Joy in the Journey | Great Adventure Gospel Band

Happy 21st Birthday, Ben-"Jamin"!

2012-01-28T21:19:00.000-08:00

Do you wish to know the most visited post every written on our family blog (besides the Legacy Six post)?

Time after time, we receive visitors (Hello Visitors!) searching for "What to say on a 20th birthday card", and on this particular post, you'll see there are plenty of random messages and Bible verses with which we filled our 20th birthday cards. Ben likes to claim the large amount of traffic is due to his popularity.

Ha, ha.

Today, Ben has become "ancient" (as I am prone to call my friends who reached this ripe old age). 21 years old. Wow!

BEN

Brilliant (to quote our cousin Noah who is spending the day here with Grandpa)

Efficient

Noble

Oh, and did you know that Ben looks like Josh Groban? After one concert a while back, several older ladies came up to me and said among giggles, "Oh, your brother - he, well, he looks EXACTLY like Josh Groban! You tell him that, okay?" I didn't have a clue who Josh Groban was, and I didn't have to tell Ben either, for then they promptly went and delivered their message for themselves! Since then, multiple other people have informed us of this opinion as well. And our thought is, Well, we can see how they say this...sometimes. :)

Ben chose Jeremiah 32 to be his birthday scripture; here's a selection from it:

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

(Jeremiah 32:38-41 ESV)

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY, BEN! We love you dearly!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms Family

After Extended Silence...

2012-01-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

As you have probably noticed, our family's blog has been relatively silent - word-and-update-wise - though we have posted quite a few videos as of late. This is mostly due to my negligence and striving to limit my computer time. Apologies!

The Garms family has been happily enjoying life as family. The days are filled with unexpected adventures and daily lessons, and we continue to travel day by day the journey God has placed before us.

Some of you might know that our friend Mal fell last week after coming home from a doctor's appointment. He has been steadily weakening, and the fall was inevitable as his shakiness has increased quickly over the past few months. He had decided to cease the weekly Walmart trip several weeks ago because of the difficulty and weariness of walking.

Mal actually had a good appointment on Thursday and allowed Mom and I to push him in a wheelchair to the various parts of the clinic. When we returned from the trip, he was worn out and walked unsteadily into the hallway to his room. On the threshold of the door between the main part of the house and Mal's room, his foot caught and - boom, BOOM! -down he went. Dad and Jayme both saw the fall and Dad quickly raced to assist him. I had just been debating about whether or not I should continue walking with him to his room, and was horrified to hear the crash.

After landing squarely on the floor, God spared Mal from any broken bones and major injury. He only experience minor bruising on his nose, a cut on his forehead, a hurt finger, and soreness. Just minutes before, I had been praying for God to put a bubble of protection around him, and God certainly did that! Praise the Lord!

We are firmly in the midst of "birthday season" now, with Ben's 21st birthday speedily approaching and Sam's 12th birthday yesterday. How the time flies...

2012 marks the 10th anniversary of our "Great Adventure"! If you've never read the (simplified) story, check out this link. We have begun to watch footage from that special season of our lives and have been finding "memorabilia" (like the Olympic torch drawings and the subsequent letter from Dr. James Dobson, but that's part of the story that isn't mentioned in the "simplified" version you'll read online!). What amazing memories! It is so wonderful to see the hand of God so intricately involved in our lives.

The calls are beginning to come in for 2012 and our concert schedule is beginning to fill up. If you'd like Great Adventure Gospel Band to come to your church or event, get in contact with us; we'd love to talk with you! We are looking forward to our fourth year of ministry and what the Lord has in store!

We pray you all are well. We encourage you this new year to delve into God's Word daily and wholeheartedly love and serve Him in all areas of your life, as we also strive to do.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey with Jesus!
Taylor for the Garms Family

Happy 12th Birthday Sam!

2012-01-18T15:18:00.000-08:00

With his zany smile and sharp wit, 12-year old Sam has brought countless smiles to our faces and doubled us over in laughter. His knack for crazy facial contortions keeps us in stitches, and yet his thoughtful perspectives add plenty of depth to our conversations. (And Sam's comedic dance moves on stage often leave audiences laughing till their sides hurt! Too bad people don't see the ones he does here at home!)

Sam on his 12th birthday - January 18th, 2012 (The picture on the bottom left is his signature "Senator Sam" pose!)

SAM

Silly (and serious simultaneously!)

Accomplished

Merry

Sam randomly chose a psalm today (after first suggesting 117), and landed at Psalm 131, which is only a verse longer than 117. :) He then chose Psalm 132 so we could at least all get a verse. But here's a verse from 131 I thought I would share for Mr. Sammy:

"O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore."

(Psalm 131:3 ESV)

Happy 12th Birthday Sam! We love you dearly and remember, "Be responsible, young man!" :)

Blessing and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms Family

Merry, Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T16:30:00.000-08:00

The Garms Family - Christmas Eve 2011 | From Left to Right: Front row - Sam (11), Caleb (8), Dad (David), Mom (Kris); Back row - Jayme (10), Ben (20), Leesha (17), and Taylor (19)

We pray you and your family had a delightful, most blessed Christmas; ours was relaxing and reflective, and we enjoyed our time at home. May you continue to be blessed exceedingly throughout the rest of this year, and into 2012!

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

(Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
The Garms Family

Happy 10th Birthday Jayme!

2011-12-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

"Jaym-Jaym", "Giggles", "Jollylegs", and most recently "Pipsqueak" (I called her that from stage during our last concert, and people afterwards kept coming up and calling her "Pipsqueak"!)...all these nicknames describe our little Christmas joy, Jayme. We celebrated her 10th birthday on December 22nd, and now she goes around exclaiming, "I'm a decade old!" :) She had been counting down the days to her birthday for several months (yes, really!), and was so excited when the day finally arrived. Jayme was doubly excited when Grandpa Pete and cousin Noah were able to spend the day as well.

Jayme - December 22nd, 2011

Jayme

Joyful (mostly!)

Amicable

Youthful

Musical

Excitable

Our little fiddler - December 20th, 2011

Jayme chose Psalm 62 as her psalm for the day:

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.

Happy Birthday Jaym-Jaym - we love you dearly!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for TGF

Christmas Concert Video Highlights

2011-12-23T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Here are a few video highlights from some of the Christmas concerts we did this December. Be blessed, and may your hearts be filled with the Joy of Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
The Garms Family

"Ring Christmas Bells" Video

2011-12-14T15:29:00.001-08:00

A special thanks to everyone who came to our special Christmas concert at our home church, St. Stephen's Lutheran, on December 4th! We enjoyed dusting off our Christmas songs, debuting some new ones, and even rearranging some off of our latest CD (you should hear the LAs exciting new arrangement of "Go Tell It On the Mountain" with full instrument back-up now; my favorite part is the ending - it's awesome!). It was so neat to have friends and family in attendance (Grandpa Pete stayed the weekend and sister Uli came to the concert) - and we made new friends as well. It was a blast!

We were extremely blessed and flabbergasted by the generosity of our friends: St. Stephen's has been raising money for our family while we've been away at concerts on Sundays. Pastor Anderson presented Dad and Mom with their gift, along with the freewill offering. Wow. Thank you all SO much!

We've been having a wonderful time at our other Christmas concerts as well! Last night we had an enjoyable evening at Kost Evangelical Free Church in North Branch, MN with friends new and old - thank you Linda for having us come to your church! And, we were thrilled to return to Eagle Bend Assembly of God this last Sunday (the meal was absolutely delicious, y'all!). We've been so blessed.

Here's a highlight from our concert at our home church; enjoy!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms Family

Chronicles of the Sightings: Counting Our Blessings

2011-12-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

On Monday, November 21st, our family was traveling in the Glory Bus to celebrate our grandpa's birthday with him when disaster struck. Leesha tells the story below and shares the numerous blessings which came from the day...

“The cheesy potatoes were baking as they recorded the commercial and mmmm, they smelled so good!” Jayme chattered excitedly to Mom. Then she stopped, suddenly seeing Mom’s fixed stare at Taylor. At that moment, Taylor smacked her forehead, “Oh! I should have just made the cheesy potatoes and brought them along to cook at Grandpa’s!” she groaned. Both Jayme and I looked at each other confused; until it dawned on me what they were talking about. “So that’s what you meant when you said we were bringing potatoes for Grandpa’s birthday!” I cried.

“Yeah,” said Mom, “they were to be baked at Grandpa’s so they would be warm for supper.” Still Jayme did not grasp the situation, so Mom patiently explained to her why the cheesy potatoes should have been only made, not baked.

I turned to Taylor and said, “Sorry Taylor, I didn’t realize you shouldn’t have baked them.” “It’s okay, but I wish I had thought about it before I cooked them,” she sighed, “But we need to get busy; we have yet to make cranberry sauce and a cake, not to mention doing the dishes from supper.” Wearily, we both got up from the couch in our family room and headed to the kitchen.

Jayme came prancing into our room on her stick horse the next morning, saying “Wake up girls! It’s Grandpa’s birthday!” and galloped out. I groaned (while saying to myself “Next time Jayme, could you sing a song or something other than making your horse say, ‘I like it when you brush me!’”) and looked to see what time it was - more specifically how long it would take us to get out of the house. Then I cracked a smile and called down to Taylor from my top bunk, “At least the cheesy potatoes are made!” Taylor only groaned, rolled over, and threw her covers her head.

Despite having a late start in leaving, we were finally all in the "Glory Bus" (or as Taylor has started to call it the "Adventure Bus") on our way to celebrate Grandpa’s 71st birthday. “Isn't it nice to be going down just to visit Grandpa and not having to pack suitcases and set up at a church?” remarked Taylor from across the aisle from me. Ben and I nodded as we bumped along down the road.

We were about at the half-way point in our trip when Dad suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no! We have a problem! I've got to pull over, the engine is over-heating!” Unfortunately, we were in the middle of a busy highway during the lunch hour rush. In the next suspenseful moments, Dad slowed down and took several exits to get off the highway. To make matters worse, the roads we turned on were under construction! Finally, finding a gas station, we turned in - only to find all available parking spaces filled.

Driving a little further, we found a nearly deserted parking lot; Dad pulled in. As the engine shut off, we all thanked God we had made it this far without the bus exploding into flames or maybe worse. Ben and Dad exited the bus to look around and see what was going on with our "whale on wheels", while Mom took stock of the position we were in.

Soon Dad and Ben came back in with what they thought was wrong. Dad thought that a hose was leaking coolant, thus causing the engine to over-heat. But a more careful inspection (I am so glad Dad is a mechanic) showed a belt almost completely demolished. This belt controlled the alternator, the water pump, and the fan, all necessary for the running of the engine. And this was beyond what Dad could do (he happened to leave his tools at home on this particular trip); we needed help. With the aid of his GPS, Dad began calling different auto shops to see if anyone in the vicinity could help.

The shredded remains of the belt.

It was around 12:00 p.m. when we stopped in the parking lot, and after the preliminary settling down, Mom suggested we all should have some lunch (we were all starting to get hungry) since it was looking like we weren’t going to make it to Grandpa’s any time soon. As I made my way to the back of the bus and saw the cheesy potatoes, I exclaimed, “Hey, maybe it was a good thing after all that Taylor made the cheesy potatoes! God knew we would need them today before we got to Grandpa’s!” Everyone agreed; the first blessing counted.

“Well,” said Dad just getting off the phone with roadside assistance, “it’s going to be an hour and half wait until the mobile mechanic gets here.” "I’m going to walk over to McDonald’s to keep warm,” said Mom, “And this will be a great time to get those spelling tests done, Sam and Jayme, as we’re not moving. Anyone else coming in with me?” Taylor said she would also come, so Mom, Sam, Jayme, and Taylor set off across the parking lot. Dad, Ben, Caleb and I waited in the ever-getting-colder bus. Caleb, Ben, and I began reading books as the minutes ticked by.

Suddenly Dad said, “They're here!” All of us in the bus looked outside excitedly as a repair van pulled up beside our poor bus. We all hoped the repair man would fix it soon so we could either continue to go down and visit Grandpa or go home soon. Sam and Jayme came over and Ben, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb began playing games as the repair man, Jim, began trying to fix our bus. Soon he (and we) found out that the replacement belt was too short and would not fit. Then began the long process of finding another belt, waiting for Jim our repair man or some else to get a belt, and trying to make it work.

Jim, the mechanic, discovered the tensioner for the belt was broken, so after another belt was picked up, we waited for that part to be fixed. But even after the tensioner was fixed, the belts we had didn’t work! In the end, Jim and another repairman moved the alternator to make one of the belts work.

Meanwhile, all of us kids (with Mom) hung out in McDonald’s. Boy, I was never as thankful for McDonald’s as I was then. First, we sat around and chatted, but then we had the bright idea to play a game. We played one game for over an hour and got quite loud, so loud that Mom asked us to burn off some energy outside. :) After walking around in the parking lot, we came back in not wanting to finish our game. Being supper time, we had gotten awfully hungry sitting in a restaurant. Knowing it would be rude to bring in our food to eat, Mom said we could eat off the dollar menu (our last concert we had been given money for a meal, and well, it came in handy!).

As we were eating, Dad and Jim came in to get warm and wait for the last belts to arrive. Jim shared stories about going out to eat when he was young; how a cheese burger cost sixteen cents and a regular burger was fourteen cents. He told us of growing up in a family the same size as ours with eight kids. It was interesting to hear what life was like back in those days, before the age of technology.

Around nine o’clock the bus lights went on (we saw through McDonald’s windows), and we knew the bus was fixed! We could go home! We cleaned up our school books, games, jackets, etc., at McDonald’s (we took up a lot of room, three booths!) and prepared to head out to the bus.

As we left the parking lot, we began reviewing the past few hours, seeing how God’s hand had been at work through all the crazy-mixed up day:

First, we were not out in the middle of no-where, but still close enough to the Cities (as we Minnesotans call Minneapolis/St. Paul and their suburbs), so that we didn't wait hours and hours just for someone to arrive.

It had been a nice day, not snowing or raining.

Also, we were near a warm place with bathrooms.

We had food along (already baked!) and it was cold enough they didn't spoil during our long wait.

Another blessing was we had brought along games (more than we usually do) to play with Grandpa on his birthday.

We were blessed with good mechanics who worked hard to fix our bus.

God was watching over us; the bus didn’t break down on our way to a concert. And even though it was sad not being with Grandpa on his birthday, we were not really pressed for time.

God had also provided for a meal at McDonald’s, and He brought us back home safely - all in one day!

Also, because of the amazing generosity of a certain individual, we were overwhelmingly blessed to not have to pay labor charges (which were very large) - we only had to pay for the parts.

All the way home, I was praising God for the good things He had done for us. Truly I could say with David: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” What a time to be mindful of all the benefits of trusting in God! And how fitting that it was Thanksgiving week, a time set apart to be grateful for the abundance of our blessings so graciously given to us from a loving God.

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!

- Leesha for the Garms Family

Happy 17th Birthday Leesha!

2011-12-05T11:40:00.001-08:00

Our "happy" sister, Leesha ("Leesha" means "happy" and she generally lives up to her name very well!), turned 17 years old this Saturday, December 3rd, 2011.

17?!

Wow, get me a chair! We're getting old!

Leesha - December 3rd, 2011

LEESHA

Like-able

Easy-going

Encouraging

Silly (yet sensible)

Happy

Animated

Leesha chose several passages from the Bible too lengthy to include here, but let me share with you one of her favorite psalms:

PSALM 150

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens!

Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound;

praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with tambourine and dance;

praise him with strings and pipe!

Praise him with sounding cymbals;

praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD!

Happy Birthday, Leesha! We love you very much!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey with JESUS!

-Taylor for the Garms Family

"Thank You, Lord": It's "The Right Time"!

2011-11-18T14:40:00.001-08:00

The picture says it all. :)

Preorders are on their way! Click here to order your copy!

Also, listen below for a preview of the new CD! (You probably should listen to the first commercial for this one to make sense. :) To listen to the first one, click on the "next" arrow button on the player, and then click the "previous" arrow button to hear the new one!)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

The Garms Family

"Thank You, Lord" CD Review by MN SG Fan

2011-11-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

Our blogging friend, Josh, recently reviewed our first CD, "Thank You, Lord" on his blog, Minnesota SG Fan. Click here to read the great review!

