Laurel Lake Camp

Friday afternoon I made the 4 hour journey to Laurel Lake Camp. Mind you it was supposed to be 4 hours. Somehow it managed to stretch itself into 5 and a half. With all the road construction and unavoidable back roads that lead to the tiny secluded camp, I didn't have much choice but to journey on, ever annoyed that the people in front of me were actually going the speed limit.
This summer I've been ripped out of my element time and time again. It's rather taxing, presenting your ideas and passion to a group of strangers and hoping that they come out the other side of the presentation having heard your message and (hopefully) loving they music in which it was delivered.
Oh Laurel Lake Camp (is the dearest and the best. haha). It was good times. I must say, Friday night sitting around the little Cabin Campfires relating and listening to everyones week, specifically how they were touched or moved by the camp experience brought back memories of my own teenage-infected time on that campus. But it was good, and they were good memories.
The last summer I worked there, I can remember standing on the balcony of the lodge talking to my mom. Besides the fact that it was such a beautifully starry night, I was on the deck because it offered me the best position, over all the acres of forest and field, for the strongly coveted semi sturdy cellphone reception. Rossiter really is deep down in the under belly of Pennsylvania. Anyway, Standing out there, mere months after I graduated from Blue Mountain Academy, I told my mom exactly what my heart was feeling. And that was what every college bound highschool graduate thinks of; what they want to do with the rest of their lives! And I knew, after all those weeks of singing for worship, of fellowship and seeing God work through a medium of concentrated faith and earnest action, that I wanted nothing more than to be a channel for Him to witness through. And my chosen medium, above all else would be music.
Friday night at the camp fires, when we all joined hands in the big circle and started to sing the last songs of the night, as we swayed and stared up at the glittery sky, the memory hit me. It hit me as a misplaced warm breeze in the cool night, oddly warming my body so that my hairs pricked and stood on ends. The breeze was inside me bowling over my organs till they were mush. It was as if He looked right back at me from the sky, scooped me up and gave me a kiss. "How great of Him," I thought, "to bring me back here when I've started my journey." Truly, how great of Him.
And the rest of the two day stay was a blast. I had a great time jammin with the staff on stage (mostly jumping around, but it was all in good fun.) It got to talk to the campers. Basically re experience what it is to live in a Pop Culture free environment. Gosh, it was beautiful.
The concert I gave was fun, even though it helped me realize some of my short comings and faults. But what is experience without learned growth in the end?
Denise, the camp director is a very special woman. It's true then, what the bible says about giving. If you give freely, you in return will be given to in an even larger and more astounding amount. Denise showed me that in a special way.
All in all it, it was good times. And now I ask God, what's next?

I don't Get it

I've been so mopey the last two days. I haven't worked out. I have had to force myself to call people and e-mail, basically finish things I started. Unmotivated. What gives? I don't know when it started but I suddenly had the urge to own a skateboard. OK correction. Own and ride a skateboard. Last night I reached the epitome of this desire as I mindlessly clicked out of my e-mail (where I do very important things I might add), to search for "pretty cool looking skateboards." Besides all the wonderful pictures that you can get on a board, I discovered that there are different lengths for different types of riders. New skateboards are invented every day. And they even have boards specially made for chicks. When I say specialy made I mean... the designs have pink skulls instead of red ones. Makes sense? Indeed...
Surprisingly, even though I had about a bajillion things to do this morning (Mostly call people back insuring that I Am NOT a Flake. Which is something I have to remind myself of every once in a while to stay on top of things.) I ended up at Target snooping up and down the isles in my raggedy jeans and Puma sneakers (the ideal skateboarder look, ahem...) searching for a skateboard. Once I found that tiny section of the store, located conveniently between the ilse with the helmets and the isle with the gauze, antiseptic, and band aids... (hahah I laugh!) I eyed my scanty pickings. Why do boys like skulls so much? This is a serious question people! Because I was forced to buy a lame one with a.... sappy design on it. So sappy I don't even know what it IS! Anyway, I'm standing there holding this skateboard looking at the price, remembering how much I have in my wallet, trying to remember why in the name of pain am I- a 22 year old heavy set musician- purchasing a skateboard? God knows... But I did. And I road it down my driveway a couple times. And now, despite my mopey crappy mood, I'm happy. Let that be a lesson to you! Whatever lesson you can gather from this, please let me know. Cuz I'm still quite clueless...

