Summer 2012

LIFE is good!  We are blessed beyond measure.  So many changes have taken place lately... To begin with, our oldest son Colton moved to Colorado Springs, CO the end of May, to lead worship in a church there, and to continue college.  We already miss him terribly, and wish him the very best that life has to offer.  He was a huge part of our ministry here, and will always have a special place in the hearts of many.
Speaking of ministry, doors are opening for us each week through Blue Oceans Music and LIFE Church.  I never dreamed we could be so happy!  Helping meet the needs of others is truly one of life's greatest rewards.  We are finding favor on every hand and God is adding to HIS church on a regular basis.  Our hopes are to find a new location in town for our ministries in the next few months and we appreciate your thoughts and prayers during this process.
Last month (June 27th) Kim and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary!  It's been a wonderful life so far... I love her so much, and she has made me so happy!  A wonderful wife and a super mom... Someone said it best when they said, "Deano, you married up."  They were 100% correct.
July 4th was my mother's birthday.  I miss her terribly.  She was one of the strongest people I've ever known.  I hope the life I live brings honor to her in many ways.
Things that have been on my mind lately range from the following: honor vs. dishonor, living a blessed life, praying BIG prayers, living with audacious faith, leaving the past behind and moving forward in life, and the type of legacy I will leave behind someday.

Here's to a fabulous summer for all!

Long Time... No Posts

It's been forever since I blogged!  Why?  I really don't know.  I do know that life has been extremely busy with many changes taking place.  The boys are growing and their worlds are in constant change with school, sports, relationships, etc.  Kim and I are loving life and enjoying this particular season.  After launching a brand new church in October of 2010, things have started to settle down a bit, and we're enjoying making spiritual deposits into the lives of others.  So many new people have come into our lives and together we are sharing life's greatest moments.  It's a wonderful feeling at the end of the day to look back and know that you've done something that will make a positive impact in the life of someone else.  More to come later...

Summer 2011

It's been a hot one! Not only with the weather, but all that's going on in our lives! The boys have finally finished up their baseball seasons, and have begun football practices. Tate won out the quarterback position for the Apopka Tiny Mites and Spencer is gearing up for JV at his new high school in Mt. Dora. Colton has decided to attend Lake Sumter community college near home and major in business management. Kim is doing great these days and we are all keeping extremely busy with LIFE Church of Mt. Dora! God has been very good to us all and we are excited about what the future holds! I hope to blog more in the future... time will tell.

Spring 2011

I can't believe it's already the middle of March and I haven't blogged since December! Where does the time go? That may be a question more and more people are asking these days. So many wonderful things have been happening this spring... with the family being busy in school and work and church and extracurricular activities.

The boys are doing great! Colton is playing baseball for the high school and planning on graduating in June! I am so proud of him with all of his accomplishments. Spencer is preparing to exit middle school and enter high school next year. His involvement in school music groups, sports, and church keep him pretty busy. He has the lead in this year's musical production at school. They are doing High School Musical (from the TV series), and he's pumped up about it all! Tate is loving all that life has to bring. I've never seen an eight year old who has experienced so much fun and excitement in their lives as Tate has. Kim is recovering well from her auto accident last spring. The latest doctor's visit produced encouraging results and God is still performing healing in her situation.

The relocation of my music school from Oviedo to Mt. Dora has really gone well and picked up a lot since the first of the year. And for that, I am very thankful. Many people are coming through the doors each week, and several of them are continuing to visit LIFE Church! We're finding tremendous favor within the city and people are extremely kind to our efforts. God is amazing us and sending blessings on every hand. We average in the high 50's each week with our all-time high being 62 in attendance! I expect to break that by Easter since each week new families are visiting with us. To God be the glory!

Happy Holidays

So much can be said about the holidays. But I'm having so much fun and enjoying these days together, I'll have to blog about them later I guess. All I will say is, when everyone in your family says how this year is the best year ever, and this Christmas was the best one they could ever remember; then it's settled. This holiday season is simply the best! The Graham's wish you all a very happy holiday season!

Slow Down

I can't remember the last time all of our family spent the evening at home together without any interruptions or something to do. We are usually busy playing music, teaching music, playing whichever sport is in season, and fulfilling our responsibility of getting the boys to and from their practices or games. I'm unsure how we got so lucky tonight, but here we are, all together around the lighted Christmas tree, while enjoying one another and counting our blessings. Here's a rundown of tonight's activities:

- We made vegetable beef soup and grilled cheese sandwiches on the George Foreman grill.
- The boys and I rehearsed the worship set for Sunday morning's service while the soup was cooking on the stove.
- We're constantly switching channels between Celtics vs. Bulls NBA game and WWE Smackdown. For those who are living beneath a rock, WWE is wrestling. And yes, it is fake.
- For sure, we're running up the utility bill by running four laptops and playing with one ipod.
- I baked some peanut butter cookies again tonight. They turned out much better than last week's attempt.

