Kristina at Art Abundant

Do you know someone that can brighten your day just by being in their presence? Someone who is joyful and encouraging every time that you see them? I think we all can think of someone who fits this description. When asked these questions, one of the first people who comes to my mind is my friend, Kristina. She attends church with us and teaches Carson (and me) art once a week.


She has the most positive personality of anyone that I know. Just spending time with her can make our day brighter. Her love and enthusiasm for art and life is contagious. Recently, I found out that she is a fellow blogger so I thought that I would introduce her to all of my blogging friends. I love the spiritual insight that she brings into her blog through everyday experiences. She is a wife, a mother of two young children, an art teacher, an artist, and a friend. Each of these areas are reflected in her blog Art Abundant. Please stop by and visit her. I am sure that you will be blessed by her presence in your life just as much as we are.

I only hope that I bring as much joy to others as Kristina brings to me and Carson.

Carson's One Year Anniversary

This weekend was an anniversary of sorts for Carson. Our local volunteer fire department has an annual BBQ and Homecoming Event the first weekend every November. This community gathering is complete with vendors, games, food, live entertainment and a parade. Last year Carson was invited to perform her first show ever. You can read my post about that here. She played a thirty minute set in 38 degree weather. What a way to start out!

This past weekend she was invited to perform again. This time she sang for an hour in weather that was a little better. Although it was a bit windy, the temperature was in the mid fifties..much better than last year. The group after her cancelled due to the wind so she was asked to sing again after a short break. She is such a trouper.

I am amazed to look back and see how much she has accomplished with her music in a year's time. She has written quite a few original songs...had two produced and sold on itunes...and performed numerous shows. It makes me tired just thinking about it all. Oh, to have the energy of a thirteen year old again! Anyway, in honor of her first music anniversary I thought I would post a link to her youtube channel for those of you who have asked about what she has been doing lately. (Does that make me a proud mama?) I hope you enjoy!

It Can't Be Done.

It can't be done....just four little words. Have you ever had anyone tell you this? I have. Just the other day I was reminded of one of those times when someone told me that something just couldn't be done. I was taking some fall pictures of my house and garden when I remembered the time that this conversation with a neighbor took place. I had just returned from Charleston, South Carolina where I fell completely in love with the courtyard gardens that I could barely see past the iron gates. One of the objects of my affection was a particular planting, creeping fig. This beautiful vine was growing everywhere giving off an air of timeless elegance. I wanted so much to turn my little courtyard area into a Charleston garden. Then it happened...my neighbor...the one with the greenest thumb in the whole county...said those words to me. "It can't be done. We don't live in a warm enough climate to grow creeping fig. If you plant it, it will just die the first winter."



Well, as you can see I ignored her and bought three tiny pots of verigated creeping fig. I figured that it would be protected somewhat by the three walls surrounding it and the heat from the bricks may keep it alive during the cold winters.



Here it is four years later. It took it a couple of years to take off and the winter does take its toil on it just a little bit, however, it always comes back in the spring. In fact, I think it needs a little trimming right about now. What do you think?

I couldn't help but chuckle when taking my pictures the other day. My neighbor's words resounding in my mind. I am so glad that I chose not to listen to her.



I tell my girls often that anything is possible and to never let anyone tell you that something can't be done. Carson has heard a lot of "it can't be done" and "do you know how many talented people want a music career" lately. Her dad and I counter those statements with something like "if you really want it and if you are willing to work hard enough anything can happen." Isn't that what we are supposed to tell our children?

I think I should tell her the story of the creeping fig and remind her of the Bible verse that says, "With God ALL things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Where Did the Summer Go?

This summer has gone by too quickly. Between getting Catie ready to go off to college and taking Carson to her singing gigs, there hasn't been much time for just relaxing. However, I'm not complaining. Spending these summer days enjoying my girls is exactly how I want it. I know that all too soon they will both be grown up and gone. I wish somebody had told me how fast time goes when they were babies. Maybe someone did, but I was too young to understand. Oh well, I must change the subject before I am in tears.

On a happier note, Catie is excited about going to college and Carson is excited about having two of her songs on Itunes. Both girls seem to know exactly what they want to do. Maybe I haven't made too many mistakes along the way. Thankfully, the ones I have made have been covered by an awesome God!



Carson has been working really hard on her music and is trying very hard to get some more followers on her music sites. If any of you have some free time and like country/pop music. Please check her out. I'm sure she would love it!

Carson's website
Youtube channel
Itunes

I hope each of you have had a summer filled with love and laughter! Remember to enjoy every moment.

Music Photos

Our spring weather has been absolutely gorgeous this year. The landscape around here is just bursting with green. I can't think of any better time of the year to do a photo shoot with Carson. She needed to have some good photos to promote her music so we headed out to some of the prettiest places that I know. Fortunately all of these places are within a half mile of our home. I hope you enjoy the scenery...feel free to weigh in on your favorite shots. We are still trying to decide which ones to use.
















Doesn't this remind you of The Sound Of Music?




Did you pick a favorite? I hope spring is surrounding you with beauty today!

Catie's Senior Prom!

