CLICK HERE TO SHOP LORIE'S MUSIC

Over 750 Lorie Line copyrighted songs now available on SHEET MUSIC PLUS!

Dear Fans,

For the first time ever, many of my copyrighted titles are now available for purchase on Sheet Music Plus. If you have been waiting for me to obtain a license for a specific song, please check this site for any and all Lorie Line arrangements that you'd love to have! I'm so excited to share some of the most popular requests including Bohemian Rhapsody, Hymne (Vangelis), Unchained Melody, Blowin' In The Wind, The King's Speech, Clocks, The Feather Theme, You Raise Me Up AND MANY MORE! The Lorie Line library of music now contains over 750 titles so be sure to take a look at all of the newly published copyrighted music now available on Sheet Music Plus.

Thank you for playing my music!

P.S. Be sure to check out my FREE MONTHLY DOWNLOADS at lorieline.com. 

Dear Fans,

I am in the process of uploading much of my music for instrumental piano duets. Check out all the new arrangements you can now play with flute(s), violin, cello, trumpet, and more! We are uploading new songs weekly, so be sure to check back often!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP ON SHEET MUSIC PLUS

CLICK HERE TO SHOP SHEET MUSIC DIRECT

Dear Fans,

Recently I have been playing for some wonderful parties and it has been so enjoyable! I'm loving it! There was a time in my life when I quit playing for special events because I was constantly on the road touring and/or raising children. But, as many of you know, the kids are well gone and my schedule is such these days that I'm only hosting The Living Room Series and touring at Christmastime . . . which allows me the opportunity to slip in and play for unique and fabulous occasions.

I'm finding that my fans who have followed me for years are having milestone events, once-in-a-lifetime parties, memorable family reunions, and even very precious funerals. My music has had a special place in their lives. If that's the case and you'd like to have me show up, I'd love to be a part of the celebration.

Email us your request and tell us about your event. I'll be there!

Click here to email your request

I love to entertain. It’s in my blood. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of hearing laughter in the living room combined with the smells and aroma in the kitchen.

 

I remember my parents inviting total strangers into our home. At first, when people would come through the door it was a little awkward. But handing them a homemade meal on a real plate with real silverware opened up the opportunity for a meaningful conversation and stories that could make you friends for a lifetime. To this very day, people will tell me that my parents invited them over for a meal, and they never forgot it. 

 

As a child, to me this was a true act of love. We learned it in church. Philia love. An affectionate bond in friendships, characterized by mutual respect, trust and a deep emotional connection. We called it "fellowship."

 

We need more of this today.

 

We never had a big budget. It was simple and we didn’t overthink the menu. We’d roast a few chickens and cut them up and put them on a platter, making you feel like you were at a five-star San Francisco restaurant (although I’d never been to one). We’d shuck corn in the garage, bring it in and cut it off the cob and sauté it in butter, then decorate the huge pile of golden kernels with fresh herbs. My aunt would pick huge, ripe red tomatoes from her garden and with a simple toss of salt and pepper, they were the most beautiful and colorful side dish on the plate. And while we were cooking, the men would sit and laugh at the kitchen table (I’d eavesdrop) and crack walnuts so we’d have a big pile in a bowl to share.

 

My brother would make a cake. And my mom would pull out the punch bowl.

 

We were ready for a party.

 

Fresh, real and clean food. Delicious.

 

So, when the Wayzata Garden Club asked Tim and me to host the main event this year (dinner and a tour of our gardens), after many requests I took a breath and said “yes.” I committed to feeding 130 guests. And show our gardens to passionate gardeners. Was I nuts? I’d have a few months to think about how I'd do it.

 

As many of you know, Tim and I do all the gardening. And that's when I decided to do all of the cooking.

 

Of course the club offered to have it catered. It’s always catered. And I really do think they were nervous that I was going to attempt to make all the food. If I got too nervous, a catering company would be my fall-back, but I hoped I could do it myself. So I asked for the budget. Here we go.

 

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t lose sleep over this. I did. The most I’ve ever cooked for (at one time) is 50 people, and I know what it entails. So, I started visualizing everything . . . from the moment the guests would arrive, to the moment they would walk back down the street to their car at the end of the evening. 

 

I made lists, and lists, and lists. I had to decide what to serve, how much to purchase, when to make it, and how to move 130 people efficiently through a line. Not to mention . . . how to create a party atmosphere and HAVE FUN.

 

 

Speaking of which . . . I decided to have a theme for my party. Kentucky Derby. Wear hats! There is just something about theme parties that unites people, makes people laugh, and ignites a good conversation. People that never speak to each other find something to talk about when there is a theme. "I like your hat!"

 

A month before the party, I put the menu in a gold frame and looked at it every day in my office.

 

 

My goal was to serve pretty food at room temperature. Something light, but plentiful. So I decided on a decadent Romaine wedge salad with Balsamic roasted filet (or chicken), accompanied by tossed cherry tomatoes with basil from my garden and Maldon salt, corn-off-the-cob, fresh figs with Minnesota honey . . . and pistachios, dates, dried apricots and blue cheese to top it off. And, of course, a big bowl of walnuts.

 

 

I made place cards for all the platters and visualized how it would look on my table. For three weeks I thought about how I would physically make all the food, what day, and quantities. I made two trips to my all-time favorite place, Costco. . . once for the non-perishable items, and then two days before the party I picked up all the fresh items. 

 

I bought an entire wheel of delicious Iowa Maytag blue cheese from our local grocery store and solicited Tim to help in the kitchen. The "star of the show" would be the buttermilk Maytag dressing, adapted from Kincaid's Restaurant (which I have worked on and edited for over 20 years). We took my typical recipe for 50 people and tripled it, which meant ten quart jars of dressing. (In the end, I had three jars leftover, which made beautiful gifts for my helpers.)

 

 

 

The night before the party my committee members delivered all the tables, glasses, and plates. Real plates. Real silverware (except dessert). They set up a cute mint julep stand to compliment my derby theme. 

 

 

That day I cut corn off the cob . . . all day . . . 130 ears of corn (one for each person), and sauteed it in butter with a few sweet peppers.

 

Just like old times.

 

 

The day of the party, I roasted 10 filet tenderloins and de-boned six chickens. I picked up three sheet cakes frosted with orange, purple and pink beautiful flowers (the same colors in my gardens). And prepared a huge pot of decaf coffee to brew at the end of the evening.

 

 

My dear friends Jeanie Hrbek Burns and Dave Hermann, and my sister-in-law Kim Line showed up right on time at 3:00 PM to beautifully platter everything for the table. To top it off, my favorite musicians (Carolyn Boulay and Merilee Klemp) hit the downbeat of orchestral music for the evening.

 

Champagne was iced.

 

We were ready for a party. 

 

 

Tim met all the guests on the street and helped park cars. I greeted and welcomed everyone in the driveway. Before I knew it, all the guests were going through my buffet line commenting on and complimenting the food, and most importantly, having fun.

 

That night, as people exited the party, they were able to take home a wonderful newly released coffee table book on the largest and most exquisite private gardens in the country, from my dear friend Wally Marx (who was a surprise honorary guest that evening). It was a bonus and everyone stood in line to get his autograph. 

 

 

The food was a hit, the hats were a hit. Our gardens were best ever. 

 

It was quite the party. 

 

Fellowship.

 

New friends . . .  and new memories . . .  for a lifetime.

 

The hostess with the mostest. 

 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phillippians 4:13)

 

Photo of Lorie above was taken by Tim as he was running out to help park the guests.

