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A Song for Anna Joy

This post might be a little long.. if you want to cut to the chase click here to buy a great song on iTunes to defray medical expenses for Anna Joy’s care.

Over the 2011 Christmas Holiday many of my closest friends were glued to the story of baby Anna Joy, a miracle from Heaven born with two serious heart defects. We prayed, we cried, we rejoiced, we prayed and cried and prayed some more. Through it all Anna Joy, while not of our flesh and blood, became family to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe.

Alissa and Matt Peppley (Anna Joy’s Parents) are the kind of friends I know I could run to if necessary in a crisis and they’d be there with arms and hearts Album art for Safe In His Hands open to help any way they could. It has been an honor to assist in the publication of this song, to pray and hold them up in a time of great stress and crisis.

A few days before Anna Joy was born, Kathy Kerber, a singer songwriter who attends our church, wrote “Safe in His Hands (a song for Anna Joy)”. In her blog Alissa mentions singing the chorus over Anna Joy. “Safe in His Hands” is a song of courage and faith in Jesus sung to a precious girl by a deeply loving mother.

If you were present at the memorial service for Anna Joy you’d have heard this song sung by Alissa. Our great friend John Burch, of SpiritBorne Productions, selflessly recorded the song with Alissa singing and Kathy playing piano for use as the background to a very compelling video of Anna and her family. We love you John! Thanks for the hard work and gift of your immense talent and scarce time. It is so very much appreciated.

From the beginning, Kathy Kerber intended this song to be given away just as God had “given” it to her; to be a blessing and comfort in a time of deep emotional turmoil. Alissa and Matt desire that this song encourage others as it has encouraged them. So, I approached my friend Matt Kees, Cofounder of Christian Musician Summit, accomplished musician and Producer to see if he could help us. My desire was in line with both Kathy and the Peppley’s, to see God glorified and encourage people. However, I wanted to go above and beyond and if possible get Kathy much deserved exposure and have the song published to iTunes and other media outlets. Matt Kees was the key to make that happen.

Alissa (top) and Kathy (bottom) recording "Safe In His Hands".

Matt arranged, performed, and recorded all the instrumentation then invited us up to record vocals at his studio in Puyallup. He answered many questions I had about the publishing process and was overwhelmingly gracious to us in every aspect of our project.

I confidently recommend both John Burch and Matt Kees for any of your recording needs. Matt Kees’ website is found here. John Burch’s studio can be reached here. (360) 866-2021

If you’ve read this far and maybe even followed some of the links then you might be wondering how to hear this great song. You might even want to help the Peppley family with medical expenses or possibly donate to charity in support of families and children facing similar hardship. Good News! You can do both at the same time. By downloading “Safe in His Hands” you get to be encouraged by the song while supporting a great cause. All monies received from the sale of the song go to cover medical expenses. When God blesses above that need with additional funds, those will be donated to other families in need. Click here or on the album art to purchase “Safe in His Hands” on iTunes and be a part of this amazing story.

Other places you can buy this song:

Amazon MP3, Zune, Spotify, all iTunes regional stores.

Alissa’s blog. Please read Anna’s story here.

 

Category: Family, General  One Comment
The Nutcracker 2011

Christmas is amazing. Mostly because of Jesus.. Christmas is the time of year we celebrate His coming to earth which ultimately lead to His sacrifice for our sins. Thank you Jesus for the most amazing gift of all.

Christmas is also magical because of all the great lights and events of the season. I was married during the Christmas season 20 years ago, December 21st 1991. I love everything about Christmas, especially Studio West Dance Academy’s production of The Nutcracker. I’m so proud to have my kids enrolled in this studio. The staff and families are all generous, kind, gracious, and encouraging. The productions are professional with amazing costumes, lights, effects and sets. Nothing here is hokey or done halfway. If you live anywhere near Olympia Washington, this is the studio where your kids can enroll and instantly be part of a family.

As most of my friends know, I’m more of a landscape and stock photography shooter than a live action photographer. This was most evident as I tried to shoot the dress rehearsals of The Nutcracker. Wow, there is so much to get right. To get the perfect shot, the shooter must account for quickly changing light, proper framing and timing is critical. Ballet is about lines and position, snap the shutter at the wrong moment and you’ve missed capturing the beauty forever.

After approaching the studio’s staff photographer about shooting alongside him I was invited to be a second shooter. I feel honored for the invitation and the experience. I discovered during the process that I’m not yet qualified for this sort of thing. My timing and light settings were frequently off. And, when I did manage to get them correct, I found that a good many of the images were framed wrong with a foot or hand just out of frame. Thi, I’m impressed at your skill. I have much to learn.

Click the image below to review a handful of the images I took. I’m looking forward to more opportunities and better results.

Crysten in The Nutcracker

Burst Mode Video: Willamina Mud Drags 2011

Hey! Ever want to escape to rural America and experience real people having real fun? All the time! I was asked to join my sister in photographing the Willamina Oregon, Mud Drags on Jun 25th, 2011.

