Christy Snow: Journal

Hi Everyone,
I am embracing alot of shift and growth right now as I know is common with most everyone I speak with these days. I am taking the month of September to be on Sabbatical from my work at the Center For Positive Living here in Charlotte. Some wonderful things that are coming out of this time of renewal and expansion for me are; making my way back into the studio for a couple of projects and taking time for reflection and introspection to work on writing my first book.

In a very short time my new chant CD "I Sing My Love" will be complete and available to help remind us all to remain in our heart space and let the love that we are lead the way through life's changes. For those of you who have supported this work with your pre-order, thank you and thank you for your patience. I had expected the release of this CD to be July but I am so glad that did not come to be as I have written several new chants that will make this project even more special!

I am also in process of completing a guided meditation CD which is supported by my Native American Flute Music and is built around the theme of saying "YES" to life.

As always I am enjoying teaching flute classes and performing my folk shows. In addition I am also thrilled about the new ways that I am being asked to share! I am now traveling around to different Spiritual Communities as guest speaker and retreat/workshop facilitator as well as assisting communities through leadership workshops.

Some say it is because I am a Gemini that I like to express in so many ways. I think it is just saying "YES" to life and allowing the creative flow of the Universe to flow through me in whatever way is necessary in the moment.

Thank you for sharing the journey!
In love & gratitude,
Christy

Christy Is Available For:
*Folk Shows
*Native American Flute Classes, Meditations & CDs
*Spiritual Concerts
*Guest Speaking and Singing
*Retreat & Conference Information
*Leadership Trainings
*Workshops on: Healing, Love & Forgiveness, Prosperity, Expressing Fully In The World

Christy presents the following in partnership with Jack Fowler:
*Godrave
*Expressing Wholeness Retreats
*Sunday morning services
*Customized Retreats and Workshops for your community

CLICK THE LINK TO VIEW THE ONLINE NEWSLETTER!

http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/published.php?action=view&newsletter_id=1409675581

You can now download mp3s right here at ChristySnow.com on the "STORE" page. Scroll to the bottom for the Snocap store that allows you to download individual tracks of Remembering The Way, Change Is Good, Awake & Alive and Solid Ground for 99 cents each.
http://www.christysnow.com/products.html

Another option is to go to:
http://cdbaby.com/all/snow and you have the option of purchasing digital or CD. This gives you the most selection under 1 shopping cart.

Last but not least:
My music is now on itunes so if that is your preference you are covered there as well.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/store

Thanks for your support.
Happy digital shopping!
Christy

Jack Fowler joins Christy on this NEW July 2007 release of atmospheric keyboard and Native American Flute! This CD is ideal for meditation, massage and relaxation. This unique compilation of musical pieces specifically supports the various energy centers (Chakras) in the body and is beneficial for total mind, body, spirit healing. Beginning with the root chakra and ending with the crown chakra, each piece leads the participant on a healing journey of awakening a higher vibration within. Whether you listen to the CD in its entirety for the purpose of chakra clearing and energizing or whether you use it for general relaxation, meditation or peace centered stillness...this CD is over an hour of spirit led music to sooth the soul. Listen and purchase the new CD and others right here on the website. This CD will be available digitally through itunes soon so keep checking. Also, if you would like to order this or any of Christy's CDs in quantities of 5 or more you receive wholesale pricing so email for a list of prices.

http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/home/published.php?action=view&newsletter_id=1409596697

Just a note to let you know that you can NOW digitally download Christy Snow music at places like itunes! Cool huh! You can download entire albums or single songs. Check it out, just scroll to the bottom left of the page and search by Christy Snow and select the category "artist" below the search line. Have fun.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/

I'm happy to report that all of my CDs are in stock at the same time! You can now order any or all of my cds with one click of a button.

www.cdbaby.com/all/snow

There you will find my three latest vocal CDs and my three Native American Flute CDs. Happy shopping!

