Counting the Character of David Archuleta

At the End All We Have is Our Story

2009-10-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

Life can hold some incredible events: the very first cry of your child as it enters the world, the telephone call that tells you that your mother has just died, the kiss you give to your daughter who skinned her knee while learning to ride a bike, the torment of watching your 6 year old child slowly die of brain cancer, the first time you set eyes on your angelic bride as she walks down the aisle to take your hand in marriage, the spouse who reflects back on that very first kiss over 50 years ago who’s now holding the hand of someone who can’t even remember his name, that glorious graduation ceremony where you receive your doctorate degree and the reward for those many years of hard work, the realization that you’ve flunked out of college wondering if you will ever finish anything in life, the teen child you admitted to drug rehabilitation, coming home from work and having your children welcome you with hugs and kisses. Some bring great joy, while others extreme sorrow. One moment you are on the mountain top of life and the next you’ve fallen to your knees wanting to die. This is your life, my life, our life. It’s this wild journey that we are on, but how are we to integrate such disparate events into something of meaning and purpose?

There might be many ways to answer such a daunting question, but there is one that I believe offers us that somewhere over the rainbow view of our life in the here and now. Before we travel down that yellow brick road, there is an alternative view worth mentioning, if nothing else for comparison sake. Many people hold this view, and it might even be the one that you have adopted, either by choice or default. This view sees all events of our life as mere chance occurrences. The tragedies and joys come and go without any real meaning, other than what we superimpose upon them. This might work for a while, but try and superimpose meaning on top of something like the sudden death of a child or the accident that leaves you handicapped. Our hearts will find us out, and if we really don’t believe that there is some purpose to the myriad of events in life, I think the result is either repression or escapism. John Mayer has a song called, “New Deep”, where he says how tired he is of trying to find meaning in his life, and so the alternative is to simply become numb, as the lyrics say:

Trying not to find every little meaning in my life
It's been fine, I've been cool with my new golden rule

Is there a God? Why is he waiting?
Don't you think of it odd when he knows my address?
And look at the stars, don't they remind you just how feeble we are?
Well it used to, I guess

Numb is the new deep, one with the old me
I'm over the analyzing, tonight
Stop trying to figure it out
Deep will only bring you down

Life is too short, and too valuable, to become numb to it. It is sad when life becomes a series of obstacles to overcome, rather than a journey to travel. There is hope, and it is to be found in a very simple, yet profound, idea that all of life is not just random events, but a grand story unfolding through the pages of time. Each of us is the main character, and our life the parchment upon which the story is written.

There is a movie called, “Australia” released in 2008 that portrays this idea quite nicely. The two main characters Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Lady Ashley (Nicole Kidman) meet in Australia in 1939 during a time when the half-aborigines children native to Australia were being taken from their mothers by the government, supposedly because the mother’s were abandoning them. One of the aborigines boys named Nullah loses his mother and Lady Ashley, who is not very good with children, does her best to comfort him. Nullah is mesmerized by the story of the Wizard of Oz, and is given hope by Lady Ashley’s, somewhat amusing, rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in this very endearing scene.

We learn that Nullah is a magic man, and that he is able to draw people to himself with song. We also learn how important it is to the aborigines people that each person have a story to tell with their life. At this point you might be thinking that this view is really no different than the prior, where both involve superimposing our own meaning onto non-meaningful events. That would be true, if it were not for this one salient point to differentiate this view from all others...it's the reality that there really is a man behind the curtain who is in control!

We are not the only writers of our story. Pull back the curtain of life's events and we will find a master wizard who takes the seemingly random occurrences and turns them into sentences, then paragraphs, and chapters creating a grand story. He doesn't act alone, though. He invites us with each moment to reach out and freely place our hand upon his and together we write the one and only story of our life. We become co-authors in the greatest story ever told!

When the end of our life draws near, and we reflect back upon what has been written, the thing that will matter most will be how well we cooperated with the Almighty Author in writing our magnificant story. It will be how well we took the focus off ourself and directed it towards others, how well we responded to those that God brought into our life to guide and nuture us, and how well we used whatever we've been given to make someone else's life better, and the world a better place for all of mankind. We will have to answer the questions of whether we cared enough, gave enough, and loved enough. At the end of life, all we will have is our story.

There is a touchinhg video of a man named Nick Vujicic who has made the most of his seemingly unfortunate circumstance. He has chosen to take what he has been given, or not given, to write a grand story of inspiration and encouragement with his life.

I am a bit saddened to announce that this journey of the Counting David’s Character website has come to an end. Being a part of this magnificent chapter highlighting the wonderful character of David Archuleta, and seeing how it has inspired so many, has truly been a pleasure and an honor. The entire team would like to thank all of you for your wonderful thoughts and support on this website and in championing the value of good character. CDC will remain here for you to read and comment on, but there will be no more new articles nor chats. This chapter has ended and who knows what the next one will bring. We encourage you to continue counting David’s character and especially counting your own character. It’s your life...your story...so live it well...live it with purpose, and live it with character!

God Bless,

Steve Gallie on behalf of the entire CDC Team

"I can’t believe the way things have turned out over the past year! It’s amazing to see where life takes you. Looking back I had absolutely no idea I’d get such an amazing opportunity, and being the ﬁrst album, I feel like there are so many people that have gotten me here to this point for me to thank; all of them being a part of helping me go through this journey. There have been good times and hard times, but I think it’s all given to you to take you where you need to go in life."
David Archuleta, CD Liner Notes, 2008

The More Things Change...

2009-09-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

The other night, I happened to listen to “Keep it Real,” a song that the Jonas Brothers wrote and performed for their new television show. Nick, Joe, and Kevin may have written the words to describe themselves and their TV characters, but some of the lyrics really reminded me of David Archuleta, as well. Here are a few of the lines from the middle of the song that especially struck me as relevant:

When you’re home, you’re still the one you were before you left to go on tour.

Now’s the time. Let the whole world know you can shine bright but still keep it real.

You can find the entire song and see it’s video here. (Be warned, however, that this song has a very catchy chorus and could potentially be rather addictive...)

As I’ve mentioned before, I have always liked David, the polite, considerate, appreciative young man that we met on American Idol early last year. What we saw from the beginning was a really nice, good guy. I admire that, and I would not want the music industry or “being famous” to change David into something else.

Of course, everyone changes and grows in some ways as they get older and go through new life experiences, especially when they are still in their teenage years. David’s life has changed a lot in the last couple of years. His very busy schedule has often kept him away from his family, friends, and home. He has had to get used to having more attention focused on him, even when he is not performing. He has also needed to become more accustomed to dealing with interviews, photo shoots, interacting with fans and reporters, carrying off much longer performances on stage, and many other things. Despite all of these things, while David may be more professionally accomplished and more comfortable and confident in many situations, he still seems to mainly be the same positive, sweet, humble person that we first saw at the American Idol auditions.

I think that many of the things that David has told us in his recent blogs and tweets really do seem to make this point. Since his traveling schedule has slowed down a bit lately, he has been able to have a little more time to do other things that are important to or fun for him. David told us how much he enjoyed the trip he took to California a couple of weeks ago with his mother and sisters, and he seemed really happy that he’s “been able to spend some more time with my family!” David still gets excited and nervous about new experiences in his career, such as his recent performances at the U.S. Open and the ALMA Awards. He doesn’t take things like that for granted, and he also made note of the fact that he just got his first fan mail from Alaska the other day. Also, while David appreciated being able to sing at those recent special events, he also said in his blog that, “I think my favorite thing was that I got to spend the week with my mom.” He is really excited about his new Christmas CD that will be released soon, but he’s also taking the time to discuss the brain of his pet fish and enjoying the chance to get back to doing some running, sometimes with his mom, even though that may cause him to need some sun block to ward off a “farmer tan.” Televised happenings in New York and Los Angeles aren’t the only events that David can appreciate, either. Last Saturday, he told us that “State fairs rock,” which is probably not surprising, since he “had some awesome roasted corn on the cob and cherry limeade.” In the last week or so, he’s also described the Utah Symphony as “pretty amazing actually” and the circus as “Way cool!,” and he had fun supporting his friends Brooke White, Michael Johns, and Benton Paul at their concert in his hometown. All of these things seem to show us that David is still a pretty regular guy who just happens to have a not-so-ordinary job that affords him some high-profile opportunities.

So, even though David Archuleta has had quite a bit of success in the first year or so of his post-American Idol music career and has gone through a number of changes in his life, it does seem that he has been able to remain basically the same nice David from Murray, Utah that started on this path a couple of summers ago. My wish for David going forward is not anything huge or extravagant. It is simply that he will be able to continue doing what he loves to do in singing and sharing music, but also, more importantly, that he will be able to retain his positive qualities and personality so that he can be a happy and good person throughout his life.

In other words, referring back to the song again, I hope that David will always find it true that “you can shine bright and still keep it real.”

Musical Notes

2009-09-21T04:03:00.000-07:00

Just about every day of our lives we hear music without even noticing it much...background music. It's in the supermarket aisles, under the whir of the dentist drill, in the elevator that takes us to our office, in the restaurant where we are having dinner. It is meant to lull, mask and motivate us to spend money. Now if by chance we hear one of David Archuleta's songs in the background a little light goes on inside of us. We can't stop smiling and we may even loudly blurt out "It's David Archuleta!". I personally scared several people shopping for supplies in Staples when "Crush" came over the loudspeaker.

Mozart, the Beatles , the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. What do they have in common with David Archuleta? Their music has the ability to pierce even our routine activities and make us feel happy to be alive. We feel the music enter our entire being.

There is a theory that when we were a baby in our mother's womb we were influenced by the heartbeats of our mother. This is perhaps the way we first experience sounds that sooth and calm us. As we grow up we are exposed to many different types of music that generate different emotional responses. We may hide our eyes when we hear spooky music in a darken movie theater or feel a rush of pure joy hearing a beautiful Christmas Carol. We learned nursery rhymes and played musical chairs. Some of us can still remember advertising jingles we heard on TV when we were very young. Others may remember the songs on Sesame Street or the piano melody on a Charlie Brown holiday special.

As we mature we open ourselves to different types of music. David Archuleta touched on this when he was just starting his American Idol journey: "Something that surprises a lot of people is usually the music I listen to just because it's so diverse and it would be like Hispanic music from my mom, you know I grew up listening to Hispanic music on my mom's side and then my dad listened to Jazz music and so I grew up with that and I just love Gospel music and you know, mostly I listen to Pop, and like Pop-Rock, but soulful music 'cuz it's just one of my favorites as well."

Music punctuates the most ordinary and extraordinary moments of our lives. Our happiest and saddest days may be wrapped in music...whether it be the care we take when choosing music for our wedding or the tears we shed when hearing a familiar hymn at a beloved family member's funeral. Think a moment..can you remember the sound of a merry go round tune as you decided which magical horse you would ride? Or the happy jingle of the ice cream truck as you ran down the street in hot pursuit?

Music has always been around us but David has opened our hearts and our memories to the melodies and songs that have been the soundtracks of our life. And it is not just a backward glance but a new excitement of music we have yet to hear. Soon we will have that Christmas CD in our hot little hands! Brand new music from David and a promise that it is from his heart.

Plato wrote a statement that rings true over 2,400 years later:
"Music...gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination...and life to everything."

Thank you David for awakening music in our very souls.

"America the Beautiful"

2009-09-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday night, on September 13, 2009, David Archuleta sang “America the Beautiful” in New York during the pre-match ceremony for the U.S. Open women’s tennis final. David’s singing was excellent, and he delivered a lovely and moving rendition of the song. I was also impressed and touched by some of the thoughtful things that David said regarding the song and the opportunity that he had to sing it.

David first told us the purpose of his trip to New York in a message on Twitter on Friday night, saying that he was, “Listening through America The Beautiful since I'm singing it at the US Open this weekend. Reflecting on its meaning especially on this day.” (That day was September 11, the eighth anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks on America.) On Saturday, David did some rehearsing. At that time, he told us on Twitter that, “I love this song! Such a privilege getting to sing patriotic songs.” David expanded on these statements a bit in the video blog that he filmed that night. Here is what he had to say:

"I’m in New York for the tennis U.S. Open, which I’ll be performing “America the Beautiful” at tomorrow. And...I had rehearsals today, and it was just awesome. Um...getting to...just...remember how amazing patriotic songs are and just...remembering about all the things that people had to go through and, and...you know...had to go through a lot so we could have what we have today. And just, um, appreciating those who...who fight for our country and stuff. You just gotta, you know, show...your appreciation for them and respect to them. But, uh, I’m really looking forward to it..."

I really appreciated reading and hearing these comments from David. I think that it’s great that he appreciates being asked to sing patriotic songs and that he really did give a lot of thought to the meaning of “America the Beautiful” before performing it. It was also nice of him to share some of those thoughts with us.

David has sung patriotic songs, including “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” for events before, and he always does a good job. Patriotic songs in general are strong, powerful, and meaningful, which makes them well suited for David and his voice. “America the Beautiful,” though, seems to be an especially fitting piece for him. The melody is lovely, but so many of the words also seem very appropriate for David.

Here are the lyrics for the verses (the first and third of the song) that David sang last weekend:

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

The first verse talks about the physical beauty to be found in various places in America. The refrains look to God for blessings and for assistance in making things better, and the first one also hopes for brotherhood throughout the nation. As we have seen, David is very appreciative of things that he sees around him, including the beauty of such natural features as the sky and the mountains, and he often shares his impressions of such things with us in his “tweets” or blogs. Although he doesn’t usually talk about it that often, David has let people know that his faith is important to him and has helped him a lot. The idea of people getting along with each other also seems to be something that David really cares about. He even talked about it back in the early days of American Idol, while explaining why the third verse of “Imagine”, which talks about a “brotherhood of man” was his favorite. Considering all of these factors, I would imagine that many of the lyrics of “America the Beautiful” would strike a chord with David and help him to personally connect with the song.

To me, the words of the third verse seem to illustrate quite a few of the things that David said about the song on Twitter and in his blog. In relation to September 11, the line about people who loved “mercy more than life” seems to bring to mind the firefighters, police, rescue workers, and others who willingly put themselves in danger, and in many cases were injured or killed, in order to try to help others that were in need. The lyrics about people who showed they were heroes through “liberating strife” and who cared more about their country than about themselves call up thoughts about all of those who have fought and worked (and are still fighting and working) to defend and safeguard our country and freedoms, as well as to protect and assist others around the world. Although he may not have thought about exactly the same things, it’s not difficult to see how the text of this verse could have inspired David’s comments regarding the need to have appreciation and respect for what people have had to go through in the past and for the people who fight for our country. It was nice that members of the Marine Corps joined David on the tennis court to present the flag during his performance, and that seemed to help emphasize some of these aspects of the song. David seemed to appreciate their presence, too, since he later sent a tweet that said, “Got done singing America the Beautiful! So neat especially with the marines!”

On multiple occasions, David has expressed the idea that money and fame are not the most important things to be obtained in life. He also often compliments celebrities that he has met that seem to be “down to earth,” humble, and appreciative of what they have. These comments seem to fit in well with the lines of the last refrain, which hope for a time when “all success” will “be nobleness and every gain divine.” This idea of success coming from goodness and noble actions is a nice, ideal vision or goal for each of us and for our nation. I think that, in a way, it also touches on something that many of us wish for for David and which we hope he can exemplify: the notion that one can be a good, positive, nice person and achieve success in the entertainment world and in life.

David’s performance of “America the Beautiful” and his comments about the song give us a chance to consider a lot of ideals and positive qualities, including appreciation, respect, gratitude, love of country, unselfishness, and nobility. This is a beautiful patriotic song, which was delivered very well by a special singer who seems especially well-matched to many of its themes. I would imagine that this is probably not the last time that David will have the privilege of singing “America the Beautiful” for an event, and, as long as he continues to approach opportunities of that kind in such a thoughtful way, we can all look forward to some more powerful musical and patriotic experiences in the future.

(Photos from www.usopen.org)

Wipe Out

2009-09-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

Although David Archuleta has won 4 Teen Choice Award Surfboards, this blog title "Wipe Out" is not a surfing reference. Instead it is about the eraser that David doesn't need but we probably do.

John W Gardiner wrote:
"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser."

Now what does that mean exactly? Perhaps it can be interpreted to mean, take care in your words and actions. At the end of any given day are there things we wish we could erase but can't? In this time of instant tweets and texting we have even more opportunity to stick our foot into it big time. Thanks to 21st century technology we can mess up incredibly fast!

Every once in a while, David Archuleta, in his open endearing way, may be a wee bit too candid. But never candid in a hurtful way to anyone but himself. I am in awe of this young man who never says an unkind thing about anyone else. I don't think it is even a struggle for him. His innate kindness is so deep and genuine the idea of being any other way never enters his mind. If life was the New York Times crossword puzzle, David could fill it in nicely in ink!

But for most of us this can be a daily temptation. At school or work or even with the families we love so much..we can wound with our words.Have you ever had one of those terrible moments when what you wrote or said about someone comes back to haunt you? Your heart races, your cheeks burn with embarrassment and regret.... you wish with all your heart that you could wipe it out forever with a giant eraser? My grandfather would warn us in Spanish about "sapos" ..toads that jump out of our mouths. The words said in anger or jealousy that should have never been said.

Try to picture David being verbally rude or sarcastic in line at the supermarket or while pumping gas for his car. Would he verbally attack the person in front of him who has 12 items not 10 in the express line? Would he lash out at the driver of the car that got to the gas pump before him? Would he send an e mail or Tweet that was negative about anyone? I don't think so. Actually it is humorous to try and picture David acting this way...it would be so out of character.

So maybe we can count to 10 before hitting the send button or think a little before letting lots of ugly little sapos hop out of our mouths. Until we can invent a "Way Back Machine" that allows us to erase what we said or wrote..it might be a good idea to listen more and speak a little less. The Dalai Lama has commented on mistakes made:"When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well."

And an Unknown Author penned this very smart statement: "The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word, unsaid."

Top Photo credit to Larissa and Archuleta Fan Scene

All You Need is Love....

2009-09-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

As I was posting this article on Labor Day about 'love', I thought about David and what a "labor of love" music is for him. He works so hard, making sure to give his best with each performance and he never disappoints! So as we celebrate this day with family and friends, I hope David is doing the same. Taking a well deserved break, enjoying a picnic or barbecue somewhere. David, thank you for all the work you put into making your music...we fans are so grateful. Happy Labor day all!

Now abide, faith, hope, love, these three remain, but the greatest of these is Love.
~1 Corinthians 13:13~

Love is a very powerful emotion. It is something we all want and something we all need. However, I do believe that love is an emotion some find hard to accept, and even harder to easily express. In my opinion, David Archuleta is one young man who has no problem accepting and expressing his love for so many things in his life. He is someone who sees all that he has and he shows so much appreciation for it. He expresses love through his zest for living.

Follow the way of love. ~1 Corinthians 14:1~

David has a smile that could light up any room. Many times when we see him, he appears happy and his face exudes pure joy. He follows the ways of love by living very simply. He seems to know what is important in life. He has a wisdom that is very uncommon for someone his age, and it seems to lead him to be a very content person. I believe this is in part, because he loves so freely. He is a kind person with a sincere heart . He is giving of his talents and his time. He is thoughtful and charitable. David Archuleta puts all he has into whatever it is he does. He emanates love.

"Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well." ~Vincent Van Gogh~

David has talked often about the many things he loves. He has spoken openly about his love for God and his faith and he has lovingly shared that faith with so many others, when he has been asked to speak and sing at a Fireside meeting. He has discussed many times, his love for his family and his friends. He appreciates them in his life and does not take them for granted. He knows time spent with them is precious. We all know about David's love of music. It makes him happy. Whether it is listening to his own favorite music or performing himself, he loves everything about it and he loves to share his enthusiasm for music with others. David has told us that he loves to support many causes and charities and how much he loves to get involved and do what he can to help those less fortunate than himself. The list of things David loves and enjoys could can go on and on. He has even talked about his love of food on more than one occasion! We all know how much he loves to perform and spend time with his fans. He has also expressed in interviews, that he loves to travel the world and meet his fans from other countries. David has mentioned that he loves a healthy lifestyle. It is important to him to eat right and get exercise. He has shared how much he loves a good challenge, trying to test himself when he performs a new song in front of his audience for the first time. David has expressed that he loves modesty, strong values and being honest.

"It is not how much you do, but how much Love you put into the doing that matters."
~Mother Teresa~

As I said before, we all know how much David loves his music. He loves to perform it, listen to it and learn about it. Music is his passion and sharing it with others is what he does so well. He takes performing and singing a song correctly very seriously, making sure to use the gift of his voice in the right way. He takes nothing for granted because he doesn't want to lose his voice. He is grateful for his ability to use it. David is a dedicated performer and he does his best to put on a wonderful show for his fans. He has such a wonderful ability to emotionally connect with his audience. He gives his all every time he is on stage. He enjoys sharing the music he makes with all that will listen, and boy do we love to hear it! He sings beautifully and it inspires so many of us. David's music has touched our hearts and our souls, and we are grateful that David so unselfishly loves to shares it with us.

"All mankind love a lover." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

In turn we love David back. We love the way he sings his songs. We love and admire him for the ways he lives his life. For the commitment he makes to share his talent with us. We adore him for being so humble and down to earth. We are delighted by the way he supports others, whether it is a charity he feels strongly about, a friend he wants to promote or a fan he is appreciative of. We love the way he is simply 'just David' even after all the fame.

The symbol that is often used to signify love is a heart. David Archuleta certainly has a heart of gold. He has a pure heart that shows patience, kindness and tolerance. It is a heart that only wants to do the right thing. It is a heart filled with love. Love for God, family, friends, music and life!

I am sure there are some things David dislikes, but I think David would rather focus on the positive aspects of his life. He chooses to find the good in any situation, and to concentrate on all the things around him that he loves. It's like looking for the silver lining in a dark cloud, and David does it well.

As I was thinking about all of this, I was reminded of the Beatle's song, "All You Need is Love." Perhaps if we could all try and remember these words. To focus on being more loving. To choose to see the positive in what we have and center on the good, no matter what hand we have been given in life. To give love to others more freely. And when it comes straight from the heart, the way it does with David Archuleta...well, I think it could make us feel happier about our own lives. It might even make us feel more content. So, maybe we could try a little harder. Each one of us, to express our love for life a little more and appreciate all that we have a little better. Then we too might realize the way David does, that the simple words in the song... "All You Need is Love" really do ring true. Call me an optimist, but it sure seems to work well for David! ;)

When You Wish Upon A Star

2009-09-02T23:47:00.001-07:00

“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently."
~ Bill Watterson

After a long day of recording in the fast paced world of Los Angeles, all the while the foot hills of the San Gabriel mountains were ablaze and smoke billowing - David Archuleta tweeted:

It's amazing to see the ocean and the stars in one glance. Beautiful!

The skies that night were remarkably clear despite what was going on so close by. I had to go outside and check with my own eyes - indeed I could see the stars twinkle as the sky was so clear. All day long I was lamenting over breathing in the smokey air. When night came, it did not even cross my mind to look up to marvel at the stars in the sky.

