DAY FIVE: 10 Days of Gratitude

I'm thankful for family.

My actual family... and those in my life who've become family.

I'm thankful to have some really amazing, authentic, loving people in my life who like to talk and laugh as much as I do, who are always up for an adventure, who I would literally die for... and who know me better than me somedays.

Y'all know who you are... Thank you.

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

DAY FOUR: 10 Days of Gratitude

I'm thankful for my parents.

Last night, a friend reminded me how lucky I am to have a Mom & Dad. Not everyone does.  Sometimes I take that for granted. My parents are with us, livin' large and enjoying life.

Next week, they hit Music City. They're driving from Nebraska to hang with me over the Thanksgiving Holiday. We haven't been face-to-face since Christmas 2011.

We may be getting into some trouble around town... so watch out Nashville. Three Petersen's will be on the loose, stirring it up.  (Translation:  Eating, watching TV, going for drives, napping and hitting the antique shops.)

Thank you, Mom & Dad.

Ephesians 1:16 NLT
"I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly"

DAY THREE: 10 Days of Gratitude

I'm thankful for music.

Shocker, right?

It's the thing that really propels me through life. The words. The groove. The melody.

I feel most alive when I'm sharing music.. whether it's performing, a session, a round, writing a song or seeing live music.

Just another reason Nashville is my home.

On any given night, there are so many choices. The hardest part about living here is deciding what not to see.

So... in celebration of music that jacks me up, helps me feel what I need to feel and rocks my world, here are some artists that you need to check out. They aren't necessarily mainstream... but they should be. Maybe this little post will give them all a few more fans. Some are the songwriters behind the songs you love... and they are the sheeot. Some are artists who are true to themselves and their music. Some are both. All will rock your world.

Please go listen... and if you love it. Buy it. K?

Karleen Watt
Lisa Carver
Travis Meadows
Levi Lowery
Eric Paslay
Jeffrey Steele
Jeff Anderson
Will Hogue
AJ Engstrom
Blue Mother Tupelo
Marion Grace
Rob McNelly
Brandi Carlile
Bonnie Bishop
Sam Hawksley
Jedd Hughes
Mingo Fishtrap
John Hiatt
Buddy Miller
Keb Mo
Ashley Cleveland
Emily West
Matt Maher
Hillary Linsdley
Rick Huckaby
Lee Roy Parnell
Dave Pahanish
Lee Roy Powell
Pat McLaughlin
Issac Hayden
Jimmy Hall
Gary Nicholson
Delbert McClinton
Cumberland Collective
Mindy Smith
Blackberry Smoke
Jonell Mosser
Bekka Bramlett

This is just a little sample... no way for me to list everyone.

Just listen. Feel the love.

And, then, support music you love by buying their CDs / downloading them on iTunes.

Cause I love these people and it's how they make their living.

You wouldn't want it any other way.

Thank you to music... for always finding a way to help me feel whole.

Psalms 135:3 NLT: "Praise the Lord , for the Lord is good; celebrate his lovely name with   music."

DAY TWO: 10 Days of Gratitude

I'm thankful for the word "yes".

It's amazing what those little three letters put together can bring into your life.

Oh the adventure of it all.

Of course, sometimes I end up sleeping less than I should. But at the end of my life I don't want to be known as someone who rested well.  I want to be known as someone who lived. Period.

There are so many things I wouldn't have experienced had I not said, "yes." Some of the most obvious are listed below... but what's really important among it all, are the relationships, friendships and stories that go along with "yes". There are so many who would be missing in my life today if I had said, "no."

No regrets on the Yes

Bonnie Bishop, Lisa Gray & Me 

Moving to NASHVILLE.  Freakin' LOVE this place. It's where I really get to be me. 100% of the time.  I love who I've become... and who I'm evolving to be living in Nashville. If you'd have told me 15 years ago, I'd be living here and experiencing all of it... I'd have said you were crazy. Writing songs, doing rounds at the Bluebird, performing on the Grand Ole Opry with Lee Roy Parnell, singing BGVs on stage with some of my favorite artists and people. Recording demos and background vocals on sessions.  Getting to hear my voice on the radio. Getting to tag along on the Paisly / Dierks tour, the LRP tour, Blue Mother Tupelo gigs. Learning to play guitar. Finding my tamborine groove. Singing with the Woodland Street Revival peeps.  And you know what the best part of this adventure is?  ALL of the like-minded, gracious, creative souls I've gotten to know.  Getting to know a some of my heros as friends. Sharing music with other people who love to share music. OMG.  All because we made the decision at the 11th hour to move here instead of Minneapolis.  *praise the Lord* We said yes.

View from the Top

Standing on Mt. Rushmore. That's what I said. You read correctly. ON IT with my friend Ann (Panerio) Deckert. I took the pic on the left myself with a real, film loaded, camera.  Mary (Ann's friend who got us behind the scenes on the mountain) took the one on the right... Ann and Me, sitting on George Washington's head. It was very windy. We climbed up the scaffold left behind by the artists. Scaled the rocks of the canyon behind the monument along side mountain goats. We stood in the "hall of records". These pics have been prominently displayed in every office I've had since 1993. Heck yeah... I'm glad I said yes.

Sunny Side-Up

Hot Air Ballooning. Crewing for Kay West (Prarie Sky) and learning to fly in Sunny Side Up (that balloon winking at you to the right) in the process. Amazing seven years. Every flight is a story... every chase an adventure... and I swear I remember every single one.  Taking skydivers up. Getting stranded in the middle of nowhere in Custer State park. Touching the tops of trees. Splash and dashes. Helping people get engaged. Married. Glows. Balloon races. Ahhhh. It was awesome. All because, in 1993, I said "sure. I'll come crew for you. sounds fun." Met some amazing friends among it all, too. Kay is the most gifted pilot. I still dream about flying... 12 years later.  Yes was the only option.

