News - January 2025 RSS Feed

I grew up in a little Illinois prairie town of 600 people where there were four churches, including Methodist, Nazarene, United Brethren, but not Catholic. In fact, I’d never even heard the word Catholic. I started singing in the 4th grade. I had a talent for singing harmony in duets. The mother of a family I babysat for heard me singing and told my father that I should have voice lessons. I started these formal voice lessons when I was 15. My music teacher recommended a song book, which I bought. At home, I would play the songs on the piano and try to learn them. One song in the book, Ave Maria, said something to me, but I didn’t know where it was leading me!

Today’s my birthday. I’ve been so sad about my birthday because I miss my mom who recently died. I was getting in my car and the first song that came on was “His Daughter” by Molly Kate Kestner.