Well, it was not long after the retreat that Debi, Connie and I started singing together. Connie was quick to catch the songs Debi had written which were inspired by God. She (Connie) struggled with the harmony however, for our style is a bit different. Mostly minor keys. She caught on after a while.
We began our nursing home ministry in two different towns but on the same day. We are all very busy you see so it was easier to dedicate one day for the ministry. We had great days with many of our elderly. Oh how the Lord blessed! (thank You)
We had no name for our trio. Nothing had come to us thus far. Well, one day we were in a nursing home and there was a lady that was not able to come to the study. See, we sang some and Connie taught some. It was very interesting. Anyway, a nurse came to us and asked if we might be able to go to this ladies room and sing to her. We were happy to. So we went in and sang a couple of songs. When we finished and was saying our good byes, she whispered ,”Thank you for the serenity.”
THAT was how we came to be “Serenity!” We are not a foot stomping,drum beating screaming kind of trio. The Lord has given us beautiful melody’s and lyrics along with scripture to sing. (thank You)
After months of the ministry we were at Connie’s home for lunch after our first nursing home of the day. She and her daughter were preparing to go to a place called Britt. He father had passed away and the memorial was in Britt. Now, let me tell you what I know about her father. Not much I am sad to say.
When he was a boy the “Great Depression ” hit the U.S. Connie tells that he spoke of days when people were jumping out of windows, he jumped on a train! Yup! He became a Hobo. Traveled to work in that way for nine years at the age of nineteen. Because he was so skinny from lack of food, ( I guess), he was given the moniker “Fishbones.”Well, after he gave that life style up he settled down and made fly dope which he sold for years in Maine. I recall my father having “Irvings Fly dope.” It stunk!!!!
After many years went by, he heard of this place in Britt, Iowa where the Hobo’s gathered every year in August for a convention to keep the memory of the Hobo alive in the memory of history! He was even elected King of the Hobo’s one year. I will need to ask Con-Bo what year. After a few years he asked Connie to go along with him to Britt. She said yes!