Speaking of lutefisk, Josh: we all tried lutefisk for the first time on November 3rd when we sang for a lutefisk feed in Cambridge, MN. It actually wasn't as bad as we thought, but perhaps it was because we were overly hungry when we finally sat down to eat! (Jayme seemed to enjoy it the most, strangely enough.) :-D

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

P.S. Y'all can now preorder our latest CD, "The Right Time" by visiting our store!

A "Great" Concert Experience

2011-11-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Mom!

2011-10-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

Alas, the TGF blogger is behind, behind, behind! Our dear Mom's birthday was October 21st, on which she, once again, turned 29+ years old. :)

Happy (belated) Birthday, Mom!

Mom at MWQA - October 21st, 2011

KRIS

Kind

Radiant

Industrious

Selfless

We were at the Midwest Quartet Convention during Mom's birthday, so unfortunately, there was no cake, no ice cream, and only a handful of cards later that evening. :( But there were plenty of birthday greetings from everyone who found out it was Mom's special day!

The impromptu poster Dad and we kids made for Mom and hung up at our booth.

Here is the most unique birthday greeting Mom received during the convention:

We love you Mom! What would we do without you? ;)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

Recorded at "The Cave"...

2011-10-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

We are home from a four day "tour" in Iowa. On Thursday we left for Altoona, Iowa and enjoyed our time there for the Midwest Quartet Convention. Lord-willing, we'll post more stories and pictures from the awesome weekend.

But here's something we'll quickly share: Our friends, the Nuckols, came over to our home studio this summer and recorded a song for a music video. Here is the finished result. Didn't Ben do a great job with the audio? (And he also played accordion and upright bass, as well!)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

TGF

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-10-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Happy....um...39+ Birthday, Dad!

(Or here's Ben's way of introducing Dad and Mom on stage: he was born sometime between 1900 and 2000. :-D )

David (Dad) is:

Diligent

Adept

Visionary

Insightful

Diplomatic

Dad selected Proverbs 12 in our Bible reading today:

"A good man obtains favor from the LORD,

but a man of evil devices he condemns."

(Proverbs 12:2 ESV)

"No one is established by wickedness,

but the root of the righteous will never be moved."

(Proverbs 12:3 ESV)

"From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,

and the work of a man's hand comes back to him."

(Proverbs 12:14 ESV)

"Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,

but those who act faithfully are his delight."

(Proverbs 12:22 ESV)

We love you Dad and appreciate your guidance for our family! We are grateful for all the invaluable work you do for us and are blessed by your presence.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey with JESUS,

The Garms Family

"The Right Time" Coming Soon!

2011-10-10T14:13:00.001-07:00

"THE RIGHT TIME"

Great Adventure Gospel Band's second CD coming soon!

The song list for our upcoming Christmas CD.

Ben - our wonderful engineer has worked tirelessly on the project.

This Saturday and Sunday (10/8 - 10/9) found us busy wrapping up the CD. Ben set about mastering the CD on Sunday afternoon with Leesha lending a listening ear.

Taylor working on the graphic design for "The Right Time" on Sunday afternoon.

And while BLT were working on different aspects of the CD, Dad, Mom, and the LAs all contributed to another project: bulletin necklaces! (But more information on that later.)

Yes, we are in the throes of finishing up our first Christmas CD, and are thrilled to be almost done with it!

We decided on the name The Right Time for our Christmas CD, based off of a song which has received positive feedback during our concerts: "At the Right Time". The CD will include many traditional Christmas songs, including (not in any particular order)...

"At the Right Time"
"The First Noel"
"Away in a Manger"
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
"Dona Nobis Pacem"
"Silent Night"
"What Child Is This?"
"Go Tell It On the Mountain"
"Little Drummer Boy"
"Angels We Have Heard on High"
and also Sam and Jayme's cute recitation of "Jesus and Santa Claus"

There are a few minor details to be completed before we send the CD off to the replicators, but Lord-willing, "The Right Time" will be available for purchase this month! We will keep you all posted on specifics.

Merry Christmas! :)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

The Garms Family

The Chronicles of Sightings: Riding "No-Handed"

2011-09-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb challenged me to try riding bike without holding on to the handlebars: "no-handed", as they call it. Mustering up my courage and relying on the fact I can ride bike with only one hand, I took up their challenge. After several near crashes and wimpy attempts, I finally succeeded in riding "no-handed" for more than five seconds, using all the balance tricks I could think of and riding very slow! My little siblings applauded me, and then showed off how long they could ride with "no hands"! :)

Thinking of that experience brings my mind back to September 27th, 2010. I was at our home church uploading Caleb's first "Legacy Six" video when I got the call from Dad: he lost his job. A great fear gripped my heart as Dad told me the news. To be certain, we've always dreamed of Dad being home with us, but it seemed so sudden, and it definitely wasn't our timing. If it had been our will, the band would have been so busy that Dad would have to quit his job and we could easily transition into full-time ministry and concentrate fully on expanding it. But God had other plans.

You see, throughout this year of unemployment for Dad (and even without unemployment supplements!), we have learned to trust in the Lord, to lean on Him, and rely on Him for all of our needs. We have been riding on faith, "no-handed", you could say, as we let go of our plans and expectations and lay ourselves in God's gracious Hand. Have things been scary and uncertain at times? Yes, no doubt! But, time after time, we have watched God provide for all of our needs. We have not missed a single house payment or bill, we've never been hungry, and have even been blessed above our expectations. Time after time we have spotted "sightings" of God's Hand of provision working in our lives.

Let me give just one testimony of God's amazing provision: last week, bill time rolled around, and Dad and Mom wondered how they were going to cover the bills. The day bills were due, an envelope came in the mail with a sweet note of encouragement from someone who attended a recent concert...and enclosed was a check for the amount needed to cover our shortage! What a precious gift it was, and did we praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Yes, this has been a "no-handed" ride of faith, a journey of joy, and we are looking forward to what's ahead! Thank you for all of your prayers, and remember to praise God for His wonderful provision.

As a close to this post, here is a song we sang this last Friday in Baxter, MN, which has come alive to us through this season of trusting:

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

Legacy Six Returns!

2011-09-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

Yep, y'all: Legacy Six returned this Friday (September 23rd, 2011)!

Trey Ivey called Caleb up on stage during Legacy Five's encore, and Gus Gaches shared the last note on "Somebody Sing" with Caleb - "it was a hoot!"

If you haven't seen the first Legacy Six video (or just want to see it again), here it is:

More coverage from our time at Baxter soon to come. :)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

"Higher Ground" Video and A Prayer Request

2011-09-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

Usually before a concert if we have some "waiting" time, you'll more than often find us singing together. Even while we set up and tear down, the room will be alive with song and harmony! Such was the case back at our concert in Pequot Lakes, MN on April 30th, 2011. While the audience was eating dinner before the concert, we sung our hearts out. One the songs we caught on video.

Our actual arrangement of "Higher Ground" includes instruments, but we had fun trying it out

a capella. Here's the result:

As a side notefor today: Taylor fell ill with a cold last week (right before our concert on Friday, too!), then Leesha caught it, and now Mom and our friend Mal are coming down with it as well. All four of us had been at the local clinic last Tuesday for Mal's doctor appointment and obviously contracted a mean sore throat and cough. So, as the Spirit brings us to your mind, would you say a prayer for swift recovery for those who are sick and protected health for the rest of the family? We would certainly appreciate it, especially as we have two concerts this week. Thank you!

And, for those who may attend the Legacy Five concert this Friday, our set starts at 7:10 p.m. and then Legacy Five begins when we're done; we're so excited! (Anyone want to join us in the front row?) We're looking forward to seeing y'all there!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

The Garms Family

Who Is This?

2011-09-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

Last week, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb had the privilege to talk with a special person. Do you know who he is*? (If you're into Southern Gospel music, it should be pretty easy!)

Look for a special video interview on SouthernGospelBlog.com and pictures coming soon!

*For those who aren't familiar with Southern Gospel music, the man the LAs are speaking with is Ernie Haase of the Signature Sound Quartet.

Legacy Five and Great Adventure Gospel Band

2011-09-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

We were exceedingly honored and humbled to be asked earlier this year to open for Legacy Five on September 23rd, 2011. (Our first reaction was, "NO WAY!" :) ) We are very excited (and yes, VERY nervous) to "warm up the audience" for our "Favorite Quartet of Today", and are looking forward to a night of fun and praising the Lord. (And yes, we still claim the front pew!)

The concert starts officially at 7:30 p.m., but our set begins a short time before then. Tickets are $16 in advance and $19 at the door, so order yours today to join us for this special concert! (Click on the Legacy Five button to get more details and order tickets.) We would love to see you there!

And please pray we don't get chicken pox or any other illness this year which would hinder our time in Baxter! :)

P.S. If you would like to view our latest e-newsletter with other newsworthy items, including information about the Glory Bus and the Christmas CD, click here.

And Happy 87th Birthday Mal!

2011-08-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

Mal and our kitty, Tiger, working together.

(The Garms Family blogger is obviously catching up on birthday posts!)

A happy (belated) birthday to our friend, Mal! He turned 87 years old on August 7th, thus beginning our birthday season for 2011-2012. And since a picture speaks a thousand words, let's allow several pictures do the speaking for now:

The two August "birthday boys": Caleb and Mal.

We were so glad to be home to celebrate Mal's birthday with him this year!

Happy Birthday to our precious friend, Mal! We love you, Mal! We're with you on your journey though life and ageing, and thank God for your presence in our lives.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

The Garms Family

Happy 8th Birthday, Caleb!

2011-08-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

Happy 8th Birthday to the sweetest, cutest 8-year old boy in the world: Caleb!

CALEB IS:

Caring

Adventurous

Lively

Easygoing

Bold

Caleb selected Psalm 8 for his birthday psalm today:

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established strength because of your foes,

to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen,

and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

We love you, our little (but growing!) bundle of joy and laughter! Happy Birthday, buddy!

Catching Up with the Family

2011-08-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

In seeing the last time I posted here was August 1st, I figured it was quite time for another blog! So much has been happening that I do not even know where exactly to start, so I'll take a creative approach and put my family on the spot with the simple question:

"What two things have happened in your life recently that are exciting, big...or just what you've been up to?"

We'll see how this goes! (I think some people will be easier than others!)

---------------------------------------------------------------

Caleb: "I lost two teeth recently, and I have been collecting toads and frogs with Sam; I kept a toad for a day, and fed him worms and made a nice grassy home for him!"

Jayme: "I'm very much looking forward to and waiting for the day when we open for Legacy Five. I've also been outside a lot, and I have to admit, INSIDE a lot, playing with my LEGO horses."

Sam: "I've been helping Dad work on airplanes, and I have been practicing my slingshots with Caleb. Also I have been trying to learn German, but I have to eat sauerkraut though!" (Grandpa Junker told him he had to eat sauerkraut before he could learn German.) :)

Leesha: "Nothing!" (She then breaks into a giggle.) [Oh, come on! There's got to be something!] "What is the meaning of 'recently'? How recent is 'recent'?" [I told you some people would be easier than others! ;) ] ["LEESHA!"] "I was looking at the calendar to see if there was anything important on there! What was your question again?" (Reads question again.) "The Iowa trip is obviously the 'biggest' thing that has happened in the past two months. I can't believe it is already done; I still think we're planning for it! I think we would have enjoyed it more if we hadn't been so tired and our tire hadn't blown - that added an exciting twist to it all." [Taylor's interjection: Keep your eyes open for more details coming about this incident!] "Nothing much else, except for day to day things: school, practice, making meals, eating meals, and planning meals...and life!" :)

Taylor: "Oh, I'm next! THAT should be pretty easy! The two biggest, most exciting, most exhilarating, the most thrilling, and most invigorating things which have happened in my life are publishing my very first website - made entirely from scratch; it's amazing my mind hasn't exploded yet from living in code and Photoshop for the past few months!! - for 4 His Love Quartet (check it out, if you'd like, at http://www.4hislove.com), and purchasing a new, "peach-colored", wood-toned Morgan Monroe MMS-8 mandolin! I'm especially excited about my beautiful mandolin - I absolutely love it! Okay, those are the big things. Moving on..."

Ben: "Recording our Christmas CD and growing even more skilled at audio engineering over these past 14 months has been exciting! I went from absolutely nothing to what I know today. It has been fun learning new techniques and putting into practice what I've already learned. Also, getting to know friends better is something I've been shooting for recently."

[Sam just came in and said, "Taylor, I'd like you to meet somebody." He pulled a toad out of his pocket and it started climbing out his shirt. "Meet Tiny the Toad!" he said. Then a short time later he came in again, repeating, "Taylor, I'd like you to meet somebody". A toad leaped from his hands and started exploring the carpet, with Sam following behind crying, "No! No! Come back here, Teenie!". Finally, big sister Taylor had to intervene, and saved the day by grabbing the escapee and releasing the small reptile outside.]

Mom: "I did something I didn't think I could do: I came up with my own pattern and sewed curtains for the bus, and actually really enjoyed sewing! In the past, sewing and golf were just two things I wouldn't claim any knowledge or skill about, but who knows, maybe I'll get into sewing skirts for the girls of this family! Now, golf....I can honestly say, forget it!! :)"

Dad: "What's been really neat for me is being home this summer, as in not being an employee. I've been around my family and have been able to work on things around the home. The other thing was the tire blow-out last week! I can't think of anything else other than working on the bus; that's been my summer!"

---------------------------------------------------------------

That's a small piece of "life" from the members of the Garms household! We'll (Lord-willing) continue to update you on road stories and other family happenings as the days roll on. Also, we have two concerts this weekend; check out our calendar for more info, and we'd love to see you somewhere! :)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for The Gang

"Folks, It's Getting Bad"

2011-08-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

"Wow, look at the clouds!"

Last Saturday evening we were sitting at Wendy's, visitin' with our good friends, the Hainings when someone noticed the clouds. Dark, impressive as they shaded the sunset...and gathering fast.

Earlier that day we had performed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Grantsburg, WI; it was supposed to be an outdoor concert, but because of heavy rain in the morning, it was moved inside...which we were actually grateful for, as outdoor concerts are tough to do with lots of instruments to protect, blood-thirsty bugs, and unpredictable summer weather. So, suffice to say, we enjoyed the air-conditioning as the humidity rose throughout the afternoon! Pastor Jay, Ruby, Dorothy, and all the ladies of the church were so gracious to us.

We were utterly surprised when our long-distance friends, the Hainings showed up. They recently moved to Missouri and were in the area; our families wanted to get together sometime while they were here in Minnesota, but it wasn't going to work anytime soon. So, when they appeared at the church right before the concert, we were shocked! :)

After the concert, the Hainings and our family headed to Cambridge, MN to eat supper and catch up on a couple months. We laughed and talked and shared over the course of four hours (when you put two families who like to talk together, well, the conversation never stops!). Meanwhile outside, the bright sunshine was fading away quickly, not only because of the evening hours, but because of gathering cumulonimbus clouds. Lightning flashes eventually began to interrupt our talks, and the subject of our girls' conversation turned to storms briefly.

Then, suddenly, I heard something which chilled me: the wail of a siren...at least I thought I did. "Is that the sirens?" I asked suddenly, shushing our talk, looking at the rain starting to pour and the pitch black clouds. "It couldn't have been," I answered my own question quickly, knowing when I get scared I have the tendency to "hear" things. Then, I heard them again and I knew I wasn't hearing things! I jumped up out my chair quick, and tapped Dad on the shoulder; "Dad, I hear the sirens," I said with a tremble in my voice. ("Sirens", meaning a siren which signifies a tornado has been spotted.)

Everyone sprang out of their chairs and went to the windows. (What is the first thing you're supposed to do in a bad storm? Stay away from windows!) An employee nearby started filling us in on the latest news: a tornado warning had been issued until 9:00 p.m. Well, it was just 9:00, so it would be over soon...so we thought. Mr. Haining checked his phone for more information, and sure enough, we could see we were in the thick of a nasty looking storm. The lightning was flashing continually now, the wind was whipping the trees, and the thunder claps shook the windows...and it was pouring!

Then the warning was extended to 9:45 p.m. It looked like we could be at Wendy's for a long while.

We eventually sat down again. We were the only customers, so we just made ourselves comfy. Mrs. Haining, James, and Gracie started singing a song called "Master of the Wind", as our family hadn't heard it before, when suddenly an employee came up to us.

