It was after I stuck my hand out of the window with a few dollars in it that I saw the man’s homemade sign, which read, “I will sing for you.” Well, that’s a new one, I thought. Fortunately, I was in the lane of a parking lot and there was minimal traffic, so I pulled over and popped the flashers on as he approached my vehicle.

Most of the audience didn’t know what was coming, but I did. So I waited. I watched. And I didn’t have to look far for a reaction.

There are many aspects of autumn that make it a favorite season for so many. The particular sights, sounds, and flavors envelop us like a cozy throw blanket: A mug of steaming apple cider enjoyed by a crackling fire; a walk through the woods with its pulsing glow, leaves shuffling underfoot; an earthy scent in the air; an undercurrent of excitement that the holiday season is coming soon.

There is a vintage music box alarm clock on a shelf in my home. I don't have to wind it up to hear the tune, as it is firmly attached in my mind to childhood memories of time spent with my Grandma Marty. I recently looked for more information on the weighty little piece, and found that it was made by Swiza in Switzerland c. 1970 and has “Roman numerals on a golden disc, golden hands, and luminous dots,” among other elements.

We all speak many languages. Reading that sentence, you might be thinking that you can barely speak your native language before your morning coffee. But I’m not referring to the definition of language as “a system of communication used by a particular country.”

It was steamy out there. I call it “air you can wear” when the humidity level is right up there near the actual temperature. Teachers, students, and parents were sweating.

Vocalists are athletes. Anyone who would dispute this has not worked with or studied gifted singers as they perform. When a voice is the instrument, it takes the entire body to support it, which is why you will seldom see a vocalist stand stock-still.

Everyone around these parts believes in the power of music. It is the medium with which we entertain and educate. Music defines our days and guides our ways.

I propped open the door between our offices and studios the other day, so I could hear our vocal artists rehearsing. Yep, that’s a perk of working here: free live entertainment. Except, it wasn’t all that entertaining in that moment.

It’s that time of year when many of us wax nostalgic. What does this mean? I asked myself, as any good Lutheran would, then looked it up and found:

When was the last time you listened to the silence? In this 21st century world with its constant cacophony from electronic devices of all kinds, along with all the rest of life's noises, it can be rare to find a time of complete quiet. 

Picture this: A 13-year-old boy in a wheelchair rolls onto the stage, sporting a bright orange cast on a leg freshly broken while playing football, and belts out Remember When by Alan Jackson to a karaoke track as part of the school talent show.

This morning I saw a truly eye-catching box truck. It was truly colorful, with bright colors and bold lettering in an effective, repetitive design.

What do you get when you put a collection of fundraisers together in a room? Relax, this is not the lead-in to a bad joke, so I will tell you what you get: An energetic collection of professionals brimming with enthusiasm, insight, and eagerness to learn.

It was an ordinary afternoon at the Heartland Sings studio. An ordinary, chilly, grey, spring afternoon, and there I was with watering can in hand. It was "wet Wednesday", as I've dubbed it, a reminder to water the plants every week. Each of our individual studios contains a healthy, leafy green Philodendron.

Tapestry. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, released by Carole King in 1971. Tapestry. It is a decorative fabric, a form of textile art traditionally hand-woven on a loom.