If you are interested in retreats visit:
www.healyourworld.com

If you would like to join is at the Center For Positive Living in Charlotte visit:
www.cplcharlotte.com

For some plan ol' good ol' folk gigs (&/or flute performances and lessons) visit the calendar page right here at ChristySnow.com

Thanks for stopping in!
Love & Hugs to ya,
Christy

Hi All,
Well here comes summer and what a great year it has been so far. I am happy to report that the Virginia Women's Music Festival was better than ever this year with 379 women in attendance. Next year will probably be an even bigger year for them considering the press they received this year in the New York Times!!! Go Girls! www.campoutva.com

Ms. Renee Leboa & I are gearing up to head to Kansas City for a very special weekend at Unity Village. We will be facilitating a Native American Spirituality and New Thought Retreat June 16-18.

In other news I am happy to say that almost all of my CDs are back in stock. It is a good problem to have when you sell out of CDs but it sure feels good to have them back in stock. Solid Ground is the only one we are still waiting on and it will be restocked soon.

Speaking of CDs, the plan is to hit the studio this winter to begin working on a new Christy vocal CD as well as a joint spiritual CD with Renee. I'll keep you posted.

That's the brief version of the latest goings on:-)

Hope to see you soon.
Thanks for your continued support!
Love,
Christy

Wow, I've gotten a bit behind with the Christy Snow emails in the last year huh?:-) It's all good though, the music in my heart is alive and well and life is soooooo good!

First let me tell you about tomorrow night in Charlotte and then in a minute about some upcoming events around the country.

In Concert Tomorrow Night With Renee` Leboa:-) at the Center For Positive Living's Acoustic Coffeehouse at 6101 Idlewild Rd. Ste. 332 in Charlotte, NC 28212 8pm $10

Join us as Renee & I have the opportunity to share our music, our stories and our fun in an environment that becomes transformed into a quaint little cafe feel. Doors open at 7pm and we recommend arriving by 7:30pm to secure the best seats.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow night.
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Coming Up:
Group Flute Lesson at Center For Positive Living March 5th 1:30pm $25 ($50 for individual lessons) http://www.cplcharlotte.com
Evening Muse Christy Snow Show - Fri. April 14th 8pm http://www.theeveningmuse.com
Campout VA Women's Music Festival - Memorial Day Weekend http://www.campoutva.com
night.
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In addition to the somewhat local stuff I just mentioned, Renee` & I will also be performing in Mexico in April, Unity Village in June and Circle of Love Gathering/Norcross, GA in July. We are currently making plans for a return visit to Tupelo, MS and Austin, TX sometime possibly this year as well. So if you live in any of those areas, visit the website & stay tuned:-)

Hope to see you soon!
Christy

This coming Sunday New Thought churches across the country have decided to speak on the theme "Stand For Love". I am grateful to have my song "Stand In Love" included in this weekend's services by many of these churches.

Due to the wonderful response I have received the distributor is currently sold out of my CD "Change Is Good" which includes this song. The distributor will be restocked soon, however it will not be soon enough for this Sunday's services for those of you who have not yet received your copy.

Therefore I am providing a downloadable version here on my website along with the lyrics (see Listen & Lyrics page). I will gladly email the sheet music to anyone interested. Simply email your request for sheet music to christy@christysnow.com. I am happy to contribute in this way and I am offering both of these options to everyone on a love offering basis.

This song was truly Divinely guided, written moments after the towers fell on 9/11/01 as I realized that there is never an excuse to fail to practice what we
believe, we must always choose love. Have a wonderful service, reminding people of the truth.

Love and Blessings to you all!
Christy

You know what that means! It's time for Campout VA, the Virginia Women's Music Festival on 96 acres of private Women's space bewtween Richmond and Charlottesville. Sorry guys, it's a girl thang!

It's time for camping, playing in the grass and listening to lots of music! Hope to see you there!!!
http://www.campoutva.com
Hugs,
Christy

Exciting! Amazing! Overflowing with happiness! None of those words really capture it, as a matter of fact Sunday was one of a very few days in my life that I found myself speechless! Renee' Leboa and I are honored and filled with gratitude to be the new ministers at the Center For Positive Living here in Charlotte!

The Center is our Spiritual home, and we are exploding with excitement at the idea of lending our experience, creativity, enthusiasm and love to growing the Spiritual Family that is the Center For Positive Living. We have many ideas for the growth of the church and its increased participation in the Charlotte area at large.