Lorie's hat was made by London designer Peter Bettley and she purchased it 30 years ago at SAKS Fifth Avenue in San Francisco. It was this trip where she first learned about five-star restaurants.

The party came in $1000 below budget (the caterer was very affordable!).

Thanks to Anne Johnson and Kelly Harrington for working with me (my WGC committee members).

Party photos were taken by Jeanie Hrbek Burns.

 

 

The Dessert Room (which is actually Tim's office during the day). Chocolate or white cake frosted with flowers to match the gardens.

 

 

Our son lives in DC and has an interesting and awesome job working for a congressman as his Political Director. He lives right by the Capitol and we thought it might be fun to spend the 250th celebration weekend with him in the city. We had a few things planned.

I've got a fan who has followed me since he was a kid who is now married and works at the White House as the Deputy Director for the President's Gifts. He reached out to me and arranged for a night of bowling in the basement at the White House, followed by a private tour of the West Wing. We also fit in a brief visit to his personal office where he showed us all the gifts recently sent to the President . . . from Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers, and even grandmothers from small towns. My friend inventories everything, has the gift appraised, photographs it, and he and his boss decide where it will go (with approval of course from President Trump). There was a huge gold vase that had just arrived from China's President XI. There were several portrait paintings of the President, all from different artists, some very good, and some that would probably go to the vault (we all laughed about that). There were gifts of jewelry, textiles, books, and a pile of letters stacked from the floor up to the desktop, all that would be read, addressed and filed. What an interesting job! He also arranged for us to have lunch at the Capitol Hill Club with Lee Greenwood and a small crowd.

And then there was dinner one night at Joe's, my favorite supper club in DC, and church on Sunday morning at National Community Church, always a MUST. The message was so hopeful and we skipped down the street to brunch with our son and his girlfriend.

After church we visited the Mall where the 50 States were represented and popped into many of the States where I perform in the Midwest. We also visited Nevada and I quietly hummed the state song  "Home Means Nevada" when we walked in. The greeter heard me and we exchanged names. Small world. She went to school with my sister.

We attended a Nationals baseball game (with our son in an air conditioned suite . . . ahhhh, that's the way to go!). It was a packed weekend and believe it or not, we didn't get to do everything we wanted as the weather was unbearable. And . . . we stood in lines a lot. But all in all, it was a really fun time.

The morning we left for DC from Minneapolis, we had a very early flight. It was stressful, especially with all the road construction in Minneapolis . . . and Tim and I somehow never do well getting to the airport on time. We didn't miss the flight, but we missed getting our bag checked in time, which means . . .  well, we missed the flight. They booked us on the next plane to DC. At least we'd get there, just two hours later than planned.

Everyone who has this kind of experience and is married knows what is to come . . . I looked at Tim, he looked at me. Whose fault was it? HA! Right?!! Well, we were pretty good about it, and decided to make the most of the morning, so at the airport we had a nice breakfast and got coffee. We actually had wanted to take the later flight we were now on, so I guess it worked out. And at least there were two seats together, so we'd sit next to each other.

Maybe it was meant to be.

Before we knew it, it was time to board. Here we go, down the isle to around row 20, and Tim crawls into the window seat, and I take the middle . . . and sit down next to an old man on the aisle wearing a Korean veterans hat. Tim greets him and says, "thanks for serving!" We settle in and notice his wife is across the aisle in the middle seat, so he is pretty much alone. Food comes, and we notice his is a special order. The flight attendant gives me different choices. And I take the cookies. 

About half way into the flight, the food is cleared from the attendant and I still have my cookies (I don't really know why I took them, I never do). I offer them to my new old friend. He reminds me of my dad, and starts right up with his cute sense of humor, saying he should have taken them when they were first offered. We laugh, he takes the package from me and we begin to engage in a once-in-a-lifetime memorable conversation about his time as a Korean soldier. 

He is on this flight because he has been called by President Trump to be a part of the 250th celebration. The President wanted him to be on stage with all of the veterans the evening of July 4th. My new friend first declined and told the President he was too old, and that his feet didn't work so well because they were frozen in 40 below zero weather during his time in Korea. But President Trump called him back again, insisting and insuring everything would be taken care of (I thought about his special meal), and that he would be in an air conditioned room until they came out, and it would be just fine to have his daughter and her husband escort him with his wife.

It was fascinating talking to him. He told me how 15,000 soldiers defeated over 100,000 North Korean troops in Busan, South Korea. (I had just been to Busan on my Japan trip so everything became extremely real to me.) South Korea had been invaded by the communist North (aided by China), and our American troops helped to support the democratic South after World War II. Here was my friend defending democracy on June 25, 1950, in a place as he called "Frozen Hell" and here we are today . . . current events . . . fighting communism in our own backyard. We couldn't believe it. **

As the plane landed, I wanted to remember his name so I could watch for him on the stage. He said "my name is Pat Finn." And then he said with great curiosity "what is your name?" I told him "Lorie Line." He threw his hands up and said, "I knew it!!! I've been to your concerts. I went two years ago and loved it." 

Nice to meet you.

Instant friends. Pat Finn and Lorie Line. 

The evening of the 4th we watched in great anticipation as the veterans were wheeled out to the stage. You can only guess who the first veteran was to come out to the thousands of cheering people on that memorable stormy night.

Pat Finn.

Of all the fun we had over the weekend, my favorite memory will always be the plane flight, sitting next to a guy who loved our country and freedom so much that he was willing to lay down his life for people he didn't even know . . . for someone like me, whom he never met.

World-record fireworks, beautiful food, a great sermon, a lovely hotel . . . all the gold in China . . . nothing compared to the emotion I had meeting this man on the aisle, proudly wearing his Korean veterans hat.

Seems I have a knack for meeting beautiful people on the aisle on an airplane.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I'm so glad we missed our flight. 

It was meant to be.

** Pat Finn has a YouTube special called Frozen Hell. Of course! Click here to watch his documentary. 

PICTURED BELOW

Lorie and Tim at The Willard Hotel. The Truman Bowling Alley at the White House. Lorie with Pat Finn on the plane on the early morning flight. Tim and Lorie with Janelle and Blake Paulsen (Deputy Director of Gifts and our personal tour guides who also helped to create memories of a lifetime).

Touring for 36 years, I have always had a couple of concerns on my mind. The first one: getting sick and not being able to perform. The second one: having my mom or dad pass away while I'm out on the tour. 

My mom passed away three days before opening night this past year. It only gave me two days to grieve, because I had to gather my thoughts (and look good) for the opening show. I really don't know how I did it, but I made my mind up I would play every night with her on my mind and in my heart. The tour would be for her. I just had to make it through the first night. And then, well, every night.

The last time I saw her was on her birthday, just six weeks before she died. She and my sister share a birthday (2 days apart), and my mom was hosting a party for my sister. (In reality, she was hosting the party for herself.) Lorraine loved a party. All her small group Bible class friends would be there and the thing that would make my mom happiest would be for all her five kids to be there. It just so happened we had a four-day window with nothing to do, so Tim and I hopped on a plane to Reno, and surprised her by showing up in her backyard just in time for the party. Oh she was happy. 

That weekend, after the party, we sat on her couch and just talked, just the two of us. She told me her body was failing and breaking down, she could feel it, and that she probably only had six months to live. She could only sleep sitting up, so I suggested we go and look at a "Lazy Boy" recliner chair. Typical mom, she didn't want to spend the money . . . and it wouldn't match the furniture in her beautiful family room. But eventually she agreed to "just go look" at her favorite furniture store.