Stars and ocean...since humans first walked this earth they have been drawn to two things. The constant rhythm and beauty of the ocean and the glittering stars overhead. We watch in rapt silence as the waves dance in and out ...if we are lucky we spot a falling star to make a wish upon.

There is a beautiful song that we can think of as we look to the same heaven that David sees. No matter where we are we can wish on the same bright stars and realize that we are all connected to each other and this beautiful planet. So as we face the stresses and worries of our daily lives, we can also go outside and look up....and marvel,dream and say a thankful prayer.

"Somewhere Out There" written by James Horner, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

“love builds up the broken wall
and straightens the crooked path.
love keeps the stars in the firmament
and imposes rhythm on the ocean tides
each of us is created of it
and i suspect
each of us was created for it”
Maya Angelou

"Our ideals resemble the stars, which illuminate the night. No one will ever be able to touch them. But the men who, like the sailors on the ocean, take them for guides, will undoubtedly reach their goal." Carl Schurz

Here is wishing that our special shooting star reaches out and obtains his goal - undoubtedly he will!

Top photo credit to R4D and Archuleta Fan Scene

You Gotta Have Heart

2009-08-31T05:06:00.000-07:00

"You've gotta have heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin'
you'll never win
That's when the grin should start
You've gotta have hope
Mustn't sit around and mope
Nothin's half as bad as it may appear
Wait'll next year and hope
When your luck is battin' zero
Get your chin up off the floor
Mister you can be a hero
You can open any door, there's nothin' to it but to do it
You've gotta have heart
Miles 'n miles n' miles of heart
Oh, it's fine to be a genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart
First you've gotta have.......HEART "

These are the lyrics to a song called "Heart"from the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees" about a losing baseball team that is transformed by a mysterious player named Joe.

When David Archuleta announced that his Christmas CD was to be titled "From the Heart" this old song played in my head. David could have gone the "Jingle Bell Rock" route but instead he is giving us...Heart. Because David Archuleta understands the season of Christmas is all about Heart. It can be about gifts and eating too much and being super stressed out but what it really should be about is...Heart. David knows this and hopefully a lot of us will be inspired and transformed by our not so mysterious David.

Maybe we can approach the holiday season mirroring David's CD title. As I write this blog it is ten o'clock at night and about 80 degrees in our house. How can I even think about the holiday season still months away. Reading this helped.

So if David Archuleta is "workin' on Christmas stuff" then maybe we should be too!

Can we make a gift or offer our services to one another? Not everyone is good at baking and crafts but there are other ways to give. Offer to wash your friends dogs or pick up a list and do the grocery shopping for someone. We all crave more time. Maybe there is a task or two you can do for a person you love, to give them some precious time to spend watching David's videos!

Don't wait to pass on something. Is there a family heirloom that you intend to "one day" hand down to a friend or family member? Why not do it this Christmas or Hanukkah? If there are stories surrounding the item why not write them out and present that with the gift.

So many of us take lots and lots of digital photos that never get printed. What a great gift that could make. I wish I had a hard copy print of all the David photos I have sitting in folders on my desktop!

The gift of charity in some one's name is a beautiful gift from the heart. It is never to early to get your children involved. Charities that serve children or provide care for animals would be meaningful even to the youngest David Archuleta fan. David has supported many charities that focus on children in need...Rising Star Outreach, Invisible Children, Crush Kids Cancer to name just a few. David Archuleta is also an animal lover who has had fish, cats and dogs enrich his childhood. There are many excellent charities that focus on rescuing and protecting animals. You can show your children the power they have to make a difference in this world.

What first drew us to David Archuleta was his voice but what makes us such loyal, devoted fans is his loving, generous heart.Let's make "From the Heart" a huge success for David and let's make it more than just a CD title in our own lives this holiday season. Start now!

"I expect to pass though this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to my fellow-creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." - Stephen Grellet

Your Tributes Delivered to David Archuleta!

2009-08-27T00:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Dean Kaelin delivered your wonderful tributes to David Archuleta! As you can see by the pictures, David was in the studio doing some recording when the tributes were handed off to him. You have all written some wonderful things, and now you have the pleasure of knowing they are in the hands of David Archuleta!

The tributes were a way to help celebrate the one-year anniversary of "Counting David's Character"...and what better way than to let you finish this sentence, "Because of David Archuleta, I..." and then make sure that your tributes were hand delivered to David. You can read the tributes here. They were complied into a nice binder and then hand delivered to Dean on August 1, 2009.

We are very grateful to all of you for submitting such kind and touching words, and to Dean Kaelin for making sure this special gift made it directly into the hands of David. It really was a perfect way to celebrate one year of a site that is dedicated to writing about the good character of David Archuleta. He makes it so easy to continue "Counting David's Character"!

Here are some pictures that capture the very moment the tributes pass from Dean Kaelin to David Archuleta!

It's Not All About Him

2009-08-24T05:35:00.000-07:00

Providence, RI August 22, 2009
Photo credit to www.92profm.com

As we go through our busy days, it can be very easy to focus only on ourselves and the things that we have to do. We may not stop to give much thought to what is going on with those around us. It might seem that a busy performer like David Archuleta, who has a schedule filled with touring, recording, travel, and many other things, would have even more reasons than most of us to concentrate on only his own feelings and activities. A couple of recent occurences, though, seem to show us that this is not the way that he approaches things.

On August 17, David had a solo concert in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On the day of a performance, David has many things to keep him busy, usually including sound checks and meet and greets in addition to other preparations. Besides this, on this occasion, he was just getting over a stretch of time in which he'd struggled with losing his voice and suffering from allergies, making it very difficult for him to do what he loves to do -- sing for his audiences. All of these things would seem to, on their own, be enough to take up all of David's attention. Yet, some time before the show was scheduled to begin, David posted the following update on Twitter: "It's rainin' big time!! And there are people waiting outside! Ah! We're going to try and get them sheltered! lol." Rather than thinking only of himself, David was concerned about the fact that the fans gathered outside to await the concert were caught in a heavy rain, and he wanted to try to help them out of that situation. His online message was short, but it provides us with a nice example of the consideration that David has for others, and it is certainly not the only instance that shows us David’s lack of self-centeredness.

A week earlier, on August 10, David was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for another solo performance. He had been having trouble with his voice for at least a few days, and on that Monday, he was supposed to completely rest his voice before the show in an attempt to save whatever voice he did have left for the concert that night. This meant that David would not be able to sing for or talk with the fans assembled for that afternoon’s VIP pre-show gathering at all, as he usually would. So, after David had signed autographs and posed for pictures, he and the fans waved goodbye to each other. Under the circumstances, it might seem that someone in David’s situation would have been preoccupied with concerns about his voice, wondering how he was going to make it through an hour and a quarter of singing later that evening, and glad to move on from the meet and greet to get some rest or try to get ready for the show. As David walked out of the room, however, he looked reluctant to leave. Minutes later, to the surprise of the group of fans, David returned. He said that he wanted to at least sing a verse of something for the group and proceeded to share a lovely portion of a spiritual song that was, I believe, new to at least most of his listeners. Then, he smiled and left the room again, apparently much more content with what had taken place. Despite all that must have been on his mind, it seems that David wanted to give something more to the fans that had come to see him, even though by doing so he might risk making things still more difficult for himself later by putting extra strain on his overworked voice. I was one of the people present at the pre-show event that day, and I really appreciated what David chose to do for us. It was disappointing that we did not have the chance to see and hear David, the amazing singer and musician, accompany himself on the keyboard while performing a couple of songs for us or David, the charming, fun, and amusing guy, chatting with and answering questions from the crowd. We did, however, still get to see, hear (just a little bit) and experience David, the caring, dedicated, unselfish, responsible young man of integrity, and that’s a pretty wonderful thing to witness in itself.

There is a (likely unfair) stereotype that labels celebrities as self-absorbed people who don’t really care about others. From all that we have seen, this description certainly does not fit David Archuleta, whose concern for other people is just one of his admirable qualities. Hopefully, we can all make an effort to look beyond ourselves and try to pay more attention to the needs and feelings of the people with whom we come in contact.

David Archuleta - The Real Deal on Making a Difference

2009-08-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

Len Sweet said, "Don't just make a difference in the world, make the world different."

Now that is one tall order. Is it possible -- you bet! Will it be easy -- no! David Archuleta - just by being who he is already is making the world different. We all know of how David will often spend his rare free time doing what is called "Fireside" chats within his church - where ever he may be in the world -- from far away Manila in the Philippines to numerous places here in the United States. These events are usually kept more private but we recently had a rare glimpse into one Fireside chat due to the attendance of Don Ashley who posted a video blog called a "Special Thanks To David Archuleta" about his observations of both David's character and the response to those also who were blessed to be in attendance:

I don't want to paraphrase Mr. Ashley's words as he says it so perfectly in his blog so here is verbatim what he had to say about David Archuleta:

After the fireside I had the opportunity to interview about 30 (or so) fans . . . My question was simple; “What do you like about David Archuleta?” – “He’s so cute”, “He’s adorable”, “Such a sweetie”, “He’s so incredible NICE!!!!”, “He seems so kind” and on and on…I then asked – “What about his MUSIC?” – unanimously, all loved it – I find it very interesting that even though David Archuleta reached “stardom” on a reality singing show, his fan base developed because of his sincere and genuine personality…talk about things that make you go hmmmmm. In a world where everything seems to have an angle of deception, I honestly believe we hunger for that which will truly fill us. While I’m not saying David Archuleta is “the answer”, but he is definitely part of a formula that makes this world a nicer place to be. Whether we have celebrity, fame or fortune or whether we’re just 9 to 5er’s, whether or talent is music or tuning a car, what good does it do if we’re not true to ourselves and others. David, thanks for causing us to pause and look past “the music”.

Thank you Mr. Ashley for putting together in that one paragraph so succinctly what David Archuleta has meant to his fans. And thank you for making the rest of us pause a moment and go...hmmmmm. So are we a part of the formula? Are we more a problem or a solution to what ails this world? Is making the world a better place all on David Archuleta's shoulders? Or do we have a role to play too? As we share our David CDs and proudly wear our David inspired t shirts, buttons and charity bracelets, we are visibly David's ambassadors. May we always keep in mind that David can't do it alone. In the words of NFL coach John Madden on how we should go through life, "Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble." Let's surprise the world with our positive attitude and actions like David surprised Mr Ashley!

David -by living a life of good character - by living a life taking on what comes your way with grace and humility - by living a life of just being one of the nicest in the business: this world is a better place.

"The Music, The Man Behind the Music, And the Inspiration He Brings to Us All"
~ ArchieFanDoc

Keeping it "Real"

2009-08-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have heard it said by both fans and friends alike, that David Archuleta is the "real" deal. In the dictionary the word real is defined as: true; authentic and genuine; not pretend; sincere.

Recently I observed David showing his true, authentic and genuine self. He did not pretend and he was so sincere. It was a simple video taken by a fan during one of David's concerts last week in St. Louis, MO. At the time, he had been battling allergies and was not feeling his best. There were some reports that he had lost his voice a few times during the day and was on vocal rest. This video and a recent blog from David confirmed that. However David as usual, would go on to perform wonderfully regardless of how he was feeling. In that blog of his, as Judith mentioned in her article from August 13, "Upside Down". David wrote:

"This last week has been pretty interesting since I’ve had the little challenge of trying to perform even though I was struggling with losing my voice. It’s actually been a pretty good learning experience though! I struggled quite a bit the last 3 shows, but what’s interesting is that I loved all 3!

David, we loved them too! You sang beautifully as usual and you enchanted and entertained the audience with your charisma. You may have not been feeling your best but your sure did a wonderful job of giving your best! ;)

Now about that video I was referring to earlier. In it, David was going to sing a song on the piano when all of a sudden he stops. He seems visibly sick. While he is talking with the audience, he does sound a bit congested and raspy. As he continues to chat with the crowd, he does something that I found not only amusing, but also very charming as well. David gets up from the piano and quickly excuses himself from the stage. It was not only what he said when he did this, but also the way he behaved that I found so endearing. He talks with the fans as if they are old friends. He treats them like he would any one else he knows well. He seems to feel comfortable enough with them, that he can excuse himself while he is in the middle of a performance and promise that he will be right back! I find the way he interacts with people to be so delightful. Fame has not gone to his head. On the contrary, he is so normal and down to earth, that he can behave with us the same way he would if he were at home performing in front of family and friends. He keeps it real! Of course David was back in front of his audience in no time flat. He quickly composed himself, then flashed that enormous grin of his. He acted as if it was no big deal, because of course the show must go on!

David's performance that evening was amazing and he did not disappoint! It got me thinking about other stars. How many would have canceled their show because they did not feel they could pull it off? Would they have given their audience such a sweet and true explanation? I wonder, because David is so different from other stars. He is so real. He tells the audience like it is. He does his very best to perform even when he is not feeling one hundred percent. He tries to do what he is comfortable with, while also making sure to put on a good performance for the fans.

David Archuleta has such a natural ability to make his fans feel at ease. He is a true professional in every way, when he sings. He is a star, but when he talks to his fans he is "just David". He is sweet and genuinely caring. Polite, honest and engaging. He is a talented and wonderful performer. Yes, I do think David Archuleta is the "real" deal, and it is such a pleasure to experience. David addressing his fans in St. Louis, MO. "Darn those allergies!" And singing "Apologize" beautifully!

David Archuleta Loves Us...Just the Way We Are

2009-08-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

Each month as I flip the page over on my calendar, I am treated to an image of astonishing inner beauty. The calendar creator is Steven N. Meyers, photographer and MRI technician. Pictured here,a magnolia takes on an almost other worldly aura. Myers explains, "By using x-rays instead of light, an unusual inner vision is revealed, and Nature shows us textures, details, and shadows that would otherwise not be seen."

There is no special camera or x-ray machine that can scan and record the details, textures and shadows of our own inner beauty. It takes a thoughtful, perceptive human being with a big heart to have that kind of x-ray vision. Can you guess who fits that description? Can't you almost hear him singing the old Billy Joel song ”I love you just the way you are."He treats us, all of us, not only with kindness but with sincere affection. There is a lovely quote by Martin Buxbaum about growing older: "Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts." I think David sees his fans in this way. He senses their hearts and he responds to who they have become.

This is a rare quality especially in young man not quite 19 years of age. We are hot wired as a teenager to be aware of physical beauty...who has it and who doesn't plays a big part in our path to maturity. David is human and it would be impossible for him not to notice his young and sometimes very lovely fans. But he chooses not to limit himself by focusing just on those fans. He tries to keep his heart open to all of us. David doesn't need to discover the truth of inner beauty, he seems to instinctively already know it. It takes a very enlightened person to see past the obvious and to be able to appreciate who we are inside as well as who we are on the outside.

David Archuleta's fans come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Some of us are even physically ill and we may not feel like we look our best. But some of the most touching and expressive photos taken with David are with fans dealing with a physical challenge. It is in those moments that we have an opportunity to see beyond David's good looks and see into his beautiful soul. His inner beauty shines bright and inspires us to take a fresh look at the world. David Archuleta's genuine acceptance of all of his fans is a bridge that links us all to one another. We may look different, speak varied languages, and be decades apart in age, but because David sees us as equals, we can relax and not feel self conscious with one another.

Like the lovely unique flower images that Steven N Meyers produces, we too can create our own beautiful inner garden. What we can do is plant the seeds of compassion, patience, wisdom and generosity in our hearts.

"Cultivate the habit of taking time every day to sit in the middle of your soul so you can be in conscious contact with the beauty of your inner garden." ~ Lucy MacDonald

uʍop ǝpısdn

2009-08-13T05:03:00.000-07:00

In order to read the title of this blog, you may have to turn your computer screen or your head a little.

If you turn a painting upside down or look at it in a mirror, you will see it in a totally different way. Sections that you may have not noticed now appear dominant. Your brain sees the color arrangement and patterns in a new light. Is this a fanciful face or just a bowl of vegetables painted by 16th Century artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo? Look at the image upside down and your perception of the image will change.

Observing David Archuleta can sometimes accomplish the very same thing. Our world view is sometimes turned upside down by David's words and actions. We see a person that consistently tries to live with an open mind and an open heart. Maybe we once did too... a little while... or a lifetime ago.
David Archuleta reminds us that unexpected setbacks and unpredictable challenges are not always such a bad thing. In his most recent blog he wrote: "This last week has been pretty interesting since I’ve had the little challenge of trying to perform even though I was struggling with losing my voice. It’s actually been a pretty good learning experience though! I struggled quite a bit the last 3 shows, but what’s interesting is that I loved all 3!... I think it made me appreciate what I’ve been doing even more, and made me realize the most important thing isn’t blasting away at every high note perfectly. There’s a lot more to music and performing than that, and I need to remember that there’s a connection and feeling in music that doesn’t come by hitting each note technically perfect. I guess I just needed to lose my voice to remember that haha."

It's mid July,it's steamy hot and David Archuleta is working on a Christmas CD! Most performers would probably gripe or grumble about making Christmas music in the heat of a Summer day. But David Archuleta is up for anything ...even Christmas in July. David tweets about his mid July activities: 9:14 AM Jul 13th
"Did some recording yesterday in Utah! Nice little unexpected surprise. Today recording in LA. Christmas spirit, summer heat.""
"12:12 AM Jul 14th "Finally done for today! I've missed recording, And I like singing Christmas songs! It gets me in a good mood :)"

David Archuleta is on the road a lot. He is on buses that get flat tires, airplanes that run late and cars that get stuck in traffic. Travel can be extremely frustrating. The unplanned delays and obstacles can turn a highly anticipated trip into a major meltdown. It is easy to be anxious, tired, quick-tempered and pretty much miserable... unless you are David Archuleta!

Here's a text message written by David on June 8th, 2009: "In DC now. I can see the Capital Building from the freeway. And since we're in traffic it gives you more time to enjoy the view I guess."
A favorite of mine is from a David tweet on May 22, 2009. I have sat on the very same Los Angeles freeways as David and let's just say my attitude was no where near David's!

"Still in traffic... Very late for meetings.... Hmm.. Lol. Admiring the graffiti... Some people are quite creative."

David Archuleta is a Spin Doctor and I mean that as a compliment. It isn't forced optimism but a a mature attitude about the daily ups and downs that any person on this planet goes through. Sometimes we like to feel the entire Universe revolves around us. In a more perfect world, we would never lose a parking space to another driver or find out that a family member ate the last piece of boysenberry pie.

But David Archuleta seems to be able to take the small disappointments we all have on any given day and to turn them upside down. A traffic snarl means a chance to enjoy the view or contemplate the graffiti. David may voice a little irritation but always seems to have a little laugh and realizes that the mole hill is not really a big mountain after all.

Maybe the next time we feel the urge to react in a negative way, we can take a moment and pause...think of David... and do our best to turn our mood upside down. You all know what an upside down frown is ...right?

Benevolence (Part 2) - Pathway of Hope

2009-08-10T01:22:00.000-07:00

Benevolence is the expression of kindness and altruism.

On July 15 David posted on Twitter :

Just did some things for Rising Star Outreach :) Haven't heard about it yet? go here to learn about it: http://www.risingstaroutrea...

On that day David Archuleta took time away from his very busy schedule of non-stop touring and recording to again lend a helping hand to Rising Star Outreach by promoting Angels For A Cause second phase project - "Pathway of Hope." This project is dedicated to collecting funds via brick purchases to build a pathway to a small garden area in honor of David at the new secondary school for the children of the leper colonies in India. These funds are to help furnish and purchase supplies for the school. To help promote this project David met with Amy Antonelli, Executive Director of Rising Star Outreach, to autograph for auction a representative red brick stepping stone - pictured above. Part of the Pathway of Hope project is custom jewelry that David also helped to show case.

From the smiles in the photos on the video below, you know that David has learned that happiness is not achieved when pursuit of it is the end goal. Instead I think he knows that happiness is achieved along the pathway of giving of one self to the benefit of others.

"The true source of cheerfulness is benevolence." P. Godwin

David Archuleta knows that there is a future worth fighting for - for all of God's children and is lending of himself to help out and raise awareness for those less fortunate than ourselves.

"There cannot be a more glorious object in creation than a human being replete with benevolence, meditating in what manner he may render himself most acceptable to the Creator by doing good to his creatures." Fielding Henry

Angels For A Cause

"Bubbly"

2009-08-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Last week David Archuleta made a very last minute decision to cover Colbie Caillat's song "Bubbly," during his solo concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thankfully video cameras were rolling for those of us that could not be there to experience it 'live'. When the videos hit the Internet the next day, like so many other fans of David's, I was thrilled! But it wasn't just the beautiful way David sang the song that I loved, it was also the way he played to the audience. He was sweet, funny, humble, confident and apologetic. In those few moments he was on stage, he showed us his amazing talent and he was totally endearing.

There was one video from that evening that I really enjoyed. In my opinion it captured David at his best. In it, David starts off by greeting the audience, though it is an encore performance. He begins by chatting with the fans very casually. He is explaining that he was rehearsing a song before the show, when band member Kendra, asked him what he was singing and he told her. However, it was not the song she thought and that gave David an idea! Together, they decided to challenge themselves and try a new song they both liked. David made sure to let the audience know that it was all very unplanned, so if he messed up he wanted to apologize in advance. As David explains this to the crowd, he does his best not to let the audience know the song right away, as if he wants to surprise them. As I watched this video for the first time, I was thinking to myself...what an amazing performer! Not only is he going to try and sing something new that he has not had the time to really practice, but he is making sure to let his fans know that he will do his best with it and that it might not be perfect. He seems to want the fans to know this ahead of time, as if he is afraid of disappointing them in case he makes a few mistakes. He even invites them to sing along and help him with the words, if he needs it. I think it is really something the way he is so confident yet conscientious. He is a consummate performer.

Of course David went on to perform the song beautifully, leaving many fans speechless and wanting more. All I kept thinking was...wow he did it! He sang that song as if he had sang it a million times before. He performed it effortlessly, and with so much emotion, that I was left stunned by it. I have Colbie Caillat's CD with "Bubbly" on it. It has always been a song that I liked very much, but David's version was just incredible. Honestly, I like his version better than the original. He has the ability to take a song and make it his own, so easily. He does it so well, that when I hear the original song again, all I can think of is David's version and how much I love the way he sings it more.

I looked up the word 'bubbly' in the dictionary. It is defined as; enthusiastic, vivacious, spirited, vibrant, joyous, gleeful and full of life. All these words describe David Archuleta, as well as the way he makes people feel when they are in his presence. So it was a perfect song choice, because when David Archuleta performs anything, he definitely leaves us feeling bubbly!

Here is the video of David chatting with his audience in Pittsburgh and singing his version of "Bubbly"

With A Little Help From My Friends

2009-08-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

Weeks leading up to a David Archuleta Concert can keep your mind super busy and your mood extremely upbeat. But what happens when David and Ray and the band and the tour buses have left town? Now that your calendar has moved past the date with the big red circle on it, you can sometimes feel that lost... "now what" feeling. Your bright shiny balloon is now losing air and plummeting swiftly to the ground.How can we get over this emotional speed bump and find the road back to contentment and even joy? There is a simple but very wise Swedish Proverb: "Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half sorrow."

