I remember running through the back door and into our small kitchen on a bright summer day. "Mommy, I wrote a song." I was just 4 years old. Mom stood at the sink, wearing an apron, doing the dishes. Didn't all moms wear aprons in 1964? My mom—bless her heart—listened as I sang a song about a little boy who was picking peaches. I didn't write a song again until I was 17 years old.
Music was important in our family. My great-grandpa had a polka band, my grandpa was a square dance caller, my grandma played piano, my Dad played the baritone in band, and sang baritone in a gospel quartet, my mom is a fantastic soprano and yodeler, my aunts used to sing on the original Children's Bible Hour program, and one of my aunts played Hawaiian style guitar. My brother and my sisters each had their own various involvements in band, piano, musical theater, choir, music education, worship ministry, and professional performance. Dad and mom both sang in the church choir. As a boy I sang soprano in that choir, too. The elderly ladies in the choir were not too happy that I could easily sing a high C. Elderly Mrs. Wesema began giving me piano lessons in 5th grade, and I continued through high school with several different teachers. When I was a young pianist mom would sit beside of me and count, keeping me on track with my lessons. (Thanks, Mom!) I was involved in choir and band in high school, then studied voice, theory, and piano in college.
Music was important in our family. My great-grandpa had a polka band, my grandpa was a square dance caller, my grandma played piano, my Dad played the baritone in band, and sang baritone in a gospel quartet, my mom is a fantastic soprano and yodeler, my aunts used to sing on the original Children's Bible Hour program, and one of my aunts played Hawaiian style guitar. My brother and my sisters each had their own various involvements in band, piano, musical theater, choir, music education, worship ministry, and professional performance. Dad and mom both sang in the church choir. As a boy I sang soprano in that choir, too. The elderly ladies in the choir were not too happy that I could easily sing a high C. Elderly Mrs. Wesema began giving me piano lessons in 5th grade, and I continued through high school with several different teachers. When I was a young pianist mom would sit beside of me and count, keeping me on track with my lessons. (Thanks, Mom!) I was involved in choir and band in high school, then studied voice, theory, and piano in college.
In 1980 I took a leave from college and I had the extraordinary privilege of traveling for a year, singing tenor, as a member of the Festival of Praise Spurrlows. (Our talented director, Bob Pickett, is still directing choirs across the United States.) Our founding director, Thurlow Spurr, was music director for Jim Bakker's PTL Club at the time. The Spurrlows traveled the USA and Canada as an extension of the PTL Club's ministry. We traveled with some wonderful people, performing over 300 concerts in churches all over America that year. Those are great memories that I cherish fondly. Returning to college in 1985, I had a desire to become a teacher, as my dad had been. I graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor in Music, with Elementary Teaching Certification, and then completed a Master's Degree in Education from Western Michigan University in 1995.
By trade I am a school teacher. I have been teaching since 1989, and have taught classrooms at 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. I have also been a physical education teacher, an elementary music teacher, and a middle and high school choir director. I enjoy the challenges that come with teaching; there is never a dull moment in the classroom. I have always incorporated lots of music and creativity into all of my teaching endeavors. I have great respect for teachers and for the profession of teaching. There are few people who are willing and able to spend their days teaching children. Teachers are worth their weight in gold.
In 1988 I married my childhood sweetheart—the beautiful Margaret (Bosch) Sawin. After 28 years of marriage I can say it only gets better and better. I keep falling more deeply in love with this wonderful woman as the years pass. We have been blessed with three brilliant sons, an enchanting daughter-in-law, a bouncing grandson, and a princess granddaughter. We stay very busy at our log home in the lower peninsula of Michigan with two dogs, 50 chickens, and lots of chores: chopping firewood, making maple syrup and apple cider, tending gardens, hunting, fishing, star-gazing, making music . . .
My deepest desire is to lead people in singing as they praise and worship the Lord Jesus Christ. I began leading worship at a small Assembly of God church in 1979. Though ministry opportunities have led us to several churches throughout the years, I have lead singing almost every Sunday since that time. What an honor and privilege to be used of the Lord. I hope one day that I will get to lead you in a song, as we sing together to the Lord. He is a wonderful Savior, and He is worthy of our praise!
Thank you for visiting my site. I hope that the music blesses you. Please, share my site with others. Come again.
In 1988 I married my childhood sweetheart—the beautiful Margaret (Bosch) Sawin. After 28 years of marriage I can say it only gets better and better. I keep falling more deeply in love with this wonderful woman as the years pass. We have been blessed with three brilliant sons, an enchanting daughter-in-law, a bouncing grandson, and a princess granddaughter. We stay very busy at our log home in the lower peninsula of Michigan with two dogs, 50 chickens, and lots of chores: chopping firewood, making maple syrup and apple cider, tending gardens, hunting, fishing, star-gazing, making music . . .
My deepest desire is to lead people in singing as they praise and worship the Lord Jesus Christ. I began leading worship at a small Assembly of God church in 1979. Though ministry opportunities have led us to several churches throughout the years, I have lead singing almost every Sunday since that time. What an honor and privilege to be used of the Lord. I hope one day that I will get to lead you in a song, as we sing together to the Lord. He is a wonderful Savior, and He is worthy of our praise!
Thank you for visiting my site. I hope that the music blesses you. Please, share my site with others. Come again.
