In Tune For Summer, 2019.

This beautiful crepe myrtle tree stands greeting everyone at the end of my driveway. It is always pretty in the summer, but to my knowledge has never bloomed in two colors as long as I have lived here.

Throughout the summer, God made His awesome Presence known in so many unique and wonderful ways! There was that generous sponsor who--choosing to remain anonymous--helped to make "Music By Laurel Jean" part of the scheduled entertainment for the June meeting of the Ashley River Baptist Church "Keenagers". This is no ordinary senior group. Members are blessed with a multitude of opportunities to serve their community, preparing meals, helping to build homes and so much more! It was truly an honor to meet and present for this forever-young group of brothers and sisters in Christ!

Here in Charleston, my colleagues and I have been kept busy talking with sighted students attending camps throughout the greater Charleston area.  My BFF Audrey and I were invited back to the Charleston Animal Society to speak to children age 7 thru 15 attending the Society's Summer BARK Camp.

It is always a joy to talk with sighted kids about blindness, and to answer their terrific questions. Especially fun is our time of meeting and greeting, when day campers have the opportunity to visit with a guide dog out of harness.

In July, I was also invited by Rev. Christian King, to spend time with "her kids" from age 4 to 14, during her summer program at the Pink House Learning Center, an outreach to under-served children in the community. Young people from Rev. King's group tell me that they still have the Braille name cards that I made for them during my time there.

Thanks to Rev. King and her husband, Kelvin, who each took a turn at the camera so that the other could be in our group picture.

A most impactful time of ministry for me took place this summer in a local hospital. C.A., a dear personal friend and a friend of the blindness community, had been battling pancreatic cancer for the past 5 years. When her doctor told her that nothing more could be done for her, she called to ask that Audrey and I officiate at her funeral. We agreed and wrote down all of her instructions. We were gathered with members of her family at her hospital bedside when she passed away. We had said a prayer, and I was asked to sing something. Knowing how much she loved animals, I began to sing "Peace In The Valley." As I sang "...and I'll be changed from this creature I am," our friend breathed her last on this earth and passed peacefully into Glory. As long as I live and probably longer, I will count this among my most profound and humbling experiences.

I am reminded of a verse from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians: "Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, WEB)

Stay tuned for more posts like this one. Until next time, God bless you and keep His Song in your heart!

© 2019 by Laurel Jean Walden

Spring, 2019 Highlights.

My spring schedule was as varied as the beautiful birdsongs that fill the air during this time of year.

Cheers to the Craig-Thornton family for making Music By Laurel Jean part of "Granny" Shirley's surprise eightieth birthday party in March! Shirley (pictured below with her husband Charles) is the proud grandmother of Shelby, a beautiful, intelligent young lady whom I was blessed to mentor when I first came to Charleston. The ongoing friendship of this dear family means more than my words can express.

This spring, I also worked with the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department  as a teaching artist for the After School Arts Enrichment Program, teaching music appreciation, with an emphasis on the piano, to children between the ages of 3 and 12 years. These children were all sighted. The Arts Department provided little roll-up electronic keyboards for the students, and I found some great keyboard guides and easy sheet music on the Internet for the kids.

In the interest of the children's privacy, no pictures were taken. Just imagine a classroom with 26 kids between the ages of 3 and 6 on one day, between the ages of 7 and 12 on another, each with their own little keyboard, all playing something different simultaneously. It's quite an experience!

On a sunny day in May, I caught a cab to the Peninsula of Charleston to spend an afternoon with Carolyn from Illinois, a long-time friend who for many years was also one of my professional drivers. She and a friend of hers were on a bus tour of the Southeast, and were spending a few days here in the "Holy City." It was so good to see her again! We had a wonderful time, strolling around the market and enjoying lunch at "The Cracked Egg."

May 6 marked my 31st anniversary of professional music and ministry. Over the years, God has blessed me with so many unique opportunities to present for audiences of all ages, on all walks of life. There really is never a dull moment! Thank God, and thank you for your continued prayers and support.

