It's already the middle of the year! June....how time flies. It's a birthday month for many of my family and friends, including myself. Nothing seems more fun than a June birthday! :) Do you have a June birthday? Share what your dreams are or what your birthday plans are! There are no special plans for my birthday celebration - I HAD my birthday already and that was being able to go to Aspen to the InspireSong Songwriter Conference! That was awesome. PERSONALLY June marks the beginning of hubby's BBQ vending season and also umpiring for softball and baseball, something he also enjoys very much, working with the kids and coaches. We will be back with Warren's Famous BBQ at Brainerd International Raceway, however only twice this year. First one will be June 16-18 for MOPS and then August 17-20 for NHRA, the big televised race and we also have a couple weddings to cater. Of course from June 26-July 5 we will be selling fireworks. Our first tent will in Waite Park at the same old location in the parkinglot at West Side Liquor across from Scheels at the mall. Our second tent will be in Sauk Rapids in the parkinglot at Coborns. We will have someone running it for us. So you can shop at both locations :) In between all that..... I hope to schedule some music events as well. We are hoping to get clearance to do a Tent Revival at the Sauk Rapids Fireworks Tent location after the fireworks sales are over and we have permission to use the tent. So stay tuned for updates! This past weekend Warren participated in the Teen Challenge Fishing Tournament in Brainerd. They raised 1/4 Million Dollars that event for this ministry! Awesome isn't it? They also did not have any food vendors, so Warren happened to ask if they'd mind if he could provide food. They gladly accepted and Warren donated 1/3 of the BBQ proceeds from the event back to Teen Challenge. Warren also participated in the fishing tournament. He was the only "team" on a kayak. He caught 3 bass each about 5 lbs. He was first on the board for quite a while until more teams came in and beat his 5.02 lb bass out by 10 or so extra more pounds. However he had a blast and that's the main thing. I brought the guitar with to work on some music but ended up playing a few songs for the guys from Teen Challenge who asked me to play. I might have some exciting news about a song and the Teen Challenge Leadership Institute.... so stay tuned on that as well. MUSIC May was a busy and super exciting month! It was actually supposed to be the start of a summer tour with the band Renewed (and songwriter Brendan Brooks) which was to conclude towards the end of June, culminating with a concert for us in Greeley, CO right after Toby Mac's set. However our summer tour had a few dates cancelled to where we will have to postpone to the fall to find other places to play. Although I was approved by Toby Mac to play at the Greeley Stampede Concert event, I couldn't hang out in Colorado financially for a month and so headed back home. :( However Brendan Brooks and Renewed will still be playing this event! Yet, my 3 weeks of music touring was filled with ministry, learning, growing, writing music with other artists and mentors from Nashville, serving twice in the worship service at Joy Community Fellowship Church in Hot Springs, playing live music in an Antique Store and making new friendships and deepening ones started last year! My first music and rest stop was Joy Community Fellowship Church in Hot Springs, SD playing for their worship service on my way to and from the InspireSong Conference as our pastor friends there graciously hosted me. Thank you Pastor Bill and Pat for a wonderful time! Then I stayed in Arvada, CO with Mike & Kim Eaton from the band Renewed for a few days, waiting on the rest of the gang to gather there who also was going to be at InspireSong. I had some awesome "girl time" with Kim Eaton going to her beautician to get my hair done, do some shopping and eating at her son's awesome deli! Wow that guy can cook! What a fun needful time to spend with another girl singer/songwriter! On Wednesday Night (May 17th) we all (Tony Chung from Canada, Brendan Brooks from Wisconsin, Renewed from Colorado and I) had a concert in Lakewood, CO at Lakewood Church of Christ for a benefit for New Horizons House (https://newhorizonshouse.org/) a ministry that helps girls and women caught in sex trafficking. We raised $5000 that night for this ministry! Here are some pictures from the concert at Lakewood Church of Christ in Lakewood, CO Next came a scary road trip to Aspen the following day. We had planned to leave in the morning, however I-70 leading to Aspen was closed due to an accident as a snow storm had blown in, which began to manifest itself in Lakewood after our concert with a lot of rain/snow mix.... Around 3 pm we got the "go ahead" from those "in the know" already in Aspen, that the Interstate was cleared and we could sneak in between snow storms. We had fairly decent road conditions to the Eisenhower tunnel, but thereafter until Veil, CO it got pretty nasty and a semi in front of us slid sideways down the mountain interstate.... keeping a safe distance, with flashers on for those following, we made it through the worst part and after Veil there were dry roads and sunshine all the way to Aspen! InspireSong Songwriter Conference greeted us with an Open Mic nite already in progress (as we missed Registration and Greetings due to our late arrival), however everyone was glad to see us safe and sound. Then we checked into our hotel. Early the next morning our sessions began with teachings from our many mentors who came up from Nashville to teach a variety of sessions. Topics ranged from: Preparing your song from the inside out. Discovery Process. Songwriting Inspiration. Writer's Block. Complex