Toward the end of last month (July) we had the pleasure of attending our first Hillfest Christian Music Festival. The featured artist was Jeremy Camp who we absolutely LOVE! He was amazing. If you haven't, you should totally watch his movie: "I Still Believe". Get loads of tissues. It's an incredible story.
At Hillfest we were able to spend time with some of our dearest friends, the Lowman Family. That was super special to us.
One of the performers there was an artist I wasn't really familiar with named Leanna Crawford. Her music and lyrics have been a balm to my soul since then. I want to share a couple of her songs with you here. The first one is Still Waters (Psalm 23). The song was inspired by Leanna's great Aunt Maurine who at the age of 40 was beginning to go blind and so she purposed to memorize the Bible and write God's word on her heart.
Lyrics:
Great Aunt Maurine said at a hundred and three
Write scripture on your heart for when you need it
'Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23
So just say it to yourself 'til you believe it
And I'm feeling like I'm needing it right now
Write scripture on your heart for when you need it
'Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23
So just say it to yourself 'til you believe it
And I'm feeling like I'm needing it right now
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters, I'm safe
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters, I'm safe
Lord, I believe You can set me at ease
Turn this broken piece in me to peace and quiet
I know there's power in Your word
So I'll say it over and over 'til my soul's reminded
Turn this broken piece in me to peace and quiet
I know there's power in Your word
So I'll say it over and over 'til my soul's reminded
Oh, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters, I'm safe
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters, I'm safe
Still waters run through any valley I could find
I'm laying fear down here at Heaven's riverside
Your word has been true in every season of my life
I believe, yes, I believe still waters run through any valley I could find
I'm laying fear down here at Heaven's riverside
Your word has been true in every season of my life
I believe, yes, I believe
I'm laying fear down here at Heaven's riverside
Your word has been true in every season of my life
I believe, yes, I believe still waters run through any valley I could find
I'm laying fear down here at Heaven's riverside
Your word has been true in every season of my life
I believe, yes, I believe
Oh, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I'm safe.
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I'm safe.
Take a moment and listen to it and watch it : HERE
Another of her songs I've had on repeat this past week is this one. "How Can You Not?"
Lyrics:
I see the sun rise in the morning
And a million stars at night
I hear the birds, they can't stop singing hallelujah
I see His goodness when I fall down
And it's grace that picks me up
Every day, I can't stop singing hallelujah
And a million stars at night
I hear the birds, they can't stop singing hallelujah
I see His goodness when I fall down
And it's grace that picks me up
Every day, I can't stop singing hallelujah
How can you not see God
In every little thing, in every little moment?
How can you not feel loved?
How can you not? How can you not?
'Cause He's in the middle of
Every little thing and every little moment
How can you not see God?
How can you not? How can you not?
In every little thing, in every little moment?
How can you not feel loved?
How can you not? How can you not?
'Cause He's in the middle of
Every little thing and every little moment
How can you not see God?
How can you not? How can you not?
I see the sunset and I wonder
If He paints it just for me
Nobody else could make a world so beautiful
How could I question His love when it's everywhere I go
Wherever I look, I find another miracle
If He paints it just for me
Nobody else could make a world so beautiful
How could I question His love when it's everywhere I go
Wherever I look, I find another miracle
How can you not see God
In every little thing, in every little moment?
How can you not feel loved?
How can you not? How can you not?
'Cause He's in the middle of
Every little thing and every little moment
How can you not see God?
How can you not? How can you not?
In every little thing, in every little moment?
How can you not feel loved?
How can you not? How can you not?
'Cause He's in the middle of
Every little thing and every little moment
How can you not see God?
How can you not? How can you not?
Everything is evidence (ooh-ooh)
Showing me that You exist (oh-oh)
All creation singing hallelujah
Everything is evidence (oh, everything)
Showing me that You exist (He's God)
All creation singing hallelujah
Showing me that You exist (oh-oh)
All creation singing hallelujah
Everything is evidence (oh, everything)
Showing me that You exist (He's God)
All creation singing hallelujah
How can you not see God
In every little thing, in every little moment?
How can you not feel loved? Hmm-mm
'Cause He's in the middle of
Every little thing and every little moment
How can you not see God?
How can you not? How can you not?
In every little thing, in every little moment?
How can you not feel loved? Hmm-mm
'Cause He's in the middle of
Every little thing and every little moment
How can you not see God?
How can you not? How can you not?
Oh, how can you not see God (everything is evidence)
In every little thing, in every little moment? (Showing me that You exist)
How can you not feel loved? (All creation singing)
How can you not? How can you not? (Hallelujah)
'Cause He's in the middle of (everything is evidence)
Every little thing and every little moment (showing me that You exist)
How can you not see God? (All creation singing)
How can you not? How can you not?
In every little thing, in every little moment? (Showing me that You exist)
How can you not feel loved? (All creation singing)
How can you not? How can you not? (Hallelujah)
'Cause He's in the middle of (everything is evidence)
Every little thing and every little moment (showing me that You exist)
How can you not see God? (All creation singing)
How can you not? How can you not?
Take a listen to it and watch it: HERE
The past few weeks have been both beautiful and rough in many ways. The 6 -year anniversary of our precious JoyAnna going to heaven, attending the annual A Mother's Rest Bereavement Retreat in Maryland and sharing our joys and grief with one another, and the 13th year anniversary of my own precious mama going to heaven. To say I've been a bit of a hot mess on an emotional rollercoaster would be completely accurate.
I'm so very thankful for the reminder that God is in this story, God is in every detail. To be reminded that His goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days, and that by His still waters I am safe. That God will turn these broken pieces in me to peace and quiet, and that there is great power in His word. That His word has been true in EVERY season of my life. No matter how devastating or how hard. Even when I am feeling all alone here in this world.
I was reminded even this very day as I sit and compose this blog post that I need to see God in every little thing and every little moment. I need to feel loved, because He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me. This promise, this is what I'm clinging to right now.
As you all probably already know, I LOVE pictures. They truly are worth 1,000 plus words. So here are some from the last few weeks.
Praying for you all and I thank you for your prayers and encouragement for us as a family.
This week we are preparing to attend our beloved Joni & Friends Family retreat. I promise to keep you in the loop for that wonderful slice of heaven!
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| Precious JoyAnna and Zoey |
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| Some of my favorite ladies right here. AMR bereavement retreat 2025. |
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| Dear Martha, I love you so very much. You are like a Mother to me. I'm so very thankful for you. |
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| I LOVE spending time with my Dad and family on a Saturday night. |
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| My precious nephew Gabe. What a blessing to be able to see you this summer! |
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| My beloved garden produce. This is "The Table @ Grace Abounding Farm" |
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| The 2025 Swan/Smith Family Reunion |
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| Hillfest 2025 |
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| My beautiful Mama. I miss her so very much each and every day! |
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| My family. A true gift from God above! |
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