The next morning Tim and I picked her up. I had spent extra time getting all "dolled up" for her that day. Tim dropped the two of us off at the front door (so she didn't have to walk from the parking lot). When we walked through the automatic sliding doors there was a woman who was the greeter, encouraging guests to "register for a free trip to Hawaii!" When the woman saw us, she literally stopped talking and gasped and said, "oh my, you are so beautiful!" 

She wasn't talking to me. She was looking at my mom.

That pretty much sums up the entirety of my mother. When she walked into a room, she lit it up. Instantly. She was a grand woman who always made a grand entrance, and consumed the energy of an entire place in every way. "Who is that?" That's Lorraine.

My mom could do anything (except play the piano). She could cook, sew, can food, teach a Bible class, sing, ride a bike, play tennis, run a half marathon (at age 70), fix and repair anything, and decorate a house with no money. Once we hung gift baskets (that people had given us) on our living room wall. It was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. No Van Gogh for us! I believe it was my mom's creativity and love for entertaining that inspired me my whole life and made me who I am. 

One of the things I'm most proud of about my mom was her business savy. When she turned 40, after raising five little kids, she went to work as a secretary for an insurance agency. When she asked for a raise, and didn't get it, she decided to become her own agent. She passed the test and opened up her own Farmer's Insurance agency. She established a partnership with other successful agents and together they bought an office building. Eventually the State of Nevada bought her building and the highway division put a road through her property. She relocated one more time and at the age of 76, she retired and sold her business, which financially supported her until she died.

When my mom was 75, after 30 years of being single, she married the local pharmacist. I had something to do with that and will share the details in another blog soon (The Feather Theme) as it is an unbelievable love story in and of itself.  

Another highlight of my mom's life was purchasing a beautiful home in the northwest part of town, which ended up being the prettiest and most desirable part of the city. Her home was the entire inspiration of the second half of her life. I had the privilege of helping her stage it and redecorate it a couple of times. She'd love it when I'd come to town and move her furniture around and group her collections together, creating a whole new look. 

In her final years, she joined a small group at church. Tim and I had been doing this for a couple of years, and I'd share stories which I think inspired her to try this new concept of socialziing with like-minded believers. I truly think these last years with her Bible friends were the most joyful years of her life. She made genuine friendships, and got to show off her beautiful home and use all her entertaining skills that she'd been practicing her whole life.

My mom never called me. Every five days or so, I would call her. (I actually don't even think she knew my phone number.) So when I knew the end was near and hospice was coming in, on a Saturday morning at exactly 8:00 AM (her time) I called her. I knew it would most likely be the last time I'd get to speak to her as I heard they'd be giving her a little morphine to comfort her that day.

She didn't answer. Those of you who have lost a parent know the feeling. I was distraught. I was too late!

But then something happened . . .  a miracle.

My phone rang. 

My mom who never called me, called me. She must have hit redial. There was just a little moan on her end. She couldn't speak . . . but it was her. She was alone . . the other end was silent and she was listening. It was clear she could understand me. 

"Mom!" Tearfully, and rapidly, I said all the beautiful things I could possibly think of in my little head in that brief moment . . . expressing all the  "thank you's" for all the blessings she had bestowed upon my life, telling her how much I loved her and would miss her. Over the phone I prayed out loud, asking God to receive her at the gates of heaven, and I asked her to watch over me, and told her that I would see her again . . . and to be looking for me.

I didn't hold back.

She said three audible things back to me. "Don't cry. It's ok." And of course, "I love you." And then most painful word I've ever heard.

"Goodbye."

Three days later she passed, November 11, 2025 at 7:57 AM . . . almost the exact time I had talked to her three days prior. It was Veteran's Day. I couldn't help but to think how wonderful it was that I got to say goodbye to her.

That night the northern lights were amazing. The heavens lit up and the sky was red, green, blue, orange, yellow. You might remember it as it was simply spectacular. 

Just like my mom. Always lighting up a room. A grand woman making her final grand entrance.

And this time it was heaven.

Rest in peace, Mom. I'll miss you every day.

The day I wrote this blog I made my mom's favorite dessert, peach cobbler. She always made this in a "pinch" when guests were unexpectedly coming (after church) to our house. It's quick and delicious. To share a piece of my mom, I thought I would share it with all of you.

LORRAINE'S PEACH COBBLER

Preheat oven 350 degrees

1 stick butter

3/4 cup flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk (or half and half)

1 (24 oz) jar peaches (from Costco)

Melt one stick of butter in a 11" x 2" round baking dish in the oven.

Meanwhile, mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the milk.

Pull the melted butter in the dish from the oven, and pour the mixed ingredients on top of the butter (do not mix). Spoon out the peaches from the jar and add them one at a time on top evenly into the dish (do not mix this, simply lay them on top in the baking dish). Pour the remaining peach juice on the top. Bake for one hour. Serve with ice cream.

To read Lorraine's obituary click here.

Lorie says she played the best she's ever played on a tour this past year.

She has been sick on a tour, but has never missed a performance due to illness.

SPRING BLOG/2025

My Dad would have turned 92 years old today (as I write this blog, March 15, 2025). He passed away this past spring lying in a little hospital bed, looking out the living room window in his home in Phoenix. Grief is a sneaky thing, so I didn't say anything from the stage this past year as I didn't trust my tender emotions. But he was definitely on my heart at every show, on every single stage, in every city.

So . . . I figure that since it's his birthday, today seems like the perfect day to write about and celebrate my dad.

Dale Eugene Porter.

Obviously, passing at the age of 91, my dad lived a very full life. He was fully engaged and active until the very end. He had no mental aging . . . he was sharp as a tack in every conversation to his dying day. He drove his car and only used a cane in the last couple of years of his life. It wasn't until he fell and badly hurt his arm that we knew he might never be the same again. And two months later he died.

I would say my dad was most known for his great personality. He had a quick wit and fun demeanor. He was the most organized man I've ever known. And, oh was he opinionated! He had advice for you on just about every topic.

He was a patriot. He loved his country, and in the last couple of years of his life we had so much to talk about over the phone. I think one of the all-time highlights of his life was going with me to the White House when I played there in December, 2000. He was on tour with me that year, selling merchandise in the lobby, and I received an invitation to play the Steinway located underneath the John F Kennedy portrait on Friends and Family Day for Bill Clinton and George W Bush. We were restricted as to whom we could bring with us that day for the performance, but the following day we were invited back and could bring a few guests to have breakfast in the White House Navy Mess. He got to come with me that morning, and boy was it ever special.

My dad was a simple guy . .  . never wanted much. He had a couple pairs of shoes (brown and black) and a few sport coats that he would trade out with his ties to make the outfit look brand new. When he wore out his shoes, he'd re-sole them to save money. Although thrifty, he really was quite stylish. I've never met a man who had a "favorite color" but my dad's was yellow (later I would learn it was in honor of his own father, who loved the same color). 

He was a 5'9" outstanding athlete, holding many records in track and basketball and he received a full-ride athletic scholarship to Bowling Green University. Although I did not get the athletic gene, my sisters and brother did, and growing up, one of my fondest memories was watching (and hearing) them play basketball in the driveway (most of the time I'd be at the piano). He loved to laugh, and to this very day I guess that's what I miss the most about him (the sound of laughter in our home . . . I can't get that out of my head). Sometimes he'd make us laugh so much that we'd get in trouble and be put in time out (and have to go sit on the stairs). Sure enough, once we returned to the kitchen table it would start all over again. It's kind of crazy because although there was a lot of laughter in our home, my mom and dad weren't perfectly suited for each other. And they divorced after 25 years of marriage. 

