“My life is Groundhog Day. Every day is exactly the same.” Her baby crawled around her feet as her toddler played close by. I remember those days when all my children were young, and it felt like all I could report about each day was feeding my children and changing their diapers. Nap time and…
The books below celebrate visionaries who persevered in developing and sharing their God-given abilities in the realm of music, the divine gift that touches heart, mind, and spirit.
A word from a seasoned older mama: Don’t waste your car rides. I get it—time in the car with small children can be stressful. The tired baby who refuses to nap (or whom you’re trying to keep from napping), the hangry toddler, the melting down preschooler can all be a challenge when enclosed in a…
JAMES: Welcome back to Story Warren, Michael J. Tinker! For those who are just now discovering your work, can you summarize how you’ve engaged with kids and their families over the last ten years? MICHAEL: Where do I start?! I’ve released six children’s albums and filmed a six episode ‘TV’ series. I have a family…
Very few things give me a bright burst of nostalgia like listening to “Fireflies” by Owl City. Not only does the ridiculously catchy 2009 hit remind me of a simpler time, but it also fills me with a sense of awe at simple things now. It’s hard to express the impact this imaginative and odd…
Have you noticed the way that Christmas music blurs the line between the sacred and the secular? When December rolls around it is not at all uncommon to hear Bing Crosby crooning classics like “White Christmas” or “I’ll be Home for Christmas” on Christian radio stations, and over on secular stations all kinds of artists…
When my husband and I were growing up, our musical formation spanned from Bach and The Beatles to Ray Charles and Michael W. Smith. We carried on this practice when we became parents. In preschool, our son’s favorite artists also included The Beatles, as well as Carole King, Fiona Apple, and the soundtrack to Beasts…
When I was in my 20s, I had two warring identities within myself. I was a professional musician and music teacher but also a mother of small children. Why were these warring identities, you ask? Because as a mother, I wanted music that was appropriate and edifying for my children, but as a musician, most…
I’ve got a memory tucked into my pocket from nearly a decade ago: it’s a fall afternoon, and I’m pulling the family car into the local apple farm for an afternoon of picking, two young boys in their car seats in the backseat, and a song about “bears, bears” who’ve “got no cares” jangling out…
“So you might turn the page or you might shut the book, but the truth is still truth even if you don’t look.” – Sarah Sparks, Into the Lantern Waste It is rare to come across an artist who eloquently combines literature with music while both convicting and bringing hope to the listener. Sarah Sparks’s…
I adore Christmas. I love everything about the Christmas season – the anticipation of Advent, the smells of holiday baking, the twinkle lights cutting through the darkness, and the music; oh the music! In a year devoid of many traditional markers, I’m already mourning the loss of many of my favorite Christmas activities. But there will still be music. I’ve queued up Spotify playlists, dug old cds out of the corners of my car, and dusted off some of my grandfather’s old Christmas classics to play on our record player.
We at Story Warren believe heartily in the power of music to steer the atmosphere of the individual and a family. We’ve told you about Slugs & Bugs, Rain for Roots, The Corner Room, and other favorites. Today I have a new name to add to your list: Michael J. Tinker. I met Michael and…