Cassy Petersen & Jime Lynn

Spelunking.  OMG. *she car high five's Cassy & Jime* It all happened over a bucket list discussion and a Groupon to spelunk at Cumberland Caves. We had no idea. None. Nada of what we were about to do. And there is only one way out folks.. through. It was the most amazingly fantastically frightening thing I've ever experienced. We were swung over a crevis by our guide. We crawled through a space that was less than 12 inches square for almost 20 feet. I was freaked out inside and out most of the way through. *she blacks out*  Oh holy mother of God, never again. But I'm still glad I said yes.

Josh, Me & Jake - Paramore Zippers

Zip-lining in WV.  On a Paramore work trip to Rivermen. AND... I was scared shitless pretty much every time I let go.  Am certain I made a complete fool of myself to my coworkers and the client. Especially when attempting to repel down at the end.  But, I don't care. It was so worth it. I highly recommend it. (If you try it, it's work the trip to Adventures on the Gorge in WV... they are the BEST place to white water raft.  Another thing I must try.) Glad I didn't chicken out.

Getting Hitched.  Seriously. I know it sounds crazy.  I never ever never ever never wanted to get married. Avoided it. Turned three people down in my 20s. Until the persistent one... Bandmates. Friends. Roommates. Spouses. We had an amazing run. We got to live the adventure together for a little more than 18 years.  Partners in crime.  It was totally worth it. Doesn't matter that it didn't turn out as we all hoped it would... it's still one of the best things I've ever done. I will never regret that I said yes.

Heck, yeah. I'm thankful for yes. Without it, I wouldn't feel alive.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT
"So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun."

DAY ONE: 10 Days of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is just 10 days away.  How in the heck did that happen?

To celebrate, I've decided to post something Thankful every day until the turkey hits the table.  

DAY ONE: I'm thankful for the sucky stuff.

Don't rub your eyes. You read that correctly.

Over the past year or so, I've spent a ton of time thinking about the past, the rest of my life and working towards acceptance of where my life is at this very moment. 

My goal is to get better and better at right now. Right here.  Not trying to control the future so much. Not trying to fix the past. Just being where I'm at and being okay with whatever that means.

One of the conclusions I've reached is that the sucky stuff requires the most gratitude. 

Not for the pain (that would be the sucky part). 

Instead, for the opportunity to become better. The opportunity to transform myself and re-record the whispers in my head to something more wonderful. The opportunity to use my experience to help others get through, too. The opportunity to lean into my faith, trust God and remember who's really in charge.  (PS: It's not me.)

There is no denying it. Sucky stuff, you really do suck. But you're lighting the way to a better life and helping me recognize challenges that I wouldn't be tackling had you not sucked. 

So, today... I'm thankful for the sucky stuff. 

Here's big ol' *THANK YOU HUG* from me.

Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

It's time for finger cookies...

2011 Zombie Fingers

Every year, since 2006, I make "finger cookies" for Halloween.

Evidence here:
2006 - the lady fingers
2007 - bloody fingers
2008 - stubby bloody fingers
2009 - Diversity Fingers
2010 - Green fingers... but can't find the pics!!! *meh*
2011 - Zombie fingers

2009 Diversity Fingers

What should I do this year?  

I'm thinking Zombie for sure... considering my new affliction with the "Walking Dead" (Thanks to Jeff, Maddie, Chelsey, Suzie & Travis... LOL. Hooked.)

What other creepy finger or other halloweeny grossness would be cool?  Ideas?

Potential v Reality

I'm praying for a dear friend, who is going through something similar as me. Accepting the reality of her situation instead of the potential of her reality.

Another friend recently chose to end almost 30 years marriage due to the similar reasons. Another friend, is still dealing with the fallout of making the right decision for herself even after 17 years.

Our past is not the past if we are still living in it, right?!

Over the last few weeks and the past year, God has shown me that I’m not alone. He’s shown me strong women who, for whatever reason, are drawn to the potential of someone, instead of the reality of someone.

It doesn’t make us weak. In fact, what we’ve been through makes us stronger.

It’s now our opportunity to unselfishly look inward & decipher our own needs for the first time in our lives.

We can take care of ourselves first & other’s second… We realize that until we learn to do this, we really can’t help others anymore. We’re tapped out. In fact, by taking care of ourselves, we are able to do more for others if we can figure it out.

Yet, it is uncomfortable.
It’s foreign.
We were taught to put ourselves last.
It feels selfish & wrong to do anything else.

But, guess what?

It’s not.

It’s our turn to focus on what we really want & need in our lives. No compromises.

It’s our turn to give ourselves permission to be ourselves.

And, in the process, find ourselves again.

Fixing everyone else… Taking care of everyone else has only been a diversion from us actually seeing ourselves for who & what we are as strong women.

I, for one, am ready to do the work to turn that around.

And, it’s my hope that the amazingly strong women in my life have the courage to do the same.

God’s got a plan for us… That may involve us caring for others… But in a way that doesn’t hurt us and unintentionally keep others from facing the consequences of their own choices.

We can do this.

And, when we do, no matter how hard, we’ll be a better version of ourselves than we can even imagine.

God’s got our back.
We just need to take those steps of faith and trust His plan.

No more creating our own reality in our relationships. Authenticity is the rule… For ourselves and the people we choose moving forward.

Potential v Reality…
I’m finally choosing reality.

Be good to yourself.
Protect your heart at all costs…
It’s your treasure.

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." http://bible.us/Prov4.23.NLT

You deserve better than potential.

You deserve reality.