Dale began his career in Phoenix where he met and married my beautiful mom Lorraine Mann. My mom was the first person to teach him about Jesus and he learned to love the Lord. He became a Christian, which had a profound impact on the rest of his life (and ours too). After I was born, when I was two years old they moved to Reno for his job in the insurance industry and it was there where they raised their five wonderful children of whom he was so very proud. He then spent most of his career as a paralegal at a prominent law firm. He became an elder and a song leader in the Reno-Sparks Church of Christ. He wasn't just any kind of song leader . . . he was unique and the very best. He had a very clear voice, no vibrato, just perfect for song leading.

Growing up in an a cappella church, I spent so many moments as a kid with my dad in our living room together at the piano, plucking out notes, teaching him new songs to lead (without the support of an instrument) on Sunday mornings. When he got the courage to lead the song, I would sit in the church pew beaming with pride, because I helped teach him the melody. 

Like his dad, he played the ukelele and the banjo. He only knew about 10 songs, but he really played them well and when we were really little, during bathtime he'd play and sing for us (and make us laugh). To this day, I would bet all of my siblings still know all the words to Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue, and When My Sugar Walks Down The Street. His mother (Ruth Wales) played ragtime piano, and it was my dad who taught me how to play boogie-woogie styled piano. We'd play as a duet team, and he always was better on the right-hand improvisation. I don't know how he did it, but he always came up with a new flashy line. To this day, I always throw in a little boogie-woogie on my shows (and he always pops into my head).

My sibblings all got his athletic abilities (I got the music). One of his other many talents was golf. After he retired, he used his personality and athleticism to land the perfect retirement job as a guest host pro. It was during this time of his life when he met Anne. She became special to Tim and me, as together they moved into our home during the winter season and cared for our kids for 10 years when we went out on our holiday tour. They were married for 32 years.

Dale worked almost until his dying day, his last job being a host for the McCormick Railroad Park in Scottsdale where he greeted people and cracked jokes. All day long he visited with tourists and once they got to the last car, he'd play soft piano music on a little CD player . . .  and talk proudly about his daughter, Lorie Line. 

My dad didn't always express his love and/or pride for me. It's probably a generational thing. He told other people how proud he was (a lot!), but not really me. Maybe every once in a while on my birthday there would be pre-written words in a card that I always wanted to hear him personally say to me. Never happened. But I figure all of that is in the mix of who I am today. That is one of my secret ingredients that I have in the emotional makeup of my music. It's a slight pain, like a little headache that won't go away. 

Everyone has that pain. You just have to know how to utilize it for good.

A couple of months before he fell he texted me as he was quietly sitting in his car, listening to my music. Here's our exchange:

Dad: "Anne is running a few errands and I am sitting in the car waiting. I am enjoying your CDs play when I'm all alone. I think they touch me more now than ever before. It is so nice to be alone in the quiet of the car and listen to the music. I have six CDs in our car player and enjoy them so very much. I just wanted you to know how much I am enjoying them. It's one thing to listen to them play with all the other noise in the house, but they mean so much more in the solitude of a quiet car. They bring happiness to my heart and tears to my eyes."

Me: "Ahhhhh. I'm so glad, Dad. I'm sitting in the car too waiting for Tim. Sometimes in the quiet you can even hear my foot on the pedal or my fingers on the keys."

Dad: "What I hear is the TALENT that goes into the playing and the making of the CD!! Amazing."

He'd never said anything like that to me before.  

After he fell I sent him a picture of me at an event with North Dakota's Governor Doug Burgum (now the Interior Secretary).

Me: "Dad! Governor Doug Burgum asked if he could take a photo with me so he could show his wife, who is a huge fan!"

There was no response back from him. It was unusual so I texted him one last time asking if he got the photo. A day later I heard from him.

Dad: "We saw the picture and you look beautiful."

And that was the last thing he ever said to me. 

I guess you can't have a better ending than that. 

Dale Eugene Porter. My earthly father whom I will see sooner than later in the "sweet by and by."

I'll bet he's waiting for me by the piano.

This is the last photo I took with my dad. We were on a garden tour and he wanted to do the whole thing, so we rented a little cart for the afternoon. 

Below this is a picture at the memorial service with my sibblings - Chip, (Lorie), Lorinda, Loreece and Lorelle at the gravesite. The photo is hazy because it was so hot that morning (over 100 degrees) in Phoenix. They all continue to be great athletes. :)

Fans noticed in my concert program this year that I had the occasion to perform at Mar-a-Lago. They wanted me to share my story.

Here it is.

It was about this time last year when Tim and I loaded up our car and drove down from Minnesota to Florida. We had three special events to attend: Tim's mother's birthday (Orlando), my very good friend Wendy's 60th birthday (Naples), and lastly, playing a private anniversary party for Cris and Adam (new friends . . .  and we would celebrate with them at Mar-a-Lago).

The previous fall we met our new friends Adam and Cris at a private party in Napa at Wappo Hill Estate, Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo's home. We were there with a group of friends from Minnesota and had been invited to dinner that night. Jean-Charles asked if I might play before dinner, and it was a hit. It was a magical night and I ended up talking to an interesting couple, Adam and Cris, late into the evening. They loved my performance and asked if I would play for their one-year anniversary party . . .  which was coming up in February. Of course I said "yes." And then they told me it was going to be at Mar-a-Lago, where Adam was a member.

Who wouldn't be excited about that?!! 

I always have reservations about "big" things. Something in me always holds back a little to avoid disappointment. But as the time drew nearer, it was evident it was really going to happen. I had a special dress from the tour I was just on, and decided it would be perfect for the night. (And it would fit in the trunk of our car!)

Mar-a-Lago is a very special country club. Yes, President Trump and Melania live in a club setting, with a restaurant, pool(s), manicured grounds, 17 acres of prime beachfront property, and 58 guest rooms . . .  all named after countries. We would be staying two nights, and three days. We checked in upon arrival in the grand lobby. Two desks with beautiful and friendly women sat at them and they checked us into the Portuguese room. Two younger men helped us take our luggage to our room.

(Lobby pictured below) 

I love architecture and Mar-a-Lago is an eclectic mix of Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese styles. If you know the history, you will recall that the property was built by Marjorie Merriweather Post. Our particular room was located on the second floor, overlooking the pool and outdoor eating area. We didn't know it upon check-in, but would later realize that our room was located right next to President Trump's personal residence on the upper corner of the property (the blinds are down in President Trump's area in the picture at the top of this blog and we were to the left of his place). We were so close to the Leader of the Free World that we actually think we shared a common wall. The room had all its original design elements, and all the wood and detail remained untouched. There was a grand canopy bed (probably an original piece) adorned with brand new linens. But even the bathroom was in its original decor and only a shower head was added to the old tub.

The first thing we did was go to the Grand Ballroom to see where I'd be playing the next night and sound check the piano that was waiting for me. I've seen and played in ballrooms at clubs before, but none like this. There would be about 250 people in attendance, and the area was busy with staff setting tables and delivering floral arrangements. It was buzzing. And it was spectacular. 

I would be playing off to the side of the main dining area, and I was scheduled for a 45-minute set at 9:45 pm. My set list had 12 songs.

For dinner, Tim and I were invited to sit at the main table with Adam and Cris. Next to me was Minnesota House Majority Whip Congressman Tom Emmer and his wife Jacquie. We had met before and I instantly felt relieved that I could carry on a reasonably good (Minnesota) conversation. Phew! Across from us were all kinds of famous political people . . .  Congressman Brian Mast and his lovely wife Brianna, and next to them was  FBI Director Kash Patel. Then there was Dr. Mehmet Oz and his lovely wife Lisa.  Funny enough, I don't know or ever recognize (or care about) actors or actresses. But I know politicians. We knew them all that night, or most of them.

