Hymn for September "I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You" by Carl Trivette “Mountain Man Carl”

I know, this is not a hymn, but I listen to a lot of gospel music while on the computer and this song comes up once in a while.  I looked it up one evening and found an interesting story behind it.               Carl Trivette is a singer and songwriter of bluegrass, country, and gospel music. Carl began using the title of "Mountain Man Carl" after various people observed an accent in his speech that was not quite southern but "mountain." Born on September 16, 1934 in Fishdam, Tennessee, Carl was the second of four children and grew up surrounded by music. Naturally, his love for music began early and developed throughout his life. He sang in quartet groups during school, and he wrote his first song in his late teens. Carl wrote one of his most popular songs in 1952: "I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You"               After marrying his high school sweetheart, Marilee Rasnake, he traveled around the southeast singing in churches and camps. Later, their four children joined them in their singing. Reflecting on why he became a singer and songwriter, Carl has said the following:  “I remember my mother singing, humming, or whistling a tune while she cleaned the house, labored over the washboard, or weeded the garden... Because, in the beginning, we had no electricity or running water, we entertained ourselves by whatever means available. My grandparents had a wind up record player that they called a Victrola. The only records they had were by the original Carter Family . Their songs were created from personal experiences or stories told by others. In high school and college, I too, wrote poetry and short stories much in the same way as they did. I also sang with various gospel and variety groups [like the Mainstreet Victory Singers and the Gloryland Harmony Quartet] throughout the years.”                 He wrote this song for his wife Marilee Rasnake. She requested this to be sung at her funeral. So, when she died in 2003, Carl recited the song as a eulogy to her.  The things most important to Carl remain the focal point of most of Carl's music: family, love, and God.  If I surveyed all the good things that come to me from above
If I count all the blessings from the storehouse of love
I'd simply ask for a favor of him beyond mortal king
And I'm sure that he'd grant it again
                                                                                                                  I want to stroll over Heaven with you some glad day
When all our troubles and heartaches are vanished away
Then we'll enjoy the beauty where all things are new
I want to stroll over Heaven with you
                                                                                                                So many places of beauty we long to see here below
But time and treasures have kept us from making plans as you know
But come the morning of the rapture together we'll stand anew
While I stroll over Heaven with you
                                                                                                                  I want to stroll over Heaven with you some glad day
When all our troubles and heartaches are vanished away
Then we'll enjoy the beauty where all things are new
I want to stroll over Heaven with you
I want to stroll over Heaven with you                    My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.          John 14:2-3