WOW 2012

...where has 2011 gone? As a fairly
young group (or at least a "restarting" group) the Ridings Family is still
relatively unknown and runs a very slow touring schedule. But, the new year
brings with it new possibilities. Possibilities and more concerts, changes in
life or where ever this crazy life may take us. The only thing that we know for
sure is this; no matter where the Ridings Family goes, we go knowing that God
has brought there and will give the strength needed to carry on. With several
changes looming on the horizon who knows what the new year will bring. We covet
your prayers for our family and the ministry that God has called us into. We
also pray for each and every one of our friends, family and fans all over the
world, for God's blessings and guidance on your lives. I hope and pray that
someday we will be able to meet face to face with all of the prayer warriors who
have lifted us up before the throne of God. If not in this life, in that great
gettin' up morning. Until then keep the faith.

In HIS Service,
Darren Ridings
and the entire Ridings
Family

Just posted on www.ridingsfamilymusic.vpweb.com

Tomrrow is Thanksgiving 2011. What will you be thankful for? Most importantly, what are you thankful for...all year long. Just like Christmas is the one day a year set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ and Easter is the one day a year to celebrate His death burrial and ressurection, Thanksgiving is the one day a year we set aside to look back at all the things we are thankful for. However, as Children of God, we should truely celebrate everything that God has given us all year long. Celebrate the birth of Jesus as it was the beginning of the hope of a personal relationship with God, for which we no longer needed a human mediator. Celebrate the death, burial and resurrection for the hope that it gave us; when Christ returns, if we accept His gift, we have the hope of eternal life with him in paradise. Just as Christians should celebrate Christmas and Easter everyday (and all Americans should celebrate our sodiers past and present everyday), we should also remember to thank God everyday of our lives. Everyday for the last month, I have been posting "Thanksgivings" on my Facebook page. Perhaps I should continue to post "thanksgivings" and blessings from God everyday through out the year? Maybe if Christians worldwide would take time to each day to thank God for His blessings on us, we would begin to see what He really does for us and maybe we would stop whinning about what we don't have. Just my thoughts in this season of Thanksgiving.

I just posted this on the blog page on our website, www.ridingsfamilymusic.vpweb.com and thought I would post it here as well;

I know I said I would not go political on this blog, however, I never said I would not wax philosophical or theological. This morning’s weather has gotten me to thinking on the pastyear's weather and "earth" events across the nation. We live in the High Desert of Southern California in Northern Los Angeles County. Typically in the Antelope Valley (the area in which we live) has long hot summers and equally long cold winters. We average about 2 1/2 months when the temps easily hit the mid 90's and even more often in the 100's and sometimes even over 110*F. The winters are on the other extreme. We average around 2 1/2 months when the temps are in the low 30's to mid 20's and very frequently the temps drop into the teens over night. I know that our weather is not as extreme as it is in other parts of the world; however, it is extreme enough. This year (2011) we had colder than normal weather long into our normal summer time. The hot temperatures didn’t start until mid-August and only lasted through mid-September; only half as long as normal. This morning is was foggy of all things. Not "pea-soup" fog like I am used to from central-California, but foggy none the less. Then I started thinking of events across the country; Earthquakes in Washington, D.C. and Oklahoma, tornadoes in California and the list goes on. The Bible tells us that the time of Christ's return will be heralded in part by strange weather patterns. The Bible also tells us that the generation that witnessed the rebirth of Israel as a nation would not perish before Christ's immanent return. The Bible gives us an average of 76 years for a human lifespan. Israel was recognized as a nation by the world community in 1948, 63 years ago. Do a little simple math and you find that only leaves 13 years. Now, I will not assume to predict the return of Christ, I'm not that smart and the Bible is somewhat cryptic at times. What type of generation are we talking about? Is it a lifespan or a familial generation? Are we talking about 76 years or 176 years or more? I tend to believe that this prophecy is referring to a lifespan and we could see the return of Christ with in the next two decades. Brethren, the Bible tells us that we know not the day of Christ's return and that no man can predict it. Christ himself doesn't even know when the Father will turn to Him and say," bring my children home". We need to be vigilant, ever watchful, working toward the day of His return for we know not the hour. We are to work as if the hour is at hand. The world is dying and headed to Hell and the church is sitting idly by. Christians, rise up, take up your swords and get back into the fight. Christ’s return is soon coming. Do you want Him to find you sitting idly by wasting what little precious time we have left?

Since just about everything we do these days as a family is focused more around the family's music ministry, most of the blog posts will be on our music blog page. So, to stay up-to-date with teh Ridings family head on over there or check out our Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ridings-Family-Music/194544327612?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Ridings-Family-Music/194544327612?sk=info or you can follow us on Twitter @dridings74 or go to our website www.ridingsfamilymusic.vpweb.com now there are more ways to keep up with us.

