little bittersweet, but The Stations of the Cross album has been officially signed off by me. I'm finalizing the artwork to include all my last minute co-producers and next week it will go off to replication and be available at the end of July or so.

I was thinking I should take a break for a while, buy my mind is already teeming with ideas for the next one. I've already written a new song for the second edition of the Our Catholic Faith CD. I'm changing out most of the songs, adding a brand new one and a new appologetic on purgatory (what Catholic faith CD is complete without a blurb on purgatory, right?) replacing/adding to a story or two and replacing the current Anima Christi with a completely new recording of Anima Christi (my biggest hit) which includes the live string quartet from Macedonia that I used for the Way of the Cross project and some brass - gorgeous! This should be done by Fall as well.

Then, I'm already thinking about a collection of songs for Our Lady. What do you think? Any suggestions? Should I chill out for a little while, maybe get some sleep, play with my kids, clean my house? I think a real work-a-holic asks those kind of questions. I just convicted myself. I need help.

Tedium!

2011-06-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

What started as a labor of love is culminating into a very tedious final. This week we are preparing to go to mastering on Friday and I am pouring through each song AND it's background track for every little detail. New things keep popping out at me that I never heard before. Things that are really fine, I suppose, but the decisions and indecisions are driving me crazy (and my producer, Barry. I should to give him many bonuses for all the extra miles he goes for me.) I don't even know how to comment anymore, yet, I need to listen over and over to make sure nothing accidently gets left out or something. Barry says, "It's like a painting. It is never finished. It just stops in interesting places." I need to stop before I ruin it - as I did one song and now we have to take 5 steps to undo it. In contrast though, in "examining" the background tracks (without vocals) I hear so many "O, so cool" sounds and parts that I never really paid attention to before. Barry is so talented at this music stuff. He's really amazing. I wonder how one learns stuff like that.

The great news is that we got the mastering guy and studio we really wanted. His name is Peter Moshay and he currently works in NY as the on staff, full-time, audio guy for Hall and Oats' online radio program. We could have waited months for him to be available as has happened before, but, what do you know, he is available the exact day we need him. God is good! So, next week this should all be done and will go to replication. Then in July or so all my co-producers will get their official pre-release copies. Oh, famous last words! I'll believe it when I see it.

Please pray I keep my sanity.

Almost There!

2011-05-17T22:45:00.000-07:00

Well, we finished recording ALL the extra musicians and vocalists this week. The sound is SO BIG. Now we just have to edit and mix. Please pray that we can book the "mastering" with the guy that would really be the best. The one I want is pretty busy, but God can make and opening if he's the one. Thanks for remembering me in prayer. This is a really big project.

Boston

2011-04-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

Just finished concert #4 of 6. Today's my day off so we're going to Boston. Went to Concord yesterday for a little history excursion. Here I am on the set of Boston's Catholic TV show "This Is the Day." Just squeezed in a little interview.

No More Satelite

2011-03-31T18:53:00.000-07:00

Today we turned off our satellite service and no longer have any TV. Not that we watched it that much anyway. We got tired of paying for something we rarely used and were looking for ways to cut back. I'm going to miss my occasional fix of "The Nanny" my favorite show. I love the show for every reason. I always laugh out loud many times an episode and I feel so at home with the manerisms, being raised from parents from NY city who grew up with Jewish neighbors and learned alot of of the lingo, etc. About once a week, we'd watch The Glenn Beck show on Fox but we can see that on the internet. The kids only watched the science show, The Zula Patrol, once a week during lunch, so that's the only thing they will miss. So we move on...

Online Interviews

2011-03-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I did an online interview with Deacon Tom Fox for his Catholic Vitamins program. I helped him with the vitamin V: Veneration. I was up most the night before because of a sick baby and I had a splitting headache all day, but somehow I managed throught he interview. God works out these things anyway, so I never worry about them.

Also, last month I did another online interview for Immaculate Heart Radio's "Why I'm Catholic" program with host and fellow Catholic recording artist, Elizabeth Campisi. You can hear the interview on my website on the "Donna" page:
http://www.donnacorigibson.com/donna.html

Lent!

2011-03-08T21:39:00.000-08:00

We had a proper fat Tuesday at our house, with an afternoon tea for the whole family, complete with lemon tea cake, assorted chocolate dipped cookies and fruits. It's going to be a REAL sacrifice for the love of my Jesus to forgo this lovely time of respite which gets me through the grey winter. The ceremony, the music, the lovely decor, the feel of a beautiful tea pot or cup in my hands... the goodies. Yes, a great sacrifice. Now I have to think of another way to get my kids to come running to me for a relaxing time together. Chocolate always seems to work great... Sigh... Well, I'm off to Texas...

New Website!

2011-02-24T17:04:00.000-08:00

It has taken me a month of mistakes and redoing it over and over. I have worked late into the night to when I thought my eyes would start bleeding. It is true what St. Vincent de Paul says, "The human body really only needs four hours of sleep to function." And he lived into his 80's, he should know. It is done and it is beautiful. Please check out my website and let me know if I missed anything (missing links, spelling, any problems, etc.) I'm getting ready for the release of the Stations album this fall. I like to start early.

Twitter

2011-02-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking lately about how you will never get a "tweet" from me via Twitter. What might seem interesting to some is that I sincerely hope you never WANT a "tweet" from me - or from anyone else for that matter. It is my prayer that you are very serious about your prayer life and relationship with God and won't get sucked into today's culture that wants to dissapate our recollectedness, distracting us from the one true goal, which is to "love God with ALL our heart, ALL our mind, ALL our soul and ALL our stregnth..." Lk 10:27 There is plenty of very important things to think about ESPECIALLY today. Don't let Satan knock you off course and interrupt you into silliness. Simplify as much as possible. Be a warrior. Don't allow yourself to be "Tweeterpated."

Halleluia! Praise the Lord!

2011-01-28T00:18:00.000-08:00

A gentleman from OR informed me that a playlist can be made on the fly on the iPod Touch. I looked further into it and, low and behold, it DOES!! You don't understand how valuable that is to me. I am soooooo happy! Traveling with a laptop is not a necessity anymore, but an option. I can edit my set list right before a concert, sitting right there in church, in seconds. Oh.... thank you, Jesus...

I had some new pictures taken a few weeks ago. My first photo shoot in 10 years. I'm so pleased with the results. I have enough pictures for two albums, website, and promotional materials. I have alot to do now. Above is the picture for my new homepage, set to go live in Sept.

Perks of the Job

2011-01-11T16:06:00.000-08:00

Well, we are back to ordinary time. Our Christmas was simple and lovely. Just the family at home (all our relatives live far away). Last month I bought an iPod Touch. You see, at concerts, I've been using a minidisc player, with another mini disc player for back up and then I carry all the separate discs 7 or 8, with wires and batteries. They don't sell these anymore, but these are the only players that let you create a playlist on the spot - no computer necessary. Sometimes I make last minute changes. However, lately, upon pressing the pause button, the thing wouldn't pause sometimes, or it would skip a song or cause some other surprise, so I had to come up with a new system. I chose the iPod Touch over the regular iPod, because when raising or lowering the volume or scrolling for songs, you don't get that annoying "click, click, click" which would amplify over the speakers for all to be very distracted by. I'll have to create a few (maybe 5) different playlists ahead of time created specifically for the season, but otherwise, I think it might work. I'll have to use it a few times for a concert to see if it "behaves" properly or if it's too sensitive to careless touches, etc. But it also holds video, so when I offer my new "Stations of the Cross" program next Lent, with accompanying video, I'll be set there too.

