Photograph by Revival Arts www.rastudio.ca

      Love Shines Song Stories #7

This past summer I was on Pender Island when the phone call came that the whales were coming.  There is a phone chain thing that happens on Pender when whales are spotted coming around the island on the east side.  Then the word gets spread and everyone makes a dash to this special spot on the west side where the whales come very close to the shore.  We all felt like kids as we dropped what we were doing and dashed to the vehicle, drove like crazy, ran out to the shore and then waited with the rest of the community.  It was such a fun atmosphere with old and young filled with anticipation together.  After around 20 minutes, the cry came - 'there they are'.  We enjoyed a wonderful show especially when a baby whale kept leaping over and over again.  A sense of wonder came over all of us, touching the beauty of nature.  I often feel this way as I look at the night sky, spend time in the woods or feel the strength of a powerful storm.  The day with the whales was especially inspiring and the day I started working on this song, I Sing With the Earth.  

I sing with the earth

I sing with the sky

I sing with the whales as they sail by

I sing with the trees

I sing with the dawn

I sing with the stars all night long

Creator God who gives me life - you call my name

Creator God  who I can't see - you call my name

I sing with the earth

from mountains on high

in valleys below this glorious sky

I sing with the birds

I sing with the sea

I sing with the sun shining on me

excerpt from I Sing with the Earth - from Love Shines CD

As I was preparing for recording, I came across a Hebrew prayer phrase;

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh Adonai, Tzva'ot. 

It intrigued me and I looked up what it was about and ended up having this great connection with a Rabbi in Vancouver who helped me understand the vastness of these words.  (Rabbi David Mivasair) These are the words of the prophet Isaiah as he is 'undone' in the presence of the Holy.  (Is. 6)  These words are his response..... and (in very simple terms-as Rabbi David and I talked for a very long time about these words!) convey that the whole world is filled with the glory of God.  This is what I also feel when I am outside and in nature and what the heart of this song is about.  

I have incorporated these Hebrew words into this song and had so much connected with an ancient language as I sang.

Love Shines CD Stories

Working with Philip Janz

There are people in your life that you realize are huge gifts.  People that push you to fulfill your potential - not 60%, not 80% but drive you to your 110%. Philip has been that for me with this recording - pushing me, driving me, expecting the best that I can be and can give to this creative project. This is exciting and also at times exhausting. However, I am so grateful. There are not many people that I can count in my life that do this for me

and so again I become a student, a learner, and realize I have been given an opportunity to grow and develop.

Philip has huge musical talent. He is an amazing pianist, drummer, vocalist as well as being one who records, produces, mixes and engineers a complete project from A-Z.  As the producer, he must have the big picture in mind at all times as well as a zealous determination for the smallest detail. Philip is able to hold both of these aspects at the same time and brings his passion to both the overall vision and the miniscule detail.

However,  I think the greatest gift Philip brings is his ability to listen to the heart of the musician and honour the story they are bringing into their work. It would be easy to impose his own ideas, creativity, and plans into another persons work as he is so incredibly gifted and creative. And he DOES offer his ideas and suggestions and critique in a very open way. However, Philip offers this with kindness and with great respect for the love of creating the best in what the musician has offered.

I am very grateful for this recording process! The past 8 days have been intense vocal days and I'm heading into the last session tonight. They have been some of the best days of my life.

Philip - thank you.

(Photographs by Revival Arts www.rastudio.ca)

my brother, Randy Friesen, made this video of me and Philip working together this past Saturday - ENJOY!!

Song Stories #6
Love Shines CD

Joy is coming

In this video you get a picture into the studio on Friday night when Boris and Philip were going at it working on a whole range of songs. I joined them for a bit of wine and sushi! In this video they are working on the tune, Joy is Coming.
Boris Sichon has been a huge part of this album. He has listened to all the songs and offered so much wonderful feedback and input. He is an amazing musician that has travelled the world and learned from many musical masters. His talent and expertise is a treasure that I deeply value. But more than that, Boris has believed in these songs and helped me to follow my heart with this dream of Love Shines.

This song is the most recent song that has been written for this album. It is simple and reminds me of the time I spent in Africa in my early 20s where i enjoyed beautiful rhythms. I wrote this in December at the beginning of Advent.... Advent reminds me of all the things we are waiting for, longing for and that we hope for. Underneath our waiting, I've become aware of a deep sense of joy. Joy is coming and joy we can taste even now if we pay attention. So, it was with a lot of joy and hope that this song got recorded - and a lot of fun!

Love Shines

Song Stories #5

Sing a Song

Many people in the Lower Mainland have been aware in the past few weeks of the sudden death of Myron Berg due to the traffic accident that happened just after Christmas. I knew Myron from working at House of James Bookstore over 20 years ago. We worked together for one year - he was the 'cool' guy in the music department. Then about 4 years ago, we reconnected when I started teaching 3 of his children music lessons; Lauren, Bryn and Taeryn. I got to know Gillian and the whole family for around 2 years and enjoyed quite a few musical events together.

