A Taylor'd Perspective: I Am Thankful For...

The following message is one I wrote for our November Great Adventure
Ministry Update. If you are interested in signing up for our special
email newsletters, visit our website,
http://www.greatadventurefamily.com.

Hey Everyone!

I love autumn! The cool crispness of the air thrills me as I watch the
trees change from a lush green to rich colors of red, orange, and
yellow. The tasty hot chocolate, cozy warmness of the furnace, the
leaf-raking...all these activities hold precious memories for me.

One of my favorite times during this season is the holiday of
Thanksgiving. On the fourth Thursday of every November we remember all
the blessings God has given us: family, friends, food, shelter, etc.
Families across the nation gather together to share a meal of turkey,
potatoes, cranberry sauce, and in our case, Grandma's string beans!
Yum!

Every Thanksgiving for the past three or so years, we have had a
special tradition to make us more aware of our blessings through the
year. Beginning several weeks before Thanksgiving, we write things we
are thankful for on slips of paper and place them in a decorated
cardboard box. Then on Thanksgiving night, after the guests have come
and gone, we all gather around and read these notes of appreciation.
It is so interesting to hear what others are thankful! I become even
more thankful as I hear the blessings in my parents' and siblings'
lives.

Let me share with you some "I Am Thankful For's" that we have written
over the years.

Caleb: Eyes, name, clothes, hands, lips, nose, hair, arms, fingers,
finger nails, legs, glasses, eyebrows, house, deck , food, trees, wind,
cars, dump trucks, Thanksgiving.

Jayme: I am thankful that Jesus died for us. I am thankful for light.
I am thankful for the sun and moon.

Leesha: I am thankful for family.

Uli: Thank you Lord for friends. I am really glad to have Leesha as a
friend. I feel so blessed to have such a mature young lady giving me
advice and laughing with me.

Taylor: I am thankful for my wonderful, crazy home!

Ben: For all my instruments, and for the ability to play them, and for
music, and for the "Most Anticipated Night of the Year" (Legacy Five
concert) and...

Kris (Mom): Thank You God for the best children in the whole world!

David (Dad):Thank You for my dear wife, Kris.

Now I saved Sam's for last for a special reason. While going through
years of "I Am Thankful For's", I noticed almost all of Sam's were
detailed drawings of the things he was thankful for. I could not find
one he had written until I came across one on which he had simply
written: "You."

Sam was thankful for whoever read his simple message. How sweet! Yet,
how true.

In our ministry, we are thankful for whoever hears the message and
songs we bring from place to place. We pray for each one of you who
comes to our concerts and we thank God for your life. We thank God for
all of you who receive this email. Perhaps we met you briefly at a
past concert, or maybe we have known you for years, but it doesn't
matter. We are thankful for YOU.

This Thanksgiving, share this message with someone you love. Tell
them, "I am thankful for you." Let them know how much you appreciate
them. You will never have Thanksgiving 2009 again, so use this
opportunity.

We are grateful for you! Thank you for your encouragement, you
prayers, your smiles, and support. We appreciate you!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor Garms

It's Been a While...

Hi Everyone!

It's been a while since I last posted. Most of my web work has been devoted to redesigning our family's website, so I haven't had the opportunity to do much writing. And frankly, I haven't had the desire to do much of anything I enjoy doing recently. I have kind of slipped into the mode of just plain existing, each day is full with the tasks I need to take care of and the weeks all become the same.

School has started again and this is my senior year, so it's time to finish my required subjects. How thrilling. Well...I should be grateful that there is an end in sight and that I do have the opportunity to learn "exciting" subjects like algebra and health. :) Biology (so far) HAS been pretty interesting, though!

Singing has keep us busy. For the month of October, we have seven concerts and worship services lined up! Tomorrow we will be singing in St. Croix, Wisconsin (our first out of state date) and it will be interesting. Several nights ago, Dad called the contact person just to touch base with her and she had some peculiar info for Dad. She told Dad that they didn't want any "preaching" at their community event, as they were a non-denominational organization and it might "offend" someone. Dad told her that he is not a preacher, but he does talk about Jesus, sin, salvation, etc. throughout our concert time. He also told her that it probably wouldn't work for us to sing for their event because of our message. The lady thought it over and said it should probably be all right, actually. Okay. That's good. Please pray for us as we present the Gospel through word and song!