No amount of chocolate or cheesecake can cure the "After David Blues" completely. But there is a very easy and highly effective antidote. Do you know what heals our hearts the fastest? YOU are the miracle drug! You share your videos and photos and tell us your personal stories. You take the time to encourage one another and to perform random acts of kindness. One of the sweetest remedies can happen when one of your David buddies is anticipating their own special concert day. You have the golden opportunity to share in their excited countdown to "D Day" and you give them helpful hints (Eat first!) and fashion advice (Wear flat shoes.). Your involvement enhances their experience and in turn clears away any leftover feelings of sadness you might have had. On their big day you are on the edge of your seat, watching the minutes on the clock tick by. It seems like everyone lives in a different time zone...if it's 8 am in California what time or day is it in Manila? You check for the latest tweets and text messages hitting the Internet and try to picture what your friends may be doing right at that exact minute. Some of us even pray that our friends will have the best experience possible. You stay up half the night to see photos and videos that give you a little taste of what happened that night. You may not be with your friends physically but your spirit is sitting in the seat right next to them. You are happy that someone other than yourself is having a wonderful exciting time. How very David Archuleta of you!

If we try, we can bring this same attitude and perspective to other parts of our life. Can we be opened hearted enough to truly feel another person's fortune is as important as our own? Our friend gets a better grade, job, boyfriend or haircut....can we be happy for them?

David Archuleta has mentioned before that he is not a competitive person. While in Malaysia in April 2009 he was quoted as saying: “It’s funny that I’m known for competitions when I’m not a competitive person,” Archuleta emphasized. “I only did one talent show when I was 10 (the Utah Talent Competition). And then Star Search at 12. “In the competitions that I’ve done, I’ve never had a competitive mindset." Doesn't he have high goals and ambition? Of course he does but not at the expense of another person. He has demonstrated over and over again the real happiness he feels when others are blessed in some way. How good it feels to share in our friends good fortunes and blessings!

Here's an Irish blessing for all our friends who give us the little help that we sometimes need:

"Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.

"Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;
Love your neighbor as much as yourself. "

Appreciation is a Many-Splendored Thing

2009-08-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit to the Cleveland Plain Dealer

The fact that David Archuleta seems to be a very appreciative person has been discussed here often. Having that quality is good and positive, and I suspect that it can contribute a great deal to contentment and happiness in life. David’s recent blogs and Twitter posts have continued to underscore all of these points, but they also display a couple of other characteristics or habits that really made an impression on me.

Based on what he has told us lately, we can gather that David is able to appreciate many different things in his life, ranging from little, fun things to big, important ideas. For example, on July 27, in a message on Twitter, David said, “ So yesterday I saw fireflies for the first time in my life. I was quite excited.” A couple of days later, after someone asked him about this, he added, “Don't have any in Utah! I was pretty excited haha. I ran around and chased/caught a few. Then I let the little shinies go lol.” People can sometimes become very hard to please, or even jaded, to the point that it takes a major event or something very fancy to get their attention, and celebrities might seem more likely than most to acquire such a mindset. So, I think that it’s great that David is able to get so much enjoyment out of such a seemingly small thing as seeing fireflies. (And, as a person who is probably overzealous in concern for animals, I must admit that I also liked the fact that David freed the insects that he caught and referred to them in such nice terms!)

Picture Credit to the Disney Fairies website at disney.go.com/fairies

In the blog posted on July 21, David discussed the Sunday that he had recently spent in Utah. What he said has been mentioned here before, but I think that it’s worth looking at again:

After recording all day, I got to spend time with my mom and sisters! We went over to one of my friends' houses to say bye to my friend who is from Denmark. He was an exchange student last year, and he came back for a few weeks to visit. He was leaving Monday though, so Sunday was my only chance to see him since I was leaving that night. I love it when I unite my friends and family :). My mom thought I was kidding when I said I wanted them all to come hang out with my friends lol. But I think it's great having my favorite little bunch of people (my family) come together with another group of people whom I enjoy being around. I want my friends to know how cool my family is, or at least how cool I think my family is lol. Everyone had a good time too. But yeah, it was fun just spending time with everyone. It's something that's so simple, yet so valuable to me.

Here, again, David lets us know that he really appreciates the opportunity to spend some time with his friends and family. Many of us might take things like that for granted, but David recognizes it as being very valuable, possibly because he doesn’t have the chance to see those people that often. Also, there seems to be a general perception that people (especially teenagers) often prefer to avoid spending time with their family members and may even be embarrassed by them. We don’t see that here, as David calls his family his “favorite little bunch of people,” points out how much he loves bringing his family and friends together, and explains that he thinks that his family is “cool” and that he wants his friends to know that he feels that way. I think that all of these attitudes are really nice to see.

Many thanks to Marc for this photo from Florida

In his most recent blog posted on July 27, David gave us some examples of some other important things that he appreciates as he told us about many of the activities that had filled his off days during the previous week. Here are some relevant excerpts from that blog:

Something exciting about this week is we had Kendra's family around! We had 2 days off while they were here, so we decided to take the time and visit some historical church sites that were in the areas of Independence, Liberty, and Far West Missouri. They were all in the Kansas City area. It's really interesting learning about the history and challenges people had to face back then, and admirable to see the courage they had when they faced them. On our other day off, we were going to Chicago but took a detour to a little historical town called Nauvoo. I loved it! All the people there were just really nice, and they had a pageant (which is another way of saying a play I guess haha) which was really neat. If you ever happen to be in the area for some reason lol, I really recommend you check it out. But it was fun spending time with Kendra's family and going to see the sites!

After Nauvoo, Kendra's family left, but we actually had another day off yesterday and went to another little historical town called Kirtland here in Ohio. Had another great day there! haha. I've heard a lot about these places since they have a lot of history with my church and beliefs, and I honestly was never that interested in going to visit them before. I just thought ok... I know a lot of stuff happened there but it's old. But this year we decided to go since they just so happened to all be near cities we had days off in. Isn't that ironic? lol. But wow.... I had such an awesome time. I just gained a totally new perspective of what people really had to go through in their lives so I could have what I have in my life today. It's good to learn about our history, and see what has helped get us where we are and make us who we are today. I just have to say thanks to them for everything. You can always read stuff and say yeah ok sure I know about it already. But there's a big difference in actually being there where it happened and feel the atmosphere of it all. You also learn in a way you could never learn by just reading. I know I don't usually mention that kind of stuff... but it's what I did this week, and I can't help but show how much I appreciate and respect what they've done. You'd really have to go to the places to understand, and see what they were like. But anyway, this has just been a really great week :).

I think that there is a lot to like in these paragraphs. Here, David tells us that he was interested in learning more about things that happened in the past, but his words indicate that he wasn’t just enjoying the experience of visiting a new place and gaining new knowledge. He was not focused solely on himself, but was also thinking about the people who had experienced the historical events about which he was learning. David mentions that he admired the courage that people had when facing challenges in the past, and he makes it clear that he appreciates the ways in which those people’s experiences and struggles contributed to the life that he has today. I believe that David makes some very eloquent points in that regard, and I also think that it would be a good thing if we all took a little more time to think about the contributions that people who have come before us have made to our lives and our society. I know that that is something that I don’t do enough.

The line that probably stands out to me the most from David’s blog is this one: “I know I don't usually mention that kind of stuff... but it's what I did this week, and I can't help but show how much I appreciate and respect what they've done.” David doesn’t often write or talk at length about serious issues, although he has at times, and it also seems that he rarely talks about things related to his faith to the general public. Note, though, that David says that he “can’t help” but discuss the things that he did in this blog. I think that this helps to highlight yet another admirable quality about David. Not only does he appreciate many things in his life, but he also is often quite willing, or in this case, seems to even feel compelled, to let others know how much he appreciates those things, whether they be fascinating little bugs, time spent with family and friends, or sacrifices made by people in the past. Often, it seems that people are more likely to talk about things that they don’t like or that are not going well, but I think that sharing positive things and things that we are happy about can help to create a more positive atmosphere for ourselves and for those around us.

I am impressed and touched by many things about David Archuleta’s appreciative nature, including the wide range of things that he appreciates, the examples that he has given us of particular things that he finds especially valuable, and the way that he shares his positive view of all of these things with us. In a memorable and humorous line from one recent blog, David asked, “Aren’t bunnies wonderful??” Yes, they are. And so are so many of the things exemplified by David’s recent writings.

Your Tributes Delivered to Dean Kaelin

2009-08-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

Steve Gallie handing tributes to Dean Kaelin

Your wonderful tributes are almost in the hands of David Archuleta! They were compiled into a scrapbook type binder and were hand delivered to Dean Kaelin, today, as can been seen in the picture above. Dean has told David about the tributes, and that he will give them to him the next time they meet. It is unknown when Dean will see David, since he is still on tour, but they will be hand delivered to David. Dean said that he will take a picture of him handing the tributes to David and we will post that picture as soon as that happens.

What all of you have written to David is absolutely wonderful, and I know that he will be moved very deeply by everyone's kind words. The tribute really came out nice, and you should all remember that you were a part of doing something very nice for someone special...someone who deserves it...David Archuleta!

David Archuleta One of Many "Somebody Out There" Part 1

2009-07-28T01:04:00.000-07:00

There is "Somebody Out There" reaching out to help in a corner of the world and his name is David Archuleta.

Part 1

Benevolence is the giving to others that which is needed - even the basic of needs - without wanting rewards for one self. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines benevolence as an act of kindness, a generous gift, a disposition to doing good. David Archuleta certainly fits all of these definitions. In recent weeks we learned of the completion of the dental mission to Rising Star Outreach in India. An accomplishment that was achieved by many "Somebody Out There" - from the generous donations of numerous people who support David and his music, to the people of Rising Star Outreach, and of course to the amazing dental team assembled who spent their vacation time tirelessly working in the heat of India - so every child would receive the care they needed.

The theologian Thomas Jay Oord states that to give is to love -- but in order to be a loving person you must be both benevolent and also capable of receiving gifts in return. However, I say that these gifts do not need to be of the tangible kind (though David certainly does receive quite a bit of that). These gifts can be expressions of gratitude that can come in other forms - even in a youtube video. The following is a video made by Dr. Lance McGavin of the children giving thanks to the Somebody Out There whose selfless involvement was a significant part of making this happen:

David recently "tweeted" after finally having the chance to view this video giving the gift of thanks to those involved: "Wow, this is so neat! Thank you for helping with Rising Star Outreach! You guys are amazing!" Yes David, we all think it is pretty neat too and there are not enough exclamation points to express that!

"To feel much for others and little for ourselves: to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections constitute the perfection of human nature." Adam Smith

He is Traveling Light

2009-07-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

"Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough". ~Author Unknown

In the "A Day on Tour" video, posted recently on David Archuleta's official website, David answers questions about life on the road. One of my favorite moments comes when he is talking about getting ready for the 40 stop tour.

"I'm not gonna bring 40 shirts...that's insane!" he exclaims. He then goes on to say he will just repeat what he wears. Not exactly the typical response from a young superstar in the making. So why not 40 shirts and multiple trunks full of clothes David? Because David is a low maintenance, no frills kind of guy.

Maya Angelou has been quoted as saying: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

She could have been describing a typical Meet and Greet encounter with David Archuleta. Many of us feel the experience of being up close and personal with David very vividly. But we may ask ourselves later, "What was he wearing..I can't even remember". I know..because I said that myself.

David is not an extravagant person and he has made comments and tweets about being surprised by the cost of things. One that comes to my mind was his dismay at the price of a hotel breakfast in the United Kingdom.

After his electrifying 7/17 performance at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, with an audience of other young stars and Industry insiders, he and his friends that included Brooke White and Jason Castro, ate at the Original House of Pancakes. Not exactly a trendy expensive L.A. hot spot! But he loved the company and he loved the crepes!

Traveling light and enjoying simple pleasures suit David Archuleta. He doesn't need to re-invent himself at every venue or adopt some false version of himself to make an impact on the audience. On the contrary, David dresses like us. He proudly wears his Target t-shirts, many given to him by fans. When he walks into a Meet and Greet room or welcomes you as you enter the photo op area, you are dazzled by David. Not by what he is wearing but by his ready smile, unfailing kindness, funny random comments, expressive gestures and spontaneous little bits of songs he sings. All of these actions by David are telling us: "I am approachable...don't be afraid." He doesn't adopt an "I'm way too cool for you" attitude to feel superior to his fans. He is simply-David traveling light on his journey.

We his family, friends and fans see him as a beautiful... traveling light. A positive bright spirit that makes us remember for all of our days...how we felt in his presence.

Simple Living

2009-07-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

It’s awful to wake up feeling overwhelmed by the amount of things to do before the day ends. It might be work related tasks, personal issues, or a combination of both. Parents who are taking care of young children often have an even busier life, wondering how they will get everything done before their head hits the pillow at night. The result is usually burnout and shutdown...and who wants to live like that? The joy of life is almost all but lost, and our very existence has been somehow reduced to our success, or failure, at completing a list of tasks. Life is too precious to be squandered this way, and so if we hope to make the most of our time here on this planet, a paradigm shift must be made.

David Archuleta mentioned in yesterday's blog post what I believe is the new outlook needed to neutralize the hectic pace of life...SIMPLICITY! Here is an excerpt:

My mom thought I was kidding when I said I wanted them all to come hang out with my friends lol. But I think it’s great having my favorite little bunch of people (my family) come together with another group of people whom I enjoy being around. I want my friends to know how cool my family is, or at least how cool I think my family is lol. Everyone had a good time too. But yeah, it was fun just spending time with everyone. It’s something that’s so simple, yet so valuable to me. David’s blog 7/21/09.

It’s one thing to mention that we value the simple life, but it’s another to actually achieve it. Do we simply cut down our task list so that it has fewer items? No, David also provides the answer and it has to do with priorities. For David his priority is his family and when he focuses on that, all the other tasks of his busy schedule seem less important...because in perspective they are less important. When we prioritize and devote our time and heart to the important people in our life all the other, somewhat burdensome, tasks naturally take their appropriate place on the back burner. Prioritizing and putting people first, especially our family, is the only way to really live. David seems to get that salient truth quite clearly and he also knows that it produces within our souls the very thing we all long for...a simpler more meaningful life.

Sacrifices

2009-07-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Picture courtesy our friends at Archuleta Fanscene

Sometimes sacrifices need to be made in order to pursue the things that mean the most to us. Making these sacrifices requires a lot of hard work, love, dedication, faith and courage.

One-half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it. ~Sidney Howard~

David Archuleta has made many sacrifices in order to pursue his musical career. Music is what he truly loves. It is what he wants to do. David is so driven by it, that he has had to sacrifice many special things in his life in order to make room for his music. Things such as High school prom and graduation, time spent hanging out with friends and most importantly, seeing his family on a regular basis. These are all very important moments in any ones life. But David Archuleta has had to leave some of it behind, so he can perform.

David has had to miss many holidays with his family. He has been away for special events like Thanksgiving, Mother's Day and Father's Day. He has had to miss family get-togethers with his large extended family, because he was on tour and couldn't get home. Yet as hard as it all may be, David knows he has to be okay with these sacrifices because he is doing something that he loves so much, something that he wants so much. He is also aware that he is sharing his gift of music with others and he believes that he has been called by God to do it. David seems to understand that he has been given this special gift and he wants to use it wisely. In the liner notes of his debut self titled album, David writes; "There have been good times and hard times, but I think it's all given to you to take you where you need to go in life. I have been so blessed to have been given this experience, and there is no doubt in my mind that the credit goes to God. So I'd like to thank Him first for trusting me with what He has given me, and for His many blessings. I hope to continue using the gift He has given me the way He wants me to, and I know that way will benefit you and those around you as well."

He then goes on to say; "Next, I'd like to thank my family for being so supportive and incredibly understanding." David realizes the sacrifices that those closest to him have had to make as well, so he can pursue his music career. His family has had to be separated for long periods of time. While his father Jeff was with him through American Idol and on the road for concerts dates, his mother Lupe was with the other kids, holding down the fort back home in Utah. She was busy getting David's brother and sisters through their daily comings and goings, as they adjusted to life without their Dad and David around. Again, sacrifices made that are all very hard on a family I am sure, but done out of love nonetheless, love for their son/brother so he could create the music he is so passionate about.

Since David left American Idol, he has been on the road more than he has been home. He travels from city to city all across the United States, on a tour bus. He has flown for many hours to other countries, staying in different hotels night after night and living out of a suitcase. As he tries to recover from the jet lag, he does interview after interview, meet and greets, and then he goes on to perform an incredible show, singing at times for almost an hour. Days off from performing may be spent doing some promoting or recording. He is a very busy young man with a lot on his plate. But he always seems so positive and upbeat about it. I have heard him say many times in interviews, that it is all worth it because he is doing what he truly enjoys. He is willing to sacrifice the comforts of home and family to travel and sing. He is willing to give certain things up, so he can do what is so important to him as he reaches reach out and shares his talent with others.

Unfortunately, it does seem that with the price of fame also comes the loss of some personal freedoms. David is no longer able to walk around freely among the general population without being recognized at times, which I am sure can make it hard for him to enjoy a 'normal' day with his family or peers. Even attending church services can be difficult for him. Now when he goes out in public, many people know who he is and they want to get close to him. He can't go out as easily as before, so he makes concessions. What was once so simple, now must be carefully planned. But when David is greeted by his fans, he is always patient, polite and very cordial.

As I've pointed out, many special events have been spent away from those that mean the most to David, due to obligations that need to be met and engagements that can't be missed. But again, David seems to understand what he has to do, and he does it so graciously. I have never read or heard about David complaining because of the sacrifices he has made. On the contrary, he seems delighted to be singing and making music. And while he is making his music, he is capturing hearts and touching souls all along the way. It is as though he is on a mission. But I believe David knows that the sacrifices he is making are important, they must be made. And I am sure it must be very gratifying for him to see how much his music touches others.

Yes the sacrifices have been made, but the rewards have been great. David has been able to help a lot of people through his music. He has healed some hearts and he has spread a lot of joy. He has become a role model for so many, and he sets such a wonderful example for not only today's youth, but any one that has had the pleasure of experiencing him and his talents. David has also been able to support many causes and charities with his new found fame. He has done a tremendous amount of good, helping people all over the world. Something he might not have been able to do as easily, had he not pursued his musical career and made so many sacrifices.

I believe that David understands what he must give up, but in doing so he is gaining so much more. While he is doing what he loves, he is giving so much back. Whether it is to those who admire him and love his music, or those who are less fortunate. David's sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. As a fan of David's, I think I speak for many when I say; Thank you David, for making these sacrifices so you can make your music and share it with us. You have made a wonderful difference in so many lives. We admire you and appreciate you so much, and we love your music. You have not made these sacrifices in vain. You have our support and we are so grateful to you!

The Glass is Always Half Full (Even When It Sits Beside a Sickbed)

2009-07-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

By all accounts, David Archuleta is a very positive and appreciative person. We have seen this demonstrated over and over again in the past year and a half or so. Still, I think that some things that David wrote last week in his blog and on Twitter during some difficult circumstances show him really going above and beyond in the positive outlook department.

Last Tuesday, David posted this message on Twitter:

Ugh I feel terrible. No fun being sick. Thankfully we have 2 days off, so hopefully I'll be ok by the next show lol.

Later that night, in response to some well-wishes, David wrote a couple more things:

Thanks @realbrookewhite! Just been trying to rest and haven't been on the computer much today since I'm sick. Hope you guys understand! :)

But P.S. Hi to everyone! And thanks for your get better messages!!! You guys are too nice haha :)

Notice that even as David was letting us know that he was sick and felt terrible, he still punctuated his messages with “lol” and smiley faces. (Hopefully they helped him to feel a little bit better as he wrote them!) He also was finding a positive thing to focus on by being thankful that he had two days off, so that he could have a chance to recover by the time he next had to perform. David also made sure to let everyone know that he appreciated the get-well messages that they were sending to him.

The blog that David posted the next day gave us yet more information on how he had been feeling. Here is the relevant paragraph:

So I was planning on doing a video blog for this week, but I haven't been feeling too well at all for the last couple of days. So I while I was planning on the video blog, I wasn't planning on getting sick lol. So I'll just have to figure out when the next time for a video blog will work. I'm already feeling a whole lot better than yesterday though! We had our drive from Oklahoma to Arizona that day. I spent 24 hours on our bus, because even though we finally got to the hotel I was feeling too sick to move lol. But things are well! I've been sleeping, resting, sleeping and resting like crazy. Thanks for all of your concerns and thoughts! I've really appreciated it. I'm hoping to be in good shape for all of you coming to the Arizona show tomorrow!

While David told us that he hadn’t been “feeling too well at all” for a couple of days, in typical optimistic fashion, he also let us know that he was glad that his condition had improved from the previous day. Improvement was definitely a good thing, because, from this blog excerpt, we learn just how sick David actually had been -- he didn’t even feel well enough to get off the bus to go into the hotel! But, he did not dwell on that negative experience, instead laughing and telling us that “things are well!” as he’d been resting and sleeping and hoping to get better soon. Once again, David also expressed his thanks and appreciation for the fact that people had been concerned about him.

I think that most people have a tougher time than usual being upbeat, friendly, and “themselves” when they are sick. It is possible that David may have had some irritable or depressed moments during his illness last week, but, if what he shared with us on Twitter and in his blog is any indication, they did not predominate. His messages are just filled with positivity, appreciation, hope, and the cheerful personality that we have come to know.

The Twitter post that struck me as the most remarkable of all was written by David last Thursday. He said:

Arizona show is tonight! Feel sooo much better! Had a great relaxing couple of days off. What perfect timing for getting sick lol. woot

I could understand David’s enthusiasm for feeling much better after what he’d gone through and also the fact that he could see a silver lining in having been sick during a time that he did not have to do a show, but I was amazed that he could call two days spent resting during a serious bout of illness a “great relaxing couple of days off!” That seems to be a rather extreme case of looking on the bright side, but I think that it just shows us yet again how truly positive David Archuleta’s outlook on life is. This seems to help him to enjoy life and to be a genuinely happy person, and that is a wonderful thing. Perhaps if we try to add just a little more positivity to our lives, at least under normal circumstances, we’ll also gain more happiness. It seems to work for David!

It Ain't Easy-But It's Worth It

2009-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

In an interview recently David Archuleta spoke about song writing and made this surprising comment: "But I feel like I have writer's block 24/7, with little openings. We've all got our weaknesses, and that's mine."

There are days when even David Archuleta is feeling like he is in over his head. He has confided to his fans in a very open way that he doesn't find it easy to write songs. That doesn't mean he isn't creative enough, because we all can testify, he is already an accomplished songwriter.
What other fourteen year old can write a song with such depth and poetry as "Falling"? But like the beautiful ending phrase in that song,even though overwhelmed, he doesn't get stuck in the negative...but keeps "pushing through to the end."