I wasn't going to put this song, Sing a Song, on the album but then two things happened - one was celebrating the 18th birthday of Christian Friesen on January 14, my nephew who died last March and being aware of the Berg family as they mourn the passing of Myron. (funeral for Myron tomorrow, Jan 21) I realized again that so many of us experience death as a part of the life we are living now. We are all holding someone in our hearts that has passed one. I sang the song for Philip as a last minute possibility and he said YES - let's do it.

When another nephew, Trevor Dueck, died 3 years ago, I created a Service of Remembrance ...a musical evening to help us honour and remember loved ones who have died. On the 2nd year of this concert, when I was cleaning up after that evening, the reality of my own passing became more clear. That night I could not sleep and wrote these words, only to sing them before 1500 people a few months later when Chris died. I also sang them at a Haiti Memorial Fundraiser concert after the earthquake.

As I recorded the song today , my heart went out to the Berg family as they release Myron and love him. My heart sings for Chris, my beloved nephew....my brother Randy and his wife Ingrid and their son Max who are journeying through this grief.

These words are now part of the Love Shines CD project.....

here is an excerpt:

excerpt from

Sing A Song....

sometimes I think about that day

when I'll have wings and fly away

to a place I've never been

never known, never seen

It is a mystery, this life

one day I'm here and then I'm gone

and when that day, it comes for me

I ask that you would sing a song......

sing a song from your heart

through the veil from which I've part

sing a song that is true

and I'll sing ....back to you....

excerpt from Sing a Song from the upcoming Love Shines CD

Song Stories #4

Hope of My Dreams

(The Mountains Call)

I am captivated by the mountains.

I am captivated by sky.

I am captivated by eagles soaring

over my head as I walk in the open field behind Heritage Park in Mission.

I am captivated by ocean, rivers, lakes.

This song holds the sense of awe that I feel each day as I breath deeply of fresh air and take in the beauty that surrounds me.

I originally wrote this song on Bowen Island in August of 2006. It became part of the 'trust' CD recording that came out 2008. That CD was nominated for Inspirational Album of the Year by the Gospel Music Awards of Canada.

In May of 2010 I led a Taize Evening Prayer Event up at the glorious Westminster Abbey of Mission. The acoustics in that space are so delicate and wondrous. Kevin Boese played acoustic guitar and I sang this song as an opening for the evening. Today we recorded the song just like that - acoustic guitar and voice - simple, spacious, open and mystical.

Here is an excerpt of the words.....

The mountains call

out to me

and they declare

through their beauty

of One who is

beyond all things

Giver of Life

Hope of my dreams

thanks to Debbie Klassen of Chilliwack for the amazing photo!

Love Shines

Song Stories #3

Every Time

I must say I've always loved Black Gospel music. There is something about the energy of it that just makes me want to move, to dance, to shout and to laugh. A few months ago, the old melody of 'Every time I feel the Spirit' came into my mind and my toes were tapping in seconds. For weeks I could not get this tune out of my mind and body. I looked up the old tune and found the words on the internet. I loved the chorus, but the words of the verses were not ones that I could resonate with - so I decided to write my own lyrics to this wonderful melody. I've brought this song now into various settings and the response has been that people want to dance, to celebrate and to engage with the song. I'm so excited to share this new arrangement of 'Every time'....

here is an excerpt of the new lyrics...

when life's burdens

weigh down on me

when life's burdens

weigh on me

I hear a whisper

calling to me

'remember sister, you are free'

and every time I feel the Spirit

movin' in my heart

I will pray

and every time I feel the Spirit

movin' in my heart

I will pray

Song Stories for Love Shines

#2

Courage For Today

I love so many different genres of music. As a child I was exposed to a lot of classical music as my mom listened to CBC radio 2. Often I would lie down on the carpet and let the music wash over me as I listened deeply...even when I was 5 or 6. My parents also enjoyed a lot of 'gospel' music so I heard a lot of 4 part harmonies and traditional choral sounds. In my youth I learned to love jazz music, pop music and gained more appreciation for classical music. Through my twenties and through living in Uganda for 2 years, I was exposed to traditional folk music and ethnic sounds. I have loved learning about all these sounds and how these different genres can express so many of our human emotions and experiences better than we can with our words.

I am not a strong blues piano player, but I do love the blues and had fun learning the basic 12 bar pattern a few years ago and passing that on to many students.

A couple years ago I realized that the blues really hold a wonderful tension between major and minor tonalities and feel 'honest' about expressing what it is to be human.

