Dear Friends,
 In January I had the privilege of singing for a MOPS group in Fort Mill, South Carolina for a former babysitter/nanny/voice student of mine who now lives there. Lindsay George Alexander is one of the most delightful people I have ever had in my life. She traveled with me some when Hannah and Ross were little, helping care for them while on the road. Today she is a beautiful wife, mother of two, expecting baby number three. She has a very successful photography business and we had scheduled a photo shoot for after the MOPS morning together. However, the rain and cold did not cooperate so instead Lindsay, her mom Cindy (also a wonderful friend from years earlier), and I got to go to lunch at a delightful tea room before I headed back home. So, we rescheduled the photo shoot for last Friday. Once again, rain canceled our plans.
Laura Storey sings the song that says, "What if your blessings come through raindrops…"
Both times that our plans were canceled due to inclement weather, God had other plans in mind. The lunch that we three ladies shared was like a breath of fresh air for all three of us as we reconnected and caught up for hours sitting in that quaint, cozy tea room. On Friday I was freed up to make an impromptu trip to Greenville, SC to visit one of my dearest friends in the hospital. I know without a doubt that is where I was supposed to be that day.
It's interesting that the scripture in Proverbs 16:19 talks about how we make our plans but the Lord directs our steps. (New Living Translation: We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. New American Standard Bible: The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps). Sometimes those interruptions are actually God ordained. Our job is to learn to bend and flex in the process. And I am beginning to see that rainy days more often than not are becoming blessings in disguise. Divine appointments, if you will.
And that photo shoot? Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 73, and I will make my way to Fort Mill to meet Lindsay, Lord willing.
 So when your plans change unexpectedly, whether it be a different forecast, or whether circumstances come into your life that you never saw coming, trust God. As my life verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 say, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."
On the Home Front:
 March was a busy but fun month spent with family and friends. I have so enjoyed being a lacrosse mom cheering on Ross in an average of three games a week as he has played his senior  season for Dutch Fork High School. I have grown to love this sport after watching him play it for the last three years. These are bittersweet days to this mama as this week will bring his final game. Clayton Little, Hannah's boyfriend of three years now, came through Columbia on the Clemson University's Tigeroar spring tour and I was able to go catch their wonderful  concert. It was an exciting day when Ross received his acceptance letter to the University  of South Carolina. Yes, it is possible we may have a house divided, though he is awaiting the same news from College of Charleston. I loved having Hannah, Blue (and Clayton) home for their spring break. She was even able to catch one of Ross's games in Greenville on her way back to Clemson. I also enjoyed having Robert, Elizabeth, and James Michael come through town twice for lunch  during the month. Here they are with their brand-new puppy Beasley that they adopted this past week while in Columbia.
Last week I received very sad news that one of my precious friends, Gail Sanders, has been diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer. I was able to drive to Greenville on Friday and visit her in the hospital there. My friend Julie Caldwell was able to meet me there for which I was so grateful. Would you pray for Gail, Joe, and Joey as she begins treatment this week as well as the rest of her family? I lived with the Sanders during my year as Miss South Carolina, and they literally are like family to me. Thank you for your prayers on their behalf.
I also was able to go cheer on my sweet personal assistant Raven Smith in  the Miss Dutch Fork High School Pageant and thrilled to see her win over all Theme Wear. What a blessing she has been to me working in my home office once or twice a week.
On the Ministry Front:
 March was another busy month of travel and April will be no different. Here I am with some dear lifelong family friends, Raymond and Harriette Ackerman after a wonderful evening spent in their church, Edisto Beach Baptist Church. I thank the Lord for the many opportunities He continues to give me to share the story He is weaving into my life. In March I shared at Calvary Community Church in West Columbia, SC, Grassy Pond Baptist Church in Gaffney, SC, Millers Creek Baptist Church in Millers Creek, NC, Trinity United Methodist Church in Andrews, SC, (I was joined by the wonderful choirs of both Millers Creek and Trinity UMC as I shared in concert), Union Baptist Church in Pamplico, SC and Edisto Beach Baptist Church in Edisto Beach, SC.
April will take me to Gum Branch Baptist Church in Hinesville, GA, Coastal Shores Baptist Church in Charleston, SC, First Baptist Church in Holly Hill, SC, Grace Bible Church in Mountain City, GA and Long Creek Baptist Church in Long Creek, SC. For exact dates and events you can scroll down to my calendar at the bottom of this newsletter.
