I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I’m a nerd in that I love words, grammar and sentence construction. It’s why I majored in English.

However, I didn’t consider myself a good creative writer; so for years, I wouldn’t let anyone see anything I wrote.

I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. I find value in every genre of music, and enjoy singing most of them. My mother taught me early to soothe myself by singing.

While I sang in choirs most of my life, I didn’t consider myself much of a soloist. Singing was mostly a personal comfort.

Yet, over the years, I became somewhat comfortable sharing my heart through writing and singing.

Still…something was lacking.

Over the past seven months, my two loves have merged into one: songwriting. For sure, I am in the early stages of learning, but it’s magical to see my words co-exist with my co-writer’s words and melodies.

Even more extraordinary is that I have the opportunity to sing these songs.

Yesterday, I wrote about first times, and shared that I’ll be experiencing another first today: I have the pleasure of singing two of our songs at a songwriter’s round in Nashville.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say that songwriter rounds occur frequently in Nashville. In the grand scheme of the musical world, this is not even a grain of sand.

But…

In my world, this first experience is a small diamond. You see, before seven months ago, songwriting was merely a lifelong dream I’d given up.

I was content to write here on my blog. And I was content to sing other people’s songs when given the opportunity.

To sing today for the first time as a songwriter is thrilling, somewhat intimidating, and very humbling.

Today represents a broken dream that God redeemed and restored. I am beyond humbled that He is turning my mess into musical messages of life and love.