"Folks, it's getting bad," she said in the utmost sincerity.

"Just the way she said it gave me a pounding in my heart," Jayme told me later.

During the song, I had looked over at Leesha and saw her eyes were huge. She was staring at a metal light post which was swaying crazily back and forth, bending in the force of the wind. Yep, it was getting bad. Before we hurried for the safety of the bathrooms, I peeked outside and saw a thick wall of water surrounding the building. Sam later described it as "it wasn't raining sheets, it was raining MATTRESSES!"

The wind was howling and thunder rolling, and my legs were shaking from fright, I tell you that! Ruthie started texting their friends for prayers, and we then started singing "How Great Thou Art". (Earlier I had suggested we sing "I'll Fly Away", but no one really took up THAT suggestion!) The bathroom acoustics were wonderful and the harmonies of two family singing groups resounded through the restaurant. It was so funny, because when we girls finished the last powerful note, we heard the boys in the boys' bathroom still holding it out! We laughed so hard.

After the song ended, an employee told us the storm had lessened. We peeked out of the door and saw her mopping up puddles of water which had seeped through the doors. 14 people trooped out of the bathrooms and headed to the windows. The parking lot was solid water, but everything amazingly looked intact! Even Cub Foods was still there! (Ben had joked when we'd see Cub Foods gone, we'd be goners!) The Hainings' Sprinter looked okay and we trusted the Glory Bus was okay and didn't leak (it was parked behind the restaurant).

We waited some more, and around 10:00 p.m., we parted ways (sniffle!) and went out into the subsiding storm.

It just happened to be the day I failed to bring the camera or the Zoom, so I didn't get any of the adventure digitized to share. :( All we have are memories. As Leesha, Jayme, Ruthie, Pearl, Gracie, and I talked about the crazy night, Leesha said, "When we're all old, we'll say to each other, 'Do you remember that one time when that one storm came?'", making her voice sound old and scratchy, and making us girls laugh.

You never know what is going to happen when you're on the road! But it's always best to experience strange happenings with good friends.

Okay Hainings, I said I'd blog about; did I sum it up well? :)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

"Soon and Very Soon" Video

2011-07-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon Friends!

Do you have 2:33 minutes?

Want a smile for your day?

Okay...here's Sam, Jayme, and Caleb's rendition of "Soon and Very Soon" from our concert at New Life Church of God in Bertha, MN on July 10th, 2011. Ben also joins them with some fun bass vocals. Enjoy!

If you can't watch the video here, visit our YouTube channel to view it there: http://www.youtube.com/user/greatadventurefamily.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for The Garms Gang

New Promotional Photos!

2011-07-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all!

I'm finally catching up on some housekeeping on the website! If you are promoting a concert with the Great Adventure Gospel Band and are desiring promotional material, please visit our Promoter's page for new photos and an updated press release. If you experience any difficulty downloading any of our promotional items, do not hesitate to email: greatadventure@localnet.com.

Also I added three new concert dates to our calendar yesterday; so check those out - we'd love to see you soon! I believe we are around 49 appearances for 2011; praise the Lord!

We sang last night in Gregory Park, Brainerd, MN and were SO thankful it was beautiful weather for the concert! The storm clouds began to gather and thunder began to roll right after we stopped singing and, with extra helping hands of friends, we were able to beat the rain! It was close, though! The most unique aspect of the concert was the bandshell we sang in. It was about nine feet off the ground and we had to climb a flight of scary stairs inside/underneath the bandshell to get all our heavy equipment on to the "stage" area.

And now we are looking at a weekend off and wondering what we are going to do with all our "free" time! :)

Hope you have a wonderful, God-blessed weekend!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

Happy 4th of July and "Thank You, Lord" CD Review

2011-07-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Garms Family - 4th of July (2008)

Hey Y'all!

Happy 4th of July! How are you all spending your day? We are enjoying a beautiful sunshiny day at home and are thankful for electricity (we were in a power outage for about 22 hours Friday-Saturday this weekend, believe it or not; that was interesting!). We are also extremely grateful for the sacrifice of our brave soldiers (and their families) who served and are serving our country in the military, and praise the Lord for our country's freedom.

Well, here's a tidbit for you to enjoy: Yankeegospelgirl recently reviewed our debut project, "Thank You, Lord" on her blog, www.SouthernGospelYankee.wordpress.com! If you'd like to read her kind, insightful, and thoughtful review, click here to visit the post.

Thanks, YGG!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

Let's Celebrate: It's Our 3rd Anniversary!

2011-06-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Sweaty palms, tightened throats, anxiety about off-notes and forgotten words...what were we getting into? It was Sunday, June 29th, 2008 and we, this unknown family who just loved to sing around the keyboard, were opening for a Southern Gospel group, Living Sacrifice from Missouri.

Now, three years later...

- A white bus sits in the driveway and Mom is at the kitchen table sewing curtains for its windows (wow, she is brave!).

- Most of the sound system is set-up in the living room, and around the room are scattered over 22 instruments.

- Dad is making a Great Adventure contact call, and I just added two more concert dates to our schedule for July, making a total of eight concerts.

- We'll be practicing yet today for our two concerts this weekend and Mom and I have to put together a program for both of those events.

- Just two nights ago, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb performed their arrangement of "Soon and Very Soon" in the living room and absolutely sold it to us! (It's amazing what the LAs come up with sometimes...)

- Nearby where I am sitting at the computer desk, boxes of our first CD are neatly stacked, and studio equipment is placed strategically in the boys' room. (And Ben is currently mixing down a song for some friends of ours, the latest release from...ooo, but I can't tell you! :) )

Did we expect this when we stepped on stage to perform our three songs before Living Sacrifice's concert? Did we envision this? No! Wow, look where God has brought us! We had dreams, but not plans. We had passing thoughts, but never really expected it to happen in reality.

It has been a journey of joy mingled with trials and tears. We have learned much, prayed much, played much, and met so many wonderful people. To be bearers of the Gospel of Christ through music and message, words and lives is the most awesome responsibility we could ever have.

We have so many wonderful memories and are looking forward to making many more. On to another year of Great Adventures!

"Saddle up your horses, we've got trails to blaze..." :)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

P.S. In celebration of the day, here's the link to photos from our first "official" concert: http://greatadventurefamily.com/PhotoAlbums/album_1/

And also, here is a "Taylor'd Perspective" I wrote on our first anniversary (2009) for our e-newsletter:

We were at a concert at Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church back in June and I was enjoying talking with a gentleman there about the beginnings of Great Adventure. When he would ask questions about our ministry, the first words that would come out of my mouth were usually "It’s amazing!" and then I would proceed to answer his questions. It seemed my tongue was programmed to repeat this phrase over and over again. Later that evening as I was processing my day and my conversations, I realized that I was speaking the truth with this simple sentence.

The growth of this ministry has been truly amazing! The doors God has opened, the places we’ve visited, the people we’ve met, the lessons we’ve learned - all of these have been amazing.

We celebrated the one-year anniversary of our first official public appearance on June 29, 2008. On this day, Great Adventure Gospel Band sang at North Isanti Baptist Church in Cambridge, MN as the opening group for Living Sacrifice, a mixed quartet from Missouri. What a wonderful time it was, and a great learning experience! We sang three of our best songs (at the time they were anyway!) and received a good response. Through our mistakes and difficulties, God chose to bless us. It was amazing!

When I was little, I always dreamed of becoming a singer, but I never really thought it would happen, at least not this way. (I wanted to tour with Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, Steven Curtis Chapman, etc. I didn‘t know what Southern Gospel or Bluegrass was!) Now as we travel to concerts and play to any number of people, I ask myself, "What are we doing? Is this really happening? This is amazing!"

We have played for small groups of seven at assisted-living homes and played for hundreds of people in a large church or outdoor event. We've weathered cold and rainy outdoor picnics, and survived sticky, humid concerts at local parks. The church denominations we’ve played at have varied as well: Lutheran to Baptist, Assemblies of God to Evangelical Free.

The people we’ve met have also left an impression on us: The man who danced to our music, the mother who asked if she could come home with us, and the widow who needed to hear the songs we sang. The tears and laughter have been unforgettable.

Our voices have matured and instrument playing has improved. (At our concert at North Isanti last year, I could only play a deadened chop, while now, I can play full bar-chords! Only mandolin players can relate to this!) The Lil' Adventurers have grown and their love of music has expanded as well.

So many people have encouraged us over the past year as well. Pastor Anderson and our home congregation at St. Stephen's Lutheran, Grandma Frieda Garms, Bob and Carol Wood, Curt and Lois Olson, and Larry and Lois Gustafson from North Isanti Baptist, Pastor Walt and Lee Reese, Bill Holbrook from River of Life Productions, the Berge family from Bemedji, the Gospelmen Quartet from Michigan, Terri Toney and the Toney Brothers from Tennesse, and SO many more!

This year has been a year of blessings as well. For instance, we had been praying for a trailer to meet our transportation needs. Then in April, God provided just the right one for our family! He has also been blessing us with funds for a future CD.

As I close this review of the past year, I am humbled at where God has brought us. Doors continue to be opened for our ministry and people are being encouraged by God, through us. All I can say is, "It's amazing!"

Video: Wanna Travel with the Garms Family?

2011-06-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what life is like "on the road"? Have you ever wanted to jump aboard a bus and experience the adventures of a family band? Have you ever thought, "I would like to travel with that crazy Garms family just once, to see what it's like."

Okay. Come along!

Back in April, we brought our Zoom Q3HD digital video recorder along for several concert trips, capturing video to reveal behind the scenes of traveling and singing.

Many people catch only a glimpse of all that goes into the hour and a half concerts they attend. They see the microphones and stands lined nicely on a stage (it doesn't matter to the audience if the stage is big or small - but to a large group, it's an entirely different story), cords trailing over the platform to a big hunk of plug-ins, buttons, and sliders, instruments placed in strategic positions over the platform, and the group, all smiles (or not smiles...just depends on the group and the day), behind the table or mingling with the crowd. But few see the tear-down and loading, even fewer witness the unloading and set-up. And only the group knows the whole story of "concerting", which begins many hours or even days before the small hour and a half performance.

But now you have the opportunity to see a bit more. On April 17th, 2011, we began the process to deliver an hour and a half concert at Rose City Evangelical Free Church in Rose City, Minnesota. We "taped" many of the happenings to give you a feel for the behind-the-scenes. You'll experience packing, long miles, funny instances, interesting sights, Minnesota attractions, the unloading/set-up process, sound checks, and more! Come along for the journey; we'd love to have you ride with us! (This was pre-Glory Bus, so you'll have to sit in the van for this trip!)

Watch the video below, or click here to view it on YouTube!

If you'd like to read an audience member's perspective, check out our friend Alyssa's review of our concert at Rose City. (And yes, Alyssa, you thoroughly beat me on posting those pictures first - I still haven't posted one yet!)

Enjoy!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

Travel Log: June 1st, 2011 - Watertown, WI

2011-06-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

We are sitting in a Holiday Inn Express 359 miles away from home. Mom just finished reading the Sugar Creek Gang to Sam, Jayme, and Caleb...and to us bigger kids as well! We've eaten some food, gotten into our pajamas, settled in, said a family evening prayer, and have started to say goodnight.

What a day.

We left the home after 8:00 this morning to head to Watertown, WI. It took us about seven hours to finally arrive at our destination (counting numerous restroom stops!). Traveling is very comfortable in the Glory Bus; we are grateful for our "new wheels". :)

The concert at Christ United Methodist Church went well with plenty of interesting happenings. Probably the most unique thing was the amount of bugs (mainly moths) which swarmed around the lights right outside the front doors of the church - exactly where we needed to load! So, suffice to say, that was rather disgusting. I think Caleb and Sam both ate a bug apiece, and their opinion was "crunchy". Leesha had one moth go up her nose, and Sam and Jayme had moths in their eyes. YUCK! :-D

Anyhow, we had a wonderful time with those who attended the concert tonight! A special thanks to Barbara for making us feel so welcome and comfortable; she really went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed. We were blessed.

I will write more some other time about this whole adventure, but right now I'm too tired to think straight! :) (I'd better stop typing before I write something crazy!)

Tomorrow morning we are singing at Bethesda Lutheran Home here in Watertown. Bethesda Lutheran Communities is a service/home for those who struggle with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are looking forward to ministering to all the precious people who reside at Bethesda and the devoted staff!

Again, please keep us in your prayers during this busy week! We appreciate it!

Okay, goodnight friends!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for TGF

The Chronicle of Sightings | Entry One: The Glory Bus

2011-05-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

"Sighting! Sighting!"

For years, whenever our family has clearly witnessed God's hand at work in our lives, someone is always apt to exclaim: "Sighting!" The phrase comes from the time when us older four (Whit, Ben, Taylor, and Leesha) were just young whippersnappers and Mom was reading the "Tales of the Kingdom" series to us before bed. It was a highlight of the day and we eagerly looked forward to each new adventure and lesson. We came across a story which described a young boy looking for the King. Each time he would spy the King, in sometimes the most obscure ways, he would cry "Sighting!" Henceforth, it has become a favorite cry in our family. :)

Last year we began a notebook which we lovingly entitled, "The Chronicles of Sightings". It came out of a period when I in particular was wondering if God truly exsisted and cared to be involved in our lives. Dad and Mom brought the idea to the family to chronicle the times we've spotted God clearly working in every detail, providing for all our needs, and moving mountains we were powerless to move. Stories began to fill up the pages over the weeks, but in the midst of cleaning for company shortly after, the notebook was moved from the kitchen counter to a quiet spot in the back of the home, sitting unnoticed for many months.

Not too long ago, we pulled the notebook out of its hiding place to resume its familiar resting spot. Since then there have been more entries, and I think it's time to share and give God the glory through some of the chronicles we recorded. He alone deserves the wonderful praise for all the intricate and amazing things He works in our lives, sometimes things so small we overlook them, or so huge that we are overwhelmed by His gracious hand.

And what better and more timely topic to start with then the Glory Bus? :)

To quote the chronicle from May 11th, 2011...

"Ever since we traded in our van for the "Glory Bus", we have seen God's leading and gracious provision through:

- the sign of the rainbow;
- no high MN sales tax (it was an even trade);
- installing the hitch was half of what we were expecting to pay;
- special cleaning chemical worked for one of the headlights, instead of [having to buy] two new ones;
- diesel being less than regular gas. [Recently when we filled up the bus, it was actually less than regular gas!]"

God has worked many little details to provide for our bus while on a tight budget. Things we thought tough or impossible to cover financially God has provided. We are amazed at His provision; give Him the glory, honor, and praise!

Next up on "The Chronicles", surprise blessings through Dad's unemployment!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for TGF

Members of the Midwest Quartet Association

2011-05-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Y'all!

We received word a few weeks ago that we have been accepted into the Midwest Quartet Association (yes, this blog announcement is behind - sorry!). We filled out an application last year and were so happy to hear the news! Years ago when we were first starting as a band, we dreamed of possibly applying for membership, so this is a neat step in the Great Adventure.

For more information about the MWQA, please visit: http://www.mwqa.org/.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for TGF

P.S. This is unrelated, random, but pertinent to our family band: a friend shared with me (thanks Amy!) that a photographer, Eric Vest, for the Lake Itasca Family Music Festival recently posted pictures of the fest on his blog, and if you do some scrolling, you'll spot us in his photo collection (look for people in orange, an accordian, and a weird sepia picture toward the bottom of the post! :) )! Click here to view the photos, and if you go here, you'll find a few more photos of different members of the family (again, just look for the orange outfits!).

"Big" Changes for Great Adventure

2011-05-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we made one of the "biggest" decisions we've made thus far for our ministry:

We got a bus.

We know the word "bus" provides images of bunks, plush couches, closets, kitchen, bathroom/shower facilities and mega money all packed into 45 feet. If God dropped a tour bus onto our driveway, wonderful, except for the gigantical diesel gas prices. But the Lord has instead provided for our family band:

"The Glory Bus"

Yes, we traded our beautiful 2003 Chevy Express van for a 1997 Champion Freightliner bus yesterday. This change has not come about without much consideration, research, long talks, phone calls, dreaming, and advice. It was a decision not reached easily, but we made the right choice.

