Summer Travels

Summer always does this, it drags at the beginning when my kids first get out of school and then quickly disappears. I have been buying school supplies and backpacks this week wondering where in the world the time went. We traveled quite a bit in July which was great fun. Andy and I took the kids on a long road trip to Camp Casowasco in upstate New York. They were a little too young to attend the camp but hung out and made lots of friends while Andy and I performed and taught classes on songwriting, beginning guitar and voice. We had such a great time and loved all the campers and staff we got to meet that week. I have the utmost respect for those staff- we were worn out after a week of being that high energy and they do it all summer long. Kudos to you guys! It was incredibly rewarding to watch kids play and perform and write songs for the first time. At the end of the week they put on a show for their parents and I felt like a proud mama. Another bonus was the temperature in the 70s and low 80s all week long- that is my kind of summer weather! The scenery up there is absolutely breathtaking. We also took in some local history visiting the Harriet Tubman home and seeing the Seward House, Lincoln's Secretary of State who purchased Alaska. It was one of the stops on the underground railroad only a few miles from Harriet Tubman's home.

After Casowasco we made our way to my mom's home in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a family vacation. It was another long drive but we tried to find places along the Easter shore to explore. Many rest area running sessions and Disney DVDs later we were there and enjoyed a week to be with family and swim, eat seafood and relax. I have said this a million times, but I think the Outer Banks is one of my favorite places in the world. I am sure nostalgia plays a big part as my family has been there for a long time and I have fond memories of going there as a child. A highlight was running most every morning by the ocean which is a great way to start the day!

After very long road trip number three we were finally back home to Nashville after being gone for over two weeks. For some reason Tennessee starts school in the hottest part of August so here we are, shopping for Bakugan backpacks and princess thermoses, getting ready to begin another year of school. As much as I will miss my kids I am ready to begin a new season of writing for my next record and hopefully record a few cover songs along the way. I would love to release a CD of cover songs in the upcoming year. It is a labor of love and something creatively fulfilling that I have been wanting to tackle for a while. Andy will be recording his record this fall so I might find some time in there to work, otherwise it will happen in the winter.

I hope it has been a beautiful summer for you all and thank you for your continued support of my music.