Peace, Hugs & Blessings from Connie & the Gang @ Little Sea of Emotions & MacLeod Music!
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GOD IS GREAT & THE BIBLE IS TRUE!!
However you came to find this website, I pray that you find more than just enjoyable music. My fondest wish is that each of you experience a sense of peace and grace, but most importantly a close encounter with God! Whatever your walk of life, know this...Jesus loves you more than you can imagine...and He waits patiently with open arms for you. Whatever the hurt, no matter the wound, run to the ultimate physician...spend time with Him and He will reveal a life you never could have dreamed possible!
My own journey through devestating losses personally, physically and professionally, often made me wonder if my life was mirroring the life of Job. Yet the sorrow I suffered was a pale mist compared to the joy God had in store for me.
As I seek Him, I am constantly reminded that through Jesus, God does have plans to prosper us, He offers hope for a future with Him. Those promises are not something tossed glibly or without much thought to the cost they would require. Though we are sinners, hard as that is to admit, Jesus gave everything for us. He died the death you and I deserved so that if we trust in Him, we would have eternal life...a really wonderfully amazing life at that!
My work is ministry, every day, every hour, learning from wonderful teachers, Charles Spurgeon, Mark Driscoll, Chuck Swindoll, John MacArthur and my husband, Roddy! God has been gracious to send a man who is not afraid to call upon the name of Christ...to call Him Lord and Savior. It's a brand new journey and we are excited about where the path is leading!
Professionally, while I've been recouperating in the music arena, the gift of photography has been blossoming. How lovely to learn my work has been accepted at Mt. Dora Center for the Arts for their Viewpoints show. The opening is on Friday, September 14th at 6 PM. downtown Mt. Dora. Hope to see you out there for it!
The music is also coming along, slowly yet all in His time!...I'm back in the studio with my good friend John Blanche at his new studio facility...way cool spot and great place to record! We've got about 7 songs that are in progress and maybe a new album in sight...can't really give a date on that, still depends on the vocals or finding someone to sing them for me. The songs are good, but I'd like to make sure you enjoy them, not suffer through them! :>}
The pinky has been unpinned, but unfortunately the joint is fused making guitar playing a bit of a challenge...guess that's something I'll have to work around.
Completed the motion picture script "Son of the Sword" and we got it to quite a few folks in Hollywood...with a few nice nods, but as of yet, have not connected with the right producer. It's sort of like "Braveheart" meets "Timeline." It would be a hoot to get it to the big screen, but at the moment we've got a few other priorities.
Plus the Children's Miracle Network just released "Music for Miracles!" This cd is a fund raiser for kids with life threatening diseases...they were kind enough to include a song penned by me and Tony Ward called "Not All Angels Come From Heaven." Check it out if you get a chance.
Now onto some music and wonderful trips around the globe...below you'll get a glimpse at Bavaria and Prague and on the photo pages, travel to one of my favorite places on Earth...Scotland!! Music has taken me so many wonderful places where I've met beautiful friends. I cherish you all and look forward to our next visit!
Till then, may God's PEACE, LOVE & JOY be with YOU ALL!!
CONNIE MacLEOD
FOR ENCOURAGEMENT:
Should you find yourself feeling down, or weary from the fiery little arrows life shoots out, the ones that keep us so distracted, all our time is spent dodging them, Remember that God is BIG...bigger than you and me...He can handle what we cannot. Rather than give into fear or desperation, I get quiet, pray and listen for the sweet whisper of His voice, to hear the soft shuffle of sandaled feet and gather the peace that is divinely given when I take time to just be still and know that God is God and He is in control.
MY STORY UP TIL NOW...
From the time I was a little girl, all I can remember is being immersed in music. I always thought it was my job to change the world with a song, but I was terribly shy...however, music has deposited me in front of many genres of audiences, coffeehouses to arenas, all with the sole purpose of sharing this gift of music from above.
In 2002 all that changed...my singing voice was devistated during a surgery not even vocally related. With no explanation, try as I might, I couldn't recreate the sounds that once came so effortlessly from my soul. I imagine I know how Julie Andrews feels. Once able to soar with a voice that was filled with joy, we wait in hopes to sing again. But for now we are silent. In God's plan it all makes sense, because simply put, I believe that's what we were put on Earth to do.
Where I am going, I am not afraid. In this void of sweet vocal sounds I have found a greater relationship with Christ. He carries me through when I can go no further. You've heard this before and maybe it takes a spirit of desperation to realize when you have nothing left, you still have God...and that's more than any Earthly possession, tangible or ineffable. If you would have a life of abundance in love and what really matters, simply pray for Christ to enter into your life...ask Him to forgive your sins, for we all fall short of the men and women God created us to be...don't let anything or anyone keep you from the love of Christ...He stands at the door and knocks... Will You let Him in???
After you've made the most important decision of your life, ask other Christians to pray for you...as I will pray for you too. Welcome brothers & sisters in Christ!
"I WISH YOU WELL" or "TOO HOT TO HANDLE" are available at www.CDbaby.com/cd/blackwood Only $12.50 and you can Write and Post a Review!!~~~~~~
"ROUGH CUTS FROM THE CASTLE" is back in production. Still working out a few details, but it's got some good stuff on there, all about chivalry & fantastic journeys! A nice addition to any collection!
My voice is returning in many ways, not only am I singing ever so infrequently, but I am also writing and photographing for various publications! Here's a quick peek at one of my interviews.
About a year ago the story of a local woman donating quilts to the Hill Tribes People of Thailand caught my attention. Last December she was invited back to deliver more humanitarian aide. This trip took her much deeper into the country, to realms most outsiders never see. Escorted by military boats and riding elephants into the jungles they delivered quilts, food and medical supplies. I was intrigued by her compassion for a group of people so far away and wrote about it. The article called "Wings of Peace" was printed in Woman this Month in the country of Bahrain as well as locally in Lifestyle Publications.
