Trying Something New: Animoto

It's Music Monday at our place, so I've been trying out a new app called Animoto and built this little video for the Oldest Town in Texas Roadshow.  Click the link to see what I've been up to.  and keep your eyes and ears open for that new music I promised. Grace to you from the Red Dirt :)

Walk Reflection: Remember Who You Are

I have not "arrived" even though I dream of "having it all together". I am so imperfect, so flawed, and fallible. And boy oh boy, sometimes everyone & everything around me seem all too happy to keep me in check. Everywhere I turn I am reminded that I'm not good enough to meet all this world's expectations. Sometimes even little voices from the past shout inside my head to remind me how I messed up 2 weeks ago or 2 years ago or even 12 years ago. It can be painful. 

BUT there's also a voice inside my heart that reminds me who I am. 

Here's what it tells me... Who I am in Christ is not determined by how I feel nor by what any human thinks of me. 

Who I am in Christ was determined by grace almost 2000 years before I was born. 

Guilt can't change it. Inadequacy can't change it. Moments of dumbfounded stupidity can't change it. 

Another human being can in NO WAY change my Lord's brilliant love for me. 

If you know Christ, it's the same for you. 

We are called according to His holy purpose.  When God saves you it's so He can have fellowship with you because He loves you so much. He will put you to work & you may be successful, or you may fail. Just like any parent who gives his or her child a chance to try something, God will guide you gently with His Word, applaud when it works out, or dust you off when you fall, & teach you something from your scars. See Romans 8:28.

God won't just change your circumstances, He will change your life. The trials for today will become lessons & victory tomorrow, but nothing will separate you from His love or His purpose for you. 

So keep on Shining! And I will too. GRACE & peace from the RED DIRT of East Texas. See ya Monday with some new Music. 

Hello-o-o-o SUMMER!!

   Summer has landed here in East Texas with the last day of school yesterday. YES!!! SUMMER!

   Grades were in. Room was packed up into my closet so it could get cleaned. And even though some of my coworkers were depressed about their empty rooms and blank walls, I was not.

    Why? I see a blank canvas, new possibilities... It really fires me up!

   So this morning, first Saturday of the summer, I was up at 4am, getting things done... Dishes. Laundry. Beds. Super healthy breakfast. Plans. Lists. This. That. And I'm still going, hoping not to crash & praying God will guide me to use my summer days wisely.
  One priority I have is to be more consistent with blogging. I don't have a big following yet, but I never will if I don't go anywhere.
  My goal is to bring you NEW MUSIC from RockingP, a little bit about FITNESS, a little bit about FOOD from a busy mom's kitchen, a little bit about FASHION & TEACHING a little bit about the GRACE of our LORD JESUS, & hopefully a little INSPIRATION. I sure hope you click, like, & feel inspired enough to share. 

  Summer smiles from the RED DIRT of East Texas. Stay cool. I'll see y'all tomorrow with a little Sunday SUNSHINE.  :)

Top 10 Reasons to Catch The Oldest Town in Texas Road Show

So this blog is titled "grace GUITARS & red dirt" & it occurs to me that while I spend a LOT of time living the GUITAR part, I haven't posted much about it.
If you know us or have followed us on Facebook or on this blog, you know that we spend many weekends and evenings as working musicians. My husband is really the GUITARS part. He is an accomplished player, teaching guitar throughout the week and playing with the best bands around this part of Texas. We both write and sing and have the honor of entertaining at some pretty special occasions.
One of the coolest things we get to do together is The Oldest Town in Texas Road Show.
There are many REASONS you're gonna want to see this show if you are anywhere near us.  

Why do you want to see this show?

10. Because you'll hear music that you've loved most of your life

Country. Gospel. Old Rock.  Cline. Strait. Orbison. Clapton. SRV.  You name it, we may have done it or we may do it at the next show.  There is so much variety on our little stage!

9. Because our current home is a must-see

Our show has recently taken up residence at the historical Old Tobacco Warehouse in Nacogdoches.  This beautiful, old building has been restored to house not only Spring and Prince, a lovely boutique on the ground floor, but also an intimate event venue upstairs which is breathtaking!

8. Because you don't need a babysitter.

It’s true.  Our dream when we started this show was to provide quality entertainment in a venue where you can bring your granny, your infant, your precocious 7-year-old, or anybody in your family.  Nothing at this show will embarrass your family because we make an effort to keep our content clean and our environment family-safe.

7. Because this guy's gonna make you smile

Sometimes we call him Mr. Kim.  Sometimes we call him Camo.  But whatever his name is at the moment, one thing never changes:  He is fully invested in making sure all our performers, guests, and audience members feel welcome and have a great experience.  

6. Because you could listen to this guitar picking all night. (I should know.)

In my opinion, he’s the best guitar player ever.  If you are thinking I am biased, you are probably right.  Only one way to find out… come see—I mean hear-- for yourself.

5. Because you'll meet your Mama’s favorite soap opera doctor, and he's a really nice guy

No kidding!  I used to watch Mr. Brad Maule saving patients on General Hospital.  I’ve also caught him on a few Three’s Company and Charlie’s Angels re-runs.  Now he’s in East Texas and a big part of our show!  But the coolest thing about Brad Maule is that he is so nice!  He is always friendly, easy to work with, and fun to talk to.  You have got to meet him!

