Hi friends! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. 🙂 Sister Violins had a great time performing at the Heritage Festival on Saturday. It was a beautiful event, though very windy, and it was a great honor to be back to perform. As promised, I have pictures and videos to share with you! I was hoping to be able to post this yesterday, but I ran into a small snafu with the video upload. (All fixed now! 😉) Sister Violins performed for an hour, but I've taken the best parts of the performance and compiled them into a 20 minute highlight video for you. I hope you enjoy! Sister Violins at the Heritage Festival HIGHLIGHTS Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/K0qKo3ASLsg *This video is exclusive to members of The Community. Please do not share. Thank you!

Hi friends! Ashley and I will be playing music at the Heritage Festival tomorrow afternoon. Located at the Pearce-Lock Homestead, it sounds like it will be a fun event with "...cowboys, clowns, dancers, music, food trucks, craft vendors and much more." If you can make it, we will be performing from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. If not, I will try to have some photos and videos to share with you on Sunday. I hope you have a terrific weekend! Sister Violins at The Heritage Festival https://www.wix.app/events/4c983658-514b-47d0-8aeb-bfa41ed9eb7a/f1723200-6db5-42ae-9ed8-bfd7dc8df3ee/details?d=https://www.emilyefinke.com/event-details/sister-violins-at-the-heritage-festival

The Community Hangout LIVESTREAM Sunday, April 28 - 2:00 pm ET Hi friends! It's that time of year again... time for our next LIVESTREAM!! I thought we'd do something a little different this time, so I'm excited to introduce a new concept: The Community Hangout. The Community Hangout will be a chill event to chat and catch up on life. The Community Hangout also combines some favorite segments from The Forum/Community (Stuck in My Head, Ask Me About Music, AiRC) and introduces some fun, new segments (Verse of the Day, What's in My Closet?, Crafty Minute, etc.). I will also be sharing updates and announcing some VERY exciting news and projects during this stream. I hope you'll join me for an afternoon to just spend some time together and overall just have some fun and maybe play a few games 😉 I will share more details and access to the stream in a couple of weeks, so keep an eye out. See you all soon! ❤️

Happy Friday, friends!! I hope you had a terrific week 🙂 I've been working on music arrangements all week for a very special project coming this summer.... 😎😉 (stay tuned!), and yet, my brain still has not had enough of music 😂 The life of a musician... So, here is what has been stuck in my head lately, "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant," by Billy Joel. This song is just so cool. It has 3 separate musical thoughts... in fact, they are almost full songs with multiple verses and choruses, but it is not a medley. The individual thoughts stand out and apart from each other with very distinct styles, melodies, and ideas while working together so seamlessly to convey the complete story that the song is telling. It is so fluent that the 7 odd minutes of the song fly by without a realization that it is more than twice the length of an average song. It's a wonderful work of art! And... it's SO catchy. I hope you enjoy listening to it on this beautiful Friday... or however long it takes to get it out of your head! ... i was just starting to get it out my head, but now that it's back in my mind, I guess I'm gonna be listening to it all weekend, too 😆

Christ the Lord is risen today! Hallelujah! Happy Resurrection Day, everyone! ✝️ 🌅 I pray you are all having a blessed and joyous celebration of our risen savior. In honor of the occasion, here is a throwback to a video I posted a couple of years ago of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". God bless you all 🤗 ❤️ "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," 1 Peter 1:3 KJV

AT THIS POINT, IT'S A TRADITION... Hi friends! It's been busy last few days around here. I had so much fun the last 3 days working for Cadillac at the 12 Hours of Sebring! This was my 3rd year working at this event for Cadillac. This team is the BEST, and I always feel so blessed to work with them. Per usual, I met so many wonderful people, saw old friends, made new friends, talked and laughed all day, listened to the sound of speeding cars, and gave away LOTS of shirts for Cadillac Racing. I'm thoroughly exhausted today but in the best way. 🤗 It was a really terrific last few days, but I'm looking very forward to a little slower week ahead. Happy racing, friends ❤️

Hello, my dear friends!! I've missed you all lately, but it's wonderful to be back. What have you been up to? Are you ready for Spring? You must tell me everything and catch me up on how life has been. I have been out of town for almost 2 weeks for some R&R and just arrived home last night. My time away was a much needed rest physically and a wonderful rejuvenation and reset mentally. I feel ready to tackle all the big projects I have approaching this summer... I seriously cannot wait to share all the details with you... it's getting closer! So it's back to the grind and time to tackle a mountain of work. While away, enjoying a change of pace and living, considering the things I needed to do upon my return, it got me thinking about how it is so much easier to act differently in a new environment. It's acting differently in the environment you're in that's the challenge. It's so easy to get into a rut with life, to create habits (whether good or bad) that cause one to become rather mindless like on autopilot. You do something without even thinking about it because it's just what you always do. Before you know it, tasks feel like burdens and life feels boring. Perhaps you're a person that enjoys the steadiness and routine of this type of life, but if you're someone who enjoys more spontaneity and finding a bigger purpose in even the smallest tasks, when this happens, it's time to remove and reflect. Remove yourself from the environment you're in and approach things from a different perspective. Reflect on the differences and return to your old environment to incorporate what you have learned. Prayer and reading of scripture as a reminder of God's joy in all things and purpose in even the most mundane of tasks also helps a great deal 🙂 But, it's the idea of changing perspective that's key. Try sitting somewhere different to do your work. Open your windows for some fresh air and sunshine while you do the chores. Take a random walk outside to clear your mind. Find ways to change up the old to make it feel new. Anyway, that's enough of my chatter and random thoughts 😆 I have music to share. Unfortunately, not my music, but music nonetheless! In a recent episode of "That Girl" that I watched, Marlo Thomas' sister, Terre Thomas, guest starred and sang this song. It has since been stuck in my head (and I mean obnoxiously stuck 😆), but I don't mind too much as it is a terrifically beautiful song. It was co-written by Harry Belafonte who's recording I share with you now. I hope you enjoy it!

