Won't That Be Fine - I've never written about Heaven before it's always seemed too magnificent and mysterious to capture in a piece of music. As this song unfolded, I began to consider the importance of setting my heart on Heaven in a way I never had before. The process of writing the song helped me realize how far superior Heaven will be to anything I know or experience in this lifetime. I hope it helps you get a glimpse of the joy that is waiting for us.

New Song - I typically associate the concept of singing a "new song" with the life-changing experience of becoming a Christian. There are many songs to that effect. I enjoy the challenge of taking a familiar (perhaps overused) idea and attempting to give it a new look. I decided I should write a song about the ongoing joys and sorrows of going deeper, choosing to leave what is comfortable and go for the harder things. I began the song with honest observations of how resistant I am to seasons of change, even though I know how much I learn from those times. After finishing a verse and a rough idea for the chorus, the lyric seemed to me to be a bit too melancholy for such a light, simple title. Since I couldn't decide what to do, I put the song away until a writing session with Margaret Becker who enthusiastically helped me finish it. Though the movement into uncharted territory is never easy, I love the idea that each change, each new stage is but another new song-may we never stop singing.

I Love the Way - Although I grew up going to the beach and visiting the mountains, I had very little interest in "seeing" the world. I never thought to ask about what a rainbow looked like or how the stars or the clouds appeared to the human eye. When I became an adult and had opportunities to learn about Creation through the eyes of a few special people who willingly described the world to me, I realized how much I'd been missing. I began to ask more about the visual mysteries I'd never solved, and as a result, I fell in love with God's Creation in a way I had never been able to do before. Now I have learned to savor each moment I am able to spend alone with God in His Creation. When I have the opportunity to feel the waves crash over me and consider the vastness of the ocean, I am moved. When I find myself standing at the top of a mountain after a long hike past the swaying trees, the scurrying squirrels, and the peaceful (yet intentional) streams, I am moved. I am in awe when I realize that God has left His fingerprints on absolutely everything. Seeing and feeling Him cause me to realize again and again the powerful impact of His undeserved gifts to us. If He loves us enough to offer us a universe full of His beauty and creativity, shouldn't we, in turn, share whatever beauty and creativity God has placed within us with the world? I believe that we, too, have fingerprints. Though smaller and far less sufficient, ours are the ones God has given us-the ones He intends for us to leave on those we encounter. Although I could never create something as beautiful as the moon or the ocean, He has given me my hands to use to reflect Him. My fingerprints won't make an impact the way Nature does, but they can communicate love nonetheless.

Call Me Beautiful - I'd like to say that I totally embrace God's acceptance of me the way I am and that I know with all my heart, in His eyes, I am beautiful. But somehow, even though I've heard that truth since I was a very little girl, I've also heard the truth the world speaks. The reality of living here on this planet is that love and acceptance are earned and conditional. Although I grew up living a very normal life, I always knew that not being able to see was a trait which didn't work in my favor. I've often said that I'd never think of myself as having a disability if I didn't have reactions of others to remind me. I've always responded to people's reactions by either working very hard to prove my normalcy and my abilities or by shyly looking down and avoiding people altogether. With all the bravado I could muster, I've told myself, "You must face the fact that since you have a visible flaw, you will never be considered beautiful. Now grin and bear it." My career often exacerbated this struggle because the music business is incredibly image-oriented, and how one looks is far more important than most things. The weight of this knowledge caused me to dread going into places where I might encounter people from the "business," for fear of being evaluated. It also caused me to think and worry about my hair, face, body, and clothes in ways I never have before. I realized that when I, the blind girl, am consumed by all things visual, something has to change. As I prayed to have a change of attitude about these things, I began to write out my feelings in song form. I also came across a very inspiring book by Angela Thomas called Do You Think I'm Beautiful? in which she encourages us to remember what true beauty is and Who defines it. Beauty is a trait God has given every one of us. He thinks of each of us as one of His magnificent Creations-we were made in His image after all. Not only that, but He pursues us as if we are each the most beautiful creature in the universe. That's how much He loves us. When I consider this Truth, the world's idea of beauty pales in comparison.