The question came up many times while we were interviewing with them about our music careers and how this could all work together. We are still going to perform and we are still going to tour but being at home more than we have been in the last 3 years is something that Renee' & I have been working toward for over a year and a half and this works into that plan beautifully. We believe that there is no reason that we can not do both and be extremely happy doing it, while serving the Center in a wonderful way. We will still be participating in the Spiritual conferences and festivals we love so much and I will still be performing at the folk shows and folk and women's festivals that I love so much.

So, there you have it...that's what's new with me...A LOT!

Visit their website to learn what is going on at the Center and what else is new. You can go directly to it from the links page but the address is www.cplcharlotte.com
Make sure you sign up on the Center's new website to be added to their mailing list if you want to be informed of upcoming events (don't rely on this site for that, we don't want you to miss out!)

Also, Charlotte Area...I hope to see you on Thursday at Wine-Up and Southern CA ladies, I hope you are making plans to attend the Wise Women Retreat the first weekend in February in Desert Hot Springs (see calendar for more info).

Lots o' LOVE!
Christy

Well Renee' & I have some pretty exciting news to share with you. As many of you know, we have been traveling around the country together performing since we met in 2001. We love to travel and meet new folks and share our music with them and at the same time we have missed our Charlotte family of friends and our Spiritual Community at the Center For Positive Living.

After their previous minister moved, early in 2004, Renee' & I filled in several times at the Center. During the month of October we sang and spoke every Sunday and toward the end of that month we felt a great sadness that it was over. Before long, one thing had led to another and Renee' & I had submitted a proposal to the Center to be Co-Ministers at the church. Since that time we have interviewed with the board and the search committee and they have asked us to deliver a workshop this Saturday and speak on Sunday. Then after the service on Sunday, (this Sunday the 16th) we will answer questions from the congregation and then they will vote to determine if they would like for us to be the new ministers.

If you are a member of the Center, Sunday is your opportunity to ask your questions and share your comments and to place your vote, so don't miss it.

If you are not a member but are interested in finding a Spiritual Community that feels like home to you, I invite you to try this one. They embrace all walks of life and the congregation consists of people from diverse spiritual and personal backgrounds. They believe in and teach empowering life changing Spiritual principles.

We are excited about the prospect of being a part of growing this Spiritual Community. We know that no matter what the outcome on Sunday, all is well for all involved; for the Center and for us.

**********************
Now, with regard to performing and singing at my folk shows and festivals, I will still be performing and touring but I will be home much more and touring more efficiently with my time.

Speaking of performing...Don't miss my Wine-Up show next week on Thursday in Charlotte, January 20th at 8pm ($5 cover). Located at 3306-C N. Davidson St. in NODA just across from the Evening Muse. http://www.wine-up.com They serve food and coffee in addition to Wine and have a pool table side and a listening side.

Thanks for your support!
Christy
P.S. Renee' & I now have a combined website that goes into more detail about our Spiritual and other combined endeavors such as our Reiki practice, Retreats and more. See the links page to go to directly to HealYourWorld.com

Wow, what a year 2004 turned out to be. In many many ways this past year was the most difficult of my life. But I have to say that it has left me with a feeling of great peace and security in my faith that things really do work out in this life. I look forward to 2005 with great expectation and a renewed since of purpose and faith, trusting in the perfect flow of life.

I have a bunch to share with you about plans for 2005 and beyond that will come very soon but for now I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Keep a close check on the website now that I can change anything anytime...woo hoo...thank you hostbaby (an affiliate of CD Baby)...you guys are amazing!

Oh and don't forget...
New in Christy's world:
I am now offering handmade Native American Flutes of tan, greenish black or black bamboo with unique wood burned designs and flute lessons to go along with them. Also, I used my flutes for self healing alot this year and in the process turned out two more Native American Flute CDs; Spirit Dance and Flute Meditations Vol. 1. Visit the Store for more info.

Talk to you soon! ~Christy

In Loving Memory of
Robert Harold Snow
April 28, 1929 to July 25, 2004

As most of you know my Dad died last month on July 25th. I've found that talking about him brings me comfort and so I wanted to share a little bit of him with you.

