07.02.09
Posted in Janet's Posts at 5:41 am by Janet
Hey Everybody,
It’s July 2nd - and everyone seems to be stocking up on charcoal, hot dogs and sparklers. It’s time to celebrate our Red, White, and Blue; time to whisper a word of gratitude for freedom past, a prayer for freedom future.
I’ve been blessed to have celebrated the 4th already this year, and we’re still 2 days out. I joined First Baptist Dallas for USA Today - a huge event complete with incredible choir, orchestra, pomp, circumstance, and flags - always the flags. Tomorrow I’ll join Ivan Parker for our second Independence Day celebration in beautiful Staunton, Virginia at Gypsy Hill Park. How blessed can one person be?
Doran Bugg, Minister of Music FIRST BAPTIST DALLAS
I hope that each of you will enjoy this incredible weekend. I hope that you will be with those you love. I hope that your backyard chef is up to the task, and I hope your fireworks are loud and colorful. I hope that you break into song, “God Bless America” at the least likely moment, and I hope that God is listening - and does.
We love you…..
Janet
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06.18.09
Posted in Janet's Posts at 7:08 am by Janet
It’s Tuesday night and I’ve just come from my monthly dinner with Kay and our cousins. We spent three and a half hours in a Mexican restaurant that was finished with us before we were finished with them. I don’t know that the walls in that establishment have ever had laughter as hearty or consistent.
There are rumblings of a Carolina thunderstorm, and there are rumblings of other, more protracted storms, as well. Two friends from my hometown have learned that their breast cancer has returned with a vengeance. One friend, about my age, is terminal. While I have been planting spring flowers and hosing down lawn furniture, she has been making other, more permanent decisions about flowers and furniture.
Some would say she is fortunate, and, in a way, I guess that is true. She will be able to communicate sentiments and regulate the transfer of her possessions. Knowing her, she will leave no stone unturned. What she will not do is take care of her parents, have grandchildren, or grow old.
Someone recently sent an email blast with a quote from Erma Bombeck shortly after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Here is a portion of what she said:
“IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER….
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it…live it and never give it back.”
So, forgive me if I am a little pensive tonight. I am reconciling the loss of another little fraction of the world as I know it. It weighs on me, as it does everyone who knows her. But we will get through it. It is likely that we will share many more monthly dinners. It is probable that we will experience the rage of countless more summer thunderstorms. It is certain that we will see her again.
Blessings,
Janet
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04.07.09
Posted in Janet's Posts at 9:35 am by Janet
Hey Everybody,
It’s the Tuesday before Easter. Somehow I am thinking that I should go to the mall and buy a new dress and shoes (you saw that coming, didn’t you?) As a child, my mom always bought my sister and me new outfits complete with pastel, frilly dress, white patent shoes, white frilly socks and hat with rubber band string. We usually gathered in the front yard for a picture, although if my mom was taking it she usually captured more sky than face.
I always wondered why we dressed up in new clothes? That was a very special event for us. The beginning of the school year was really the only other time that we intentionally bought new clothes.
Was it because we were remembering His sacrifice? Was it because we were celebrating His life? Was it because Easter still represented the crux of what we believe and the star onto which we have hooked our lives?
To be honest, I guess it was all of those things. We were remembering - His submissive response in the Garden of Gethsemane. We were celebrating - because He really did what He said He would do: come back bearing the keys to death. We were throwing a party - because anytime someone displaces a stone and emerges in grave clothes, there MUST be a party. I’m just glad I had the shoes for it.
We’ve just finished two days, three shows in Ft. Worth, Texas. Ironically, I’m going back to Irving for an Easter sunrise service. It will be my first in a lot of years and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m leaving my white shoes and hat at home.
We love you all. Happy Easter!!!
Love,
Janet
PS… All 12 soundtracks from the new project, TREASURE, are finally here. You may order from the Online Store at www.janetpaschal.com Sorry for the delay!
PPS… Thanks for the photo, Sherrie Mac!!
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03.24.09
Posted in Janet's Posts at 8:32 pm by Janet
Hey Everybody,
Guess what came in the mail today? The first soundtracks from the new project, TREASURE. We are releasing all 12 songs on CD, and we are putting 4 songs on each CD (there are no demo vocals so you’ll have to buy the TREASURE CD:)
Today we received 2 of the 3 CDs. They should be added to the online store this week! Thanks for your patience…
Janet
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03.17.09
Posted in Janet's Posts at 11:21 am by Janet
Hey Everybody,
Thanks for asking about the soundtracks from the new project. They are due at the end of this week, but I will update this blog when they are literally in hand. Thanks for your patience!