This summer around a campfire at Alice Lake near Whistler, BC, my friend Kendra asked me how I was doing with grieving the loss of my dear nephew Chris. Chris died on March 25, 2010. He was a very special nephew to me - one that I could punch (even though he was MUCH stronger than me) and tease. He was passionate about life and was fun to be with. I loved him fiercely. When Kendra asked me that, I had no words.

How do you express how you feel?

Words feel cheap

and empty.

I said Kendra - I have nothing to say - but I can sing a song.

So I asked Nathan (Kendra's husband) to get his guitar and start playing the blues.....

and this is an excerpt of the song I sang

Courage for Today

My heart, my heart

is heavy

My heart is heavy with burdens

Strengthen me,

Give me courage for today

My soul, my soul

is weary

My soul is weary with sorrow

Strengthen me,

Give me courage for today

(excerpt from 'Courage for Today' to be released on Love Shines)

Chris's birthday is this Friday, January 14th. Loving you buddy!!

Song Stories for Love Shines

Song #1

I would like to share some of the stories of the songs that will be on the Love Shines CD.

I Bind My Life to Love

Several years ago I was in a personal crisis. At certain moments I wondered if I was losing my mind. I was so afraid and so anxious. I wanted to know that everything would be OK, but there were no guarantees that anything would be OK ever again. It was during this time that someone introduced me to a prayer that was inspired by the prayers of St. Patrick. Over the years, I re-wrote it in my own way using imagery that was powerful for me. In the summer of 2009, I realized I wanted to share these words with as many people as I could. These words have impacted me over and over again for over 11 years. I decided to make these words into a song I could sing and give as a gift. When I wake up in the early hours of the morning and can't sleep, these are the words that are often on the edge of my lips. These words have given me hope, energy, faith, and light. I trust the power of Love in my life and so it has become a gift to entrust my life to Love over and over again. The blessing of this has been unexpected joy and deepening peace in my daily life. I'm so excited to share this song on this album!

here is an excerpt of the lyrics:

I bind my life to Love

I bind my heart to Love

I bind my feet to the path Love has for me

I bind my life to Love

Happy New Year!!

the Love Shines Recording

is happening - starting January 7th, 2011!!

This is a dream coming true - taking about a year and a half for it all to come together.

I'm so excited to share 12 original songs

with all of you!!

Hopefully I'll have the CD ready for sale in March.

For regular updates go to:

facebook updates

Love is Shining!!!

Love Shines CD Project Update

Thanks to so many that came out to the 3 concerts of the Fraser Valley. I have been very encouraged to go ahead with the Love Shines CD project and recording dates have now been set for January 2011 - with release happening probably in March 2011.

It has been a fall of taking risks and not knowing where that will lead me. At times I have been terrified to take another step and to put myself out there with sharing my vision and my heart. However, there is something life-giving with taking risks and learning to be OK whatever the results. I've learned a lot from this process!

I've also learned that I deeply value the community around me. I've realized that this project is coming out of a community of support and friendship - not just an isolated dream. This is a powerful shift for me and one that energizes me as I step into the next part of the process of going into the recording studio.

Thanks to so many that have given financially to this project. I am about half-way there with the funds I will need. If you would like to be a part of this, please go to

Love Shines CD Project

This Saturday - November 13, 2010

7:30 pm

Love Shines Concert & Dessert Evening

ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

Free event - with opportunity to donate to the Love Shines CD project

I will be joined by...

Boris Sichon (world percussionist - amazing musician!!!)

Kevin Boese (amazing singer/songwriter & guitarist)

Jonathan VanDyke (amazing vocalist and pianist)

Joleen VanDyke (also amazing vocalist and pianist)

We have a great set ready to share with you - and the passion to share songs of hope, inspiration & healing.

Please come & share this wonderful evening together with us! We want a PACKED house!!

RSVP kateajhardy@shaw.ca

Venue: Highland Community Church

3130 McMillan Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 6A8

3 upcoming concerts

3 evenings of sharing my heart in song - songs of hope for the Love Shines CD

YOU ARE INVITED!!

October 30 in Chilliwack with Kevin Boese

home of Walt & Elsie Goerzen 46400 Stevenson Rd Please RSVP 604-858-9679

November 6th in Mission with Boris Sichon & Kevin Boese

Heritage High School - Drama Studio -7:30pm

November 13th in Abbotsford with Kevin Boese - Cale Stanage opening

Highland Community Church 7:30pm

for more info: please e-mail me at:

kateajhardy@shaw.ca

Love Shines CD Project

Your partnership in songs of hope
to be released Spring 2011

...a musical venture with the passion to bring hope, healing, and inspiration

I have an opportunity to record songs of Hope, Healing and Inspiration in January of 2011.

I am so excited to share these songs with the community, but I know that I need the support of the greater community to help make this dream a reality.