Let Them Hear - The first draft of this song was written just before my freshman year of high school. At that time, my mind was full of Sunday school answers, but my heart understood very little of what my mind knew. After spreading my teenage wings and wrestling with truth for several years, I found myself in a place of complete brokenness, and I began to understand a bit more about how to believe in my heart the knowledge that resided in my head. It was during this time-my senior year of high school-that I found the courage and freedom to begin playing some of my "homemade" songs beyond the walls of my bedroom. The one I sang the most was "Let Them Hear." I continued to sing this song throughout my freshman year of college, when I finally decided that since I'd written it as a high school freshman, it was probably too na? and simple to sing anymore.Last year, on another Sunday afternoon, I sat at my keyboard trying to articulate in song form my desire to be a useful vessel in communicating Truth through my life and my music. After finishing a verse, the chorus I had written nearly 15 years earlier came creeping back into the forefront of my mind. In just a short time, I was able to take the simplistic words of my childhood and meld them with the thoughts and desires I have as an adult into a song that could have only been written over time.

Ordinary Day - I can only speak for myself when I say that I prefer the predictable and often find surprises to be difficult to adjust to. Yet I know that deep in my heart, I love and crave adventure, intrigue, mystery. I've come to the conclusion that we all crave those things on some level because we were created to do so. God is the King of adventure and unpredictability. Let's face it; He rarely gives us any indication of what's coming next. I believe God placed those desires for adventure within us, as well as the capacity to have faith in the midst of those adventures. Although I'd rather be safe and careful than wild at heart, I know that life isn't nearly as fulfilling or exciting when I live this way. I want to learn to fearlessly embark on each extraordinary moment He allows me to have instead of trying to orchestrate ordinary days.

Always - In Psalm 73, Asaph confesses his sadness and confusion with the way the world works. To paraphrase, he says, "It doesn't seem fair that those who care nothing about doing right or showing love seem to be the ones who always get ahead." As he elaborates on his various emotions-doubt, anger, frustration and disillusionment-he finds a place to be still before God, pour out his heart, and listen. While doing this, the Lord restores his hope, and he concludes his psalm by proclaiming that God is indeed always good and always faithful even though the rest of the world is not. The power of this simple truth struck me. It brings me great peace to know that even the most unexplainable tragedies are not beyond God. He is consistently faithful, just and gracious in spite of our lack of faithfulness.

To Trust You - This is one of those lyrics I wrote to remind me about myself. It began as a journal entry with these lines: "I thought you said you would, but you didn't. And I believe you could, but you haven'tand though there is a chance you still might, the time has come to do what I think is right." I think I found some better lyrics, but the basic concept for this song remains the same. Although I like to believe that I trust God, at the end of the day, I still think I have to control and carry everything myself. Most of the time, the three words that best describe my heart are impatient, rebellious and burdened. I don't yet understand how to let things go and to believe that the Lord is much bigger and much wiser than I am. This song is the prayer of my heart-to know more of God, to really believe He is who He says He is, and to trust Him with my life.

Who Are You Listening To - Why does it matter so much what people think? I have only recently begun to understand what a powerful and influential role other people and other things play in my life. Although I'd like to think that I make my own decisions and draw my own conclusions, I'm beginning to learn that, chances are, I've been unduly influenced somewhere along the way. I need to ask myself these questions: Who rules my life? Who defines me? Is it other people? Is it music? Is it the desire to be beautiful, successful, or happy? And lastly, to whom should I listen? Who do I want helping me make decisions, drawing conclusions, and defining my life?

Bread - Ah, Ecclesiastes! Solomon reminds me of myself-only I'm not half as wise. I'm impacted by the idea that one of the wisest men who ever lived saw life as fleeting and found the search for meaning to be endless and tireless. Although he finds his hope in something greater, he continues to struggle with being unsatisfied. I can relate.

I Know Who You Are - Although none of us can see God, we can all experience His power and his love. Whether we find it in a thunderstorm, in a life-changing experience, or in the touch or words of others, He offers us endless numbers of ways to know who He is.