Thanks to the gift of music, I was given the opportunity to travel around the world and take some really awesome photographs! Scotland, Germany, Florida, the Grand Canyon, and Pacific Northwest are a few of my subjects...of course there are some animals in there too!! The good folks at the Orlando Museum of Art (Orlando, FL) and Timothy's Gallery (Winter Park, FL) have accepted my line of greeting cards called "Well Traveled Souls" 5x7 and 8x10 prints for sale. Soooo, if you're out and about, drop by the gift shop and check out some of my work.
A few cudos include a very nice showing at the Winter Springs Art and Garden show, a feature at the Oval Gallery during the Fringe Festival and an award of Merit for "Cuil Na Sithe" at the Flagler County Art Festival. And my "Highland's Trail" photo will soon be published in a book entitled "Endless Journeys." Soooo, good does come out of what seems like a bad situation.
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One more thing...please feel free to join us at Epiphany Lutheran Church. (1498 Tuscawilla Rd., Oviedo) (407) 678-6672 There are two services to choose from: Contemporary at 9AM or Traditional at 11 AM.
July/August 2002
Guten Tahk from Bavaria! Well, actually I'm back in Florida, but I have so much to tell you about Germany. Started out my tour in Spiegelau at Land Hotel ~ Tannenhof. It's a wonderful resort in the heart of the Bavarian Forest with trails to hike, mountains like "Luzen" to climb, great scenery and a staff that made me feel so warmly welcomed. Elke at reception reminds me of my sister, Brenda and gave me a few pointers on my German, Michael & Renata were awesome hosts in Spiegelau and in Prague...even the border patrol were nice considering we all had passports from different countries while the car was registered in Germany! Gunther and the kitchen gang created the most splendid meals....my daily lesson was translating the menu to see what I'd have for dinner. Angie, Sabina, Simone, Bianca and Mandy in the restaurant kept us all in Pepsi mit eise (with ice) or eine tasse tee (a cup o Tea)! And Rosie brightens everyone's morning with her cheery Guten Morgens! So now you've met some of the staff, let me take you to the dining room.
The food was outrageously wonderful! I'm gonna have to get some recipes,,,especially the Kaiser Schmarren! Thanks to the Klines for introducing me to that and about 5 extra pounds! Although there was a language barrier, music as they say is the universal language, and so it was! There in the restaurant, "Country Roads" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane" were standards...I even took the liberty of a yodel on "Cowboy's Sweetheart." That seemed to be a big hit as well as the theme from "Titanic".
Along with my singing schedule, my hosts Hans & Krista were kind enough to show me the sights of Bavaria...I learned about King Ludwig by visiting Schloss Neuschwanstein (the castle Walt patterned Cinderella's after) and Heron Chiemsee (a replica of the palace in Versais, France). He filled them with opulent artwork, gilded in gold and porcelain and filled their halls with music. He conducted business from his state bedroom. Sort of a forerunner to working with your computer from home! They called Ludwig crazy because he spent every last dime, or should I say Deutsch mark, to build these incredible monuments. Crazy or not, he left an incredible legacy for the Bavarian people and a heck of a tourist attraction! There's even a musical about his life and mysterious death...a great performance if you have the chance to see it!
My trip to Prague included a serenade from the traditional Czechian singers and time to meet Renata's Mom and wish her a happy birthday! Downtown is an incredible array of awesome architecture and history...there's the St. Charles bridge with all it's statues and artists selling their works, many churches, the clock tower and the biggest cathedral I've ever seen in my life. It's along side the palace and took 500 years to complete. The folks here don't mess around when they build a place to worship. The size alone completely dwarfs anyone who enters...then there's the statues of saints and paintings of what Heaven might be like. Quite impressive considering all of this was completed before any modern machinery.
I also saw a man working in the streets...his pants were so torn you could see his bare legs. If I spoke the language I would have stopped our bus to get him a new pair of pants. But sadly I remained just another tourist and amid all the lavish splendor I'm sure he's still working just as hard in that same pair of pants.
Out my window that night, the mist got very thick around the trees. I can see why tales like Dracula and the Wolf Man arose. A noise through the night time mist can become anything...hey wait a minute this is not my October letter!
There was also Panduran Fest...a celebration of how the calvary came in and saved the locals from the invading band of bad guys a couple hundred years ago...the folks dress in traditional clothing and put on a play in the streets depicting how it all happened way back then. And I even got to meet the real live "Berger Meister!" How cool is that??
My last big adventure was to Passau. The town where three rivers meet...the Ilk, the Ins and of course the Danube! The dome cathedral houses the world's largest organ where they give a concert daily around noon. There's more great buildings and the world's largest glass museum where our own Neil Armstrong cut the ribbon on opening day! Mr. & Mrs. Kline were kind enough to drive me out there and show me around...we ended the adventure with a view from above the city with hot air balloons taking off to view the sunset.
I have tons of pictures and hopefully will post some before long...if ya want to see them before hand, drop me an e-mail and we'll do lunch! Thanks for reading of my travels. Even though I've only touched on the surface of this great adventure, I've managed to make this an epic.
So, I will leave you with a few thoughts...travel and meet people whenever, wherever and as often as you can. It broadens our grasp of each other...don't be afraid of the adventure and savor every moment that we are given. Bless those who mourn today the passing of their loved ones last 9/11. Give them comfort and may we always remain a nation that prays together for peace, stands strong and takes care of our own. I wish you hope, joy and beautiful music to stir your soul!
Connie
