25 years ago today, my twins, John and Jenn were born.  Those two have been a source of joy, comfort, delight, giggles, and inspiration.  I celebrate them today.  And for lo these 25 years have treasured all these things in my heart.

I’m currently on the road with Jason Crabb (and seriously if you don’t know his music, get it NOW) .  We have having the best time.  I keep singing in my head that old Donny and Marie Osmond song, “I’m a little bit country, (and then I say), I’m a little bit Classical.”  Anyway we are having fun.  Come see us.  We are getting homesick and the one thing that makes homesick better is to see our friends out on the road.

I’m trying to get into a work out routine. Which for some reason seems easier on the road.  So I’ve worked out every day for at least 20 min cardio and many times 30 minutes.  I kinda get bored working out, I’m not gonna lie.  I’ve tried watching TV, reading a book or magazine.  I finally said forget it I’m just gonna listen to music.

Funny thing happened…I like music.  That may sound odd, since well, I DO music.  But often when our business is music, we don’t find ourselves actually listening to music.  But I loved it.  I had an “ah-ha” moment on that treadmill.  I’ve always loved music.   I fell in love with music because I listened to it way back when I was a kid.  I can’t believe I forgot that… it’s good to remember what once gave us joy and find it again.

During this holiday season, what do you need to find that once gave you joy?  Cooking?  Music?  Dancing?  Singing?  Running?  Planning a tea?  It doesn’t even have to be something that someone else sees.  Just finding the joy all by yourself.  Whatever it is…I pray you find it and lavish your heart with the re-acquaintance of an old friend.

Be blessed today friends—

Sandi

What Does Water Mean to You in this Holiday Season?

Water4 launches a photo contest with Grammy Award winning singer

Sandi Patty as co-judge

New York, NY (December 3, 2012) – Beginning today, Oklahoma based charity Water4 is inviting Facebook friends, Twitter and Instagram followers and Pinterest pinners to express their gratitude for the free flowing water they are fortunate enough to enjoy by uploading personal photos and videos which express the answer to the question, What Does Water Mean to You?  For each photo submitted, a generous donor has pledged to make a contribution of $5 in the submitter’s name to Water4.  Further, anyone, including a submitter, who makes a $5 donation to Water4 during the contest, which will run until midnight on December 31st, will have their $5 donation matched by the same donor.

Water4 co-founders Richard and Terri Greenly and Grammy Award winning Christian singer and Water4 supporter Sandi Patty will choose the best three photo submissions.  The three photo contest winners will each receive the honor of having a well dug and a pump installed and named for their families.  Also, each of the winners will receive 4 hand-crafted fair trade bracelets purchased from women in Dehli, India to share with their family members.

In 1901, Water4 Co-Founder Terri Greenly’s great grandmother won a dry plot of land in the lottery, instilling in the family the importance of having access to fresh water and leading them to learn how to pump their own.  They went on to use their knowledge and experience in the water well industry to help address the world water crisis and in 2008, RIchard and Terri Greenly founded Water4 to endeavor to end the world water crisis. Most Americans are blessed with clean water today, but every 22 seconds around the world a child dies from preventable water-related disease.

“Terri and I are thrilled to host this contest to raise awareness and support for Water4 and for the solution to the little known, worst crisis of humanity, the lack of clean drinking water to the bottom billion in the world.  For the first time in history, this solution to fixing the world’s water crisis (4000+ child deaths per day) is within our grasp,” says Richard Greenly, Co-Founder of Water4.

“It is an honor for me to co-host this contest with Richard and Terri Greenly and Water4 and to help bring attention to this issue which is important to every person on this planet,” adds Sandi Patty.  “Water4 offers a simple and sustainable solution to the water crisis by not just getting clean water to people but by teaching them to get clean water to themselves.  The holiday season gives us the chance to give back and show how grateful we are for the good fortune with which we have been graced, to do something to help those who haven’t been as lucky as we.”

