I don't listen to the radio very often these days because we have been listening to books on CD while we're in the van, which is when I used to listen to the radio. Many days the only time I listen to the radio now is through my alarm clock/radio while I am brushing my teeth and such in the morning. Well it just so "happened" that I was listening at just the right time this morning as they announced that someone had made it possible for them to give away some tickets to the Sandi Patti concert. They frequently do giveaways where you have to be the certain caller to "win" the tickets. This was different. There was a link on their website, and all you had to do was click on it and enter your information and they would email you two tickets to the concert. They said it was "first come, first served" so I dashed downstairs to the computer and was thrilled when I succeeded in getting two free tickets. I can't tell you what an encouragement it was to me to receive those tickets. I just kept saying over and over "thank you, Lord" as it felt like a gift straight from His hands when I think of the "odds" of me hearing that announcement on the radio and that the concert didn't conflict with a soccer practice or anything else. It meant so much to me to be reminded of His love for me in a tangible way like that.
Paul got home from work at 6:15, and as soon as he walked in the door Nadia and I left for the concert. It was AMAZING. Sometimes when I go to a concert I think that the artist doesn't sound as good in person as he/she does on the radio/on a CD. Well it was quite the opposite tonight. When I was in middle school I started buying tapes of Christian music - Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Steve Green, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Larnelle Harris etc. I am by nature a saver not a spender when it comes to money, but if I was to spend money on myself when I was a teenager, I almost always was buying a cassette tape. I started babysitting in 1984 (I was paid less than $1/hr back then), and some of that money went toward buying music that I could listen to on the boombox in my bedroom. I haven't listened to Sandi Patty that much over the past 20 years, but I was amazed at how I still remembered almost every word to all the songs she sang this evening that were the ones I listened to in the 80's and early 90's. Music is such a powerful way to memorize. Yvonne has been putting whole books of the Bible to music to help her kids memorize it. This is a brilliant idea. I memorized so many verses over the years but have forgotten many of them, sadly. I think if I had memorized them to a tune I'd still remember them. My niece, Jenna, sang Proverbs 3 (the whole chapter) to us a couple of weeks ago. Anyhow it felt like it was just yesterday that I was listening to those tapes when I heard her singing tonight, and yet in reality it was in some instances more than 30 years ago. She is sixty years old, and this is her farewell (final) tour. I told Nadia that she could sing really high before we went to the concert, and after Sandi sang "How Great Thou Art" up in the stratosphere, Nadia turned to me and said "she really can sing very high." It was just an utterly amazing concert. She sounds even better in person than on the radio or on a cd or cassette tape. I am so very thankful we were able to go, and it was nice having Nadia with me even though it meant she didn't get to bed until 10:00 (her bed time is 8:30).
Sandi is touring with her husband, one of her sons, one of her daughters, and one of her daughter-in-laws. They all have gorgeous voices. She also invited another group to tour with her called Veritas. I had never heard of them before, but they were wonderful. I have included two of their videos below from YouTube. What I think is really amazing is that this Sunday morning our choir is singing a Sandi Patti song. When we first started rehearsing it I said to myself - I know this song (although it's a new arrangement) and then remembered eventually it was an 80's song by Sandi Patty. I think it's so ironic that we are singing it just two days after she was here close by in concert. I would love to sing even more of her songs in the future!
Contemplating the concert led me down two different rabbit trails - first what a picture her life is now of grace, restoration, and forgiveness. I remember the big scandal when she divorced in the mid 90's. Her music career took a huge dive because of that, but in time there has been restoration. Second I was thinking about how 20 years seems like such a short period of time to me now that I am 44 years old, and that led me to be reminded of how short our lives are in the span of eternity. I am on the downward side of the slope (meaning I've lived more than half of my life most likely). If I were to have the same lifespan as my mom did, it would mean I only have about 26 more years left to live. That sounds so short to me (although as a child 26 years sounded like *forever*). My life is just a breath. I pray I will live each day with eternity on my mind.
Paul got home from work at 6:15, and as soon as he walked in the door Nadia and I left for the concert. It was AMAZING. Sometimes when I go to a concert I think that the artist doesn't sound as good in person as he/she does on the radio/on a CD. Well it was quite the opposite tonight. When I was in middle school I started buying tapes of Christian music - Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Steve Green, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Larnelle Harris etc. I am by nature a saver not a spender when it comes to money, but if I was to spend money on myself when I was a teenager, I almost always was buying a cassette tape. I started babysitting in 1984 (I was paid less than $1/hr back then), and some of that money went toward buying music that I could listen to on the boombox in my bedroom. I haven't listened to Sandi Patty that much over the past 20 years, but I was amazed at how I still remembered almost every word to all the songs she sang this evening that were the ones I listened to in the 80's and early 90's. Music is such a powerful way to memorize. Yvonne has been putting whole books of the Bible to music to help her kids memorize it. This is a brilliant idea. I memorized so many verses over the years but have forgotten many of them, sadly. I think if I had memorized them to a tune I'd still remember them. My niece, Jenna, sang Proverbs 3 (the whole chapter) to us a couple of weeks ago. Anyhow it felt like it was just yesterday that I was listening to those tapes when I heard her singing tonight, and yet in reality it was in some instances more than 30 years ago. She is sixty years old, and this is her farewell (final) tour. I told Nadia that she could sing really high before we went to the concert, and after Sandi sang "How Great Thou Art" up in the stratosphere, Nadia turned to me and said "she really can sing very high." It was just an utterly amazing concert. She sounds even better in person than on the radio or on a cd or cassette tape. I am so very thankful we were able to go, and it was nice having Nadia with me even though it meant she didn't get to bed until 10:00 (her bed time is 8:30).
Sandi is touring with her husband, one of her sons, one of her daughters, and one of her daughter-in-laws. They all have gorgeous voices. She also invited another group to tour with her called Veritas. I had never heard of them before, but they were wonderful. I have included two of their videos below from YouTube. What I think is really amazing is that this Sunday morning our choir is singing a Sandi Patti song. When we first started rehearsing it I said to myself - I know this song (although it's a new arrangement) and then remembered eventually it was an 80's song by Sandi Patty. I think it's so ironic that we are singing it just two days after she was here close by in concert. I would love to sing even more of her songs in the future!
Contemplating the concert led me down two different rabbit trails - first what a picture her life is now of grace, restoration, and forgiveness. I remember the big scandal when she divorced in the mid 90's. Her music career took a huge dive because of that, but in time there has been restoration. Second I was thinking about how 20 years seems like such a short period of time to me now that I am 44 years old, and that led me to be reminded of how short our lives are in the span of eternity. I am on the downward side of the slope (meaning I've lived more than half of my life most likely). If I were to have the same lifespan as my mom did, it would mean I only have about 26 more years left to live. That sounds so short to me (although as a child 26 years sounded like *forever*). My life is just a breath. I pray I will live each day with eternity on my mind.
1 comment:
How exciting that God blessed you so specifically! Thanks for sharing this story! It's a beautiful reminder of how God cares about the details of our lives. Sandy Patti was always one of my favorites too! I used to drive my freshman college roommate crazy by playing her music first thing in the morning! It just always encouraged and spoke to me!
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