Hi friends! I hope you're having a beautiful weekend. 🙂 I've just published my most recent poetic composition over in the blog. I hope you enjoy it! Am I getting close to having enough for my first book of poetry??? Should this one be included? And yes... I have been working on compiling my works into a book...🤫 A very special book with special pictures... more to come soon 🤗 Read "Tomorrow Shall be Told" on the Blog: https://www.emilyefinke.com/post/tomorrow-shall-be-told-a-poem(https://www.emilyefinke.com/post/tomorrow-shall-be-told-a-poem)

❤️ HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! ❤️ How blessed are we to have God's perfect and unfailing love every hour of every day and every day of the year for forever. Because of His love for us, we can love each other. How beautiful to have a special day to celebrate love in remembrance of St. Valentine who loved so selflessly. May your day be specially spent with those you love and those who love you. From my heart, I love each of you so much! Have a very blessed holiday, my friends ❤️ P.S. If you need a playlist of wonderful old tunes for this 'love'-ly holiday, I have created a special playlist of love songs themed around Rudy Vallee's hit song, "I'm Just a Vagabond Lover." Listen to my playlist, "Vagabond Lover (A Valentine Playlist)" on the platform of your choice via the links below. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ir3Vc0hRZizaPR9C8ybnN?si=2885e233cee84d9f(https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ir3Vc0hRZizaPR9C8ybnN?si=2885e233cee84d9f) Listen on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpkge2d6JryLPwx6JpNkZM-zDIPGIcrX0&si=Pb3masW7NMeKtCp1(https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpkge2d6JryLPwx6JpNkZM-zDIPGIcrX0&si=Pb3masW7NMeKtCp1)

Hi friends! Remember that hat aka Easter Bonnet that I made for my music video of "Easter Parade"? Well, I entered it into my county fair, and it won a Blue Ribbon!! I also entered two Christmas ornaments that I hand embroidered and they won a blue ribbon and a white ribbon. (I circled my creations in the first picture. It's a bit like playing I-Spy trying to find them 😆) It's so fun getting to participate in my county fair, and I am so honored for my work to have been awarded these ribbons. There were so many amazing arts and crafts entered into the exhibit this year. It was so inspiring walking through and seeing all the beautiful creations on display. Here's a better look at the ornament that won the blue ribbon. This was taken after I finished the embroidery but before I sewed it into the ornament. (I don't currently have a good picture of the other ornament, but you can see that one fairly well in the photo above.)

Hi friends! It is a very special day here as we celebrate the birthday of my little sidekick and buddy, Daisy. I cannot believe the little pup I adopted almost ten years ago is now fourteen years old. I don't think she can believe it either! She is aging with grace but can still bring out that little pup when she wants to. I am so grateful for her life and love! Happy Birthday my little Daisy Mae ❤️ 🥳

“Shall It be a Bonnet or a Boater? Or something for the Boudoir? Cloche. Dunce Hat. Death Cap. Coif…” Watch on YouTube Shorts: https://youtube.com/shorts/cYgGczr5ZU4?feature=share(https://youtube.com/shorts/cYgGczr5ZU4?feature=share) 👒 Happy National Hat Day from the Mad Hatter and myself!! 🎩 What is your hat of choice today? Did the Mad Hatter include your favorite? The above video showcases (almost) every hat in my collection as of March 2023... I think I need to make an updated version for 2024 because, yes, I have MORE HATS! One cannot have too many, after all 😉 I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this edit of my Hat Collection short with this audio clip from Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" (2010). I have always loved the Mad Hatter and have honestly related to his character quite a bit... partially because of his obsession with hats! I absolutely love this scene from the film as he rattles off this long list of hats. It's hilarious, but something I could see myself doing! Have I become a meme?! *Note: These are not all the actual hats that the Mad Hatter is naming. Some are but others are the closest ones that I had in my collection. I had so much fun making this short. I hope you like it! Which hat is your favorite? Let me know in the comments 🎩

🌼 2023: A YEAR FOR ALL SEASONS 🌼 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV A Month-by-Month Look Back Read on the Blog: https://www.emilyefinke.com/post/a-look-back-at-2023(https://www.emilyefinke.com/post/a-look-back-at-2023) Happy New Year's Eve, friends!! A new year is just around the corner, so it's once again time for my yearly tradition of recounting the tales of the past year. I love traipsing through forgotten memories and reliving cherished ones. I find it wonderfully cathartic to take store of what I did in the year and note things which happened. It helps me to surrender to God the things of the past and prepare for the blessings of the future. Besides that, it's just plain fun to see where I've been and dream about where I'm going. I hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane with me 🙂 What has your favorite part of 2023 been in your life? What has been your favorite part of 2023 here in The Community?