Spring has sprung here in North Carolina! As I am writing this post the birds' sweet songs are drifting through the morning air. After a very busy weekend full of activities...prom...photo shoot...art show performance...and...Easter cantata...it is nice to have a quiet morning to just sit and reflect. I am reminded of how incredibly blessed my family is.

Catie and her friends enjoyed their Senior prom this weekend. The weather was perfect! In fact, it was so nice that she and a friend sat on the pier at the end of the night and enjoyed the warm breeze.

It's hard to believe that she is graduating in just a couple of months. Where did the time go? It seems that just yesterday she was a curly headed little girl playing with toys.



Even though they sometimes argue, you can tell that they really love each other.



As pretty as they are, the azaleas can't hold a candle to Catie.



This child has always loved trees. When she was little, she used to run up and wrap her arms around them.



Every year her prom pictures have to include a tree!



I always like the pictures with the water in the background.



Can you believe that this was the first dress that she tried on?



It fit perfectly! No alterations at all.



I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to take care of this darling girl for the last 17 (almost 18) years. I guess it's almost time for her to spread her wings and fly. I'm sure she is ready...I just don't think that I am!

Warmer Weather

After a week or so of rainy and cool weather, it is so nice to be enjoying some sunshine and warmer weather. Today's temperature reached the ninety degree mark. It actually feels a little like summer out there.

As soon as the weather decides to cooperate, John and Carson saddle up the horses for a little trail riding. We are very fortunate to have plenty of trails for them to explore.



After a long ride, they always stop by the house to tell me "hello" before putting the horses back in the pasture. Of course I have to grab my camera to snap a couple of shots before they ride into the sunset.



Carson stops to give me a quick pose. We're loving this warmer weather here in North Carolina. What are some of the activities that you look forward to when the weather turns warmer?

Chaos and Country Living

The last couple of weeks have been really busy around here. Even though our life gets a little chaotic at times, we always seem to be able to balance the chaos with some simple country living.



Carson spent to first part of the week in the studio recording the final vocals for her songs "Run" and "Missing You." I didn't realize how much work went into recording until this experience. It gives me a new respect for artists and all of the people that work in the music industry. As you can see...she enjoyed every minute of it.



Catie even got into the act and helped record a little of the background vocals!



Of course none of this would have been possibe without the help of some great people. Mark Lassiter introduced us to her producer, Brad Smith. We now consider them both great friends. We couldn't have asked for anyone better to work with Carson. Brad's work is amazing! We cant wait to get the final mix.



It wasn't quite all work and no play. Brad stayed with us in our home and we managed to do a little grilling and fishing...country life at its best!

Great News!

Some of you know that we have been waiting for a couple of months on some college admissions letters for my oldest daughter, Catie. Well, thank goodness, this weekend brought some great news...she received her acceptance letter from UNC-Chapel Hill! We are so excited! Even though we are still waiting on letters from two more schools, it seems the pressure has been lifted since this is one of her top choices.


She is such a hardworking student and her dad and I are very proud of the young lady she is becoming. She hopes to be a college professor some day. I think any student would be lucky to be in her class!

On another note, Carson's full band production is almost finished. Her producer has done a great job finding excellent musicians to record her music. It sounds great! He is flying in sometime next week to record her final vocals. She is so excited to finally get to work with him in person.



He will be staying with us in our home. Since we don't have very many out of town guest, I need some suggestions from all of you bloggers out there who frequently have house guests. Feel free to give me some of your best hosting tips!

As you can see, the next week or so will be really busy around here and my blogging may be limited. However, I will stop by to see what each of you have going on in order to avoid withdrawals. I hope you all have a blessed first week of spring!

Weekend in Nashville

We had a great time in Nashville this past weekend! Our trip was pretty much centered around Carson's love for country music and her dream to be a singer someday. I thought that I might just give a few highlights today and post a little more detail each day about the places we visited and the people that we met.

We splurged a little on this trip and stayed in the Gaylord Opryland Resort. What fun! I'll have to do a whole post on the resort to share some more pictures of the conservatory gardens in the hotel.


One of the highlights of my weekend was meeting Tina from In A Garden. She and her family drove over an hour to come to the hotel to meet us. She even brought me some plants for my garden. How sweet is that!! She is the first of my blogging friends that I have had the chance to meet in person. I'll certainly have to blog about that later in the week.


One of Catie and Carson's highlights was meeting Neil from The Band Perry in the hotel lobby. He was really sweet to stop and have a picture made with them.


Of course Carson had to see The Bluebird Cafe. It was not at all what we expected. She wants to sing there the next time she is in Nashville.


This is the Ryman...the first home to the Grand Ole Opry.


We enjoyed a show and backstage tour of the current Grand Ole Opry. Carson enjoyed standing on the hallowed circle where all of the great country music stars have stood. Could this be a future star here?


We have never seen so many big guitars!






We all loved Nashville! It is such a lively city with so much to do. Two days were not enough to see all that we would have liked. I think a longer trip will be in our future.


The weekend was warm in Nashville and at home. This morning I was greeted by a few surprises in my own little corner of the world.


No matter how far I roam, there's no place like home! Hope your weekend was filled with joy!