Love,
Janet
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02.11.09
Posted in Janet's Posts at 5:11 pm by Janet
Hey Everybody,
It’s February - and my head is still reeling from how quickly we’ve come through Thanksgiving, Christmas and January. Whew! I wish someone could slow it down….
Last weekend was the first series of concerts with the new Gaither Vocal Band. We were in Huntsville, Dothan, and Charleston. I knew the concerts would be good, but I did not know they would be THAT good!!! They were amazing - and that’s no exaggeration. Here are some pictures, as they are still worth a thousand words…
We’re heading to Florida for 3 days this week. Hope to see some of you there.
Happy February!!
Janet
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01.26.09
Posted in Janet's Posts at 10:07 am by Janet
Hey Everybody,
It’s Monday, January 26th and I’m still waiting for a big snowstorm. We had a teaser, but nothing that we could scoop into a pan and turn into snowcream. Oh well, we’ve still a couple of months to hope…
We resume the tour this week in Alabama and South Carolina, but for most of February we will be in Florida. How smart is that? Ponce de Leon didn’t find the fountain of youth, but he didn’t totally strike out, either. We’ll be hearing the new Vocal Band and I know it’s going to be incredible.
Some of you wrote and asked if I would be at Family Fest in May and, yes, I’ll be there. Thanks for asking.
We love you. Hope to see you sometime soon.
Janet
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01.05.09
Posted in Janet's Posts at 10:52 pm by Janet
Hey Everybody,
It’s January 2009 and I still can’t believe it. It seems that only a few months ago we were all wondering if we should buy generators for the millennium switch. My parents were right - the older you get the faster the time seems to go…
We’ve just returned from a couple of great concerts. We were in Camp Hill, PA for New Year’s Eve and Wintrhop Harbor, IL this past Sunday. Both were great events with warm, sweet people. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… the best thing about what I do is being able to meet the incredible people I come in contact with. I feel so blessed.
We’ve some time off before the tour resumes this month. I’m looking forward to some of the things I love: shopping, cooking, and spending days with the people I love. Even the holidays aren’t better than that.
I pray for you all a prosperous, joyful New Year, and I pray that you will be able to squeeze every ounce of good out of every minute of every day. Remember, you only get one chance to live each day. Make it count!
We love you!
Janet
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12.03.08
Posted in Janet's Posts at 9:20 pm by Janet
Hey Everybody,
It’s early December - that wonderful stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas when Santa is coming out of the closet - er, attic - and shopping centers are rife with bargains and kiosks and free gift wrapping. I love it. Everything about it. It could last a year, and I’d still love it.
We’re starting the Christmas tour in Toledo tomorrow. There are so many artists on the program that there’s no way the audiences will be bored. This will diverse, fun, warm, and I still can’t believe I get paid to participate. I’m glad, though, because I haven’t yet started Christmas shopping.
The West Coast Tour was just wonderful. The new book and CD were available for the first time and I signed a lot of them. Here’s a picture from the last night in Glendale, AZ:
We hope to see you. We love you!!
Janet
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11.12.08
Posted in Janet's Posts at 8:35 am by Janet
Hey Everybody,
It’s Wednesday - the day before we head west for two weeks. Before I start packing I wanted to share some good news with you.
I went to Duke Medical Center yesterday for my six month checkup. As usual, I stood in line for a while waiting to check in at the cancer clinic (John and I have spent a considerable amount of our lives in that line:) A 7-year-old boy and his mom were in front of me, and I asked if he was glad to be out of school? His mom commented that it wasn’t the best place to spend a day off. I knew exactly what she meant.
Being in that room conjures up so many memories - like the first time John and I went to Duke. It was so odd - looking for and following the route to oncology. I’d never even SEEN an oncology area before we showed up for my first appointment. It felt as though I was dreaming the entire initial visit. I recall only a few of the details of that day.
I watched the ladies and gentlemen who lined up for check-in, and I remembered what a long road it was on the other side of that reception desk. The healing process is one that you are grateful for, to be sure, but it is also one that you are happy to abandon forever!
That said, after the checkup, test, counts, the doctor said that everything looked great. Despite all the times in my life when someone speaks that adverb to me, it never rings as sweet as when they say it in oncology. The level of relief almost makes the anxiety worth it. Almost.
By the way, here’s a picture of my buddies, Sheri and Charlotte, from NQC. Aren’t they just beautiful??
We love you -
Janet
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