The day my Daddy died I found myself flooded with thoughts and flashes of his life, his impact on me, my love for him and also the many stories and words of wisdom I've experienced of him over the years. He was a man of integrity, honesty and unconditional love. When we were kids he told us, if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. Then as a teenager I remember him telling me if you have to wonder if you should say something about another person, ask yourself if you would say it in front of them and if the answer is no then you shouldn't say it behind their back either. This is the kind of person he was what you saw was truly what you got. He was also a man of great generosity and love. I can't begin to count up all of the times he would help out a friend in need, or a stranger for that matter. If he had it to give, he would share it with you and most times even if he didn't have it to give he would figure out a way to help you anyway.

Despite his full life of different careers and full workloads, he always found time for his family and his faith. I've told people my whole life that I had the best Daddy in the world. I always described him as a combination of Andy Griffith, John Walton and Timmy's dad from Lassie. There was always a story, and usually a joke, and there was always a moral to the story. Do your best, be the best person you can be, love others and enjoy life. Daddy believed in living life to the fullest and encouraging us kids to do the same. He lived his life to the fullest and always with complete faith and optimism. I am so grateful to have had a Daddy that was such a good man, good father, and good friend. I have always been and will always be proud of him and love him with all my heart.

Below are excerpts from the Eulogy that my sister Libby compiled of a few of our many stories about Daddy. (Eulogy read by Harold's oldest daughter Libby)

Harold Snow was born April 28, 1929 to Lonnie and Vena Snow. On October 24, 1947, he married Josephine Thompson. He lived in the community of Thurmond. He had 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls. He also had 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He had 3 careers. He lived to 75 years old. Those are the facts, but they don't tell the story of a very special man. We, his children, want to give you our view of this special man we called, "Daddy".

Harold Snow loved a good story. He taught his children about life through his stories of everyday life. When I was a teenager I didn't always appreciate his stories, especially when they started with, "when I was a kid". I would groan and say Daddy don't tell us how far you had to walk to go to school, how little money you had and how hard you had to work. But he just smiled and told his stories and we listened and learned because there was always a "point" to Daddy's stories. I am not the storyteller he was, but I want to try. Although we are not all speaking today, the stories represent the memories of all 6 of his children.

He taught us about love and optimism. The glass was always half full, every cloud had a silver lining. About 12 to 15 years ago, I got a call at work one morning from Janice at Elkin Hospital and she said, "your Daddy has been stomped by a bull and you need to get here to be with your Mother." I dropped everything and rushed to the hospital. Allen, Arlene and Joe were soon there, Christy came from Rock Hill and Aldean from Virginia. We anxiously waited with Mama and after some time and many tests we were told that Daddy was badly bruised and would be sore for a while. He needed to spend the night in the hospital, but did not appear to have internal injuries. At this point Mama and the 6 of us got to go into the emergency room to see him. After hugs, kisses and questions about what had happened, he looked at us and said, "This is a good day. It's the middle of the week and I didn't expect to see all of my children today, but here you all are. It's a good day!"

Daddy loved people! He wanted everyone to be his friend. He told us this story about when as a young man he started work at Chatham Manufacturing. His co-workers told him, "don't even try to get along with the supervisor. He doesn't like anyone and no one likes him." Daddy said that he decided, "that man needs a friend and I am going to be his friend." He told us about the verbal exchanges they had and how hard he worked to be this man's friend. Daddy really believed and practiced "a kind answer turns away wrath". Over a period of time they did in fact become friends and they remained friends. After telling us this, he would say "I never met anyone who could not become my friend and don't ever judge someone by what you hear, get to know them and make up your own mind." This story also highlights a key part of Harold Snow's personality. He loved a challenge! You didn't ever tell him he could not do something without him wanting to try to prove he could. He delighted in telling people that he passed the state exams to become a licensed Realtor the same year his oldest daughter retired.
He had confidence in his children. Just this summer we were talking about some of our early driving experiences. On the day after Joe got his license; Daddy let him drive a load of cattle to market. We asked Daddy why he let Joe do that and why he let us all do similar things. He said, "I never had you do anything that I was not confident that you could do". He spent time with us and he knew us. Daddy very seldom spanked his children. He talked to us when we misbehaved. He explained why something was wrong, but he also heard our side. His discipline was patient and loving.