Now for the perks. If I knew how great this gismo was earlier, I might have gotten it a long time ago (you see, I was just too put off by the inability to create last minute playlists.) I no longer have to travel with my extra discs, heavy batteries, phone, camera, notepad, bible, or liturgy of the hours prayer book. I can download 5 days worth of liturgy ahead of time, then read it on the plane or in a church or someone's house. With my need to travel lighter and lighter, this is an awesome perk.

And... it's a write off.
I love my job.

Happy New Year!

Finally, Some Pictures!

2010-12-15T02:37:00.000-08:00

If I go to an area to give more than 2 concerts, I like to meet my mother there and we sightsee. Here we are visiting the Clydesdale horses at the Anheiser-Bush plant (I used to just LOVE those commercials as a kid.) the Gateway Arch and the Cathedral Basilica (Awesome!) No, I'm not pregnant, just bundled up. It was extremely cold there that week. A special "thank-you" to Co-Producers Sandy and Nancy Rogers for putting us up for the week and taking extremely good care of us.

Air Travel

2010-12-15T02:21:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of shopping for a travel projector for use in churches (and the right screen and player, etc.) I have to consider air travel as Winnebago travel tours originating in the far left corner of the US (Seattle) is just not practical. (How did this New Yorker ever get HERE again?) I really should live in St. Louis, MO or somewhere really central for a lifestyle like that, but that is not even an option ofor our family's situation. So, for me, flying is the only option. I hope it doesn't get MUCH worse than it is right now. I've already been "patted down" thoroughly and searched because I wouldn't be zapped in the "peep show" all body radiation scanner. Oh, heaven help us!

Does anybody out there read John Leary messages? http://www.johnleary.com/ What do you think of them, what do you know? When even Glen Beck from Fox TV news says to have a year's supply of food ready, things have to be getting close.

Getting Closer

2010-11-22T00:14:00.000-08:00

Hearing these songs of the stations over and over due to writing, practicing, critical review and for enjoyment to see what "sticks out" has really brought me closer to Jesus in his most vulnerable state. It's true that when you experience a tragedy with someone or some crisis, you feel very connected. Well, that's what the "Stations..." have been doing for me all year - drawing me very intimately closer to the heart of Christ. Some words that come to mind are: friendship, intimacy, understanding, tremendous sorrow, inspiration, and love. I pray the same for you.

Updates

2010-10-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

I am leaving for my last trip to NY on Friday. I will sing stations 10-13. You won't believe how beautiful #13 is. When Barry first sent me the track to listen to and approve and practice, etc. I was at the airport on my way to NC, waiting for my plane and I started singing along and I couldn't make it through the first verse. It was the first time I had heard the combination of the "orchestra" (it's still fake at this point) arrangement with the words and melody and I just busted out crying. The guy in the seat next to me started giving me curious looks. It starts off with a wind sound and some hauntingly sad clarinet or some funky wind instrument and goes into the song starting with cellos very low (just like I had requested - Barry is so good at taking what I "hear" in my head and making it a reality.)

My new video friend in Austrailia refuses to get paid at all and got mad a me when I sent him a very small amount of money in recompense for his out of pocket expenses - he's very stubborn. We will all just have to include him in our prayers.

My husband just got laid off yesterday from his job at Hewlett Packard, so it's a good thing all of contributions toward the Stations project are earmarked as well as paid out. It seems the only way I WILL get to finish this project is by soliciting for the rest of the costs at future concerts. It's so nice having my "record deal." (I HAVE to make music - oh, my!) If I don't meet my goal, I will just put the rest on my credit card. No worries. It WILL get done on time, come "hell or high water." I promise. It's going to be AWESOME! Meanwhile, if you know of a friend who always wanted to be in God's music business, please direct them to my "Stations" webpage www.donnacorigibson.com/StationsOftheCrossInSong.html Thanks and God bless you. Please pray for me.

The Power of a Friend

2010-10-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a particulary difficult day with schooling and I was not happy. I called my good friend, Barbara, to kvetch a little (that's "vent" and "complain" for those not familiar with yiddish) and asked if she could meet me for tea on Sunday at my favorite tea room. She was busy that day and after many suggestions that didn't work we decided to meet with our kids at the park in a few hours. Upon arrival, she offers me two choices of gourmet chocolate that she just got for her anneversary. Is that a friend or what?

We talked about lots of things, of course, and later, at her house, after only about an hour of further conversation, she got me to change the lyrics to one of my songs, change my plans for the next gig weekend and critique my "music button pushing" at concerts as "unbecoming" or "unprofessional" or however she put it.

Neither one of us realized that this all took place in such a lump, but in hindsight, it's really pretty funny. Only the best of friends can speak to you so frankly and make you not even realize you've been "corrected". That's why I love her.

She was right about the lyrics, of course. They've been bothering me for some time and when I shared them, it was just to share, not to get advice. But she tripped on the same thing I was and so I had to change them. It's just getting used to them that's hard. I have a local gig next week, but she doesn't think I need to prepare in my usual way - she wants me to squeeze in a spiritual retreat, and blow off doing my hair. She wouldn't accept any of my excuses or reasonings. (Who DOES that?!? A mother sometimes?) It's been on my calendar for some time, but I didn't seriously even consider it. I'm glad she twisted my arm. I'll just do my hair on Fri., I guess. Lastly, she doesn't think it looks good that I press the play and pause button on my minidisc player at concerts. Someone else should do it for me. I used to do that, but I don't feel like there is, or like to have, any pretense between me and the audience. But it's also so much easier just to do it myself. I'm a control freak and I WANT TO CONTROL THE BUTTONS! Ha, she didn't win on that one.

Love ya, Barb. Don't change a bit.

Busy, busy, busy

2010-10-14T13:40:00.001-07:00

Yes, school has started (we homeschool) and my October traveling schedule is in full swing. I've been up til 2:00 almost every night, but now I got a cold and have been going to bed 8:30. Getting better quick. I have to, because while I can still give a good concert with a cold, I cannot give a primo vocal performance in the studio for a recording session and will have to postpone the last vocal installment in NY if I am not in tip tip condition.

I am considering hiring more than just a string quartet for the new album as many of the songs are huge, power tunes and the stations toward the end will require ONLY orchestra with vocal. (Think "Andrea Bocceli) So, we are considering a 30-40 piece orchestra for about 6 of the songs. This will cost an additional $5000 to my budget. I think it is absolutely necessary and am trusting that God will provide, since this is His project anyway. I'm just the facilitator. The project is completely on schedule. Funds are in as quickly as they are needed - not ahead, but not behind either. I hope my orchestra doesn't put me behind, but even if it does, I am so confident that the Lord will provide in a timely manner. This experience has been very enlightening. The Lord wants me to SING.

Concerts for Lent have not filled up yet. They usually come in last minute. I hate that. So much stress in promotion. Please let me know now if you are interested in an "Our Catholic Faith" concert at your parish for Lent 2011 or a Mary/Rosary themed concert in May. You can visit www.donnacorigibson.com/CatholicConcerts.html for my schedule.

Gotta go. English to do...

Praise the Lord, Lord, Lord!

2010-09-10T23:36:00.000-07:00

A video creator guy from Australia stepped forward to make a video for each of my 14 station songs. He has done one for "She Was There" already and it's wonderful. He's FAST. His name is Francis Choudhury and he has a channel on UTube already if you want to check out some of his other excellent work. http://www.youtube.com/user/francisxcc I'll let you know when my videos will be posted. Don't hold your breath, though. It won't be until the album's finished.
Thank you Francis! God bless, bless, bless you!!

