It has been awhile since I have just written on the blog...about things going on in the world of SR and my life...so decided it was time to do so. There are some truly amazing things happening this year...we seem to be reaching out to a different group of kids who are joining SR for some truly wonderful reasons. First of all, our exploding St. Louis site has made us all so excited there...they have nearly tripled their site in the weeks since mid-Jan...and there seems to be no stop to this growth. We are currently in the process of adding a 2nd site near there...in Centralia, IL...and I do feel this will become a new site...from a great set of shows we did for a Lutheran school. Then, we move onto all the new folks coming into Watertown, SD from the marathon of shows we did there...again, it is amazing to see kids of all ages come into the SR family. I am excited to see them all again this coming Wed at practice...and all that they have done since I was last up there. Our Inman, KS site has not grown in quite awhile, and suddenly, we have doubled it...with an influx of new high school members and 2 adults. That has made everyone there SO happy...and excited. One young lady and I had a sad, but yet wonderfully connecting, talk about her life. She is a senior in high school and feels that her entire life has been filled with people who backstab her...who say they are her friend (or family member) but then, hurt her deeply when they feel they are not getting from her what they want. She first saw a show in Marion, KS back in the fall, and the Believe in Herself step made her cry when she realized that she did NOT believe in herself. In fact, she did not know how to do this...since she feels that her life has been one failure after another, especially in terms of connecting with other people. We left that evening with her having a new light in her eyes as she realized that her new drumming SR friends were NOT going to do these things to her and that perhaps she had finally found a place that she could not only learn to drum...and have fun...and have friends, but she could also finally start to learn how to Believe in Herself.
Many of our other sites have added new folks this year already as well...and many of the new members are high school aged...which is awesome to see...especially because it rounds out the age groups...to have a site with elementary, junior high, high school, and adults all drumming together really does have a special strength and special power all to itself. I hope hearing these things reminds you all once again of the amazing amount of lives we are touching each and every day in SR...and reminds you all again of the important of connecting with each other in EVERY way that we can.
That does include HERE as well. I know that reading the blog everyday is impossible...I cannot even write everyday (and will not be back online this week until FRIDAY since we are jam packed this week with shows, practices, and long drives)...so this gives everyone ALL week to do me one big favor...
TAKE A CHANCE!
So many of you are reading the blog...but still feeling shy/uncomfortable/unsure of how to comment, what to say...or whatever it is that might be holding you back. I know you are reading it because you are telling me so at practice...everyday I hear this. Then I hear things like "I don't know what to say...or someone already said it"...and I want to encourage you all to NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. There is no right thing to say...there is no need to write as much as I do (or some of the daily bloggers do)...there is no need to worry about spelling (try not to text-speak in the blogs please!)...there is no need to worry about being deep in your comments...it is NOT about any of that...it is about finding a way to CONNECT that goes beyond drumming, practice, and even mission projects. Even if you only make ONE comment a month, or ONE comment a quarter, or ONE comment a year on here...you have still done a very important thing...and that is connected with your fellow SR drummers all over the country...and you have stood up and said HERE I AM...and you have shared something from your heart...and I will tell you all one thing...right now, at this time and place in America's history, we need all voices to be heard...all people to be connected...and all of us to realize that we cannot continue to divide ourselves into ever-smaller groups...ever more bitter citizens, and ever-more lost kids who feel they have no place to belong, no friends in life, and no future to look forward to.
So, even if your blog comment reads something like "My favorite pizza is Godfather's taco pizza" (which mine is!)...COMMENT that...write it...let your voice be heard...and be part of our SR community in one more way. We need to show unity to the world in all ways...and this is just one more...that you can all learn from and feel good about...at least I hope so! I don't want you to feel pressured, or intimidated, or anything other than one feeling...that you can safely Take A Chance on here and do Whatever It Takes to reach out to others who you may not know...but share with them something...sometime...as much as you can, or as little as you have time for.
I hope this empowers some of you to say HEY on here. We would love to see that :)
To all reading this...remember you are the greatest...and you make everyone in SR proud everyday simply because of what we stand for...unity through music, power through percussion, and strength through building lasting connections and friendships throughout America.
This will have to tide you all over until Friday...so until then...comment on :)
Blessings,
Steve...I just want YOU to know that YOU are the greatest!! Everything that you have done...getting SR started and ALL the practices and ALL the shows!! None of us would be talking to each other on here if it weren't for YOU!!! And Jordan of course!! :) We all thank you soo much for this SR family!! <3 <3
ReplyDeleteWhom shall I send
ReplyDeleteWho will go for me
To the ends of the earth
Who will rise up for the King
Here am I send me
Here am I send me...
