The Piano I Was Raised On

I played this piano ever since I was 3 years old. It's currently with my parents in Canada, but it has a couple decades worth of jammin' on it. It's my beautiful antique! 

At Some Point We Grow Up

Our recent trip to California 

Me and Mum. She is an angel.

It's one of those days- I have more than enough things to do but I really just need this down time.  The past few months have been a bit of a whirlwind and I think finally my brain is catching up- not to mention my emotions too! It's so strange to me to be so far away from my family, and watch their lives virtually through the convenience of social media. I think when I got married it was the first time I actually did a "flash-back" of my life and realized how different things had become. Don't get me wrong, married life is amazing and I think it's most people's dream, but I don't think you can ever be prepared enough for all the changes it brings. You just have to go through the emotions! 

Recently Peter and I just came back from California visiting his parents. It was absolutely amazing. I had been there several times before visiting my own friends, but as I was sitting on the plane, I felt God speak to me saying, "Amy this time for you is going to be so special". And it was. I got to go down memory lane with Peter's parents, watching a bunch of home videos and looking through so many old photos. I laughed, I got teary-eyed. It was like experiencing an entirely new life all over again. I would look at Peter as he was 3 years old, 12 years old, 18 years old... and as I was watching, all I could think of was who I was as a young girl during those years. Both of us had completely different life experiences, and yet somewhere along the way we both met; these two lives became one. It was fascinating to me. It was overwhelming at times to just realize how BIG God is and how he worked for years on both of us, preparing us for a life together. Getting to know Peter's parents was a huge blessing. Not only have I felt like I've gained an extra set of loving parents, but knowing them also helped me to understand Peter in a new way. This trip helped me put more pieces of the puzzle together. 

While I was out in California I also managed to set up one performance all because of my lovely friend Sarah who lives in San Clemente. Sarah knew that I was raising funds for my next recording project and she put together a wonderful intimate acoustic cabaret. I felt so honored to meet so many people with moving life stories to share. It's amazing how music breaks down so many walls. I can't describe the feeling of seeing both young and old faces staring back at me, knowing we all get each other  The things I sing about, the glory, the pain-- both young and old get it. Age is just a number, as I am coming to understand.

So-- it's a Monday evening. I'm going to get back to my work after I finish this. But I just needed to write. I'm thinking of my own journey so much these days. Thinking of my family, thinking of my sisters, my brothers, mum and dad. How did I ever grow up? Haha. I don't understand. Feels like just yesterday I was going tobogganing with my siblings down our large back-yard hill at 51 Bonacres Ave. Now I'm all the way in Michigan, married,  awaiting yet another birthday next month. 

Balboa Park, San Diego

Thank you Jesus for every single year. It's nice to have something familiar through every age- your gentle hand holding mine. You are my forever home.

PS- dear reader, I just discovered an incredibly moving song: Check out "To Build A Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra. I have been listening to it as I write this blog. Now we can have the same experience ;)

Writing the Album

And so it begins. Writing for my full-length album number two. And yes, that is an energy drink to help get the brain juices flowing. I may or may not have been influenced by my husband ;) Anyways, I'm trying to get out of the habit of making every song so painfully difficult to write. I'm assuming the more I write, the easier it will all become. You'll notice also the Bible. I don't know why, but I always write with one open. Every now and then I peer down and use a verse or two to inspire the next lines or thoughts. It's so much easier having a little bit of a template. Did I just reveal my secret as a song-writer? ;)