Album cover

2010-08-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

I finally sat down and did some serious thinking about what I want the cover of the stations album to look like. I'm pretty decided on it so I won't be taking that poll after all. You'll just have to wait and be surprised. I am working on the art presently. I love doing the artwork and laying out the design. It is very tedious, but for some reason, I like tedium. I save all my Golden Arrow work to an itty bitty USB so I can just plug it into my little mini laptop and work anywhere, even on the front porch, to work AND enjoy the lovely and very few sunny summer days here in Everett, WA at the same time. Yes, I'm a multi-tasker.

Video

2010-08-21T01:44:00.000-07:00

Writing these songs for each station of the way of the cross brings many images to mind. I think it would be very powerful to have relevent video to accompany them yet I have no idea how to sync video clips to audio. While I've heard of good programs, it would mean learning them and doing all the work myself, which I honestly just don't have the time for. Is there anyone out there who knows a faithful Catholic, or is one, that has video making capabilities and would be interested in collaborating with me? Please email me the regular way (not by comment -donna (at symbol and then my website name). I have a few songs ready already to get started with. Please pray about it.

You Read Me, You Really Read Me!

2010-08-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

I've gotten other emails as well from people who don't like to subscribe to get a gmail account or whatever have you. And... I've heard it said that for every complaint, there are 100 people who don't say anything. I haven't gotten any of those regarding this (trust me, I get my share of complaining). Perhaps the opposite is true and for every positive response you get, there are 100 who also agree but don't say anything.

Been enjoying the summer and also working hard on the new album. PLEASE, PLEASE be sure you go to the website and plug your email address in on the homepage so I can send you a note when it's ready. It will save me soooooo much money in postage, which is going up 2 cents in January again. I will have to stop my mailings altogether at this rate. I only send one a year as it is.

Also, I'm still looking for Co-Producers for this project so I can finish it. You can hear the first FULLY COMPLETED song at www.donnacorigibson.com/StationsOftheCrossInSong.html to hear how it's coming so far and for all the info about producing.

I realize my blog is quite pictureless lately. I'm working on the cover design for the new album. Perhaps I will post a few choices and then let you help me decide. That sounds like fun. Stay tuned...

Oh, and thanks for reading.
D

Album Sponsors

2010-07-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of the novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I was baptized on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 2 weeks old and I've been a Lay Carmelite (TOC - Third Order Carmelite) since 1999, so this is a very special feast for me.

Barry finished another song for my stations album, #4 Jesus meets his mother. It's called "She Was There" and, boy, is it MOVING. He did a great job with the orchestra. You can hear it on my sponsor's page. If you'd like to become one and help me to actually finish this project, that would be awesome as I am only 1/2 way to my financing goal. Please visit www.donnacorigibson.com/StationsOftheCrossInSong.html for more info.
Thanks to those who have contributed so far, I was able to say "I can do this and I think God must really want me to!" Now comes the sweat part, I guess. God doesn't want to make it TOO easy. He just wanted to get me started NOW!

I finally finished writing all the songs and I'm even pretty happy with them. I just have to sing #'s 10-13 and wait for Barry to finish all the production, one song at a time. He sends me versions via email and I listen to it 10 times and take three hours to write him an email back with all my critique and requests. We do that about 10 times per song. I think it is well worth it as I love the results!

Hard Truths

2010-06-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

It's been a challenge for me as a songwriter to not "water down" the lyrics of some of these "Stations" songs. Take for instance, station #10 - Jesus is Stripped... It is not compfortable to sing those words. I can do "lost everything" or "torn his clothes" or "ripped away" etc. but STRIPPED just doesn't SING!!! When I finally gave in to the word, the song became heavier, more intense and hard to listen to - but isn't that more the TRUTH?! Jesus didn't have any clothes on! - but we don't like to confront that reality or the direness of the event. But that is the point of meditating on these things, isn't it? To water it down is to not enter in completely - and that would defeat the purpose of my seting these meditations to music and video. No, this project will not be comercially accepted, but I'm in good company - because neither was Jesus. People would rather have Santa and the Easter Bunny.

If you've read this post, would you please just click the "comment" box below and say "read it." You don't have to leave your name or any message, I'm just curious to know if anybody actually reads this. Thanks so much. God bless you.

Almost Finished the Last Song

2010-06-16T23:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got the chorus for my last song, station #13. It's not THE last song, but it is the last one I still had to write. I knew from the very beginning I wanted the title to be "In Mary's Arms" - it came to me in a flash, yet I've been working on it for weeks and at different times have written 10 different choruses - each of them was not very good. I finally decided I couldn't find a rhyme for "arms" that would work and would have to pick a different hook altogether - even after putting it in places where it didn't have to rhyme. I couldn't just scratch the song, I NEED 14 songs, so I tried again on another airline (this time to Massachusetts). Suddenly, I got my "rhyme" and correct phrasing from scripture. the whole chorus came together in 1/2 hour. What a relief. Now I'm agonizing over just the right melody. I want it to be different, so sad. I want everone to fall in love over Our Lady all over again, to feel her pain, to really cry for her. I hope THAT doesn't take me another 2 months.

Just a Quick Update

2010-06-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling so much better. Taking the right herbs, very disciplined, etc. I even eat steak on occassion and today had a little ice cream. I think I'll be OK as long as I don't ever fast all day and then have french toast in the morning and lasagna for lunch and then greasy lamb and potatoes for dinner the next day. I just sabatoged myself. Thanks for any prayers. I personally have done the 27 days of rosaries in petition and am now on day 13 in thanksgiving (remember that promise of Our Lady?) for complete healing.

I leave for MA tomorrow and am looking forward again to my quiet time on the plane to work on a song or two. My husband is taking 2 kids to MT in a week for a week and I am "planning" on polishing off the last 2 songs for the album then. I'll have nights free and no homeschool so we'll see. We are on our last week of school this week. So lookig forward to summer.

Writer's Block

2010-05-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Those 11 songs came so fast and so easy and made me cry while writing them down. I just know they were straight from God. I'm even more convinced of it now that I have tried to sit down to write the last 3. I've tried on an airplane, in the car, walking, at a table, at the keyboard and I can't get anything that hits me solidly like the others. Stations #11,12, and 13 have got me stumped. I remembered I had some music that I liked that I recorded on my sequencing synthesizer, but the disc that I saved it on is not readable. Hmmm. I'm just going to have to let it go for a little while and do something else. I hope the producer, Barry, is not having problems coming up with great arangements. If not, at least SOME progress is being made on this project.

On the Road

2010-05-04T14:47:00.000-07:00

Modern Technology! I'm at the airport waiting for my plane to board, when I thought I'd take the few minutes to write. I had a great trip in NY again. The concert at St. Athanasius' Church in Brooklyn went well. What a beautiful church! Then on Monday I sang vocals to two more songs for the "Stations" album - wow, so powerful. Today I had a little extra fun and went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan for 4 hours and had a lovely time. The parking at the museum cost me $28!!! and that was WITH the voucher stamp. I'm glad to report that was the only set-back to the entire trip AND I've been feeling a little better too. I'm still going to visit a naturopath this week anyway - to have someone hold my hand through this. Praise the Lord! I have felt His presence with me, keeping me company, paving my way and protecting me every moment. I'm so glad I'm a CHRISTIAN!!! Thank you Jesus for your friendship. I love you.

Not Well

2010-04-21T00:57:00.000-07:00

I was shocked to discover that I haven't even THOUGHT about blogging since my last entry. I've been so preoccupied dealing with my liver problem and back pains and trying not to have another gallbladder attack (not to mention chueffering -is that how you spell it?- my kids around and homeschool)that I just now remembered that I even to this. I am "herbalizing and supplementing myself" to death and while it seems to be helping, is still a slow process. It will take months and years to get out of the woods. Speaking of woods...