Steve- your post made me think about this song by Mercyme.
This post gace me the chills. It's a good one :) I don't even know what to say...speachless.
ReplyDeleteWell I know one thing! Good Job to All the sites the got new members!!! It's always exciting getting new people and being able to see them grow in every way. Love it :)
Jovanna- I love Mercyme! My favorite song ever that they sing is i can only imagine love that song :)
Steve, I totally agree with Kristen. You truly are the greatest person I know. You do so much in your everyday life to get to know more people and help them believe that they can in fact achieve anything that they put their minds to. I think that is the best thing in the world and it's because of you and the making of Sheltered Reality that I believe the world is slowly but surely becoming a somewhat better place. I absolutely loved your blog and I got chills from it as well, but even with the short amount of shows that the fox cities site does, we see a lot of that too. A lot of people that come to watch us have no idea of what we are capable of doing as far as encouraging people that they can be the best that they can be if they only try. I know that in my life, Sheltered Reality is the best thing right now and when I have some hard times I just think of the steps of success and I can get through pretty much anything. You truly are an inspiration to not only me but others as well and I'm not the only one that sees that. I just wanted to let you know that you are most definitely an amazing person. Don't ever lose or give up what you have Steve.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see you again in the fox cities.
Brit
well i definitely agree with everything that has been said so far, especially that reading this posts gave me chills. Congrats to those sites that have added many new drummers good luck :)
ReplyDeleteSteve- So I am actualy going to comment this one! :D.. I'm glad the sites are growing and going well. I wish our site was!. The story about the young girl, it made me think of myself.(Except I'm a Freshman! :P) It's good she thinks of the people in SR like that. I do too.
ReplyDeleteDee- I LOVE I Can Only Imagine! It's my favorite songs too! (Look more things in common!) :))
Wow! Great story! Isn't it amazing that with all the sites, with different people, personalities, and backgrounds, that the environment at each site is sooooo consistent in its positivity, through word, and, more importantly, actions. So many think the world is becoming a darker place, but SR proves that when you let a little light in, it explodes in its brilliance.
ReplyDeleteI have to say a "WOW" too! It's awesome to hear about all that's going on. I totally love how you described what we stand for...unity..., power...,connections and friendships (relationships). That needs to be in the brochure!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love MercyMe too! hee,hee!
I LOVE MercyMe!! My favorite however is Casting Crowns!!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is so awesome. I just found out mercyme is coming to lifelight :D lol good.
ReplyDeleteSteve- watertown was fun but very long!
Wow being really sick and having no energy to do anything for the last couple days I really have missed a lot!
ReplyDeleteSteve-Last night at practice (Top) Mom and I did a happy dance! We had a new girl come who is in the 7th grader...we are starting to round out ages so there isn't such a huge gap from 4th grade to seniors! Adams practice is tonight so we will see how that turns out.
P.S. I too love MercyMe!
Kelli- Aww....Hope you feel lots better!! And that is TOO funny! But I would do the same thing!! :)
ReplyDeleteKeeli- i hope you feel better soon!! :)
ReplyDeleteHey ya'll! :) i am just testing this out for my mom to see if this works, hopefulyl it will, well, i guess you will find out if it does
ReplyDeleteSteve- The story about the high school girl made me cry! It's amazing what SR can do. I don't know how, but it does. I've said it before, there's some kind of magic in Sheltered Reality and I hope we all spread it through the world and take it with us through our whole lives. I know I'm always awestruck by how everyone is so willing to help out newbies like me (although maybe at four-ish months I might have to stop calling myself a newbie soon), and take us into the SR family.
ReplyDeleteHooray for the new sites and members! Keep up the good work! SR is fun even if you don't know the songs! :)
Kelli- hope you feel better!
(I feel left out... I've never heard of MercyMe. I should look them up.)
Sonja - Don't feel left out! I don't know MercyMe either (I'm oh so surprised haha) And I aagree with what you say too!
ReplyDeleteSteve - The story of the girl in high school made me cry too! I feel sorry for her but happy too since she found SR! Good for her :) And I totally agree with Kristen and Brit! You give all your time and are so dedicated to SR and I think it's way great and beyond words everything you and Jordan do! Oh and congrats for the new drummers! Thats great!
Kelli - I hope you get well soon! :))
Tom - I totally agree with you!
Haha maybe I really should go now and do that homework...