At 9:45 pm sharp the event planner came to the head table and ushered me to the piano. People started to trickle in to listen. It was noisy . . .  but being a former department store pianist (ha!) and playing for hundreds of private events, I settled in and got comfortable. Dr Oz and Lisa were the first to sit down in the front row. I announced songs, told brief stories, and at 10:30 pm when I was on my last song, I felt a "wave" and a rush in the crowd and everyone went "ahhhhhh" and all the energy went to the left side of the room behind me. I was in the middle of Bohemian Rhapsody when . . . in walked President Trump.

The room went dead silent. So I stopped playing, stood up and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, President Trump."

Adam and Cris then walked up to the stage and President Trump met them. I sat holding my breath at the piano, and as President Trump walked by, he looked at me, then looked at the crowd and said, "wow, what a talent!"

I smiled and graciously said "thank you, Mr. President."

He congratulated the bride and groom, and before he walked off the stage, he turned and talked to me for a few seconds about his day in court. HA!  When he got to the bottom of the stairs off the stage, I started to play The National Anthem.

Everyone instantly stood and sang . . . loudly . . .  with their hand over the heart . . .  looking at President Trump. 

I was done, and as I walked down the slippery makeshift stairs, President Trump grabbed my hand to help me down.

We had a brief salutation  . . . and then he was off (with a dozen secret service members escorting him). 

The next day before we packed up, as we were heading to our room we noticed a beautiful woman sitting out on the balcony next to our room. It was Melania. She was dressed in all-white. Hair in a ponytail. She was reading. Maybe she was working on her new book? I think so. On another trip up to our room we could see President Trump through the window, wearing a white golf shirt, talking to a woman in housekeeping making up his room. He was smiling. They were friendly. 

Everyone at Mar-a-Lago loves President Trump. They adore him.

Not knowing if I'd ever get the opportunity to return, I tried to take in all the detail of this Palm Beach mansion. The three days blew by, and before we knew it, we were driving back out through the security gates, and on our way back home to Minnesota.

I now have two favorite places where I've had the opportunity to peform. The White House. And now Mar-a-Lago. What a beautiful and legendary place with such history. 

Many people have different opinions about President Trump. Some people like him, some people dislike him, and some people absolutely love him. No matter what you think about President Trump, there is one thing we can all agree on.

I got to play for the most famous person in the world.

And . . . 

"Wow. What a talent."

Last week we were listening to Lorie Line Pandora Radio and a song came up that I recorded years ago. I was getting ready upstairs and Tim was working in our office.  A few songs later he came upstairs and asked if I heard it and said it sounded just beautiful. I responded, "funny you say that, because I thought it was terrible! I play so differently now."

I had been thinking about the song. It was too fast. It sounded "anxious" to me. The melody line dropped out. It didn't have the emotional Lorie Line phrasing that I have worked on for hours and hours and developed over the years. Why in the world did I play like that? I wished I could do it again.

And then it came to me. I played too fast because of the pressure I felt working with a fellow musician on the song. We just never had great personal chemistry and 30 years ago I might have felt I had something to prove. In any case, I overcompensated, and played the song how I felt that day. (It's funny . . . all these years later, and I still remember that feeling.)

I think this happens a lot in life . . you can't put your finger on it . . . but sometimes there's something going on that prohibits you from being your best self. Some people might have good intentions, but they prevent you from moving forward. I've been reflecting on this for a couple of years. Hearing that song put the pieces of the puzzle together for me.

During this past holiday tour a handful of my biggest fans wrote or spoke to me (not solicited, not knowing each other) and they all said they had been watching me for over 30 years, had come to almost every concert . . . and there was something different about me this year. In a good way. In fact, very good. They described me as happy . . . content . . . comfortable.

They were right. They are right.

And in my reflection, I know why. 

It started eight years ago with The Living Room Series. I decided to simplify, just play the piano all by myself for a small crowd in my own home, tell a few stories, laugh and act silly, and talk and play to friends and fans who would sit up close, right next to me (like the Dayton's days). Performing all by myself in a small space and in a less formal gathering forced me to find myself. Musically, spiritually, and personally.

At first it was scary. Frightening. But then . . .  I got my groove on.  And then . . .  I loved it.  I knew I was (once again) onto something in my career (and in my personal life) that was taking me in a different direction. Moving me forward.  So for eight years I have practiced being myself . . .  all by myself.

And then I took this new-found freedom to the stage.

Nothing to prove, no anxiousness, no overcompensating, no bad chemistry.

"Happy, content, comfortable."

After over 30 years of performing, I have found my best self. And it's right where I first started. 

All by myself.

Ms. Line now performs about 50 solo piano concerts a year. A handful of them are in her own living room.

This is the favorite time in her career.

This past year she featured a fabulous vocalist. They had great personal chemistry.

Photo taken by Tim at Mar-a-Lago, February, 2024. Ms. Line performed in the Grand Ballroom the previous night. All by herself.

THE STORY

In the very early days at Dayton's, I remember taking over at the piano for one of the more experienced pianists at the downtown Minneapolis store. Her shift was up and I was next to serenade shoppers. She was in a hurry and couldn't chat long because she was off to play a private party that night. A private party? I asked her how she got hired, and she told me that merely placing a business card on the piano got her the job.

Oh, I was excited! I could do this! Surely I could play private parties! I would get all dressed up, and make my way into some of the most beautiful homes in the Twin Cities to play for them for a few hours on the piano. The food! The beautiful people! The spectacular homes!

Hopefully I would get hired.

So, I printed business cards and started putting them out on the piano every time I played. And just in case, I brought my day timer along with me.

Sure enough. Bam! I got hired. I was off and running.

I started supplementing my meager department store income.  I worked every job that was offered to me.

In the five years that I played for Dayton's, I was hired for over 300 events. Some days I played the piano 11 hours. I'd play five hours for Dayton's, then hop in my car and go and play two back-to-back holiday parties. I'd get home at midnight. It was certainly an exciting time in my life and to this day, some of my favorite moments of playing the piano were during these years. (And I still have some of the friends who took a chance on me, and hired me to play for their special occasion.) 

Some fans started "memorizing" my schedule. I always played at Southdale on Sunday afternoons. Sometimes people would be waiting for me and they'd stay and listen (standing) for a couple of hours. We'd get to know each other through my music, I made hundreds . . . maybe thousands of friends. 

One Sunday afternoon at Southdale a young man walked up to me and asked if I played for weddings. Of course! He told me the date he was going to get married and I opened up my day timer and booked the date. 

I wondered why the groom was hiring me. Typically it was the bride (and her mother) that would come and see me. Well, I could tell that Ric was up to something special. He took a breath and asked if I would consider writing an original song for his bride for their wedding day. It would be his gift to her. I definitely was all in, and he happily walked away. 

A few months later, as the wedding was approaching, I started to work on the original song. Nothing would come to me. I sat down several times and struggled to even come up with a single pretty melody line. I guess I just wasn't inspired because I didn't know the bride. And I knew nothing about her, just her name.

Pam.

The wedding was coming up on Saturday, and Ric called me on Wednesday and asked if he could come over and hear the new song that I would be playing for his beautiful bride. I struggled to come up with words. I can only recall saying, "Ric, I am just putting the final touches on the song . . . and I want it to be a surprise for you too."

"Oh, and by the way, can you tell me more about Pam?"

