Richard Parkinson, his lovely wife Karla, and their children with David Archuleta

~Sacrifice and Joy~

It’s been 7 years since I first met a boy so shy, but humble. We first met around the piano in his living room where I sat and played a couple of songs for him while he sang. I was absolutely amazed at his interpretation and obvious musical genius, especially since he was what, 14? I could tell then that he was something special, someone who could impact a huge number of people with his voice, if he decided to. 

Now, after several years of doing just that, from his experiences through American Idol all the way through his recent activities overseas, he has decided to use his voice in a different way. He will be sharing a message with folks to help bring them another step closer to having complete joy in their lives. You see, to be happy is a choice. We can all choose to be happy with our lot in life. But joy is different. We can’t just choose to have joy. It is something that we must experience in order to have it, something that comes from another place. It comes from something or someone other than ourself providing an experience that brings us joy. 

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