It's New Years Eve.  Looking back at 2010 I'm grateful for the things that I have begun and made progress in.  It has been a great pleasure to be involved in the songwriting community -- especially with writers at NSAI -- both in Nashville and in the regional at Little Rock.

It has been satisfying to see some growth in my songwriting craft -- starting from quirky singer/songwriter type tunes and beginning to write some decently-crafted country songs that are listenable, that make sense lyrically and as a whole package.

As I look ahead to 2011, I hope to, with God's help, up my craft substantially.  I would also like to increase my output -- something that should come as I increase my skills.

More than anything else, I want the songs that get written to be enjoyable -- over and over again -- to many people.  Meaningful songs are essential.

Best wishes to you in 2011.

I was intrigued a couple of days ago as I read an interview with Ricky Skaggs in The9513 Country Music blog.  Most everyone knows that Ricky has been in the music business since he was a sorta bluegrass prodigy in his teens.  He can play just about anything with strings, not just kinda, but well.

He made this statement:  "I’ve always loved diversity. God is a diverse god. He’s very creative, and I think He created us to be creative. I think He wants us to be creative. That’s the thing I love about music: there’s so much music out there. My iPod is full of all kinds of different music, and my kids have helped me with that a lot because they listen to a lot of different music."

I was immediately reminded of Eric Liddel -- the runner who was the subject of the great film "Chariots of Fire" about thirty years ago.  Eric came from Scots missionary family and eventually, at the end of the Second World War, died in a Japanese prison camp in occupied China.  His sister's opinion was that running was a waste of time.  His memorable reply in the movie was, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."  This comes the closest to what I can describe as my "feeling" as a songwriter.  Songwriting is hard work.  The joy of a song well-written and well-received by others who know that is wonderful.  Eric Liddel considered running as a part of his purpose.  He honored God by doing the things he was blessed with to the fullest and most excellent degree possible for as long as God enabled him.

Ricky Skaggs, 90 years later, is echoing the same sentiment.  What a joy to honor God in the diverse, creative ways he has made us.  I only, ever, want to make this creative "partnership" with God the basis of why I write.

I almost forgot to journal this -- two new demos.  I got the Gator Hole demo of "(When I Make You Happy) I'm Happy With Me" at the end of the week and then got the Beaird Music Group demo of "The Worn Pages".  I'm enjoying them and hope you do, too.

I'm especially thankful to God for the idea on The Worn Pages and to Lucky 13 for helping me hone it.

I began writing a new song a couple of days before Thanksgiving that is expanding my boundaries a little bit.  It was titled "That's Just My Man" until a couple of days ago.  I got my first eval on it from NSAI evaluator Lucky 13 who felt that "just" in the hook/title undercut the theme.  I am changing the title and the hook line tentatively to "Always My Man".

Well, that gives away one of the small challenges to the song.  I decided to write a song about a husband from the wife's point of view.  It is a bluesy 6/8 song that I want to sizzle with sexiness without being unseemly.  One of my goals in writing is to promote "the way God made things" and biblically (backed up by personal experience) married love could/should be the best thing going -- hands down.  This is especially critical in a time when the social trend is to pooh-pooh that.

I was reading about Josh Turner's new single on The9513.com blog a couple of days ago and followed a link to the video.  This, too, does the job -- it shows the sizzling romance of a man and wife in a becoming way.

Lydia released her solo project today!  Congrats Lydia! Lydia graciously contributed an awesome vocal to "Tonight and Forever" on the Tunes tab.

Details about Hallway at her website