Ric told me that his bride was a talented seamstress and quilter who loved to create clothing for family and friends. In that instant, I was flooded with memories . . . the sound of my mother's sewing maching whirring in the background at night as I drifted off to sleep . . .  waking up the next morning to find a new outfit hanging on my bedroom door. Shopping for fabric. Recital dresses, competition dresses . . . my mother spending endless hours at the sewing machine.

You see, my grandmother was the one who taught my mother how to sew. And when I was little, my grandmother made many dresses for me. She always saved a remnant. And when I turned 21 years old, she put all the dresses into a quilt and gave the quilt to me as a special gift for my birthday. 

All these memories flooded back to me in that five minute conversation with Ric.

And now I knew Pam. I loved her!

That night I sat down at the piano. In 10 minutes, the composition "Threads of Love" came to life.

Three days later I played the song at their wedding. It was a hit. Many people came up and encouraged me to record the tune. So I did, and I took a picture of the quilt that my grandmother made me and it became the cover for the album. 

In 1992 we released the album, Threads of Love, and it took off in gift stores across the country. That led to major retail interest, which put us on the map in the music world.  (Musicland was the giant in the industry and the first large music store to carry my music. The remaining retailers in the industry all followed.) 

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this song would launch my career and become my signature piece. 

This year we celebrate the 30th year anniversary of a pretty song, dedicated to a woman I never met . . .  until her wedding day.

To Pam.

CONGRATULATIONS TO RIC AND PAM FOR NOW OVER 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE!

TO LISTEN AND WATCH LORIE PLAY THREADS OF LOVE ON YOUTUBE CLICK HERE

TO PURCHASE SHEET MUSIC, CD OR DIGITAL THREADS OF LOVE SHEET MUSIC CLICK HERE

PICTURED BELOW (six photos)

Lorie with her mother and daughter - featured Threads of Love article December 1998 in AMERICAN PATCHWORK & QUILTING

Lorie and her (85-year old) mother. Photo taken 22 years later, this summer (2022) in Reno, Nevada

Lorie with her day timer (and business cards) at Dayton's 1988-1993

Customers standing at Dayton's listening to Lorie 1988-1993 (notice the day timer in the piano)

Lorie's grandmother who made the quilt (Frances Mann) and gave it to her in 1979

Ric and Pam's 1991 wedding picture

This very personal blog is written to inspire others. I promise . . . if I can do it, you can do it.

I've been blogging for almost 10 years. 

I first started blogging because I had a goal. I wanted to someday write THIS blog. I knew if I started writing things down, I'd grow. I'd think more clearly. I'd take personal responsibility for some things where I needed improvement. I'd be accountable to a huge (but very kind) audience. In the process I might become a better writer.  But most importantly, I wanted to set a good example for others, specifically my own two children. So, that's why I started blogging.

Today is the day I finally get to share what's been on my mind all these years. 

My very first memory of learning about bills and finances was at the kitchen table with my dad. I was probably 8 years old and he got out his pile of monthly bills and the checkbook. He taught me how to look at the bill and write out the check, put it in the envelope, address it, place a stamp on it and mail it. I specifically remember that there weren't many checks he had to write. I do remember that they always wrote out a "church check" for the upcoming Sunday. They faithfully tithed and I saw my Dad drop that check in the "collection plate" every Sunday.

It's a good memory for me.

I don't ever remember my parents using a credit card for anything. Maybe they did, but it wasn't a common practice. And if they did, I'm certain they paid it all off on a timely basis. They didn't take out bank loans.

My Dad started his own paralegal business when I was in high school, and I remember our family being on a very strict budget. We lived very simply. We went out to lunch after church on special days, and oh was that a treat. (Growing up in Reno, there was something amazing about casino food and buffets.)

We always took a little (modest) summer vacation. Typically we'd drive in our station wagon over the hill to San Francisco. We always had presents under the tree at Christmastime . . . of course some years were better than others. But we never felt like we were "doing without." My parents were middle America . . .  young, hard-working, PTA members and church-going dreamers. Of course your background always makes up who you are today. Mine certainly did. I absolutely love where I came from.

I've always been ambitious. And I've always had a good job. One thing I know how to do is work hard (both Tim and I are just wired that way). So when the Dayton's part-time job landed for me, I turned my $20/hour ($560 a week) job into the land of opportunity. As many of you know, CDs were recorded and I started publishing my music. We started touring, and before we knew it, Lorie Line Music was a million dollar company.

When you are an entrepreneur, most of the time you "invest in yourself" and you "invest in your business." (How many times have you heard that famous line?) We grew so fast we thought it wise to have a (million dollar) line of credit from the bank. Touring is very expensive. We'd borrow, pay it back, borrow again, pay it back. We continued to grow and thrive. The more we made, the more we could borrow. I was being responsible, right? Banks (plural) loved us.

In 2002, Lorie Line Music was awarded Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year. It's a very coveted prize. We were on cloud nine. 

Here's where we went wrong.

We thought it would never end. 

The great recession came in 2008 and somehow we survived (but we were miserable). And then, two short years later (2010) the music industry shut down. CDs would no longer be sold to consumers. Music retail stores virtually closed their doors over night. And all of our inventory was returned to us.

Now we were going to now make our money doing something so foreign to us that I didn't quite understand it at first. Streaming. We'd now make 1/1000th of a penny if a song got played digitally. (It would take years to see a healthy check . . . if ever.) 

Everything came to a screeching halt. A great recession and the crash of the music business all within two years. (What else could possibly go wrong? Ha. . . you know the story is not over.) 

Trust me. We would have been fine . . . had we not owed any money to anyone. But we did. And now we were stuck. And we were going to lose it all. 

I was recording the album Serendipity at that time. I remember one early morning I came down the stairs to get a cup of coffee and the sun was pouring into all the windows. It was a spiritual moment for me as reality set in. I was going to have to say goodbye to this beautiful home. I was all by myself and was totally overcome with grief. Right then and there, I stood in that sunlight and prayed for God to hear me. I promised that if He would give me another chance, I would be a good steward of everything He gave me. 

I went upstairs and showered. That day I wrote and recorded "Casa Blanca Me Encanto." The white house that I love. 

Tim and I decided to change. To make new habits. (I grew up knowing this as repentance.) We had been so proud of all our accomplishments, but now we were ever so humbled. We were going to turn and walk down a new road. 

It was so painful. But today as Tim and I look back, we both know all of this was meant to be.

Because . . . in the process of our struggles, we were richly blessed. Here we were, scared and desperate, and yet together we found something ever so priceless. Something more important to us than anything and everything. 

Yes, we were reacquainted with an old friend . . . someone who would wipe away all our tears. Someone who paid it all. 

What a friend we have in Jesus . . . all our sins and griefs to bear . . . 

We mounted up. And put on the armor of God.

So I'd heard about this Dave Ramsey guy and his FINANCIAL FREEDOM program. We picked up his book THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER and started reading out loud in the car when we'd drive. I didn't have to go far into the book to see what we had to do and how to do it. We could do this! OMG. Can we do this?  Will I live long enough to make this new financial freedom thing happen? Dave says it takes nine years to get things straighted out when you are in a mess. Nine years? That would be 2019. OK. But we weren't the "typical" client with a little mess. We had a big mess. It would take us longer.

We'd work harder.

And so it began. First, every credit card was paid off. Then we sold everything we didn't need (including three investment properties) and simplified. We had an Ebay site that helped to support us and it profited us six figures the first year. We parted with anything and everything that would produce income. (We hired an Ebay manager because it was such a big project!) We let go of some things I really loved. Esmeralda (my white concert grand piano) was sold and shipped to a buyer in Hong Kong. Who needs two concert grand pianos? I'll keep the one I love.