Our family has always loved dreaming about busses, even before we seriously started the band. We would go on bus sale websites and stay up late talking, laughing, and dreaming. There was "Vanilly", "Thunderbolt", and, oh yes, "The Banana", but all of those were too expensive. But knowing tour busses eat fuel like crazy, we decided to be more realistic and look into Sprinters and shuttle busses. We have friends who have gone the Sprinter route and they enjoy it, and we have played around with making a Sprinter work for our family for many months now. With gas prices going up and longer trips facing our ministry, we knew our van would have to be replaced.
Mom did some searching, like normal, last week on Craigslist and found two smaller busses and a Sprinter. She printed off the info and pictures, and looking over these options, there was one which stood out. My first reaction to the white bus was "No!", and then on second glance, "Actually, it's kind of cute. Hey, that's the Glory Bus! Here comes Great Adventure Gospel Band in the Glory Bus!" :)

Now today, it's sitting in our driveway.

We have not found a vehicle that fits our needs so perfectly for this time. Rides will now be more comfortable with reclining seats and lots of space. There are currently 21 seats in the bus, and everyone has their seat claimed. The options for customization are vast - with money and time being our main variables. But best of all, it has a CD player! Wahoo! :)

It is not in mint condition, and needs some elbow grease and scrubbing. The chasis has over 200,000 miles on it, and the engine (it was replaced several years ago) has 80,000 miles. Our van and trailer got about 9 mpg (gas), while the Glory Bus (hopefully) will get about 16-18 mpg (diesel). It needs a hitch and a few other fix-ups, but it is definitely a step up in needed space and mileage.

Photo Recap from the Trip

Caleb, all smiles during the final trip in the van.

BLT: Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomatos - er, Ben, Leesha, and Taylor - chillin' on Grandpa's couch. :) We stopped over at Grandpa's house for lunch, and he rode along with us to check out the bus.

Who else? The LAs hanging out in Grandpa's chair.

Almost to New Ulm! Dad, driving his van for the last time.

The last few miles in the van. :(

Meeting the Glory Bus.

Inside, looking everything over.

What a "beauty"! :-D That's Dad underneath, checking everything over.

"Wanna ride?" Taylor and Leesha goofing off.

Your photographer for the day: Ben. :)

The test drive! Years ago, Dad was a school bus driver, so his training (not coincidental, because there are no coincidences when you walk with the Lord!) comes in very handy with the bus!

Experiencing the Glory Bus for the first time.

You can tell Caleb's mind was settled during the test drive!

Grandpa and Caleb bargaining over Caleb's fishing cap. :)

The new owner and Dad and Mom heading off to take care of the final details. What a faithful vehicle the van was! (The van is a sports car compared to the Glory Bus!)

Well, we are no longer "normal" people in the fact our main transportation is now a bus. (Of course, we weren't even "normal" with our 15 passenger van!) We have been laughing over imagining going to church with the bus, to Wal-Mart, to concerts, to friends' homes and seeing people's reactions. :)

This is an adventure! We have taken a step forward in our committment to the ministry God has called us and there is no turning back. That is scary, yet very exciting! The van has been with us since the real "Great Adventure", and feels like an old friend, a family member, so it was sad to say goodbye to it.

The family and the van right before we started on the first Great Adventure in 2002.

The last moments with the van, almost nine years later.

One of the things I personally will miss most about it is the little people stickers on the back window. Having sat in the back seat for many years now, I have had the privilege of watching other drivers smile and point at all our "little people". For the last time yesterday, I saw a young boy trying to count all of us, and then watched as he got his mother counting as well. To see their joyful expressions and laughter was humorous and special to me.

After trading the van and beginning the journey back home in the bus, Dad suddenly yelled out from the driver's seat, "Look! There's a rainbow!" Immediately a peace and reassurance passed over us and joy filled our hearts as we stared in shock at the rainbow directly ahead of us. We couldn't believe it!

If you have heard/read our Great Adventure story, you'll recall how after the church building project fell through in Brentwood, California, Dad and Mom sat in our van praying, seeking the Lord's guidance. A rainbow suddenly appeared in the sky before them, and remembering how rainbows symbolize God's promise, Dad and Mom felt peace, knowing God was with our family. He had a plan, even when all our plans were falling through. We eventually left California, trusting in the Lord. Arriving at a gas station in Blythe, Arizona during the return trip, we spotted a rainbow to the north and decided to follow it, having no other place to go. After traveling for a while, Mom found a campground in the direction we were heading, and it turned out to be the campground which we called our second home (for four months), and the place where we met Mal.

Rainbows have become a sign of God's visible presence, care, guidance, and reassurance for our family, and that rainbow, we confidently believe, was a promise from the Lord that this is the direction He wants us to go in our journey. What a precious sign from God! Thank You, Lord!

Now the work begins!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for TGF

Happy Anniversary, Dad and Mom!

2011-04-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, our wonderful, amazing, fantabulous, stupendous, godly, blessed, loving and well-loved (any other adjectives?) parents celebrated their wedding anniversary.

On April 21st, our parents, David and Kris, were united in marriage and vowed to remain faithful and committed to each other no matter what. And that's exactly what they have done for many years.

We truly appreciate our parents. Dad and Mom have been wonderful examples to us children of committment and faithfulness. They take their wedding vows seriously ("till death do us part") and do truly love each other. Yes, they are not perfect, and they often tell us of the realities of marriage, sharing that while it is one of the greatest blessings, it is also one of the most difficult relationships to keep strong along the journey of life. They know the truth in God's Word stating: "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecc. 4:12)

The night of their anniversary we watched a video of their wedding ceremony (actually the first time for many of us to see the video and "attend" a true, godly wedding), and some of us had a hard time holding back the tears. We had not realized all the precious and significant ceremonial aspects of the wedding before, like the father (Grandpa) of the bride (our radiant and beautiful mother :) ) transferring his authority to the groom (our happy and handsome father:) ) and the gravity of their vows. It really opened the eyes of us kids, especially us older ones, to how sacred marriage really is.

During their wedding sermon, their former pastor said some amazingly prophetic things that none of us had remembered or heard before. For example, he kept mentioning the "journey" of faith (using Hebrews 11 as his basis for the sermon). As you probably have picked up on, that word means so much to us, as we are truly on a journey of joy and faith - a "great adventure". Then, the pastor also talked of Dad's singing, and he kept saying, "Keep singing, Dave". How we laughed at the irony, considering our family's present life situation! :)

Oh, our dear parents, we are so grateful for you. Keep on this journey of faith, and yes, keep singing. We love you dearly, are thankful for your godly guidance and unconditional love, and we treasure you deeply. Words cannot fully express what you mean to us, and perhaps we don't know the extent of your worth to us kids. Keep loving each other as Christ has first loved you.

"Two are better than one, because they have good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Dad and Mom's wedding verses)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms Kids

Happy Easter/Resurrection Day!

2011-04-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

We hope and pray you had a wonderful Easter/Resurrection Day!

After a long and stressful week, we were looking forward to a nice, quiet day at home after Easter Sunday morning worship. But we kids were surprised by Dad and Mom announcing they were taking us up to one of our favorite spots in Minnesota: Gooseberry Falls and the Northshore! We hadn't visited the Duluth area as sightseers since 2005, and since Sam, Jayme, and Caleb barely retained any memories from the trip, being so young, the most excited were Ben, Leesha, and I. But our excitement quickly rubbed off on them as we told them all about the beautiful scenery and memories. The LAs grabbed backpacks, binoculars, bird books, hankerchiefs, and Sam even brought a compass along. They were ready to go!

The long trip was filled with lots of fun and laughter (as most trips are, praise the Lord!), and we finally arrived at our destination. Gooseberry Falls is a gorgeous state park and highlights the natural waterfalls which cascade into Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world.

The lower and middle falls.

I personally would have enjoyed our time more if I wasn't so worried about Sam, Jayme, and Caleb getting too close to the drop-offs and rushing water. :) Ben would have liked it more if we didn't go across the high bridge (see above picture) - he felt it move, he assured us as he ran across...but he only ran once his frozen legs started moving again! :) Ben is petrified of heights...well, at least certain heights like extremely tall bridges over running water and hard rocks. But, all that aside, we had a blast and enjoyed God's marvelous creation found right in our wonderful state, Minnesota. We also enjoyed being "normal" tourists and taking a trip for the sake of taking a trip. :)

Walking around the park was good exercise!

Most of the family (Mom's taking the picture) at the falls in 2005. Look at Jayme's pigtails! And baby Caleb! And the rest of us are so young!

2011 - my, how we've grown OLD!

After our visit to the Falls, we stopped along the shore of Lake Superior, just to breathe in the fresh lake air and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the mammoth lake. Most everyone found some special rocks (in fact, Mom spent most of her time rock hunting for agates!), and of course, our cameras were busy taking pictures and video (unfortunately, I haven't transferred my photos yet, so you just have to imagine the beauty!). The waves reminded us older ones of the Pacific Ocean in California, and made us all long to go on the "Great Adventure" again. Someday, Lord-willing!

On the way back, we stopped for a non-traditional supper at our favorite restaurant, Arby's. The irony of our stop is that, last Easter, our family made a trip up to Duluth to visit our foster sister in a hospital, and stopped at the very same Arby's for supper! :) It isn't quite your typical ham-and-cheesy-potato meal, but it sure was good!

The fellowship with each other was sweet, the glories of God's creation were clearly evident, and the joy of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead was vibrant in all our hearts. We appreciated our time to regroup and decompress, and can't wait till our next trip up there!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

Happy 19th Birthday Taylor!

2011-04-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

Here's something I don't normally have the chance to do - I get to write a blog!

Which one of our children was an absolute model baby in the hospital? One who didn't cry and spent most of her time with her mom in the room, and not in the nursery? (And who within an hour of getting home couldn't stop crying? - Mom)

This is none other than our dear high-descant, mandolin-fiddle-and-piano-playing blonde Taylor. (She was born with lots of blonde hair!) Her 19th birthday was Friday, April 8th. What a delight it was to celebrate with this sunshiny young lady. Grandpa even came with a special homemade chili as a treat!

Heading to the hospital to deliver Taylor seemed like just a few days ago. What a gift she is to Kris and I.

Happy 19th Birthday, Taylor!

-Dad for TGF

Booth Brothers Concert Highlights on SGBlog

2011-04-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Good morning friends!

Just a quick post to inform those of you who enjoy blog-hopping, video-watching, and Southern Gospel Music that a concert highlight video of our experience with the Booth Brothers has been posted on SouthernGospelBlog.com. Ben had fun slicing up and editing about an hour of footage to create this five minute video last week; good job, Ben!

Click here to watch it, and post a comment if you'd like! :) (Go on...it's not too hard, and it doesn't hurt! ;) )

Have a wonderful, God-blessed day!
Taylor for the Garms Family

Booth Brothers Concert Review

2011-04-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon Friends!

It is almost 70 degrees here in our town of Braham, and the humidity is wonderful! At last we can open the windows and let the fresh spring air flow through the home!

This concert review is overdue (I'm a poet, and ya'll didn't know it!), but life has been busy around the Garms Family home. Forgive me for my tardiness and procrastination!

I left you hanging on a countdown for the Booth Brothers in my last blog, and yes, the day finally arrived on Saturday, April 2nd. I awoke to Sam, Jayme, and Caleb saying: "Hey! This is Sam, Jayme, and Caleb Garms. We are the Little Adventurers reporting for SouthernGospelBlog.com." But more about that later...

The day was filled with joyful and excited preparation. We gathered cameras, gummy bears, and pillows for the trip (but let me assure you, no one fell asleep on the way home!).

The family, all ready to go! (Note the nametags: the suspense is building, isn't it?) Whitney unfortunately had to work, but otherwise, she would have joined us for the concert.

Almost there! We finally made it to Maplewood, MN and stopped at a favorite site - Arby's! - for a restroom stop. :)

We were the first people at the church, other than the Booth Brothers and the promoters (go figure for arriving two and half hours early!). We sat and waited, enjoying each other's company in the sunshine and greeting people as they came. :) Caleb (above) proudly displays his SouthernGospelBlog.com nametag. Yes, we brought questions and Leesha's and my new video camera for gathering some blog material during the concert, and did we have fun with that! (I cannot tell you how many people asked, "What's a blog?") Keep scrolling for a video result of our on-the-site reporting.

Waiting, waiting, waiting. :) This was Sam, Jayme, and Caleb's post during the waiting process.

Yes, after much waiting, the concert began! It was such a wonderful time to listen to Ronnie and Michael Booth and Jim Brady share from their heart and God's Word through their music and message. We were uplifted and encouraged, and inspired to be better performers ourselves. They are so polished, so relaxed on stage, and so ministry-focused.

Part of the Front-Row, Full-Pew Crew.

Jim Brady saving money on car insurance. :) Yes, he "supposedly" answered his phone during the concert. (And yes, we have been guilty of answering phones on stage as well - just once, mind you! It was an important phone call! But Jim had no excuse! :)

Caleb during "I'm Feeling Fine". :) Michael later told Caleb, "If I forget the words, I know exactly where to look", as he was singing along with almost every song. We heard many of our favorite Booth Brother songs...even a song I was hoping they wouldn't sing, "All Over the World". :) Leesha loves the calypso beat, but I don't necessarily appreciate it. But I admit, they had a lot of fun with it, and so did we!

Michael talking to the audience at intermission. (We like this picture!) :)

Ronnie talking with the family.

After the concert, Ronnie and Michael just infused our family band with wisdom from a group who has traveled many more years and miles. We were overwhelmed with all their insight - in a good way - and we greatly appreciated their time and stories. We learned A LOT!

Speaking of time and talking, here's one of the most exciting highlights of the concert! Sam, Jayme, and Caleb had the privilege to interview Michael Booth for SouthernGospelBlog.com. What a special moment and piece of history for our family. Michael was as witty and hilarious as ever, but just as serious and open-hearted. The lessons also contained in the interview are very pertinent to everyone, and we learned much from his transparency.

Watch the video below, and if you like, you can read a transcript of the interview (thanks YGG!) on SGBlog by clicking here. But you don't want to miss this video! The hilarity and spontaneity of Michael, and cuteness and response of the LAs is a must-see, plus the added footage is fun as well. Ben and I put much time in preparing this, and we hope you enjoy it!

We are still reliving memories! We treasure the time we had together as a family, the fellowship and catchin' up with many friends we've met along the way, making new friends, and of course, the ministry of the Booth Brothers. We were very blessed.

And yes, we were asked if we were related to the Booth Brothers...again. :) (And the answer is still "no".)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

T for TGF

Countdown...

2011-03-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Eight days! The countdown officially began several months ago, and almost every morning some member of the family would mention during breakfast, "38 days left!", "25 days left!", "17 days left!" etc. etc. Anticipation is building and Caleb is trying to pick what suit he is going to wear. Several (young) members of the family are counting their money in their "piggy banks" and dreaming about new CDs.

Oh, have I explained what it is exactly that we are looking forward to? Perhaps this picture will give some insight...

If you follow Southern Gospel Music at all, then you should be able to recognize those three guys (the ones who are obviously not part of our family) as the popular, amazing, and talented Booth Brothers! Yes, our favorite trio, the Booth Brothers are coming to Maplewood, MN on April 2nd, and we will be there...hopefully in the front row again.

Michael Booth, Ronnie Booth, and Jim Brady have won our respect through their smooth blend, uplifting songs, and strong message. They are the most ministry-minded people we have met in the SGM industry, and we appreciate them and their music very much.

And for those who ask us every year at the annual Booth Brothers concert: "No, we are not related to the Booth Brothers." It never fails; for the past two concerts we attended of theirs, we've been asked by many different people, "Are you related to the Booth Brothers?" In fact, even when we really didn't know who the Booth Bros. were, a well-known bass singer came up to Dad at a quartet convention and said, "Do you know you look like Michael Booth? I'm friends with him, and you look like him!" We were all rather confused, not really seeing the correlation between Dad and Michael. On Father's Day that year, though, I took a picture of Dad without a mustache and put a mustache on Michael Booth, and then we saw the slight resemblance! :) Otherwise, NO, we are not the Booth Bros. family!

If you are interested in the Booth Brothers and attending the concert, click here to go to their website and click here for more info about the concert; we'd love to see you there!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

T for TGF

THEY'RE HERE!

2011-03-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

THEY'RE HERE!!!!!!

(I generally refrain from using more than one exclamation mark, but for this announcement, I'll make an exception.)