Hi friends! To help you get ready for the New Year with some New Music, we are having a sale on DOUBLE TROUBLE X2: Volume 1 CDs.(https://www.emilyefinke.com/product-page/double-trouble-x2-volume-1-cd-in-wallet-case) As members of The Community, that means you get extra savings! Instead of your normal 10% discount, you can now save 15% on your purchase of CDs. From now until January 2nd (11:59pm ET), use the *EXCLUSIVE* coupon code, NEWYEAR15, at checkout to apply the discount. Happy listening! This discount is exclusive to members ot The Community. Please do not share it.

Hi friends! I've been putting the finishing touches on the "An AiRC Christmas" videos (peep the banner in the background 😁) today. The first video comes out THIS Wednesday!!! Wanted to take a little break to wish a heartfelt "Thank you!" to @Mike for the very lovely card. I greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness, Mike! ❤️ It was a wonderful surprise.

Hi friends! I hope you're having a wonderful week 🙂 As musicians, December is always our busiest month for gigs, and DOUBLE TROUBLE X2 and Sister Violins have several gigs the next couple of weeks starting with tomorrow's show at Tropical Winery. DOUBLE TROUBLE X2 will even be joined by a harmonica player! It looks like a beautiful day with great weather, and, of course, DOUBLE TROUBLE X2 always has a lot fun. If you can come, we'd love to see you!

Hello friends! I hope your week is off to a wonderful start 🙂 Christmas is getting into full swing around here. It's hard to believe the year will soon be over. Are you ready for the holidays? I'm afraid I have a bit of bad news to share with you all. I was hoping to start my video series, "An AiRC Christmas," this week, but due to illnesses of myself and Daisy (we are both on the mend but not 100% yet), things have been a little delayed. Not to worry, this series will not be cut short. We will just have a marathon of videos in a shorter amount of time. Thank you for your patience ❤️ In the meantime, here is a song that I just heard for the FIRST time a few days ago. I can't believe I had never heard it before or that it is not more popular. Have you heard it before? I think it is a beautiful song with such wonderful lyrics that truly celebrate what Christmas is all about. I hope you enjoy it! Lyrics: When I was but a youngster Christmas meant one thing That I'd be getting lots of toys that day I learned a whole lot different When Mother sat me down And taught me to spell 'Christmas' this way: 'C' is for the Christ child, born upon this day 'H' for herald angels in the night 'R' means our Redeemer 'I' means Israel 'S' is for the star that shone so bright 'T' is for three wise men, they who travelled far 'M' is for the manger where He lay 'A' 's for all He stands for 'S' means Shepard's came And that's why there's a Christmas day!

Hi friends! For the last year, I have been designing a collection of merch, and I am so excited to share it with you all! The entire line is not yet available, but I hope to release it in a few weeks. For now, I do have one item currently available: Emily E. Finke - 2024 Calendar https://www.emilyefinke.com/product-page/emily-e-finke-2024-calendar Use this "The Community" exclusive code for 10% off your order: Community10   This calendar features 13 photos of yours truly and is a limited edition item. (The rest of the line will be available for the foreseeable future.) While the entire collection is not yet available to order, I could not wait any longer to share it with you! The following images are an exclusive look at my mockup photos ("real" photos to come soon). I appreciate your confidence in not sharing this information or the following images outside of this site. For this collection, I decided to work with designs based on themes and lyrics of two of my original songs, "A Patriot's Prayer" and "Maybe". I have worked for over a year on these designs, and I hope you love them as much as I do! If you have any feedback about the designs/products, I would love to know your thoughts ❤️ Stay tuned for more info when the collection is available! "Maybe" Notebook/Journal Front of Notebook Back of Notebook "A Patriot's Prayer" Notebook/Journal "A Patriot's Prayer" Canvas Tote Bag "A Patriot's Prayer" Ceramic Mug "Maybe" Gray Hoodie "Maybe" Gray T-Shirt "Maybe" Canvas Tote Bag "A Patriot's Prayer" White Hoodie "A Patrior's Prayer" White T-Shirt

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers," Philemon 1:4 KJV HAPPY THANKSGIVING! My friends, I hope you all had a most blessed Thanksgiving yesterday.  I have been taking some time off, and I am so grateful I was able to spend a quiet holiday with my family. Life always has its ups and downs, and this year has been no different. But through it all, God's strength and goodness has not failed. His promises are new every morning, and I am left humbled and in awe of His blessings. He has given me so much to be thankful for, and in all things, I will always praise Him... not only on a holiday such as this but every day of my life. Among my blessings, I count you all, my friends, among those for which I am truly grateful! I thank God for each of you and for your continued love and support. I pray that your holiday season is filled with much joy and love! God bless you all!