The last thing we sold was my wedding ring. (You may have noticed it hasn't been on my hand in any photography for several years.) I promised myself I wouldn't be sad when I took it off my finger and shipped it in a small box to someone I didn't even know. In a weird way, I didn't want it anymore. It was too fancy. I was different now.

We woke up one day . . .  and it was 2019. Nine years had passed. And here we were, still in our home that we loved.

God heard my prayer. We were going to make it.

That year we came home from the holiday tour feeling pretty good. We could taste it. We were going to be totally debt free. The following week, January 7, 2020 (10 years now) I walked into the bank and made the final payment on our last bank loan. I had Tim take a picture of me with the final check in hand so that I would never forget this day.  

All of the Dave Ramsey items were now completely checked off the list. I started thinking about writing this blog. We were debt free.

And then . . . BAM!!! Yep. The story continues. (What else could possibly go wrong?) 

The pandemic hit.

We were once again terrified. We'd come so far! 

Our business shut down for two years. (Many of you prayed for us. I can't thank you enough.) 

I don't know how we did it, but we survived. With no touring income, we reinvented ourselves in many ways to keep our business going. Today I know the only way we made it was having no debt when we came home from that tour. We were able to hang on for two years! 

But now that I think about it, it's a pretty simple solution to a problem. No debt equals no bills.

I thank God every day for answering my prayer. I will never forget that vivid morning when I stood in the ray of sunlight . . . which sometimes feels like yesterday and other days feels like a hundred years ago.

Today I reflect back on my childhood at that kitchen table with my dad. I now have a very small pile of bills every month. And oh is it ever so wonderful.

I don't know the future. It is scary writing this because you just never know. We still could lose it all. The world is a mess. Our country is a mess. We could face WWIII, a plague, a great depression, another recession (experts say this is coming end of the year), a nuclear bombing, a cyberattack, sickness, famine, a severe energy crisis, chemical warfare, another pandemic. (I believe we will continue to face hard times for several years now.) Mount up.

One thing is for sure . . . we're all living a different reality these days and we all know that nothing is for sure anymore. 

But one thing I do know. . . I will keep my promise to be a good steward of all that He has given me for the rest of my life.

The above photo was taken on January 7, 2020 in front of our local bank. The check in my hand was our final payment on our last bank loan.

Today all Lorie Line Music projects and tours are self-funded. 

Ms. Line now wears an OURA ring on her wedding finger which has a small computer chip in it to track exercise and sleep. Her sleep patterns most nights are "optimal."

Through perseverance, hard work, creativity and answered prayers, Lorie Line Music is once again a million dollar company.

Click here to listen to the song Casa Blanca Me Encanto on YouTube.

FREE! Click here to download the song Casa Blanca Me Encanto.

CLICK HERE TO READ DAVE RAMSEY'S SEVEN BABY STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM.

Before we left on tour this past Christmas, Tim and I were walking out of church. Pastor Dave yelled to us. "Hey! Lines!! I want you guys to join Alpha! It's a small group on Monday nights and I'm teaching it. I'd love to have you in my class." 

I love Pastor Dave's insight on the Bible. He is the most educated 30-something year old on scripture that I've ever met. He says he's read the Bible 10 times. I believe it. You can tell when someone has grown up with daily scripture in their house. He's one of those. His love for the word radiates all over him. His Dad and his grandfather were pastors. It's in his blood (as I say). 

Honestly, over the years Tim and I have been reluctant to be in small groups. I guess it's because of who we are and what we do. We're in the "public eye" and we rarely share any of our feelings or thoughts about anything with anyone (except each other). But we both decided it felt right. So we showed up.

We ended up settling in with a really nice group of adults our age, and for the first time ever I think there was a little magic in the air in our discussions. We went through the awkward phase of "what do you guys do?" (no one had ever seen a show or had any of my music) and the famous follow up line when Tim says "Lorie plays the piano" of "oh, do you play the piano too?"

Sitting there on Monday nights I took the opportunity to start thinking about my upcoming tour. I had no idea what to expect with COVID. But I was excited to have the opportunity to be working again. There was a sense of gravity in knowing I would be going out all by myself for the very first time in my 32 years of touring. So, on Monday nights I used some of this small group time to reflect and pray for direction on my show.

It's funny how God speaks to you. Sitting there I decided the most important thing would be to be myself . . . I guess the best way I can explain this is I wanted to be "likeable." Since I wasn't going to feature any other musicians, there would be plenty of opportunity to take my time, show my personality at the piano and be more personal this year, develop some of my touching and (hopefully) funny stories.

And proclaim my faith. 

One Monday night Dave talked about "the greatest joy in life." He's the kind of teacher that just mentions things in passing, but they stick. I wrote it down. I had never thought of this before. It would be my opening line. I loved it. Everyone could relate.

During group discussions, our friend Jeff said that the only way you get "the greatest joy in life" is by actually DOING IT. 

I wrote it down. Another great line.

I was off and running. The show started to develop in my head. I had vision. I had a theme. Opening thoughts for everyone.

So here it is.

The greatest joy in life comes from knowing God's calling for you.

And doing it.

The power of purpose. Everyone has a calling. You just have to find it. And then do it.

Well, I have definitely found my calling. And I feel so priviledged to be doing it with all of you. 

My fans are hard-working farmers, some of you are home school teachers, blue ribbon cookie bakers, quilters, Bible school teachers, counselors, missionaries, photographers, mothers and fathers, CEOs of large corporations, piano teachers, accountants, personal card makers, pastors, pastor's wives, dance instructors, fabricators, delivery people, nurses, production line workers, cooks, church pianists, attorneys, professional athletes, gardeners, electricians, doctors, cake makers, dentists, construction workers, graphic designers, landscapers, event planners, policemen (and women), buffalo and cattle ranchers, and award-winning entrepreneuers . . . and there's even one Master of Ceremonies and Bell Meister. Some of you are serving our country that we all love. The power of purpose. A sense of calling from God. 

Knowing our calling gives us the greatest joy in life because it is all for the glory of Jesus. 

It all belongs to Him. It's our gift from the Giver.

" . . .  and my Savior forever." *

Our small group ended and Tim and I left for the tour. Our new little group of friends surprised us and showed up for their very first concert at Rogers, Minnesota. It was such a joy to have them in the crowd and share many things we had learned together on Monday nights.

Let us all continue to pursue God's calling for us.

Have a blessed, purposeful and joyful 2022.

*These were my final opening words on the show this year. It was my favorite three seconds of the show. I said it 32 times, 32 nights.

The above photo was taken back stage in Eau Claire at The Pablo Center. It was the third show of the tour. Our tour bus broke down the very first night and we drove in a pickup truck pulling my piano in a trailer to make it to the show.

I started to think about writing this blog upon hearing that Bill and Melinda Gates were divorcing after 27 years. Initially I was in disbelief. How could one of the richest and most powerful and successful couples in the whole world be so unhappy that they would end a perfectly good marriage? But almost 30 years into it (a significant investment of time), they were calling it "quits." 

What was the problem? They certainly did not have the typical stress that we all go through day-to-day. They had it all . . . yachts, planes (jets), fancy cars, fancy clothes, drivers, cooks, multiple houses, elaborate vacations, gardeners, housekeepers, money managers, personal assistants, legal teams, accountants, three beautiful children (who went to the finest schools of their choice) and friends in high places (including Presidents!). They had their health. How could they wake up one day and look at each other and say "this is not enough. I want something more. I want something different." They had absolutely EVERYTHING!