It was a blast! Roaring engines, flying mud, real people being themselves having a great time. It’s a real family event with people traveling in from all over the Pacific Northwest to enjoy the festivities.

The race was run by Total Destruction Racing at the request of the city of Willamina. The event is a fund raiser for their annual 4th of July fireworks. Also a great event!

I shot nearly 4000 images. Below is a video comprised of more than 3000 of them. Enjoy!

 

Olympia Toy Run, 2010

Since 2006 I’ve participated in the Olympia Toy Run. It’s a great event bringing together 12,000 plus motorcyclists to donate toys and cash to the Salvation Army for distribution to kids as Christmas Presents in the region.

Last year my whole family enjoyed the event but due to Nut Cracker ballet and Church Choir rehearsals only myself and my amazing boy Brandon enjoyed it.

Our 7:30 AM departure welcomed us with clear skies and a temperature just above freezing. We met Erling Selsted, Teal Van Kirk and Dean Hoopes for breakfast at a local diner then made our way to the event. Parking at the diner was a bit of an adventure as there was still some black ice on the pavement but we managed without dropping the bike. I took some photos at the event which you can view within my Facebook Photo album. Motorcycle Stuff.

As usual the Seattle Cossacks Stunt Team performed as did the Tenino Drill Team.

Seattle Cossacks "Flower"

Seattle Cossacks "Flower", five guys on one vintage Harley.

I mounted a standard definition Flip Video recorder on my bike for the ride this year. Bummer that it slipped a bit and the image went a bit off-kilter. Regardless, it’s cool to see the ride from the perspective of my handle bars. Hope you enjoy it.

9/11 Never Forgotten

I remember being awakened the morning of 9/11 by a relative. When I got the TV turned on the first tower was ablaze and the second hadn’t been damaged yet. That moment was the start of a day I’ll never, ever forget.

Tribute in Light, with cityscape & red, white and blue ES... on Twitpic

Photo courtesy of Inga Sarda-Sorensen via TwitPic

I’ve since been to Ground Zero and I’ve worked should to shoulder with survivors. I’ve trained soldiers to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve been forever changed by the actions of men who’ve let the enemy of Heaven distort their judgement of what is right and what is wrong. The fight that brought down the Twin Towers, destroyed a wing of The Pentagon and crashed an airplane in a field in Pennsylvania has been raging since Lucifer rose up against God and was cast out of Heaven. It is Satan who encourages men to do evil. Yes, men make choices but who puts those opportunities in their paths?

While I remember with sadness the lives of those lost this day, I will also remember that this is but one battle in the greater war for the souls of men. A war in which we already know the outcome, that Jesus wins, that God loves us and that all will be made right. The only question that remains is how many men and women will fall to the great deceiver and how many will come to know The Truth?

Enjoying a great ‘Manventure’

So here it is my first post using my BlackBerry. I left home yesterday on my motorcycle for a grand ‘manventure’. I’m attending my 25th HS class reunion in Willows CA before heading all the way to Oceanside about 45 minutes N. of San Diego.

Never before have I ridden this far, and I’m doing it solo. Am I insane? What does this say about my wife? No, she’s not looking to cash out my life insurance, rather she understands what John Eldridge writes about in “Wild At Heart”. Every man needs to have adventure, without it we are incomplete and part of us dies. I believe my wife’s encouragement to go is rooted in a profound love of me and for that I’m eternally grateful.

At present I’m writing this post from the airconditioned comfort of my aunt’s home in Sacramento. 715 miles across WA, OR, and into California is quite a ride and has been a great start to this adventure but it won’t compare to the reunion I’ll have with my wife when it’s over because I’ll be a different, better, stronger man for these days away and the increase in self-esteem will enable me to better be the Man of God she needs me to be.

Fuel Stop

Fuel Stop

Embrace Life: Great video and message

Embrace Life.

Benefit for Fallen Lakewood Police Officer’s Families

I’ve posted on Facebook some snapshots of our ride in the Benefit for fallen Lakewood Police Officers ride today. Go to Gallery

Mother and Child

Next to Jesus’ death and resurrection I believe the most amazing gift known to man is the gift of life. I recently had the privilege of photographing a new mom and her 3-week old son. Her joy and devotion is self evident. His comfort and trust is undeniable.

May God bless you both with His provision, protection, and favor for the rest of your lives, amen.

Mother and Son

Print Give Away in conjunction with http://redclaydiaries.com/

My college friend Steph has a great blog, “The Red Clay Diaries”, where she writes or posts things that are usually funny. Out loud laughing kind of funny. Sometimes, she’s serious but if you are needing a pick-me-up in the morning to augment your daily cup of coffee subscribe to her RSS Feed and hang on. It’s an “E Ticket” ride.

I like her blog so much that I’ve agreed to promote it with a give away offer. However, you have to visit her blog today to get the details.

Good luck!