OMG...Shoes

Today I was getting a pair of shoes out my closet. My new JESSICA SIMPSON NUDE PEEP TOE PLATFORM HEELS! Love them, my Momma bought them for me as an "I love you" present, and I just stopped for a moment, and just held them up, with that wonderful feeling in my heart that only a REAL SHOE-A-HOLIC can understand.... Love, admiration of their beauty and the anticipation of wearing them.

And then I thought about how it must feel for someone in need when Soles4Souls gives them a pair of shoes (whether it is their first pair EVER or first good pair in a long time). So, I guess I should multiply my SHOE-EUPHORIA by 1 million to equal only a fraction of what it must feel like for a man, woman or child in need when they receive the gift of shoes, whether it is here in the US or worldwide.
A simple gift of $1 (YES, one dollar) can help Soles4Souls provide that gift to someone. Will you help? To donate, go to Soles4Souls
and get involved.

(I can't wait to rock my new shoes out..... and help others as well)

A Great Song (and the story behind it)

I was singing this past weekend and in my set, I sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, which is a spectacular song. I couldn’t help but think about the power of a GREAT song. It transcends time, as it strikes a chord deep in the soul and takes us somewhere far away for a few minutes. I am so fortunate to have sung MANY great songs over the years.

And as this journey called “Releasing a CD and working your butt off to get it out there because you love it and also giving it to God everyday because you KNOW He’s in charge anyway” continues, I am very thankful because I think I have 7 GREAT songs on Scuffed and Simple, and it was simply divine appointments that brought them my way.

I want to share the story of how one song came to me, because living in Nashville has taught me the beauty of the story behind the songs I hear, they make them so much more precious when I hear them.

“Shine” written by Scott Sean White

One of the first country demos I ever recorded was for a guy named Scott Sean White. He lives in Texas, so I just went to a recording studio and sang, and got paid, without ever meeting him. Being the NICE guy that he is (he really is just an amazing human being), he contacted me to say how much he enjoyed it. Months after that, I went to see him perform at the Bluebird Café so I could meet this great writer (by that time, I had sung on more demos for him). And a friendship was born! When he sent me the demo of “Shine“ that he had recorded, I listened while I was driving on the interstate and chills just went all over me. The song just KILLED me (and I silently hoped one day I could record it….please God). Scott says to me that it was inspired mostly from the love and support his wife has given him over the years, and that has kept him going. He has had me sing it live for him at Writer’s Nights more times than I can count, and I never get tired of singing that song. So, when I had the opportunity to record it for MY project, umm, DUH….yes!! I have been asked repeatedly if I wrote it, and I tell him “No, but my friend Scott Sean White did”, and the best compliment I get is “well, you sing it like you wrote it”.

Sweet Moments

This weekend, I performed at the South Carolina Pilot Club Convention at Myrtle Beach, SC, it was such a great time, and I was excited, because it was my first performance since my CD came out. My sweet Momma was there along with other special people in my life, Norma and Zeb Andrews, and getting to share my music and my story with the group of around 300 was an awesome experience.

I am very blessed to be able to have the opportunity to do what I love, both through the vehicle of music and work with Soles4Souls.

Here are a few pics!

FREE WEDNESDAY DOWNLOAD!! ENJOY!

FREE download of "Shine" for u! Send me a comment with your email for your download code and then go to http://tiffanyjohnson.bandcamp.com/yum to redeem.

One week of having my CD OUT THERE....

Has been interesting to say the least. Between my Momma carting it around and selling it in SC to comments, emails and the like from people who have purchased. All in all, everyone's response has been very positive. I think the coolest thing for me is finally having something out there that truly IS A LABOR OF LOVE that says what I want to say...about everything.

I am an artist too, occasionally picking up the pencils or paintbrushes to create, but music is different, I could do it 24/7 for absolutely NO ONE, simply because it is therapeutic, expressive and an extension of me. But when others love it too, and affirm, wow, blessings galore.

My wise sage friend Billy says "we create, because we were created" and I think it is true. It brings me joy, to even take the packages to the post office made me get a little giddy, because there I went, to deliver a piece of me to someone that wants to hear and in delivering it, my hope is that they will be inspired and blessed through the gift.

Each day is a gift. And PEOPLE, each one of us HAS SOMETHING TO GIVE TO THIS WORLD. Don't hide it, give it away. You can't take it with you...

Bruised Reeds

I know I end up talking about God a lot, and my faith. But honestly, it is what sustains me, and I have had seasons in my life where I have been very close to him, and at times, far away. And the beautiful thing about Him is that HE never moves from us. We do the moving, He stays put; He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The very different thing about my faith now is that He is more real to me than He has ever been.

I am in a season of my life now that I would call "cleaning up messes and brokenness". That is the best way to describe it. God has used a series of events to call to mind several "messes" that I needed to clean up. So, after fighting with him about it, I stuck my tail between my legs and started picking up after myself. And it felt amazing. It was scary, and humbling, but after I was done with my end of the cleaning, I felt such a freedom and lightness that only comes when we surrender to His voice. And I left my seed in the ground (and that was hard, because us control freaks want to mess with it every minute of every day).

But there is some brokenness along the way too. Knowing that I can listen to Him and obey Him, and then I have to surrender the "mess" and trust Him. And I am broken right now. Heartbroken, lifebroken, just broken. And at times, it is a beautiful place to be, but most of the time, it hurts worse than anything. And it is heart hurt, if it was a headache, I could take Advil. But it is a soulache, and that requires time, patience and trust.

This verse came to mind this morning. Matthew 12:20 "a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench; until he brings justice to victory"

I am a bruised reed. I can hardly keep it up right now, but when plants are bruised, you tie them to a stick and it holds them up. I am a smoldering wick, still burning, but not blown out, but NOT entirely aflame either.

Seasons bring a lot of stuff into our lives; we can choose to avoid it, move on or we can ride it out and know that something beautiful will happen there.

God, I am your bruised reed. Hold me up, help me grow. Bend me, even break me if you have to.

Today is the DAY

My CD is available, released and out there. Wow. That moment is here. I have a bunch of feelings going around in my tummy about it, and too much to verbalize. My wish is that I can continue on a journey of using my music as a platform to bring people joy and touch their heart, and I hope to record another project in the future.
Great songs are like great books, stories or art, they need to be passed on. Do me a favor, if you are inspired by this project, get a copy for someone and pass it on. Of course, I would love to sell a bunch (who wouldn't?) but more than that, I want to be a vessel that is just used to encourage, uplift and inspire. So, if something on this project inspires you...PAY IT FORWARD.

And thank you for visiting, and listening.

Shine,
Tiffany