About Water4

Water4, a 501(c)3 public charity based out of Oklahoma City, Okla., was founded in 2008 by Richard and Terri Greenly, co-owners of Pumps of Oklahoma, with the mission to not only provide water to at-risk, impoverished areas but also, to teach and provide employment opportunities through their inexpensive pumps and drilling methods.  While numerous organizations are helping to solve the global water crisis, no other organization approaches or executes the process of providing water quite like Water4 does. It gets the local people involved in the future of their home village’s water issues. As a result of their new vocation they are engaged daily in fixing the water problems as well as helping their village and themselves find new ways to prosper.

Since its inception in 2008, Water4 has helped meet the needs of over 100,000 people for reasonable access to clean drinking water in countries like Haiti, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Rwanda. Water4’s 2014 goal is to get water to a million people. After 2014 with our continued efforts, we should be able to expand the number of people reached each year thereafter.

For more information please visitwww.water4.org.

Often when our very large family will go out to eat, we want to stop and pray over our meal.  But the truth is, if one person were to pray loud enough for everyone in our large party to hear, the entire restaurant would be brought to a halt.  Many years ago my great Aunt Faye (for whom I have my middle name) began what is now our usual custom at a restaurant.  As we get our food and are preparing to eat, one person says, “are we thankful?”  Then entire party responds, “yes we are.”   And voila!  We eat.

As we enter in to this holiday season that traditionally begins with Thanksgiving, I offer this question to us all.  “Are we thankful?”  and if you answer, “Yes we are”, then perhaps if we were sitting visiting with a cup of coffee, I would say, “tell me what you are thankful for”.

I am thankful that my entire family got to be together for the actual day of thanksgiving.  We had 2 parents, 8 children, one son in law, 2 brothers, 2 wives of brothers.  3 children of brothers family, 2 grandsons of brother, one cat, 3 dogs and yes….a partridge in a pear tree.  It was glorious chaos.  Actually, there wasn’t much chaos as everyone scurried about making their assigned food for the gathering.  We arranged the dining room in a U configuration so that everyone, young and old, could all sit around the tables.  No kids table, no grown up table…just one big happy U shaped table(s).

As has become our custom, after eating, we went around the table and said what we are thankful for.  With 22 people, and each person taking about 4 minutes to share, we had a lengthy but meaningful hour and a half of thankful words.

My brother Mike was the last one to share (we kinda had it planned that way) because he wanted to do something special for his wife.  Mike, who is my younger brother by 2 years, began talking about how thankful he is for his two grandsons, Conner and Jack.  He then shared how special his wife of 30 years has been to him.  My brother, by his own admission, has seen some difficult seasons.  He shared with all of us at the table that there was one point in his life he needed money and sold their wedding rings.  This year, he gave Leanne a brand new wedding ring to symbolize their new start.  Then surprising Leanne and the rest of us,  he asked my dad if he would lead them in a simple renewing of their marriage vows.  Sitting there at our make shift U shaped tables, we all watched as my brother Mike and my amazing sister in law, Leanne, pledged their love and commitment to each other once again—30 years after the first time.

We cried and laughed and try to take as many pictures as we could.  My 5 year old nephew Caiden (son of my other brother Craig) exclaimed “they’re finally married” and we all of course chucked and giggled over his simple childlike statement.

At the close the renewing ceremony, my dad said, “well, by the authority vested in me by the state of Indiana and by the Church of God, I now pronounce you a ‘new’ husband and a ‘new’ wife”.  So very precious because I think that is exactly what Mike wanted to say with this action…he is a NEW creation.   A new man, a new husband, a new father, a new son, a new uncle, a new brother, a new grandpa.

Isaiah says, “behold…look out, hold on to your short”s (I’m paraphrasing here) I AM DOING A NEW THING! (Isaiah 43:19)

II Corinthians says, “I make all things new.!  ALL things.  ALLLLLLL things. “  (II Corinthians 5:17)

I am thankful for new beginnings and fresh starts.  And that God continually makes all things new!  Even us.

