First of all, congrats to Jayne from  Suburban Soliloquy   for winning the CD give-away! And thank you to all who entered! ~~~ There are always discoveries to be made at Thomas Edison National Park, where my husband is a Park Ranger. My favorite building on the property however, is the old Greenhouse, which is kept up by a local volunteer garden club.  In just 7 years, they've re-created the original beauty as it was years ago in Thomas Edison's Day.  There are plants from all over the world, cultivated and cared for, with the patience that only a true gardener can possess. I am no gardener, and I've never had a green thumb. But the Greenhouse is so special to me, that I wanted to offer what I could to help out. There is much to be learned in the world of gardening! The newest discovery I learned of, is a plant called Monstera Deliciosa. It's a tropical plant that can grow up to 20 meters high and produces a muy deliciosa fruit. One of these fruits fe...

After 2 years and 611 posts, I'm going to host my very first give-away!  The prize will be (drum roll)...... my album, "Silk in the Sky," which releases April 10th. I know, I know, try to contain your excitement. :) So all you need to do if you're interested in winning the 10 track CD before its' official release date, is leave a comment below saying you'd like to be entered into the drawing. The winner will be announced this Wednesday and I'll get the CD in the mail to the winner that very day.  I've adjusted my comment settings, so ANYONE can leave a comment. If you don't win, don't be too disappointed! You can buy the album April 10th on iTunes, Amazon, or CDbaby. :) Good luck!

Certain sounds and smells can bring to mind a long forgotten memory. For me, certain Bible verses can conjure up a memory, long, but not so forgotten. If you grew up like me, in a private Christian school, attending Sunday School, Awanas, and Vacation Bible School regularly, you're an expert at quoting Scripture. I laugh in the face of Bible "Sword Drill." I can find a Scripture reference in 3 seconds or less. When other's have to think to themselves the sequential order, "Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians..." I'm already at I Thessalonians. It's like growing up bi-lingual. The skill is just there. This morning, I read the first 3 words of a verse, and then finished it quickly by memory. Like the pledge of allegiance, it was automatic. "Trust in the Lord... ...With all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6 When I finished, I ...

Beautiful things happen when we choose right. To act the right way,  re -act the right way, eat right, take care of ourselves right, and  do  right. Before you know it, you're looking at an ocean reflecting the sunshine, standing next to the person you love, thinking, "How did I get  here ?" " There's a ripple effect, In all that we do. What you do touches me, What I do touches you." -Author Unknown

Me and my dad on my wedding day In honor of my dad's birthday today, I thought I'd post the song, "A Builder." I wrote this song for my dad back in 2009, and it will be on my upcoming album,  Silk in the Sky  releasing in April of this year. But you can hear the finished product right now! He is, as you may have guessed, a builder. He founded his own construction business and worked tirelessly for years while I was growing up to make it a success. He no longer builds for a living, but it still remains one of his passions. Try passing a building without him critiquing the structural engineering of it! Happy birthday, dad! Love you!

Searching for a new run route, I set off towards a park I knew was nearby. I ran through neighborhoods, up hills, and all around town trying to find my way into the entrance of the park I just  knew  was around here somewhere. Finally, I decided I must either ask someone, or head home. I scanned the streets for someone to approach. My eyes landed on an older gentleman standing in his driveway. His white hair was mostly covered by a hat and his hands were shoved deep in the pockets of his jacket. But he stood as content as can be, next to a parked car. The backseat door was wide open, and he stared inside with an admiring smile on his face, as if he were  completely  mesmerized and enthralled with what he saw.  I called down the long driveway from the sidewalk, "Excuse me sir, do you know how to get to the park entrance from here?" "Sure!" He yelled back without glancing up at me. His eyes remained locked on the backseat of the car. "Come and meet my grandson!...

One of the perks about living in New Jersey, is being able to have the best of 2 worlds. The opportunities, culture, and excitement of New York City, and the suburb comfort of New Jersey. The option to see a world-renown performance on a first class stage, or the simple freedom of being able to drive to a movie and park in a parking lot. This area is still very much new and foreign for me, a midwest girl. And I've often struggled with our future here. Will we move? Will we stay? I can't see into the future, and that can be frustrating. But one thing I do know, is that  today , I can see for a loooong time. And that provide some clarity. These photos were taken in South Orange, NJ, 20 miles away from the Empire State Building you see in the center. ~~~ Love/Hate Top of the Rock