Latest News - Jan 2010
Well, we finished 2009 blessed to be able to serve the Lord and be apart an awesome group of young women, the Journey of Sisters. The last six months of 2009 was a tough year for all as we struggled to understand why our sweet friend and leader, Amy, was taken from us. Thankfully, we can find comfort in knowing and believing she was in God’s hands from the start and ready to be with Him according to His plan for her. So we move on trusting God to direct and guide us wherever He would have us to go... doing whatever He would have us to do.
As we look back over the year, Lisa had several opportunities to be with some pretty awesome people. Our cruise with Kathy Troccoli was just incredible. Meeting and performing with Mark Harris, Mark Lowery was so fun…seeing and laughing with old friends from WOF (Chonda Pierce)…and time with Avalon and of course, Kathy couldn’t be beat…. Meeting and making new friends was just a gift on top of it all!!
A special highlight of the year was getting to meet and perform with Charice, YouTube singing sensation discovered by David Foster. Charice and Lisa performed at the Best Buddies Gala in Dallas. When David Foster saw a video of the two, he asked Lisa to join them at three of his ten David Foster & Friends concert tour stops. We went to Chicago, Ft Lauderdale and Los Angeles. What a blast!! Charice and Lisa claimed to be the diva-sisters and were arm and arm the whole time. They did autographs, photos, and TV interviews together. We were blessed to meet new friends Deborah Cox, Kathy Sledge, Ruben Studdard (American Idol), the Four Canadian Tenors, and Peter Cetera….not to mention David Foster himself…the legend…the “hit-man”. In LA, we were able to see and talk with Dr. Phil and wife Robin again who were sitting on the front row as Lisa and Charice performed. We caught up with them later at David Foster’s party. It was an awesome experience and one we’ll never forget. Many thanks go to Jan Miller and American Airlines for making it all possible.
The year finished out with one more special meeting for Lisa. One of Amy’s goals was to get Lisa and Joni Erickson Tada together. Lisa was asked to perform for a special course being taught at Dallas Theological Seminary involving ministry to those with special needs within the church. Lisa performed at one of the early semester classes. When the final class came up, Joni had been invited to teach and Lisa was asked to perform again. What a thrill to see Amy’s dream realized. I know she was smiling from heaven!! What a special lady Joni is…I could have sat all afternoon listening to her. When Lisa performed, Joni cried. She described Lisa’s performance as being just pure worship…you couldn’t help but cry as Lisa brought us into His presence. Lisa hugged Joni so tight at the end of the program that she pulled Joni forward in her wheelchair and then let go. Joni so graciously told Lisa that was a great hug but now she had to push her back up in her chair. We all chuckled, but poor Lisa felt terrible, apologizing to Joni. Joni reassured her that she was OK. With pen in mouth, Joni autographed Lisa’s book for her and we were done for another year.
We look forward to a new year, leaving behind the things of the past and moving forward with joyful anticipation of what the Lord has planned for Lisa (Jer. 29:11)…always remembering He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think. Have a happy and blessed new year!