It is going to be difficult to wrap up Saturday night’s CD release party. I am truly overwhelmed today with joy, love and gratitude. The concert itself went well, but what was amazing was all of the effort put in and the support we received from our community.

I have a very close group of friends from Lifeteen. We do a weekly bible study together and spend lots of time together. Some are in the band and some are not. Those who are not have named themselves “Group Bs” and we musicians have been dubbed “Group A” Every one in Group B has a job, they all have brought their talents to this ministry and have worked so hard, always. But they all truly out did themselves on Saturday. When I arrived at O’Hara Heather, Amber, Leslie, Lisa, Cassie, Scott, Sean and Brad were already there and had decorated and stocked the “green room” with fruit, veggi’s, sandwiches, chips, assorted candy, (including yellow m&ms in a 8 inch glass jar, per Josh’s request) drinks, a basket containing band aids, cough drops, deodorant, hair clips, a mirror, advil, a framed poster and framed CD, and much much more. They had decorated the green room and the tables for CD sales. They had prayed for us, promoted, MC’d, handed out fliers, invited friends and family. Each of them signed a card for each of us band members. The words of support and love from my friends amazed me. They brought a huge wooden cross to the green room. They prayed with us and Brent Cole the opening band.

Our families came- from far and wide- they brought their families. They brought flowers, and gifts.

O’Hara faculty, especially Barb, Bob, Dianne, Melissa, and Maryanne helped with everything from facility management to power point.

Then there were the kids. While I was on stage singing, children were right up against the stage, singing and praising, dancing and jumping and clapping. It was amazing!

I put an ad on craigslist looking for someone who would volunteer to run lights. I didn’t have enough money to rent lights and pay them and I didn’t know anyone who knew how. Kevin Wyatt and his girlfriend Sasha responded to the ad. They are Christians who attend life bible and they wanted to help. They went to the lights shop 4 times- picked up the lights, showed up early to set up and then volunteered to return them all on Monday. These wonderful people didn’t know me or my music or my friends, they just stepped up the help and went out of their way to do so. The sound people Mark Smith and Dean Goff came from Vancouver. Their ministry is to do sound for Christian artists. They were amazing and wonderful and worked so hard.

Our drummer, James, had planned to leave in April. He was too busy and this was all too much work on top of everything else. He decided to stay. He decided that the love displayed by our friends made everything worth it and he couldn’t walk away.

I am sure I have left out many many other things. My head is still swimming, my heart is overflowing. I am SO BLESSED!