After months of recording, engineering, mixing, mastering, designing, listening, praying, and waiting, Great Adventure Gospel Band's first CD, "Thank You, Lord", is finally available! You've asked for it, and now we are so happy to announce the waiting is done.

We received our 1000 copies of "Thank You, Lord" this past Friday, much to our surprise and delight. We weren't expecting them till this Monday, and we received a call from the duplicators Friday morning, informing us the CDs should arrive that very day. Can you imagine the immediate excitement which spread through the house? And, can you imagine the unbearable waiting for the rest of the day? Our neighbor was out in the fields with his tractor all day, and every rumble of his engine sent us to the windows to see if Fed-Ex had arrived yet. :)

The day went by with no sign of Fed-Ex, and it was getting close to the time we needed to start supper. Whitney and I were talking about random subjects in the "computer room" and the others were practicing when the doorball rang. Whitney and I looked at each other, bewildered. It couldn't be! It was too late for Fed-Ex, but still...we raced to the entryway with the others. Sure enough, a delivery man was dropping off six boxes for us! WAHOO! Praise the Lord!

Opening the first box - wow!

Now, the irony to this "mountain-top" experience is the "valley" which soon followed: our washing machine broke down within an hour of the CDs' arrival!

Yes, believe it or not, our faithful washing machine which has served our family of fluctuating numbers for the seven years we've lived here died and was beyond economical repair. Our extremely mechanical Dad wasn't able to fix it. Dad and Mom began searching for an affordable machine on Craigslist, and came up with some options. On Saturday, Dad, Mom, and Ben went to the suburbs and brought home a "new" washing machine. Praise the Lord they were able to quickly find and purchase a machine which was within our tight budget. We are so grateful!

To purchase your own copy of our new CD, click here to go to our webstore.

Thanks again for all your support and friendship. What another exciting step in the journey!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
T for TGF

P.S. Look for a YouTube coming soon documenting this special event! :)

Springtime Is...

2011-03-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

Springtime is coming! Finally, after a long winter which began in October, the sun is beginning to be a frequent visitor and the temperature has begun to rise to 40+ degrees. This past Monday, we enjoyed spending some time outside, treasuring the warmth when it comes.

Springtime is...

Baseball season! Sam, Jayme, and Caleb were just itching to throw the ball to each other.

Taking care of our homestead. Ben is in the process of cutting down a tree (SCAREY! Makes my heart flutter!); he may be six-foot-three, but he is no match for this tree! (I just heard him announce he's going back out for another chopping expedition; did I mention how close this tree was to the house?)

Mud: one of the least favorite aspects of spring around our land. In fact, "mud" has become synopsis with "spring" around here!

New life. The trees are beginning to bud, and our mamma cat had five kittens!

Walks. Mmm, we can go outside and stretch our legs every once in a while! About time!

School coming to a close. Leesha is diligently wrapping up another school season. Good job, sister!

Lots of pictures. My (Taylor's) "Arms Length Photography". :)

Snowball fights? Okay, reality check: it's technically still winter. And yes, that means a few more chances for snowball fights. :)

Popcorn! Well, I guess this is year-round...and every single weekend. Our family has multiple traditions, and "popcorn night" is the all-time favorite. Friends gift us with popcorn for Christmas because we love it so much!

And, yes, this is not necessarily a sign of spring, but Mom is actually sledding down the mound behind our house (our pathetic sledding hill)! She fulfilled a promise she made to all of us that she would go sledding this winter. :) Now that was a monumental event!

"For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell..." (Song of Solomon 2:11-13a)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for TGF

Post-script:

Check out our latest post on SouthernGospelBlog.com! We've been having lots of fun writing and commenting (it's good typing/spelling/grammar practice for Sam, Jayme, and Caleb!).

Caleb responding to comments.

"I have a cold and a cough..."

2011-03-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

As February turned into March, we couldn't help but wonder what was ahead. We remembered thinking last September when we had only one concert, "What's going to happen that we need the entire month of September off?" September rolled around...and so did the chicken pox, explaining why God allowed us the month off to recover. Well, March, with no concerts has arrived, and yes, the cold and sniffles have invaded our home.

Sam was hit first and now Ben, Caleb, and Jayme have officially fallen ill as well. Mr. Sam, known for coming up with the most unique, slightly ingenious, but mostly silly little diddies, approached me last night with his "Cold and Sniffles" theme song:

"I have a cold and a cough and a sneeze and a wheeze.

I have hives playing hopscotch on my knees."

*Poor Sammy was stricken with hives from, what we presume, a cough drop, and that explains the reference to hives in the song. (Unfortunately, the hives remind some of us of the chicken pox, so we hope they go away soon.)

All this comes about when we are trying to record our Christmas CD, so pray we recover quickly in order to be in the best vocal conditions for the recording!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for TGF

P.S. To all you Southern Gospel lovers...click here to read our first post on SouthernGospelBlog.com!

"Thank You, Lord" CD Sneak Peek!

2011-03-02T11:18:00.001-08:00

Hey Ya'll!

Let me be the first to give YOU a sneak peek of our first CD: "Thank You, Lord"! Ben worked with Sam, Jayme, and Caleb to create a "commercial" for the project. Listen to the clips of each song and their precious introductions-you'll love it! (I personally keep playing it on my laptop over and over again since it's SO cute! I might get tired of it one of these days.) :)

Enjoy it, and listen to it more than once, if you like. ;)

-Taylor for TGF

Garms Family to Contribute to SouthernGospelBlog.com

2011-03-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

In Garms Family news, the most exciting thing besides some of us trying Spam for the first time during lunch today is (and yes, most of us liked the Spam)...contributing for SouthernGospelBlog.com.

Wow. In the words of Caleb, "It sure is going to be exciting and really, really fun!"

Okay, here's the background:

We discovered SouthernGospelBlog.com after I noticed a considerable leap in YouTube views on the video of Caleb and Legacy Five. Puzzled, and instantly curious, I googled "seven year old boy sings with Legacy Five", and found Daniel J. Mount had featured the video on his blog, SouthernGospelBlog.com. We once stumbled across his blog while doing some research on a favorite group, and I had heard of Daniel J. Mount on various other Southern Gospel blogs, but we weren't regular visitors. Suffice to say, we were surprised, and enjoyed reading all the comments about the video.

We later struck up an email conversation with Daniel, and SouthernGospelBlog.com soon became a favorite site for our family, as we loved the current news and commentary about the genre.
Over the course of about four months, we joined into the Southern Gospel conversation, and had fun sharing thoughts and opinions.

During a recent comment conversation, a commentor suggested we start our own SGM blog, particularly with the Lil' Adventurers' thoughts about the genre. I must admit, that very night I was searching out available blog domain names, and the ideas were bouncing back and forth in our family! The next day, though, we found an email from Daniel J. Mount in our inbox, inviting us to contribute to SGBlog. After more information through multiple emails and a phone conference with Daniel, we agreed to join "Daniel's Den". :)

Most of the family during the phone conference; Caleb, understandably, opted out when things started "going over his head" (that's what he said!), and Ben is snapping the photo (Why do I still say "snapping"? Everything's digital nowadays!).

So, in short, be on the look-out for interesting posts from our family. We have started a notebook with all of our post ideas, and some of them will be quite fun-if approved! :)

If you love Southern Gospel Music, then SouthernGospelBlog.com is the place to be. Visit today to read interviews with your favorite artists, reviews on new CDs, interesting commentary, and lots more.

Click here to read the introductory post, "Welcome new contributors - the Garms Family!" (Make sure you read the comments-you'll love the banter with Sam, Jayme, and Caleb!)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for TGF

(TGF stands for "The Garms Family", and is our snazzy new alias from Daniel J. Mount) :)

Five Concert Review

2011-03-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

This post is slightly overdue, being it is now the second day of March. But I cannot let time slip away from me before I share a review of our most recent concerts...

The "Big Adventurers" getting in some kitchen practice before our concerts.

The Lord graciously provided five concerts in February for our family in relatively short notice. On February 2nd, we arose early and traveled toward the Twin Cities...Robbinsdale, MN, in fact. We were invited to sing at Copperfield Hill Senior Living, and we had a wonderful time with the sweet people there. It was the first time to do a normal, non-Christmas program since November, so it was interesting to get back into the swing of things.

Allow me to explain this place for you a little. It is a five story building, and the room where we sang was open to four levels. A portion of the residents came down to our level, but some just pulled up chairs by the railings, watching us from up above. It was interesting to have an audience on either side, above us, and even behind us! It makes my neck sore to remember it.

Sam, Jayme, and Caleb's version of "My Heart is a Chapel" and Ben's solo of "Wonderful Time Up There" brought many smiles to the people of Copperfield Hill. :)

Also a highlight was having our Grandma Garms in the audience; her friend and ours, Teresa, was responsible for us going to Copperfield in the first place.

Grandma, and the accordian she was playing the day she went into labor with Dad! :)

Leesha, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb snacking on some crackers in our "apartment" for the day (actually the room where we placed all our "stuff").

A familiar scene during our busy concert week-the Garms family loading, unloading, waiting for everything to be loaded, trying to look busy, and finally hitting the road.

A week after our concert at Copperfield, on Whitney's birthday, we rose even earlier to arrive at Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, MN in time to set-up all our equipment for the 12:30 p.m. concert for their senior brunch. Our set-up went pretty fast, so we had spare time to do a photo shoot. (Thus the new photos you see on the blog.)

This picture will not make it as a CD cover, I assure you, unless for some strange reason we suddenly like ourselves in purple and red!

We had an enjoyable time with all the folks there, and were surprised to meet a new friend, Russell, from our small town of Braham! He grew up here, and loves to return to watch the basketball games. (Our little town has a state champion highschool basketball team, for your information.)

A rare photo: Leesha's view of us singing "He's Still Working On Me."

Shortly after on Friday, February 11th, the van and trailer traveled to Baxter, MN to sing at First Baptist Church for their Valentine's Day Banquet. What fun we had! Caleb was especially in an unpredictable mood and kept us in stitches during the concert (like when he jumped off the stage with his guitar and harmonica and kept adding new things to his solo), and Sam, Mr. Spiritual Movement, could not keep still the entire night! We were very blessed and enjoyed getting to know Pastor Wayne and his wife Margie (whew, can they cook an awesome chicken kiev!) and all the wonderful, encouraging people who attended the concert.

Mom, helping Dad do the usual soundcheck.

On Sunday night we sang at Milaca Evangelical Free Church in Milaca, MN, and it was like a step back into time. We had a concert there in June of 2009, the day after Ben's graduation party (were we tired!), and though it was significantly colder than June, everything was so familiar. As we began unloading the trailer, Ben and I were commenting on how much we have grown since our first concert there. Each practice session, each concert, and each mile traveled brings us further along in our growth.

One of the best things about Milaca E. Free is their HUGE chancel area! We often are squished into some pretty tiny spots, so it was nice to have "moving" room!

Jayme and Caleb singing out of the church's hymnbooks.

Our final concert was on February 14th-yes, Valentine's Day itself. This concert was especially memorable for several things: Whitney came along for her first experience as a "roadie", Dad and Mom sang their first "love song" on stage, and we got a ton of exercise! The banquet/get-together we sang for was in the basement of Tobies Restaurant in Hinckley, MN, and we had to manuver through corriders and small doorways to get to the room, walk carefully around ice patches outside, make extra trips because of the interesting situation, and survive the elevator!

Oh yes, I think this was one of our tightest areas to set-up in!

Jayme especially was terrified of the noisy elevator!

WHEW! There you have it! My mind is relieved having completed this blog...now I can move on to other things. I apologize for it's extreme length; that's what happens when you get behind!

Come back soon for a number of exciting things!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms Family

The Entire Family, Together

2011-02-28T09:59:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had a special gift to be together as a whole family: Dad, Mom, Whitney, Ben, Taylor, Uli, Leesha, Sam, Jayme, Caleb, and Mal...and let's not forget the two (outdoor) cats, Daffy and Timmi, Whit's guinea pig, Kingston, and the animals which like to visit every once in a while, "Peter Rabbit" and "Rusty the Rooster" (except our pheasant friend did not show up this weekend). :) The Triple "F" Ranch was true to its name: Faith, Family, and Fun!

Whitney moved back home three weeks ago and is trying to rearrange/refocus her life. It has been neat and interesting to have her home again, as it has been almost six years since she has been involved with the family at home. Uli, our foster daughter/sister, had some extremely difficult times last year while she lived with us (she lived with us for a total of two years) as she began healing from trauma in her past. She is now currently living at a foster home not too far away from us, and we are now so privileged to continue being a part of her life through phone calls and visits. (We love ya, Uli!) To get the entire Garms family under one roof at the same time was so special.

After we were settled in after attending church, we set up the tripod and snapped a family photo. (Never pass up one of those opportunities!) See above to check it out!

Oh yes, we also took this Sunday afternoon as an opportunity to run through a couple new songs. While Leesha and I did dishes (on a side note, when people ask if we have a dishwasher at home, we kids quickly reply, "Right here!"), I peeked into the living room as Mom, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb were practicing a song, and couldn't resist taking a few photos. Here's my favorite...

I can't reveal what song it is, nor how Ben, Leesha, and I will be creatively involved with it-you'll just have to attend a concert in the near future!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms Family

P.S. Sam, Jayme, and Caleb are singing the weirdest version of the hymn, "In the Garden", as I prepare to publish this blog. Trust me, though it's in three part harmony, you do not want to hear this one! (You never know what they'll come up with next!)

Tickle My Funny Bone: Early Mornings and Bad Dates

2011-02-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

We love to laugh as a family! The kitchen is usually a center for laugh and silly randomness (sometimes, though, it gets a little out of hand!), and in our family, laughter is as contagious as a cold. :) So, I thought I might share the joy a bit.

First, here is a solemn warning to any music group who does not confirm a booked concert before arriving at the venue:

Looks like the last group who sang here ended with a barn burner and forgot to put the fire out! :)

Actually, this was after one of our very first concerts (no, we did not start a fire). While driving to the church, we had noticed a burned-out bar (hmm, shows the result of such places, right?) on the corner and had an idea. When we started toward home later, we pulled over and grabbed a couple of instruments. Ben placed the camera on a pile of equipment (we're always leaving the tripod at home when we need it most), and we posed quickly, as it was a chilly November afternoon. Thus the picture above!

Next up: a few days ago, I drew a cartoon based on a supper table discussion on one of Dad's interesting mornings. (Sorry I can't get it any larger; I would say click on the picture, but I'm having difficulties right now and it's not working out!)

The scenerios are true...including the last line about seeing which chord on the piano would wake us older kids up (except in reality, Ben was involved in that scheme), I condensed several stories into one. Gives you a picture into the Garms family's always interesting household!

Hope you might have at least chuckled at this post and your day is a little bit brighter!

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bone." (Proverbs 17:22 ESV)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for The Garms Family

Off to the Duplicators!

2011-02-23T14:47:00.000-08:00

I am so happy, I almost want to cry!

Everything is ready to go: the "Thank You, Lord" CD recording is mastered and on a high quality compact disc, all the graphic designing is finished, edited, and approved, and we are sending it all off tomorrow morning to the duplicators!

The local post office closed minutes before we completely finished the final listening, so we'll have to be patient and wait till the morning to send it off.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support during this long process. All the last licenses and ISRC codes came through today (hallelujah!) and we felt a peace and joy around us as we completed the final steps. Praise the Lord!

Now comes the waiting. But waiting is good, isn't it? We learn to rely on the Lord as we wait for His perfect timing-and His timing is always best. We may think we are behind on schedule for the CD, but God is always on time, everytime.

"Thank You, Lord!"

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms

P.S. As Dad and Mom promised, let the pizza party begin!!! HOORAY!

"Thank You Lord" CD Updates

2011-02-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am sitting on the couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket while a winter snowstorm ensues outside, and Ben just pushed play on our former demo CD from last October. The recording is okay, but our actual CD is going to be so much better.

Dad, Mom, Whitney, Ben, Leesha, and I finished listening to our second-to-final mixdown/master CD, and we feel very excited! It's a representation of who we are and our abilities at this time; it will be like taking a piece of our concerts home. One of the most exciting things about the album is the CD can go places we cannot go - our music and God's message can reach individuals, homes, and other venues where it may be impossible for our family to reach. May the Lord bless this new facet of ministry!