Daddy lived Christian love and compassion. He always was concerned with those he called "less fortunate". There are many examples of this, but my favorite is about a stranger who was drunk on Christmas Eve. We were ready to go to Granny and Pop Snow's on Christmas Eve one year when he came rushing in and got the pone book out and started looking up numbers. Mama said, "we are ready to go, what are you doing?? He said, "I am trying to find someone to come and get this man that is in my truck". We asked, "what man?" He said, "I don't really know, but I think he is the brother of ___ and he named someone we did not know. Of course, we asked, "how did he get in your truck?"

After many questions we pulled the information from him that while coming through Mtn. Park he had seen someone slumped on a bench at the store. The store was closed and it was a record breaking cold night. He stopped and saw the man's condition, physically helped him into the truck, questioned the man about where he lived, and came home to call the man's brother. The brother came and took the man home to warmth and safety rather than left to freeze on a store bench. Daddy didn't just talk about helping others, he did. Through the years some tried to dissuade him from helping others in this manner for fear of him being hurt or taken advantage of, but he never listened. He would listen and grin and we knew that despite what anyone said, he would go along trusting everyone and trying to help people.

Daddy always had his priorities and tried to instill them in us. People were important. We were important! Material possessions were not. All 6 of us could tell a story about tearing something up and thinking, "I have really messed up this time"! One summer morning, when I was a teenager, I left the motor on the chicken house feeder running too long and burned the motor out. While I was doing that, Allen burned the clutch out of a new truck, for the second time that summer. We came in and told Mama and she said, "Call your Daddy, he is going to be so upset". So I called and after hearing the problems, he said, "Is that all? I thought you had really done something." That was always his attitude whether you had hit the chicken house with the truck or wrecked a car or made a bad grade. As long as we were not hurt, anything else could be fixed and he just didn't get upset.

He taught us to have fun and not take ourselves too seriously. Many, many years ago we were at a drive in restaurant. After we had eaten, Daddy had crumbs all over his shirt and in his lap. Mama said, "Harold you need to get out and shake yourself". She meant brush the crumbs off, but Daddy got out of the car and literally jumped up and down and shook. Of course, Mama was not impressed, but his children thought it was great! He could make anything fun!

Christy also told about asking him to sign a check for her. She said "sign this check, Daddy". He did and she started off to school. Down the road she looked at the check and saw that he had done just what she asked. He had signed the check, not as R. Harold Snow, but with one word "Daddy". Of course she had to turn around and come back for a new check. And I am sure he was laughing when she came in the door.

Arlene's favorite example of not taking ourselves too seriously was when we came to Daddy complaining that one of our siblings had said something we didn't like. You know, the "he said, she said" sort of thing that children do. If it was a petty complaint, he would smile and say, "Just grin and bear it".

Our parents were our security. We knew they were always there for us. Daddy liked to tell the story of Allen, as a small child, going to sleep in the car and waking up in a church somewhere. Daddy said to Allen, "Buddy do you know where you are?" Allen was not concerned at all and replied, "right here". I think Daddy liked the story because it showed that location didn't matter, when he was holding us, we were secure.

Last September he had out patient surgery for a cancerous growth. We were nervous and very concerned. We took turns waiting with him until he was called to surgery. We laughed and talked, but just before he went back, he said, "This surgery is going to be ok and I am going to be fine." Then he added "but one day I won't and when that happens just remember that this ole boy has had fun!"

When all is said and done, it's not the vacations or the things that he bought us that we remember. It's the simple stuff that he made fun, roasting hot dogs, taking the grandchildren to the world's best climbing tree or riding in the pasture to see the cows. It's the time he gave us, the patience he had, the love he showed, not just to us, but to Mama, to his parents, to Mama's parents, to his sisters, his in-laws, his neighbors and friends. We saw love in action every day. We saw a man whose love expanded with each new in-law and each new birth. We saw a man of constant good humor. He liked to joke and play tricks and sometimes Mama would ask, "What are you smiling about?" and rather than admit what he was up to, he would say, "it's just my natural disposition", and it was. We saw a man who was always as good as his word. A man who lived one of his favorite sayings, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Just a few minutes ago, Daddy's Grandchildren were all gathered around and David said, "People tell you to remember the good times, but with Papa there were no bad times. They were all good times." I think that reflects the feelings of each of us young and old, with Daddy, (Harold, Papa, Grandpa, or however you knew him) there were only good times.

