Jessie Clark Funk 'follows the light' with her latest album

Ask Jessie Clark Funk about her life, and she might tell you about the dream that didn't come true — how when she was 14 she signed a recording contract with an independent affiliate of Sony Records and spent four months as a budding pop star. Before she realized that world was not for her.

It's OK, she will tell you, because she still has "A Million Dreams To Go."

Ask Jessie about her desires, and she might tell you how she's found her "Place In This World" — as a singer, but also as a wife and mother.

Ask her how she got where she is, and she might tell you how she put in faith in God, how she told him "You Know Better Than I."

It's no accident that these are among the songs on Jessie's newest CD. Although she didn't write any of them, they seem to fit perfectly with where she is in her life.

It's not where she thought she would be, even five years ago. She was pretty sure back then that she would have a college degree and an established singing career before she even thought about marriage and family. "I never saw myself being married and having a child by the time I was 21."

But then she met Jim Funk.

A local songwriter and record producer, Jim's biggest claim to fame is probably that he co-wrote "Buy Me a Rose," which turned into a mega-hit for country singer Kenny Rogers. "Jim hired me to sing on an EFY CD he was producing." One thing led to another, and Jessie and Jim were married in May 2004.

This summer, they welcomed baby Janessa into the family — and while all that was going on Jessie was recording her second CD. "It's been an amazing season," she says, but she realizes, "I'm right where I want to be. I'm so blessed to be able to do both — to be a mother and to sing."

Everyone has been so supportive, she says. "Janessa has been an angel, but I've still had to learn to manage my time. I can't just jump in the car and go whenever I want. But it's great to work with so many people who all value the gift of family."

Working with Jim on the latest project has also been exciting, she says. He co-produced the album with Greg Hansen, co-wrote one of the songs in the collection and sings with Jessie on an arrangement of "Come, Thou Font."

"She's pretty easy to work with," says Jim.

"I trust him a lot," says Jessie. "He's got a good ear."