Well during this time I was becoming closer to Christ, I still kept myself within the darkness until one day I quite my rock and roll band. When I quit my band, I had a lot of time of my hands, so one night I pulled out the yellow-colored poems I wrote when I was in junior high and started making songs out of them.

Within the year, God put all the right people in my life and I produced my first album “When Your Eyes Open.” This album won all kinds of local awards and even got some local airplay but for 3 years nothing else came of it. So I waited and prayed...and cried some and I waited and prayed….and I waited and prayed and cried some…  :)

Then one day I heard "The Bible Answer Man" state how much he loved Christmas and the nativity. After pondering his words and much prayer, God placed it on my heart to write a Christmas album. That was in December of 2009…I procrastinated but in May the next year I started reading the book of Luke and studying every scripture about the time Jesus Christ was born. I wrote this entire CD from the book of Luke.

In October of 2010, I had done God’s will. I knew it was His will because the lyrics just came to me. I do humbly say the lyrics are incredible. I know without Him there is no way I could have created something like this.  

My album “Hope is Alive ~ A Time for Christmas” was released! I work as a Sr. Telecom Engineer during the day and so I can only work on my music in my spare time. One year later, with a lot of faith and prayer and with the help from my sister as my PR Rep, we got this album in a lot of major retail stores, playing on some radio stations,  got on Pandora radio and even was ranked #1 by Reverbnation.com.

People ask me every day how I did this. All I can say is that I surrendered, kept the faith, worked countless hours and the rest was God's doing.   

I have to wonder what is next for me; but I have learned in this journey, I just wait and pray….wait and pray…wait and pray and sometimes still cry a little because of how good He has been to me.  :)

My main concern and I’m wondering if you feel the same way is that sometimes I have to wonder if I’m doing any good. No one wants me in their churches to sing because as one pastor told me “they don’t want to worry about having to do damage control in case I say or do something wrong”. And I have to wonder if when I try out for contest, I don’t win because I’m a Christian Artist.  

Only God knows the answer and I’m not worrying about these things; just being the geek that I am, I wonder why sometimes.

I read in my “Utmost for His Highest” prayer book something that changed my heart today. The reading tells of the life of a missionary is to do God’s will, not to be useful or to win the lost. It says I am useful and yes, I do win the lost, but I need to remember my goal is simply to do the will of the Lord and to glorify Him.

"The same things that happened to our Lord will happen to me. There will be works of God exhibited through me, people will get blessed, and one or two will show gratitude while the rest will show total ingratitude, but nothing must divert me from doing God’s will."

So as I end this letter, I must say that I will keep shining…waiting and praying…and even cry some too.

But I know when my journey ends, I will not end up being crucified as Jesus was by those who oppress me, but because of God’s love, I will end in glory.  

I cling to this scripture I found when I first began my journey: 

Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."

So with a tear in my eye... I just want to say, "God no matter what happens, I promise you, I will keep shining." Karla Bauer

Anyway, on our way, we were struck by a buck (that is what a male deer is called) with a huge rack (that would be his antlers). I got those central Kansas terms from my PR Rep, Kristi.

After the accident, I called 911 to report it. We nervously waited for the highway patrol to arrive. I had never seen any one handle a car so well as Kristi did. She saved my life that night.

The highway patrol was really nice. As we waited for the report to be written up; we decided to tell him why our car was packed so full! Kristi explained to him that we were on a Christmas Tour and handed him my new Christmas CD “Hope is Alive”. His face lit up as he exclaimed, “Wow, thank you!” Not once but three times.

We both thought that was quite a reaction!

We traveled to the nearest McDonalds to assess the damage. While we were in the parking lot, two hunters came by. Since our side view mirror was dangling by one wire; we asked if they had any duct tape. (Duct tape is the bomb!)

They said sure and began to tape up the mirror to the door. I again had Kristi tell them we were on a Christmas Tour and she handed them a CD. Their face lit up and again same reaction, “Thank you!”, they both exclaimed.

Kristi and I talked about this for the next 45 miles to our destination. She said they acted like that because people aren’t used to receiving anything any more. Every one takes, but not many people give. She’s right.

This holiday season give! Not gifts or money, but your heart, your time, your prayers. This keeps "Hope Alive" in others.

P.S. I sure hope Santa didn’t gain any weight this year because I think one of his reindeer might be on disability.

"Lyrics of praise and worship, words of inspiration, and stanzas of belief have been the basis of many of the world’s greatest and longest-lasting songs. A song is a powerful force that can change minds, shape nations, spearhead causes and uplift emotions. As a songwriter, it's perfectly acceptable to make the listener want to wiggle, giggle, or jiggle but when a writer can inspire however, we're helping to change the world."

I have been in the busyness of writing all-original songs for my new Christmas album, "Hope is Alive". During this time, I have come to realize as a singer and songwriter, I have the unique opportunity to get my message across to potentially millions of people that "When their Eyes Open" they will realize "Hope is Alive".

It is so profound to think even after I am gone, a song I had written, may some day truly inspire some one to have a closer relationship with Jesus, bringing them joy and peace. 

In writing the songs, only one person was my motivation. All of this really is for God’s fame anyway.

Of course she has my permission to play my song on her website. I wrote the song "Always" from the same scripture, Hebrews 13:5! Please visit her website and donate to her heartfelt minstry. Please help to give a very ill child their wish.