We, his family, were truly blessed. In preparing this, one of my brothers said, "I am afraid that it will sound like we are bragging about Daddy". We all stopped for a minute and thought. Then someone said, "yes, we are, but he deserves it!"

Thank you for allowing us to share a very few of our favorite stories about our Daddy, Harold Snow. Thank you also for the support you have shown our family through this difficult time. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
July 29, 2004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hmm...August 17th, it's amazing to me how my life has changed in just 2 months. First of all I met some wonderful people and had the pleasure of seeing some familiar faces and good friends at Eastern Conference in Atlanta last month over July 4th week. Renee & I have already told them to count us in for next year..what a great conference!

For the most part though, the last 2 mos have been a blur. To be quiet honest I was kind of out of it after we got home from New Mexico and spent a couple of weeks to myself recuperating (something I know is important). I also spent some time with my family and I am so glad I did. For Father's Day, actually on the day after, I went up to visit my Mom and Dad. I asked my Daddy what he would like to do in honor of Father's Day. He wanted to go for a ride up to Cana, VA and pick cherries. So off we went.

In the car there was me, my Mom, Daddy, and my sister Libby. We drove up past Mt. Airy, NC and into Cana, VA. We turned onto a small country road by a sign that said Cherry Orchard this way. The closer we got the more beautiful the drive. The kudzu vines were in full greenery and it was a beautiful rainy southern day. Yes, "rainy" southern day but beautiful none the less. When we got there the rain had stopped for the moment but the trees were good and wet and we didn't care. I didn't know we were going to pick cherries when I left Charlotte that morning in my new red shirt, dress pants and sandals but I was not about to pass up this opportunity. I fished out my tennis shoes from the trunk, found a T-shirt to slip on over my dress shirt, rolled up my pants legs and grabbed a bucket. I become obvious that my sister Libby only came along for the company because she doesn't really like picking cherries and she doesn't even like to eat them very much. So, she kept Mama company most of the time up the hill by the car and Daddy and I went to town picking some perfectly ripened sweet red cherries.

My Dad was 75 this past April. Now, I know some 75-year-olds that act 75 and some who act 85 and some who act 65. My Dad never acted his age or anywhere near it and the cherry picking day was no exception. He climbed to the top rung on those ladders, stretching out as far as he could for the best cherries within reach (and even the ones just beyond his reach - he still reached for them). It wasn't until Libby came out to visit that he stopped making his ladder do wheelies. She was trying to stress to him how dangerous it was to reach so hard for the perfect limb of cherries that you caused the ladder to come off the ground by 6 inches on one side and teeter on one leg. Finally she got through to him when she pleaded "Daddy, if you wont think about how bad you could get hurt if you fall, think about how disappointed you'd be if you fell and spilled your bucket of cherries." "That would be bad," he said and then he reeled it back in to a safer stretch.

I had such a wonderful day that day. Daddy & I picking cherries, sometimes in the rain and sometimes not but not having a care in the world any of the time and just talking, visiting and seeing how many cherries we could eat and pick. Daddy said more than once "Eat up girl, you know, they only weigh the buckets when your done, not you, so eat up."

I knew as it was happening that I would always remember that cherry pickning day and that it was special, I just didn't know at the time how special!

The following week Daddy was admitted into the hospital with what they thought was pneumonia but turned out to be fluid on his lungs due to heart trouble. He was moved to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem where he spent the majority of July undergoing tests and a very intensive heart surgery in which they repaired a valve, replaced a valve, cut a thickened part of his heart away and performed a "Maze Procedure". After the heart surgery and the scare that followed for a couple of days we thought he would be home soon. I cancelled the first portion of our trip to California to be with him until he was feeling better and until I felt better about leaving. I said I wasn't going anywhere until my Daddy smiled at me. Well just a few days later he was smiling. He wasn't feeling to great but he was sitting up, feeding himself and trying to be his usual joker, positive self. They moved him out of ICU and told us he was on course to have his on room soon. Finally on Sat. July 24th, thinking that he was on the mend I flew to California to perform at the Asilomar conference in Pacific Grove. By the time I reached the conference grounds and unpacked, the phone rang. It was my sister Arlene saying that they had rushed Daddy back to ICU because his kidneys and lungs were failing. She said, "You need to come home, now, they don't expect him to live through the night." I secured a plane ticket for the earliest flight I could catch home for the next night from San Francisco but before I flew home my Dad had made his transition.

