We saw the sea for the very first time, again.

It was the first time, in so many ways.

Watching my Little One discover the water, the beach, the waves, all for the very first time  - she has seen the water before, but not like this.  She has never really noticed it all like this, that is, until now…

Seeing her take it all in… her eyes wide eyed with wonder as she beheld the wide expanse of blue green glory for the very first time… for me this was like seeing the sea for the very first time, seeing it all afresh.

Ah, what bliss!  Just sitting back and watching the pure joy in a young one’s eyes, so far removed from everything that threatens that joy, caught up in the moment, the child-like-beautiful-glorious-wonder of it all…  oh, what joy!

I don’t need to do anything else.  I don’t need to be anything else.  I find deep joy in just sitting here and observing her.  My heart lifts up when I see her loving life like this.

And I don’t need to be anywhere else.  It doesn’t matter who is watching me.

All I want to do is dance and sing and whirl and twirl with her as she takes tentative steps towards the water’s edge… flirting with the sea… coming ever so close and then stepping back again and giggling and giggling and giggling with glee…  I laugh with her, scoop her up in my arms and hold her close…

We dance and sing and whirl and twirl together at the water’s edge… laughing with joy together…  amazed at the awesome handiwork of the Creator.

This moment is forever etched in my heart.

Watching my daughter fall in love with the sea for the very first time…

I have experienced so many miracles to date…  so many answers to prayer… some answers came later than I would have wanted (at the time) but then looking back now, I see how the timing was just perfect, as it always is…

latest miracle?  Having my singing voice in time for my April 17th show at the White Horse in Black Mountain, NC.

I love singing in Black Mountain…  the audience is always amazing and enthusiastic, Kim and Bob at White Horse are always a joy to work with, and of course, the scenery there is just breathtaking: singing amidst the gorgeous mountains, well, what more could I ask for?

The guys from Free Planet were in top form, as usual…  and me, well, I had been battling a cold all week long prior to the show… so many friends and family members praying for me…  and I am humbled by it all.  Just the love that is poured out by folks from all over, offering an encouraging word here and there…  thank you, everyone.  With two babes, finding time to rest is not as easy as it once was, but I wouldn’t trade this for anything… so I had lots of lemon and honey tea, played and danced and laughed with my little ones, and prayed…

The atmosphere on Saturday was electric!  We sang, danced, laughed, and cried together with our beautiful audience.  The evening in my heart was dedicated to the millions of Armenians who endured the Genocide of 1915  - innocent men, women and children who were brutally beaten, tortured, murdered…

yes, every concert I do is connected to the Genocide, dedicated to my Grandmother Mariam, Genocide survivor…  but this evening was different… this year is different.  This year marks the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.  95 years ago.

It is a miracle people survived the Genocide.  It is a miracle my Grandmother  continued to sing and live with such hope and joy despite all the horrors she witnessed as a child on the death march during the Genocide.

These are all miracles.

And my voice was back this evening so that I could honour my people through story and song.

Another miracle.

Thank you, God, for miracles.

A big thank you to all the folks at “Your Day” for today’s show. It was a joy to speak to Roy Scott!

Listen here: http://yourday.clemson.edu

Teach me how I can be like you.

How can I endure trials with the same grace that you did?

Teach me.  While you are not here and I have never even met you, my connection to you is so strong.  You sang these same Armenian folk songs that I sing now.  You sang them with such joy, they tell me.  You loved to dance, they tell me.  Ah, how I wish I could dance with you now…  I wish you could see my daughters, meet them, laugh with them, sing with them, dance with them too…

There are so few people like you.  People go through little trials and they become bitter or resentful, they turn inward.  They focus on themselves.  They draw attention to themselves.  They bicker and complain.  Oh, but I don’t want to be like that.  I want to be like you.

You suffered greatly but you didn’t lose hope.  You endured such horrors but you continued to reach out to others, help them, encourage them.  You believed. You sang.

You inspire me so.

Teach me how to be like you.

we are singing together.

my child, my first born, my little one who is growing so fast I can hardly keep up with her ever expanding vocabulary, my little bundle of energy and enthusiasm is now asking for the Armenian folk songs that I sing by name.  She knows to ask for Arev, Arev or Gakavig, or Aghchig Aghchig (Hayastani Aghchigner…).  Ah, I am amazed at this.  I have been singing to both children since they were born… we sing all the time, and now, I am utterly delighted to see this child asking for songs by name.

Oh, what joy!  My desire always has been to help keep the tradition of passing down these Armenian folk songs alive, to see the songs become a part of the heart and soul of the next generation … and to see this happening before my very eyes is pure bliss.  We dance together, sing together, hold hands and celebrate the beauty of these songs.

I love this.