Happy Bless-ed Season of Thankfulness and New Beginnings!

-Sandi

ICONIC MUSIC ARTIST SANDI PATTY TEAMS UP WITH GRAMMY-WINNING ARTIST JASON CRABB TO BRING “A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION” TO A CITY NEAR YOU

Patty also announces the second ‘Sandi Patty & Friends Cruise’ featuring Jason Crabb and more!

Patty and Crabb set to release new albums in 2013!

(New York, NY – September 19, 2012) – 2012 has been a big year for Christian artists Sandi Patty and Jason Crabb, with Patty touring all over the world and Crabb being awarded with Male Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards. The year isn’t winding down for these two gospel stars though. Today, Sandi Patty and Jason Crabb are ecstatic to announce a 2012 “Christmas Celebration” tour together. The two are blessed to be working together and will announce cities they will be stopping through along with other details in the coming weeks.

Patty and Crabb couldn’t be more thrilled to be working together. Crabb exclaims: “I’m excited to join Sandi Patty for “A Christmas Celebration.” If you’ve ever heard her sing, you know why she’s called “The Voice”! I am thrilled and honored to share the stage and this special time of year with her. It’s gonna’ be great!” Patty is just as exciting, stating: “I cannot tell you how excited I am to be touring with Jason Crabb. I am such a huge fan of him and his music and it is such a joy for me to share this Christmas season traveling the country singing with him.”

This won’t be the last time Patty and Crabb will work together either. The pair is also happy to announce the second “Sandi Patty & Friends Cruise” which will feature Jason Crabb and other special guests such as Larnelle Harris, Selah, Anita Renfroe, Angie Smith, Sheila Walsh and Jim Lyon. The Caribbean cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. and set sail February 23, 2014 through March 2, 2014. Be on the lookout for more information on this amazing event combining the luxury of a Caribbean cruise and wonderful entertainment.

Patty and Crabb will keep busy leading up to the cruise. Both artists are set to release new albums during 2013. Patty is currently working on her new album which is set to release in the early fall of next year.  Crabb is also working on an album with producers Ed Cash, Jay DeMarcus and Wayne Haun which is due out early next year.

About Sandi Patty:

Sandi Patty has won 40 Dove Awards, five Grammy Awards, four Billboard Music Awards and became a Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2004. Her albums have sold more than 11 million units, garnering her three platinum and five gold recordings. As the most-awarded female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history, her voice is still the gold standard by which all who follow are measured. Patty latest release “Broadway Stories” features her favorite Broadway songs. She has been blessed to perform these songs with several symphony orchestras.

About Jason Crabb: Known not only as a singer but also as a musician, author, and host, Jason Crabb was born to bless the world through his talents. In 2009, Crabb’s solo career took off, gaining him one Dove award after another leading him to winning over 20 Dove Awards, a Grammy Award and most recently Soloist of the Year award from NQC Music Awards. This past year, Crabb was honored to be awarded with not only the Male Artist of the Year award at the GMA Dove Awards but also the Artist of the Year award.

For more information and to stay up to date with Sandi Patty and Jason Crabb, please visit:

Sandi Patty:                                                                        Jason Crabb:

sandipatty.com                                                                 jasoncrabb.com/

facebook.com/Sandi.Patty.Music                               facebook.com/JasonCrabbMusic

twitter.com/SandiPattyP                                               twitter.com/JasonCrabbMusic

youtube.com/user/sandipattymusic                          YouTube.com/JasonCrabbMusic

I have sat down so many times over the past few months to write a Hi! Notes update but I am having trouble finding words.  It has been a full and rich summer and I am just now  finding I have a few moments to let my thoughts form into words. So here we go….grab a cup of coffee or tea, a diet coke or bottle of water….this is gonna be (as my mom says) “newsy”!