Song writing comes easier to David then to most of humanity, but it still takes a lot of hard work...some false starts and some dead ends. But the elation he must feel when it works,when it begins to flow. He seems to enjoy the process that in the beginning intimidated him. He has opened himself up to collaborating with other song writers and has co-created some incredible songs. I think a good portion of his fan base, have been drawn the most, to songs he co-wrote. Those "little openings" he speaks of will widen more and more all the time.

David has been in some writing sessions for his upcoming albums and we all eagerly wait to hear what he wants to say. This past year that included travel to the United Kingdom, Asia and a large portion of the US must have inspired him. With every passing year, as David's world grows, so will his song writing skills. From David's June 16th blog to us: "I was also working on some material for the next pop album as well. It’s gonna be crazy working on all the stuff this Summer along with the tour, but I’m sooo excited you guys! Oh, how I love music lol. Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing what will become of everything, because I’m really not sure how it’s going to end up. It’s the kind of thing that you don’t know what’s going to happen until it happens. I really want to work with more people on writing though and get that part of my brain exercised and movin’.

From that quote it sounds like David is eager to create songs that have meaning for him and for all of us. I cannot think of anything better than the prospect of new songs written by David Archuleta. Listening to a new song written by David for the very first time, I know we will be captivated by every note and word he carefully crafted. We thank you David for your courage and perseverance to work at something that does not come easy.

Perhaps it is time to reflect on our own "little openings" and push ourselves a bit more. Maybe we can learn that second language or how to play an instrument. If we try a little harder maybe we can develop that idea that drifts into our head from time to time. Lets see if we can be better at something that scares us a little.

"Stay the course,
light a star,
change the world
where'er you are."
Richard Le Gallienne

David Archuleta-The Music Man

2009-07-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a person love music..not just enjoy it...or tap their toes to it...or appreciate it on some intellectual level...but LOVE it, the way David does? David Archuleta appears to have melodies and snippets of lyrics swirling in his head pretty much all the time. Sometimes these little musical nuggets pop out of David's mouth much to every one's delight. He punctuates conversations with bits and pieces of songs he has heard and never forgotten. It is amazing that he knows so many songs that were popular decades before his birth. And...he knows them in at least two languages. He takes Ben E King's "Stand By Me" and Selena's "Como La Flor" and makes them his own. He's even been told he sings in his sleep!

From an early age it appears that David understood how music can tell human stories in such a deep and profound way. He began to understand the powerful possibilities music has to comfort, to encourage, to teach and to inspire us. We can feel our most vulnerable when we listen to music but we can also feel the most alive. He knows how music can influence our moods, our outlook and our behavior. Through his own experience he is aware that sometimes our deepest felt prayers happen through music.

In 1957 the musical play "The Music Man" opened on Broadway. It was also a popular movie released in 1962. Composer Meredith Wilson wrote a simple but beautiful song for the play entitled "Till There Was You". I have located a video clip of four very young lads from Liverpool performing this song. Reading the lyrics I couldn't help but think of David and how his sharing of his special gift of music affects us.

There were bells on the hill
But I never heard them ringing,
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you.

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you.

And there was music,
And there were wonderful roses,
They tell me,
In sweet fragrant meadows of dawn, and dew.

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you!

David Archuleta didn't invent music, but he awakens our senses and helps us to tap into the beauty and the power of music. Music is David's gift to treasure and to share. Whatever your gift is, and yes we all have gifts, NOW is the time to share it.

It could just possibly be that "Till There Was You", there was someone who didn't know how to read... cook... swim... sew... drive... or love. Be like David Archuleta.....Share the gifts.

Man in the Mirror

2009-07-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

A mirror reflects the exterior part of who we are. We spend time preparing and getting our external appearance just right to “present” ourselves to the world. We style our hair, shave, put on makeup and wear nice clothes. Our external appearance is important to us, and so we make sure that others see us as well groomed and nicely dressed. We spend the time to reflect to the world a part of us that we feel comfortable with. There is nothing wrong with looking presentable, but I wonder how many of us take the same amount of time to groom and prepare what’s inside of us. That way when we do interact with others, we are able to care, love, and touch the lives of those around us. The mirror reflects our outward appearance but our actions reveal what lies within. Character is more than skin deep!

In David Archuleta’s recent blog he discussed how he was touched by watching Michael Jackson’s memorial, and recommended that we listen to the song, “Man in the Mirror”. Here's an excerpt of his blog:

Song for the day: Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
I know this song has been everywhere lately, but thank goodness it is! It is one of the greatest songs, with the most amazing message of starting with the person in the mirror. So take it to heart: If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change! July 8, 2009

David Archuleta is right! We should take to heart the fact that change really does begin with us. The change that David refers to comes from that part of us that is not to be found in a mirror's reflection. We can pretty up our external appearance and fool many people into thinking that we have it all together, but the real reflection of who we are is so much more. It is evidenced by our willingness to love others. Yes, let's heed the words of David Archuleta and think about how we can make a change in this world for the better, but remember it begins with looking in the mirror and seeing beyond just our external reflection. It begins with what lies deep within our soul...OUR CHARACTER!

I See the kids in the street with not enough to eat, who am I to be blind pretending not to see their needs...I'm starting with the man in
the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways and no message could have
been any clearer if you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself, and then make a change.
"Man in the Mirror", sung by Michael Jackson, 1988

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T"

2009-07-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

In order to have respect for others, you must first learn to respect yourself, as the saying goes. David Archuleta is someone who truly respects himself. He has very strong values and morals. He takes care of himself and he does his best to live his life in the right ways spiritually, honestly and appropriately. In turn, he is able to show respect for others. In my opinion, he does a tremendous job of it.

One recent example of the respect that David has shown another, was when he was on a tour stop in Arkansas on July 2, 2009. He did not sing "Apologize" at this show, a song that many fans love hearing him sing. Instead, he replaced it with his "One Medley." Though we all love his "One Medley", some wondered why he was singing that instead of "Apologize." When questioned about it on Twitter, David's reply was that he knew Kris Allen, the Season 8 American Idol winner, had sung it on AI. So out of respect for him, since Kris is from Arkansas and David felt he was on Kris's turf, he sang the "One Medley" instead! When I first learned about this, honestly I was not surprised. It all made sense. David being the kind and thoughtful young man that he is, did not want to step on Kris Allen's toes. He did not want to upstage "Arkansas' Own Hometown Hero." David made a conscious effort to sing a different song and he still gave the fans a wonderful performance at the same time. He is really careful to be respectful of others. I find it so refreshing in a young man of his age.

Here is the Twitter response David sent a fan, who questioned him about that song change. It shows that David is very mindful of others as well as respectful, and he tries not to offend anyone.

@likewhoaxox from DavidArchie. I didn't because Kris Allen sang it on AI, and I'm sure the crowd knew his version well haha. So just wanted to respect him. July 2, 2009 from web, in reply to likewhoaxox.

David has a history of showing respectful behavior towards others. Last Summer when he was being interviewed by a reporter during the AI tour, David was asked about playing tricks on his fellow AI cast members. He replied that yes, they did have fun on tour playing pranks but that he would never do anything to the girls, because he said, "I am all about respecting the girls!" Wow I remember thinking to myself, he has good old fashioned values and he respects the ladies. So nice to see in this day and age, when so many young men and women today, do not show respect for each other. However, David Archuleta shows through his examples that he respects all people, both women and men alike.

During American Idols season 7, David always had the kindest things to say about all his fellow contestants. He had admiration and respect for all of them. And when it came down to the final two and he and David Cook were the only ones left, David made the nicest comments about his competition. In fact, he didn't even view it as a competition at all. He was just so happy to be standing next to someone who he thought was so talented. How many people in this same situation would have only been concerned with winning? How many would have honestly and humbly viewed their competition is such a positive light? I can only think of one, David Archuleta!

I am also reminded of the time during American Idol Season 7, when David Archuleta was asked by host Ryan Seacrest, to pick the side that was going to be staying on in the competition. David had just been told by Ryan that he had made it through to the next round, and now he should go and stand next to the group that he thought would also be moving ahead in the competition with him. David just stood there looking rather confused, on either side of him were the other contestants. All of them were people he had come to know and respect very much. How could he make that decision and choose? David did the only thing that a young man with respect for his friends would do, he sat down right in the middle of the stage. I remember truly admiring him even more that evening. He showed so much integrity in that one moment. Here is the video recap from that episode of American Idol Season7:

I could watch this video over and over again. I am still amazed by the character of this young man and the way that he treats people. Even when he is put in a very uncomfortable situation, David still chooses to do the right thing, he does the respectful thing.

After David Cook won American Idol, the 'Top 10' contestants went out on the Summer AI tour. During their concert stop in Utah, David Archuleta made a point to tell his home state of Utah to "please show their love for Cook." He was so proud to be back home and he wanted Utah to be welcoming to his friend, David Cook. More importantly, he wanted them to show Cook respect. Utah responded in kind, and was very warm and hospitable toward David Cook. I think David Archuleta had a lot to do with that. Once again, David showed that he is always polite and well mannered, traits that make a person respectful.

There is a classic rock and roll song made popular by Aretha Franklin that goes, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T find out what it means to me...!" It means a lot to David Archuleta and he continues to demonstrate that through his actions. He is one young man that embodies the true meaning of the word, 'respect'.

Wendy's Story - Helping David Archuleta to Save the Day

2009-07-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Many of us have changed our lives because of the inspiration to do good. What is truly inspiring is when a family is brought together in working together for a common cause. This is so true of Wendy, a member at Angels For a Cause. No other family has done more for Angels for A Cause fund raising efforts than Wendy, Wendy's employer, and her family. Wendy and her family have had an Easter Egg Hunt that generated funds donated to Rising Star Outreach, so this was a community effort. Shortly after that they had some "spring cleaning" and held a yard sale that as you can tell from the volume of stuff they had generated hundreds of dollars also that was generously turned over to RSO. Wendy's employer was able to secure an ample amount of dental supplies that were donated to Dr. McGavin's dental mission to India. Finally, Wendy purchased awareness bracelets for Angels For a Cause and is selling them at concerts and you guessed it - donating to RSO.

I had to opportunity to ask Wendy some questions about how she was inspired by David Archuleta to do all of this as well as what impact it had on her family life:

From Wendy's blog on Angels For A Cause:

We are huge fans of David Archuleta as a person and a singer and we support any charity that he does."

AFD: Tells us your first impressions of David when you first saw him:

WENDY: When I first saw David Archuleta, I thought "wow-what a nice kid with a happy outlook on life who happens to have a great voice", loved him from the first audition on. I love his awesome morals and values, what an angel

AFD: How did Angels' For a Cause change your outlook on life?

WENDY: I have become much more aware of the needs of the world and to look outside my own life and own struggles and see there are people out there that really need our help and if everyone gives a little, it really adds up!

AFD: Your employer seems like a great person, how did you first approach him about the RSO project and what was his response?

WENDY: My employer has been so supportive of the whole dental project. I just told him that Dr. McGavin was doing a great project where he was giving dental treatment to children in the leprosy colonies and he went down in our storage room and just started pulling out supplies that we could donate! And then I took it from there, I started contacting dental sales reps and asking if they would be willing to donate and the response was great, surprisingly to me a lot of suppliers were willing to help even in this struggling economy. Dental supplies are very expensive but that didn't seem to matter, there was a lot of generosity.

AFD: Have you found working together on these projects has brought your family closer?

WENDY: Absolutely, I have 4 children, 3 daughters ages 13,9, and 6 and a son who is 2. And as soon as I started talking about Angels for a Cause and Rising Star, my daughters and I sat down together and came up with ideas to raise money. First, we did an Easter Egg Hunt and then a huge yard sale which combined raised close to $1000! They love David Archuleta too so they were eager to get involved and help him. And my husband has been extremely supportive as well as my mother who is a huge fan of David's too.

AFD: What lessons have your children learned?

WENDY: My children have definitely learned that not all children live the comfortable life that they live. I taught them all about the struggles the kids in India have to go through on a daily basis. They asked a lot of questions and are very curious . All my kids got money for a good report card and my youngest daughter, she is only 6, wanted to donate her $20- to Rising Star right away. They pray for the kids in India at church on Sundays when the pastor asks for prayer request. It has made them much less selfish and more giving and compassionate of others, and I owe a lot of that to David as well.

AFD: You seem to have some great neighbors! What do they think of all of this?

WENDY: To be honest, at first some of my neighbors and friends thought I was crazy following this "kid" named David Archuleta at my middle age of 35! But, after I explained what AFAC was all about, a lot of neighbors helped out with the yard sale, bringing over things to sell, and coming to our Egg Hunt and donating what they could. And I gave David's CD's to a bunch of neighbors and friends and told them to "just listen and give him a chance" and some of them actually enjoyed his music after all!

AFD: Tells us more about your latest project - the Angels For A Cause bracelets.

WENDY: I was trying to think of another fundraiser that wouldn't be too expensive to do and would be a gift to the fans even with a small donation since every little amount of money counts for Rising Star. I had seen the Crush MS bracelets that a fan of his created so I thought "why not one for AFAC?" Cheryl from AFAC helped me design it since she is the creative one. And it took off from there! I ordered 100 to start and they are SOLD OUT! I just made a second order for 75 that are in the process of being shipped to my house. I sold a bunch at David's recent Philadelphia concert and I will be attending the upcoming Pittsburgh and Hershey shows along with the meet and greets . I will have the bracelets with me there if anyone is interested or you can order them through AFAC. ((Wendy had the opportunity to give one to David))

AFD: Any future projects up your sleeve?

WENDY: Well, I am always thinking!! During the hot summer, the kids and I will try to do a couple of lemonade stands. We live on a golf course and the golfers love that!

AFD: How did you get involved in Angels For A Cause?

WENDY: I have gone through alot the last couple of years personally. I have had to deal with some medical issues both physically and emotionally and it has been rough. To get my mind off of things, I would go online and read about anything David since he is so positive and his personality is so uplifting and his music so inspiring. And that is when I came across AFAC. When I read about the dental project, I thought "This is something that I can help with ". God has played a huge part in all this too, he has given me the strength to dedicate myself to this charity which has made me a stronger person. I have also meet some amazing people, fans of David, who I love to chat with. AFAC really made me see there is a reason I had to go through the struggles I did... it made me a stronger and more giving person knowing how precious life is and to make the most of every day.

Counting David's Character would like to thank Wendy for all that she has done - truly one of the angels who have "Saved the Day".

Go to Angels For A Cause for information on how to donate and receive an Angels For A Cause bracelet.

Wendy is on Twitter : wendynj

Wendy's prayer for Dr. McGavin and those joining him in India (they departed on July 6th, 2009):

Well, the time has finally come!! I know all of you have followed our family as we donated dental supplies to Dr. McGavin in Utah for his mission to India. He leaves early tomorrow morning for his trip!! Please pray for him and that he will have a safe and successful trip. This means alot ot him and his staff (and me too!) and they need our thoughts and prayers for the next couple weeks. It isnt going to be easy and he is not sure what he is going to find when he gets over there but he is an amazing person and will do a great job taking care of the kids dental needs of Rising Star Outreach. Angels for a Cause raised over $15,000 towards this trip which is amazing too! And I'd like to thank all my family and friends that helped with that, whether it was enjoying our egg hunt at Easter or coming to our yard sale or donating money for a bracelet, every bit counts! thanks again and God Bless, I told Dr. McGavin this past week to give the kids in India a kiss from me! wish I could go!

Late addition: Rumor has it (from first hand eye witness) that Dr.McGavin and team hit the ground running and have been working tirelessly in order to reach as many children as they can. "It's amazing to watch".

David Archuleta's Tale of Two Cities

2009-07-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

If someone says "Miami, Florida" to you, what images come into your mind?

Bright sunny skies and warm temper- atures, colorful buildings, joyful percussion driven Latin music, fragrant spicy food, people in cool sunglasses--A city that is vibrant and exciting! David Archuleta looks very much at home on this sun-kissed day with the palm tree in the background and wearing a pair of borrowed sunglasses. From his blog of February 2009, here is a portion of what he had to say: "Heeey Eerrrrbody. I’m reporting from Florida today, and I’m having a grand time in my birth state haha.....So for the next little bit I’ll be doing some promo in Florida. It’s really nice to be in Florida right now, especially when it’s snowing in Utah. Gotta love warm weather."

Here are a few fun facts about the city of David Archuleta's birth:

Miami holds the distinction of being the only major city in the United States founded by a woman, Julia Tuttle, who was a local citrus grower.

Miami is home to over 150 ethnicities and 60 languages. Miami Beach was dubbed the Sun and Fun Capital by Jackie Gleason when he broadcast his show here in the 1960s. Today Miami Beach is known as America’s Riviera and the Latin Hollywood.

Benjamin Green, a Miami Beach pharmacist, invented the first suntan lotion by cooking cocoa butter on a stove in 1944.
Now switch gears a little and think of Salt Lake City, Utah. Besides seeing a picture of David in your head, what else comes to mind? Beautiful snow-capped mountains, majestic places of worship, the beautiful voices of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and most of all the kind hearted people of the state of Utah.

Did you know: The name "Utah" comes from the Native American "Ute" tribe and means people of the mountains.

Many episodes of the popular television series “Touched by an Angel” were partially filmed in Salt Lake City. I find that appropriate, don't you?

The average snowfall in the mountains near Salt Lake City is 500 inches (over 40 feet!) - that is nearly five times the average snowfall of Juneau, Alaska.

The people of Salt Lake City consume more Jell-O per capita than any other city in the United States. This is no joke. In 2001 The State of Utah formally declared Jello-O the official State Snack.

David is a perfect product of both regions of our country. Geographically separated by over 2,500 miles...they are beautifully blended in David Archuleta. The city of his birth is very much a part of David. A part that intrigues and sometimes surprises us a little. The spontaneous, exuberant, feel the music down to your toes David. But David is also the adopted son of Utah. His deep faith and positive outlook owe a lot to this place that claims him as their hometown guy. This is where he made his first real friends and learned as he matured that music can also be prayer.

Even though he craves the hot humid weather of a tropical climate he will never be able to stay away from Utah. As he exclaimed at his sold out performance in Salt Lake City In March 2009, "It feels so good to be home, you guys!” he yelled to the sell-out crowd. “This is amazing! This is awesome! I can’t believe how unbelievably crazy this is.” “Utah’s given me so much support,” David said, “and without that, I wouldn’t be here tonight.” So although these regions are very different, David is very much at home in either place. There is always a little bit of Florida and Utah inside of David, that he takes with him wherever he goes.His heart clearly belongs solidly in each state.

Where we are born, where we grow and mature and where we chose to live is a part of who we are and how we view the world, If like David, we take the very best from whatever environment we are in, our lives will be the richer. Being a part of the family of David Archuleta fans affords us the opportunity to share our cultures and traditions. If we are very fortunate we may even have the chance to host a fan from another country. David's behavior consistently shows us that he believes that inclusion is very important to him. May we all take advantage of this additional blessing David gives to us. And may we also appreciate the sights, sounds and people of our own little corner of the planet.

A very big thank you to NY Marc who is also Florida Marc and maybe one day Utah Marc for letting me use his wonderful photos of David performing in Florida for this blog.

This one is especially for Todd, Marc, SherylNotCrow, China80, Sandra DB, Daisy/Mary, Utah Susan and Mom Julee.

The Spark - Happy Fourth of July David Archuleta

2009-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

"Touch My Hand" David Archuleta you are the spark that started it all.....

On this day celebrating the birth of our country, I think of what the past year has meant to many of us observing and experiencing the joy and character of David Archuleta. When reading through the many submissions for CDC's "Because of David...." article I noticed a recurring theme --- a rebirth of the spirit within. Old passions have been set alight such as getting that old musical instrument out of its case or dusting off the piano and playing music again. Our radios are now turned on and we are enjoying listening to music while driving around town - just like in our earlier days. For some this rebirth has been a returning to their faith and religion - for others a rekindling of past friendships and for most finding out the joy of helping others in ways we never would have imagined.

We do these things on our own accord -- but there was a catalyst needed to get this journey ignited. Nothing grandiose needed like the massive fireworks display many will be watching tonight --- just the small sparks that come from a touch of the hand, a flash of a smile, a glowing act of kindness, or a sweet scintillation of a song that comes at the right moment.

Gratitude:

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." ~Albert Schweitzer

Thank You David Archuleta for being that spark that re-lit my pilot light!

Let's join David in singing our National Anthem in remembrance of those who have fought for our freedoms and in honor of those who are still doing so over seas. May the light of freedom shine on and never be extinguished.

Happy Fourth of July!

Music Appreciation, Part II: David Archuleta, One-Man Promotion Department

2009-07-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

In May, two articles on CDC (Leave Your Ego at the Door and Music Appreciation) discussed the tendency of David Archuleta to unselfishly give a lot of attention and praise to other artists. Last week, in his comments on Twitter and in his blog, David’s complimentary and helpful attitude to fellow performers was frequently on display.

David spent a lot of time telling all of his readers how excited he was that Regina Spektor’s CD was being released last week and how much he was looking forward to listening to it.

He also made sure to mention and promote several of his fellow American Idol season 7alumni, both on Twitter and in his blog. He relayed the facts that Michael Johns’ CD and Brooke White’s new single had been released and that Carly Smithson has a new band, telling everyone that, “You should check it all out!” and concluding by saying, “I'm really excited for all my idol buddies!”

David also had some nice things to say about the other artists with whom he is currently touring. In response to a “tweet” from someone who said that she had met the opening group KSM, David said that, “KSM's a bunch of cool girls, huh?” In his blog, David talked about Demi Lovato, the headliner for his current tour, saying, “Demi is a wickedly talented girl! I'm glad to be on tour with her and am looking forward to an awesome Summer with her.”

One exchange with a fan on Twitter really stood out to me. David had responded to a comment from a fan regarding which of two of his songs the person preferred. David’s next “tweet” was also a response to the same person, who had asked David, “How has Demi treated you so far? I heard she can be mean.” It’s pretty unusual for David to respond to the same fan twice in a row, but he made sure to reply to this comment right away by saying, “Noooo. She's waaay cool!” It seems that David wanted to be sure to set the record straight by letting fans know about his positive view of Demi Lovato.

So, just by looking at the things that David Archuleta wrote over a few days last week, we can once again see that he truly values the work of many other singers, that he tries to support his friends and tourmates whenever he can, and that he is willing to jump in to defend others from negative comments that he believes are inaccurate or unfair. I believe that these are all positive things to be admired, and I think that we can all be inspired by David’s attitude to appreciate the music of many different artists. After all, there is plenty of good music out there, so we might as well listen and enjoy it!

Transformers

2009-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

The ability to transform is a rare gift, indeed. Whether it is transforming oneself, or others, it remains a gift worth cherishing and cultivating. In the second installment of the recently released movie "Transformers", there is surprisingly a nugget of truth from one of the protector transformer robots, named Optimus Prime, when he declares:

"Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing"

It is true, we don't choose when, or to whom we are born, or the gifts we are given. We are placed within our world at the precise time and with the right gifts to do something great. Our call to action might come at an inconvenient time in our life but it is at that very moment that we choose to be all that we were designed to be. Regardless of our physical or emotional state, our upbringing and surrounding, or our confidence level, when the moment arises the choice is ours. We make the choice whether or not to use our gift to its maximum potential. In Latin, the name of the transformer robot, Optimus Prime, refers to being the best that we can be at any given time.