I planted seeds in a starter box last week and when they sprouted, proceeded to bake them in the mini greenhouse. They all died immediately and I'm wondering if the unsprouted ones were just cooked in their shells and I should start all over. I should just stick to singing. It's alot easier. I TRY to diversify...

Thank You!!

2010-04-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

After yesterday's Divine Mercy Concert, a gentleman and his 5 year old son came up to me to say "hi." He was dressed in his army camos and told me that my CDs got him through Afganistan. All I thought to say was that I was glad he enjoyed the music and "welcome home." I wish I had the sense to also say "thank you" to him for fighting for our nation and being willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and for being proactive in protecting my homeland. I've seen the memorials of too many fallen and my heart is full of gratitude and my eyes are full of tears. They are even now. I'm not always quick with the words that I feel, but I still wanted to share it. And so to ALL in the military, please know, I say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

Hmmm.

2010-04-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

I sang at this Church on Sun, Mar. 20 - St. Januarius' in Naples, NY. What does it look like to you? I think it looks like a giant mushroom. I was told by an elderly gentleman, who was the son of the man who built it, that the stained glass holes are designed after grapes and the roof is a fallen grape leaf, as the church is built in wine country. Some kids call it the jelly bean church for obvious reasons. Have yo ever seen anything like it? I sang at the only Sunday Mass there, at 10am. There were about 80-100 people present. I think the sermon, given by Fr. George was one of hte very few to ever actually make me cry. I was up there blowing and blowing my nose to keep it from dripping down my throat, so I could still sing. Something he said led me into a meditation that made me really experience an even BIGGER God, His intellegence, control, humaness, and compassion. Great stuff for further contemplation.

Something Better Than Good

2010-03-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

I got back to my room after a concert and dinner and there were so many things I needed to do, which I did, and a few that I WANTED to do – check email, call the family, relax and watch a short show. I have a great spiritual book that I’ve been traveling with but I haven’t even started it yet. It is just so much easier to do the small, busy stuff than to get down to weightier matters like spiritual reading and prayer. It takes a lot of effort to draw closer to the Lord. But, then again, Jesus did say that the way to perfection was steep and narrow.

Also, we are just too tired to climb. I’m always too tired to exercise or get on the treadmill too, but I do it anyway (granted, it’s only when I HAVE to). I always feel better afterwards and am glad I spent the time and effort. I’m sure if I forced myself to turn off the computer or put down that magazine I’d get better at that as well, and I’d gradually increase my stamina for a steeper spiritual walk. What “good thing” can you put aside in order to reach for something better?

I'm Leaving Tomorrow...

2010-03-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

...for 10 days in NY. But, actually, counting flying days, I will be gone 12 days. I have mixed emotions about it all. On one hand, the change in routine is always nice. I can have some complete thoughts, without interruption. There are a few days I can sleep in. There's the excitement of giving concerts and recording some new great songs. I'll have time for extended prayer, reading and songwriting - at least I think so. All in all, not bad really.

What I'm leaving at home, though, makes me a little uneasy: the uncertainty of what a few days with a new sitter will be like, school work schedules and lessons that will need to be postponed (I like to keep a regular routine), the baby really missing me (he was so depressed when I went to FL for 5 days and was very clingy for days afterwards, the messes I will have when I return and missing the sweet smiling faces and hugs of my beautiful children.

Please pray for me and my family for these intentions.
Thanks. God bless you all.
D

An Added Plus In Lent

2010-03-11T23:21:00.001-08:00

There is (another) pleasant "side-effect" that I have experienced this Lent so far. My regular jeans are falling down and I can now fit into my smallest pairs again - the one's I got at the second hand store 5 years ago after I was on my new "health food only" regime for a while. Praise the Lord for little favors...another of his "package deals."

What JOY!!!

2010-03-06T08:45:00.000-08:00

Working on this "Stations" project has really helped me to LIVE in the joy of such a deeply loving Savior. It's one thing to pray the stations in a church on Fridays, but spending time allowing each station to take root in you is just not possible when you have to quickly move on to the next one. Each station is a meditaion in itself with DEEP meaning. No wonder this devotion has endured so long and is sooooo powerful. If only EVERYONE could discover it.

As I dance around my kitchen with one of these song/stations in my head, I am filled with confidence of the intense love and closeness of Jesus. I feel there is nothing I couldn't sacrifice for Him/others, no pain too great and nothing too hard. All is straw. I enjoy being whined at by my children and being frustrated by them. My work load seems light. Complications are a delight because I just can't wait to find out how the Lord will "work it out" and I get to watch Him at work - how thrilling!! It's all an amazing adventure. Even my dreams are of an deep and intense love. God is so awesome in His generosity that I'm starting to glow. And I have many more stations to get "stuck in my head and on my lips" and now IN MY HEART as I sing them over and over around the house. I just CAN'T WAIT to share these with you. I hope it doesn't take me too long to finish. I want you to dance too. Ooohhh, PRAISE THE LORD! GOD IS SOOOOOO GOOD!

A Good Lent

2010-03-04T22:56:00.000-08:00

I love Lent.
I love the change in breviary, routine, new additions and subtractions. Still busy, but everything is in the right priority and peace and joy abound even amidst trial. My producer, Barry is going through a trial right now. I'm concerned that the pressure might effect his creativity on this "Stations" project. Please keep him in prayer. I decided not to give him the last 6 songs for a while (not that I've even written them yet). I think 14 songs at once is too much pressure - for him AND me. 8 songs is even alot. I go to NY this month to sing stations 1,2,5,6,7 and 8 to very basic tracks.
I'm going to study some more songwriting myself so my songs don't all start sounding the same (even though they really don't - but just in case - something fresh might come) So far, we are still "on schedule" with things. That's why it's nice to give yourself a 2 year window, don't you think? Perhaps I'll be invited back to NY in the fall.
I just got back from a great gig in FL and leave for OR, Saturday. I bet I get a nice song on the car ride down. I GOTTA try... I've gotten my BEST songs so far in the car on the way to OR gigs.
Please pray for us.
D

What I'm Doing

2010-02-12T23:22:00.000-08:00

My mother works for me. She does practically everything out of her home in FL. I homeschool and travel and now I get "to do" lists from HER. I am soooo busy with details, details... like getting on the spot credit card processing at gigs and figuring out the equipment and how to do it. Designing a new song layout for Our Cathoic Faith CD that might be a little more effective at evangelizing - maybe. Getting price quotes. Placing and shipping a large order direct from the manufacturer. Overseeing packaging 3 new concert DVDs. (I will have 3 new items for you to purchase in a few weeks - Thank you, Jesus - I've wanted a packaged video for so long and now I have THREE! Designing the website to reflect the new items. Answer emails, write in blog, book airline tickets, check inventory... the list goes on and on and when my mother asks what I'm doing that keeps me so busy that I can't get to her "to do" list - I am numb and just say..."I don't know." And that doesn't even include all the details of raising 4 small children, schooling and running a household. I'm back to not having time to write songs. Thank goodness I have a lot of traveling coming up and I can get back to writing again. I did finish the two that I need for my trip to NY next month. I just need to dummy up some music and send them to the producer BEFORE I GET THERE! I better do that on Monday. It IS a bank holiday, you know. That only gives me one to two months to come up with 6 more songs and send them by the end of April so they can be ready to sing to before I return to NY in May. You know, I just don't think I can do it. That's too much songwriting, but maybe I'll be surprised. I'm getting stressed just thinking about it. I think I will just let it go for now (the deadline) and just do what I can. After all, I did think it would take me 2 years to do this 14 song project. Why rush it? OK, I just talked myself into not feeling rushed. I'm a little relieved - I think?

