Comments
Dancin' and Romancin' - A Love Story
JoAnn,
I just wanted to tell you I finally was able to listen to the cd you made and dedicated to Katie & Paul. Absolutely beautiful! It brings such an incredible feeling of peace and happiness. I know I'll be listening to it often. Thank you so very, very much!
- Cathy Fischer, Paul's mother
The Story of Noah's Ark
Hi, JoAnn –
Just heard the CD and we both love it! Maybe it is the best you have ever done!
Today I put Humpty (the sound system) back together again, and the first thing that we played was your CD. We both thought that it was amazing! Susan thinks that it would be a natural for an interpretive dance thing. I just think that it is great, and I would like to purchase a few CDs for friends and relatives. Let me know how to do this.
Thanks for the CD, and keep up the wonderful work!- Joe and Susan
Helen,
Thank you so much for the BEAUTIFUL CD for Kara and I on Noah's Ark... we are entertained nightly. She rocks back and forth to the music.... Music speaks to her, and it is one of her joys... along with chocolate. It was kind of you.
- Marilyn C., long-time friend of Helen's
(Kara is Marilyn's adult child with special needs)
Dreams for Jeffrey
We still have the CD that you sent us before Annah's surgery in 2006. We played it a LOT in the PICCU during recovery. It's such sweet music! Thank you again!
- Jenifer Mobus Woody, SMA parent
The CD is beautiful, it is so peaceful, soothing and just wonderful listening....
- Nancy Moore, SMA grandmother
... I received the book yesterday. I started reading it late last evening. I just completed it about 15 minutes ago. I couldn't put it down. As I read earlier today, I kept from becoming emotional by focusing on continuing to read the next chapter. However, I had to break and drive my 15 year old daughter to her volunteer job at the hospital. As we drove we listened to JoAnn's beautiful CD. At that point, the tears began and I had a difficult time turning them off. I returned home to complete the book. I wanted to E-mail you immediately but at this point, my emotions were out of control....
- Beth Carollo, SMA (self)
Just wanted to comment on the Jeffrey CD your mother made. It's beautiful and Nathan loves it! He relaxes to it while resting in his crib and napping. The nurses love it too!
- Jennifer Russell, SMA parent
I absolutely love the book! ... Need to tell you too that the "Jeffrey book" and CD are getting great use at our house. Tessa used to use the CD to go to sleep every noon and every night... Now she gave it to her little brother (Jack-18 months) to use to go to sleep. So twice a day, sometimes more we listen to it.
- Lana Weisenberger, SMA parent
I somehow misplaced (doesn't that sound so much better than "lost") my Jeffrey's Journey CD. I have the case but the CD is nowhere to be found. I'm totally bummed because Jonah and I both liked it very much (GREAT naptime music... you know, for the whole 28 minutes he sleeps). Anyway, I was wondering if your mom has them for sale somewhere? If you'll let me know, I'd like to order one.
Sent two copies...
I'm glad I have extra copies because I'm pretty sure I'm going to wear ours out. I press play and put the whole CD on repeat, so it's literally the music he sleeps to every night. We both love it. It puts him to sleep and it helps me de-stress after a long day. And did I mention he's sleeping through the night now? I'm not saying it's a miracle CD or anything... I'm just sayin'.
- Patrice Williams, EB* mom
(Epidermolysis Bullosa)
Thank you for this wonderful gift. Last week, Mackie and I listened to your lullabies. I was holding her and she went to sleep on my shoulder. About 20 minutes later we were both asleep. The gentle music just helped us relax and enjoy each other.
- David Smith
(Pastor, First Baptist Church of Lenoir)
"Helen, we got the CD! Kensington loves it!!! Thank you so much for being so kind!!!"- Ashley Manross
My son Jack is 18 months old and has been napping to the CD since it arrived. He just adores it.
- Ashley R., CD winner
Jonah's EB Auction, 2011Thanks so much! The CDs are beautiful, and I love the note you included with the story behind them.
- Mandy, CD winner
Jonah's EB Auction, 2011
Grief: Loss and Recovery
NOTE: JoAnn gave the CD to the eye surgeon who removed 'the biggest cataract I've ever seen.' He relayed at her follow-up visit that it was so soothing, he was playing it during surgery.
This is the only CD I've ever been able to listen to repeatedly while I paint and not get saturated at some point and need to turn it off. It is exceptional.
- Leslie M., artist
When I listened to the CD, the music expressed perfectly the gamut of my feelings. At times the tears seemed to flow harder, which was good. I felt the music helped to let out bottled-up feelings of sadness. By the end of the CD, it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and I was able to remember more of the happier times. Music always soothes the heart and mind, and what you have composed and recorded is wonderful.
- Kathy (and Dave) Edmonds
Hello, Helen,I am so enjoying your mother's wonderful music. tomorrow, Yolanda and I leave on a trip and the cd will go with us. I want you to know how grateful I am for all your kindnesses to me and Victor.
- Elizabeth Gearhart, author of VICTORious Life
(caretaker for the late Victor Alvarez, an amazing young man with SMA)
Hi, JoAnn - I love your CD! Your compositions are so rich and tender. I listened coming down the mountain the first time and was quite heartfelt and teary! I love the artwork from your talented Katie for the cover. What a beautiful, tranquil scene. With Paul and Helen's help it truly makes it a family affair. I will list this on my website as a resource with gratitude. Much love to all.