The summer began as usual–lots and lots of summer baseball for Sam and the OCS (oklahoma Christian School) Saints.   What wonderful boys and families. I love the mom bleacher time. I think I like summer baseball so much because my dad always played fast pitch softball in the summer when I was growing up.  I have only wonderful memories of going to the games night after night.  So summer baseball is that for me…nothing but fun. Even when it’s hot, it’s soooo much fun.

Many of you know that I’m a sports crazy person. I really get into it…I’m a big fan. So a couple fun things happened sports wise this summer….

Speaking of baseball, I was invited to sing the National Anthem and God Bless America for the Texas Ranger’s game in Dallas.  Don, Donnie, Sam, Jordan (Sam’s buddy) Katie  (Donnie’s girlfriend) and Katie’s parents all got to go.  The Rangers owner, Ray Davis, and his lovely wife Linda, spoiled us rotten all day. We got to go on the field, the batting cages ( Sam and Jordan got to hit a bit) and we all got to spend just a moment with Josh Hamilton. I got to spend some sweet moments with Katie Hamilton–Josh’s adorable wife. What a lovely lady. She could be my daughter she’s such a young baby!  I’m not bitter.

The BEST moment for me during the day, besides seeing the Rangers win, was singing old hymns and Gaither songs with Ray Davis.  The man can sing and knows his southern Gospel.  It was awesome.

The other sports thing that was unbelievably exciting for us “Okies” was cheering on our OKC Thunder NBA team.  They were spectacular and made it to the finals of the play-offs.  I got to sing for them too and unlike my losing “Banner” record with the Colts (I don’t sing for them anymore ’cause I love them so much and every time I sing they lose), the Thunder has won each time I’ve sung. 5-0.  I’ll sing for them anytime.

What I loved about the whole Thunder thing was seeing how our community of OKC came together.  Everyone walked around town wearing Thunder colors or Thunder jerseys. People were so proud.  It just united us all. I came away from a game or two and honestly thought that I wish Christians and our Jesus could unite a community as much as the NBA Thunder does.   Everyone focusing and celebrating one goal, one agenda, and everyone working hard to represent that agenda.  Wouldn’t it be something if our daily “jerseys” and our daily ” colors” said, JESUS IS LOVE!  And then we modeled that in each and every situation.   I know that’s a bit heady for a basketball game but never the less those are my thoughts!

I got to spend some sweet time with my entire family in Indiana over father’s day. I had a couple of concerts in Indiana and with all the frequent flyer miles I’ve accumulated over the years, we were able to get all the kids in one place. My parents, and my brothers too so it was a really really fun weekend.  I actually did a concert in Anderson, IN at the beautiful historic Paramount theatre where I did a concert of all songs from my Broadway Stories project. The concert was a benefit for the Community Hospital in Anderson and Anna’s father-in-law was actually the event organizer. Was such a sweet night involving so much family! I “hired” (although they pretty much did it out of the goodness of their hearts) my brothers Mike and Craig to sing. And also my kids John, Jenn, and Aly sang.  Along with Katie, Donnie’s girlfriend, and Audra, John’s girlfriend.   It was such a fun fun night!  The kids who didn’t sing, all sold the merchandise.  They are the hardest working kids ever…… Mollie and Erin.   Anna basically ran the whole show.  And Donnie and Sam were wonderful moral support!

Then the following day which was Sunday Father’s Day my dad directed an amazing men’s chorus at Madison Park Church in Anderson.  They sang 4, 5, 6 part harmony on Ezekiel Saw The Wheel.  AMAZING!!!!!!!

I suppose THE HIGHLIGHT of my summer was getting to go on a World Vision Trip to Ethiopia.  My son, Sam, got to go on the trip with me.  Sheila, Barry and Christian Walsh  went with us. Sam and Christian are so close in age that they had a great great time hanging out. Our new Women of Faith porch pal, Brenda Warner, was with us on the trip as well.