Last week the entire world heard about the death of pop icon Michael Jackson. Regardless of whether you like his music, dance moves, or whatever your opinions are of the controversies surrounding his life, one fact remains...Michael Jackson had a rare gift to transform those around him. David Archuleta sent a Twitter message on the day of Michael's passing, saying:

Ah, I can't get over MJ. I know everyone's talking about it but he deserves the respect. I hope people will appreciate what he's done. June 25th, 2009

David appreciates what Michael Jackson was able to accomplish. Here is a video clip taken from the Sonny and Cher show of Michael Jackson, at the age of 13 or 14 singing a song entitled "Ben", which is about a pet rat. It sounds like a funny topic, but Michael's ability to connect with the audience and make the song believable is truly a gift.

Michael Jackson left the group, the "Jackson 5" in 1984, and went on to become a music legend of his own, on par with the Beatles and Elvis. Amidst Michael's personal struggles, there were times where we saw the true potential of his gift. in 1985 Michael co-wrote with Lionel Richie a song called "We are the World" in order to raise money and provide famine relief to Africa. The song included 45 musicians singing the powerful lyrics, "When the world must come together as one, there are people dying and it's time to lend a hand to life, the greatest gift of all". That song went on to raise $63 million to feed those in Africa. When a gift, like the one that Michael Jackson possessed, is used to reach out to a hurting world the ability to transform lives reaches it's full potential.

Since even his younger years, David Archuleta has shown that he also possesses a very special musical gift. I believe that his ability to sing and connect with the audience is downright astonishing, and even from an early age that gift is evident. Here at the age of 13, about the same age as when Michael Jackson sang "Ben", David sings "Imagine" on the television show "Good Things Utah". David's voice coach, Dean Kaelin, is accompanying him on guitar. David has that gift to make the listener believe the words of that song...a very special gift to transform the hearts of others and motivate them to be better.

With David Archuleta there is something more, though, than just his musical gift. David has chosen to live a life of character. Yes, it is a choice, and a very wise one, for his choosing to respect and honor his gift maximizes it's potential to transform and reach out to the world. David recognizes that he is not the owner of his gift, but the caretaker, responsible to respect and cultivate it. Like a priceless diamond that is respected and cared for, David has treated his musical gift with the utmost respect. He talks to Dean Kaelin almost daily to ensure his voice is well cared for, and he uses that voice to deliver heartfelt songs that touch and move whoever is listening. Hearts that are touched, healed and given hope are motivated to move into action to touch the lives of others. That is transformation!

Many of David's fans have responded to that transformation and have started charities or have rallied together to support many that are already in place. The statistics of our world are staggering, every 3.6 seconds someone dies of starvation. Many children are left orphaned because of disease or the inability of their parents to care for them. Rising Star Outreach, a charity that David promotes, reaches out to the lepers of India. Many of the David Archuleta fans have come together to raise over $19,000 for this great cause. They did so because their hearts were touched by the life and music of David Archuleta. His musical career is just beginning and already we can see the life changing transformation that it is bringing to his fans, and to the world.

The transformer, Optimus Prime, has it right when he said, "Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing"...but how we choose to respond makes all the difference in the world. I wonder how many of us have lived our life wondering what our gift is, not to mention using it to its full potential. I believe each and every one of us has been given a unique and special gift that, when treated with respect and used for the good of others, can transform famine into a feast and suffering into joy.

Like a diamond that lies deep beneath the earth, there is a beauty that is hidden from the world that should rightfully be discovered and appreciated. David Archuleta is doing what the Creator intended. He was given a gift and chose to treat it with respect by living a life of character. This is the optimus prime...to discover your gift, cultivate it, and live life with character so that hearts, minds and lives can be transformed to the maximum extent possible. David Archuleta's voice is a priceless diamond, and his character is the setting that displays it to the world.

"I feel so blessed to have been given this experience, and there’s no doubt in my mind that that the credit goes to God. So I’d like to thank Him ﬁrst for trusting me with what He’s given me, and for His many blessings. I hope to continue to use the gift He has given me the way He wants me to, and I know that way will beneﬁt you and those around you as well."
~ David Archuleta, CD liner notes, 2008

Experiencing David 'Live'

2009-06-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have had the the good fortune and pleasure of seeing David Archuleta perform live on three occasions. The first was during the American Idols Live Tour last September. There is nothing like hearing this young man's voice and watching him sing live. It is an experience like no other. David Archuleta is one performer that sounds better 'live' than he does on a recording. His voice is beautiful and powerful. He hits the notes and puts so much emotion into what he is singing, that you feel like you are being taken on a exciting ride with him. From the moment he steps onto that stage you become captivated. He reaches into your heart and grabs it and that's it, you are captured by him. He has a way of touching your soul and you are left with such good feelings, that you want to go out and share it with the world.

June 21st, 2009 was my latest experience watching David perform 'live'. He is currently opening for Demi Lavato, and his first tour stop was in Hartford, CT. I brought along my adult daughter and teenage son. Both had learned about David because I have been talking about, listening to and singing his praises, since I first saw him try out for American Idol's season 7 more than a year ago. They have heard me say over and over again, what an amazing young man David Archuleta is. They know how he has touched my life in so many positive ways. I truly feel he has made me a better person.

My son had gone with me to see David perform in Northampton, MA last March. That was when David captured him! My daughter agreed to come with me to Hartford, after she heard her brother explain what a great 'live' performer David is. She has very eclectic musical tastes and though she has heard David's music, I was not sure she really believed that when David sang 'live' it would be the experience that we had told her about. That is until she heard him perform. Now she too, has been captured! She actually shared with me that when David sang 'To Be With You' she got goosebumps. All three of us were absolutely mesmerized as David accompanied himself to 'Apologize' on the piano, it was truly fantastic. Every song he sang was something to behold. The energy with which he performed and that voice of his..... honestly, there are no words to describe accurately the way he moves you deep down inside. Watching him perform on stage fills you up with such good, happy feelings. You never want it to end! When David's portion of the concert was over and he left the stage, my daughter commented to me that she wished he could have sang longer because he was so good 'live'. She though he was better than we had told her. Now we are looking for tickets to see him in Providence, RI this August because we all want to go again, we need to see and hear more David.

Before the show while we were waiting for David to go on, seated all around me were mostly Demi Lavato fans. Many of them shared with me, that they had never heard David sing before. I assured them they were all in for a wonderful treat. Then the lights dimmed and David and his band took the stage. While David was performing, I saw Demi's fans transformed before my very eyes. I could hear their comments after each one of David's songs. They ranged from "Aw, he is so cute!" to "Oh My gosh, he is an incredible singer...he is so good!" They were being captured right in front of me! They told me that they though he was fantastic. Oh how I loved saying "I told you so!!" I even heard someone near me say, after David did a cover of 'Apologize', "Wow, I liked his version so much, maybe even better than the original!" I thought this was really interesting because I have felt the same way about many of the songs David has covered. In my opinion after hearing David sing it, his version becomes the best one. I know I am not alone when I say that. I have heard many of David's fans comment about feeling that way as well. Whether it is Robbie William's 'Angels' or Vanessa Carlton's 'A Thousand Miles', we all love the way David sings them the best.

I was so happy that evening that David had made so many new fans. However, I was not surprised. The thing is that when David captures you, you don't even realize it has happened. You just go with him, as you get lost in his performance. His voice is hypnotizing. He is like The Pied Piper with his music. He makes you want to follow him, and you do it willingly again and again! I know many fans that have traveled great distances just to watch David perform for an hour or so, sometimes less. They have traveled through blizzards. They have stood outside in rain, snow and hot weather for long periods of time, just to see and hear David sing. I can tell you all honestly, I am one fan who has done some of those things and I would do it again in a heart beat, because David is the reward for doing all of that. He is the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. And when the show is over the fans are left wanting more. They are already planning the next show so they can hear that voice again, because listening to David perform live is an amazing experience. Truly I can say that with out a doubt, I have never heard anyone sing as well 'live', as David Archuleta.....Providence here we come!

One of our favorite performance from the Hartford show. David was simply amazing on this one! "Apologize"

I realize this post is more about David's voice than his character, but I was compelled to share the way he touches so many with that voice of his, especially after you have seen him perform. The thing is, David is a rare young man. He has been blessed with that voice and he uses it to touch lives. It is what first draws you in and then as you learn more and more about what a fine young man he is, well as I said, you are captured for life! But more importantly you want to learn from him and try and be a better person. I know I have!

"Because of David Archuleta" Tributes

2009-06-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
~ Melody Beattie

TODAY...Counting David's Character celebrates one year! We here at CDC want to say THANK YOU to all of those who have been a part of this site during the past year. Each one of you is unique and your participation truly matters. The tributes you've submitted are amazing. For your privacy we have not posted your last names below, unless instructed otherwise, but we will include full names on the copy being given to David. We asked for one or two sentences so everyone could participate...but some wrote a little more, so we made the decision to post as much as we could.

It gives us great joy to be able to hand deliver your tributes to Dean Kaelin. Steve Gallie will be meeting with Dean at the end of July, and will take a picture of him handing your tribute to Dean so you all can see it. There will be an update icon in the navigation bar of CDC so you can follow the status of the tributes and know exactly when they get delivered to David. Thank you Dean for helping David's fans tell him how much we care. David is going to enjoy reading these messages so much, and they will surely touch his heart! He has the best fans in the world!

Here are your wonderful tributes to David Archuleta:

Because of David Archuleta, I have made life-long friends who I can laugh with. and cry with. and dance with. and sing with. and above all, who I can be myself with. Carla

Because of David Archuleta I celebrate friendship with people around the world, on every continent except Antarctica. bianca

Because of David Archuleta I am soon on my way from Denmark to Florida to visit my best Archie friend :) Hanne-Denmark

Because of David Archuleta I honestly feel that I have a better outlook on life. When David said, "there's never really a reason to hate someone" I really took it to heart, thank you David! Nora

Because of David Archuleta I sing, dance, dream, believe, pray again; I am born again. I will be forever grateful. Sandra DB - Venezuela

Because of David Archuleta..... I waited 19 HOURS IN NYC at your CD signing just to meet you for 10 seconds. Patty-Ann

Because of David Archuleta I strive to become a better person and his music helps me survive the treacherous canyon hikes my daughter-in-law takes me on. Diane Sacramento, CA

Because of David Archuleta I am trying to become more mature and nicer just like David. Brandon

Because of David Archuleta I have started this website, learned how to text on my cell phone, tweet, and have realized that good music can be food for my soul. Most importantly, I have learned to see the world with my heart, rather than just my mind. Steve Gallie

Because of David Archuleta, I had music rekindled in my heart, and I find myself singing all day long (something I used to do as a kid, even during dinner to the objection of my parents - lol - and I wasn't that bad being that I was in my high school's singing ensemble). Because of David Archuleta, I was inspired to see my purpose on this earth--to give something of meaning to those in need and to be an example of God's love to others, as seen lived out in David's life. GBWY Susan M

Because of David Archuleta I am loving music again and have never been so affected by an artist. Because of David, the person, and the honesty and deep emotion that pours from his songs, my faith has been restored that the world will be a happier place now that he is sharing his phenomenal talent and kind heart with us. Gail NY

Because of David Archuleta and his music, I've met some of the kindest,most thoughtful, caring people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.David has helped me make "forever-friends" who make me feel like part of a family. Todd Pennington (Archuleta Fan Scene)

Because of David Archuleta I have:
a "Build-a-Bear STUFF fur STUFF club" membership card!!
put fluffy hair on my Build-a-Bear and embroidered freckles on it's face!!!
lost sleep worrying about HIM not getting enough sleep!!!
have a fabulous new quilt-making friend named Gail!!
have been to 7 concerts over the last 10 months, making a GRAND TOTAL of 10 over the last 52 years!! Janet D

Because of David Archuleta I had faith in believing myself and finally got the chance to enter the best college in my country. Punk Chiu

Because of David I un-learned the biases and judgmental attitude I acquired in adulthood, and realized that to have real joy in life, there should be a release from negativities and too much materialism. David reminded me to focus on the positive side of anything in life, to see the preciousness in people, downplay their faults, which in turn made me so much more appreciative of my family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, even strangers, thus making every day like a new, wonderful time to look forward to waking up and living well! Solana

Because of David Archuleta, I am more vain.ha.ha..consciously living with healthy lifestyle and bouncing every night with Zero Gravity. Yes, I do my workouts and/or Philates from David's music. I will carry David everywhere I go..Hmmm??? Crush as my mobile ring tone, MP3 with all David's songs and David's smiling face on my travel bus cards. David...You are the BEST! I love you! HUGs: Mme Shah, Singapore (Your Airport Greeter)

David has inspired me to be a more confident person, because of seeing him go out on stage, or do an interview, and be true to himself while doing his best. Thank you David! -Kitty C

Because of David Archuleta I have met the coolest people, waited 7 hours in line for a concert (which I NEVER do haha), drove in a blinding blizzard and traveled to Utah, YES! David, your music and goodness inspires me and so many, thanks for everything! Marc

Because of David Archuleta, I have a totally new found appreciation for music and musicians. Of course, I appreciate David the most! Susan (Utah)

Because of David --- my son held my hand during an American Idol concert, and says "I love you Mom" every day because he has been "Archiefied. ArchieFanDoc

Because of David Archuleta I, learned to love lettuce more than i ever have! Love always, Andrea Giaimo

Because of David Archuleta I am anxiety attack free. I just realized recently that I haven't had any physical symptoms of anxiety, like I had struggled with before, since I first started listening to him on American idol. He restored my love for music. His music has touched my heart so much and made it feel alive again! Anonymous Angel

David has taught me that one person can make a difference in the world. He is the most non judgemental person I have witnessed. He has helped me be more accepting of others and that is a priceless gift to give someone else. Cheryl (AFS)

Because of David Archuleta I Talked with missionaries from the Church on David’s birthday December 28, 2007; was inspired to begin a speech level vocal training program to develop my voice after successful years as a classically trained dancer; was baptized into the LDS Church on December 13, 2008 and recently ordained as an Elder; am loving my life most, when I can make a difference in someone else’s; learned it is the small gifts we offer that has the greatest impact on others. Ralph H

Because of David Archuleta I try to be a better person. To see the good in things, like he does. He inspires me to be a better person. Leslie J

Because of David Archuleta I've turned my laptop into my refuge everyday, morning or night, just to drown myself surfing all the wonders David brings to other people's lives and the immense joy he brings to mine in turn. The love he spreads through his songs and interactions with people in general is so addictingly infectious, and makes me wish I had the luxury to keep basking in it the whole day! Solana

Because of David: I enjoy music once again. I enjoy knowing that David realizes he has a gift and to whom he is to be thankful. I am instantly cheerful when I listen to him. I'm glad to know that good things can happen to good people. Susan H

Because of David Archuleta I have learned that you can always do better. Gayle

Because of David Archuleta, I have been inspired by his positive attitude, sincere kindness and phenomenal talents. He is one of the nicest people I've been privileged to meet. I truly admire him as an artist and individual who brings so much joy to so many people! Anonymous angel

Because of David Archuleta my life is filled with music again :)Hanne-Denmark

Because of David I feel young again… I love more deeply!.. my husband, my friends and family. He has brought music back in my life into my soul with every word he sings! Pure joy in the gift of song God has given him! Thank you for sharing your gift! Margie R aka Hunnzy

Because of David Archuleta, not only did I get over my fright of driving into big, bad Seattle when I had the chance to meet him, but now my grandchildren and I share the wonderful memory of our 1600 mile road trip to see him perform in Idaho Falls & Boise. Thank you for drawing me out of my comfort zone David. Joy F

Because of you I feel so much happier and more alive, am learning to accept others for who they are, experiencing moments of JOY even through PAINFUL times, and realizing it’s ok to be vulnerable again. You’ve touched my heart and my soul with your music. Patty-Ann

Being a person who used to spend all her waking hours painting on her canvases, my closed mind had no interest whatsoever in learning to use a computer, even after my brother's threats to handcuff me to the chair to get into it! After Season 7 was over, I was lost and left hungry - living in Malaysia - with no news or music of David's. I decided an important change had to be made in my life! - I learnt to google. Now I spend at least 4 hours a day with David's beautiful music and discovering his admirable and emulation-worthy character and boy! am I a much happier, inspired and fulfilled person! My sincere and heartfelt thanks, David! Tracewillow

Because of David Archuleta I have learned so much in the past few months, and met many amazing people who I know will be lifelong friends. -Kitty C

Because of David Archuleta, I feel that we have truly been blessed by, not only David’s magnificent, God-given voice, but by his exemplary character. Isn’t it a joy to have someone in the music industry today, who is so humble, compassionate, decent, strong in his faith, and so loving of his family and friends….and even we fans? Nancy

Because of David Archuleta, I have found a talent that I never thought I would ever have, which is to play the piano. My interest and love for music has grown, all thanks to my inspiration, David Archuleta. Anonymous Angel

Because of David I bought an ipod, listen to music all the time again, learned how to navigate around on a computer ( I was completely computer illiterate and afraid of it BD ( before David) ) . Most importantly though, because of David I have tried to be less judgemental of others and I look for the good in EVERYONE. Thank you David for your shining example of what we all should be doing...you exemplify the greatest commandment of all which is to love :) dreamerjulie.

Because of David I have gained a new appreciation of music and the emotions it can awaken even in an old heart. David has made me feel alive again. David, you are fulfilling your mission in life. Angel In Michigan - Lilly

Because of David Archuleta I feel happier. My faith is stronger and my soul feels lighter, his music has helped to soothe some of my burdens. I am kinder and more honest. My mood gets better. I feel younger and I enjoy music so much more. Because of David I have met so many lovely, wonderful people. Thank you David, for all that you and your music have brought into my life, I am so grateful. Fondly,Katie

Because of David I have learned to smile again, and I thought that emotion was gone forever. Ever since I heard that Angelic voice when David auditioned for AI to the current date, my life has never been the same, but, in a good way. I talk about him to whomever will listen. My 33 year old daughter said to me not long ago, "Mom, I think your love for David Archuleta and his music is sooooo cool because I haven't seen you really excited about anything since Brian died." Brian was my son who committed suicide at Christmas 2000, 2 weeks before his 27th birthday. And I have no doubt Brian is a David fan also, and is sitting with his Grandpa on a cloud on high smiling down saying "You Go Mom!" Linda P

Because of David Archuleta I'm Starting To Pursue My Music Career. I Learned How To Play A Thousand Miles On The Piano Just For You David ;) Love Always, Madison

Because of David I cried for the first time in my 47 years just hearing somebody singing and not only once, but many times during his carreer.
Because of David I have learned that we can respect and admire a young person who still has to learn pretty much everything about life, but yet, he can give so much wisdom to the rest without even knowing it. Romy

Because of David Archuleta I found artists like Brandon Heath, Jars of Clay, Jeremy Kemp, Switchfoot and BlueTree. After many quiet years my heart and soul is full of music again. Judith

Because of David Archuleta I've gained more interests in music!!! Sherry

Because of David Archuleta, I know that just because I don't think I'm good enough for something, I should go out and try it anyway because you never know what may happen. David inspired me that way because he didn't think he was 'good enough' for American Idol, and look at him now! David's an amazing and talented young person, keep it up David! I love you!(: Anonymous Angel

Because of David Archuleta I bought my first ipod and dance to his wonderful voice. Caro B

Because of David Archuleta I know it is okay to stand up for my beliefs and convictions and be myself no matter what. He has shown me how to not try to be anyone else besides myself and it doesn't matter what other people think as long as you are true to yourself. God bless you David!!! Paula

Because of David --- I have done some pretty fun things that otherwise would have been out of character for me - flying off to Salt Lake City to go a concert, standing in line for hours to be in the audience of the Bonnie Hunt show, rubbing elbows with the movers and shakers of the LA scene at the Cedar Sinai Gala event, and helping out on several fan sites. ArchieFanDoc

Because of David -- I look at the world differently, less self absorbed, more willing to embrace reality, more thoughtful of others in need. Anonymous Angel

Because of David I ...
Have more music in my life.
I have more faith in the next generation.
I have learned to love more and be less judgmental.
I know how to blog, use YouTube, Tweet and text.
Those skills help me keep up with my family, not just David.
I feel happier. Which helps me spread a little sunshine to my family and the people I meet each day.
I have met new friends. I learn new things from them as well as from David.
I am more grateful. Thank you David for these wonderful gifts. Daisy/Mary

Because of David Archuleta, I learned that trying to be cool isn't always good, but being good is always cool. -PortlandArchie

Because of David Archuleta I …survived one of the most emotionally painful/stressful times of my life – waiting for 4 months for the doctors to determine if my barely 16 yr. old daughter had a brain tumor; learned how to use my mp3 player, itunes, myspace, and a new camera; determined that there are some decent teenage boys in the world after all; took an awesome road trip, on a school day, in the pouring rain, with my now healthy 17 yr.old daughter, to a San Antonio bar? where we stood outside in the cold for 6 hours with other "insane" fans and witnessed the most AWESOME concert of our lives; and found a new happiness in my life through music and one specific VOICE. Margy M (pandasmama)

Because of David I, laugh and dance, even when my family thinks I am crazy. I face trials with increased faith and peace. I have more hope for the future. I have a greater desire to serve and give. I donate to David's charities knowing it will make a difference. So David, thanks for serving your "mission" with honor. And thanks for all that you have done for me and my family. Sincerely, Maryanne

Every time I hear your golden voice, my soul rejoices in the knowledge that faith replaces fear in the human heart. Thank you for sharing your joyful, soulful voice; I am grateful for you and your music and will be a fan for the rest of my life. ;-) Minja

Because of David Archuleta I have realized my true potential and recognized my talents as a Young Woman. Katelyn S

Because of David Archuleta I am knitting my fingers to the bone so that all my handmade stuff will go to David's charities. Madeline A

Because of David -- I have returned to the love of music, all music, and listen to the Pop stations again -- now son thinks mommy is pretty cool . Thanks for bringing the music back into my life -- that is pretty cool too. Anonymous Angel

Because of David I, learned that dreams do come true with hard work and determination, That through music you can heal any one's wounded heart and mend it again. That with having great character you can inspire others to have great characters like you did to me David. David just know that whatever step you decide to take in your career or anywhere we your "fans" will be one step behind you supporting you no matter what. Keep being a great person and never change. Love, Proud (Archangel)

Because of David Archuleta, I have learned to appreciate life. He has made me realize thru his music, style &; demeanor that every minute we are alive is precious & to live life & love more to the depths of our being. Thank you David &God Bless!! Sandy M

Because of David, I was the only person in my school [except my band teacher], to have seen David perform live. David, there are so many people that support you, that you don't even know. Keep being yourself, because that's the only thing you can truly be. :] Laura H

