April's Music Update

Hi!  Well, if you're interested in the bullet points of my publishing adventure, read on!  First, my worship song "My Hope Is In You" got cut (recorded and chosen for an album) by Christian recording artist and worship leader, Aaron Shust.  On June 10th, Aaron's label released his version of "My Hope Is In You" to radio as his lead single off his album due to release this August.  I'm so excited and thankful for this song to be on the radio and Lord willing, sung in many churches to come.  Secondly,  I'm pumped to tell you all that I just signed with "Chatterbox Music" publishing in Nashville a joint venture with "Sony/ATV".  "Chatterbox Music" is led by Mark Bright, publishing executive and record producer including Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts.  Because it's a joint venture, I get the reach and the presence of a great, big company - Sony - and the attention and focus of a small company.  I am one of 5 writers at Chatterbox and am so excited to be doing what I love, and with a pay check!? (Trey's excited I finally have something to show for all the years he's supported me to pursue music.)

all for now... pics of the house coming soon and more exciting music news!!!

Hello again! (Christmas to May 2011)

whew, it has been a crazy winter/spring and now we're back in blogger biz.  The highs and lows:  Trey's dad's mother - Grandma "Mawmaw" - passed away on Christmas Day and is now in Heaven with our Savior.  We were thankful to be with Trey's parents in Fort Worth when James got the news. 
For New Years, Trey and I traveled to Durango, CO for a little R&R - we skied a little, went sledding and made lots of yummy meals with friends. 
In February we found out from our property manager (on the house we were renting in Franklin, TN) that he wanted to put the house on the market a month and a half earlier than planned and it began a house-showing marathon for Trey and I.  We had to keep the house in tip-top shape for the 30 plus showings...  Meanwhile, Trey and I searched for a home to rent or buy once our lease was up in May 2011.  It is a really cool, LONG story of how God brought us to a particular property in Nashville that we ended up buying May 4th! We love it and it already feels like home - even though the first 3 weeks of living there we were bunked up in the garage while we finished repairs, painting, electrical and 1.5 bathroom remodels with some help from 2 hardworking gentleman Trey hired.   I'll post more on the house later...   From the end of January until the beginning of April we had a few friends come visit - it was such a blessing to spend quality time with Fort Worth friends in Nashville! 
In March we went back to Texas for a weekend to visit my mom's parents.  My parents brought them back to Texas, from California to take care of Granddaddy since his health was declining)  We returned to Texas the last weekend in April to see them again and a day later, May 2nd, Granddaddy went to be with the Lord.  My mom had planned an amazing memorial "Home Going" service for the following weekend.  We miss Granddaddy but are so thankful for God's incredible promise of eternal life with Him.
When we returned to TN from the service in Texas we immediately moved into the garage of our new place.  Because we ended up sleeping there, surrounded by boxes, spiders and other critters, we affectionately named the garage "The Hole" and since moving into the actual house, refer to it as such.  "Where's that box of cd's?"  "Oh, I put it in the back left corner of the Hole, wedged between despair and patience."  :) haha, needless to say, it was quite an adventure in itself. 
Hmm, that was the personal side of our spring - but in the next post I will share the business side!

Thanksgiving 2010

So we got to return to Texas for Thanksgiving and had a lovely time visiting with family and a friends.  Trey's brother and sister in law and 15 month-old nephew - Cameron, Meghan and Duke were also in town from Kansas City.  We had such a fun time seeing him walk!  He's a little mover and a shaker :)
 We also got to see my nephews and nieces: my brother Alex and wife Carey's kids: John, Joseph, Vivian, and the newest addition from my sister Andrea and her hubby Tom: baby girl Lilliana (9 months old).   Here's a pic of all of us from July 4th (except Alex, he's taking the pic): (also in pic: our cousin Sylvia and my brother's girlfriend Lauren)

We stayed with my parents and got to snuggle with their very cute dogs:  Norman and Wilbur.  Here are a few pics of Wilbur:

he's huge! kinda like Snuffleupagus sans the trunk :)

awww

Thanksgiving Meal(s) were delicious!!  My mom cooked everything and boy was it outstanding!  My sweet friend Christina got to join my family's Thanksgiving and we missed Carey and the kids (they all had the stomach flu!). 