We are waiting on some licensing aspects for the songs, and I am still working on the graphic designing with Mom and Dad. The plan is to send the entire project off to the duplicators this week. We are so close! If you would, please beseech the Lord on our behalf that everything would go smoothly, all licenses would be procurred, our family would be safe from satanic interference, and the hope and power of Jesus Christ would shine through this CD.

Wow. I am suddenly overwhelmed at the goodness of God. When we first began singing together (even in the practice stages), we always dreamed of someday, somehow recording a CD; we didn't know how, when, or if even we were meant to, and now, the Lord has graciously allowed us this great opportunity. Praise the Lord!

We closed the almost-final listening session with prayer, asking the Lord to bless this project. We feel at peace about it, and are looking forward to finally making it available for YOU to be blessed.

Ben is creating an audio demo/commercial for the CD, so you will be able to hear a "sneak peek". I am also in the process of compiling video and pictures for a short behind-the-scenes video. Be on the look-out for those coming out in the near future!

I realized I never did reveal the story behind the last picture of this blog. "The time has come, and the time is now, so Marvin K. Mooney, will you please go now?" (Sorry, I couldn't help but quote a favorite Dr. Suess book!) Yes, let me inform you of a special surprise on our first album.

Around the time we began recording in the Cave, Mom had a brilliant idea to ask our church choir to sing a song with us: the fun gospel hymn, "Power in the Blood". During our concerts, as might know, we invite the audience to sing along with us, and we have lots of fun together. (In fact, Great Adventure Gospel Band has a rule: you cannot leave the concert until you sing along with us! :) We were still deciding what songs we would want on the CD, so the idea was laid aside among the other ideas.

Now, some friends from our church, Bob and Edna, love to attend our concerts (pretty soon they'll be able to sing on stage with us, I think!). Once during a concert last year, Dad asked the audience to tell us of a favorite song from the concert which they'd like to hear on our CD. Bob and Edna were there, and Bob came up to Mom, saying, "I liked that 'Power in the Blood'; it was rousing with everyone singing!" Mom later shared it with us, and then we decided to go ahead and put it on the project.

In December, we asked our church choir to sing with us on "Power in the Blood". So on December 29th, we had the choir over to our home, and recorded the sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses on separate tracks. We had much fun during the whole process and enjoyed sweet Christian fellowship afterward. (I'll post several videos of recording on the behind-the-scenes video I was talking about earlier.)

We are thrilled, to say the least, to have such a neat song on our CD, and hope you will enjoy it as well. The choir was great and added a wonderful "touch" to the arrangement.

In conclusion, pray for us. Pray for Ben and the final mastering he is doing. Pray for me as I finish creating the CD artwork. Pray for wisdom for Dad and Mom as they handle much of the licensing "stuff". We certainly appreciate it!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms Family

How Do You Like the New Blog?

2011-02-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

Isn't it beautiful? Fresh, light, and inviting, right? It was time for a design update, and with our great new pictures, how could I resist? We did a photo shoot last Wednesday while we were at Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, MN, and we love the results!

Leave a comment, if you're brave enough, and let us know your thoughts about the new look!

-Taylor for the Garms

Happy 25th Birthday Whitney!

2011-02-10T20:12:00.000-08:00

The Garms kids on Whit's birthday

On February 9th, our dear Whitney turned a momental 25-years old! It was the first time in many years that we were able to celebrate with her, as she is currently living at home again-and what a joy it was to commemorate the special day with our big sister and daughter.

Whitney's infectious laugh and outgoing personality lights up any room, and her tender-hearted sympathy wins even the crabbiest person over. :) She is quick to serve, resourceful and is very conscious of others' needs. A natural leader, Whitney has been a favorite sister to play with and always has the "brightest" ideas. Sam is teaching her how to play drums and has promised to award her a drummer diploma soon because of her "concentration, coordination, and determination." She is a great blessing in our lives, and are privileged to share this time with her.

Ben included this verse in his card to Whit, and I thought it was a beautiful verse to share:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." (Psalm 103:2-5)

Happy Birthday Whitney! We love you!
Taylor for the Garms

Happy 20th Birthday Ben!

2011-01-28T10:10:00.000-08:00

I'm stumped. What should I write about Ben? I just asked Leesha, but she just said, "I don't know" and walked away. (Some help she was!) :) Well, I guess I could write how amazing he is or how talented he is, but I think I'm going to let the rest of the family share some words for and about Ben (taken from their birthday cards)...

Caleb: "Dear Ben, WOW! 20! I can't believe it! You have been a nice big brother!" Caleb picked a Bible verse from Psalm 117:1 for Ben.

Jayme: "Ben, Thank you for being my brother. Thank you for also for playing trains with me!" Jayme signed her card "Jayme K. G. C." translated Jayme Katherine Garms Christian.

Sam: "Happy Birthday, Ben. You are 20 years old! I hope you have a really great day!"

Leesha: "Dear Ben, I can't believe you're twenty! It's been a long time in coming to this, and you still don't seem twenty. :) But it doesn't matter how old you get, because you're the greatest big brother in the world! I'm so excited for [you] and enjoy it while it lasts!" Leesha picked Ephesians 5:13 for an encouragement for Ben.

Dad and Mom: "It's unbelievable that you are now beyond the teens. What a joy you have been, watching you grow through those years. May the Lord give you blessing, vision, and strength as you follow Him into a new decade of life. We love you dearly and are so thankful for every moment with you." Dad's verse for Ben's 20th Birthday was 103:17; Mom focused on verses Psalm 119:105, Psalm 32:8, and Isaiah 30:21 concerning "paths".

Mal: "[Thank you for] everything you have done for me. Happy Birthday Ben. Your friend, Mal."

Grandpa Pete's (Mom's dad) card said: "Grandson, you're a fine, caring young man...the kind of person any grandparent would be delighted and proud to have for a grandson. Never forget how important you are to our family, how much you add to the lives of those around you, and never forget, not even for a moment, how much you are loved." Then he wrote, "Happy 20th B-day Ben. I wish you the best of day and all year thru. May God bless you in your endeavors."

Grandma Frieda's (Dad's mom) card said (and I love this one!): "Happy Birthday to a grandson who's smart, handsome, fun, kind, loving, determined, brilliant, sweet, sensitive, strong, and all together wonderful! Looks like you got the best parts of everyone in the family!"

:) Then she wrote, "Happy Birthday! Love you!"

Our home church, St. Stephen's Lutheran, sent Ben a card with Jeremiah 29:11 ("'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'") and the words, "May He continue His good work in your life. Blessings on your birthday! 'God bless you Ben!'"

I can't add what I wrote, because I didn't write anything! Let me explain: I finished my birthday card just minutes before Ben opened all his cards and presents, and was glad to stuff my hurriedly drawn card in the pile of cards. When Ben finally got to my card, he laughed, not only at my dry humor, but the blank space underneath the "Happy Birthday". I had forgotten to finish my card. I was horrified! (I promise you, Ben, I will write something! :)

Our dear "Gentle Ben" has now passed the teens and swiftly entered the amazing twenties. Not only has he grown physically (he is now 6' 3") through the years, but he has matured spiritually and is deeply rooted in his faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. Ben is very gifted and is committed to family. His big smile lights up any room. We are so grateful to have Ben as a part of our family.

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

Happy Birthday Ben!

Taylor for the Family

P.S. CLICK HERE to read an interesting article that was featured in the Isanti County News this week! (I'll write more about it later)

Happy 11th Birthday Sam!

2011-01-18T13:47:00.000-08:00

Eleven years old. Whew. Sometimes, though, it's a little like Sam is eleven going on sixteen. Sometimes I look over at his intelligent, maturing face as he works on puzzles or reads a book, and think, "Wow, who is that teen-ager? Where did he come from?" :)

Our deep-thinker is growing fast. He continues to love organizing things-he told me yesterday that, since he loves organizing, he would sort all the LEGO pieces by color and set for us. (No kidding!) He is often lost in thoughts, thinking the most profound things and creating interesting scenerios and stories.

Sammy loves a good story, and can often be seen stretched out on the couch with a book. He is one of the only people I know who will laugh aloud while reading! His favorites vary from the intriguing series of "The Lord of the Rings" to the adventures of "A Bear Named Paddington".

Sam's quick wit and quirky humor keeps us in stitches constantly! But, he also has a very solemn side to him. Once during a Bible study at our church, a friend leaned over to me and wrote on a piece of paper, "I can't wait to hear what Sam has to say." She whispered that she loves hearing his observations on different subjects.

Keep growing in the Lord, Samuel. Listen for His voice and diligently read His Word to seek out His direction for your life. Continue to be a godly young man. Strive to be a gentleman in all you do and pursue righteousness.

2nd TIMOTHY 2:1, 2, 15-16, 22-25a; 3:14-17; 4:2, 22
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babble, for they will increase to more ungodliness. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility...

"But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you
have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

"Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

"The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen."

Happy Birthday, Sam!

Love,

Taylor for the family

Fellowship at Freddies

2011-01-11T09:39:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday night found us at Freddies' Restaurant in Mora, MN, about 20 minutes away from our home in Braham. Originally, we were supposed to sing there for the Hillman Baptist Christmas Party on December 11th, but due to a large snowstorm which swept through the Midwest, the concert was rescheduled for January 9th, 2011.

And yes, it was still a Christmas party!

Setting up: we amazingly were able to fit our small sound system and ourselves upon the stage at Freddies.

Mom and Leesha putting instrument stands together.

Caleb and Jayme moving chairs to make more room.

Before the concert: Caleb grins while Sam chuckles about something.

Mom, Ben, Jayme, and I doing prelude music.

"Are you taking a picture of me?"

Dad and Mom smile sweetly for the camera.

How do you like the lights? Some of us were green, others were yellow, a few were blue, and don't forget the shades of red! Dad introducing "Little Drummer Boy".

The Christmas Polka!

What a meal! Well, this is all that was left, anyway. The sweet people of Hillman Baptist graciously treated us by paying for our meal at Freddies. IT WAS AWESOME! We all the loved the potatos, coleslaw, fried chicken, and above all, RIBS! Freddies has better ribs than "Famous Daves", in our opinion-just ask Caleb, a new ribs fan.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time spent with the body of Christ last Sunday and came away very blessed by the kindness, warmth, and generosity of new friends.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

T for the Garms Family

Recording at the "Cave"

2011-01-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

"Do you have CDs?"

It is inevitable that amongst the typical questions ("Are you all one family?", "Whose the mother?", "Who taught you all this?", etc.) we receive at our concerts, this one question prevails above all, even above "Whose the mother?". :) Since we first began singing, people have told us over and over again, "You need to make a CD."

The time has come.

For over seven months, Great Adventure Gospel Band's first CD has been in the making. Frankly, it's taken this great extent of time because 1.) we are learning about the recording process, 2.) it's challenging to balance homelife, school, traveling, and recording, 3.) we have been trying to get the best equipment we can afford to get the best sound we can achieve, and 4.) it's a slow process!

Early recording in the orignal "Cave"

The "Cave Studio" is located in our home and originated in Dad and Mom's walk-in closet. Now it officially resides in the boys' room, as it is more removed from the sounds of daily life, enhances the sound, has more space and light, and is most convenient for Ben (our wonderful engineer).

Ben and Uli recording some mandolin in the new "Cave" last week.

Yesterday, the last recording for the CD was accomplished: Mom's bass playing on "Wayfaring Stranger". Unless there are any overdubs which need to take place, we are finished with this step.

Wow.

Did I hear a sigh of relief resound from the family?

The next step is for Ben to mix and master the songs we have recorded. This process relies heavily on Ben's ear, and, as I type, he is analyzing "Bigger Than Any Mountain" in the Cave.

Ben, mixing.

It is amazing to see how Ben's knowledge of recording, microphone placement, tracking, mixing, all the wonderful software tools, mastering, etc. have grown through this journey. Just yesterday, Ben showed me a clip he had recorded last summer of the Lil Adventurers, and then he compared it with the latest song we recorded. It was truly outstanding to hear the difference! (Ben: thank you! You are doing a awesome job; keep it up! God has great plans for your life, and thank you for using your gifts for the Kingdom.)

Yes, it is our first attempt, yes, we are still growing, and yes, it is not quite Nashville level, but we are striving to present the best CD we can with the talents, abilities, knowledge, and tools the Lord has given us for this time in our lives.

(BTW: Ben just announced he has two songs thoroughly mixed! Wahoo!)

Oh yes, here's a sneak peak at a special addition to our first CD. Learn more by coming back again soon!

Who are these people? Wanna take a guess? Leave a comment and say what you think!

Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms Gang

"I'm a Soprano!"

2011-01-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

As I walked into the kitchen earlier this morning, I found Sam, Jayme, and Caleb diligently doing their school. And as I neared Caleb, I found he was just itching to tell me something.

"Taylor," he began, "I'm a soprano!"

Well, this was breaking news! For about a year, Caleb has insisted he was a bass. He would go for the dive during our concerts, and try to sing a bass harmony whenever we sing together at home. He has often asked Ben to hit a low note to prove he can hit it too. He'd play a low note on piano, let out a growling noise, and then joyfully exclaim that he "could hit a C"! In fact, if you remember from the "I'm Feeling Fine" video with Legacy Five, he gave bass singer Glenn Dustin a run for his money!

Since I had known he was a soprano for a number of years, I feigned surprise, curious to see what caused this change of mind. "So, what makes you say that?" I asked.

"Well, when I try to hit those bass notes, those were actually lead notes! The notes I thought were low were lead notes! I'm actually a soprano!" he exclaimed with the joy of discovery written all over his bright face.

Later, sounds of joyous, high-pitched singing were heard from the bathroom (FYI: all Garms family kids have debuted in the bathroom; the Garms Family singers have been singing for almost 25 years ago in this special "concert hall").

Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms

Christmas Eve Service with the Garms

2011-01-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas is over, but the memories are vibrant in our minds, videos, and pictures from the 2010 Christmas season. It was a very relaxing and blessed time around our home, and it has been nice to recuperate for the new year.

On Christmas Eve, we sang at our home church, St. Stephen's Lutheran (LCMS), for the 5:00 p.m. service. We have done this for several years since we started our band (in fact, we "debuted" at a Christmas Eve service in 2007), and we enjoyed singing again this year. Here are some pictures...

Sam, Jayme, and Caleb doing Bible word searches while Ben and Dad set up the sound equipment.

Mom and Leesha during the prelude music. Leesha is signing something.

All done! Cleaning up our "mess" requires our team to move together and efficently. (Don't ask me what Caleb is doing...)

Yours truly.

Leesha looks like an angel with the lights casting a brilliant glow around her! :)

Sam, looking like the gentleman he is.

As we are the janitors of our church (we have dubbed ourselves, "The Singing Janitors"), it was our job to straighten up the church before the 10:00 p.m. candlelight service. Here Caleb displays his weapon of choice: a cordless vacuum cleaner thing to clean up the pews.

I can't tell if they are just trying to look grown-up, or if they really do look as old as they appear in this picture! :) The (growing) Lil' Adventurers at home.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms

P.S. Look for exciting news about our CD coming soon!

2010 Family Christmas Picture(s)

2011-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

The Garms Family-Christmas Eve, 2010

Back Row: Taylor (18), Ben (19), David & Kris, Leesha (16)

Front Row: Sam (10), Jayme (9), Caleb (7)

Oh, yes, can't forget a goofy picture as well! :)

Happy New Year from our home to yours!

The Garms Family

Great Adventure Gospel Band

Merry CHRISTmas from the Garms Family!

2010-12-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful Christmas Eve the Lord has given! The sun is making the fresh snow sparkle and the crisp air has a joyous atmosphere. Tonight we are singing the 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service at our home church, and then let the Christmas festivities begin!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours. May you have a wonderful, blessed, safe, joyous, and peaceful Christmas! Remember the true meaning of Christmas, the reason for the season-Jesus Christ, our Wonderful, Precious Savior Who came for us at the right time, Who left it all for a sinful, sick, and dying people, to give hope and peace to all who believe.

"Glory divine He left behind, to save this selfish heart of mine. So lost was I, I could not see, He did all this for me." -"He Took My Cross" (Copyright Taylor Garms)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms Family

Happy 9th Birthday, Jayme!

2010-12-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

It was dark when I woke up, but I knew something important was going on. I jumped out of bed and Leesha quickly followed. We snuck out of their room and found Mom getting ready to go, and we suddenly knew...the new baby was coming! Nine years ago, God gave us a special Christmas gift when Jayme Katherine joined our family on December 22nd.

