Why I Stopped.

Yo. Okay, guys. Time to answer the question I've been getting asked for over a year now.

"Did you stop posting cover songs? Why???"

Okay, here's why.

Here's the thing. It didn't make me happy anymore. When I started, it was just fun for me. It gave me something to do when I got sick. It gave me something to focus on. But I began to post for the wrong reasons- for my own glory. And I would freak out if I didn't get enough views or 'likes' or whatever. And that was really crappy of me.

That then, brings up another question.

"Have you just stopped singing altogether?!"

Uhm NO! Why would I? Honestly, I've been blessed with a pretty awesome gift and I'm not just going to stop using it. I'm a worship leader here in Sioux Center at the HOME building. I have a few live sets of my own throughout the week, and a couple that I do with some other really legit people. It's really great. I'm no longer singing for the approval of others or to glorify myself. I'm singing for An Audience of One.

Next question:

"Oh. So, you only sing Christian songs?"

El OH EL. Not always. When I'm worship leading, yes. I don't think I can really worship Jesus while singing anything by John Meyer... But when I'm at home, I'm not gonna lie; I like to play around on the piano with some Tom Petty or Coldplay. What's wrong with that?


Alright, so with all of those questions answered, I guess this leaves me with this...

I was playing around today with an Ed Sheeran song I'm loving right now, and it made me feel like when I first started posting covers. And I figured everyone's been waiting close to two whole years for this, might as well give ya'll a little something. SURPRISE! This will more than likely be the last one I post, so here you go; for old time's sake.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJdivzNEpKs


xoxo,
gp


PS- If you're interested in the HOME building and when there are scheduled sets, here's the link to their website.

Christmas in Cleveland 2o14

Hey all! Holy smokes. We've been home for a week now! I figured I should probably get this blog post up. So, Ohio was a stinkin' blast. We did a crazy lot of different things and it was so much fun! We spent a lot of nights at my uncle's local bar- it's kind of like on my favorite show 'Friends', and their local coffee shop, Central Perk. Everyone's just always there and no one else really has anything better to do. It's great. 

This was also the first time I've flown since I was 3 years old, so I didn't really remember what was like. It was uh.. interesting.. to say the least. 

Anyway, here are a few pictures to recap our trip~

We flew out at 6 am, so we got to see the sunrise above the clouds. It was breathtaking.

We spent one day at the theatre. Fun fact about Cleveland's theatre district: it is the second largest theater district in the world; right behind New York.

 We saw the classic "A Christmas Carol". It's been running for 26 years now!

We spent another day at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.

I have always had a fascination with the Jewish religion and WWII, and I am going to Germany next January so this was really neat for me to see. The museum just so happened to have a feature on World War II and all it entailed. My heart broke as I walked through and saw all of evil and pain that these people experienced. The picture above is all of the hate groups currently in the US. The groups are as following: Black Separatist, Christian Identity, Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Confederate, Neo-Nazi, Racist Skinhead, and other. That is in OUR country still TODAY, folks. Oh, how this world needs the Lord. Come, Jesus, come!

Christmastime in Cleveland is nothing short of a dream. Everything is decked out in lights and it's all sorts of wonderful. 

So, like I said, they take Christmas seriously in the C L E. This is my uncle's living room. Pictures really don't do it justice.. it was phenomenal. 

How could I resist playing with the focus on my camera when there was this many pretty lights?!

He's really into wine so there was a whole section for that.

GIANT GRAPES HANGING FROM THE CEILING. Seriously, folks. I've never seen anything like this.

We went and saw our extended family, too. I hadn't met little Aubrey Jane yet, so it was really exciting! 

She was a dream.

This dog. Too funny.

Here's the little nugget. Love her so much!

Aubs and her daddy having a little convo. So stinkin' sweet.

HA! Caught ya. Everybody, meet uncle Vern. He's pretty neat.

We opened gifts on Christmas Eve.

This is Ma. My uncle is known for always having gifts wrapped really well, and this was the worst we've ever seen. Therefore, we HAD to document it.

This is Oliver, one of Vern's two cats. We got them a new toy! Charlie is not pictured because he is stubborn and refused to come near me.

I collect spoons, so Vern got me this wind-chime. I love it!

Ah, the gingerbread airstream. Two of our favorite things in the world. Supah cute. 

And one last picture with little Ollie. 

I truly left a piece of my heart out in Ohio and I cannot wait to go back.

xoxo,

gp