The Break

I'm hesitant to even start blogging about what has happened to me over the last couple of days because I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but I've been advised that I will want to look back and see where I came from and see my beginnings, so here it goes...

Every little girl has a dream. Some dream of being a mother and a wife. Some dream of being ballerina or a princess. I've always dreamed of being on stage. While others are terrified at being up in front of people, that is where I am most comfortable. I'm in my element and feel quite at home when I'm on the stage singing. I've always wanted to be in the music industry, but as a girl who grew up with little resources to do so, I've never known how to get started. You hear of people picking up their life and moving to Los Angeles hoping to get their big break. You hear of parents selling all they have to help their child become the next big star. I didn't have either. I'm a home grown singer who loves to do just that, sing. I grew up on stage at church and singing in various groups in high school and college, yet I've always wanted something more. However, I never knew how to get started, until this weekend happened, but let me start at the beginning.

In November of 2009, Ryan and I went on a cruise with his department at work. The department had hired an outside guy to come in and be the MC/Comedian for our events on the cruise. During the course of the week, I got to know this guy and we had several talks about music and what he's done in the industry. I was fascinated because I've never been around someone who knew the in's and out's of the music industry. After hearing me sing several nights at the karaoke bar, he knew that I could sing, and asked me what I was doing with my music. I told him nothing really because I've never known how to get started. He gave me some tips, which I took, and at the end of the cruise, we became Facebook friends and went our separate ways.

This weekend, while Ryan and I were in Branson at a conference, this gentleman was there again, and we reconnected over a soy chai latte and a perrier. :) He again asked me what I was doing with my music, and again, I told him nothing because I wasn't sure how to get started. It's all so overwhelming when you don't have connections and know people. I had so many questions like, "What songs do I put on my demo reel?", "Who do I send the reel to?", "Am I past my prime?", etc. Honestly, I had a dream for myself, but I didn't know what to do with it.

At the end of the conference, he comes up to me and drops the bomb. He tells me that he's connected with a guy at the conference who works with acts in Branson and owns a studio. He says that he is going to sit down with me and put my demo reel together, and the cost is all on him. He sees it as an investment and is going to help me with my career. We go on talking about what he sees me doing and what my target demographic will be. He tells me it's going to be hard work, but has complete faith in me. I tell him that I'm not necessarily looking to be the next Amy Grant, but I want to have a career, and if I can get paid to do what I love, singing, then I'll do what it takes.

So, I'm excited. This guy is completely legit, and has incredible credentials. He's written and helped launch the careers of some big names. He knows the business and has incredible connections. He's not just some guy off the street who says he's in the business, but really just wants to take advantage of me. He's investing his own money in me, which says a lot. I may not be the next Amy Grant, Twila Paris, Whitney Houston, etc, but I want to see how far this can take me. If it just takes me to a demo reel, there will be a little disappointment because I've wanted this for awhile, but if it takes me the Dove Awards, BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!

Stay Tuned......

Article for the MOPS Newsletter

I was asked to write an article for the MOPS newsletter that is distributed at the MOPS group that I attend bi-monthly. At first, I didn't know what I would write about, and then I got some inspiration based on what I've been dealing with lately. Here's the finished product:

One of the most difficult decisions for moms is if they should return to work after having a baby. I grappled with that same question when I had my daughter three and a half years ago. I had always told myself that I would be a working mom. I’m not the stay-at-home type that likes to spend hours on end wiping snotty noses, changing poopy diapers, or sit on the floor playing with Winnie-the-Pooh figures. I’m a go-getter, and like to be involved in something that challenges me. Now, don’t get me wrong, motherhood is an extreme challenge, but it’s not the challenge I am constantly seeking. Yet, here I was sitting at home, doing the exact thing I had told myself for years that I wouldn’t do. Why was I doing it? Honestly, I was doing it a little out of necessity and a little out of guilt. I knew that my new baby needed me, her mommy. I also knew that if I went back to work, I would sit in my office feeling guilty that someone else was “raising” my child. I had been listening to too much Dr. Laura, and had heard her say so many times that women need to be their child’s mom, and that’s it. Yet, I was dissatisfied. Of course it was satisfying to see my daughter take her first steps and hear her first words, but the monotony of the day-to-day drove me nuts. How could I do this for 5, 10, maybe 12 years, depending on how many children my husband and I had? That’s when I decided that I needed to switch it up. When my husband and I moved here almost a year ago, I decided it was time to go back to work, at least part time. I knew my daughter, who is now three and a half, would be fine in preschool. It got her interacting with people other than me for eight hours a day, seven days a week. She needed it, and I needed. I wasn’t going to let Dr. Laura or other moms dictate how I was going to feel about this decision. Now that my daughter is three, we are trying to decide when to have another child, and I find myself in a similar situation. If I have another child, I will have to stop working, and for a little while, give up my desire to have a career. It’s a terribly hard decision, and frankly, I don’t know if I’m willing to go back to that yet, but I do know this, no matter what we decide, working or not working, my child will grow up to be wonderful human being who contributes greatly to society. He or she is not going to grow up scarred because his/her mom didn’t stay home with them as a child. Many of us grew up with working moms, and we turned out fine. So here’s to you working mom, stop feeling guilty!!!

