Author: Celia Whitler

hope all is well with you… summer was a blur…. lot of singing… lots of traveling… but the best part was connecting with old friends and making new ones… Youth ’99 was a wonderful reunion with many of you… we had a great time! With all that summer was…great trips… feet in sand… lazy days… I am always glad when fall comes… the cool weather…. football…leaves changing colors… and a routine getting in swing…. school cranks back up and you get a new start…. each fall is a new chance for each of us to make some changes in our own lives…some I’m working on … hooking up with friends I’ve been out of touch with… more quiet time… more time reading and praying…. something I do just for me …like take a walk or run… lunch with a girlfriend or a great email or chat with an old school mate…. being more positive….speaking kinder words…calling my folks more just to touchbase… counting my blessings…

I am so thankful for today… who I am … what I do… and the people I get to work with and meet… as I look at the changes I want to make this fall…I am reminded of all that is in my life that is wonderful…. I am thankful for you and for your love and your support and for God’s grace that is present daily…

enjoy your fall,
Celia

…hope this note finds you happy, healthy, and cool! …I was recently reading some poems written by American writers and came upon a familiar poem by Rudyard Kipling… If… wonderful words to live by… my father mailed it to me soon after Ron and I moved to Franklin, Tn. I think he felt we needed a little encouragement… he enclosed a note with it that said throught out the years this poem has given him inspiration and a challenge to be a better person… he had rewritten the last line …. to replace man, my son with great person…I share it with you and hope that like me you will realize the good you do in just being you and continue to strive to be more loving, caring and embracing life each day… here’s If….

IF YOU CAN KEEP YOU HEAD WHEN ALL ABOUT YOU
ARE LOSING THEIRS AND BLAMING IT ON YOU
IF YOU CAN TRUST YOURSELF WHEN ALL MEN DOUBT YOU
BUT MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR THEIR DOUBTING TOO
IF YOU CAN WAIT AND NOT BE TIRED BY WAITING
OR BEING LIED ABOUT, DON’T DEAL IN LIES
OR BEING HATED, DON’T GIVE WAY TO HATING,
AND YET DON’T LOOK TOO GOOD, NOR TALK TOO WISE

IF YOU CAN DREAM AND NOT MAKE DREAMS YOUR MASTER
IF YOU CAN THINK AND NOT MAKE THOUGHTS YOUR AIM
IF YOU CAN MEET WITH TRIUMPH AND DISASTER
AND TREAT THOSES TWO IMPOSTERS JUST THE SAME
IF YOU CAN BEAR TO HEAR THE TRUTH YOU’VE SPOKEN
TWISTED BY KNAVES TO MAKE A TRAP FOR FOOLS
OR WATCH THE THINGS YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE TO BROKEN
AND STOOP AND BUILD’EM UP WITH WORNOUT TOOLS

IF YOU CAN MAKE ONE HEAP OF ALL YOU WINNINGS
AND RISK IT ON ONE TURN OF PITCH AND TOSS
AND LOSE, AND START AGIAN AT YOUR BEGINNINGS
AND NEVER BREATHE A WORD ABOUT YOUR LOSS
IF YOU CAN FORCE YOUR HEART AND NERVE AND SINEW
TO SERVE YOUR TURN LONG AFTER THEY ARE GONE
AND SO HOLD ON WHEN THERE IS NOTHING IN YOU
EXCEPT THE WILL WHICH SAYS TO THEM: “HOLD ON”

IF YOU CAN TALK WITH CROWDS AND KEEP YOUR VIRTUE
OR WALK WITH KINGS NOR LOSE THE COMMON TOUCH
IT NEITHER FOES NOR LOVING FRIENDS CAN HURT YOU
IF ALL MEN COUNT WITH YOU, BUT NONE TOO MUCH
IF YOU CAN FILL THE UNFORGIVING MINUTE
WITH SIXTY SECONDS WORTH OF DISTANCE RUN
YOURS IS THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING THAT’S IN IT
( MY DAD’S ENDING…. )
YOU’LL BE A TRUE AND FINE PERSON.

…. through out my life… I have meet so many people who have shared courage, inspiration, a true willingness to live life to it’s fullness… just today on the cover of USA Today… Lance Armstrong, 22 yr. old from Texas is pictured carrying the US flag as he crossed the finish line to win the Tour de France… to hear his story… of overcoming cancer… believing in himself and drawing strength from those around him who love him…. …for my life Christ is this true inspiration …. a model of loving others… knowing who I am and being me… and sowing seeds of love and kindness on the path…

Greetings to all… I hope you are well and enjoying what you are doing in your life as much as I am in mine… since Ron left the local church, we have been traveling together, we’ve been able to spend a lot of time working and playing together… I’ve always felt fortunate to be married to my best friend… it’s wonderful to be out singing, meeting new folks, trying new songs, sharing stories; great also to be home… playing bad golf, eating out with friends, writing songs, go-carting with my favorite 6 year old friend… (she drives most of the ride and I hang on)…. catching a movie or 2, hanging out with Ron, having breakfast at my favorite bakery, I am blessed and overwhelmed with this great, scary, wild, surprising, slow when I allow it to be, crazy life.

…since October, I have really missed Michael Krumrey… it’s hard to play with someone for 5 years and not be flooded with memories… airports we were trapped in for layovers, songs that he played, his pretzel appreciation, listening to Phish and classical guitar, his smile… a few times I have called the new guys I go out with Mike… we both smile and know it’s just out of habit… when someone is gone it’s the remembering that counts… not to remember him or mention him would be very foreign… so here’s to Michael… your memory continues for those who knew you and loved you… may we all be remembered…

I have had the joy to be traveling with 2 great guys that are playing guitar with me…

David Flint has been in town for sometime .. he’s from New York state.. he’s been working in country music… he’s a writer, producer, does some recording session work on projects while he is in town…. he plays the guitar quite lovely… he’s helping me on a new recording I am working on… lots of sing alongs and new songs written since Walk Chalantly…

Thad Beaty is also traveling with me… he’s been working in Christian music… we are very blessed to have him in our camp… Thad’s from Mississippi and calls me ma’am, which is quite charming… he and I have also been writing and he’s been singing with me at some concerts… he is bringing back bed hair and does it so well… plays great, too

Both of these guys have great senses of humor and are fun to travel and be with, what more can you ask for on the road?… I look forward to our future together.. they’ll both be with us at Youth ‘99 and at several events this next year…. I feel lucky to have them with me… let’s just say I feel blessed…

the Loss of Michael Krumrey. On October 5, 1998 Michael Krumrey died. Michael was Celia’s accompanist (he played the guitar.) He had some heart trouble and died in his sleep. Michael was 29. If you saw Celia sing during the last 5 years, the odds are great that Michael was with her. He played beautifully and is missed. Memorial information is available on Celia’s new album, or by replying to this email asking for information about the Michael Krumrey scholarship.