I have been feeling rather depressed about the departure of my sister Whitney (I won't go into any details, but she left our home on September 25th). The bitterness that I carry inside is eating me away...I feel it as the hurt aches in my heart whenever I think of her. I feel that I failed as a sister when she was here, and now my opportunity to have a relationship with her is lost. Aren't relationships hard? :) When I was talking to a friend of mine about the situation, she encouraged me to never give up hope, God is still working. This brought to mind a song that I at one time claimed to be my "theme" song for my life. I would like to share the words with you of my new song of the month: "There Is Hope".

THERE IS HOPE
As sung by Legacy Five

Verse 1
Sometimes we go through trials that are so hard to bear
We lift our face toward heaven, "God, are You really there?"
But I've asked that same question and I've been down that road
Looking back, I now can tell You, He's always let me know

Chorus
There is hope so hold on, there is hope
God has sent me here to tell you, there is hope
And He knows just what you're going through and what the future holds
As long as Jesus lives, there is hope

Verse 2
He was bruised for our transgressions and nailed upon a tree
He cried out to the Father, "Why have You forsaken me."
But through this suffering Savior, He brought healing to our pain
And the One Who raised Him from the dead can restore us all again

Chorus

Bridge

He promised He would share our sorrows and bear our heavy load
This road that we are traveling will one day turn to gold

Chorus

Tag

Tag

Well, though I am slightly depressed and road-weary from this journey of life, I can travel on because I do have the hope of the best destination of all: heaven, my home. And right now, I am surrounded by people who care for me when I am sick at heart, lift me up in prayer when I am down, and encourage me when I need a smile. Yes, I guess I really do have joy in the journey, through it all.

There is Hope!

Taylor

Whitney is Home...For Now

Whitney and Me, April 2009

TRAVEL LOG-September 13th, 2009

Whew! We’ve been on the road a lot this past few weeks! Right now we are in Wisconsin traveling by beautiful Lake Superior. Every time we go up north to Duluth, MN or even here in Wisconsin, I always say, "Oh, I want to live up here someday!" I love the North Shore!

This road trip is special, as we aren’t traveling from a concert. No, instead it is to pick up my older sister, Whitney. It is amazing to actually see her head among ours in our van, journeying with us to the best place of all-home. Yes, she is coming home to stay with us for a few months while she looks for a new job and apartment. Wow. I cannot believe it!

Whitney moved out of our home in 2005 and then moved out of our lives in 2006. We only saw her a handful of times during the last three years. We became almost complete strangers to each other as our lives were so different. Many tears have been shed in her absence.

Now, as a result of a broken relationship, she needs to start over. Dad and Mom have always left the proverbial door to our house open, and of course, offered our home to her again. She will be living in Mal’s old travel trailer. We fixed it up for her and have tried to make it as homey as we can. Once our camera gets fixed, perhaps I’ll be able to post some photos of the before and after the major renovation!

Today we traveled from Braham, MN to Washburn, WI to pick Whitney and all her belongings up to move her back home. (UGH! As I was typing, my travel buddies beside me picked up my bag of sand from Lake Superior and spilled it all over my seat. Patience runs out with incidents like this! Anyway…) It was kind of a sad day for her, leaving the life she has known for three years. We packed all her stuff into the "Band-Wagon" and are on our way home-together. (As I was typing, Whitney’s former boyfriend called, informing her that he needed the keys to the car she gave to him. She has them still in her purse!)

Well, it’s been quite a trip and we have a new adventure ahead. Keep us and Whitney in your prayers as we journey together for a time and get to know each other again.

Signing off for Taylor’s Travel Log,
Taylor

NOTE (9/17/09): I'll write later about how life with Whitney has been going.

Backseat on the Bus: Travel Log

Here's another "Backseat on the Bus" blog, written on a recent road trip. Enjoy my quick thoughts!

On each "Backseat on the Bus" blog, I will write about our family's journeys and learning experiences as the Great Adventure Gospel Band.