The Tip Conundrum

I'm merely minutes away from getting my hair done, and trust me, it desperately needs it.  It's been almost four months since I've had it cut and colored, and right about now, I'm feeling like an overgrown dog.  Sitting here thinking about the gloriousness of sitting in that chair completely relaxed has got me thinking about what I'm going to tip my hair stylist.  That got me thinking about this whole tipping thing.  It's not the first time I've thought about it, but it's the first time I've blogged about it.  

I hate tipping.  It's not so much the fact of giving someone something extra that I think they deserve.  It's the obligation to tip.  Let me say this, I don't mind tipping servers at a restaurant because I go to a restaurant and pay for the food.  I don't necessarily pay for the service.  Therefore, I think a tip is warranted.  If the server did I good job, I have no problem giving them a tip.  I was a server once, and I made $2.13 an hour.  I relied on tips to pay the bills.  I don't think though, that the patron should be responsible for almost completely compensating the server's pay.  That should be the job of the establishment. 

Then there's the obligatory tip for people like a masseuse, a door man, a bell hop, a nail artist, and said hair stylist.  My feelings are that I'm already paying for the service.  I'm paying to have a massage.  I'm paying to stay at that hotel.  I'm paying to get my nails done. I'm paying to have my hair cut.  Why should I tip when I'm already paying for the service.  Don't get me wrong, I tip these people, and I feel like I tip them fairly.  However, I feel that I'm obligated to tip even though I'm already shelling out sometimes hundreds of dollars to have this service provided to me.  I don't understand how our society has gotten out of control about who we should tip.  There's even a tip jar on the counter of our favorite coffee shops.  

I'll keep tipping, even if it is a little begrudgingly.  Maybe I should change my outlook on it and be a cheerful giver.  Isn't that what God has asked us to do? It says in His word that "God loves a cheerful giver".  I guess then I should look at my heart and change my attitude on it.  

"Lord, help me to be a cheerful giver today when I tag on that extra dollar amount to my hair cut."  Amen. 

:)

Haven't Blogged in Awhile

I decided to visit my blog today and noticed that I haven't blogged since April.  What is wrong with me?  I guess I haven't had much to blog about, but I'm going to try and be more diligent about it.  

Let me start by saying that the holidays are here, and I'm eagerly anticipating them.  We are staying in Springfield for Thanksgiving, but heading to Seattle for Christmas.  What is it about the holidays that puts a smile on most people's faces.  For me, it's this:

-Eating until you have to unbutton your pants

-Having leftover turkey for weeks after the big event

-Listening to Bing Crosby sing "White Christmas"

-Watching "White Christmas"

-Watching "A Christmas Story" over and over again on TNT

-Watching "Christmas Vacation"  (am I seeing a trend here)

-Putting up the Christmas decorations

-Scoping out the shopping deals 

-Getting up at 5 am on Black Friday and braving the crowds

-Putting up the Christmas tree and having Alyza help

-Traveling to Seattle to spend time with family

-Being with family on Thanksgiving

-People being in great moods because of the holidays

-Seeing Alyza's face when she opens her gifts

-Drinking Tea Tang

-Smelling cookies baking in the oven

-Eating cookies right from the oven

-Pumpkin Spice Lattes

-Having to bundle up to go outside

-The many Christmas parties and programs 

-Celebrating the birth of my Savior, Jesus

I could keep going and going.  What do you like about the holidays?