Little did we know that our chubby little baby girl would grow into an amazingly talented young girl who loves music almost as much as horses. :) Her maturing voice has a strong bluegrass influence, her fiddle playing and enthusiasm for other instruments is a blessing, and her interest in sign language is neat to watch grow. Though she was late to get her teeth and late to lose them, that has not hindered her talking! Jayme loves to tell stories to anyone who listens...or isn't listening, in that case. :) God continues to mold this young lady's life; she has a loving heart and loves to give "gifts" to us. Many nights she will place one of her favorite stuffed animals on our beds for us to sleep with, and she enjoys giving little notes to us.

We love you, Jaym-Jaym! You are so precious and beautiful to our family. Continue to follow the Lord, and love Him with all your heart.

"All the days planned for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16.

-Taylor for the Garms

The New Christmas Tree

2010-12-16T09:57:00.001-08:00

Mom is going to be so happy (she's been reminding me that I have to get this done): I'm finally posting a picture of our new gigantic Christmas tree!

Isn't it beautiful? Compared to our former tree, this is huge! It's given us lots of laughs.

-Taylor for the Garms Elves

A Bit of Encouragement

2010-12-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

Jayme left this note on kitchen cupboard, and I thought I would share it with you as a bit of encouragement...

Family,
'In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.' -Albert Einstein.
Jayme

What a sweet little reminder from our little eight-soon-to-be-nine year old!

Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms Family

Update on Mal

2010-12-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

Mal and one of our kittens, September 2010

Many of you have heard about the 86-year old man who lives with us: our friend Mal. (To read the amazing story of how he came to live with us, click here.) Here's an update on him:

Mal continues to age and is more unstable than ever before. We recently watched a tape recording from 2003 when we were in Arizona fishing with Mal, and it was shocking to see how fast he moved and how agile he was. His steps are slower, and he tries not to go anywhere without his cane. In fact, this fall, he asked for a wheelchair, as he wanted to use it for work outside (walking tires him out fast). Dad and Mom found an used wheelchair at a local thrift store, and he loves it!

Sam, Jayme, Caleb, and he named it "Green-boy" (it was Caleb's idea) and he lets the kids ride around in it. In fact, yesterday he asked me to make drivers licenses for them when they use the "wheelie"! :)

Mal, enjoying the winter sunshine from his room-November 2010.

Mal loves nature and is always giving us the weather and animal report. The highlights of his day include: birds, our cats, talking, and visits from Sam, Jayme, and Caleb. He and Caleb are always sharing the latest on what birds they saw during the day! Mal is often concerned about us traveling in the winter time and hopes we come home safe from long concert trips.

Every once in a while, Mal will listen to a few songs while we practice, especially enjoying the Lil' Adventurers. He joined us for a meal the other day (which is a rariety ever since he once spilled a glass of water; he had been very embarrassed and didn't want to eat with us again) and sat several hours telling stories. Mal also loves it when birthdays come around!

Mal at Caleb's birthday - August 2010

Mal loves to gift us with hot chocolate! I think about every week he comes in and asks if we're good on hot chocolate. The answer is always yes, as he has given us almost a year's supply, but he still gives us more. :)

Sam, Jayme, and Caleb transferring boxes and boxes of hot chocolate into one big container.

Mal brings joy into our lives by his pleasure in the "little things"; he has a way of seeing things we often miss. His laughter and smiles are contagious and we consider it a honor to share this part of his life. We have learned a lot with him over the years he has been with us.

Continue to pray for him and the softening of his heart. We have seen evidence of God's hand in his life so many times; he is a living testimony of God's gracious provision.

One final picture: this captures Mal perfectly...

We love you, Mal!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms Family

"O Christmas Tree!"

2010-12-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for decorating!

We almost always set up our Christmas tree and decorations the day after Thanksgiving, but since we had an extremely busy Thanksgiving week, we did not accomplish it according to tradition! Rather, we decorated the tree in stages.

First, Captain Taylor, Sergeant Sam, Corporal Jayme, and Private Caleb began the process last Wednesday by actually setting-up the tree.

Don't we look determined?

We haven't had a "real" Christmas tree for years; it is much less of a hassle to take care of a "fake" one! :)

Then, on Saturday, we lighted the tree and put on decorations. Here Ben tries to string lights around the tree, but he eventually gave up and let Dad do it his special way.

Going through ornaments.

Mom laughing over an pathetic pine-cone ornament I made for her years ago. (Early stages of graphic designing, I guess!) :)

Sam, Jayme, and Caleb recreating the Nativity scene.

Leesha and I decorating a little tree for the girls' room.

Then the best part-putting the ornaments on the tree! Caleb stretches to put one in the perfect spot.

Jayme was all smiles! By the way, this little girl is so excited today, because she pulled out a tooth all by herself (she's been terrified to do it, but finally overcame her fear)!

Peek-a-boo! Ben and I hanging up ornaments.

Just having fun.

Caleb decided a tub which held some of the ornaments was more fun than decorating. Isn't he creative?

Mom, adding her tender touch to the tree.

The finished product.

Okay, are you ready to laugh now? This decorating process took up Saturday afternoon and evening. The next morning at church, one of our friends announced they had an eight-foot Christmas tree to give away. Well, as you can see, our tree is tiny and becomes laden with more and more ornaments each year. Mom was curious about the larger tree, and...we ended up taking it home. Guess what? The process was reversed and then it started all over again! We had to de-decorate the tree, and then set-up the new tree and re-decorate it. Ha-ha! The tree is huge!! We call it "Samson" (or "Mammoth"; it depends on who you talk to). It is beautiful, and the former tree now resides on our deck for now. :) It was exactly what we needed for our growing ornament crisis, and we love it (though we do miss the little tree sometimes).

Merry Christmas!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey! Taylor for the Garms

A Few Updates

2010-12-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

You may notice the new page on the blog: Friends and Favorites. You'll find a bunch of links to our friends and favorites. Check it out today!

In family news: Ben and Mom just returned home from Ben's driver's test. HE PASSED! Good for him; we're excited! (I just heard Ben say from the kitchen, "Now Taylor will be up next." Oh boy!)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms Family

Joy at Joy Lutheran Church

2010-12-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

At 5:30 AM on December 4th, Leesha's alarm went off. Shortly after, I heard Dad's voice say, "Good morning, girls, time to get up." Whew, were we tired! Believe me, that is not our normal time to rise for the day!

We were invited to sing at Joy Lutheran Church in Cambridge, MN for a ladies advent brunch. They scheduled us for 9:30 AM, and because we have so much equipment and set-up, the van rolled into the parking lot about two hours before-hand, filled with the slightly tired Great Adventure Gospel Band.

Beginning the unloading process.

Sam and I discovered a leak in the ceiling; here Sam and Jayme try to catch the drips.

The snow plows were busy at work! We received about 5 inches during the night and it sure looked mighty pretty!

The Lil Adventurers loved to watch the plows.

Before the concert: Sam, Jayme, and Caleb like to view hymnals of different churches we go to and search for their favorite hymns.

Mom's ingenius idea for decorating her bass. :)

I quickly snapped this picture of the band on stage during the concert.

Sam and Jayme reciting their Christmas poem (you have to hear it to find out what it is about!).

We had a wonderful time with the ladies (and some men as well!) at Joy Lutheran and were very blessed by their presence and love for us. We also shared a special moment when some ladies asked us to play with them while they sang "Silent Night" in German. That was so cool!

Merry Christmas!

-Taylor for the crew

Happy Birthday Leesha!

2010-12-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

Happy 16th Birthday Leesha!

Leesha means "happy", and that's exactly what she is! With a cute giggle and a knack for making crazy imprompto songs and stories, she brings much laughter and joy into our home. Her beautiful lead voice is so important to our group, and her dobro playing and sign-language brings a new aspect to our music.

Without Leesha, games would be boring without her fun commentary; traveling wouldn't be complete without a visit from her "therapy" Booth bunnies. Her ability to express herself through poetry is amazing, and her kind spirit to children and nature is sweet in our home.

It has been a blessing as a big sister to watch my best friend grow into a beautiful young lady. We have grown from dolls, sidewalk chalk, Matchbox cars, and hair bows to taking care of the home, guns and swords (no, really!), making meals on our own, and layered hair. It is stunning to look over at my little sister and see her wearing her new glasses and new hair-cut, and think, "When did we get older?" One thing has not changed, though, we're still best friends!

Blessings on your new year of life. Sweet Sixteen! Wow. You are a blessing to us. Continue to mature in the Lord and draw closer to your Heavenly Father. Never forget to praise Him. God has brought you to and through so much.

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6

BTW: Do you know how Leesha got her name? Years ago, Contemporary Christian artist Michael W. Smith recorded a song called, "I Hear Leesha" in tribute to a young lady who was killed in a car accident. Dad and Mom heard the song and name Leesha, liked it, and then named their fourth child, born December 3rd, 1994, Leesha. What a story!

A Parade of Concerts

2010-11-30T08:55:00.000-08:00

God provided us with five concerts in about one week, and we were so grateful for each opportunity to share what the Lord has given us! It kept us very busy and including a lot of travel; we met new friends and renewed acquaintances as well.

Here's the picture review of the past week or so:

The concert week started on Friday, the 19th, with the Fundraiser concert for the Alzens at Faith Community Church in Hudson, WI. (Thanks to Jennifer Armour for this picture!)

Our next concert was Sunday, November 21st, at Sandstone Evangelical Free Church in Sandstone, MN. Because of the icy roads and unpredictable weather we had a smaller crowd, but had a whole lot of fun together!

On Tuesday, November 23rd, we became honorary "Super Adults"! We sang at Clover Community Church in Cloverdale, MN for a sweet gathering of the "Super Adults". Here Jayme and Caleb play around before the concert.

We loaded and unloaded so many times during this past week that we could do it in our sleep! (Packing up at Clover Community Church.)

On Wednesday, the 24th, we drove south to Springfield, MN, as we had a concert in Tracy the next morning. We were able to see some family that lives down in that area. Here we kids are with our great-grandma who just turned 98-years old! Wow! It is such a blessing to visit with her!

Thanksgiving morning at the hotel. A painter asked us to pose for a still-life watercolor picture. Yeah right! Just a touched-up photo of us kids having "fun".

Despite snow and sleet during our travels, God kept us safe from danger. Praise to Him!

We sang at Tracy Alliance Church in Tracy, MN on Thanksgiving Day for those who didn't have anywhere to go. It was probably the most different Thanksgiving for our family, but what a neat experience.

Jayme and her new friend, Amelia Sahlstrom. They were inseperable! :)

November 28th found us a 1/2 mile from our home at Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church. This was our first Christmas concert for the season and we had a lot of fun re-debuting our Christmas music. It was nice just be a minute away from home, but even so, I forgot my camera; so, sorry, no pictures!

Well, that wraps up the parade of concerts!

Have a blessed day!

Joy in the Journey,

Taylor for the Garms crew.

Thanksgiving Trip

2010-11-24T18:53:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from the Garms Family!

At this moment of typing, we are traveling (what else would we be doing?) to southern Minnesota. Tomorrow we have a concert at Tracy Alliance Church in Tracy, MN, so we decided to come down a day early (as it would be an EXTREMELY long day if we took off in the morning). We plan to also visit a few relatives while we are in the area.

We kids just finished a rousing conversation about our Civil War reenactment crew. (Yes! We are stopping at a rest stop; about time!) It was decided that we'd all be Union: Jayme would be a horse groom, Caleb would be a corporal, Sam would be a cavalryman, Leesha would be a
lieutenant, I would be an aide to General George B. McClellan, and Ben would a sergeant, I think. We had fun creating a cast of Civil War soldiers.

We are driving past the bluffs of Le Suer, MN. This road is so familiar to us older kids, as we would travel this way to Grandpa and Grandma Junkers' house years ago. The stories we would create about the bluffs and caves have stayed with us; the tales echo along the roadside. "I love the bluffs," Leesha just said in front of me. To our left, the twisted trees, stripped and bent by numerous tornados add an eerie, but comforting feeling to the trip. It has been dubbed,
"Tornado Alley" by us children.

The most infamous story we tell our younger siblings about the bluffs is the one with Tom and Jerry, Frank and Scott, and Danny (Ben, Leesha, and my story characters from the old days). Some of these soldiers were brothers and all were best friends. Once they were being chased by enemies in the bluffs of Le Suer county. Bombs were exploding and bullets whizzing everywhere. The friends were speeding along the bombed-out road on their Jeep, escaping the enemy. Tom then had the idea of hiding in a cave, but when he went to check it out, a mine exploded and the cave collapsed on him. The soldiers had to leave their friend and brother behind. It was so sad. Tom (Ben's character) was always the hero. Typical!

Now we are at a Holiday gas station on the outskirts of St. Peter, MN. This city always scared me when I was little because it was, and still is often hit by large storm-systems and tornados. A winter storm has finally hit us now with sleet and snow falling heavily all around us. (Dad's trying to figure out how to get the van and trailer out of the gas station. Whew, we're out now!)

During the ride, we kids are always on the look-out for "our" trucks. Each of us have picked out our favorite truck, for example: Dodge Rams (me), Ford 150s (Leesha), Toyota Tacomas (Ben), etc. (Imagine our driveway in the future filled with six trucks! :) It helps pass the time
away.

We just passed a playground here in Mankato, and Ben told us why he doesn't like tire swings because of that exact park. (No further details will be shared.)

Well, enough of my random thoughts. Great Adventure Gospel Band/Garms Family is on the road, praying for protection and safety, and having fun together...as family.

Bye for now!

Taylor for the Garms 1058th Civil War Regiment

Alzen Adoption Fundraiser

2010-11-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

Caleb trying his best Western look before we left for Hudson.

Good Evening!

Whew! I am feeling the effects of our busy weekend! Several late nights and two concerts, with tasks at home and church in between, are enough to wipe me out...at least for a little while. God continues to build stamina in us and will give us the strength to do His work.

On Friday, the 19th, we packed up and headed to Faith Community Church in Hudson, WI. Our friends, the Alzens of Roberts, WI, hosted a fundraiser for their upcoming adoption of two Ukrainian orphan brothers, Nikolai and Dmitry, and they asked us to sing with them. What fun we had with them, old friends, and new ones as well!

Jayme had caught a bug the day before and was still trying to rest at the church when I took this picture. She was able to sing with us, for which we are SO grateful!

Ben setting up the moniters.

I didn't realize there was so much snow in Wisconsin (being the blonde that I am, I thought Minnesota was the only state that got so much snow this past weekend!).

The Alzens during their soundcheck. What an awesome family and talented musicians and singers! It has been a privilege to get to know them better over the past two years.

I think Dad and Caleb counted about 30 instruments on stage!

Tune up!

Two smiling kids and one lost in space before the concert.

Leesha and "Mr. Johnson Experiment" dobro. (That's her name for her "baby".)

Ben and Isaac Alzen chatting before the concert.

My little sisters. ;)

A view from the entryway of Faith Community Church.

Singing on stage (I obviously did not take this picture-Jayme did!)

Leesha and I during "Wayfaring Stranger".

Mom.

The Alzens on stage.

Mr. and Mrs. Alzen talking about adoption.

The "Cowbell Medly"! The Alzen kids perform this song with cowbells, and it always cracks our family up! The Alzens bring much joy and fun into their concerts.

Afterwards, clean-up time!

Tomorrow morning we have a concert in Cloverdale, MN, on Thanksgiving we'll be singing in Tracy, MN, and then we'll be in our hometown of Braham on the 28th (in fact, the church a half-mile away from our home!). A busy week ahead of us!

Hope to see you soon!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms

"Peacock", MN - November 14th, 2010

2010-11-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

Good Afternoon!

Where has the day gone? After arriving home at 2:00 a.m. last night (or last morning?), most of us slept in and are still pretty groggy.

We had a wonderful concert at "Peacock"/Pennock, MN. Caleb kept thinking it was "Peacock" instead of Pennock, so hence the new name for the small town in southwest Minnesota. :)

Don and Donna Friedlein were so gracious to us and we enjoyed sharing our ministry and music with Salem Covenant Church. Our good friends, the Haining family, came to the concert-what a joy to see them again!-and we had a great time fellowshipping with them. (Oh yes, I finally learned what a "threek" is, what hot rollers are, and that cows drink water, not milk. :] Thanks Ruthie, Pearl, and Gracie!)