I was surrounded by friends I love and consider family; Jack Fowler, Joe LaSalle, Rev. Dr. Charles Geddes, Renee' and so many more and I was at a place very dear to my heart. I later realized this was a blessing but at the time I couldn't believe this was happening and I was across the country. To say that my father's death has changed my life is such an understatement but words have been eluding me a bit lately so I'll leave it at that for now.

There is so much that I want to say about him. I want people to know who Harold Snow was. He was and still is an inspiration to me. He lived life to the fullest and taught us to do the same, while at the same time valuing ourselves, having confidence in ourselves and love and compassion for others and ourselves. My sister Libby said it best in the poignant eulogy that she helped compose for the funeral and I would like to share it with you soon when I get a copy from her. I want to share it because he was the kind of person that changed people's lives for the better, simply by being in their lives. He was my inspiration for my song "Ripples" and I saw over the course of the funeral, cards, calls and visits just a glimpse at how many lives he touched. He truly changed the world for the better one person at a time. Some of the stories that I will share with you from the eulogy I think will cause you to evaluate your life, your decisions and your actions because that is the kind of person he was.

There has been a wonderfully touching and overwhelming amount of love and support that has poured out from across the country to me during this painful time and I just want you all to know how grateful I am. I may not have responded to every phone call or every email but I received every single one and trust me, it helped and continues to help and I am so grateful for you. Thank You!

Thank you again for the love and support, it's been felt and it has made a difference. You make a difference in my life. Thank you for being in it. Love ~Christy

Well, Renee & I are feeling the burn a little bit today. We are on our way home from New Mexico and feeling a bit like we?ve been on the road since we met...hmm, I think we have. Anyway, some much needed R & R is coming up when we get home!

Yes, we are literally on our way. Renee' is driving and I am typing. The Pelahatchie/Puckett exit, Exit 68 off I-20 to be exact. We had such a great time with our New Mexico family. Thank you Guillian & Melise at the Good Life Inn (http://www.goodlifeinn.com) for hosting the 1st annual Spriritsong Retreat with Christy Snow & Renee Leboa. Thanks to the folks that came out to the concert on Friday and especially those of you who participated in the Saturday night Sacred Circle. You know who you are and I'll say it again, one of the best circles we've been part of! The whole weekend was a blast. Oh and how about those belly dancers...go girls! What a treat, we had belly dancing entertainment for Saturday night dinner and they taught people to belly dance earlier in the day. Between Jamie Anderson's private lesson and this past weekend Renee' is getting the hang of this!!!

I love New Mexico, it's one of my favorite places in the country. I love the whole state but there is a special place in my heart for the high desert of High Rolls & Cloudcroft. I love that high desert with the pine trees, the grassy pasture land, a distant view of the San Andres Mtn. Range and that cozy and beautiful B & B owned and operated by two women that have thought of everything to make it a great time (oh and did I mention that are like family to us!). We are already making plans for next year. We are tentatively saying July 4th weekend for the 2005 Spiritsong Retreat weekend. Stay tuned, we'll let you know.

I loved seeing my new friend Di. Di is the pipe carrier for the Dakota tribe of Native Americans. She is a very wise soul and I was honored by her sharing with me this weekend. One of my favorite moments of the weekend was the morning walk that ended with a flute meditation in the woods and then Di singing one of her "Sundance" songs.

It was a time of friends old and new. I was so excited that my friend Ruth came out all the way from Atlanta, GA. Like us, Ruth is already planning a return visit for next year...yay. As always it was like coming home to see Guillian, Melise, Alicia, Cathy, Berle & Rand. You guys are enough to make us want to move to New Mexico! Oh, and Marge from VA, we met your twin. A talented artist and writer named Helen could have been Marge's twin. Great meeting you too dear.

