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If I close my eyes, I can still see that beautiful home in Lake Oswego. As a two-and-a-half-year-old girl with long red curls, I remember wandering away from the adults during a Christmas meeting and finding myself standing before a magnificent piano. I had never touched one before, but I reached out and started on middle C, going note by note. Then, just by ear, I began picking out the melody to "Silent Night."
That moment was more than a childhood memory; it was a divine redirection. At the time, doctors feared I might have polio. My left side wasn't developing properly, and a chiropractor told my mother I needed to develop my hands through typing or piano. Because of what happened that Christmas, we chose the piano. By age eight, music lived inside my head. I would pray, and then I would hear it. Though early teachers dismissed my original compositions in favor of strict sight-reading, those years built the discipline I carry today as an inspirational composer.
The road wasn't always easy. After years of high-pressure competitions and the sting of being overlooked, I walked away from the keys as a teenager. I spent years in a "rebellious" season, avoiding the gift God had placed in me. It wasn’t until 1979 that I finally surrendered, telling the Lord, "Okay, whatever You say, I will do it."
The response was immediate. People began asking for lessons, wanting to learn how to play with the same spirit they heard in my music. As I fasted and prayed for guidance, the Lord began giving me scripture songs—melodies tied to the Word of God that brought peace and healing. This was the birth of Steps To Joy music education.
From that first "Silent Night" to the Platforms of Praise I stand on today, I realize that every note was a step toward His purpose. He took a physical weakness and turned it into a lifetime of worship.
Reflection: Is there a gift you’ve set aside because of pressure or past hurt? Remember that God’s calling isn't a burden to carry, but a melody He wants to play through your life. When we surrender our "notes" to Him, He creates a masterpiece of joy.