Because of David...I love my son, Christopher, who has autism, even more. Chris looked like David when he was younger and tries to sing, despite his limited speech. Because of David and Chris, I am writing lyrics and working with a composer to produce songs for David (and Chris) and was moved to donate $1,000 in their names to Rising Star Outreach. Carole K H

I’ve always asked myself why David came into my life. Unknowingly I’ve become more spiritual, more compassionate and more giving. David’s love for people, his compassion, his strong faith, his Heavenly voice and his music has been my teacher. This past month I’ve learned that I am stronger than ever before, all because of David. I have 3 children and I am now going on journey of my own — single parent. I never thought I would be as strong as I’ve been lately and I will continue to be strong for my children. The Lord and David’s music is and will continue to be my therapy and my strength to go through this journey. Now I understand why David came into my life. Thank you David for giving me strength!! China80

Because of David Archuleta, I have come to fully realize the importance of following my heart, holding my values close, believing in my dreams, and being myself. He is a truly amazing person who has touched my life in countless ways, and has made me the happiest person I have ever been, so thank you, David!Lots of Love Always, Emalie

Because of David Archuleta, I have enjoyed lots of beautiful music and “met” many wonderful people online. Because I so admire the niceness with which David treats those around him, I have made an effort to have more positive and pleasant interactions with the people I encounter in my life. I wish David all the best, always. B in Wisconsin

Because of David Archuleta I joined with other fans and started a local charity Angel's Reaching Out to help the orphaned children of the Philippines. Naree

Because of David Archuleta I am flying to the US and attending several concerts and meeting up with new friends. Naree

Because of David Archuleta, I was able to cope with the difficulty of finishing courses in my masteral studies by listening to his music and I am also encouraged to help in the charitable organizations he is supporting. Because of David, my three young kids are inspired to study and to do their homework without complaints since they heard him say on radio interview in Philippines that education is really important. Maria and kids (Tinamae-11, Moses-8 and Michael-6)

Because of David Archuleta, I spend many nights till 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. ( and have gotten in trouble with my husband due to this, but' it's all good), watching his concert videos on my computer and dream that someday I will be at one of them. David you have touched my soul and those of other's with your music. Your voice will be heard through many hearts. I know that you will become a legend of this generation and other's to come, as you have become mine and my five year old grandaughter's already. We love you, stay humble and honest. Always, 48 old grandmother Liz R & 5 yr. old Madisyn Y

Because of David I'm glued to a guitar for four hours every single day, and I have a new appreciation for music. My goal this summer is to practice and practice and get good at it. I've been practicing until my fingers hurt and my hand aches. I've played recently with friends that also play the guitar. Thank you David, for showing me meaning in music, for letting me express myself through it and for showing me how it brings people together! It's because of you that I do all of this. Thank you!-Nali

Because of David Archuleta, I have grown closer to God - I have grown more prayerful to Him; I have grown to love others more - those nearest me, those less well-off than me, and even those who hate me; and lastly, I have grown stronger to cope with the painful tragedies of death and broken relationships among my loved ones. Because of David Archuleta, I have learned what being human and being loving truly means.
- Larissa C Singapore

Because of David Archuleta I have the unexpected joy of sponsoring a 7 year old boy in India through Rising Star Outreach. Judith

Because of David my life would never be the same again!!! Thanks David
-bernard (from the philippines)

David, your smooth, angelic, heartwarming, soothing, and calming voice never fails to cheer me up and give me hope and inspiration. I am extremely grateful that God gave you such amazing talent and that you are sharing your phenomenal voice and talent with the rest of the world. You are the most kind, selfless, genuine, respective, and accepting person and you taught me to focus on the positives, be grateful, hopeful, and stay true to myself and my beliefs no matter what.. I truly admire you, you are an inspiration to us all.. THANK YOU. Love, Michelle S

Because of David Archuleta I'm not afraid to chase after my dreams and I know with faith and commitment I can make things happen for me and I can make my dreams come true. Thank you for what you are sharing with the world which is that music is a powerful thing and it's the thing that gets us through the tough times and is there for the good times as well. You're an amazing example to everyone and it's nice to know that it's ok to be yourself and that as long as you're happy and you're doing what you know is right in your heart that the rest just falls into place and we feel the love of the Heavenly Father and can see it in our lives. Much Love, Jacqueline

Inspired by Alicia's Story

2009-06-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

Alicia and David at the Del Mar concert on June 20, 2009

Whatever your circumstance or situation is in life, one statement probably rings true for all of us..."life can be difficult". For some, it's the minor inconveniences of life, and for others it's adapting to a physical illness like Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)...something I can't even imagine. I often wonder how I would deal with an illness like that. This past weekend while attending David Archuleta's concert at the Del Mar Fair, I stumbled across a priceless experience I could have never anticipated. As I exited the stadium, after watching the amazing performance of David Archuleta, I ran into a girl named Amanda. We sparked a conversation and I learned of how she, and a group of fans, had worked diligently to connect a girl named Alicia with David Archuleta. I remembered hearing during the concert that David dedicated "You Can" to a girl named Alicia, and so things began to click. Here is the video where David dedicates the song to Alicia:

Video courtesty Jwipe

Soon Alicia and her parents arrived upon the conversation that Amanda and I were having, and it was then that I noticed something extraordinary. Alicia was in a wheel chair, yet from the ear-to-ear grins that both her and her parents were wearing, there was no sorrow to be found in any of them. Right there amidst an adversity this family had found something priceless...joy, contentment, and peace. It was real, and it was possible because of some wonderful fans and David Archuleta. I knew that evening that I received much more than a David Archuleta concert.

The story of Alicia, how this meeting came about, and what transpired during the time that Alicia spent with David can be read on the Team Archie website, so please take the time to read it.

There is much that can be said about this amazing story, but there are two points that I would like to touch upon that jumped out at me. They prove the point that we can transform lives by living a life of good character. The first is found in the message that David Archuleta wrote to Alicia on the poem that the Team Archie fans wrote for her. What David wrote to Alicia meant so much to her that she can't even talk about it. She says, "And in the poem book that Team Archie was amazing enough to make for me, he wrote more than just an autograph...I'd say what he wrote, but I just can't think about it! It sends shivers down my spine, then everything just blurs out of my vision. I think there's a pic here, though!"

Here it is...the picture of what David Archuleta wrote. Read and re-read it because it contains the kind words of someone with a huge heart and a humble spirit. David said he is "privileged" to have met Alicia. I think he's right!

The second is to be found in the words of Alicia. They are simple, yet profound, and they convey the healing power of love. Take hold for here they are:

"And oh, my gosh, when he put his arm around my back for the pic… oh man, that was… let’s just say my back is pretty sore all times except then."

Did you catch it! Alicia said, "my back is pretty sore all times…EXCEPT THEN!" (emphasis mine). Alicia talks about shivers down her spine, and then the fact that the embrace of David relieved her pain. It may have been psychological...or maybe a miracle of God! I am not in a position to say, yet one salient fact remains...the love of these fans and of David Archuleta relieved the pain of Alicia. In those moments with David Archuleta, Alicia felt pain free, special, and loved....it might as well be a miracle. That's the power of living a life of love and character.

To Alicia, Alicia's parents, David Archuleta, Amanda, and all the fans who made this possible...you are truly an inspiration to us all, and for that we are grateful!

Living by the Golden Rule

2009-06-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Golden Rule has been taught by all the major religions of the world. It is a very simple rule that basically states: treat others the way you want to be treated. Most people have heard this rule sometime in their life. Recently I discovered a prayer that goes along with this simple rule. It is called, Prayer to Practice the Golden Rule. As I read it, I immediately thought of David Archuleta. He is a perfect example of someone who tries to live their life by The Golden Rule. Here is the prayer:

Prayer to Practice the Golden Rule

May I be an enemy to no one and the friend of what abides eternally. May I never quarrel with those nearest me, and be reconciled quickly if I should. May I never plot evil against others, and if anyone plot evil against me, may I escape unharmed and without the need to hurt anyone else. May I love, seek and attain only what is good. May I desire happiness for all and harbor envy for none. May I never find joy in the misfortune of one who has wronged me. May I never wait for the rebuke of others, but always rebuke myself until I make reparation. May I gain no victory that harms me or my opponent. May I reconcile friends who are mad at each other. May I, insofar as I can, give all necessary help to my friends and to all who are in need. May I never fail a friend in trouble. May I be able to soften the pain of the grief stricken and give them comforting words. May I respect myself. May I habituate myself to be gentle, and never angry with others because of circumstances. May I never discuss the wicked or what they have done, but know good people and follow in their footsteps. -Eusebius of Caesarea-

If I break down the lines in this prayer, I can find David in each one. If only we could all learn to live by these words. To try and be a friend to many, to love and seek all that is good, to wish happiness for everyone and never envy another. To be gentle in nature and show patience and compassion.

David lives by all of these words. He helps those in need, through the many charities he supports. He has softened the pain of those who are sad and grieving with his music. He has touched many with his voice and the emotion with which he sings, and it has brought them comfort and feelings of peace and joy. David also respects himself which in turn, leads him to respect others. He has a kind soul and a giving nature.

The last line of the prayer refers to talking about others, I interpret it as 'being a gossip'. David does not take part in that at all, if anything he avoids it. He only has nice things to say about any one. When he hears rumors, he ignores them. He has mentioned in interviews that he is careful to never lie, but instead speak the truth and answer questions honestly.

How many of us have had a difficult time being true to ourselves? Trying hard to do not what is popular, but what is right. It seems that having old fashioned values and morals can make you stand out in the crowd. It can be tough as you try to do what you believe is right, even when everyone else is doing what they want. But David Archuleta has made it clear that he follows a strict code of ethics. He holds strong values and high standards, which he lives by. He is one young man who stands out in the crowd. He shares what he believes in, and does his best to live honestly and morally. David lives his life by doing what he knows is right. He lives by The Golden Rule.

Why I Champion David Archuleta

2009-06-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Those of us who are a part of the "David Archuleta fan following" understand why we are here. What is it that brought me to this place, in my very busy life, where I am promoting a young man I really do not even know? Why is this important to me? Why is it important to champion David's character?

Here is my reason:

When I first found my self interested in finding out more about David Archuleta, after American Idol, I "stumbled" across many things that startled me. I had not been into the pop culture of today. I was shocked when tooling around iTunes searching for anything David that I saw all of these songs with the words "explicit" next to them. I started to listen to the pop stations waiting to hear Crush (well except for a few spins on my FM I am still waiting for local LA to play it) and could not believe some of the lyrics I was hearing over the airwaves. The same goes for much of the comments from the DJ's. When viewing websites I could not believe the type of inappropriate comments that were made - by all types of people young and old. Well I am not one to usually speak up about such things (yes that is true usually). Most of us do not, instead we "silently" object as the "the silent majority" while we passively watch society denigrate. Then along comes David Archuleta!

David unexpectedly gave us a way out by just simply being who he is. We can help change society back to what it should be, not by complaining over the negative, but by simply being champions of David's positive morals and character, by being champions of good music, by being champions of humility and respect.

Putting it simply - "this is what I like, more of this please"!

The music and entertainment industry please take note. David Archuleta is going to be a superstar and this will be superstardom "done right".

Thank you David Archuleta for being who you are.

ArchieFanDoc

What David Archuleta Already Knows

2009-06-19T06:01:00.000-07:00

"Life isn't fair, but it's still good."

"Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks."

"When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

"Over prepare, then go with the flow."

"Believe in miracles."

"Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion."

"All that truly matters in the end is that you loved".

The quotes above were written by Regina Brett who is a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. In all she wrote 50 Life Lessons but I decided to select just a few that reminded me of David.

I don't think David would probably ever use the phrase "life is unfair". I put that one there for us. Sometimes we have hoped for certain things for David and I am not referring just to the American Idol title. But even the little disappointments, like why was he sick the night he performed live on American Idol Season 8. We always want the best for David and when it doesn't go the way we hoped, life can indeed seem unfair. But we need to trust David's character. Every setback we think David has endured, just seems to make him stronger and more focused on what he wants to do in his life.

Jennifer Barry, an incredibly talented photographer, has generously shared many beautiful images she has taken of David with all his fans and charities. Perhaps one of the most cherished, shown here, was taken while he was looking for a favorite verse through a fan's bible. David is no stranger to reading sacred text and the richness of the poetry of the psalms must touch his heart. The opening verse of Psalm 101 is what David chose: “I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.”

We have all read how in "a blink of an eye" David's dream as a young boy to make singing his life had a very serious setback. But David accepted it and when he could, he worked hard to bring it back, but only if it was God's will. I think it is safe to say that David's family believes he got that miracle.A People En Espanol article quoted the Archuleta family as saying "The doctor told us: 'There is someone up there who wants [David] to sing, because medically he should not be able to sing."

Just watch David interact with his fans, visit people in the hospital,encourage his friends or share with a Fireside group. His face cannot hide the most important lesson he has learned.

What David Archuleta already knows..and what we all hope to learn...."All that truly matters in the end is that you loved."

Gail in NY sent me Regina Brett's Life Lessons as a blog idea. Thank you Gail!

Regina Brett's Life Lessons can be read in their entirety at her website.

Because of David Archuleta I.....

2009-06-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

To commemorate the one year celebration of Counting David's Character, we thought it would be nice to give David Archuleta someting special by telling him the many ways he has touched our lives. We cordially invite you to take part by finishing this sentence:

"Because of David Archuleta I..."

It can be anything that is unique to you. Like standing in line for a concert in the snow for over 15 hours, buying your first ipod or computer to track David's music, meeting new friends, charity involvement, having a better outlook on life, coping with difficulties, using your talents, overcoming an obstacle, opening your heart more, etc. It can be something simple and funny or profound and life changing...whatever is true for you. David will be encouraged by reading all kinds, even the funny ones, but just remember to be respectful. I know some of you may be able to write a book about how David Archuleta has made your life better, but please keep it to one or two sentences at most.

What's even more special is that we will be printing these tributes and they will be hand delivered to David Archuleta! Yes, you heard right. David will be receiving your tribute from Dean Kaelin, David's voice coach. Dean has graciously agreed to make sure he hand delivers the tributes directly to David the next time he sees him. The earliest would be mid to end of July, due to Dean's schedule, and we all know that David will be on tour for a bit which may delay the delivery. We will make sure to keep you updated on the status of the tributes and when they have been delivered to David, even if it's not for a month or so. I really think that David will be touched to read how he has touched so many of our lives. A perfect gift for David and the one year celebration of Counting David's Character. Your support and encouragement throughout this past year has been priceless to us!

Please tell us what name you would like associated your tribute, or you can simply remain as an "Anonymous Angel". Maybe you want a screen name to appear when it's posted on CDC, and your real name when it goes to David, and that is fine, too. If you would like your tribute to go to David, but NOT be printed on the site, please let us know. Once you have your tribute exactly as you want it, you can either post it right here in the comments section of this article, or WE PREFER you email it to:

judith@countingdavidscharacter.com

The last day to submit is Friday, June 26th.

All of the tributes will then be displayed in a single article on the main page of CDC on the one year mark, June 27, 2009.

It was almost one year ago that the mission of Counting David's Character was established, and although altered and refined slightly over time, the purpose remains the same. The mission statement of this site is...

Counting David's Character is devoted to opening a window to the world of David Archuleta's character. Together, we will journey through the heart and soul of this young man, exploring the person behind the voice. We will try to accurately represent who David is and how he lives. We hope to help David inspire people across the globe to live a life of character, and to help make the world a better place.

Again?

2009-06-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

There is that question..."Again?" How do you explain to someone who has never seen David perform, why we go back again and again. To an outsider it would seem silly, pointless, self-indulgent. Isn't he singing the same songs during the tour? Aren't you satisfied with the performance you saw last month, last week ...yesterday? Our international fans have traveled great distances to see David in concert. But not a one would miss a chance to see him again if time and funds allow. His American fans find themselves on planes, trains and buses at a moments notice. David appearing at Sundance..I'm on the next flight! Palmer, Alaska in August... not a problem. Drive all day and all night to see the next venue concert..sure! It only takes that first live performance and you are hooked. I have never heard a person say after seeing David "live"..."OK I am done. That was a fine show but I don't need to see him again." Because you see David never does the exact same performance twice. And each and every time he sets his bouncing feet on a stage, you have a show you will never forget.

In December 2008, Dean Kaelin was a special guest of Counting David's Character during a chat session. Dean has worked with David since David was about 11 years old. He has had plenty of time to study and observe this young man as he helped guide him in his singing techniques. Here is an observation by Dean Kaelin of David the performer :"Quite often he would do things different on stage even then what we had practiced moments before backstage just because he felt like it. That is what makes David's performances so honest. He is not just memorizing and spitting stuff out. He really feels it and every performance is new, honest and real. It is like he is recreating the song every time he sings it."

"New, Honest, Real" David the performer reflects the qualities of his performances. Everyday he treats us with "tweets", blogs or vlogs about his newest musings and activities. Every day is a fresh start with endless possibilities with David. Whatever situation he finds himself in, whatever tough question may be asked, he is honest. And real? David is so very real that he reminds us that we too can approach our lives in the same way. We can all just relax and be ourselves. It's OK not to be perfect, as long as we are able to look at each new day as a day full of possibility while we attempt to keep it "real" ourselves.

As David embarks on a summer tour to many cities across America, we just may be asked that question... "Again?"

The answer will always be..."IN A HEARTBEAT!"

This blog is affectionately dedicated to Janey who personifies "Carpe Diem!" Here Janey and David share a "moment" in Sundance together.

The Judgement Free Zone

2009-06-15T03:10:00.000-07:00

David Archuleta has so many wonderful character qualities. One character quality that has stood out, is the one in which he never judges another. He only has good things to say about everyone. Even when he has been backed into a corner by an interviewer, David maintains his ability to stay positive and say only the nicest things in any situation.

This was the case when he was asked by an interviewer to comment on American Idol Season 8 Runner up, Adam Lambert and his sexuality. Recently in the news, Adam revealed that he is gay. David gave his thoughts about it, and then he went on tell the interviewer, " I know it's always interesting and surprising and shocking [to people] when they say those things, but that's up to them, it's their lives." He then added that he thought Adam was a great guy and that he respected him as a performer. For David to say such things just shows what a special young man he is. David doesn't venture into judging the person's action, but rather focuses on the good qualities of the person. He doesn't lay judgement on Adam. Instead, he finds a way to answer the interviewers question in a simple non-judgemental way. Then he goes on to say something nice. There have been other examples of David's tolerant nature, this was just the latest one.

I remember when David was on American Idol. Sometimes the judges were harsh on the other contestants but David never had anything negative to say, he always found the best in all of his fellow contestants. He would focus on the good things about the people around him. He remained fair and impartial through out it all. Even when the judges and the media would prod him, trying to lead him into saying something unkind about another contestant or celebrity, David never wavered. He never fell into their trap. Instead, he would find something kind to say, he would stay upbeat and say only the most positive things about everyone and everything. There have been other times when David has been pressed by the media to say something unfavorable about another star, but David is true to himself, and never gives in. He remains non-judgemental and replies with an answer that always leaves the interviewer commenting on "What a nice guy" David Archuleta is!

I recall another example of David showing his impartial side. It was during the American Idol concert tour last summer. One day during a pre-show meet and greet while David was signing autographs, he overheard some fans commenting negatively about a popular singing group known as The Jonas Brothers. The fans were saying some rather unkind things about them, and when David heard these fan's comments, he said something like "Oh, I like them... they are really nice guys!" How many other stars might have gloated upon hearing their fans say something negative about a another singer? They might have stood back and listened, but I am not so sure they would have jumped in and come to their defense. But with David, I really do believe he is the exception. He heard the comments and tried to set the record straight so that these fans would know that he did not feel that way. He is a class act.

There have been many incidences of David talking about others in a kind way, making sure to let others know he never judges. Again and again, David Archuleta has shown in interviews that he looks at the good, he tries to focus on the positive and does what he can to avoid saying anything negative. David accepts people for who they are. He stays in the judgement free zone every time!

Labor of Love

2009-06-14T06:38:00.001-07:00

Please consider bidding for a very worthy cause. Here are the details from Mom Julee.

Beautiful handiwork, every stitch a labor of love for those affected with MS like our good friend Brett Hales. Our favorite quilter and friend Gail Samiec created these beautiful works of art. Good luck to Julee and her MS team!

The quilts that are signed by David Archuleta are ready for auction!
Go here for the AI Season 7 Quilt

Go here for the Post Idol Quilt

Go here for the pillow made from a Murray High School T-shirt – includes a peace sign from David

The auction duration on these lasts a week. Thank you again Andrew Power and Gail Samiec for the contribution of your time and talents!! A few more are on the way, so don’t despair if you don’t have the highest bid this time.

To Thine Own Self Be True

2009-06-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

Many people have observed that David Archuleta seems to be a very genuine and sincere person. What we see of David in public does not appear to be any kind of an act or an attempt to project a false image. Our own Judith wrote a very nice article on this subject just last week. I would like to explore some related ideas here, while focussing on some relevant quotes from various interviews with David.

I think that most of us believe that, when we watch David Archuleta in a performance or an interview, we are seeing the real David. It seems that David knows that he doesn’t have to try to be someone or something different in order to have a career as a performer. People like him as he is, and he understands and appreciates that. David talked about this idea in an interview with the JohnJay and Rich radio show in Arizona on March 16, 2009, and I think that what he had to say is quite interesting:

"Well, I guess that’s what’s been nice about American Idol, is like, you couldn’t help but, you know, be exposed, (laugh) you know? ‘Cause they try to like, you know, they want to get to know who you are and they, you know... to be the American Idol, people wanna see someone who’s a good role model and someone they can look up to as...as both a musician and a person. [DJ: That’s you!] And, (laughing) oh, no, no. But, that... American Idol, they’re... they do good in, like, showing those kinds of things and getting to know the person and stuff, and so, that’s why... I guess, um, I’ve been able to be myself, because before, it’s like: Do I have to be this cool person to do music and do what I love to do? And, you know, it’s... it’s cool to see that, no, I don’t. I can still be myself, as weird as I am, (laughing) as dorky of of a person as I am, I can still be myself and still do what I love to do. And I think that’s... that’s a really cool thing that I learned, because you know, people are always like: Oh, well, you have to be this, and um, the entertainment industry’s gonna build you into this thing that we don't want you to see. Like my friends were so scared. They were like, ‘We don’t want you to be famous. We don’t want you to change or anything.’ And it’s just like, um, when I went back home, after the American Idol, they were, like, they didn’t know how I was going to act. And it’s like, I’m still David, you know? And so, when they saw that, they, um, they were just... it was like a big relief to them. It’s like, well, yeah, I’m still... I’m still the same... David that you hung out with 6 months ago, before this all started."

I think that it’s understandable that David’s friends would have been worried about what might happen if he became a professional singer and a celebrity. It would seem that the entertainment industry can be a rather scary place, which gives us many beautiful things to enjoy but also contains much unpleasant material and many examples of damaged lives. I, for one, have often been concerned about how a nice young man like David would fare in such an environment. Fortunately, things seem to be going pretty well so far. In an interview with a DJ from 107.9 The End prior to the Sacramento Jingle Ball on December 3, 2008, David was asked a listener-submitted question related to this topic:

Q: How do you balance the needs of being famous/an idol with your strong faith? Are you exposed to some tough situations?