Travel Log: August 22nd, 2009

As I write this blog, we are traveling on Highway 65 in our packed, but comfortable 15-passenger van. Our destination is Lutheran Island Camp to spend the night in a cabin. Tomorrow we will be singing at Perham, MN for a Mission Festival and it will be a long day for our family. I am typing on my new Dell laptop listening to the Isaacs sing "Walk On" (I didn’t realize how tough it can be type on a bumpy road! LOL!) I look over at my little brother Caleb as he quietly reads a book and marvel how fast he has grown up. He will be six next week and is losing the toddler look fast. Do five year olds have to grow up? :)

Wow, we have been busy! This month has been our busiest month for our music ministry, with nine "dates" total and two overnights. Did I mention we are in the midst of preparing our rooms to be repainted? And we volunteered to help out at our church’s VBS this last week? Oh, did I also say we all got sick with colds and sore throats?
I can say I’ve learned a lot this month during our travels and busyness and unfortunately I wouldn’t have enough room to share all the road stories. But here are a few of the things that have happened to me.

The first weekend in August brought Pie Day in Braham, MN and we were not able to attend as we were heading up to the Lake Itasca Family Bluegrass Festival. Nevertheless, I wanted to enter in the Pie Day Art Contest my "Berry Fairy" drawing (see my previous blog for a picture). So on Wednesday, August 5th, I left my picture at the drop-off location, not really caring if I placed at all. On the following Monday, Mom and I headed over to where the art contest was held. I was met with a surprise. When we got there, I was immediately informed that I placed FIRST in the adult category, beating a top artist who has been winning for years! How cool is that? I was so surprised and honored. FYI: I did beat my brother in the county fair back in July with my "Berry Fairy" drawing.

When we arrived home, Mom and I were talking about the whole thing and Mom said "Well, it goes to show that if you don’t try, nothing will happen." I was reminded of a woman we know who is a fabulous artist, but she keeps her drawings hidden away in a dresser drawer, and her talent of art is now gone as her hands are now stiff from old age. What a sad story!

Don’t you think of the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30? Let me paraphrase the story for you. A master was going on a long journey and, calling his servants to him, he gave each of his workers different talents (a talent was an unit of weight), some more, others less-"each according to his ability." (Matt. 25:15b) Two of the servants invested their talents and received interest from their investments while the other just buried his talent in the ground. When the master returned, he praised the first servants who used their talents while the other servant was condemned as wicked and lazy. He was promptly thrown out of the master’s service.

Are your talents shut up in a drawer somewhere? How long has it been since you’ve dusted off your talents and put them to use? Now don’t say "I don’t have any talents" for that is not true. I was talking to a woman who goes to our church after one of our concerts and she said to me in a wistful tone, "Oh, I wish I had talent like you guys." I stopped her and said, "Hey, don’t say that! You have talent! You have the gift of hospitality and a servant heart! That is a talent! Just because you do not have the gift of music and art doesn’t mean you do not have talent." I directed her to Romans 12:6-8 which talks about the different gifts among believers. So many times people have related to me their wish for "talent" and I get a little frustrated at their misconceptions. So please understand that to be talented is not only to be musical or artistic. You have talent that can be used for the Lord. As I write this, we are listening to a song that simply says, "Little is much when God is in it." Whether your talents are "small" and the results of your work is not as well seen, or "big" and very visible, if glorifying God is your motivation, than "great is your reward."

A woman said to me a few weeks ago "You have a beautiful voice and what makes it even more beautiful is that you use it for the Lord." Do not squander the talents which God has given to you. Utilize them for the Lord’s kingdom.

Okay. One more story before I go. We were at a Toney Brothers concert several weeks ago and something interesting happened to us. The Toney Brothers were singing a fast, upbeat, barn-burner which had several reprises. Ben suddenly got the urge to stand up as they started the song again. He whispered to me, "Stand up." Being a good sister, I followed his leading, as our whole family did. I looked behind me and saw everyone sitting down, staring at us. My eyes were pleading with them to stand up with us. No one stood. I was about kick Ben. I promptly sat down, my face turning several shades of red. After a while, the others sat down, except Mom. She remained standing until the end of the song, braving it out. Needless to say, I felt rather embarrassed.
Afterwards, a man came up to me and said, "That was interesting to see your mom remain standing though no one was standing with her." I was immediately struck with another wave of embarrassment with this realization: under peer-pressure, I fell…I did not remain standing. Mom, on the other hand, was strong and stood through. Many people later commented to her that they wish they’d stood up with her. I was mortified at the status of my strength under peer-pressure. I know something I have to work on!