The trip was exciting, sad, encouraging, challenging, fun, delightful, enjoyable, difficult…all at the same time.   A couple of highlights…

Our family has sponsored many WV children over the years.  Sam and I got to meet one of our WV sponsored children..his name is Mausbouden. He was 9 years old and he and his dad came to meet us at the Gechi WV project sight. What a doll!  We brought a few gifts for he and his family. Sam and he played soccer and frisbee.  Christian met one of their WV sponsored children as well as well so it was fun to see that wherever you are in the world, boys will be boys.

I got to visit with Mausbouden’s father who eagerly shared with me (thru an interpreter) how grateful he was knowing his son was going to be taken care of thru child sponsorship. I shared with him that sponsoring his son meant the entire family would be cared for.  He kept hugging me and thanking me. He said he never got passed 2nd grade in his education as he had to drop out to work the farms. He wanted his son to learn the value of hard work but not at the expense of education. The dad was so happy that his son would have a good education.

We visited a village where WV had partnered with community to build a new 5 room cement school. The old school had mud and straw walls and dung and straw floors. The  village elders along with the students all came out to greet us. They sang for us and brought each of us, (Brenda, Sheila and myself) flower gifts.  The elders showed us the old school house and as we all huddled into the small space, the main elder began to speak so beautifully from his heart about what a blessing partnering with WV has been for their village. Now the children don’t get sick from all the dust straw and dung from the classroom. They are able to have more ages for each grade level because they have more space.   We asked the elder what he would share with our boys (Christian and Sam) and with much passion the elder shared words of wisdom something like…

“You are fine boys. You live in america and you have every opportunity.  DO NOT WASTE YOUR LIFE.  You have been given so much.  We have so little and yet we are happy. Be thankful for what you have and give back in your life somewhere. If that is here, we would love to welcome you back. But give back somewhere and don’t waste your life.”

That was all said thru an interpreter but the boys understood exactly what the man was saying. It was a powerful moment for all of us.

In closing, ( ha I sound like a preacher…ha) I am reminded too of what the elder shared with us in that old dusty school house. Just a couple of days ago I was traveling and I just did not have my happy attitude. I was annoyed with EVERYTHING.   After a few hours of making myself miserable, I realized that i can choose grumpiness or I can choose joy.  As the elder shared, we HAVE been given so much here in our country. Don’t waste it. Find ways to pay it forward, or give it back or pass it on.  Help someone else have a great day.   I didn’t FEEL like doing any of that, but decided I would act as though I felt it was true. I KNEW it was true, just had to act upon it.

As I left the plane after landing I quiet,y said to the flight attendant, thank you for a nice flight.  She said, “thank you for saying so.  It’s been such a long day and I needed that”.

Okay God, lessened learned…at least today. You’ll probably have to teach me again tomorrow.

Have a great day one and all and help someone else to have or too…

Sandi

Dear Friends -

In the hustle and bustle of life, I find that sometimes I need to unplug and get away from it all. There seems to be so many things cluttering our life that from time to time I need to intentionally choose to spiritually reconnect.

I have the privilege of traveling to so many parts of the world to sing and share my story. I have met so many of you along the way. And, yet, sometimes we need more than a concert to connect with one another and we need more than a few hours to rejuvenate our spirits.

Next year, I am hosting a cruise and I am personally inviting you to join me and some special friends on an unforgettable journey to the Western Caribbean. We’ll be sailing with our partners at Inspiration Cruises & Tours on Holland America’s Westerdam ship. Stopping in gorgeous locations like Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Key West, we’ll also enjoy an entire day at Holland America’s own private island in the Bahamas. And, really, is there any place better to be during the cold winter than the sunny Caribbean?

Throughout the week you’ll hear poignant stories, powerful teaching and uplifting songs from some of my friends – singer Larnelle Harris, the musical group Selah, author/singer Sheila Walsh, speaker/author Angie Smith, comedian Anita Renfroe, pastor Jim Lyon and more to be added. And, you’ll also get to hear from my entire family as we sing and share together

What I am most excited about is seeing all of our stories intersect as we set sail together. Through worship, fellowship, relaxation and spiritual rejuvenation, it’s going to be a week like none other.

