For over twenty years, three time Dove Award winning Female Vocalist of the Year Twila Paris has been the voice of worship and praise in Christian music. Her songwriting sensibilities and fervent faith have made her an inspiration to thousands of fans. But even though Twila made her mark singing and writing about the magical presence of God in our lives, there was a time, not too long ago, where the songstress found herself wondering where God's answers were in her own questions about life. And that's why her newest release, Bedtime Prayers: Lullabies and Peaceful Worship is more than just another album from a prolific talent. You could say the album was a prayer-and an answer to prayer. After fifteen years of marriage, Twila and her husband, Jack Wright had come to terms with the possibility of never experiencing parenthood. "My mentality was," recalls Twila, "there are a couple minutes left on my biological clock, so it wasn't completely out of the question, but we were praying, not God please give us a baby, but God, please just do what You know is best. We trust You and we'll embrace Your plan, whatever it is." At the same time, Twila never let go of her desire to create an album for little ones-specifically, a collection of lullabies. For years she's tucked away melodies and words-and waited. And although she wasn't quite sure just what she was waiting for, late last summer Twila was excited to learn that the timing (according to record company) was right for that Lullaby album to fit into her schedule.

"It was just one of those things where I said, I'm making this for other people's children," she remembers of her decision, "It was just an offering and something I was excited about doing. And it was almost like that final step of really making peace with God's will. I mean if you can make a lullaby album when you don't know if you'll ever have children, then you have made peace!"

That peace didn't last long. No sooner had the songs all been written and chosen and production begun, Twila discovered she was pregnant. Not long after, she hit the road with the Christmas musical tour, Child of the Promise, playing the role of Elizabeth-a part she accepted prior to learning her own good news. "I think it just demonstrated, once again," she laughs, "God's faithfulness-and his sense of humor! On some level I was beginning to feel like, not a joke in Christian music circles, but I certainly had everybody giggling a bit!"

For Twila, though, the laughter quickly turned into awe. The dreams in her heart for her own life were coming true right along side her dreams as an artist. The lullaby album, and the Wright's new son, both due to arrive in spring became more than tangible reminders of God's goodness and his remarkable purposes. In fact, Twila found her circumstances drew her even more into the moods and music of worship-a style not unfamiliar to Paris fans. Over the course of her career Twila has released 18 albums and seen 33 songs reach the number one spot on radio charts. Numerous songwriter awards have celebrated her unique gift and her music has found a home in churches across the world as part of the modern hymnbook. But true worship has always been central to Twila's work, and even an album made for those not yet ready to grasp such celestial concepts still became signature Paris. "I wanted to introduce the concept of worship in very basic ways," she explains, "and it's an element of what I've always done so it was easy for me to get into that mindset."

According to the Bedtime Prayers' producer, John Hartley (Heaven and Earth, Celtic Lullabies), the album is a genuine reflection of Twila's heart and artistry. "Working with Twila has been a great privilege," he says. "Her love for God and her giftedness as a singer and songwriter created the perfect backdrop for a lullaby record. Her passion for worship and obvious love for the project and its audience were an ideal combination."

Paris agrees, calling the album "Sanctuary for children," referring back to her popular album that birthed such perennial favorites as "The Joy of the Lord" and "Come Worship The Lord." And, she points out, "it's very related to what we (producer Hartley and Paris) have been doing for adults. It's very worshipful and very gentle music." Twila was also certain she didn't want this to just be an album of songs to fall asleep by. "I felt like the Lord was directing me to fill this with songs that would be comforting and peaceful and yet would have content that would instill these very tender, vulnerable minds with foundational truths." In addition, Twila hopes that parents will get as much out of Bedtime Prayers and the little ones they're playing it for do. "I want people to enjoy listening to the album, but I hope parents don't completely replace singing to their own children. Actually," she insists, "I hope it inspire parents to do that more!"

Featuring the unmistakable guitar work of Phil Keaggy and the background vocal talents of Chris Eaton and Chris Rodriquez, the project is a gentle, worshipful album that celebrates the wonder of childhood and the wonder of life. Tailor-made for such tender musical moments, Twila's voice sparkles through the songs. And it's no wonder. All of the vocals for Bedtime Prayers were recorded with Twila very aware of two little ears also listening in.

"You know they talk about the fact that a baby knows the mother's voice before he's born," she marvels, "well I was on tour singing every night and then doing all this singing in the studio and I realized he's going to know my singing voice. After he's born, when I sing to him, it's going to be very familiar."

Describing the music as everything from sparse and organic acoustic to rich and dazzling Disney-esque, Paris and her producers culled through many popular children's albums to find just the right feel. But it turns out that going back into her own childhood was the strongest inspiration.

"As children it was our tradition, a ritual really." she recalls. "We would put on our lullaby album and listen at bedtime. I really have fond memories of that. I was definitely too old to need it after awhile, but it was just something we kept doing because we enjoyed it." Twila also has fond recollections of her father's musical influence: "Of course you never remember your earliest lullabies that your parents sang to you, but I watched them with my other siblings. And dad would rock them and sing a lot. Well, in the old days the diapers and the plastic pants were this big thick padding, like upholstery, on your body. And he would beat out jazz rhythms and sing jazz lullabies to the beat. It's no wonder most of us became involved in music in later life!"

Such sweet memories became the backdrop for Bedtime Prayers: Lullabies and Peaceful Worship and served as a reminder to Paris of her larger goal for the album, creating something of lasting value.

"I think that my goal for this album is that kids and parents will enjoy it, but that twenty years from now there'll be young people who have some things deep down inside their heart, and still remember and can sing you every word of the songs that they used to go to sleep by. And they know these things not just in their heads but in their hearts. That would be a perfect gift."

And as for Twila's other perfect gift, a little bundle of hope and expectation, Paris is now ready to sit back and wait and see what other surprises God has ahead. She's learned it may be impossible to predict the future, but she is confident her future lies in loving hands.

"A few years ago when I was first grappling with childlessness, I remember there were times when I thought, my calendar's out of whack. It's getting way behind. All my friends have two or three children and I don't have any. You feel like you're in limbo in an area of your life. And then I remember the thought that came to me after I found out about the baby-you know what? God has a calendar too and his is much bigger than ours. And he never gets behind. God has a calendar and he hasn't forgotten about you. He's got a calendar with your name on it and it's exactly on schedule. It's exactly as it should be."