Another Name Change

As I've been reading some of my standard blogs today, I have found that, yet again, I need to change the name of my blog.  At first, it was alysononehotmamma.blogspot.com.  I chose that name because that's where I was in life.  I had just had a baby and I was defining myself.  It was a hard time in my life because we had just moved from Florida where my husband was in youth ministry and I was a middle school teacher.  I loved my students and the friends we had there, and we moved to a place where I was no longer doing what I loved.  Don't get me wrong; I loved youth ministry at the time, but it wasn't my job.  It was Ryan's.  I was just a mom.  I know that some would say "You aren't JUST a mom!", but at the time, that's what I felt like.   

Then I changed my url to notyourtypicalpastorswife.blogspot.com.  As a pastor's wife, I felt that I was called to be exactly that- "not your typical pastors wife".  I know that may sound stupid, but I wanted to break the mold.  I wanted people to know me by who I was, Alyson, not by what "title", if you will, that I held.  I wanted to be different, not for the sake of being different, but to make a change in people's lives.  I wanted them to see Alyson before they saw that I was a pastor's wife. 

Well, now my husband and I aren't in church ministry so I'm no longer a pastor's wife.  Therefore, the change to my url became necessary.  I'm in a place right now that I have had to redefine who I am, in a way.  We aren't pastors anymore.  We get to enjoy church as congregants.  We don't have to be at every function.   We have our weekends and nights free to do what we want.  It's a different feeling, and it's refreshing.  Our ministry is something totally different now, and it's very exciting.  Yet, during this transition,  I've found myself struggling a little with what my role is right now.  I'm no longer a worship leader or pastor's wife.  I'm a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and co-worker.   It's a very strange place to be in, but I'm finding that I'm relying on God to truly tell me who I am in Him.   I'm Alyson-His daughter that He created for His glory.  Thus, the new url name change.  Yes, it's simple and doesn't have a lot of spunk to it, but it's who I am.  I am Alyson Moore, and very happy to be that. 

It's Different

I haven't blogged in awhile due to our recent relocation.  I've also felt so out of the blogging loop since we got our new Mac.  All of my favorite blogs were bookmarked on our old computer, so I've been a little lost.  I'm back now, however, and ready to blog.  Let me start by saying, for those of you who are wondering, our move went well.  We are at Ryan's parents waiting to close on our house.  It's a foreclosure home, so the word is that it will take a little longer.  That's fine with us, I guess, but I am a little anxious to get in there and start my life.  Right now, I feel a little disjointed.  Ryan started his job last week, and I've been doing whatever I can to fill my time. In Portland, I had many activities to fill my week-playgroups, Bible studies, coffee dates with friends.  Here, I have nothing.  Ryan keeps telling me to give it time.  We've only been here a week and a half, so I guess I should listen to that advice.  He can be right sometimes. :)  It's just been hard for me to go from a packed schedule to a schedule that is one big hole.  I've been continually looking for jobs.  I have my resume at at least ten different places, so if you remember, please pray that the perfect job will come with the hours that I need.  I'm desperate to be around other people.  I've also been researching preschools.  I think I've found the perfect one for Alyza, but I have to get her back on the potty regularly and I need a job in order to pay for it.  Just writing this makes me think, "man, life sure has changed".  

I'm lonely at times, but I know that this is a season.  There are so many exciting things going on that I need to focus on.  I'm excited about finding a new church and getting to be congregant again.  I've forgotten what that feels like.  I'm excited to get involved in a new worship ministry. Frankly,  I overly excited to get involved in a new worship ministry.  That is my passion and calling and something that I cannot abandon.  

I'm excited about the new opportunities that Ryan is going to have at this new job.  There are so many connections, and we've already been in contact with people we haven't seen for years.  God has some great things planned.  Now, it's just a waiting game.  

I'm excited about the new house.  It's 4 beds, 2 baths, and 1800 sq. feet.  It has a great backyard for a swing set and entertaining.  I can't wait to have friends over for games and barbeques.  

In the meantime, I need to realize that this season of being disjointed is exactly that-a season!  This too shall pass but for now, I'm going to be researching all of the wonderful things Spgfld has to offer us.  

We Are Moving! (Didn't I just post something like this?)

Yes, the title you read is correct...We are moving...Yet again.  Ryan has accepted a position in Springfield, Missouri as the Young Adult Ministries Coordinator for the Assemblies of God.  It's an incredible position on the national level, and we are stoked for it.  Our last Sunday will be March 8th, and then we are off.  It's crazy how it's all come up so quickly, but we know that God is guiding us and has given us this great opportunity.  It will be different not being in "church" ministry, yet we will be ministering on a national level to people all over the US, which is incredible.  Please keep us in your prayers as we make this move and start this new area of ministry.