Well I haven't been on here for a while. Life has really been getting to me lately because of this band solo. It is freaking me out so bad. I don't think I have slept since February 1st. But soon it will be over and I will be performing to a judge then life can get better. So I am very excited to be able to come here more. This is such a wondeful site to come. A place where you can connect to new people and not have people judge you which is happening so much in this world. I see it everyday and think we need to change this. This is going to tear our world apat.
ReplyDeleteSteve- wow that post made me speechless I don't even know how to respond. The story of you and the girl is very touching! She sounds like a great addition to Sr and it sounds like this could really help change her life around just as some wonderful people on here! So that in itself is amazing anf something to be happy for. And you are right sometimes there are things you post that I sit and think wow how do I respond to that??? Sometimes it is hard to comment because you don't know if it is good or not. But encouragement for you is amazing and I think helps us all. And you are truely the most amazing person I have ever met. You have inspired me to do so much...... so many things I would have never done before. Things that make me happy and bring joy to be to do them. I am so thankful that I found Sheltered Reality because it has literally changed my life. I know it hasn't as much as a lot of the people of here but I still wanted you to know!!!!!
And MercyMe is amazing!!!!!!!
Sonja- I agree...SR IS lots of fun even if you don't know the songs! I can honestly say I can only fully play 2 songs all the way through!! I can play most of the songs if I fake through the fills!! :)
ReplyDeleteChristina-That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the well wishes guys! I have been sick off an on for the last four weeks after spending lots of time with someone, *cough cough Steve* but it hasn't been this bad yet. I'm starting to feel better so hopefully it stays that way.
Dani, Ellen, and others going to MTR-Would you mind if I did a practice run through of my senior expo on SR for you Friday night??? Then you can see what pictures of you there are on my slide show!
Sonja- don't feel left out! I'll lend you a CD of theirs some time if you promise not to lose it, haha!
ReplyDeleteokay i have no idea what to say to that Christina. good job with the band solo and i am sure it will all turn out okay :)
ReplyDeleteSonja and Heidi- i only know If I Can Only Imagine by mercy me and i didnt even know they sang it until it was said on here...so your not alone :)
Kristen and Sonja- its okay, i could only play a couple of songs at first but once i started getting used to learning new songs i got the hang of it and learned them faster :) you 2 will be wizs in no time :)
Jovanna- Don't worry, I don't lose other people's stuff. My own, however, is a different story entirely. :)
ReplyDeleteHeidi- At least I'm not the only one. :)
Colleen- It took me like three hours to get part of Chariots of Fire. We went over it in practice and I was like "...What?" but if I slow down I can figure out where my sticks are supposed to be...
I have to tell you our site, St. Louis, has not felt this way in a long time. We haven't had new drummers for over 2 yrs. So there's some magic in "keeping in touch", just like Steve says. We have been emailing some folks from two shows in Sept & Nov this whole time' along with our show in Jan & Feb. Then we did two school shows and a community show in one day on March 5th. That Friday was an awe inspiring day for many reasons and the SR magic was in the air. We started out at an Alternative School and was warned by everyone (staff) to expect the worst behavior. We were told this was the only assembly these kids had this year. Can you all imagine no team sports, after school band, clubs, special assemblies?? I can't. It made everyone, including parents who came, appreciate how good our kids are. Or how fortunate to have the "extras" that may keep you coming back for more... or doing good for others... or making sure you show up for school and not skip ... or making the right decisions to NOT do drugs... or to NOT steal something... or to NOT hurt someone or threaten someone to the point regular school doesn't want you anymore. Well on some of these kids faces you could see the ones who were sad & maybe really wanted to turn their life around.These were the ones that had blank faces - meaning no life expressions. UNTIL - guest drumming time!! There was one young man in particular, he held his hand up to be picked and the other student wasn't picking him. Then he stood up and finally someone picked him. The second he started to drum, a small grin started then a SUPER LARGE SMILE was on his face. My heart strings were pulled at that moment (made me cry). Along with the high schoolers there were special needs kids there too (K-8) with their teachers. A couple of those kids drummed with the help of their teachers and you could see their faces Light UP. (made me cry) What a great way to start the day. And, all the kids behaved themselves the whole time. Then we went to the next school where it was "Heart & Soul" week for the Lutheran schools. We went to the High School and they invited 5 elementary schools to join them K-8th. So we had over 350 bouncy happy kids rocking out to Cotton Eyed Joe. (made me cry) What an awesome day. It made me so proud. And the best part... we had two new drummers join us for the whole day. They hung in there for two school shows and evening show and only having one lesson with Steve. It was really great to see them "High Five" a guest drummer and picking up the beats to the show songs. It was fun getting to know them and so the next day, by special request, Steve & Jordan invited them to a short practice/Q&A/lunch/sign here. And they ended up joining along with three others that day. God was with us the whole day, working through our stories and message and of course our music. It was a glorious day and so much to be thankful for. The possibilities are endless when "taking a chance" and we had no idea we could grow this fast. Too many times we are told where to belong, but until you feel it in your heart and believe, something is always missing. So, stay in touch with family and friends, they are the ones who will stay by you no matter what happens... in good and in bad. It's been a tough year for me with my family and everything I do in SR lately only gives me pure joy and tears of happiness. I see our older kids wanting to lead and help teach our new drummers. That makes me happy. We want them to feel like it's their site not just what the leaders want. And for that we see excitement again and excitement for others. So to quote Dee, WOOT WOOT to our new members here and to the new members across the country. You challenge us in a good way and it makes the old new again. Sort of like re-vamping a song (Footloose). It's truly a blessing to share our story, your story, my story. Peace & God's Blessings to all our SR family.