Everything . . .  everything but the secret ingredient.

Some of my closer friends have asked me over the years to share my "tips" on having a happy marriage. They look at Tim and me and say "we want that!" I want to confess that not every day in our 35-year marriage has been happy. 

Like most couples, we have been through a lot. We work closely together every day (our desks are right next to each other . . . or we are on a tour bus) and we have built a fabulous business with fabulous fans that we love. Some years have been wonderful and other years heartbreaking. We've raised two adopted children. Some of those days have been so joyful and full of pride, glorious and happy, other days the saddest in our life. Like all of you, we deal with family dynamics and some days we are encouraged . . . other days discouraged. 

But I must say, it has been the hard years and hard times that made us start looking for the secret ingredient. We didn't know specifically what it was, we just knew there was something more out there and we had to have it.

We eventually found it.

One day, after looking for years and years, it just came to us. And the interesting part of our story is that it came to both of us at the exact same moment in our life. BAM!  We figured it out!

I honestly don't think we said anything to each other about it. We just knew.

The secret ingredient . . .  was Jesus.

Now, if someone had told me this 15 or 20 years ago, I would have been "too cool" for this supernatural revelation. The "Jesus lover" Christian was just a bit too much for me, too pushy, too "goody two-shoes" for both Tim and me. Preachy people like this just made me uncomfortable. I ran from them. (They were the kind of Christians that you avoided at church. Ha!) After all, I had it all figured out by myself, right?

Wrong.

Now you can be "happily" married, go to church three times a week, have a good job and pay your bills on time, pray at the dinner table with your children . . .  and still not have the secret sauce in your life. There's much more to it than just talking a good talk, walking a good walk and merely going through the motions. 

So how do you know if you've found the secret ingredient? How do you know that you've really found Jesus? Let me just say, trust me, you'll know. Because it's all you think about. It's on your heart non-stop, 24 hours a day. There is a slight lump in your throat all the time. Because you've finally found Him. 

And you'll never let Him go.

May you and the one you love be encouraged to find the everlasting love of Jesus Christ. 

The secret ingredient for true happiness. In all things.

Grab His hand and never let it go.

THE STATE OF MINNEAPOLIS/Winter Blog 2021

After I met Tim on that fateful airplane flight and he asked me to marry him, the most exciting thing (other than being married to him) was the fact that we were moving to Minneapolis. I'd always lived in Reno, a small town, and honestly I was scared to death, but moving with someone like Tim gave me some comfort and confidence that I would be ok.

When we'd tell people we were moving to Minneapolis, they'd share in the joy and excitement. People who had been to this city before were giddy when they talked about the grocery stores with chandeliers and carpet. (I think this is what people mentioned first!) Then, everyone said it was a very clean and safe downtown . . . they described it as a mini-New York, very cosmopolitan in feel, with great food and restaurants. There was a description of these "skyways" and I tried to visualize how that might work. Most people always mentioned there was "great shopping" and an amazing department store called Dayton's. It had beautiful store-front windows, an 8th floor auditorium with theme displays, also a wonderful top floor restaurant, a fabulous trim-the-tree shop at Christmastime, a tunnel underneath with a food court, and a main floor cosmetic area with red carpet and beautiful women spraying perfume on you in every aisle. Most importantly, there was a special women's area called The Oval Room, and everyone said it was a MUST, that it had the best designer clothes in the midwest. Sure, it was cold, but you learned how to dress for it, get around (in the skyways), and you would have to have a car that was good in the snow. I'd never heard of a snow parade, but sure enough, it was called The Holidazzle Parade, and it was a winter tradition, not to miss (who would ever imagine I'd be the snow queen/grand master one day!?). The music scene was fabulous and the two orchestras were the finest in the country. And the State Fair? Ha! I couldn't even picture it.

I was excited. I couldn't wait to take in all these amazing things.

The wonderful city of Minneapolis.

A city I would love.

Sure enough, Minneapolis did not disappoint. Tim and I made our way to see EVERYTHING and experience it all. What a wonderful, wonderful place. For probably 25 years, everything was "golden." (We've lived here 34 years.)

Today . . . I am saddened to say that Minneapolis has changed and it is not the place it used to be. Some places you would not even recognize. With all the riots, over 300 neighborhood businesses have been burned to the ground (almost a year ago). Damages are estimated at $500 million dollars and there is still no plan to help rebuild these small businesses. With the lockdown order in affect for a year now, over 100 restaurants have permanently closed (many of them were our favorites . . . Vincent's, Goodfellows, Lucia's to name a few). There are no longer any beautiful downtown stores . . . over the years Neiman Marcus closed, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE closed, and Dayton's became a Macy's, which became an office space . . . which to this day I do not think has a single tenant. And our downtown (week-long) Lorie Line Christmas show was moved out to many of the surrounding suburbs. 

Downtown used to be so fun. It was such a happening place! What Minneapolis used to be is now just a memory, a great memory.

And it is hard to know what to do.

Many people are moving . . . to Florida, Texas and Tennessee (we just updated our data base and there were over 3000 changes of addresses). So, in January Tim and I got in our car and drove to Florida. We took three weeks to think about where we might want to live. Our first stop was in Nashville. We just so happened to be there on a Sunday so we popped into Brentwood Baptist Church. I knew since we were in Nashville the music would be good, but wow, I don't think I've ever heard anything like this before. (I am still singing "Graves Into Gardens"). We then headed (for fun) down to Laurel, Mississippi where the famous HGTV HOME TOWN show is filmed with Ben and Erin. (We had a ball stopping in their stores and Ben's shop.) Laurel is charming . . .  but probably not a hot bed for a musician like me. So, onward we drove to Florida (where we have spent quite a bit of time touring). Our best meal was in Tampa. The weather was mid-70's all week. No rain. Spectacular. We then went to Sarasota where our son now lives, then to Orlando to celebrate Tim's mother's 80th birthday. We saw it all. It was such a nice break.

But not a break-through for us.

I'm not sure why. I guess it's because Minnesota means so much to me . . . it's where I got my start, established my name, my career. Tim and I first started our marriage here (day one) and the memories of raising two children will forever be . . . Minnesota.

In the three weeks, we drove 4000 miles. We were so excited to drive back home that we made the trip in just two days. (Vacations make you love leaving, and love coming back.) 

Snow was on the ground and everything was so beautiful when we arrived and drove into our driveway.

The first thing we did was shovel. The second thing we did was go to Costco to stock our empty refrigerator. I did not mind either task . . . in fact the older I get, the more I love the four seasons of Minnesota (I can't believe I am saying this) and my favorite place to shop is Costco (I can't believe I am saying this).

So . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I guess we aren't moving anywhere for now. I love my farmer and rancher fans in this part of the world who come to see me every year. And all my piano-playing friends. I love opening my home for The Living Room Series and entertaining fans who love me. I love my schedule, my employees and the musicians I work with, I love my church, my friends, my gardens, living and boating on Lake Minnetonka, and yes, the four seasons.

And even shoveling. 

As we approach the upcoming George Floyd trials in our city (March 8th), please pray that our leaders will make good decisions and keep us safe. 

Hopefully we will someday rebuild and revitalize our downtown city once again. 

Only He can turn graves into gardens.

The wonderful city of Minneapolis.

A city that I will always love. 

Lyrics to Graves Into Gardens

"You turn mourning to dancing. You give beauty for ashes. You turn shame into glory. You're the only one who can.

You turn graves into gardens. You turn bones into armies. You turn seas into highways. You're the only one who can.

Oh, there's nothing better than You, there's nothing better than You, Lord, there's nothing, nothing better than You."