- Sharla Macy
(former piano pupil)
JoAnn, thanks so much for sending your CD! I have listened to it several times and it is beautiful. It evoked some powerful emotions in me that I did not even know I was storing up.
I am going to take my copy to a friend today. She is our children's "extra grandma"-- she lived next door to us and took care of the kids when they were little. She and her husband moved to a retirement community a few years ago, and her husband just died suddenly in August. I think both the music and your liner notes will be a blessing to her.
- Suzanne Zahniser
(former piano pupil)
This beautiful music not only portrays the emotions of grief, but also leads one out of the fear of hopelessness toward a new feeling of life and the hope that a path leads out of the abyss.
- Peggy Thomas
I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to figure out a way to hear your latest CD since my Sony 'went nuts' on me, but I finally have listened to it, and I've got to say I don't know how in the world you did it!!! It is PERFECT!! and you can just feel the sadness in your heart!! I hope that you have had some contacts by now. I do think funeral homes would want to have one for their own use and possibly to sell.... I think it is wonderful to see the CD as a family project. Katie has done such a great job with the cover. She's gonna make a great photographer when she gets out of school.
- Dorothy Owen
Dear Jo Ann - Your beautiful CD arrived today. The cover is beautiful and the music is wonderfully soothing. I plan to turn it on again when I go to bed. You are really talented.Helen is a wonderful writer. Everything about the CD is very professionally done. Thanks so much for sending it.
- Janice Eskut
JoAnn, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful CD with us. It is magnificent. We can identify with your thoughts and feelings having so recently experienced loss as well. We are truly grateful you included us.
- Janet and Louis Miller
Got the CD this week and it is wonderful. You can be the "Grandma Moses" of composition, I'm sure. Katie's photo is fabulous, and of course, Helen has that unbelievable talent for words.... The irony of getting your CD was it came at just the right moment for us.
- Midge Seaver
Helen - I have been meaning to send you a note. The CD from your mother is OUTSTANDING! I find myself listening to it daily (seriously - DAILY!!!) - it's the perfect music to balance mind, body and soul. I would love to be able to 'share' with others. Have any of her compositions been uploaded to youtube?- Louise
Dear Helen - I have given a great deal of thought to your letter about the Grief CD. I have enjoyed listening to the inspirational CD and I do have an idea. Because I know and was a small part of your experience with Jeffrey I feel you and your family have a wonderful story of grief, sorrow, joy and healing. Having a platform to share this journey would be so good for so many other people who have experienced different types of loss and grief. I think if you joined The Jeffrey Journey, "Grief: Loss and Recovery," and your family's unique and inspiring story and message of healthy recovery, it could be of amazing help to others.- Gary Barber
(funeral home director)
I loved the music!! However, it is still hard for me to listen to it because I start to cry every time I play it! Guess I am not really in control either!- Nan
Thank you JoAnn. I listened to most of your CD and I just LOVE it! I am taking my time with it, as it is incredibly moving and I can only listen to it a bit at a time. The emotions I feel while listening are substantial. You did a remarkable job with it (to say the least)!
- Cheryl Anne
Insight Beyond Sight
Hi, JoAnn - I did get the CD and LOVE the way it turned out! I have been playing it in the CD drive of my computer, and I don't ever do that with any CD.
I think that it is a great blend of themes that take people through their grief. Your program notes (and Helen's) are particularly fascinating to me, but I am somewhat biased, being family and all. Nevertheless, we will see what the outside world says about it. I am certainly glad that you persevered with the project in spite of having to repeat it, and I wish you the best. At any rate, I hope that you keep up the good music.- Joe Gibbons
Thank you for remembering us in sharing your music. You have such a wonderful gift which now is helping you as you move forward on the road of grief. I believe your journey and the lessons you learn will be a strength to others who must travel this way in the future. I have delayed in writing, because Janice and I wanted uninterrupted time to listen to the music. Yesterday we were able just to ride and listen together. As we listened, Janice read the notes which are included in the CD. Your notes are as powerful as the music. This is a wonderful combination of music and the written word. You might consider a music performance and a reading at the same time. It will be interesting to see how your music develops as you move forward to the new part of your life. Elton was so full of life and laughter. Janice and I talked of memories of him as we listened. The kids loved him and Janice spoke of his kind, affirming way. I believe he would want for you the blessing of richness and family as you move to the next stage of life which God will grant you.- David Smith
(Pastor, First Baptist Church of Lenoir)
The magnificent talent of JoAnn has brought comfort and peace to three of my friends who have experienced either sudden or anticipated deaths within their families. Their own paths to recovery are easier because of her insights, compassion, and willingness to share her beautiful music with others. They have especially appreciated the tracks, "Friends and Family" and "Praying for Strength." I know that my own life is infinitely richer because of her music and her friendship for many years.
- JoAnn Horton
It's the most beautiful, soothing, and relaxing music I have ever heard. Once I was listening to it while DUSTING and even forgot that I was working! You did a wonderful job!
- Mary Ann Stegall