The songs included on the CD “Heavy on My Mind” by Valorie are original lyrics and musical sounds composed by Valorie. Each song tells a story and has it’s root in her personal life experiences or in the pain and suffering seen in the lives of people she knows and loves. In the title song, “Heavy on My Mind” the line “through the years, miles have kept us apart” reflects the truth that Valorie and her siblings live in different parts of the United States. Because of the distance and persistent lack of time and resources they did not see each other very often. For this same reason, although summer reunions were planned, it was hard to get all ten children and their families together. Definitely, the family enjoyed seeing the ones who made it to the reunion, and dearly missed those who couldn’t make it, but deep down there was a longing for the time when we would all be together again. This world is temporary and separations like this are not uncommon, however there is an eternal separation that would be much harder to bear; “Heavy on My Mind” speaks to that eternal separation with hope, prayer, and love for family. “Through Heaven’s Doors” is based on the knowledge that even though a person might believe in Jesus Christ they are not immune to suffering, or trials and troubles that are part of life. We can experience God’s comfort and healing here on earth but it isn’t until we reach heaven’s shore that the words of Revelation 21:4 will be fulfilled. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Before the songs on the CD were recorded Valorie performed them as she travelled at churches, coffee houses, prisons, women’s groups, youth camps, and special concerts in the United States and Canada. The songs were a way of sharing the message of God’s love as well as Valorie’s personal testimony of what God had done in her life. The song “Resurrected Cornerstone (401 Song) was written one night after coming home from a concert. She was driving along one of the main highways in Ontario, Canada, a a road known as the 401; otherwise known as the “Kings Highway 401.” On one side of the highway Valorie noticed the rubble of what used to be a stone house. There wasn’t much left standing of the structure except one portion of a wall with a window. Trees and weeds had grown all around the house and appeared as though it had been neglected and unattended for years. Despite all the traffic that must have passed by that house over the years the house was left to the elements and further decay. After seeing the house Valorie couldn’t help think about the rubble; what it must have looked like when it was first built, the life that must have been in the house, and more than that she couldn’t help thinking how much that house reminded of herself and the state she was in before Jesus saved her. All the people that passed by on a daily basis likely didn’t even think of the house let alone what it might have been before it crumbled or what it could be if someone took the time and the love to repair it’s walls. Valorie’s life was in a ruined state, with people all around her, but it took the love and power of the master builder to rebuild her life and make it new. The lyrics in “Resurrected Cornerstone” came to Valorie the night after seeing the ruins on the side of the Kings Highway, 401 and portray how God worked in Valorie’s life and gave her life and hope. The style and sound of the music in the CD, “Heavy on My Mind” may not be for everyone, however, the words and the message they create are. Valorie came to know that God gave His son as a sacrifice for every human being, His love is great and is freely available to all and it changed her life. Through this CD Valorie shares that salvation though Jesus Christ brings forgiveness, faith, love, and hope to anyone who cries out to God. His healing power brings restoration and renewed purpose, and no matter what trials or troubles come into a life, God can and will make a way through. Heaven is real and someday God will make all things beautiful and whole. We hope you enjoy the music and that the message of God's love reaches your heart.