On a personal note, I'd like to extend my appreciation to everyone who offered their prayers and their help during Audrey's recovery from emergency gall bladder surgery. She and her guide Jessie are doing well and shining God's Light, as always.

Stay tuned for more posts like this one. Until next time, God bless you and keep His Song in your heart!

© 2019 by Laurel Jean Walden

Remembering Top Dog-Charleston.

I'm pictured here with attendees of Top Dog-Charleston, 2019 during Opening Ceremonies. Since the founding of Top Dog Workshops in 2006, it has been my honored to serve as a musician and emcee for Top Dog events in South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. I also accepted many of the event planning and guest registration responsibilities for the 2010, 2015 and 2019 events held here in Charleston, SC.

Top Dog-Charleston, 2019--a weekend packed with educational presentations, fabulous food, fellowship and fantastic "furries"--took place January 18-20. It was a tremendous success! We hosted over 150 human guests, over 90 guide dogs (plus some future and retired guides) and eleven of the twelve nationally-accredited guide dog schools.

Our Top Dog tributes to God and country have always been very special to me. This year, everyone attending our Opening Ceremonies was given a personal-sized American flag to hold with pride as we recited the Pledge of Allegiance together.

Throughout the weekend, I was blessed to work with lots of wonderful folks, including two of my colleagues in ministry. Presbyterian "Pastor Deb" Trevino (pictured above) flew in from Delaware with her husband Dave and her guide dog, Suzie. United Methodist Pastor Phil Glick (pictured below) and his wife, Connie came from my home state of Illinois, by way of Orlando Florida where they have been volunteering with Wycliffe Associates. Thanks to these two ministers and their spouses, all of our guests were given the opportunity to experience God's loving Light firsthand! Our opening invocation, "The Blessing of the Guides" and our ecumenical Sunday morning church service were truly unforgettable!

The effects of Top Dog-Charleston are still being felt nationwide within the blindness community. As a direct result of this event, at least three residents of our Tricounty area (and many more from across the country) have received life-enriching and empowering services offered exclusively by some of our Top Dog associates from Ohio, Michigan and Florida. At least 3 schools got brand new applicants for guide dogs.  One of our local residents has even attended the new Orientation & Mobility course offered by Pilot Dogs in Ohio and is absolutely elated that he can now independently navigate his subdivision using his long, white cane. On a more personal note, my BFF Audrey's guide dog Jessie was able to see his puppy raisers (foster parents) who traveled all the way from Texas to see him for the first time in over nine years!

As a proud, lifelong cane user who happens to love dogs, I want to take this opportunity to thank the national organization Guide Dog Users, Inc., and especially the state affiliates of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, for making me feel so welcome and appreciated at Top Dog events specifically and among the community of guide dog users in general. Once you've become part of the Top Dog family, you're sure to have lots of friends, "fur-ever!"

Stay tuned for more posts like this one. Until next time, God bless you and keep His Song in your heart!

© 2019 by Laurel Jean Walden

The Gift of Music.

Here I am at the beautiful Steinway in the chapel of The Village At Summerville, my first stop to share the sounds of the 2018 Holiday season. It was several years ago, during an engagement in this same chapel, when I first got to know this instrument.

I had just arrived with my own digital gigging piano and sound system. As I prepared to unload my gear for setup and a sound check, a gracious southern lady introduced herself to me and said, "Oh, I do hope you're going to play my Steinway!" Apparently, she had donated the instrument to the chapel when she first moved to The Village. She was very proud of her piano, and rightly so!

Never missing an opportunity to enjoy a well-maintained Steinway, I sat down at the piano for a few minutes and was absolutely delighted to oblige my new friend. It is always a joy for me to deliver "The Message in Music" on this amazing instrument, and to experience the warm welcome of everyone in attendance of my presentations. My thanks to the residents and staff of The Village At Summerville for their ongoing, heartfelt prayers and support on behalf of my music and ministry!