More Concert Dates

2010-02-07T01:40:00.000-08:00

I just spent some time updating my website's "concerts" page and included many more dates. Please check it out. I added many dates for NY, OR, FL, MA and even CA. This is turning out to be my busiest year ever (so far anyway).

I'm also sending 2 more songs to my producer in NY so they will be ready to sing (or close to ready to sing) when I get there in March. Then I have to finish 6 more and send them before my visit in May. Don't know if that's possible. Barry called me to ask my opinion on some chord changes and I got to hear a few bars. Boy, is it gorgeous. I hope to have something for my co-producers to listen to soon.

QUESTION: Only half of the Stations of the Cross booklets that I have (I'm referencing 8-9 at a time)include a 15th station: the Resurrection. It is not a traditional station and I don't believe one hangs in the church for it. Do you think it would be OK to leave it out on my collection entitled "Stations of the CROSS" or would you be extrememly disappointed? Do you think others would expect a 15th station?

Thanks for the help.

Part III - Every Symphony Unfinished

2010-01-31T22:49:00.000-08:00

Song and Celebration

The hungers of the heart are ultimately good. And food abounds in God's creation. Those things which properly nourish those hungers, which speak to that deep down ache, should be celebrated. We hunger for wholeness, intimacy, justice, peace. There are family, friends, places, prayers, experiences which God provides for us to give us sustenance on our journey.
But, truly enjoying God's gifts sometimes is difficult for us. It goes against our Catholic suspicion that behind every good thing lurks a catastrophe. The Irish lady was greeted with, "isn't it a great day!" She responded, "Yes, and we'll be paying for it!"
We will "pay for it" if we cling to the good things of creation, trying to tease from them the nourishment only God can give. But to enjoy them properly, holding them in freedom, and giving thanks, can bring us life. And surprisingly, we may discover a deep-down joy. We may even hear ourselves humming, "Jesu, joy of man's desiring..."

Driving in My Kitchen

2010-01-24T18:10:00.000-08:00

So, we're renting this box in Arizona, supposedly to visit the Grandparents, but one is in the hospital and the other is always visiting, so get togethers are rare. The kids can't play outside because of traffic and the freak storm that filled the back yard like a canal. Do you know what it's like to live on a houseboat with toddlers? Besides, it's COLD outside, even with the sun. So, no shorts, no swimming, no playing, no visiting. What's a girl to do?!?
After days of TBN (thank God for the TBN toddler station) - we go SHOPPING!!! But there's something wrong with the baby. He won't stop crying and I don't know why. So, no sooner do we arrive, than we have to leave and return to the box.

For 2 nights, I've been sitting at the kitchen table working on station #8 and I get nowhere. I just fall asleep in my notes and go to bed at 10:00 pm. I think I'm having a writer's block. So the 3rd night, I try something different. Instead of writing sitting, I pace, keep moving, except that the baby's crib is in the kitchen and he's asleep (because he's sick and up at night coughing and crying, so I moved him from the others). So, I'm walking with a flashlight (on to see my notes, off when the baby stirs) and, what do you know, I GET something - a beautiful melody. Then the light goes on in my head and I realize I can't write with my head in notes, I have to drive, fly, or walk with my eyes and heart to the world. I have to feel it, live it and let it come ALIVE. This doesn't happen on paper.

Part 2: Every Symphony Unfinished

2010-01-07T23:23:00.000-08:00

Transformation of Desire

But, our hungers and our desires can lead us down troubled paths. Our God-given spiritual longing, which may be expressed in many ways, including creative, erotic energy is dangerous for us if not carefully tended. We need to be realistic, and have a reverence for that energy within us. One contemporary spriritual writer comments: "Spirituality is about finding the proper ways, disciplines, by which to both access that energy and contain it." The goal is not the annihilation of desire, but the transformation of desire.

Over a lifetime, our desires, which often dissipate and fragment us, are gradually shaped through discipline and grace. We are not getting tougher. Our desires are changing. The desires of our hearts are more and more in accord with God's desire for us and the world. We begin living in a consonance of desire. Or, as Saint Teresa of Avila said simply, "And now, I want what you want."

Every Symphony is Unfinished

2010-01-05T21:36:00.001-08:00

As a Lay Carmelite, I read the Carmelite Review periodically. This article, I thought, was worth posting.

...an excerpt from the Carmelite Review by Father John Welch, O.Carm. - Prior Provincial, Part 1:

God is the first contemplative.
Christians believe that the true story of our lives is a love story. One telling of the story says that God, the first contemplative, gazed on us, and made us alluring. Attracted by one hair of our head, God had to fall in love with us. It is not we who first loved, but God who first loved us. We are born loved. And that love wounded our heart, making it ache for love's fulfillment.

Our pilgrimage through life is to find the One who made us this way. We want that One to come back and finish the love affair. Our search takes us through God's creation. And we ask that creation to tell us something about the One who wounded us. Creatures do speak of their Creator, but then point down the road, urging us to continue the quest.

It is natural to be restless, unfulfilled, ill-at-ease, never finally settled. Certainly, there can be a neurotic restlessness, but a low-grade ache for more tugs at most of us. One theologian observed: "Every symphony is unfinished." In every possession, in every relationship, in every accomplishment, there is an incompleteness.

We are made to yearn, to desire, to ache, to hunger and thirst until we find something or someone that meets the depths of our yearning. The Christian story tells us that only God is sufficiant food for the hungers of our heart.

"We were made for you, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." - St. Augustine.

And a Blessed Christmas to All!!!

2009-12-21T14:26:00.000-08:00

My flowers and olive plants

2009-12-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

They are the best thing I've ever done, by far, and my greatest ongoing project.
Aren't they beautiful?

God is good!

2009-12-21T10:34:00.000-08:00

I've managed to stay well all season. The day after my last concert, my nose runs uncontrollably and I'm officially sick.
God is so good. He pulled me through.

Great prayer advice

2009-11-29T20:35:00.000-08:00

I'm sure most of you pray the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) so this might be redundant, but for those of you who DON'T, I wanted to share this EXCELLENT advice from St. Charles Borromeo (1500's) that I read this month on his feast day:

"Would you like me to teach you how to grow from virtue to virtue and how, if you are already recollected at prayer, you can be even more attentive next time, and so give God more pleasing worship? Listen, and I will tell you. If a tiny spark of God's love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out. Keep the stove tightly shut so that it will not lose its heat and grow cold. In other words, avoid distractions as well as you can. Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter."

This is enough for great meditation. I won't expound on it. Read a couple of times, it expounds upon itself. It goes on, but this is the best part. You can read the rest in Volume IV, Nov. 4. But now, I must get out the next Volume for the first day of Advent.

Last Day in NY

2009-11-23T15:33:00.000-08:00

Well, we've finally come to the last day. I got up and decked out and left for an online TV interview in Brooklyn. That Brooklyn-Queens expressway is NOT fun. I highly recommend avoiding it and am so glad that there are NO other highways like it in America. It reminded me of all the reasons why I wanted to move to Montana.

Well, after finally ariving and finding parking on the street, we went into the studio to find out that we were in the wrong building. The correct building was across the "steet." The "street" was a 6 lane highway with a walkway across it. So after crossing a real street, we crossed this bridge to the other street and into the right building. After "hello's," and "nice-to-meet you's," we got busy taping. It was an informal interview for the program Icthus.EQ on the songs I sing and the apostolate, Golden Arrow. It was alot of fun, and my host, Mari White, was a doll. You can watch the interview at www.netny.net and select Icthus.EQ.