Well, I’ve done a lot of typing. I should stop burdening you with my thoughts, but I hope you will be encouraged by my words.

Joy in the Journey!
Taylor

What's Been Happening...

Me, shooting a friend's pink .22 rifle (July 5, 2009)

Hey Y'all!

The Triple F Ranch crew has been enjoying the summer, even though its precious days slip by too quickly. I am feeling like I am accomplishing some things, such as computer work three days a week, art projects, and beginning to write a new book.

I take care of our church's website on Monday, the family's website on Wednesday, and my own computer work on Thursday along with anything I didn't get done on the other websites. I am so excited today as I do computer work, as this week we just purchased Adobe Photo shop Elements 7 for our computer! It is just what I wanted/needed for my graphic designing-at least for now! The picture to the right (with the words Surrendering My All) and the above picture were retouched and edited with Adobe, and I love the results! Dan Nuckols, a local graphic designer,recommended the program to me and I am grateful we got it!

Sam, Jayme, Caleb, Ben, and I each entered an art project into the Kanabec County Fair. Ben and I are running against each other once again; Ben usually beats me, but this year I think I have the advantage! I used color pencils while he used only a mechanical graphite pencil (the judges love color!).

Here is my artwork of Braham Pie Day's Berry Fairy (one of the emcees):

WHAT'S UP WITH MOM?

My mom is doing much better. Here's pretty much the full scoop on what Mom went through:

During the first weekend of
April, Mom was stricken with horrible abdominal pains. She was sick. Mom was admitted to the hospital Palm Sunday, April 5 and wasn’t released until
Wednesday, April
8 (Taylor’s birthday). Mom was released without a
diagnosis, and was labeled by the doctors as a "mystery
patient".

Then Thursday before the concert
at our home church, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Mom was once again
admitted to the hospital. They did a colonoscopy on Friday, put Mom on a high dosage of prednisone, and she
was out on Saturday. Praise God, Mom was well enough to perform with us April 26
at our home church.
The doctors now think Mom has Clostridium difficile infection (a
reaction from a antibiotic).

We thank everyone who has helped,
visited, prayed for, and encouraged us during this difficult time. The support
we received has overwhelmed us (in a good way!). THANK YOU!

-from the June
2nd Great Adventure Ministry Update

Our concert schedule is growing and the Lord keeps opening up new doors and opportunities for us to minister through music. We have three concert possibilities in 2010 already! I know to many family groups this would be nothing, but to me...wow! It is very humbling to see how God chooses to use our family! We have had some fun concerts this July, but we are glad to have a two week break, especially since my dad injured his hand badly (he needed thirteen stitches in all!) this week. We are looking forward to experiencing our first bluegrass festival this August up in Itasca, Minnesota. To learn more about our family band, visit our website (which I hope to finish redesigning this summer): http://www.greatadventurefamily.com/.

Well, I had better be moving on. Enjoy your summer!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor

P.S. I'll tell more about the book I am writing later!

Ben's Grad Party

My brother Ben, the new graduate!

Hi Everyone!

Since a picture says a thousands words, I'll let these photos do the telling of some of my favorite memories from my brother Ben's graduation party with shoot-out on June 13th, 2009. Enjoy! (BTW: Congratulations Ben!)

The girls' and boys' room both received "make-overs." We girls are getting our room painted "Sparkling Stream" blue to match our new baby blue and brown covers. Cool! (We now have another bunk bed in our room-yeah!)

I'm teaching my cousin Danielle how to shoot a .22 rifle.

My sister Leesha examines a friend's gun

Friend Alyssa shoots shot-gun. :)


Sister-friend Uli learns how to shoot

Big sister Whitney shoots a friend's handgun

Dad, Pastor Anderson, and Jayme chat about shotguns (we got our pastor hooked on trap-shooting!)

Later on we jammed for our family and friends. Uli got this picture of me playing fiddle.

Well, there you go for now! Hope you enjoyed this snapshot glance into our lives!

Bye for now, Taylor