Chasing My Dream This Weekend in Chicago

Recently I was given the gift of freedom.  Although it didn't feel like freedom at the start of this new journey in my life, it certainly seems that way now.  

I am chasing a dream of mine that I have had my entire life. Before I share this dream with you, I have to tell you how I found the courage to chase it.  

With free time on my hands, I have drawn closer to God.  It's amazing how we let work and life get in between the most important relationship we as humans can have in this life; our relationship with our higher power.  

My Aunt Bea has been sending me a book of daily devotionals for years, and I love reading them everyday.  On January 1st the devotional suggested spending an entire day dreaming about what you would be doing in this life if you were "living your dream".  It encouraged the reader to dream your wildest dreams not letting fear or naysayers (including yourself) get in the way.  Then on the second day, become still, pray for God's will and write your dream on paper.  I decided to follow these suggestions.  What do I have to lose?  

So I packed up a pen and paper and went to set up camp at my favorite coffee shop on top of Queen Anne.  It was mid morning, and it was nice and quiet.   I used what some may call meditation (breathing deeply in and out) to calm and center myself.   I cleared my mind and began to bring back the dream I had been thinking about the previous day.  I began to write.  The next forty five minutes were spent in an almost out of body experience as I wrote my wildest dreams out on paper for the world to see.  Isn't it funny how when we write something down we automatically think the entire world is going to see it?  When actually it's only there for the writer and with whomever else they might choose to share it. 

When I was three my dad started teaching me how to play guitar.  By the time I was five I was singing and playing in church.  I started writing songs, and I continued to sing. Rather than chase a dream to sing in Nashville, I went to college.  Then I started working in radio.  I kept telling myself that I was close enough to the music.  But in actuality I was standing next to it.  I was interviewing it. I was playing it on the radio, but I wasn't "it".  

Some people would rather starve than not chase their dream. I was more practical than that.  I had to eat, and I had bills that no one else was going to pay for me.  So I let the dream slip away.  I've played in a lot of bands over the years, and I even supported myself with my band one summer after losing a radio gig.  

I love music, and I love to sing!  It's the one thing that comes very natural to me.  I don't have to concentrate or think about it too much.  It's just something that comes out of me.  So you can imagine when I sat down to write my dream, God made sure that I knew the talent He gave me was not dead.  And He made it loud and clear to me that NOW is the time to use it.  

I am auditioning for The Voice on Sunday in Chicago!  My audition is 2 pm, and it's an open call.  I have to sing acapella and up to two songs.  If I get a call back, I will know right away and be asked to return between 1 and 3 days.  At the call back I will be asked to perform two songs.  I am allowed to play my guitar for one of the songs, and the other I must sing to a track.  I assume they want to see how you move on stage. Wonder if my dance background will help me out any? 

I am staying with friends of my fiance who I have never met, but they graciously offered me a free place to stay.  Plus I am flying to a city where I have never been.  Needless to say I have a lot of fear surrounding this trip, but whenever I begin to spin out of control about things that are beyond my control I hand it over to God.  For I feel as though He is the one that is leading me there, and I know I will be protected.  

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future".  Jeremiah 29:11   

I am going to sing "You'll Never Leave Harlin Alive" as my first song.  If they ask me to sing a second, I'm going to have blast singing "Turn It Lose" - The Judds.  

Can you believe that when I audition our beloved Seahawks will be playing in the Championship game?  Should I wear the Hawks jersey to the audition?  HA!  Here's the two songs I'm going to sing for the producers.  

This is a video of me playing around the other day.  I love to play and sing, and this is just me being goofy pouring on my southern accent!  

Right now I need all the support and love I can get.  This journey is about being courageous and taking the bull by the horns.  Would you pray that God keeps me safe and for His will to be done?  

I love and appreciate all of the support that so many of you have given to me.  It means so much, and I hope you know that I will never abuse that.  I take all of your words to heart, and they live with me as I continue this crazy journey we call life.   

I will be posting about my experience in Chicago and with the auditions.  Thanks for taking time to read this.  God bless!