And while I've been typing this, the older boys have return to their bedrooms for hibernation, Kim has retreated to the bedroom for her Friday night Lifetime Movie Network entertainment, and Tate just crawled up on the sofa beside me and said, "I just feel like snuggling with somebody... and that's you."

I'll have to finish blogging another time. Surely you understand my decision. Have a happy weekend!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Let's be honest. We all know the right thing to do all year long is to be thankful... to live a life of continual thanksgiving. I hope to do a better job at that in the days ahead. This week was a very enjoyable week for our family. We were fortunate to attend the ALJC national youth convention at the Gaylord Palms hotel in Orlando. While the boys were able to make many new friendships, we all were encouraged by the worship and Word provided by the conference musicians and speakers. Colton and I were fortunate to play in the worship band all week long. It's pretty amazing that a 47 and 17 year old can jam it out together. Those are some pretty special memories being made...

I am especially thankful for friends. Many of the friends at the conference this week, I don't get to see very often. Sometimes once a year, or once every few years. In either case, we just pick up where we left off before. Some I've known all of my life, while others I've only met the past two or three years. Besides all the great fellowship, food, and fun we share with friends during times like these; it seems the most precious thing I am giving my family is the opportunity to connect with some of the finest people on earth. People of character and integrity, who even though we may not always agree on everything; we can agree to disagree and continue walking in love and peace.

I wonder what my boys will remember thirty years from now about this past week. I hope I'm around to hear it firsthand. Take time this week to give thanks for the little things in life. Life is so much more enjoyable when we live in gratitude and thankfulness.

I am thankful for all of my friends! I wish we could spend more time together. You are all in my prayers daily...

Be Thankful

Thanksgiving week has finally arrived! Even though I'm thankful throughout the year, it seems appropriate to pause and begin to count my blessings. So here goes...

I'm thankful for healthy relationships. First, with Jesus Christ who makes Himself more real to me with each passing day. His love is pure, and His patience is never ending. Secondly, I'm thankful for my wife and family. God has blessed us so much the past few years. Kim is a rock in my life. The boys inspire me daily. I am very proud of them all, and love them dearly. Truly, I am a blessed man. Thirdly, I am grateful for friends who are honest, genuine, and loving. It's been a slow process, but I'm finally eliminating all the fake people from my life. Next, I'm appreciative of the music ministry that God has given me. Blue Oceans is making a difference in the lives of so many people. We've relocated to the Mt. Dora area and I'm excited about all that the future holds. Finally, I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve LIFE Church. The entire process of watching God place people together, merging lives, making advancements for the Kingdom, etc., is nothing short of thrilling! I can't wait to see everything that God has in store for us.

Push The Rewind Button

While I try not to look at the past too much, sometimes it is good to take a look back and see where it is you've been. Since my last blog was in March, I'll pick things up there. The boys all played spring baseball... Colton on the Apopka high school team, Spencer had a great Jr's All-Star run (13-14 yr olds), and Tate's little league Mets team in coach pitch was a blast to watch!

But in mid-season, Kim was involved in an auto accident that nearly took her left arm, and very well could have taken her life. We are so blessed to still have Kim in our lives. While heading to work on a typical Monday morning, she flipped her truck and broke her left arm. To make a long story short, after a couple of surgeries, she is alive and doing well. God has kept her through everything, and the entire ordeal reminds us to trust in the Lord with all thine heart... and lean not to thine own understanding.

Here it is already November 2010, and our family is experiencing most exciting times of our lives! We've spent the last couple of years attending church in Oviedo, FL at Christian Life Center. During this time of transition, I've been able to build a model of evangelism through Blue Oceans Music by offering music education and watching it become a tool of outreach for the local community. It has been a very rewarding time for our family. God has moved in our lives and spoken to our hearts concerning His future intentions for us. After a long period of soul searching and seeking His perfect will, we have relocated Blue Oceans Music to Mt. Dora and also launched a new church plant there as well. LIFE Church is the result of God's perfect timing, His perfect plan unfolding, and Him being in control of our lives. He has surrounded us with a wonderful ministry team of friends who share the same vision and desire to reach out to others, while making a difference in people's lives. Already in six short weeks, we've seen numerous families come into the LIFE Church family... seeking more of Him. It seems that people have grown weary of religion. They are tired of seeing fake. We're just trying to keep it simple and keep it real. It seems the best is yet to come!