Then the best part, lunch down the street and around the corner at Enzo's. Oh, how I wish Enzo's was in MY neighborhood. (It is heavenly to this Italian girl, but not good enough to want to live in THEIR neighborhood.) I want EVERY item on the menue (which goes on FOREVER) and would eat their every night. (How's that for a plug) After a stuffingly good lunch it was off to the airport. After many, many circles we found the car rental return and were on our way.

Now it was time to go home and continue with the REAL work. I talked the talk, now it was time to "walk the walk," one diaper and one math problem at a time.

I LOVED my bite of the Big Apple.

NY - 4th day

2009-11-17T22:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I sang at all the morning Masses at St. Mary's that morning and had time in between the last two to do a little sight seeing. Here I am in front of Grey Towers, the Gifford Pinchot mansion, which is now a museum. After the last Mass, we set up equipment, did sound check and went out to lunch in Pennsylvania (20 min. drive) to the Waterwheel. Everyone winced when I ordered a sardine sandwhich. ....It's high in omega 3's. Be quiet.

After a 5 min. snooze it was concert time. I picked up another "co-producer" that night too. What's a "co-producer" you ask? Visit my website and click on the new album picture (Stations of the Cross) and see. You could be one too. If you ever wanted to be in the music business, this is your opportunity.

3rd Day NY

2009-11-16T17:02:00.000-08:00

---------------------------------
Ok, so after Fri. night's gig at Our Lady of Lourdes we (my Mom and I - did I mention she flew up from FLA to meet me for this week?) left for a 2 1/2 hour drive up to St. Mary's parish in Port Jervis, NY a lovely small town on the border of NJ and PA. We passed rolling hills, even mountains, and farms (YES! just an hour and a half out of NYC, if you can believe it.) I rehearsed with the pianist to sing "Anima Christi" as a communion meditation for the 4:00p Mass and after Mass went out to dinner. Here are the Deleware river close by and some famous windy road (I forget what it's called - Ok, it's called "Hawk's Nest".) After Mass it was out to dinner (my favorite part.) We stayed at the old convent which is right next to the church. They had a GORGEOUS perpetual adoration chapel in the building. I spent some WONDERFUL time there - but I don't think I will get into that. I'll save that for my spiritual director.

Eli

2009-11-14T19:47:00.000-08:00

Here's my little one.

NY - second day

2009-11-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

Got to sqeeeeeeeze in some fun, so we went to the arboratum near West Islip, NY (Long Island) and had - TEA (yay!) in the tea room. My dad surprised me by showing up that morning, coming to tea with my Mom, Aunt, and my Mom's first cousin, Fran (Does that make her my third cousin? - please advise) and going to the concert that evening before returning to the airport that night. He had to get his DonnaMarie fix I guess. He hadn't seen me since February. Here is my Mom on right, Aunt on left and a PILE of goodies for 4. Then we went to Our Lady of Lourdes in West Islip to offer a concert. See pictures posted Nov. 10

Trip to NY

2009-11-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

Ok. I just got back from a PACKED, working trip to NY. I remembered my camera so I could document and share the trip with YOU. There is too much for me to do in one sitting, but I will do a little every day or so. (Well, we'll see.)

The first stop was to my mom's cousin. We stayed with her (thank you, Fran) and got a bad key to the front door. So after getting lost to Trader Joe's the next morning (got to have my health food) and getting back late to the house to change to get ready for my Telecare taping of the sung rosary - we couldn't get in. I was kicking myself for thinking that a taping of the rosary was going to be a breeze and for not remembering the spiritual battle. We had to run around like crazy people to get the spare key, throw make-up on, dress and drive. Since I always leave EXTRA time when driving in NY (an extra hour is a good cushion) I got there with a few minutes to eat lunch, get acquainted and start shooting. But the Bishop had to come and tape a message last minute so I got pushed back an hour or two, because he was stuck in traffic and we couldn't start until he was done. I sang ALL 20 DECADES of the rosary that day. That's 4 programs and 4 outfit changes. And except for the teleprompter going out and being replaced (another 30 min.) it went very well. We ended much later than expected, but the crew were troopers. They all left like a shot when we were done, though, at about 7:30 pm. Whew! An hour drive back to the house out on Long Island and I was done. What a productive day! Thank you, Jesus!!

concert this weekend

2009-11-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

Here I am at Our Lady of Lourdes in West Islip, NY Fri. night after tea at the arboratum. Couldn't get the videos to load. Now I have something else to learn.

Posting

2009-10-22T00:36:00.000-07:00

I know I need to be better about posting or I'm going to lose the few readers that I have. But honestly, I've been so busy singing and traveling and getting ready to travel and recovering from travel and taking care of the kids and homeschool and staying up late working on real important things, like paying bills and responding to emails and fixing broken things for gigs and ordering more stuff (O that reminds me, now I need to buy more "Prayers From Heaven" CD's). I don't have time to prepare my menues for the week - I just wing it - or (and I hate to admit it) take a shower. I was supposed to take one today (day 2) but somehow it just slipped away. It is not scheduled for tomorrow, but on Fri. It will mess up my week and weekend to juggle it around. However, I did meet Jesus for one half hour of prayer after lunch today when the baby took a nap and Grace watched Veggietales and Chris was gone and Marie did schoolwork. It was all I could do to keep from falling asleep. It was hard to "snap out of it" when Veggietales was over and I had to get moving again. Hmmm, sometimes I think the time would have been better spent if I had just taken a shower then. We'll, at least I "showed up", like my spiritual director suggested. Besides, it's not for me - but Jesus. I can honestly say to Him, "I'm doing my best and all that I can. You'll have to do the rest."

New Songs/New Album

2009-09-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited. Here is number 4 station/song for "Jesus meets his mother." It's called "She was There" It is soooooo gorgeous. I will have clips in a few months to share as I go along and keep everyone in the loop. I go to NY in Nov. and while there will be recording vocals for the first 4 stations. This is a very powerful devotion. I keep finding myself in tears as I write/sing/record/listen. I wonder what the Lord has in store for this project. It is so much fun to work with Him.

To share my songwriting process for those interested:

1. I brainstorm related lines from anywhere: I write down all the scriptures related to the station from Old and New testament, read meditations written by St. Alphonsus Liguori mainly and others and write sentences and sentences similar to fill a whole page or two.

2. I try to find one short phrase that jumps out and "catches" me and start singing it in many, many ways until I find one I like and then I keep adding phrases around it. I usually write the chorus first because if I can't come up with a GREAT chorus, then it's not worth continuing. (This is the step I usually do in the car or shower)

3. Craft verses over and over, exchanging words and phrases til it's just right.

4. Write down the words in the decided order and the numbers for the notes over them so I can remember the melody when I want.

5. (This is the hard part.) FIND UNINTERRUPTED TIME to sit in front of the keyboard and hammer out the chords I was hearing in my head behind the melody. (This is why I'm so slow in writing anything. Lot's of noisy kids and midnight is not good for this kind of thing. I just have to get them out of the house for the day or evening.)

6. Program the song in my electronic keyboard and record it with my singing to cassette to mail to my producer (sometimes with a snippet of another recorded song for what I'd like it to sound like, but not always.)

7. Write out the finished lead sheet by hand to include with the cassette for the producer.

"Behold the Man" (first station) and this song are going out in tomorrow's mail. I'm so relieved. Now to start on the next four stations...

Up a Quiet Mountain

2009-09-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

Yeh, Alaska is beautiful, but, I don't know...I think I like Montana better, especially Glacier Park. Nothing competes with Glacier Park. My husband says the best part about Alaska is that it is so untouched. He loves the remoteness of the whole place (he's from Montana). Heck, most times I prefer my own backyard to any other place so what do I know.