A: Uhhmm... Hmmm. I guess, you know, it's a pretty... it’s a pretty interesting, you know, world with the music and entertainment world, but I don’t think it’s too hard to, you know, keep on being myself, especially, you know, with having family there to, you know, be there by your side, and, you know, you still have the same friends and stuff, you’re just getting to know people. And there are actually a lot of really great people in this business, so it’s really, um, so far it’s been really great -- a really great experience.

On multiple occasions, David has referred to “being himself” as he has made his way along his journey from hopeful American Idol contestant to well-known recording artist. Based on the context in which this has been said, though, I get the impression that David sometimes means something more by this type of statement than just showing his real personality and avoiding fakery. This seems especially evident in the quote above. It seems to me that, when David talks about “being himself,” he often is also referring to staying true to his values, morals, beliefs, and all of those things that have shaped his character and that, in addition to his beautiful voice and cheerful disposition, so many of us have found so appealing and admirable about David.

Many of us look at David’s personality, accomplishments, and character and see someone who can be a really positive example for others. I sometimes wonder what David thinks about this. Might it bother him to be viewed in this way? We do have some evidence that this is not the case. When David Archuleta appeared on the SIS television show in the Philippines on May 14, 2009, he was asked how it feels to inspire many people, especially a lot of young people. He replied:

“It’s so neat. It’s just neat getting to, you know, meet, like, meet kids who’ll just say, ‘You know, we really looked up to you, and thanks for just the example you showed’ and stuff, and it’s just really cool. It’s like... It’s not like I was, like, trying to be this like...oh ... role model or anything. I was just, you know, being who I was, and knowing that that was enough for people to, you know, um, to influence people was really neat to see and just, like, you know... You just have to be yourself. And, um, just knowing that, you know, trying to do my best and, um, you know, be a... try and be a good person (laughs) you know. It, uh... Even though I’m weird and stuff is...um... It’s good to know that it, um, helps... helps kids, and, you know, to see that they’re inspired musically, too, is really cool to see...”

David’s reply may not have been a polished public relations statement, but I believe that it, once again, told us a lot of good things about David and some of the things that are important to him.

This is one of my favorite moments from David’s time in the Philippines, as it gives us more of a glimpse into some of the intentions, goals, and approaches to life that David has had as he has worked toward achieving his dream of having a musical career.

Last week, David was back in Utah, where he participated in quite a few interviews in preparation for his appearance at the Real soccer game. The Deseret News posted a video of some of the footage of their interview with David. (You can watch it here.) There were a lot of great things in that video, but what stood out the most to me was a segment very reminiscent of the SIS quote just discussed. This time, David seemed a little more serious, and his words struck me as very honest, sincere, and heartfelt as he said:

"Well, I definitely feel like... there... I... certainly wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my faith, and, just, you know, helping... having that keep me grounded and strong. Because I think morals have played a lot, and... people have noticed it and have kind of admired it, and it’s like, Wow, that’s so weird. It’s not like I’m... trying to be this... you know... amazing person. I’m just being myself, so it’s neat to know that being yourself, um, works and that people can tell that I’m just trying my best to live my life the best way I can and just do what I love to do the best way I can..."

A lot of us have noticed David’s strong character, and we do admire it very much. David may not be trying to be a “role model” or an “amazing person,” but there seems to be quite a bit of evidence to support the conclusion that he may well be both of those things. I think that we can take several important ideas from David’s statements: Be yourself, try to be a good person, and do the best that you can at everything -- including living life itself. There’s not much more that we could expect, from David or from ourselves.

SOUL

2009-06-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness” Maya Angelou

Take a good look at this photo taken by Hanne when David performed in Oxford, England. What do you see? I see David Archuleta totally in that moment. I can hear that stunning voice in my head and feel it in my heart. He is in his own world and yet every one in that room was invited along. If you have had the good fortune to see David perform live, I guarantee you that you held your breath at least once. This is more than entertainment. This is real human communication....this is soul.

The space between the singer, the song and the audience blurs when David Archuleta performs. He enters into the lyrics deeply but also strives to bring you into the story being told in the words and melody. What makes David so captivating in person is also there in a slightly different way when we listen to his music on a CD or on an iPod. His voice that seems to be singing just for us, connects us to so many emotions. It does not matter how many times we hear "Angels" or "Be Still My Soul", it impacts us each and every time. Many of us feel tears that we can't quite explain. This is more than music. This is soul to soul.

Quoting Dr Deforia Lane, Music Therapist: "Music has the power to move a person between different realities: from a broken body into a soaring spirit, from a broken heart into the connection of shared love, from death into the memory and movement of life. Music has the power to touch the heart of a child with God."

This is what David shares with us. A song well sung....and a part of his soul.

A special thank you to Hanne. Her beautiful photo inspired this blog.

Prayer of the Children - Charity

2009-06-09T00:49:00.000-07:00

In an earlier post I referred to a comment made by family friend Brett Hale as to "the Real Reason" David Archuleta has thrown himself into the world of fame - it is not for this fame in of itself - but for what he can do with it. Here is yet another charity event that David has lent his name and voice to:

The Gala for the Children Uniting Nations 4th Annual Conference that occurred on June 9th. This event took place in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the US Department of State building, Washington, D.C.

"Children Uniting Nations was founded to protect the children who have no voice, whose fragile lives are being abused and lost by the millions due to uncertainties out of their control .......CUN is committed to help EVERY child fine a way out of cruelty, neglect, and anger. This organization is dedicated to help children fine their way to fulfill their dreams. Children Uniting Nations mission is to create loving, tolerant and capable world citizens"

During the daytime part of the conference of this event David was invited to participate and to give a speech.

Later in the evening at the Gala Event he performed one of his favorite songs "Imagine" and a well loved, but newly learned song "Prayer of the Children." We suspect that there was not a dry eye in the house.

True to David Archuleta's form and character - he twittered late night after the event and gave deference to the people he met:

"Just got back for the Children Uniting Nations event. Great to meet such inspiring people!

Daphne Ziman is an amazing person."

Daphne Ziman founded CNU in 1966. She has dedicated her life to being an advocate for children. In her biography she states:

"My commitment to children is my entire life.

Freedom, shelter, health and nourishment

are the rights of every child".

To learn a little more about this inspiring "Angel Hero" read here.

Here is David Archuleta singing an a cappella version of, "Prayer of the Children", written by Kurt Bestor.

People like Daphna Ziman and David Archuleta are grateful for all that has come their way - and sure do know how to pay it forward!

"Children are the worlds most valuable resource, and it's best hope for the future"
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

For information on donations click here

Fans and Friends

2009-06-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Since I have been following the music and career of David Archuleta, I have met some of the most amazing people. All of them fans of David and all met through various sites that have supported him.

I now have friends from all over the country. I live in New England, yet I have friends who live in Utah, California, Wisconsin, Washington, Tennessee, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York, as well as the countries of Canada and the Philippines. The list of people and places goes on and on, and I am still meeting new people. All of us have one common bond. A deep admiration for David Archuelta and his music.

The people I have met are young and old, both male and female. We all come together to discuss a young man who has touched our hearts as well as our souls.

I don't know of any other young star that has fans that cross so many miles as well as generations. David attracts the teen fan but he also captures the over 30 crowd and there is even a wonderful fan group known as "The Golden Archies" made up of us 'older fans' who happily and faithfully follow the career of David Archuleta.

It started for me after season 7 of American Idol ended. I found myself missing David Archuleta's performances. I had watched the show twice a week, every week for months. I saw every performance and downloaded every song as it became available on i-Tunes. I waited anxiously every week for AI and the results as I had I voted for David as much as possible, and I hoped he would win the season finale. Never had I done this before. I couldn't explain it, but there was something special about David Archuleta. I was a fan!

When season 7 of American Idol came to an end, I didn't know what to do with my Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. My weekly time with David was over. I was feeling like something was missing. I had never experienced anything like this before. I was having what I would call "David withdrawal". I started looking on the Internet for videos of the American Idol performances so I could see and hear David again. I googled "David Archuleta" and low and behold, I found fan sites! Hurray, a way to connect with others that felt the same way about David as I did. I felt like I was among friends. It was so nice to be able to chat with other people about how amazing David is, as well as get all the latest information about what he was going to be doing. Through these various sites the friendships began!

It started with just a few comments made here and there on some of the fan sites. Then as I became more comfortable about sharing my fondness for David Archuleta, I started to write posts about him. It wasn't long before the same fans would leave comments. There were so many of us. As we got to know each other better, we would e-mail back and forth and before we knew it, we were chatting daily about David and all that he was doing. We would talk about how much we admired him. We would share about how much we loved his music. We were glad we had these places to go to to share our love and admiration for our favorite young singer.

That was a year ago. Some of the sites are gone and new ones have cropped up in their places. But the friends are all still here. I have not had the pleasure of meeting most of 'my friends in David' as I like to call them, but they all hold a very special place in my heart. They are all truly incredible people. We keep in touch regularly and though we have never met in person, I feel like we are dear friends just the same. It seems as though the type of fan David attracts is caring, kind and generous in heart as well as spirit. David has commented to interviewers that he feels he has the most wonderful fans in the world. He is right, because the fans that I have become friends with are very special indeed. But then, David Archuleta has a way of bringing out the best in people!

David Archuleta Sings for Operation Warm Heart and Soccer Balls For Peace

2009-06-08T02:42:00.000-07:00

David Archuleta sang the National Anthem while paratroopers from a near by air force base flew in carrying the American flag and the game soccer ball. A mini-concert followed the game. People were there for the soccer match, people were there to hear David, and hopefully some to do both. However there was more to this event then a "classico" soccer match up and music by the hometown boy done good ........

David Archuleta has been lending his voice and presence to the benefit of numerous charity organizations - but on June 6th he demonstrated that "Charity Beings At Home". This event was a dedication of a new soccer stadium for Real Salt Lake and proceeds from the game benefited "Operation Warm Heart" which provides for those in need, both uniformed and non-uniformed, of the Hills Air force base. Also benefited was the Utah National Guard charitable trust that assists service members and their families while actively deployed.

For more information on Operation Warm Heart click HERE.

For more information on the Utah NG Charitable Trust click HERE.

That was not all that was associated with this event - prior to the game was Carnival Real. Fans were encouraged to bring in soccer balls and other equipment for donation to "Soccer Balls For Peace." These items are sent overseas to US troops to give out to the children in areas where they are deployed.

You can visit any of the fan sites to hear David sing the National Anthem as well as the mini-concert. Instead I am including a song co-written by David - "Fighting For You".

Video courtesty Archiegur13

Who is Doing Good? The Children Shall Lead the Way!

2009-06-06T01:55:00.000-07:00

Here on CDC we talk of David's character and how through observation of how he lives his life others are inspired to do good. To that end, we thought we should tell stories from the very people that David has been an inspiration to. We call these stories "Character Inspirations".

First up is Ivan - a twelve year old boy who is a writer on Archuleta Fan Scene. Recently, Ivan came up with the idea to do a give away on AFS - using his own money he will donate several of the upcoming "Fan Pack Bundles" (that includes Touch My Hand Video, A Thousand Miles, and Zero Gravity) that will be available on iTunes June 9th. His intentions are to donate to those who are otherwise unable to pay for it themselves. As an added bonus -- he will purchase the iTune downloads using the web site www.GoodShop.com which donates a percentage of the purchase price to a charity of your choosing. He has selected Rising Star Outreach.

To learn more about Ivan's give away on Archuleta Fan Scene click HERE.

Click HERE to see David Archuleta being featured on GoodSearch/GoodShop as the "Who's Doing Good?" celebrity of the week.

Interview with Ivan

AFD: What gave you the idea to do the fan packs give away?

Ivan: well, since we want the bundle to climb the charts, we need to get the fan pack to EVERYONE, also it's helping people out and it's for charity.

AFD: How will it help charity?

Ivan: well using GoodShop.com I can shop off that site and they

donate to charity.

If you go through this site to purchase iTunes gift certificates they donate 2.5% to a charity you chose. If you browse the Internet going through GoodSearch they also donate to your charity.

AFD: What charity will you select?

Ivan: Rising Star Outreach!

AFD: How will you get the money to gift the fan packs?

Ivan: I have an iTunes account - the money comes from doing chores, getting A's in school, and working at my parent's business. They pay me back through music money.

AFD: So you are going to use some of your hard earned "music money" to give the gift of music to others. That is great.

Ivan: It means that I am spending money to support David, so it is all good. :)

AFD: Tell me why you became such a strong supporter of David and his music?

Ivan: David Archuleta is an amazing person, musician, and overall human being. He has changed my life in so many good ways. I look up to him as my role model, my idol. I aspire to be a musician when I grow up and to follow in David's footsteps. He is humble and unlike others in the music industry. His personality makes me smile. I think I am lucky to have someone like him to look up to. Can you add a smiley to this? ha ha

Well Ivan - I can't add a smiley here but none needed - because you sure gave us all a great big smile!

"The Music, The Man Behind the Music, and the Inspiration he Brings to us all". ArchieFanDoc

When No One Is Watching

2009-06-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Abraham Lincoln said, "Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree." The true measure of our character is who we are when no one is watching.

David Archuleta is in the public eye week after week. His every word is reported and scores of images are taken of him every day. Will this David behave any differently when there aren't cameras and recording devices pointed his way? The David planting trees in Utah to earn his Eagle ranking is the same person performing for 50,000 screaming fans in Asia. He could be in an interview with Larry King watched by millions worldwide or attending a local Fireside service with just a few dozen people. He doesn't have a David Archuleta 6.0 version for special situations. David...is always David.

To be able to be oneself is a great gift. And when we can be ourselves comfortably without being afraid of how others perceive us, something amazing happens. We in turn become more accepting of others. You can see that quality in David. He doesn't sit in judgement of other people. Making fun of others can be almost a sport for some of us. But that is something David will not tolerate. Some of America's disc jockeys have tried in vain to get David to comment in a negative way about someone. But David is quick to defend and with a smile and a shake of his head he has humbled some of the interviewers and made his fans very proud.

In an April 2009 interview with the New Straits Times Press, David spoke about fame and being true to himself: “I’m always so busy!” he said, adding that he never expected to be in the spotlight at his age. “It has been a great experience and a lot of fun. I’m just glad to be living my dream,” he said. Archuleta acknowledges the pressure that comes with fame. “There are lots of expectations from fans and critics alike.” He deals with it, he said, by staying true to himself, and the music and songs with which he’s comfortable.

Who knows, he might drink milk straight out of the carton like some of us do. But when it comes to the important choices, David's adherence to being completely himself will take center stage...even if no one is watching.

Living Life First Hand

2009-06-04T07:40:00.000-07:00

Rumors are a dime a dozen. When checking out at the grocery store you’ll find about every kind of gossip or rumor on just about everyone. No television or movie star is immune. It’s hard to know what to believe, and although I accept that most of it is made up to simply sell magazines, the result is damaging and hurtful to those it’s written about.

In David Archuleta’s recent blog, he shares some good advice on how to best deal with rumors. It’s really easy, just ignore the rumors and withhold any judgment on anyone until you’ve experienced that person first hand. How’s that for squashing gossip and slander before they start. You can read David's full blog here, but here's the portion where he discusses how to deal with rumors:

I'm really glad that everyone I've gotten to meet has just been really cool so far. I always hear about all these horror stories and jerks out there, but it seems like all these people that I run into and meet are totally laid back and friendly. Even people that I hear rumors about, so don't always believe rumors you guys. Rumors are nasty things haha.

Living life like this is not only wise, but opens doors in ways never imagined. Think about it. If we interact with people without any preconceived notions based upon any previous rumors or "horror stories", we give them a fair chance to connect with us in a real and personal way. Even if the rumors are true, by treating them with respect and without judgment, we place ourselves in a position to be a friend to them...and maybe be the very person to help them with whatever problems they may have. Instead of us approaching them as the judge, we become a friend. That’s living a life of good character and that’s living life first hand.

David's Boot Camp

2009-06-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

The American Idol Experience is a new attraction located at Disneyworld in Florida. But there is also the real American Idol Experience that changed David's life forever. David Archuleta jokingly has referred to as his "boot camp". While in Asia in April 2009, David was quoted by the The New Straits Times Press as saying, “You have to be prepared for a lot of hard work because American Idol is like a boot camp for singers.”

Every year you can witness the hopeful American Idol "recruits". Some approach the auditions with plenty of swagger but many are wide eyed and feeling not entirely secure. The weeks pass and only a handful with real potential are still left standing. The reality of this show quickly makes itself known. Your determination, coping skills and belief in yourself will be tested in front of millions of viewers. You can be sleep-deprived, stressed out and not too happy with the Judges. There have to be days when you question the choice you made.

But if you love to sing and can show grace under pressure like David Archuleta did in Season 7, then the American Idol Experience is an invaluable training period. David took the best elements of what he learned and is using them to create an incredible career. He is not intimidated by performing live to any sized crowd. He may feel the jitters a bit but he also has the self-confidence that he can tough it through. David has performed when ill and suffering from jet lag but he respects his audience too much not to give 110%.
The camera shy young man learned while on the show that there would be formal photo sessions and informal free for all events that the paparazzi would attend. He soon discovered that his ardent fans would be pointing a lot of electronic objects in his face too. Whatever David may feel under these circumstances, he handles all situations with good humor and a dazzling smile.

So here's a salute to American Idol. With all it's idiosyncrasies and flaws, it still is the premier "Boot Camp" for aspiring young singers. And without it, we may never have had our "Experience" with our favorite American Idol-David Archuleta!

Staying In Touch

2009-06-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

When I was a teenager the only way you could hear about a famous person you liked, was to go to the store and buy a magazine or catch them on TV. Usually the article in the magazine about the star, was written by someone else and the TV appearance was on a talk show or variety show. It was hard to get to know that star and feel like they had any connection to you, the fan.

My how times have changed! Now thanks to the Internet and mobile phone services, we are able to hear directly from the star. We can get all the latest news and updates about what they are doing, on a regular basis.

David is one star that takes advantage of these services to keep his fans updated. He is so generous with his time. He treats his fans like they are old friends or family members. He shares so much of his life through videos, phone messages and texts. He blogs and posts messages on various Internet sites whenever he has a chance, and of course he uses the the latest networking site, Twitter. David "tweets" on a daily basis, sometimes even responding to a message from a fan personally.

Since I began following the career of David Archuleta, he has so kindly and faithfully kept in touch. First it was through video blogs, in which he would answer fans' questions. When he went on Tour with the Season 7 cast for American Idol, he started to video blog on a more personal level. It was as if he was talking to me! He would chat with me from a hotel room upon waking or just before he went to bed. Sometimes it was at the airport while he was waiting for his flight. Wherever it was, David always had so much to say and he was always happy to keep me posted! At times he would also remind me to remember the many causes or charities he followed.

He writes to me too! I have received many posts from him on my Myspace as well as Facebook. He will let me know all about what he has been up to since he last wrote, and he will fill me in on all that he has been doing. I get to hear about time spent with his family and all the different places he has been. He never forgets to tell me how happy he is and how much he appreciates my support and he always leaves me a great "song for the day" to listen to. He is never about self promotion and he loves to help out his friends in the music business whenever he can. Here is his latest blog that he sent on May 30th.

Hey folks! I just wanted to let you know about my week really quick, and I'll really try to not make it so long this time lol. So first of all, I hope everyone had a great weekend and Memorial Day. I had the chance to spend time with my family for the weekend! It was a lot of fun. We actually got to sit down and talk about some of our ancestors, which was really interesting. I also got to go to a concert with my mom and sister Memorial Day. It was the No Doubt concert, and they had Paramore on tour with them. There was also a band called The Sounds that was the 1st opening act. No Doubt were really friendly, and everyone that worked with them on tour kept saying how they're the nicest and coolest people you could work for. It's always good to know that, and I thought it was neat how all their employees spoke so highly of them.So watching the show, we sat in our seats for Paramore's set.. but moved to the side of the stage for No Doubt's set. It was a really good show though. Paramore was another really cool group of people. I couldn't believe that they're the same age as me! It's always neat to be able to talk to people your age in the industry who go through the same things you do. You can talk about music, but also just normal stuff people your age talk about haha. But a bunch of really cool people in Paramore. Gotta give them props, and Hayley can freakin' sing! My little sister was in heaven at the concert, because she loves Paramore lol. I'm really glad that everyone I've gotten to meet has just been really cool so far. I always hear about all these horror stories and jerks out there, but it seems like all these people that I run into and meet are totally laid back and friendly. Even people that I hear rumors about, so don't always believe rumors you guys. Rumors are nasty things haha. I got to go to Greensboro, North Carolina to participate in a charity dinner for the radio station 1075 KZL. It was a Hibachi Japanese grill restaurant, and I (unfortunately for those at my table) got to try and cook the food haha. I have learned that I am not that great of a chef haha. I actually like almost caught myself on fire, but it was fun! I got to wear an apron and chef's hat. I appreciate everyone at my table for coming and being good sports about my lack of cooking skills lol. So thanks you guys! I kept burning the food too lol, but hey I like food a little on the cooked side!After North Carolina, I went to NYC to perform at the PC Richards Theater for Z100 contest winners. It was a small theater, not that many people since you had to win to get in, and I loved it! I felt so comfortable up there and had a blast. Have to thank everyone for coming for that! It's probably one of my favorite shows I've ever done just because it was so laid-back and I got to interact with everyone there. Fun stuuufff. Well I think I'm going to a concert tonight! So I better get going to that, and I'll talk to you all later.

Song for the day: The Man Who Can't Be Moved - The Script

David is also wonderful about calling me! I have received messages from him on my cell, letting me know about some of the latest things he has been doing. He has even called me on a few holidays to let me know he was thinking of me, and to wish me a happy one. I got a great message for Valentines Day where he sang to me!! It made my day as he crooned, "I Just Called To Say I Love You". Take a listen.

David's newest means of communicating with me, is through Twitter. Now I get daily updates from David! Some are serious, others are rather amusing. He tells me a little something about what he has been up to, almost everyday. Here are some of David's Twitters from the last few days.

Plane's finally boarding! Got a nap in while waiting.10:53 AM May 28th from txt

Delayed at the airport, so watching the news. Hope things are ok after the earthquake in Honduras and Central America.9:09 AM May 28th from txt

Left my ticket at security. was on my way back to get it when they announced my name over the speaker. Everyone knows I'm here now lol8:46 AM May 28th from txt

Lady comes up to me and says "excuse me, but has anyone ever told you you look a lot like David Archuleta?" I say oh a few times. Haha8:35 AM May 28th from txt

From the simple videos, blogs, texts and comments he leaves us, he is showing us how important it is for him to stay connected to his fans. He chats with us and lets us share in his daily encounters; from the mundane, to the serious and the silly events he experiences. Through the many ways David contacts his fans, he allows them to have an inside view into his world. He makes us feel like we are his friends. With the many ways he stays in touch with us, he shows us how much he cares!

