A Story is Born

Good Day World,

Make Hope Tour is ready to set sail for the west. 

With that being my reality I took this time to truly "be" at home this weekend. 

To Be Present In Each Moment. 

Taking a cue from my wife's lenten resolution

No internet, no phones, no electronic devices on Saturday or Sunday.

My boys and I only had one exception..

11 minutes to play as many rounds as possible on Super Smash Brothers!

We had a blast! The 11 minutes turned into 14! 

And for anyone that knows me, that's making really good progress. 

For those of you who are getting to know me better, 

let's just say that "time" is not really my strong suit.

As I sit playing with my boys, I started to think how cool it was...

 A majority of the characters being played with this new generation

 were the characters from when I as a kid.

I got to thinking about stories. It seems they started off as word of mouth,

then they found there way to the pages. Next came sound recordings.

 Followed by our stories finding their way on the silver screen.

Now with video games you can  interact and impact the story itself.

I believe the tapestry of stories have two common threads.

1. Imagination

2. Creation

When woven together the myths and tales have...

put our kids to bed,

given us the perfect recipe,

provided us the right notes to a song, 

allowed us to escape into another galaxy

and even given us something to believe in: 

a message of hope.

One question I have for you world. 

In what stories, myths or tales by (word, paper, sound or screen) have you found Hope?

I'll share one that kind of sparked this whole blog.

Super Mario Brothers.

I love it! Two Italian plumber brothers figure out how to travel through pipes,

to strange and distant worlds. Fight really wild beasts 

and battle a huge fire breathing "dragon" only to rescue the princess. 

It reminds me of how I met my wife ; )

It's a blessed and busy road and I look forward to seeing you on it.

peace. 

love,

ND

Compass of the Winds

Good Day World,
I hope this greeting meets you all, where you want to be.

With today's meeting, I would like to ask you a question.

I'll set it up...

As the days fall away before Make Hope Tour picks up her bags to head west; time turns loud!

I feel a huge dose of perspective is gained when you know there are limits.

For example, I know we hit the road in 3 days, that's 3 days, at home before we're gone. 

What can we do to make those days awesome? What can we do to keep those days somewhat normal? Its part of the deal, cause this isn't the first tour we've been on and most definitely not the last.

When your dreams turn to  reality "parts" of that reality have to be run like a business; how do you navigate those waters?

With balance and faith.

A lotta love and forgiveness

and the ability to let it all go. We can yield the fruit of Peace.

What a Road Map!

This road map is a book of faith.

Written in the language of love and forgiveness.

The Lesson is: TO LET IT ALL GO.

When all those ingredients mix we get Peace.

And the characters are us seeking and trying to maintain the balance amidst the winds of life.

It is a process that takes continued practice and discipline forever changing and evolving.

What is your "compass" you use to navigate the winds of your life?

"It's A Blessed And Busy Road And I Look Forward To Seeing You On It!"

Peace. 

Love,

ND

Good Day World

Good Day World.

A Beard's Eye View daily greeting. 

I pledge to try and make a once a day meeting.

To document perspective from what feels like " A Love Train fueled by Hope" that we've been taking across the country. And in further attempts to change the recipe of this "blog" I made a special 

"Beard's Eye View" Logo. It felt awesome to make and create via the route of visual expression. I hope you do enjoy.

Make Hope Tour has been makin her way across the country. We just got back from a very fun run in Texas. With a return stop back at the Dosey Doe Cafe in Conroe,  a new "home" in Longview at S.E. Belcher Performance Center, and our first stop in Austin at the Roost. 

One of our fans told our guitar player, " Tell Nicky his heart is as big as Texas"

He replied, " That's as big as it gets"

I share that with ya'll because it sums up the love we felt taking Make Hope to Texas.

Every place we played we were loved with a love as big as Texas.

From the breath of our hearts "Thank you Texas."

From the fans to the staff of every spot we stopped, you were wonderful!

 

As we get ready to leave next week to bring Make Hope out West to California.

I recharge my heart with the laughter of my children.

In between business calls I steal a dance with my wife while Tony Bennett's I Wanna Be Around spins on the record player in our kitchen. 

Even though it's -2o below it's home.

My inspiration, my drive, my roots, my home, my Heart.

It's a Blessed and Busy Road and I look forward to seeing  you on it.

Peace to your Heart

Peace to your Families 

and 

Peace to the Whole Wide World