Now the cruise part had me rethinking my outlook on pop music. I was thinking that it's good for people to break with the grind, especially when it is really a grind and loosen up and dance a bit and perhaps, just perhaps, pop music had it's place. I was ready to retract all my previous statements about it, until I came home and realized how dissapated I had become spiritually. Yes, I kept up with prayer on the ship, but distractions are thick and it is NOT the real world there and while I might remember our goal is to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and stregnth, I'd have to say it's damn near impossible to actually do on a cruise ship with a companion and all that food (how can you NOT gorge yourself) and all those activities and distractions and people to talk to, which is probably why the great mystics separated themselves from society completely. (I LOVED the spa though and am vowing that every vacation I go on in the future includes a neck and foot massage.) So, yes, I'm holding to my beliefs that pop music is a distraction and a waste of time to anyone on the road to perfection. Tell me otherwise.

Now I'm NOT looking forward to all the email that's been piling up for over a week now...

Alaskan Cruise

2009-09-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, I really am a very busy person and don't have to sleep, much less have any fun, but....NOW I GET TO DO BOTH!!!! HA!!!!!!.........It's all starting to hit me. We leave TOMORROW. Is this happening to me?? Oh, yeh, I forgot to even tell you, we are going on an Alaskan Cruise. We got an inside stateroom way at the bottom of the boat for a really cheap price, but IT'S ALL OURS...he,he. Here's the amazing part. My father-in-law, a seventy something year old man and his spry wife were committed to take care of our 4 kids ages 10,5,3,1 until he got a chance to spend a few days with them. Then he politely said he didn't really think he was up to it. Meanwhile, we had already purchased the tickets with no travel insurance (what could happen? -4 kids, lots of variables, nothing's going to happen right?) Well, I offered the tickets to our friends from MT (we were staying at their house a few days) who I thought could use a vacation, but they insisted we keep them and offered to watch our kids. Now that might sound simple to most people, but we live in WA and they had to drive all that way to come and stay at our house for a week and watch our roudy ones AND bring FOUR of their own!!! There is alot of noise in our house right now. The excitement level is so high for all (except for my friends I'm sure, but they are SO gracious, they would never say anything but lovely things.) I even think the baby is sick (he threw up last night, but seems fine today) Are these people amazing. I'm speechless. Why are they here? I think they really love us. Or maybe they are just crazy.... Either way, I'm very grateful. Thank you, thank you Rebecca and Dan from the bottom of my heart. God bless you both.

The Great Divide

2009-08-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

Do you notice a trend happening lately in people's families? A line is being drawn and no one can stay on the fence anymore. If someone is going to go bad, they go really bad and let the true colors be known. If someone is lukewarm, something happens to push them hot or cold. It's like that saying, "You know if you are an orange or a lemon by what comes out when you're squeezed." There is so much squeezing going on these days. Please pray harder for the conversion of sinners. It might mean the difference, that little nudge, between one side of the fence or the other. God's heart is broken at the loss of just one. Thank you, friends of the Lord. We are His army.

A New Guitar

2009-07-28T23:58:00.000-07:00

We are going camping next week and I was inspired by the 3 chord songs played at vacation Bible school this summer that got my wee ones singing and dancing up a storm to purchase a guitar for the family to sing with aroung the fire. I can strum some chords, granted it takes me a few seconds too many to change my hand position from one chord to the next, and even though I'm not very good, I figure my kids will force me to practice those 3 chords until I can do them in my sleep. I got a smaller sized one because, well, I'm small, but also with the hope that our fun will inspire one of my little ones to want to learn too. Then we can learn together. Oh, I love homeschooling.

Hope

2009-07-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

Today is the 6th day of St. Joseph's Carmelite Monestary's novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The theme of tonight's talk was on the virtue of HOPE. Aparently, St. Augustine likened it to wearing the helmet of salvation. No arrows could penetrate it and of all the senses, only sight is utilized. Looking out of a helmet is like wearing blinders on the tops and sides. You have to turn the whole head to see on the side, etc. We look ahead to all the Lord has for us and see everything in the light of the Lord and see nothing else - and we are not even interested in anything else if we got our helmet on straight. Our Lady, exemplar of Hope, pray for us.

Southern Hospitality

2009-06-30T13:37:00.001-07:00

What they say about southern hospitality certainly is true. I was just on the receiving end of it this weekend when I sang at the Greenville, SC Marian Conference, which by the way was lovely. My host was so attentive to every need and desire, and that of my son, Elijah's. He came with me because we are still breastfeeding and he is VERY attached to me. More so than any other child of mine so far. It is going to be SO hard to wean him and will probably break my heart as well as his. I think I'll go past the year mark with him, but not much.
I'm thinking of moving south. Seriously. My family is in Naples, FL and so is Ave Maria. Perhaps the place was created with me in mind. We'll see. Anything I should know about it?

Poll

2009-06-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Wow!
I was all set to do an album on the Our Father first. I even had two great songs written for it. I guess you'll just have to wait a long time to hear them. Something (SomeONE) inspired me to ask YOU what you'd like. I can't believe that almost 50% of those answering my poll want the Way of the Cross songs. I can't say that I'm surprised. It makes sense since my best selling CD is the Divine Mercy Prayers. These are the days that we should be meditating more and more on the passion too. I believe that little "Pieta" prayer book includes a list of promises of Our Lord to those who will regularly meditate on the Way. They are quite inspiring. What a worthwhile pursuit. I LOVE my job and am so happy to have you with me on this journey. Also, I'm so glad that, once again, God has influenced me in an obvious way what my next album should be. It has happened once before with the Rosary album. That's a good story too. I'll tell you about it next time...

God is Faithful

2009-06-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

Wow! has it been a month since I posted last. I can't believe how time flew, I've just been in a whirlwind and totally forgot. I'm so sorry for those of you who are so faithful in checking in on me. Well, at prayer yesterday, a scripture came up that I'd been wrestling with for a long while now. You know how people say, "God only gives you what you can handle." Do they apply their own meaning to that? The truth is that "God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond your stregnth." 1 Cor 10:13 He always gives you a way out before you fall into SIN - not suffering. If suffering will cause you to sin, he won't allow you to endure too much. Some people endure alot of suffering, trial, hardship and some people even die young. I guess they can "handle" it. Maybe they will even be awarded a high degree of glory in heaven. I'll think of that the next time I can't get out of bed because I'm too sick to take care of my sick children or school the others, clean the house or pay the bills and the dog won't stop barking... I'll just lie there and prepare myself for the pearly gates. I can handle that.

Charity

2009-05-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

"If charity is hard to give to anyone who asks, it is very much harder to let what belongs to us be taken without asking for it back. I say that it is hard, but I should really say that it seems hard, for 'the yoke of the Lord is sweet, and his burden is light.' The moment we accept it, we feel how light it is." - St. Therese of Lisieux

Sick again!

2009-05-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

We all got the flu, including me, and functionality around here became nil. It's been 2 weeks and we're all still coughing this deep cough that won't go away. (Maybe if I could get anywhere near a decent night's sleep I might recover. I seriously need a nanny. It's funny. I got an email from someone who remembered that my performance contract requires that my boarding situation not include any children under 12 because I could get sick, as has happened in the past. And now look at me - 4 kids of my own and I'm always sick!! Irony. (I've got all the herbs that keep you from developing a virus, but they make my baby really sick, so I can't take them. So much for health food.)