Well, here we are in week 4 of my College Composition 2 Class. One of the things that we are supposed to discuss this week are some of the difficulties we are having in our research for the final project. Well, they are many and diverse. College Comp 2 is a lot more difficult that College Comp 1. In the first class, the instructor gave us several different choices of final project topics to choose from and we could search for resources anywhere. In Comp 2 we have to choose our own topic with no suggestions; I chose to research the effects of music on mental health. You would think that since this is a mental health topic that there would be a lot of information out there, but there is not. Another difficulty that I am having in my research is that we have to use the school's e-library only to find our research sources. It is taking me a very long time to sift through the mess of search results, most of which irrelevant. So, needless to say I am facing quite the challenge this class term. But, "Hakkunamatta"!

Ok, blog number two for my colleg writing class at Kaplan University. Not really sure what to say, I have selected a topic to write on for my final project in this class; The Affects of Music on Mental Health.

New post...FINALLY!!!

Well, here we are in September of 2010. Since beeing on Facebook, I haven't spent alot of time here. I have started a new class at Kaplan University, College Composition II for the Health Care Professional and one of our assignments is to start a blog page here on Blogger. Well, since I already had a page I thought I would just make an update. Timothy is in sixth grade now and Ashleigh is in High School AAAAAWWWWWWHHHHHHHGGGGGG!!!!!! Ok, Ashleigh is still on the cheer squad and Timothy is now in Boy Scouts, and of course it is that time of year when you get to support the Scouts by buying popcorn, so if you like good popcorn let me know and I will hook you up. Jennifer is still teaching second grade and is in her 10th year at AVCS, but is concidering going back to school for her Master's in Education. A big addition, me and the kids are currently recording our first CD and the first project from the Ridings Family since Steven, Dusten and I released Temporary Home back in 1993. I have all of the piano tracks for the trio songs all laid down and am starting on the piano solo tracks. Next I go in and build the full soundtracks to back us up then we put the voices in. The kids are very excited and so am I, this is the first time back in the studio for me since Golden State Quartet back almost three years ago.

...time marches on

Jen last posted in June of 09 and here we are now in 2010. Jen is enjoying the 2nd grade (as teacher), Ashleigh in now in eighth grade and still a cheerleader, Timothy is in fifth grade and they are making us feel old. I am now the Director of Worship Ministries at Trinity Baptist Church and I start classes at Kaplan University tomorrow (Jan. 6, 2010). I am going for my AAS in Medical Transcription. Jen is looking at going back to Phoenix for her Masters in education. Well that's about it for now. You can find us on Facebook these days a little more easily than here, but we will try to keep te updates coming.

Where Has the Time Gone?!?

To all those who have waited for our family to finally make a post already.... we are finally able to do so. Things have been so crazy busy for the Ridings Family over the last few months. We have had to start the school year and move into our house all at the same time; while trying to hang on to our patience and sanity along the way. The school year is over now and it has flown by so fast that I can hardly believe it is over. I enjoyed teaching 2nd Grade for the first time this past school year and plan to teach 2nd Grade again in the fall. The kids have grown a ton and are doing well. Darren and I have been enjoying the house and all the space that we now have. The kids especially like the pool we just bought and we even had time to throw in a little family project this Spings. We decided, now that we have the space, to plant a little Ridings garden of our own. We planted corn, watermelon, cantelope, green beans, tomatoes (4 different kinds), squash, and pumpkins...oh yes, and Timothy's had-to-have sunflowers. He's hoping to harvest the seeds and use some for next year along with eating the rest...yummm!! :) Now, we make it our nightly routine to go for an evening walk in the back yard to check on the crops we have planted and see how much they have grown. Well...that's all the update for now. We'll write some more soon and maybe even post a few pictures along the way this summer. :)



Jennifer

...and marching

Here we are in April now. It is amazing how fast this year is moving by. A lot has happened this year already. Timothy is now 10 years old. The kids and I are making bigs leaps is music. The kids are getting better and better everyday. We have had the privalage to share the stage with many regioanal and full time groups and Ashleigh and Timothy stood up with them as if they have been doing this all along. Our "dream" is to one day share the stage with the Hoppers. They are the group that we look up to as our mentor or our "idol". Ashlegh is modeling herself after Kim Hopper; who also happens to be my favorite female singer.

The economy has realy hit our family hard. Although God has kept me working, I have not done any welding for the last two months. But, praise the Lord He is providing.

Jennifer is starting a buisness program during the summer and the school. She is currently writing the curriculem and my head is spinning. I am glad it is her and not me...of course that is what her degree is in.

I will be starting classes this summer. I figure since I have been working as a welder for the last two years I should get certified. Hopefully after that it will be easier to find work.

Well...as you can see we have been busy lately...

Until the next post...God Bless.

In HIS Service,
Darren