I'm Back!

I'm baaaaccckkkkk!~ I can't believe I haven't blogged since earlier in the year. But I have a very good reason. Things have been changing for the better in our lives... and blogging simply wasn't very high on the priority list. But now that things seem to smoothing out a bit, my intentions are to do more blogging and enjoy life to the fullest.

Family. Friends. Faith.

Time just keeps on ticking. Life just keeps on passing. The boys just keep on growing. Kim and I are thrilled to watch our boys grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually. After fall football season ended, the driveway basketball league started. After Christmas provided a new goal, the driveway once again became the neighborhood hangout. Spencer became so into it all, he joined the local Jr. Magic league at RDV sportplex and did very well in his first season. Tate has already said he wants to play next season. And now that the basketball season has concluded, all three boys are back into baseball. Colton is playing for the high school team, Spencer in the Jr. division at Little League, and Tate is dominating at the coach pitch level. Kim and I are working on our suntans each Saturday at the games.

Most importantly, the boys are really developing in their music skills. All of them play the drums and guitar. Spencer is dividing time between guitar, keyboard and drums. Colton is playing all of those plus the bass guitar. It's great to watch them lead in worship services as well. Their singing is really coming around. I'm very proud of them wanting to use their God-given talents for the Lord.

Our trip to Jimenez, Mexico for a holiday convention was life-changing. Our ministry team offered musical and spiritual instruction to almost 100 people who had traveled for many hours to be at the conference. We raised money and purchased guitars and spanish teach materials for the campers. One girl walked nearly five miles each day to be in attendance. Some of the campers came from a remote mountain village and had never seen indoor plumbing and other things we seem to take for granted. Many of them slept on the floors each night just to be at the conference. Several times when we dismissed a class for lunch or dinner that was being provided, they chose to stay in the room and continue playing their guitars. We taught them to play church songs and have recently received word how they are all leading their congregations into meaningful worship through our labors of love. They had no idea we were going to give the guitars to them at the end of the week long conference. I've learned never to doubt God and limit Him. All that we do for Him makes a difference in the lives of others.

Another trip has been planned for Port-au-Prince, Haiti May 7-10. We plan on pre-delivering food and supplies so we can feed the people of this earthquake stricken country and minister to them in a weekend evangelistic crusade. We live in exciting times! I'm glad to be a small part in making a difference in the lives of others.

The Blue Oceans vision is constantly being tweaked into what God has planned it to become all along. We are to the place where we desperately want to be used of Him, any way He chooses, and anywhere He places us. Life is good...

Summer & Fall Fun!

Wow! The summer has flown by and now fall has arrived! Unless of course you are in Florida, it feels like summer most of the year. Not really, we live for about 8 weeks of wonderful winter weather. Enough about the weather.

The boys all played baseball in the spring, which seems to carry on through half of the summer months with all-star tournaments. Even thought I haven't coached baseball in a couple of years, I was able to manage Colton's Big League team (ages 16-18). We played respectable even though our team had a lot of younger players. It was a great experience overall! With only a two week break, football season began with daily practices. Spencer and Tate are both playing football now while Colton is back into fall ball baseball with the high school team. Watching Tate in full pads out on the football field is something to see. Fittingly, his team is in the Tiny Mite division.

This summer was very different from last year. We stayed home this year and worked at the school with some summer camps and such. Things have picked up at the school and we are enjoying a very productive fall semester. The boys have all increased their musicianship by learning to play additional instruments. All three boys are killing the drums! Colton has played a lot of bass guitar the past year, and also picked up the guitar and keyboards. Spencer is learning the keyboards and continues to play acoustic guitar as well. Tate has realized he needs to place his fingers on the fretboard of the guitar instead of playing air guitar for the rest of his life.

The highlight of my week is to watch the entire family playing and ministering together on the same platform. Kim sings on the worship team, while the boys all participate on their respective instruments. It seems as though last summer's experience of traveling country playing and playing with the boys has paid off. We are a blessed family.

Doors have opened up for me to take a music and ministry team to Mexico over the upcoming holidays. We will be teaching a conference December 27th-January 3rd. I am hoping to raise funds and purchase the sweet children and teenagers in Mexico a guitar for Christmas. Equipping and empowering them to become productive in the kingdom of God is a wonderful opportunity. For more information, you can visit www.blueoceansmusic.com and find additional ways to support the vision.

As you can see, we are enjoying the journey...