vs Simple Song. Listening to the Holy Spirit. Song Critiques. Authentic Songwriting. the "Now What?" Panel discussing what to do with your song and how to get it "out there". Publishing. Copyrights. The following day's session included a Co-Writing workshop with mentors writing a song in front of us and then us attendees being divided into groups, each with a mentor to write a song. We had about 15 minutes with our mentor starting us out and two hours time. My group was paired with Seth Mosley, producer from Nashville. Eight of us attendees put our heads together and finished our song "Victory!" to present it after supper, as did each of the other groups with their song. We heard some great music that night!! Here are some photos from InspireSong Songwriter Conference at Crossroads Church: There were some great quotes I want to share with you from the InspireSong Conference: "God will use you, get rid of the sin of comparison". Sue Mohr, Inner Vizion. "Best songwriting is always when there's no fear." Seth Mosley. "If you see some success, there was always some point of risk". Tony Woods "Songs are everywhere, you got to pull them out of the air". Ben Glover (via Matt Armstrong) "Speak truth to yourself. Be around confident people who pour confidence into you. Get alone with God." Matt Armstrong. "Art is a concept - but make it where you don't forget it". Benji Cowart "Write in such a way that someone can say 'that's my anthem'". Matthew West "Write a song you have lived and that's what people will listen to". Benji Cowart "If men can sing your song, everyone in the church sings." Jenna Cowart After the Conference was over it was hard to say good bye to old friends and the new one made at this event, however we all hope, the Lord willing, to see each other next year at InspireSong 2018! Before heading home, I hung around in Arvada, CO with Renewed for a few days to be there for their rehearsal for an upcoming concert in Kansas before I headed to Hot Springs to serve Joy Community Fellowship once more for their Sunday Worship Service and on Memorial Day Monday to play "Live" at Pistol Patti's Antiques & More, a new store that recently opened in Hot Springs. I know the owner couple was super blessed by the music and are eagerly awaiting my next CD release with the song "Grateful Heart" recorded, it is their favorite song! Here are a few photos from the Rehearsal, Sunday Service and Live Music: UPCOMING EVENTS Arts In The Park - Live Music Date: Saturday, June 10 Time: 10 am - 3 pm Location: Memorial Park, Royalton, MN There will be arts/crafts vendors, activities for kids and Live Music. As far as I know I'll be the only musician, so I'll be playing throughout the event - if there are other musicians, awesome! Love to share the afternoon! My CDs, books and jewelry will also be available! You'll find my table where the music is as I'll be playing from my stand most likely, since I will not have someone to watch my table. The event does not have a sound system nor a stage.... It'll be fun for everyone, so come and check it out! BIR BBQ (Warren's BBQ) Dates: Friday - Sunday, June 16-18th Times: Friday 8 am - ?? , Saturday 8 am - ??, Sunday 8 am - 3 pm Location: Brainerd International Raceway. Hubby will be set up to do some food vending. I'll be the trusty helper. He's going to have Beef Brisket BBQ, BBQ Pulled Chicken, Gyros, Turkey Loin Sliders, Brats, Hot Dogs, Fries, Cheese Curds and maybe Mushroom Poppers and for sure lots of cold pop! TNT Fireworks Tents Dates: June 26 through July 5 Locations: Waite Park: Parkinglot of Westside Liquor & Sauk Rapids: Parkinglot of Coborns (I may have my guitar with to play a few songs during slower times or when there's enough help) Barnabas Christian Coffeehouse Date: Saturday, June 24 Time: 7-9:30 pm Town: Chippewa Falls, WI Address: 19 W. Spring Street. IN ENDING There are some new videos up on my website that you definitely will want to check out. They are on my Photos/Videos page. http://www.samscales.com/photosvideos.html The videos are from the InspireSong Conference with our songwriting group presenting our song "Victory!" to everyone. (Titled: Inspiresong 2017 Co-writing Session Final Song: Victory). Three songs from my set at Lakewood Church of Christ in Lakewood, CO and a recording taken by Pat Martin during my live music set at Pistol Patti's Antiques in Hot Springs SD. Also tons of pictures from my latest music travels. I also want to express my deepest gratitude for your prayers for travel mercies and safety. Your prayers were heard as we had some scary roads going to Aspen. All my other road travels were smooth and I stayed alert and awake for which I'm super grateful! God provided for my needs on this trip and gave me sweet fellowship with His artistic people! Special "Thank You" goes out to all of you who graciously hosted me and gave me a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, food to eat and lots of great awesome fellowship! Shawn & Shanda Hinnant Bill & Pat Martin Mike & Kim Eaton A deep 'Thank You' also goes out to: The Annabelle Inn (it's like coming home! Thank you for the great service) and Crossroads Church of Aspen for hosting Inspiresong 2017! You guys are awesome! Remember to check my Facebook Music Fan Page regularly as I update there pretty much every day and use the "Track" button to stay in the know about my next concerts/music events. Until next month - or other "cool news" I need to share right away.... speak truth to yourself and spend time alone with God. :) Sam
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Christian Organic Folk Singer/Songwriter & Author
based in Minnesota See my Jewelry!
Psalm 100 Scripture
1 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. Archives
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