Picture memories:

Sammy, looking like he was caught in a tornado! (Don't worry, he actually wasn't.)

Leesha, Jayme, and Caleb setting up instrument stands.

"Caleb, I think that guitar is a little too big for you."

Salem Covenant's sanctuary.

Yum! Lasagna-one of our favorites! The ladies of the church provided this delicious meal before the concert, and boy, was it good!

Can you tell it's one of Jayme's favorite meals? (She has requested lasagna for her birthday meal.)

Ooo, don't they look scarey! Ben and Sam in the shadows.

Ben, Leesha, and I performing Ben's original instrumental, "Summer's End" during the offering. (Thanks Dad for snapping this picture!)

Jayme took this quick picture of Caleb singing his solo, "I'm Feeling Fine". Though it's slightly blurry, I couldn't resist sharing it. ;)

Well, our concert at Pennock was the beginning of six concerts ahead of us for the rest of November. Check our schedule to see all the new dates. God has amazingly provided many concerts for us for this year and even into 2011. We are so grateful for the ministry opportunities He has given to us! Jehovah-Jireh.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

Taylor for the Garms Crew

Special Upcoming Event

2010-11-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

Join us for a special concert with the Alzen Family and the Great Adventure Gospel Band on November 19th, 2010 at Faith Community Church, Hudson WI! A freewill offering will be taken to assist the Alzen Family in their adoption of two Ukrainian orphan brothers, Nikolai and Dmitry. There will also be a bake sale and silent auction. Refreshments will be available following the concert. (Donations needed for the silent auction and bake sale.)

Faith Community Church

777 Carmichael Road, Hudson, WI / 715-386-4070

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Silent Auction / Bake Sale at 6:30 pm

Concert begins at 7:00 pm

Featuring the uplifting bluegrass gospel music of the Alzen Family Band from Roberts, WI, and the expressive gospel music of the Great Adventure Gospel Band (the Garms Family) from Braham, MN. It will be night of joy, praise, and fellowship; everyone is welcome!

To learn more about our wonderful friends, the Alzen Family, visit: http://www.alzenfamily.com/; to read about their journey through adoption, visit their adoption blog, http://www.alzenadoption.blogspot.com/.

Simply Sharing

2010-11-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

The past few weeks we have had the opportunity to simply share.

We were able to sing at our wonderful home church, St. Stephen's Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Braham, on October 17th and November 7th. It was nice to worship with our home congregation again and to then share what we've been sharing around the state. Yesterday we debuted several new songs/arrangements at church; hopefully you'll be hearing those soon!

Last Sunday we had the precious opportunity to visit a few church members who are in a hospital or an assisted-living home. We brought a few hymn books and Ben brought along his guitar. We sang some old hymns and Sam, Jayme, and Caleb sang several songs from our regular concerts. It was nice just to fellowship with these sweet people and hopefully encourage them on their journey.

How can you "simply share" with someone today?

Blessings,
Taylor for the Garms Family

New Promotional Items!

2010-11-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

I am SO pleased to present the new Great Adventure Gospel Band promotional material! I finally was able to get all the PDF and JPEG files to work, and even added new pictures and posters. If you are promoting a Great Adventure concert in the near future, please visit www.greatadventurefamily.com/Promoters.html to download the promotional items you need.

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!

-T for the Garms

Changes on the Website

2010-11-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

If you visit our website, http://www.greatadventurefamily.com/, you will notice some changes on the Home page, the Meet the Family page, and the About the Band page. Pictures have been updated, as well as the bios of each group member. Check it out today! Don't forget to check out the schedule to see the new concerts in 2010 and 2011! (We'd love to see you soon!)

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms

VOTE!

2010-11-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder for you all to vote today.

Growing

2010-11-02T08:15:00.001-07:00

Our first appearance together as Great Adventure Gospel Band; this was for a Christmas Eve service for our home church, St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in 2007.

Mom discovered some old tapes (remember those things?) of our first "practices" in 2006 and 2007.

Oh boy.

We thought we were something else. We thought we'd eventually get a bus and appear on the Gaither videos. We thought it was easy to sing in four-part harmony.

My question is, Who did we think we were?

Some of us didn't know how to carry a tune well, at all. "Someone" who thought he was a great bass could barely squeak out a "low" note. Our pronounciation was weak. We didn't know much about blending or warming up, but still we dreamed of singing together as a family.

God implanted a desire in our hearts to sing-to make a joyful "noise"-and sing we did. Every Sunday we'd gather around the piano and sing Gospel classics and hymns. The three songs we went over and over again were "Just a Little Talk with Jesus", "Oh My Lord, What a Time", and "Without Him". As much as we cringe while listening to those practices, we know each time we sang together helped bring us to where we are now. In going through the tapes, we hear subtle improvements: the blend improves, the voices mature, the pitches "jive" (as Ben would say).

Leesha's voice shows the greatest growth. Her once-little girl voice has grown into a strong, beautiful lead which carries many of our songs. Ben's bass has deepened and matured. I have learned to let my own vocal style flow naturally, instead of trying to imitate everyone else's licks, my "ear" has been opened, and I have become more confident about singing. Of course, Dad and Mom have always been good, but they, too, have grown.

Then there are the Lil' Adventurers. Caleb could carry a tune when he was just two years old, as could Jayme and Sam at 3 and 6. But, wow, have they matured as singers and entertainers! They all can sing harmony and they continue to polish their voices and performance. Right now, Ben is listening to them sing "My Heart is a Chapel" on tape, and though they were good then, they are even better now.

It is also interesting hearing us go from only piano to the band as it is today. Abilities have also grown in that area.

There are times we get discouraged at our imperfect abilities and off-notes. But looking back, and considering that most of us have only been really singing for less than four years, God has brought so far. Our family has demonstrated much growth and we continue to hone our talents and skills. Praise be to God!

We may never travel with the Gaithers or be "something else." We are who were are, and we love traveling to where God has called us. It is a joy to share this great message and music, and we enjoy ministering together as a family and utilizing what the Lord has blessed us with.

Yes, we will continue to grow and change, and that is a good thing. The great adventure continues!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms

The Capital of Connecticut...

2010-10-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

Table discussion around our home can be very interesting. Recently, a conversation went like this during breakfast:

Taylor: "What is the capital of Connecticut? New Hampshire?" (You would think a graduate would know this off the top of her head.)

Sam: "No, Taylor, the capital of Connecticut is 'C'!" (Obviously.)

Leesha: "New Hampshire? No, New Hampshire is a state." (Duh!)

Ben: "Sam, the capital of Connecticut is 'K'! K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y!" (Another graduate...at least I know I'm not the only blonde.)

Mom: "Ben!! That's Kentucky!"

Ben: "Oh...is it?"

Lighten up, and LIVE!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor for the Garms

(In case you're wondering, the capital of Connecticut is "Hartford".)

2010 Midwest Quartet Convention: Saturday

2010-10-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

Brr! Fall has definitely arrived here in Minnesota! The wind has been blowing strong for the past three days and we even had some snow flurries yesterday. We had such a beautiful October otherwise.

Ben and Sam are recording the drum track to "Bigger Than Any Mountain" right now as the others try to do school. The whole track itself is turning out nicely, very Southern Gospel sounding. We can't wait to have the Lil' Adventurers add the vocals!

I promised I would post pictures from Saturday at the Midwest Quartet Convention. Here they are!

Sam, talking on the phone.

He couldn't live without his guitar! Ben'jamin'.

At the Adventureland palace, Sam and Caleb pose, looking like true quartet men. :)

Now this was a good group! Heaven's Call from Ill. had a neat bluesy-sound, complete with a B-3 organ player.

Hear by Faith and others wanted to hear us sing, so we did an imprompto concert outside the Palace. Thanks to Todd of Faithfulmen for taking these pictures!

Caleb

Sam, Jayme, and Caleb singing "Bigger Than Any Mountain" with Ben and I backing them up on guitar and mandolin.

This "young" man of the Foundation Quartet, known as the Energizer Bunny, was caught napping!

Okay, time for the story! Deanna Green of Hear by Faith and the MWQA board extended a special invitation to our family to sing two songs on stage. We were shocked, and honored! Many, many people had been asking us all weekend if we were singing (I think we have "singers" written our foreheads!), and we kept telling people weren't part of the association yet, though we had just turned in our application. Everyone was as surprised and excited as our family was to see us on the MWQA stage at 6:00 pm. We were very warmly accepted and had a great time!

Singing on the stage: Sam, Jayme, Ben, and Leesha.

A different point of view. (Thanks to Dave Larson for taking these pictures!)

The Lil' Adventurers!

This group needed a bass, so our friend Deanna Green added some low notes (we all know that is was actually Mike from the Chancellors...or was it?).

SG groups can be so cruel to each other! Here One Voice gets Stillwater Quartet back for interrupting their time slot. They raided Stillwater's bus and thought they would share. :)

Sam, Mom, and Dad enjoying the music.

Caleb's "Second Favorite Trio": Master's Voice from OK (second only to Booth Brothers, of course!). He could not stop talking about them or the CDs he got from them all weekend!

The Chancellors Quartet from MN. I say this is the best regional quartet ever! If you ever hear they are coming to your area, go see them! You will be blessed.

Talking after the convention was over with members of 4 His Love Quartet (another one of our new favorites). The best part about the convention were the new friendships made with many different people.

Heading home on Sunday, and of course, where else would we be? The whole family at Arbys (thanks to the man who took the picture!).

Blessings on your week!

Taylor for the Garms

Happy Birthday Mom!

2010-10-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our dear mother on October 21st! (Yes, I'm late again!) What a WONDERFUL blessing she is in our lives! She keeps us on track, sacrifices so much, teaches us lots, and loves us immensely. What would we do without her? She is a servant, always thinking of her family and others. Mom is very humble, very considerate, and very caring. She loves her Savior deeply and desires to follow Him always. What more can I say about this model mother and wife, whom I so want to be like? She is amazing! Oh yes, and she is 29 years old. ;)

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." Proverbs 31:28

WE LOVE YOU, MOM!

-Taylor for the Garms Gang

Cross Point in Concert!

2010-10-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

Last night we had the most special treat: seeing the new trio, Cross Point in concert! It was so neat, because they sang right in our living room! Such a cool up-and-coming group!

They opened with "I'm Feeling Fine" which featured the dynamic lead, and then they moved into "I Saw the Light" and "He Set Me Free". The talented young lady of the trio was then given a solo on "This is the Day", and then the group shifted gears into a mellow version of "We Three Kings", accompanied by the young lady on violin.

My favorite song was their unique arrangement of "Jesus Loves Me"; it was very creative. The trio presented a fun version of "Joy to the World", filled with crazy surprises-and it wasn't even practiced, they said! When they first started on this one, one could hear them saying, "What key is it in? Oh no! This song doesn't have a key!" "What do we do without a key?" "Just make one up!" That was interesting...

They asked us to sing with them on "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and then closed with an encore, "We Praise Thee Oh God." What an energectic trio of young people!

Oh yeah, their names were Sam, Jayme, and Caleb. (Oddly familiar, don't you think?) They have been singing since they started, which has been zero plus years.

(I love their product table! Note all the Booth Brothers' stuff!)

Look for "Cross Point Trio" coming to a concert near you! :)

-Taylor for the family

2010 Midwest Quartet Convention: Friday

2010-10-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Adventureland!

This was our first year to attend the Midwest Quartet Convention in Des Moines, Iowa! We were so excited, as we had heard about it for years, and now finally the opportunity to experience the fun weekend. It was amazing! Lots of neat groups were there and we had the chance to meet many new friends, and renew old acquaintances.

Here are the photo memories!

Caleb browsing through the newest Vision Forum catalog.

The scene from where I sit in the van.

Arriving at the Adventureland Palace.

Let the fun begin! The happy-clappy-snappy-drumming-always moving-and-singing Garms family.

Three Redeemed! What a beautiful spirit and love for the Lord! We enjoyed meeting Dixie Philips and her friends, and look forward to singing with them at the 2011 Floyd Gospel Sing in Floyd, Iowa.

Our friends, Stillwater Quartet from Kentucky. Great group, though we can't figure out why they call themselves "STILLwater"- there's nothing still about them, in fact they're always moving!

Our new friends, Hear by Faith from Hermantown, MN. We have heard about them for several years and finally were privileged to meet them. A wonderful, encouraging group! We'd enjoyed fellowshipping with them, and listening to their music and advice.

Here's an awesome quartet! 4 His Love Quartet from Missouri has a very reminiscent sound of the legendary Cathedral Quartet and a neat stage presence. We were going to leave before the Friday concerts were over, as it was getting late. One of the group members' wives stopped us and asked us to stay to hear 4 His Love, as they just loved watching our enthusiasm. We stayed, and were we glad we did! They were great.

Some other friends, the Faithful Men Quartet! We've enjoyed seeing them for several years and it was good to catch up with them.

"You don't have to be crazy, but it helps!" Higher Power Quartet from Iowa.

Leesha, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb with the Steve Mickelson, the bass from Higher Power.

Something is wrong with this picture...Can you find spot it? Yep! We have another member of the family! Our "adopted brother", Tommy Bruce, tenor from Stillwater Quartet joined our family for a while. :)

Hanging out! Ben and Jayme having fun with Tommy.

The booths.

Well, that wraps up my best Friday photos. Next up, Saturday, and some pretty cool stories that you can't miss! Here's a picture to keep you wondering for a while:

Do they look familiar?

Blessings and Joy in the Journey,
T for the Garms

Joy in the Journey | Great Adventure Gospel Band

Happy 21st Birthday, Ben-"Jamin"!

After Extended Silence...

Happy 12th Birthday Sam!

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Happy 10th Birthday Jayme!

Christmas Concert Video Highlights

"Ring Christmas Bells" Video

Chronicles of the Sightings: Counting Our Blessings

Happy 17th Birthday Leesha!

"Thank You, Lord": It's "The Right Time"!

"Thank You, Lord" CD Review by MN SG Fan

A "Great" Concert Experience

Happy Birthday Mom!

Recorded at "The Cave"...

More New Videos from the Garms Family

Happy Birthday Dad!

"The Right Time" Coming Soon!

The Chronicles of Sightings: Riding "No-Handed"

Legacy Six Returns!

"Higher Ground" Video and A Prayer Request

Who Is This?

Legacy Five and Great Adventure Gospel Band

And Happy 87th Birthday Mal!

Happy 8th Birthday, Caleb!

Catching Up with the Family

"Folks, It's Getting Bad"

"Soon and Very Soon" Video

New Promotional Photos!

Happy 4th of July and "Thank You, Lord" CD Review

Let's Celebrate: It's Our 3rd Anniversary!

Video: Wanna Travel with the Garms Family?

Travel Log: June 1st, 2011 - Watertown, WI

The Chronicle of Sightings | Entry One: The Glory Bus

Members of the Midwest Quartet Association

"Big" Changes for Great Adventure

Happy Anniversary, Dad and Mom!

Happy Easter/Resurrection Day!

Happy 19th Birthday Taylor!

Booth Brothers Concert Highlights on SGBlog

Booth Brothers Concert Review

Countdown...

THEY'RE HERE!

Springtime Is...

"I have a cold and a cough..."

"Thank You, Lord" CD Sneak Peek!

Garms Family to Contribute to SouthernGospelBlog.com

Five Concert Review

The Entire Family, Together

Tickle My Funny Bone: Early Mornings and Bad Dates

Off to the Duplicators!

"Thank You Lord" CD Updates

How Do You Like the New Blog?

Happy 25th Birthday Whitney!

Happy 20th Birthday Ben!

Happy 11th Birthday Sam!

Fellowship at Freddies

Recording at the "Cave"

"I'm a Soprano!"

Christmas Eve Service with the Garms

2010 Family Christmas Picture(s)

Merry CHRISTmas from the Garms Family!

Happy 9th Birthday, Jayme!

The New Christmas Tree

A Bit of Encouragement

Update on Mal

"O Christmas Tree!"

A Few Updates

Joy at Joy Lutheran Church

Happy Birthday Leesha!

A Parade of Concerts

Thanksgiving Trip

Alzen Adoption Fundraiser

"Peacock", MN - November 14th, 2010

Special Upcoming Event

Simply Sharing

New Promotional Items!

Changes on the Website

VOTE!

Growing