What a Good Life!

I'm having one heck of a summer. I love EVERY MINUTE OF IT. What is making it so freaking exciting? Traveling OF COURSE! I've been all over and this last month of the summer will only add to my constant geographical displacement. This weekend I'll either be in New York or Laurel Lake camp. Next weekend I'm in Houston, the weekend after that Seattle... I love being on the move. Good times. Anyway.

I realize that my blogs are little more than random information right now, BUT this will soon end. For those of you who do love my more elaborate/colourful writing, have no fear... soon it will return. Haha (I'm so weird) Anyway. Peace yall... go with blessings.

It is Finished

Last night I drove over to Dave and Chris's to pick up the demo. Signed a check and left with the discs in my hands. I was so calm it might have been shock, all I could think was "it's over..." I didn't pop it into the 6 disc changer in my trunk. I just rode home, in silence. All the while praying as doubts, fears, and disbelief poured over me. There I was wondering the back roads that link Delaware to my Pennsylvanian driveway, and in my solemn solitude I was fighting an internal war whose main subject was faith. Reader I almost cried. It was months ago, and this demo thing wasn't even an idea. It came to me that both Cd's that I have were created with very little planning. God just provided. So much lies on this music. So much. In my mind I was pleading with God, to make the demo what it needs to be to touch people. Faith. That is the underlying theme of the entire 6 song compilation. Faith. "And if I fail, I'm gonna fail big. And If I fall, I'm gonna fall for it all." I said those words didn't I? He put them in my heart, He attached them to my mind as I wrote... I didn't have a guitar and He got me one. I didn't know how to write music and He inspired me. Is there anything my God cannot do?

So there it is, On my Myspace. You can listen to the songs listed there or download them. Enjoy!

It's Finally Here!

Spider Pig, Spider Pig. Does whatever a Spider Pig does. hahahahaha

Visit What I've Been Waiting For All My Adolescence!

If I (Frickin-Frackin) Fall

MY DEMO IS COMPLETE! HORAH!
Folks. Give me days, mere moments. And I will have it online for your listening pleasure. And please, feel FREE to purchase any song that tickles your fancy. Cuz truthfully, it's all for you anyway!
Be blessed!
-Heart CDC

I've Created Life!

So it's final. The last leg of my musical summer's journey will take me to both Seattle, Washington and Houston, Texas. Gosh I'm excited for this adventure. No new word on opening for Leeland though. Oh but my spirits are up! And as I like to say, God is Bigger!

Hey, but I did just get a glimpse of my album cover. I'm proud I am! It's quite nostalgic though. The graphic designer took all sorts of scribblings and notes from my past (ahem, church and class doodling) and pasted them all over the cover and insides; bearing my insides! Can you believe it friends? What was theory, words, and orchestration is now becoming tangible in my own hands. I've never given birth, but making an album (well half of an album) has got to hold some of the key elements found in the birthing process. Haha! I would liken seeing this stage of the project to discovering the sex of the child in the womb. Not whole yet... not crying, sucking, and loving... but there, in theory none the less! Oh creativity it is a muse of it's own.

