The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

As most of you know, I am part of a trio called Maeve.  Rollyn Bornhorst, Courtney Reid and I have been musical partners for a decade.  It took 10 years and 10 albums, to finally get to what I consider to be our best release to date and one of the most satisfying, inspirational, musical and spiritual experiences of my life. 

It's one week away from what is becoming Maeve's busiest time of year.  Also known as, "the most wonderful time of the year".  We are gearing up for many Christmas concerts that will be happening throughout the month of December.  Last year we made a "Maeve dream" come true, but finally recording an album of traditional Christmas hymns as well as 4 original Christmas songs.  These songs of peace, joy, love and ultimately freedom were birthed because of the birth of God himself and remain mysteriously fresh regardless of when they were written.  It is so appropriate the this album was recorded in a barn.  The process of capturing the songs and entering in to their message was joyfully overwhelming.  I'm so glad I got to experience something unforgettable with my 2 musical partners, and life long friends.


Please check your calendar and ours at  www.maevemusic.com, and see if perhaps over the month of December, you could join us as we sing these sacred songs, in a new way.


Also, check out one of the original tunes on the Christmas album, along with a lovely view of my fireplace :)

The Craftsman - a new song

My husband, Mark, has recently been involved with creating video content for the marriage movement and the recovery movement.  In both cases, brokenness is a big topic.  I have been challenged to dig deep and to create visual imagery through song about redeeming lost and broken things. 

We have personally been inspired by the art of Rich Dunbrack, an artist / furniture craftsman whose work will make you smile (www.thethievingmagpie.com).  He is known for taking old, forgotten, damaged goods and integrating them into his work for functional art.  Mark is in the process of creating a story of redemption by using video imagery of Rich’s work and tying it into the recovery process.  Here is one song I recently wrote for this series on recovery.  It’s called “The Craftsman”, along with pictures I've taken of Rich's artwork.  Stay tuned for the recovery video which is in production.

Halloween is a bit confusing...

Conflict #1
This was my first year taking my children trick or treating.  I told my 4 year old what was about to take place, and she had a dumbfounded look on her face as if to say, "are you kidding me?  I'm about to receive a bucket of candy and you are OK with it?"  This is contrary to ever other day in our life, when I explain how bad candy is for her and how it only leads to a belly ache.
Conflict #2
Halloween is a day where many people take joy in dressing up like killers.  On Halloween it is consider fun to become the likeness of something terrible.  It's a day where one gets to act like something that would otherwise in real life be unacceptable.  So on Halloween night when we pass someone on the street wearing a hockey mask,  I am allowed to say to my children, "no, no, honey, don't be scared that person is just pretending to be a serial killer.  It's OK."
Conflict #3
In an effort to reduce the amount of candy that my children would eat, and because I love to bake,  I chopped up all of the peanut butter cups and snickers bars and made a 9x13 pan of cookies.  Now who do you think is going to eat that?