Did You Feel It?

2009-05-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck at 2:24 a.m. off the coast of Honduras on May 28th. On the U.S. Geological Survey homepage there is a special earthquake section entitled, "Did You Feel It?" The earth didn't actually move under our feet Thursday morning, but yes, we did feel it. We felt it in our hearts for the frightened people of Honduras.

As most fans know, David Archuleta is connected by his mother's family to Honduras and he has spent happy days visiting there. The photo from the archives of Archuleta Fan Scene below shows David having a wonderful day with his family in Honduras.

CDC invites everyone this Sunday to keep the people of Honduras, Belize and the surrounding areas affected by the earthquake in their thoughts and prayers.

"The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.”
Meryl Streep

Accentuate the Positive

2009-05-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

People have often noticed and commented that David Archuleta is usually smiling and happy. Newsweek recently had a group telephone interview with some former American Idol contestants, including David. Some of the participants started discussing situations in which people will come up to them in airports, etc. and ask them why they are not smiling. Taylor Hicks then said, “You’re smiling all the time, David. You don’t get that question because you’re inherently happy all the time.” Now, we all know that no one is always happy or smiling. However, from what we have heard and seen, this does seem to be true of David Archuleta most of the time.

During David’s recent trip to the Philippines, he did an interview with the Magic 89.9 radio station. The DJ commented that, on American Idol, David was “always really pleasant”, “always quite jolly”, and always had “this smile about” him. He then asked David if he ever has a bad day and how he smiles through it. David’s (lengthy) response was, I think, quite interesting. He said, “It’s like, you know...It’s not like, you know, life’s perfect or anything. It’s just... I think it’s the way you look at it, though. You know, especially on the show, I mean, we were all going through the same thing, and we were all having a really rough time. There were times where it got a bit overwhelming, but, you know... It was just, you know, if... if... It’s like, you could focus on all the hard things and stress yourself out and, like, have a breakdown, or you could, you know, just look at all the other good things that were going on. I mean...it’s like, first of all, I was there, which I never thought would ever happen, and I was just so happy to be there. It’s like, wow, there was like a hundred -- over a hundred thousand people that auditioned, and I’m still here. Like, I’d never thought that would happen, so I was just so happy just to think... You know, I’m still here, and I’m getting to sing, and there are lots of, you know... there are a lot of rough things, but you know, there... Just look at the bright side, I’m getting to perform and get to share this experience with so many people, and that’s what... I think that definitely, um, out-... you know, overtook everything -- all the other bad things that were going on, you know? And, so, I think when you look at the positive things, those will always outdo the bad things.”

I think that David’s comments give us a lot of insight into the happy personality that we see when we watch him. He doesn’t dwell on difficulties that he may face or negative things that may happen. He chooses to focus on the positive aspects of situations and the good things that are part of his life and career. In the quote above, David explained quite well how he applied this positive attitude to his time on American Idol, but it isn’t difficult to think of other examples of David looking at the bright side of unpleasant situations.

The day after last year’s American Idol finale, David Archuleta appeared on Ryan Seacrest’s radio program. At one point, Ryan asked David about the situation with his vocal cords. David said that, “There’s one side that still doesn’t really move, but I think that’s part of the... I wouldn’t sound the way I do now if it weren’t for that, and, you know, I’m grateful for it.” We’ve heard David talk quite often about the vocal paralysis that began to affect him when he was younger. It was obviously a seriously troubling thing for a young person with dreams of a future in singing, and David has told us that it was “traumatizing” and that he was “really distraught” about it. Considering all of those things, I think that it’s pretty striking that David was able to come to a point where he could even see a silver lining to the dark cloud of his vocal cord problems.

Of course, on occasion, David may take his tendency to accentuate the positive to rather humorous lengths.

Fans may recall the blog last December in which David mentioned that some mice had made a nest in a drawer in his room, destroying lots of the things that he had saved as mementos. David’s last word on that event was, “But it's ok because it was an excuse to clean up haha.” I’m not sure how many of us would be able to view that situation in that way, but it does show us, once again, how a good outlook helps David deal with unpleasant things that he encounters in his daily life. Having a positive attitude seems to be one of the main reasons for the happiness that seems so much a part of David’s personality. Perhaps, if more of us were to focus on the good things around us, we might find ourselves smiling and enjoying life more, too. I think that it’s definitely worth a try!

The Wave

2009-05-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

In Hawaii "Aloha" can be a welcome or a farewell. The David Archuleta wave can also be these things but something even more. We first witnessed the rather tentative shy hand wave on American Idol. The crowd couldn't contain itself and the voices would ring out, "We love you David!" He was just getting used to the notion that he had fans...lots of fans...loud fans!

Now a year later there is a more relaxed yet very energetic wave when he sees his fans screaming with excitement in a mall or patiently waiting for his entrance in a meet & greet room. The wave comes with a megawatt smile and a "How are you guys doing today?" kind of greeting.

But the wave that I think we all find charming and uniquely David occurs in the middle of a performance. He is totally immersed in the mood of the song and deeply feeling the music...when for a second or two...he notices a family member, a loyal fan or perhaps just an endearing face and he gives them a little wave. Then he quickly slips back into the song. It is seamless and it is pure David. The artist, and yes the showman in the best sense of the word, is also a human being who is touched by our love. Watch the SLC video below and count the waves!

And finally the wave we all hate to see but the one that carries so much meaning. How many times have we seen him look back when summoned to depart? We see that one last look, an apologetic smile and the final gesture of a wave. He seems as though he is reluctant to severe the connection with us. But David Archuleta has much to do and the very last thing we will see is his wave.

Food for Your Soul - or the Real Reason

2009-05-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy Archuleta Avenue

David Archuleta was pretty busy this week - a week that I thought might be for a little time off! Well not with this young man.

After weeks of touring the United Kingdom, followed by a fast paced week of interviews and concert in the Philippines, and then "business" duties in Los Angeles -- David finally returns to his beloved Utaaaaaaaah. However, does he just kick back and relax. No he does not because he is committed to demonstrating that all of this is not about him, not about being famous, but for, as family friend Brett Hales once put it "the real reason". He did not elaborate on what David's "real reason" was - but one can conclude that one of those reasons is to take the good that has come his way and turn around and do good for others.

On Tuesday the Salt Lake City Tribune reported: David Archuleta, (Murray’s “America Idol,”) dropped by the West Jordan branch of the Cyprus Credit Union to accept a $50,000 donation for his charity, David vs. Goliath, dedicated to fighting Multiple Sclerosis. This is a cause that is close to his heart and home. While there he sang Happy Birthday to Cindy Hales, and stayed afterwards for the now ubiquitous "meet and greet".

Well, was he done with charity commitments for the week--- no he wasn't. The very next day David flew 2,075 miles to be a Samurai Chef at a charity event for Murphy's Kids. He sang and mixed some of the foods he likes...veggies, eggs and shrimp (well rumor has it maybe not the shrimp) in a very creative pure David Archuleta manner....and of course he stopped by all the tables to meet everyone. He doesn't just show up at a charity event...he embraces it.

From David’s Twitter about the evening : “Wow… Major lesson learned… I can’t cook habatchi (sic) style lol. But it was way fun! For those of you who had to sit at my table and suffer through my terrible Japanese cooking, thanks for being good sports! lol.”

I think that the "good sport" award goes to David Archuleta! Don't you agree?

For more on Crush MS - click HERE

For more on Murphy's Kids - click HERE

Course Correction

2009-05-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

Planes, boats and rocket ships all make course corrections. It's an interruption in the normal flow of things to make a correction and get back on course, so as to reach one's destination. A course correction reveals that something isn't going as planned and that it needs to be fixed.

Yesterday David Archuleta presented a check to the Multiple Sclerosis Society on behalf of Cypress Credit Union. While there, he was interviewed by Fox News, and we get to see David doing a verbal course correction. We've seen David do them many times before and they come in many flavors. Watch at about 3:10 as he interrupts to admit that he's "stuttering here", and then get's back on track.

David's choice to course correct mid-stream in a conversation like this and bring it to the forefront reveals two things. First, it reveals that he's not so concerned about his image or ego that he would rather fix the problem right away instead of talking his way out of it. David is not afraid to admit that he's gotten off track or is "stuttering", as he says. Most of us have probably developed subtle ways of covering over mistakes like this. It usually involves saying many more sentences of non-sense, usually at the expense of the puzzled listener. Not David Archuleta, he confronts the problem head on, course corrects, and the listener is spared the experience of being confused. David put's the listener before himself.

Secondly, his willingness to abruptly stop and course correct like this shows that he is more concerned with his message rather than how it is said. This speaks volumes about him as a person, especially in a world where people are so concerned about upholding an external image rather than having real character. David Archuleta seems more concerned with making sure people understand what he is trying to say, rather than how eloquently it is spoken. How refreshing!

David Archuleta and his willingness to course correct in conversations reveal his concern for others over himself, a lack of any ego or pride, and a desire to convey a message to his listeners. I think we would all be better off focusing on these character qualities and doing more course correcting in our lives.

An Instrument of the Lord

2009-05-26T03:50:00.000-07:00

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.

As I read the words to this prayer, I am reminded of David Archuleta. He is an instrument of the Lord, in so many ways. He lives his life with a strong faith and conviction in God and all that God stands for.

David shows us through his example in the way he leads his life, that he too believes in the words to this simple prayer. He seems to try his best, to show love and understanding. He tries to give people hope. He often thinks of others in both his words and his deeds. David does all of this and doesn't ask for anything in return. He always seems so thankful for all that he has been given. He shows us that he feels privileged to be able to share his talent with others. I am not sure if he realizes that it is we who are the privileged ones!

David's voice is an instrument of God. He has been given an incredible gift, the gift of song. He has been blessed with a beautiful and powerful voice. It is a calm and soothing voice that makes people happy. It stirs emotion and feelings of joy. David's voice has let me experience all of these things.

In 1997 through a personal tragedy, I lost my young son, Kevin. I have always had my faith to carry me through many of the trials and tribulations of life in the past, but the death of your child will truly test you. It will shatter your heart and damage your soul. It will paralyze you and it can make you question your faith. One day about a year ago, while I was listening to David sing a song called "Be Still My Soul", I felt an incredible wave of emotion come over me. As I listened to the words of that song and David's beautiful voice singing it, something happened. It had a very powerful affect on me. I felt a peacefulness and a calm take over me. I felt my soul and the open wound that was occupying it, close a little. I felt my faith deepen.

As I reflect back on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, I see that David Archuleta is a living example of that prayer. I know for me that because of David and his music; where there was doubt, he helped to strengthen my faith, where there was despair he gave me some hope, where there was darkness he helped me feel the light, and where there was sadness his music has brought me so much joy!

David is an instrument of the Lord. He is a faithful servant of the God. David is not Divine, but he has been given a wonderful voice and spirit, which he uses to reach out to people. He is guided by God, to touch the hearts and souls of others. He is a blessing indeed!

Here is that video of David singing "Be Still My Soul":

Honor

2009-05-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

We live in a world that teaches us to expect a return on our investment. Whether we give our time, money, or talents, we plan on getting something back in return. If you're like me, I'm the first to cry foul when that process of give and take becomes imbalanced. The notion of doing something, whatever it may be, and getting absolutely nothing in return simply strikes at our very core. Yet, there exists an extremely profound character quality that flies in the face of our instinctual expectations of that give and take routine. It's called honor and it's a character quality that David Archuleta possesses, but also something he receives from his fans.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Washington D.C. with my son on his 6th grade field trip. We spent five days seeing just about everything, yet there was one experience that touched me deeply. As we made our way through the main gate of the Arlington National Cemetery, I was overcome with the sheer size of it, and the countless white headstone markers that stretched out across the countryside. Each one marked someone who had served to preserve our freedom here in the United States. Simply walking by seemed disrespectful, yet there really was no way to pay the proper respect to each person because there were so many. We walked up and saw the tombs of the Kennedys, and continued on back through the cemetery. It began to rain which added to the already somber mood. I pulled out my umbrella and wrestled with my camera bag making sure to keep myself and my equipment dry.

The walk seemed to go on forever, down some steps, through more tombstones, then finally to our destination. The walking and wind had all but drenched our shoes and pants. We arrived at our destination and, behold, a sight to be seen. There stood a single, rigid uniformed guard holding a rifle. We had made it to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I was in awe to learn that 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, in heat, snow, or any condition, back and forth paces a soldier guarding the tomb of somebody he doesn't even know. In fact, we don't know them either, nobody does. If there ever was an act with zero return, here it is. Hold on to those facts, because it get's better.

The soldiers who guard the tomb do so with such high respect that each and every detail of their clothing, demeanor, and actions must be precise. There is no scratching of ones nose, wiping dripping sweat, or shifting weight from one leg to the other. They not only sacrifice their time to honor someone else, but they do so with such respect, it literally leaves you speechless. In addition, after the 30 minute duty is up, the guard doesn't just walk off on his merry way. It takes three guards to properly exchange the duty from one guard to the other. The oncoming guard, and his weapon, must be inspected to ensure that he is upholding that honor. Not for one minute will that tomb be guarded by anyone lax in honor.

Take a moment to watch this video of the pacing that the guard performs while on duty in addition to the changing of the guard. As you watch, remember that this goes on all night long, all year long, and in all weather conditions. The guards have taken a vow to never leave the tomb, even if their own life is at stake. They are to defend the tomb to their very death. This is honor! The first video shows the oath that the guards take and the tomb being guarded in the snow. The second shows the detailed procedure of changing out a guard.

Honor gives of oneself for the sake of another without expecting anything in return. It draws attention to the good deeds of others, if for no other reason than to highlight that good deed and those performing it. It gives praise to those who have chosen to act with such courage and tells the world that such good deeds are deserving of respect and of being remembered. At the foundation of honor there is a deep sense of gratitude for the good act that was performed by another.

Upon further evaluation of the qualities of honor, there surfaces a profound similarity with two other character qualities. Honor is very closely tied to agape, or unconditional, love and to the act of worship we give to God. What that means is that when we honor someone else, we function in the realm of the Divine. Love, worship and honor form a triad of character qualities very close to the heart of the Creator. That makes honor a worthy endeavor to cultivate, and a character quality we should strive to possess as we live our life.
The last couple of articles written here on CDC, "Music Appreciation, or, Room at the Top", and "Leave Your Ego at the Door", describe how David Archuleta puts others first and redirects conversations so that he can praise others rather than talking about his accomplishments. It is like an everyday, practical, way of honoring others and their accomplishments. David Archuleta realizes when he is being honored, and makes sure to thank his fans for it.

David sent a Twitter message to all his fans describing how he felt about his time in the Philippines, and the tribute that was given to him while on the SIS show.

"SIS did a tribute kind of thing with amazing local artists singing songs I sing. I felt dumb lol, but honored! Thanks you guys!" May 14, 2009

David Archuleta's character, contributions to charities, and his decision to honor others on a regular basis truly make him worthy of being the one to be honored. Let's be a people who seek to honor others.

In commemoration of all those who have served, and also those who have died, to bring freedom to the United States of America and to all nations of the world, we honor you!

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
~Dwight D. Eisenhower

You've Got A Friend

2009-05-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday evening David Archuleta, along with thousands of other fans at the Nokia Theater, saw his friend, David Cook's emotional performance of the tribute song "Permanent."

Shortly after Adam Cook died from brain Cancer, David Archuleta was asked to express his thoughts.

"It really struck me when I heard about the news of Cook's brother," Archuleta said in a statement. "I know they had been struggling with it for a while, so my heart really goes out to them." David continued, "It's so admirable the way he's handling it, though, and it's amazing to see him there as an example for millions of other people who have also been affected the same way he and his family have. I'll be keeping him in my thoughts and prayers, and hope the Cook family stays strong."

The live performance from Wednesday night is now available for purchase on iTunes. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), an organization based in Washington, D.C.

David Cook, after singing Wednesday said, “It’s a tough song. I think at the end of the day, I think not only to honor my brother but anybody going through something like this, you stay the course and you pull strength from everyone else.”

All of us here at CDC would like to encourage you to go to iTunes or the ABC2 site and purchase the charity version of David Cook's song, "Permanent". In doing so you will help to find a cure for Brain Cancer.

Music Appreciation, or, Room at the Top

2009-05-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

During David Archuleta’s appearance on the Filipino television show SiS last week, several local singers performed songs associated with David. As usual, David had many complimentary things to say about all of the performances. At one point, he said, “I’m just, like, blown away by everyone here...This show’s about me, but it should be about everyone here.” David is very willing to acknowledge the talents and achievements of others, and he seems well aware that there is room for many people to succeed in music.

This is a characteristic that David has displayed ever since the beginning of his American Idol journey. During the top 20 round, David did his memorable first rendition of “Imagine”, which prompted Simon Cowell to tell him that, “Right now, you’re the one to beat, and there are 19 very miserable contestants sitting here tonight...after that.” David’s response was to direct applause toward the other contestants in the room, referring to them as “awesome” and saying that, “It is a competition here.” It would certainly seem that David recognized that his fellow contestants were very talented and that he did not need to think that he was far better than them in order to feel good about his performance.

After the season ended, too, whenever David Archuleta was questioned about the ultimate result of the competition, he would always say that David Cook had shown throughout many weeks on the show why he deserved to win the title. Since then, David Archuleta has responded to questions about comparisons to David Cook by pointing out that each of them is pursuing his own style of music -- one more pop, one more rock. As David said in an interview last week, he’s “always just hoping the best for him [David Cook] and hoping he succeeds as much as he can.” Interestingly, during a radio interview last week, the DJ said that David might have become “in the history of Idol, it’s biggest star.” David demurred, (correctly and honestly) bringing up the names of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood in response to this comment. David Archuleta does not (and does not need to) worry that more success for David Cook or other singers means less success for him, and I think that this helps him to be able to appreciate and enjoy the work of so many other artists instead of seeing them all as competitors.

Sometimes, fans of one artist seem to be very critical of other performers and to find it very difficult to see anything positive about anyone other than their favorite. As we look back at last year’s American Idol competition and the joint concert that David Archuleta and David Cook did in Manila this past weekend, and as we observe the grand finale of American Idol’s current season this week, perhaps we, like David, can realize that there are many talented people whose work is deserving of appreciation. Different people will be drawn to performers with different styles and abilities, and, while it is fine to explain what we prefer and why, it is not necessary to criticize other singers in order to support our favorites. We should also remember that a person doesn’t need to win a competition or to be the biggest star in the music industry in order to be successful and happy. A look at David’s smiling face should be enough to tell us that!

So, good luck to this years’s American Idol finalists, both with all of the events surrounding the finale and in the future!

Leave Your Ego At The Door

2009-05-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

There is an old saying "Leave your ego at the door". This is a motto that we all should live by. David Archuleta is a young man who, despite his sudden rise to international fame, seems to be a person who indeed has left any hinter of an ego at the door. In fact he left it back in the car, no back on the plane, actually back in another state...hmmmm exactly where is that elusive ego anyways?

This characteristic of "where is David Archuleta's ego" has been demonstrated in many ways - most recognizably in his constant ability to deflect attention given to him onto others. This has been seen in such simple measures as in his "Twitters" to his fans. Yes he does share information about himself, but mostly in response to his fans questions such as what he had for breakfast, lunch, and let's not forget dinner! Even with this he manages to give a shout out to his favorite reasonably priced store!

"Just went to Marks and Sparks (Marks and Spencer) to grab some lunch. Now bring on the interviews!" April 30

Instead of promoting himself on Twitter, he often shares the attention he is receiving by using his "Tweets" to sing the praises of others in the music business, especially his friend Jordin Sparks:

"Yes!! FINALLY able to get @TheRealJordin's new single Battlefield, on iTunes. Jamming to it now!" May 12th

"I finished watching AI, and @TheRealJordin did amazing rocking' job Battlefield! Katy Perry did great too. Congrats to Kris and Adam for top 2." May 14th

When it came time to do any self promotion it comes as an after thought! After gushing over the McFly boys during the UK tour he mentions:

"OH! Almost forgot to tell you guys that the album comes out in the UK today! Woo hoo!" May 11th

Another example of David Archuleta's "checked at the door ego" was demonstrated in a recent press interview along with David Cook in Manila, Philippines. Irwin Santiago of PEP reported the following exchange between the two David's at recent interview in Manila:

When Cook said that Archuleta is “cooler” than himself, the younger David promptly countered that between the two of them, it’s very easy to tell that the older David is the “cool one.” Read the entire story here.

David Archuleta's ability to share with others the attention that is given to him will be a frequent theme with our character highlights here on CDC...more coming up soon.

"It is the nature of the ego to take, and the nature of the spirit to share."
~ Anonymous Proverb

David's Eyes, The Window To His Soul

2009-05-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

Much has been written about David Archuleta's eyes, from their beautiful and unusual hazel color, to the way he looks right at you with them as he speaks to you. Eyes that have been described as beautiful, sparkling, and piercing. Eyes that show compassion, kindness, honesty and joy.

There is an old proverb that says, 'The eyes are the window to the soul.' If this is true, then we can understand why David Archuleta has such an amazing soul. If the eyes are indeed the window to the soul, then David's eyes truly do reflect his.

David has one of the kindest most gentle souls I have ever witnessed. He takes the time to talk about helping those less fortunate, with the many causes he supports. He shows kindness and patience to others, even when he has traveled half way around the world on very little sleep. David Archuleta continually shows us what a genuine and incredible young man he is; always polite and courteous, gracious, patient, kind, grateful and humble. He is a very special young man.

Countless people, both friends of David's as well as fans, have written about, commented on, or reported what a nice young man he is. They often mention how much David appreciates what he does and how he is grateful for the way that people have responded to him and his music. They will point out that David is always positive, always upbeat and always polite. They will tell you that he goes out of his way to connect with his fans, often spending long amounts of time to talk with them and sign autographs. They will also tell you that he is slow to anger and quick to praise. The members of his band have stated on numerous occasions, that they have never seen David get angry and that he only has the nicest things to say about anyone. All have gone on to say that David puts his heart and his soul into everything that he does.

'The eyes are the window to the soul.' Yes, I would agree with that proverb, at least in David's case it's true. Because his soul, like his eyes, is something truly beautiful to behold!

Gratitude

2009-05-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

Next stop for David Archuleta ...the Philippines! David has acknowledged that during American Idol he was surprised by the support he received from his fans in the Philippines. When asked by the Philippine Star: What can we expect from you and the other David’s concert in the Philippines?

David replied “It’s our first show together and our first time to perform in the Philippines which has a soft spot in my heart. During American Idol, I got so much support from Filipinos. I really appreciate that and am very grateful to them for that."

David Archuleta always shows his fans whether we are in America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Asia or anywhere on this planet that he is truly grateful. He doesn't let 100 plus degree weather, a freezing blizzard or a chain link fence stop him from saying "Thank you" to his fans. He seems to have a soft spot for all of us.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like
wrapping a present and not giving it.
William Arthur Ward