ReplyDeleteAnnette
Wow, Annette. What an inspiring story. I hope all of the new drummers your site picked up will 'stick' with it. Haha, I crack myself up.
ReplyDeleteAnnette- Wow, that's a great story! The story about the kids from the alternative school reminded me how good I have it.
ReplyDeleteJovanna- Haha, very nice.
Annette- That is an amazing story! I love seeing special needs kids enjoying themselves. Today I got to watch three K-2 grade kids with special needs ride bikes. It was the cutest thing!! They were having soo much fun!!
ReplyDeleteHow inspiring it is to read all of your comments. I have had nothing but SR running through my mind the past few days mostly impart to the fact that we had our first official show in FAITH. And it was my first show ever!!!!!! And I survived! It was so amazing to see the impact that just one hour can make such a difference in the lives of others.
ReplyDeleteI truly cannot imagine my life without SR. I never dreamed when this began a few months ago that I would be changed so much. I really feel myself reaching out to those that are truly hurting. The funny thing is before SR I really didn't notice these people and now I am seeing them everywhere around me. And I totally credit SR and God for that change. My eyes have been opened to an entirely new world. The world I am seeing is not the prettiest one, but it is one where I feel that God has placed me in a position to make a difference.
I am seeing kids stop in my classroom just to chat or ask a question that I have never seen before. I find that interesting since I am the first grade teacher and most of the students are Jr. High or High School students. There is a feeling of acceptance and trust that is being developed as a result of SR.
Sometimes I think we just turn our heads the other way when we see people hurting or in trouble because we don't have the "tools" to know how to deal with the situations that some of these people are going through. But because of the Steps of Success we do have the ability to look at these hurting people and know that just showing that we care can make the difference.
Forever grateful for Steve and Jordan being obedient to the gift that God has granted them in this endeavor of changing the world through a drum lesson!
Sonja- yea chariots of fire might do that to you :) haha but good job on never giving up!!
ReplyDeleteAnnette- oh wow!! thats amazing. it is times like those when you really appreciate having Sheltered Reality in your life :) i know that it always makes me over joyed and happy to hear stories just like yours :)
Jovanna- yes!! that was actually pretty funny :)
Larinda- it truly is amazing how much of an effect Steve has had on us here. Sr truly brings out the best in people. i know that it has brought out the best in me and your story does tell me how people can be kind and caring after opening your eyes to the way Sheltered Reality has.
ReplyDeleteThere's a symbiotic relationship going on here!!! Isn't interesting how we can get inspired, then inspire others who then in return inspire us, and so on and so forth! Just think, if the whole world would catch the SR disease(which is a God virus- Hee,hee), it would be amazing!
ReplyDeleteJenn- yes and the virus is the best kind that is possible to catch :)
ReplyDeleteJenn- I like the whole SR disease comment!! That is a cool way to put it :)
ReplyDeleteJenn-I would be okay with that virus, but the one I caught is really starting to get old. I'm thinking I should probably try to head to the doctor one of these days, but it's atleast a week til I will be able to!
ReplyDeletewow i know SR has actuiily given me something to do besides stay inside alday during the winter and thoug i may not like some of the practices some times i still have a blast doing it.......... by the way i can't wait for Mt Rushmor in a few weeks WOOT!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for such great comments and I am glad the entire "my time" inspired so many great responses and feelings AND at the same time brought out some comments from some more folks...taking a chance pays off again!!
ReplyDeleteSteve- i definitely agree with you :)
ReplyDeleteI agree as well!!
ReplyDelete