During the months of June and July, I open up my concert calendar for love-offering concerts for churches within driving distance of Columbia, SC, asking only that my expenses be covered. At this time I have the following dates still available:
June 1 (am & pm), June 8th (am & pm), June 15th (am & pm), June 22 (pm), June 29th (am & pm), July 6th (am & pm), July 13th (am & pm), and July 20th (am).
I would love to hear from you if your church would be interested in hosting me as a part of your summer concert series. Please email me at dawn@dawnsmithjordan.com.
Praying daily to walk the path He is leading me on,
Dawn
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Product Highlight
 With Easter just around the corner, what a great time to focus on praise and worship as we celebrate our Risen Savior. Dawn has a praise and worship album entitled Everyday Praise that would make a great Easter gift to that special someone in your life. You can't help but sing along with songs like Our Delight and Just Jesus, while worshipping with favorites such as You Are My King and Heart of Worship, as well as the much-requested, self-arranged Grace Medley.
Dawn's Concert Calendar
It's time to get your event on Dawn's Concert Calendar! We would love to hear from you if your church is booking a spring women's conference or retreat or a church wide concert. Dawn's Timeless Hymns Concert that she shares in combination with church choirs has been extremely well received and she would love to have your choir join her in sharing her favorite hymns!
Publications
Be sure to check out my articles in Lifeway's Journey Magazine . I have had such wonderful positive responses and am so thankful to see how the Lord continues to use my testimony to encourage others. How grateful I am for the opportunity to share my own journey as a part of this wonderful magazine that encourages so many women in their walk with Christ.
Tax-Deductible Gifts
If the Lord would lay Jordan Ministries on your heart to support financially, know that all gifts to Jordan Ministries are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated as we continue to share the good news of the Gospel. Jordan Ministries is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
The NEW Mailing Address is:
Dawn Smith Jordan Ministries, PO Box 2846, Irmo, SC 29063
Monthly Give-Away
Follow me on my DAWN SMITH JORDAN Musician/Band Facebook page to be eligible for the monthly prize give-away trivia contest!
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4/12
Hinesville, GA
Gum Branch Baptist Church
(Ladies Event)
4/13
Charleston, SC
Coastal Shores Baptist Church
(A.M. Service)
4/13
Holly Hill, SC
First Baptist Church
(P.M. Service)
4/26&27
Mountain City, GA
Grace Bible Church
(Ladies Event & A.M. Service)
4/27
Long Creek, SC
Long Creek Baptist Church
(P.M. Service)
Dates that are currently available for summer love-offering concerts:
June 1 (am & pm)
June 8th (am & pm)
June 15th (am & pm)
June 22 (pm)
June 29th (am & pm)
July 6th (am & pm)
July 13th (am & pm)
July 20th (am)
For more information and details on specific events go to www.dawnsmithjordan.com
Follow Dawn on Facebook and Twitter where we post regular updates and prayer requests.
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Little Dale Tales
(Stories from the home of my schedule coordinator, Jennifer Dale)
Our family lives near Winter Park, CO where my husband serves on staff with Timberline Lodge, a ministry of Torchbearers International. We live within 15 minutes of two ski resorts and because of the severe winter weather and the distance that teachers and students have to travel, our county is one of the few in the US where we have no school on Fridays. The resorts actually give students and teachers  free ski-passes on Fridays, so we make it our PE day. This past Friday our family had a bit of excitement on the hill. Ian, our oldest, decided to try out some jumps on the terrain park and had an accident when he lost his balance on one of the jumps and landed pretty hard on his tailbone. Ski Patrol had to bring him down on a stretcher. Though we were told at first that his back was probably broken, thankfully he ended up being only badly bruised - it could have been a lot worse. His younger sisters, and Julie-Joy in particular, take great joy out of aggravating him regularly and that day had been no exception as she had gotten a hold of his ski mask and had been hiding it from him. When she realized what had happened to her brother, she came straight to the ER and walked in to see  him laying face-down on the stretcher with an oxygen mask on his face, surrounded by a bunch of ski patrol, family, and a group of friends. It scared her and she started to cry: "Ian - I'm SOOO sorry I took your ski mask." Ian responded wryly: "I don't think it would have made any difference." Thankfully he had not lost his dry sense of humor!! :)
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