Big News for our Graham {Memorial Box}

It’s the first Monday of June and I am so excited!
Today is the day we open up the links and invite bloggy friends from 
around the world to share a Memorial Box Monday story of their own.  
I have been so encouraged and blessed reading each of them.
If you are new to our Place Called Simplicity here’s the skinny on a Memorial Box:
In the Old Testament God told the Isrealites to remember what He had done.  He told them to gather twelve stones {each representing one of the 12 tribes of Isreal} and to pile them up.  Then whenever they passed by with their children they were to tell the story the pile of stones represented, reminding all of the Faithfulness of God.  They were to tell the stories over and over and over and over.  And then to tell their children’s children….and on and on. 
In our family’s Memorial Box, 
we have placed all kinds of little items, 
each one symbolizing something God has done for our family.
Some trinkets in ours represent His protection, 
some represent His provision,
some represent His nature of love for us,
all represent His faithfulness.  
Personally speaking, there have been many times when life has thrown us 
a gigantic curve ball and in my panic and
 fear the Lord reminds me of my Memorial Box. 
Instantly peace will wash over me.
Those little symbols would mean nothing to you,
but to our family they are so powerfully significant.
God has done amazing things for us.
Not because we deserve them – 
but because He loves each of us so very much!
This week I was going to open up and share something
from deep within me as our Memorial Box Monday story,
however, something happened last night
that was so exciting for our family,
that it takes top priority and
must be shared today!
It just happened, as in, 
about twelve hours ago…
Couldn’t get much fresher than that, right?
So here goes:
As most of you know, our Graham has been musically gifted by the Lord.
He began when he could barely walk getting Tupperware bowls 
out of the cupboard and lining them up perfectly, 
sitting on the upside down green Tupperware 
colander and using two spoons to play his 
Tupperware “drums”.
He would get up and move them a tad this way or a tad that way.
They had to be just perfect.
He did it every single day, unless we weren’t home.
He did it so much that by the time he was three we had purchased him a 
real drum set.
Then when he was about six we bought him a really real one
 from the music store.
He took three drums lessons.
But the rest is history.
He taught himself to play the lead guitar and the bass.
He has taught himself some piano as well.
Anyway, as we have talked about God’s plan for Graham’s life
I shared with him this:
“Graham, I don’t know what exactly the Lord would have you do,
but there is no doubt He created you for music.
He will orchestrate events to put you where you need to be
to accomplish His good plan.  He didn’t give you a love 
of music to say, ‘too bad kid, you have not been in the 
right place and so you’re kinda’ outta’ luck’  

Not a chance!
 
God gave you the gifting because it’s 
His plan to use you to praise Him through your music.”
Graham has recorded quite a few songs and has written several as well.
Graham has a Youtube channel, check it out here.
There are some really amazing songs and
some of Marissa and Graham together.
Our move to Phoenix for Ruby’s medical care can be seen as so much more 
in light of the doors God has opened up for Graham 
{and others in our family, but more about that later}.  
Instantly, {like we were barely unpacked} 
Graham was welcomed onto the adult worship team
at our awesome church,

He has been a blessing to them and they have been a beautiful 
blessing to him.
He connected with other kids his age who are musically gifted
and became part of the youth worship team as well.
Through that they formed: 
The Marissa Lynn Band

The lead singer is Marissa, a precious young woman who is 
a gifted singer, songwriter
and guitarist.
The band has had several opportunities to lead worship at several events.
They led worship at a conference at a resort
where Pastors and teachers were gathered from around the world. 
They were loved and well received.
All that background to say this past week-end
Graham and The Marissa Lynn Band were in a 
“Battle of the Bands”.
Twenty-nine Christian bands competing for five prizes.
Dw, Liberty and Savannah went to watch on Saturday.
The competition was fierce!
At the end of Saturday, all but six bands were eliminated.
The Marissa Lynn Band and the other five bands 
competed yesterday.
Savannah, Liberty and I went to watch yesterday.
I have zero {and I truly mean ZERO} musical talent.
I watch in awe at the gift the Lord has given these musicians.
The Judges after were so complimentary of 
The Marissa Lynn Band.
After all six bands were done playing a set
and being critiqued by the Judges,
the Judges went away to talk 
while the band, Citizen Wayplayed.
The Judges were producers from a record label company
who have worked with many people whose names 
you would recognize,
even this non-musical mom recognized the names – ha.
After Citizen Way played the Judges reappeared.
I confess my adrenalin kicked into gear.
Gracious be!  
Laughing to myself, I wondered what in the world
it must feel like to be a parent of a Olympic Medal contender
waiting for the final results –
my heart was pounding and my body was jumping!
The announcer slowly worked his way up 
and finally he announced it…
The Marissa Lynn Band won a record deal
with the Producers!!!!!   
In the days ahead the producers will be working with them
to record the five song album.
My eyes welled with tears at all that God
has done.  
He is faithful.
Who knows what the future holds, but there is no doubt 
that God is opening doors.
In our Memorial Box will go my little bracelet that was my admittance 
into the Battle of the Bands.
How about you?  
Do you have a story to share of something God has done for you or your family?
What do you celebrate today? 
Calling all blog friends, 
three things to participate:
1.  Write a fresh Memorial Box story 
2.  In your story, link back to our 
Place Called Simplicity.
3.  Attach the hyperlink to your 
Memorial Box Monday post below.

Make new blog friends, as friends of
Our Place Called Simplicity, 
from around the world stop by to read your story.

