Update From Jana...

April 2, 2008

Just a quick update to fill the gap before I seriously update this page....

God is amazing.  His word is alive.  How I marvel.  Time is flying.

Haley, our oldest got accepted to the college of her choice in Seattle, WA...(whew, thank you, Lord)...and I can hardly believe what lies ahead in the very near future--letting go.  I know in my head that these children are not really "mine" or "ours", but rather belong to the Lord.  But actually planning out the days when she lives hundreds of miles away is pretty weird and a little daunting.  I am GLAD that we have a God who sees and knows all of her yesterdays and all of her tomorrows.  This is but another reminder that He is God and we are not, and that we are called to trust Him in everything...even letting go of something soooo precious as our children.

May you trust Him today with all your heart.  He sees around the corner, down the road...to eternity. 

Everyone in our little office has been bustling through our busy 2008 ministry season!  Our darling office manager, booking agent Sarah had their baby boy, Baron, in late February...all is well.  She left us in the capable hands of her mom, Debbie Boyd, who has taken over the booking with amazing energy and professionalism.  She is a blast, just like her daughter, and a joy...and a very proud grandma.  We have a wonderful new gal handling the details in the office--Christianne.  You'll love her when you call--huge heart for the Lord and such a quick worker we can barely keep her hands busy!  We thank God for her!

We had an absolutely amazing time giving concerts in Hawaii.  Our hosts were so kind and welcoming--the definition of "Aloha."  They organized a family concert on Oahu, a women's event, and a chapel for a Christian school.  You practically had to tear us off that island, we love those people so much.

Then there were two jam-packed weekends at children's conferences in Portland and Seattle--both such a blessing.  How I love rubbing shoulders with people who dedicate their lives to growing kids in Christ however they are called.  We did concerts in Portland and Seattle (thank you, hosts!  You were amazing!!!)....and now I guess we'll be back often to visit our new friends their in those wonderful cities with our daughter in school up there.  March blew past in a puff it seems...just a memory now of God's goodness. 

One powerful memory in particular was singing for the MOPS group at Malibu Presbyterian church.  Their facility burned down in the Malibu fires last year, and it was so poignant to see the church growing in spite of that loss.  The MOPS groups met at a Salvation Army camp out in the boonies...not an easy trek to get there, yet those moms came, lugging all that baby and toddler gear.  It was so encouraging to see how they have been lifted up by the generosity and kindness of the body of Christ.  It was equally inspiring to see signs of new life everywhere on those recently blackened hills...wildflowers blowing in the breeze in blankets of yellow and pink.  The day I spoke for them was the birthday of my daughter Lynnie (now in heaven), and all those signs of rebirth all around me reminded me of how Jesus brought her out of death to everlasting life.  It was a profound, beautiful gift to me on what can be a rough day.

"Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving; safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting, "Wow! What a ride! Thank You Lord!"                     Beth Moore

Other items:

Thanks for your patience with me in updating this website.  Life is sooo busy, and keeping up with this site is such a challenge for me.  I don't know how you guys with Facebook pages keep up with them (Neither Ron nor I have one...but we're being prodded!).

Our NEW Website coming soon!!! Our friend Mike Cranford and his amazing team at Ninth Degree are cooking up something brand new, bright, fun and super efficient for us. 

Our Spanish CD called "Toma mi Mano (Take My Hand)" is DONE and available!!!!  I'll be sending out a blast soon.  I'm truly looking forward to what the Lord has in store in the way of ministering in Spanish. We don't have a major traveling mission trip this summer (like Africa last year), but I'm hoping we can begin doing some ministry in nearby Spanish speaking communities.  We've been asked to share our new Spanish music at a Spanish Children's ministry conference in October at Max Lucado's church, which I am thrilled about.  I can sing all of our new songs in Spanish,  but baby, do I need to get working on my rusty spoken Spanish!  My 17 year old Haley has passed me up (I'm proud of her).  How I long to be fluent!

I'm in a writing season again...getting inspired seemingly every day with new song ideas for a new children's CD.  We're shooting for this next CD to aim a little younger.  Our CDs gradually krept up in complexity lyrically.  This next one will have simpler songs in it again (more like "Jump into the Light"), but will be no less "complex" musically (in other words, our musicians and Ron's production just keeps getting better, as this CD will reflect!). 

Ron and I pray that you have started the year off with new passion and purpose in your walk with Christ.  I pray you dig deeper into his marvelous word, you offer Him greater obedience, freer worship and even more passionate prayer.  May you see His hand mightily in your life.  What a thrill it is to serve our Lord.

In His mighty love,

Jana

PRAYER REQUEST UPDATES.....

Thank you for your continued prayer for my dear friend Stacey Burg who is fighting the good fight against leukemia (see