Raindrops blurred my view of the landscape as I looked out the bus window.  It was almost like the heavens knew it was the last day of the trip and wept for the inevitable goodbyes.  All around me were those who had been my (and my sisters!) companions for the past five days…a few napped, others were reading and like myself, some gazed out the window at the rain that gently fell to the ground.  The Signal station appeared all too soon and we were the first to disembark for home.  Yet, before we stepped off the bus our buddies Vince and Joyce reminded us, “Nine days till Memphis!”…and another bus tour with Duane and Micki Garren.

Last year we had rode the bus with Duane and Micki to the Memphis Quartet Show which we will do again this year before the month is out.  What we had yet to experience, was the Garren’s bus trip to The McKameys Hometown Sing, until now.  Last Thursday we remedied that when we climbed on a big, green Cavallo bus that was pointed towards Clinton, Tennessee.  Duane Garren and his wife Micki were our hosts and if you remember my Memphis reviews, you’ll remember our bus driver Ronnie S.  I had posted on Facebook that this was the best bus trip ever, and it wasn’t just because of the ice cream, we had a blast!  We had fun, made new friends, ate at superb restaurants, heard great singing and spirit filled preaching.  Who could ask for more?

That was June 5-9^th and the rest of June is booked solid with more events we’ll be attending every weekend.  And I mean every weekend!  Here’s the list…

June 13-14, 2014 – Karen Peck and New River’s Homecoming in Dahlonega, Georgia.

June 18-21, 2014 – The Memphis Quartet Show at the Cook Convention Center.

June 26-28, 2014 – Beacon Park in Harrison, Arkansas.

I think someone swapped out my schedule with a Gospel singer’s…  😉

So, you can be expecting a lot of concert reviews to pop up on this site in the future!  I’d also like to mention that the give-a-way for this month will be posted on Friday.  The prize is a CD that’s hot off the press!  I picked it up over the weekend and if you win, you’ll be one of the first to hear it!  Can anyone guess which CD it is?  Speaking of CD’s, I’m really hoping that my busy schedule will allow me to write a new CD review this month on Mark Bishop’s new release, This Is What It’s All About.  I purchased a copy in Georgia over Memorial Day Weekend and have been enjoying it very much – I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

If you’re my friend on Facebook, you’ve probably noticed all my Goodreads updates – I love to read, especially Christian Fiction.  I don’t know what it is, but I find stories set in different cultures and historical time periods fascinating!  I hope you don’t mind if I use this paragraph to tell you about one of the latest books I’ve been reading and why I would recommend it.  This book is called The Queen’s Handmaid written by T. L. Higley.  (Tracy Higley is the reason I began reading Christian Fiction, but that’s a story for another time…)  The Queen’s Handmaid is the story of a girl named Lydia who grows up in the palace of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, as the “queen’s handmaid.”  Lydia is an orphan with no family and seemingly, no identity.  Yet, she is fiercely loyal to her Jewish friend, Samuel, who teaches her about Israel’s Almighty God and His prophecies.  Before Samuel is murdered he passes his lifework onto Lydia, begging her to take a box of scrolls to Jerusalem on the Day of Atonement and give them to a man on the temple steps wearing the tallit.  In possession of the scrolls, Lydia’s life is now in danger and she flees Egypt with Herod, the Galilean governor, to be his future wife’s handmaid.  The book chronicles Lydia’s journey with the scrolls against this backdrop of ancient history – introducing us to her friends, enemies and even unknown family.  Higley always does an excellent job when she writes a book set in the ancient world but I would dare say The Queen’s Handmaid is epic.  The history is well researched (Higley is pursuing a degree in ancient history) and the characters seem to jump off the page and talk to you!  It amazes me how authors can take a world so far removed from our own and show us that they shared some of the same struggles we go through today.  Beautifully written – a wonderful read!

One more thing before we go!  This month I have a featured article in SGN Scoops about Singing in the Sun.  The June issue hasn’t been released yet, but I will post a link when it’s available.  Abraham Productions added so many new things to their event this year that made it extra special – there was so much to write about!

The month ahead is one of the fullest and craziest I’ve ever planned for when it comes to travel and a busy schedule, but I know I’m not alone.  Many, and maybe you’re one of them, have busy lives and an appointment book that keeps you up and running all the time.  If that’s the case, you will probably agree with me that time slips away too fast and sometimes it’s hard to set aside time to be alone with God.  The verse in Psalm 46:10-11 echoes in my mind, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”  Many points can be made with these two verses alone, but when I look at them right now I see this…Be still and know that I am God – The LORD of hosts is with us!  As Hebrews says, He never leaves us.  When we run out the door for work you won’t find Him sitting in the recliner hollering, “See ya’ when you get home!”  Nope.  He comes with us and stays by our side all day – the only thing is we have to take the time to stop and acknowledge His presence.  I’m going to make it a goal to do that this month, who’s with me?