Album Notes

When it comes to music, Karen can't remember a time when she didn't absolutely love every aspect of it. As a toddler she would sit at the piano and peck out songs she'd heard either at church or on the radio. Her solo debut came out of fear...her sister's. At the last minute her sister refused to go on stage and Karen stepped right up and filled the gap. Karen began writing songs at a very young age. Her mom encouraged her to take piano lessons but that was short lived due to the fact that playing by ear was a lot easier than practicing scales...a choice she regrets even to this day! Karen continued writing and singing all the way through college. In 1990, after graduating from Samford University in Birmingham, AL, she made plans to move to Nashville. Yet "many are a man's plans, but the Lord determines his path." Indeed God was leading Karen, but not to Nashville. He wanted her in Texas... Midland, Texas. Midland held more than just a job for Karen, it held a brand new life. She met her husband, Burt, at a mutual friend's wedding and got married on Christmas night at her home in 1993. She spent the next 6 years teaching 6th grade language arts and singing at the church she and her husband attended. In 1999, her 1st of two children was born and Karen quit teaching to raise a family. She also became actively involved in a new church start where she sang on the praise team and played keyboards for the praise band. In 2000, she entered a songwriting contest held in Nashville and was chosen as one of four finalists. More and more opportunities came for Karen to share her music, not only at her new church but at the women's Community Bible Study where she led the praise and worship. Encouraged by the reception, Karen decided to record her first project, Just Like Me. The album was produced by Mark and Mike Childers,two brothers who frequently tour the country playing bass and drums for many contemporary Christian artists including Nicole Nordeman, Mark Schultz, Avalon, 4-Him and Point of Grace. Just Like Me gives listeners a chance to eavesdrop on Karen's private conversations with her Creator. From the title track where she compares the personal feelings of Christ to her own, to Intercede where she confesses her struggles with prayer, Karen bares her soul. Anyone who has ever wrestled with God when it comes to their will can definitely relate to the ballad Not My Will. She finishes the project with a moving lullaby dedicated to her little ones, Luke and Kate. Karen is very excited about this new opportunity to reach more people with her music. Her songs are simply a window to her heart; a chance to communicate her love for Christ in a way that may not speak as loudly in everyday conversation. In her own words, "Music moves me. Sometimes I can get more from a song than I can from a sermon or a book. A four minute song can impact me for a lifetime." Her hope is that others will share that same connection with her music. That maybe one song can speak volumes about God's love for us and our need for Him.