Please talk to our friends at Inspiration Cruises & Tours if you would like some more information. We hope to see you next year! Mark your calendars for March 3-10, 2013. Come. Relax. Rejuvenate. We’ll take care of the rest!

Blessings!

-Sandi

I love music.  I love to sing.  I cannot remember a time when I didn’t love music.  There was a time in my life that I thought music didn’t love me, but I have always been drawn to music.  For many years, music was my voice. I would speak my heart through music.  Music would help me tell my story.  Music has been and continues to be woven into the very fabric of my soul.

This past weekend some of my fellow music makers and I got together and did a few shows.  Guests were Larnelle Harris, Wayne Watson, the group 4Him, and Clay Crosse.  We hopped on a bus and traveled to Memphis, Birmingham and Little Rock.  What I expected was great music and song, I was not disappointed.  What I expected was stepping back into the ’80’s and early ’90’s and share much of the music we each sang during that time.  I was not disappointed.

What I didn’t expect was this overwhelming feeling of gratitude and thankfulness.  I mean, think about it.  We aren’t as young on the outside as we were in the ’80’s.  Some of the guys are grandparents.  Time has marched on and we marched on with it.

Some of us are still traveling the country, singing concerts, writing music, leading worship.  Some coach their son or daughter’s sports teams.  Some are taking care of their parents in the final season of their parents life.  Some of us have no regrets—many of us have regrets.  Not about the singing, but about the fact that we stopped singing THE song in our lives for awhile.

Last night as I was sharing the last part of the concert, I looked over at these ragamuffins–because face it, we are all ragamuffins–and I realized there has been a lot of life lived within the pages of our stories.  Stories that have from time to time woven together–stories that have gone off on their own for a while.  But nevertheless, much life has been lived in the years we have all been in the business.

And of all the songs we have sung, or the words we have written, or the people with whom we have shared, it comes back to the lyrics of the first song many of us ever learned.  The song, that in the midst of stormy seasons, still sings true.  The song, that in the midst of pain and darkness, still sings true.  The song, that in the midst of loss and disappointment, still sings true.

And it is THIS song that keeps us showing up every night to do what we do.  Not because we are great, but because HE is great.  And as long as I can sing from my heart, I will forever proclaim the truth I have found within my own soul.  The song that has been the constant truth in my life….

Jesus loves me, this I know

for the Bible tells me so

little ones to him belong

we are weak but He is strong

YES!  Jesus loves me

YES! Jesus loves me

YES! Jesus loves me

The Bible tells me so

Sandi is teaming up with Patsy Clairmont and hitting the road for the “Get Yer Happy On” Tour. Starting in March, they’ll be traveling to 19 cities across the country with a night full of wit, wisdom, songs and storytelling. There are a few more dates yet to be announced, but you’ll see some already listed on the tour page. For more information, visit http://www.getyerhappyon.com/

Mary was loyal and faithful to her son even to the cross.  She was one of the last ones to stand by his sides.  And some of Jesus’ last spoken thoughts were to his mother.  He wanted to make sure she would be cared for after he was physically gone.

Can you imagine all of the emotion of a lifetime she must have felt?  She was His mother to the very end…of is it the beginning.

My prayer and hope for you is that you have been challenged and encourages as you have journeyed through this Christmas story.  Perhaps you see yourself in one of the characters in the story.  Perhaps you have journeyed far in your life like the wise men, or you have diligently gone about your dailiness like the shepherds.  Perhaps you have related to Mary or to Joseph as you face the “Impossibleness of your life’s circumstances.

Be not afraid.  God is finding favor with you.  He calls us to come to the manger and meet the Christ Child—The Son of God.  He calls us to fall down and worship Him.  He calls us with the signs and wonders of His creation.  He calls us to offer ourselves as gifts.  He calls us to let Christ be born new and fresh in our hearts.  He calls you because He loves us.  Treasure these things in your heart.