We also had a great time with Trey's family and cousins!  On Friday we all went to the park together so Duke and Riley (age 7) could play - I know the adults had lots of fun playing too :)
We enjoyed going to our church on Sunday and seeing our CC family - miss you guys!
We returned to TN on Monday morn and were so happy to pick up our little buddy - Sullivan!
He missed us too :)

Trey and Sully :)

Hope you had a great November!

October summarized

Hello! So October was a very fun month 

- We got to visit our friends Mike and Mo and their baby girl "Liesel Jo" -who is ridiculously cute!!   

I wrote some of my favorite songs so far and had some great meetings.  One evening I carved pumpkins with some new girls and enjoyed hearing about their stories.  

Then on October 22nd we got to drive to Asheville, NC with Becky and Allan and Eli - we stopped over in Knoxville, TN to see my cousins Clark and Elizabeth and their kids - had a great time reconnecting with them.  The weather was awesome in Asheville - we walked the town, explored the shops and ate great food and the boys bought us massages!  I went hiking with Trey and Allan on Saturday and then we drove back on Sunday.  

Then to top off our October we had a very fun Halloween!  We started off the 31st with an awesome worship service at our church - with worship lead by our friend and my co-writer Ronnie.  Then Trey and I went and had crepes and coffee at a really cool little place in Brentwood, TN called 'The Perch' - and talked about music goals and opportunities.  After lunch we went to Gentry's Farm in Franklin where we met Becky, Allan, Eli, and a couple friend of theirs.  The farm offered a hayride, a midget maze and a corn maze through a huge corn field, tire swings, slides, pumpkin bread and cookies, all in a beautiful setting.  Eli loved seeing all the cows and tractors.  :) 

 

When we got home, Trey and I decorated our front porch and found the Holiday music channel on TV with "Ghostly Ghoul" music :) haha.  I made a vegetable stew for cousins and friends - then we roasted marshmallows on the back porch after the trick or treaters had gone to bed.  Btw, Sully was in heaven all night as the doorbell rang and wonderful smelling short people (kids) came to our door to see him :) at least, that's what Sully believed.  Happy Treatin' Y'all!

Carrie Underwood Concert!!

Sons of Sylvia opened for Carrie (never heard of them but they were entertaining!)

Then Mr. Billy Currington - he was awesome!

Trey got us awesome seats for the Carrie Underwood concert Wednesday night October 13th, 2010 - it was such a fun night and we thought Carrie was incredible!!  We also saw a Grammy Award winning songwriter: Ashley Gorley (a guy) - who wrote "Then" for Brad Paisley and "You're Gonna Miss This" for Trace Adkins. 

Carrie rises up from underneath the stage for her opening song: Cowboy Casanova

What's this?  American Idol Danny Gokey sitting two rows away!!

incredible set and costume changes for Carrie - this is one of probably 15

Carrie floated over us in a blue pick up truck as she stood in the bed of the truck singing "Country Roads" symbolizing her journey from Oklahoma to American Idol to the last 5 years of musical success!

here's a better shot when they lowered the truck down right above us

Opening Night at The Grand Ole Opry!

Outside The Grand Ole Opry

"Welcome Home"

 So, I have never been to the Grand Ole Opry and it was such a treat for one of my friends (Stacey) in the music biz to invite me.  Sad that Trey didn't get to come - but I txted him during the show with pics and commentary as he watched from home on the GAC channel. :)  It was truly a patriotic and Tennessee pride evening for me.  I love this city!  I saw/heard Martina McBride, Josh Turner (he's so adorable!), Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and more. 

Wow!!

more coming soon....

wow! Is it October already?! the weeks are flying by.  A lot of blogable fun things have happened - new pics and unmatched blog posts coming soon!

much love,
april