This album will be filled with original songs that have come out of the stories of life these past 2-5 years. They are unique songs that connect with our souls and our journey; big and gentle sounds coming out of deep joys as well as deep sorrows. They are sounds that call us to live with authenticity, trust, and hope. They also invite us to taste of Love shining even in our darkest moments.

These are songs I want to share with as many people as I can. We all need songs to sing in our darkest hours that call us into deeper truths and freedom. These are songs that have come to me like gifts and have powerfully touched my own life and I want to share them with the world.

if you would like to partner with me in this project- go to:

LOVE SHINES CD PROJECT

Listen to Love Shines Single

Gratefulness

Life is full of twists and turns these days. Our family is still reeling from the loss of my nephew Christian, who died in March of 2010. Going through summer holidays without him around for certain events was painful for us all.

This summer brought to our attention that my dad is suddenly dealing with colon cancer and my mom's leukemia is also very present. Dad had to have two unexpected surgeries in this past week and mom is at the doctor's today about her leukemia. Then my sister-in-law Ilona found out this past spring she has serious breast cancer and has been undergoing treatments all summer and is also facing surgery.

How to respond to ALL of this at once is simply overwhelming on many days....but this photo hopefully reflects my response. Here I am with my nephew Graham, son of Ilona. He is 10 and was over to hang out with me one day this summer. We had fun and enjoyed being together.

To be present to the people around me, to be grateful for the beauty that is here even in the midst of suffering, to offer the gift of kindness and simple expressions of love.....this is what is important. And then - to be GRATEFUL in this moment for what is right now.

the labyrinth





the symbolic walk of choice & letting go

Life is funny sometimes. You have these moments of utter clarity about the next step. And so you make a choice to make that step and then suddenly it seems you are going backwards and wondering what just happened. It seems that life is full of choices, taking risks, moving forward into the unknown - a sign of personal freedom to affect the outcome of one's life.....choice. And then there is this flip side - how things just seem to happen and you find yourself belly up - or face in the dirt. How did that happen? It seems that there are situations completely beyond one's control - and that one has a choice in that moment too - to accept the reality or to fight it.
When I walk the labyrinth, I remember all these things - my choices as well as the circumstances in my life I have no control over. The labyrinth seems so symbolic of stepping forward yet at the same time experiencing going backwards while still moving towards the centre. It is an interesting experience to walk in 20 minutes what can be so symbolic of life itself.
It seems like a journey of trust - trusting to take risks and also trusting in the moments of surrender to what is beyond me.

If you get a chance - walk the labyrinth.......I'd love to hear how your expereince is!

Love Shines.AVI

Brother Roger has become a spiritual guide in my life.

I recently discovered these video postings that are now being made public. Have a watch

http://www.taize.fr/en_article10037.html

Maybe Brother Roger will inspire you also....... I love this man!!

"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it stop me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do" Georgia O'Keefe

So, now that you know how I feel :-),

I am inviting you all to the

Love Shines Concert -

Cathy AJ Hardy & Friends

on June 26, 2010

8pm

St. Andrew's United Church in Mission

I am excited to partner with some great musicians to share with you the songs that mean so much to me! Boris Sichon is a world percussionist who plays all sorts of instruments from around the world. Kevin Boese is a fantastic acoustic guitarist and songwriter....and there are others too who will join me.

This evening will be a collection of my own compositions and other songs that mean a lot to me.

There is a suggested donation of $15 at the door.

Look forward to seeing you!

Taize Evening Prayers at Westminster Abbey, Mission
Saturday, May 29, 2010 8pm-9pm

Why come?
This hour is filled with song, prayer, silence and open space.
This hour is for you to drink in beauty, rest and soul-food.
The songs from Taize are like simple phrases, that when repeated a few times, become something a person can meditate on.
For example, the Latin phrase will be sung: Da pacem cordium
This means.....Give peace to every heart.
To sing this together is prayer....
We all hold the stories of our lives; joy, pain, thankfulness and sadness...
We all long for peace of heart and peace of heart for those we love and peace of heart for all humanity. In singing this simple phrase together, we pray together something powerful.
In the words of Richard Rohr; prayer is not seen as telling God what to do but "to experience our dependence on the great mystery".
Acoustic instruments such as harp, guitar, recorder & violin will be played during the service.
I will also be using a new singing bowl (new to me that is) that is over 100 years old.

Love SHINES was recorded a few days after the tragic and sudden passing of my nephew Chris Friesen. I have dedicated this song especially to his parents, Randy & Ingrid Friesen. I saw love SHINING in them so powerfully in the days that followed Chris's death. I saw love being the bigger story than the story of tragedy.
Even though this song was really hard to record in that moment, it became a way to express the reality I was experiencing in that moment. I am dedicating the funds from the sales of this single to the Christian Friesen Memorial Scholarship Fund . Please buy this song and pass it on to others!!! It is a song about hope and Love shining - even in our darkness.

LOVE SHINES available here.