Behind the Scenes

Well, this week I'm a little late getting out the devotional email.  Whoops!  I'm just back from a week in Texas spending time with my dad and speaking at a lovely women's ministry event.  Time for laundry, running errands, office work, and working on a new project that included a quick hike to a mountain top at sunset to shoot some press photos.  After the shoot, I ate some pasta with a friend next door, edited photos... and it's finally time to write to you!  :-)

Instead of a picture today, I'd like to send you another piece of art that has a fun story behind it.. hope it will be a blessing!  I filmed this music video on the Irish coast over the summer, and several of the locations are pretty special to me and those who love Celtic history.  As always, I don't create art with a big budget or huge crew.  Instead, I love adventures and the journey that comes with them, and this video is no exception!  You could even say it "went off with a bang..."

The song "In Awe" was written over 10 years ago, but it's been on my heart again recently, so I decided to add some Irish whistles to the track and re-release it.  My Scottish friend Linette Penney-Gainham agreed to play her whistles, so I caught the train from Glasgow to visit her. 

As the train neared the stop just before her town, there was a loud BOOM sound and a very odd smell.  The conductor soon moved all the passengers into another car, saying that there had been some kind of explosion and possibly a fire in the bottom of the train car, and they might have to cancel the train line.  I started praying that the whole train wouldn't explode.  Thankfully, I was able to exit the train and call my friend at the next stop, who drove through the rainy streets to "collect me" as I stood with my yellow umbrella and a few (rather soggy) roses at the station.

After a glad reunion and lunch, we tromped out to a castle ruin (the rain had stopped by then) to record for the song.  I had brought my audio recorder and earbuds, so the whistles you hear in the song come directly from the Scottish ruins. ​

The video was filmed along the east coast of Ireland, starting at a beach with a lighthouse.  (A friend dropped me off one day when we had some spare time, and for about two hours I filmed and put some creative juice to work!)  

The film also features a lovely overlook I happened to visit with friends.  They are also pretty artistic and know my love for a good view, so they humored me to film a few takes, and Linsey shot this photo overlooking the Irish Sea.  I set up the camera on a tripod, then played the song from my phone and ran in front of the camera to sing the song!  Lol, one of those things you feel so crazy doing and hope it will pay off and look awesome. ​

Also filmed at an ancient Celtic site that dates back to the 6th century, founded by disciples of St. Patrick.  This particular site is really special... it's hidden away down a winding road away from cities and larger tourist attractions.  The community of Christians thrived here, and there is a sun dial clock that they used to mark the hours of prayer... six times a day.  For me, it's a "thin place," and I fall in love with this sweet spot a little harder each time I visit.  ​

So here is the finished video!   Listen to the whistles and imagine yourself with us in the ancient ruins... and stroll down the coast as we worship our beautiful Lord who paid such a price to be close to us.  Enjoy!

Prayer: Lord, awaken my heart to fall in love with your beauty and stand in awe of You in fresh ways!