4. Because our guests are fantastic at what they do

Our guest performers are awesome!  You may have an emotional experience.  I have laughed until I cried at our comedy sketches.  I have cried and gotten chills from the sheer beauty of a song.  You will be amazed at the array of talent we have found around East Texas.
3. Because you will get to see them before they become stars

I told you before we have some amazing talent on our stage, and some of them are just getting started.  There are future STARS rising from our stage.  Just think how nice it will be to say, “I saw them back when they were in the Oldest Town in Texas.”
2. Because you may get proposed to

Well maybe not… but it has happened.  No kidding!

1. Because they're not just good at music; they're great people!

I am SO blessed to work with this group of people.  They are truly wonderful, loving, positive people.  They’ll bless you with their talents and their contagious joy!

February Good for the HEART Challenge #1: Move the Mouth Less and the Body More

Move the Mouth Less and the Body More

James chapter 3 talks about this small muscle of the body and the power it has over our lives. The sarcastic southern girl in me responds with my hand on my hip... Well, ain't that the truth? James hits the nail on the head when he says that no one can tame the tongue(v8) and that it can be set on fire by hell(v6) Woh!
How many of us can testify to this "world of evil" (v6) ruining an entire day, an entire weekend, an entire relationship even? So much is lost because we didn't just keep it behind our teeth?
Additionally, I can’t tell you the number of hours I've wasted just wagging my tongue when I should have been working, or writing, or studying...
And then there's the whole eating issue...
How many calories have I consumed out of boredom or because "it just tastes so good"? Even if I was full as a tick, as my Granny would say.  
I challenge you to use this month to keep a tighter rein on your tongue.  Want to gossip? Excuse yourself instead.  Tempted to complain, smile and be thankful instead.  Want to chew on something? Go with sugarless gum… and take a walk, dance with your kids, clean a neglected space.  Ask for God’s amazing GRACE to see you through.  I wonder just how much we will all get done.  Let me know how it turns out.

Challenge Yourself to Do Something Positive

Generally, I love the first day of the month. It's a time to regroup, renew, & restart.  Even though I felt that way going into yesterday, the reality of what had to happen & what didn't happen set in pretty quickly. And it DID NOT feel like a fresh start. It felt like the same old tired mess!
But I don't have to be defeated by the messes of yesterday. The truth is that because I am in Christ, I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)Notice that’s in present tense. I wasn't a new creation, I AM one... Today on the 2nd. I accept that and choose today to do something new.
Remembering that February is the month of love I am thinking of matters of the heart, of people who inspire me, of ways I can connect more with people.
So I am challenging myself to a few things for this month.
Won't you join me as I move my mouth less and my body more AND tell those who have inspired me what they mean to me?  I hope you will and that you post something positive about how it affects your corner of the world.

Happy New Creation Day! Grace to you from our Red Dirt.

Holiday TRAINing Derailment

Finally back for an update on my BREAK-over goals.  Seems that Christmas Break didn’t slow down the crazy that much.  I have made progress toward some of my goals, even with some obstacles in my way. 

For example, I finally got my Christmas decorations up about 2 days before Christmas.  Nothing like cutting it close.

A few other goals, cleaning out the barn, redecorating the upstairs bathroom, and working on the taxes… well, they were not completely neglected but not finished either.  I still have a few more days off.

I did finish a good book, A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck.  His Grandma Dowdel books always bring me joy.  I also got to spend some quality time with my Granny, my Mama, and my brother’s family.  Good stuff!

A super-cool surprise was getting some GUITAR time with my favorite guy in the world… and I did say GUITAR TIME—not singing time.  He taught me four songs that now I am accountable to practice.  HMMM… it’s interesting.  The more classic 3-chord numbers I learn on GUITAR, the more inspired I become to write my own classic 3-chord numbers.  Anyway, more about that later.

Here’s the update you may be waiting for… DID I finish 40 miles by the end of the year?  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I gave myself 14 days to finish 40 miles. (Click HERE to read about it in this POST.)  

Fighting last minute Christmas must-dos, crazy weather, and illness, I am close, but don’t know if I’ll fully meet the goal.  Today is my last day, and it’s not over yet, but I still have almost 7 miles to go. 

I went into this knowing that I might not make it, but with 3 days to go and only 12 miles left, I was feeling good and SURE I had this.  THAT’S WHEN IT HIT ME… and I do mean HIT me, like a Mack truck hauling it on the interstate… the stomach virus from… well you’ve heard of the place. 

I’d already lost one day (Day 4, Monday) doctoring my poor baby with this horrible thing. (She proclaimed her sick day THE WORST DAY EVER, and I was inclined to agree with her.  I can’t stand to see my baby sick.)  Truthfully, I thought I had a touch of her virus the next day (Tuesday), so my time on the RED DIRT was shorter that day, only 2 miles instead of the 4 in my plan…

BUT I HADN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET.  Monday, I was up and raring to go—super productive and on the right track.  I finished 4 miles and was feeling great.  I came in, had a healthy lunch, and BOOM!  Mack truck!  Out of commission all evening and the next day.  I did lose 4 pounds in 2 days, but I do not recommend this plan! So yesterday, still a little weak, I got back on the RED DIRT track, walking like a wounded turtle, but I made up a little by doing 5 ¼ miles.  Today to finish out my goal, I’ll have to do almost 7 miles.  I’m not saying I will, but I am not giving up either.  God has given me the GRACE to want to finish, but I am still a fallible girl. I’ll let you know what happens!