A great Charity! - CFCA

2009-05-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

I was introduced recently to a great CATHOLIC sponsorship program called The Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. That's right, old people who can't care for themselves are included in this CATHOLIC charity. Did I mention it was CATHOLIC? They are not afraid of sharing the good news of our Catholic faith with these extremely poor people. I had sponsored children in the past through Christian Children's Fund, but what I like about this organization is that, aside from being Catholic, it allows you to communicate like a member of the family with the sponsored. My own two children picked one child each to sponsor - my son pick a boy his own age that he could relate to and likewise with my daughter. I figure this was the best way to show them how blessed we are in this country and that this is not the norm for most of the world's population. Maybe they will stop begging me for yet another webkinz. CFCA's website is liked to the title of this post and their blog is http://blog.cfcausa.org and listed in my favorite blogs on the side bar. PLEASE check them out and seriously consider sponsoring a VERY NEEDY individual.
God bless you, D

New Songs!!

2009-04-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to share with you my new songs!! It seems I'm back in the saddle again and I didn't really mean to, but that's the way God works with me.

Half of my voters have opted for songs for "The way of the Cross" and passion of Jesus and I was thinking "Oh, Lord, I'm so unprepared. I haven't even given it any thought and have no ideas. Besides, if I do an album on the way of the Cross, I'll have to write 14 songs!!! That's alot of work and I don't have that much time.

Well, I was driving to Portland last week for a gig with my baby, whose still breastfeeding, and after he fell asleep I kept the radio off and had a moment for a complete thought (rare indeed lately). I starting thinking about the stations and decided to start writing while I was driving and had no distractions. I came up with a beautiful song, which I just love within a 1/2 hour. I figured that since I was on a roll and the baby was still asleep, why not "push my blessings" and write another one. So, since the first station is "Jesus is condemned to death" I decided to start there. I just started saying and singing somethings as the Spirit led me and had something I really liked, so I wrote this down (Yes, I'm writing while I'm driving a long straight road - we do what's necessary). By the time I got to the last line, I'm crying, because it is so good and I can't believe God gave me this song (so, yes, now I'm driving and writing AND crying - hey, I'm a multitasking Mom, this is nothing). Not only is it a GREAT song, but it is perfect for the station AND (also important from the recording artist standpoint) it is a great first song for an album - a triple whammy. All this and I've only driven one way of the trip. The ride home wasn't as easy and it was getting dark and while I'm a good multitasker, even I can't write in the dark, especially while driving. I still managed to squeeze out one more idea for a song that needs alot of work which riminded me that success, even Godly success, is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. God had giving me the running start and the confirmation and motivation I needed to get going on another project, but now the perspiration part is kicking in. However, I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE THESE SONGS WITH YOU.

I'm going to NY in November for a concert and while I was there, thought I'd get started recording. I wanted to post one song at a time on my website as they are done to get you excited as well for the album that YOU voted for (and even if you didn't you'll love them, I promise). I don't have large chunks of time for projects, but "slow and steady will win the race" for me this time. So, be sure to check back and see how I'm progressing. I'll try to include some Saints prayers on the passion if they fit.

I was doing a little research and read in the "Pieta" book (check it out) that Jesus loves it when we pray the stations and has promised special graces. It is a very special and powerful prayer and I am priveledged that God has pushed me to do this work for Him. Praise you Jesus!

Ouch!!!!!!

2009-04-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

I am my own worst enemy!!
I left my purse in the cart in the Target parking lot!!!
They didn't have what I was looking for so I had no packages. As I was concerned with getting all the little ones out of the cart and buckled in, I didn't realize I left my purse until I arrived at Toys are us a 1/2 hour away. I just wanted some marbles. I feel so sick. For days, I carried around $2 in my wallet, but just 1/2 hour before I LOADED it with cash to get ready for today's party. Whoever found it must have thought it was their lucky day and the gods had blessed them and they were meant to keep it, because I have not heard anything about it from the store or police. I tried calling it a few times. My cell phone was in there too, with the most adorable picture of my son as the screen saver. No answer. I liked that purse too. It was SOOO cute, even though I only paid $3 for it at the second hand store. The wallet and the cell phone were expensive - not to mention all that cash. It is a big loss for me and I just feel sick. I feel bad for my son who had to hear all my moaning and crying as we sat in traffic on the way back to Target, without having gone in the toy store. He was VERY quiet. He did give my the 7 cents that were in his pocket to cheer me up. Saint ANTHONY!!!!

Look what we made!!

2009-04-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

Marie, almost 10

Christopher, almost 5

Grace, almost 3 (halleluia!, We are going to celebrate this graduation from the terrible twos gratefully.)

Spring has sprung!

2009-04-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

My camillias are in full bloom, right after the hyasinths, which have already fallen over. Do people stake hyasinths? Aren't the pink blooms gorgeous?

Nobody knows this, but I also use this blog to share pics with my mother who lives in FL. She only comes to visit once a year in the summer so she would never get to see these spring flowers. Maybe it is only my mother that would appreciate some of these posts? And yes, we do speak regularly on the phone, even though most times I don't answer....kids, you know...

He is risen!

2009-04-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

He is risen indeed!

Praise the Lord for He is good and His love endures forever!

This easter we celebrated our new life with an Easter tea. My littlest girl just loved this bunny tea pot (I was hoping she would) and the bunny cookies I served up from the little Dutch bakery in town. The goodies on the tier server are all fake. Aren't they fabulous. I love the look of the whole tea set up, but I don't always want sugar and white flour, so this way really works for me.

Easter is 8 days long, so we don't have school all week. It would be like working on a Sunday and we don't do that. Every day we do something fun. This way I can impress on my children in a very substantial way a truth of our Faith. I think they will ALWAYS remember that Easter is an eight "day" solemn feast.

God bless you.

A Virtual Artist

2009-04-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

I got the idea when my monthly royalty check came in from CDBaby this month. Apparantly, there are people out there who don't require a tangible CD. They prefer to just download a song or even an entire album directly into their iPod. My question: What happens if your iPod "crashes" like a harddrive? Is it possible...to lose...all those songs you paid for?

Well anyway, I have so many cool songs from "before my Golden Arrow days." What if I provided them for download under an assumed name, a virtual artist. This "artist" would never have to tour, press and purchase CDs, or hire office staff to ship them and manage inventory. The songs are not bad, just silly or fun or pretty - what I call "time wasters." Some people like to waste time, so why not on these songs? I could finally make some good use out of all that work I did when I was younger, instead of keeping them just archived for old time's sake. Hmmm...If you ask me nicely, I'll let you know the assumed name so you can sneak a listen at some of the old music I used to do. Some people have been curious about my music past. It might be fun.

Concert Dates

2009-04-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

I updated the website to now include my concert schedule. I've been getting lots of inquiries and will be filling in the calendar futher, so check back when you can. Also, let me know if your parish is open to visitors giving concerts that promote the Faith and I'll see what I can do from there.
------------------Don't forget to start your Divine Mercy Chaplet novena on Good Friday!!!-----------
Offer the chaplet each day for the following intentions:
Friday - All mankind, esp. sinners
Sat. - Souls of priests and religious
Sun. - Devout and faithful souls
Mon. - Those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know God.
Tues. - Souls of those who have seperated from God's Church
Wed. - Meek and humble souls and those of little children
Thurs. - Souls who especially venerate and glorify God's mercy
Fri. - Souls who are detained in purgatory
Sat. - Souls who have become lukewarm
For further info and prayers regarding these intentions, get a small Divine Mercy Devotion book at your local Catholic bookstore.
----------------Also-------------
Go to confession, receive communion on Divine Mercy Sun. and say prayers for the Pope and have all the punishment for your sins abolished - a second Baptism!!!
God's greatest atribute is His mercy. There is nothing he won't forgive if you just ask.
God bless you.