With Blue Wands

Oh these adventurous boys. Up and down ladders with towels and rags. Across and over with painters tape. Finally squating with brushes and rollers. Like big blue highlighters, blue washing the dingy white walls. And then the deciding and decifering. What furniture goes where. Laying out the rug. haha. Tuesday night this was what we did. Me and 5 boys. Once those lads get an idea they get it done. So here you have glimpsed a segment of the rejuvinationg process of one of the dingy classrooms in the basement of our church. The purpose of this makeover is to give the young adults a refuge from the youth/pre teen and all that is cradle roll. What brave boys. Watching them and participating in the grimy activity I had a sense that this is what we are all meant to do. Work together. Who has experienced more success than when they have come together in fellowship or as a group to get it done? Just a thought... Maybe the purpose of life is to work together. I do want Him to come back. Don't you? Can't we complete this work... somehow...

Good Neighbor Day

Sometimes I feel like a hollow shell of myself. Like my words and actions are bigger than I really am. I have all these pictures of me posing as an artist; I have my music page and all that ness... lyrics and Cd's; but mostly when I look at that stuff I feel much smaller and quite 'other', if you know what I mean.

Today was Good Neighbor Day in Downingtown. Basically it's a fair set up for the 4th of July and for once my family participated with a booth. Since we did it all with family friends I was selected to watch this and guard that whilst the business of fair making ensued.
I always wanted to be a street performer. In less than a week I've had two opportunities to jam openly for passersby; Just this past Sunday and then today. So after a while of dilly dallying my guitar trickled over from my car. Not long after that I was asked to play louder so my amp found a plug. Luckily I had an old mic in my moms car (and a mic stand, what luck!) and started Jammin! At first I was tentative to sing my songs. They are all Christian! And I just kept thinking "Jonah, Jonah, Jonah. Don't be ashamed of who you are." And then it was just another jam time. So great, until the rain started. I actually sold one CD. That and someone put dollars in my open case. hahaha cool beans.
After the rain shut me down I heard the tune up of a live band down at the main stage of the park. It just so happened that as I was packing up to go home when that same band took a cigarette break right behind Pedro. GOODNESS! So, (the inquisitive person that I am) I went to meet them. One word led to another and they invited me on stage!!!!!! HOORAH! So I jammed guys! 4 songs and a little back ground sax/drums later I floated off the stage. So HAPPY that I got to play for a full crowd of people/passersby. Beautiful

So I'm sure He knew of my sprouting and flourishing feelings of inadequacy blooming in my heart. And today, by letting me jam and play so freely (His music by the way) with such trained musicians, He let me know that YES, I am still so so small. But the good news is I'm still clay. And one day, by His grace, I will fill that very big mold He has set my heart to. Until then I will jam for random passersby and church folk alike.

Given to Arcadia

It's been a while since I've mustered up enough words to make complete thoughts here. But I just can't help telling you about this past weekend.

If you have been reading my blog you know that I live for the weekends. Well this past weekend was no exception. Tell me reader, how is it possible to see so much of God in mere people? In just folks? Have you ever felt the feeling, in this crazy confusing life that we live, that you had made it, at last, to a spot where you were supposed to be. Kind of like a check point. As if there is a route that we travel with our personal savour guiding us blindly through thick and then, only then to arrive at a beautiful sunlit and earth scented clearing that tells you, "yes, you are doing just fine."
My friends and I traveled to Albany New York to put on a Young Adult Sabbath at another friends church. We played we sang, canoed, swam, jumped on the giant trampoline, played games, and conversed of all sorts of wonders. Truly, I cannot imagine my life without these Christian friends. Nothing is sweeter than finding those few gems who share your same values, same beliefs, and further more, gems who will uphold a large measure of this accountability when their neighbor falls. Who can say there is anything greater than friendship?
I believe the saddest part of my weekend was leaving that friend rich Arcadia.
And to think, we were all gathered there in His name. "Where two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there." -the Bible ;)
Goodness, I want to be everywhere He goes.

and on it goes

I see evidence of God working in my life. Like little silt deposits left after a flood, I'm just following these small remnants of hope to the ocean. The one I know lies right over this dessert. I can smell salt in this dry breeze. Ah, I will get there!