31 thoughts on “Big News for our Graham {Memorial Box}

  1. Ahhhh yippee!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Graham – and the rest of the Marissa Lynn Band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is SO beyond exciting! I can't wait to hear more of their music!!

  2. Wow, this is so exciting!!! My coworkers and friends were so blessed by them earlier this year, and not just by their music. Praying they continue to praise God and that He continues to open doors for them. So young and such blessings!!!

    1. Jenny, Your referral was such a gift to this young group of Christian musicians. They loved it!! Thank you for trusting them. Those they ministered to greatly ministered to them…several had prophetic words over them as well. And being our family is international, Graham {and his friends} love, love, loved that the group was from all over the world. Totally God. Totally thankful. Bless you my friend.

  3. Louis and graham have been texting… much rejoicing here in Illinois too for this neat gift and blessing from God… how awesome! Way to go Graham! The Hintz crew is thrilled for you!

    1. Isn't it wonderful Sara? So thankful your family was able to spend a few days with ours and get to know our treasures up close. Praying for all your adjustments. And please thank Louis for sharing the joy with Graham!!

    1. Thank you for sharing our joy Renee. It is just like our faithful God to move, since He is the one who gave Graham {and Marissa, etc.} the passion for music…so exciting to have a front row seat {especially since I don't have an molecule of musical ability}. xoxo

  4. That is wonderful and so very amazing!!!! Congratulations to Graham and to you proud mama!
    I'll have to congratulate Graham & Marissa when I see them!
    much love to you,
    Becky

    1. Thank you Becky. It is so stinkin' fun to be part of it all. And you know them all and can attest to their love of God and worship. Love you guys and so excited for the future God has planned for you and B. xo

  5. Oh Linny! I am so excited for Graham and the rest of his band mates! They are so deserving and I am excited to see whats to come.

    Kandi of Tucson,Az

  6. I just listened to their music….I can totally see why the were chosen 🙂 Congrats!! I can only imagine how you must be beaming from the inside out, even before the win!! ~Trina Scoda

  7. Amazing! Truly a gift from above! Our family has had so many blessings lately, and some set backs, that over the last few days I have found myself in despair that our adoption would not be able to go through as planned, however our resolve is renewed and we will overcome! Thank you for your inspiration!

  8. That is such amazing news! So happy for Graham and the rest of the band! I know you mist be so proud anf live seeing the Lord work in your son 's life. It is so cool how He works things out! Can't wait to see what God does through their music!

  9. I can't link my story since the blog I wrote it on is private, but last Monday was a total Faithful God moment. It was our 7th anniversary, and we had lined up free babysitting and planned to celebrate at a special restaurant. But then we got two emails that afternoon – one from a client saying he couldn't pay my husband after all, and the other from another client saying not enough people had signed up for the event and she would have to cancel. In one moment, we had essentially two weeks worth of income gone, and that included what we planned to use for rent money in June. And considering we only have one more definite booking for June, we knew this was a big deal. We talked about just staying home and forgetting the restaurant. But my husband looked at me and said, "This is a test. God wants to see if we will keep on trusting Him. We've obeyed Him and been faithful with the money He has given us. Let's not give up or get discouraged now. Let's go ahead and celebrate at the restaurant. We will trust Him to provide our needs coming up." So we went.

    We ran into an elderly neighbor. We do her yardwork for her. She introduced us to some of her family, and they thanked us for taking care of her yard. We shared that it was our anniversary. And then they left, and we got our food. The waitress came by when we were finished to say someone had told them it was our anniversary and that they would be bringing out some fancy flambe dessert. We thought that was neat, and just assumed they did that in special cases or something. But after dessert was over, she came and said, "Connie paid for your meal too. Happy anniversary."

    My husband and I both teared up. It was a moment we knew God was saying, "I see you. I see your faithfulness to Me, and I want you to see My faithfulness to you. I know what you need. You can trust me to provide."

    And so that story gets added to our long list of Ebenezers. At the end of the day, we can still sing….."faithful One so unchanging…."

  10. What a wonderful post about your son and the band! May Gods anointing be upon them so that they can share the gospel of Jesus Christ thru the music they write and play around the world! What an opportunity to bless people with their wonderful talent the Lord has given to them. By the way….I could just see in my minds eye your little Graham sitting in the floor playing his tupperware drums! What a precious memory. Blessings now and always!

    1. Thank you Susan. I see you did a MBM story. Thank you! I will read it later today. Thank you for sharing the joy of Graham and the band. We are so tickled. Because of the fire, our pictures were greatly damaged or lost. But my mind will always remember Graham playing the drums, especially since he did it every day. And with such precision. I would watch him perfect exactly where each bowl was…his chubby little legs standing up to shift the bowls this way and that…hard to believe he's a grown man now. But you know how it is – how fast they grow! Bless you my friend.

    1. I confess I never stood in line for an album…but a Cabbage patch doll for Abi – ha! {that was a nightmare}…but all she wanted to Christmas was a "Pabbage Catch" doll and a "boorgandy purse" {to match mine}. So sweet. So I waited in line for forever and found Peggy Donna. Her BFF for years. Thanks for sharing our joy!

  11. Wonderful news! So, so happy for Graham and his fellow band mates. Will definitely want a copy of that album!! Give him our best!

  12. HE.IS.AWESOME!! I just went and listened to everything I could find, and I loved it all! Let us know when his first CD comes out. I'm buying!!

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