White Sands
Ok, so this was my 5th time, I think, to the Alamogordo/High Rolls, Cloudcroft area and I had never been to the White Sands National Monument just south of Alamogordo. Well, Guillian and Melise heard that and they were determined we were going to see it this time! So we took off down the mountain for dinner on Monday and to see the sunset over White Sands. We met Alicia & Cathy and decided to stop by their place afterward for a little visit. It was so beautiful there that we took our time and saw the sunset from there. We said our good-byes and said well, it's not too dark yet lets go ahead and drive over to White Sands. We realized about 10 miles from the park that we were almost out of gas but we were afraid we would miss the hours of operation for the park if we stopped, so we trucked on. We got to the park before it closed and started our drive into the center of the park. After a few miles the gas light flashed at us again and the car made that "Hey you...driver...I'm not kidding I need gas!" kind of beep AGAIN. Again we ignored it and forged on, deeper into the park.

White Sands is truly like nothing I have ever seen! It felt like walking on the moon. Solid white dunes of gypsum for as far as the eye could see. We played like 4 little kids and then we decided that we should go over another dune and another and down to the bottom of this one particular valley of dunes. From down there we could barely see the lights of the city and barely hear the voices from the other tourists on the dunes by the parking area, we were all to ourselves! All we could see were stars and vague shadows of white hills of gypsum dunes. It was awesome and amazing. We laughed and sat down in the sand. We took pictures of each other in the dark and then laughed some more when we looked at the digital camera to learn whose head got cut off by our blind shots in the dark.

We finally thought we should check the time and we learned that it was 20 minutes until the park closed. We stood up, brushed ourselves off and then looked at each other.."Which way?" All of the sudden it was really quite. All of the other tourist had gone. Not a single voice was now coming from over the dunes and that part about it being cool that we couldn't really see anything besides dunes wasn't as cool for a few minutes.

I remembered that great car commercial, Nissan I think, where the guy is in the fog and he can't find the shore so he hits his car alarm and his vehicle welcomes him to shore with a beep and a flashing light. I pulled out the car keys and I think we all felt a little relief at my good idea. Only one problem...remember those dunes?.. Yeah, those little car devices don't go around or through dunes so my plan didn't work. I wasn't really freaking out but I admit I did have a Blair Witch flash when each of the four of us had a different idea of what direction we should go and we started to split up. Well, no worries, we didn't split up, we didn't run into the Blair Witch, we didn't spend the night in the desert. We finally found the car but not until Millie thought she saw a person standing on the other side of one of the dunes, freaky! And also, not before we really thought we might just run out of gas before we made it out of there. But we didn't and it was a great experience. My only words of advice...if you are going to White Sands (or any part of the desert at night for that matter), take a flash light and put gas in your car.

After the Campout Virginia Women?s Music Festival last May, I started to trade emails with a new friend named Diana from Virginia Beach. She asked if I would come up
and perform a house concert for a group of women known as the Whelks. We booked the concert for the day before this year?s Campout. After we said goodbye to Naveen we headed on toward VA Beach. The concert was actually to be held at the home of a woman named Marge.

We showed up to meet our gracious hostess and to learn immediately that she was a soul sister. I know I am speaking for Alison and Renee? when I say that we LOVED Marge! We had such a great time at the concert, meeting everyone, performing for the concert and finally have a slumber party at Margie?s. What a great night! Thank you to all the Whelks and to my new soul sister Marge and my friend Diana for getting this ball rolling in the first place. Look forward to a return visit!

It just keeps getting better! Billie and the crew at Campout just keep improving on a good thing. I?ll just go ahead and tell you up front that you don?t want to miss Campout 2005. We?ve already signed on for next Memorial Day weekend and hope every woman that reads this will make plans to join us. (Sorry guys, yes it?s one of those woman thangs). This year there were a couple of new elements on my end. One of those new elements was that in addition to performing, I got the opportunity to lead flute workshops and teach people how to play Native American Flute. I also started each morning with a group of folks who joined me for morning flute meditations. I had the privilege to teach over 40 people how to play the flute over the course of the weekend! It was awesome. By the way, in case you are doing the math, one flute lesson is $50 for an hour and the weekend Campout fee was less than $100 for the whole weekend. In addition to free flute lessons, great vendors and some incredible women?s music?let me mention again 96 acres of women?s space with camping, cabins, an awesome stage and a lake. Marked that calendar yet? We'll be there!