wanderlove

WanderLove is part of jessaanderson.com!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:55:00 +0000

Hello! Looking for recent WanderLove posts?

WanderLove is now part of jessaanderson.com!

ride the wave

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:15:00 +0000

Motherhood can be a strange ride.

There are the whole crazy pregnancy and post-partum stages, where strange things are happening to your body that you have absolutely no control over. Then there's the part where you actually have to, you know, mother. The other morning I was feeling frustrated by the pile of pants that don't quite fit just yet, lamenting the loss of my Pregnancy Hair, and..what's that? You aren't familiar with Pregnancy Hair? Well, it's a glorious condition wherein your head decides for whatever odd hormonal reason not to shed and you end up with thick, luxurious hair that does wonderful things. As with all good things, Pregnancy Hair too must come to an end. Unfortunately this happens when your head decides it no longer wants all that wonderful hair and so it all starts coming out with reckless abandon. For someone who has a thing about hair (be it mild phobia or major pet peeve) this is a very unwelcome process during an already chaotic time.

So anyway, there I am feeling totally creeped out by the amount of hair I'm shedding, while also realizing my favorite pants still look a little more like they were saran-wrapped onto my body than I'd prefer, and we're getting dangerously close to "woe is me" territory. Then my sweet boy, who has been hanging out on my bed, starts smiling and cooing up a storm, and I remember how very lucky I am. I throw on a pair of pants that allow me to breathe and go about my life. Cut to last night, when I spent an hour putting Lorelei to bed and the scales of motherhood felt perfectly balanced. We took our time reading, laughing, tickling, and relaxing (or "belaxing" as she currently calls it). We chatted and played and prayed and my sweet girl told me how much she loved me and went right to sleep. I was so aware of how sweet that moment was, so thankful to have time to bond with my girl. And then this morning we were back to an 11 out of 10 on the crazy meter with tantrums and yelling and crying and holycowhowisitonly8am.

My first instinct is to compare these early years of motherhood to a roller coaster. It's a crazy ride, with twists and turns and a few stomach-churning drops and most of the time someone is screaming and/or holding on for dear life. It's thrilling, fun, anxiety-inducing, and it's so fast and furious you might miss it if you blink. And yes, these times can feel pretty much just like a roller coaster. Yet as I seek to create balance for our family and make it through these years as gracefully as possible, another image comes to mind. I'm trying to think of motherhood less like riding a roller coaster and more like riding a wave. Waves are powerful and strong and they can knock you over and drag you out to sea if you aren't prepared for them. But when you are prepared, when you see them coming, you can put yourself in the position to ride with awareness and skill, to come out on the other side having accomplished something rather than having been strapped in and dragged around the track someone else built.

It takes practice. It takes focus and hard work. It takes self-sacrifice and more than a few falling flat on your face moments before you find your balance. Unlike a roller coaster, it's about equipping yourself for the ride with skills that will last you a lifetime. I have to say, many days I still feel like I'm on a roller coaster. I fall into bed exhausted, wondering if I accomplished anything good that day, other than keeping us all fed and free of injuries requiring a trip to the hospital. Riding a roller coaster can be defeating. Riding a wave, on the other hand, can be rewarding.

It's not a perfect analogy, but I think God wants me to do more wave-riding than roller coaster-riding. I see that when I prepare my heart by spending time in prayer, in the Word, and in a healthy spiritual community that I am acquiring the skills to overcome even the biggest, scariest, most powerful waves. I can't help but picture the disciples in a boat during the midst of a life-threatening storm, totally freaking out and losing it while Jesus slept beside them (Matthew 8:23-27). When they woke him, it took only a word to silence the storm. He simply spoke and it was so! Because of the gospel, that power is just as available to us now as it was to the disciples then. God will equip us, by His power, to ride the waves coming our way. My prayer for myself and my family as we continue to seek peace in our home is that I would draw on the power of the resurrected Christ to help me gracefully weather the stormy moments instead of strapping myself in and hoping for a good ride!

Oh and Mom? I love you! Thanks for everything. :)

you have God's attention

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:51:00 +0000

"You have God's attention."

The words I desperately needed to hear yesterday morning. The words I had no idea how deeply I was missing until they hit my soul like water in the midst of a desert. I realize these words may sound self-focused on their own, but in the midst of a glorious gospel message they were just the opposite. Through a message largely focused on mission, missional communities, and the state of our church body, God used the words of our dear friend and pastor to take my selfish and defeated heart and turn it toward the blessed freedom of Jesus Christ. Beyond the message itself, which I also gained much from, God wanted me to hear the most basic truth of what Jesus did on my behalf, and of how much He truly loves me. Me! I have been reminding myself of just that over the last few weeks, but "reminding" and "believing" can be more distant cousins than blood brothers sometimes.

In this first month of becoming a mama to two, I have experienced both more blessing and more difficulty than I anticipated. I knew I would somehow make room in my heart for a second sweet babe (a feat that seems almost impossible when your heart is already so full of love for just one!), and I also expected challenging moments. I expected tired and worn-out. I didn't so much expect that after the first few weeks of visitors, meal deliveries, and adrenaline wore off I would feel like I'd been hit by a train of emotions (with a very hormonal conductor, might I add). I suppose the beauty of bearing a child is that you quickly forget much of the early hardship as life gives way to a sweet little person blossoming before your eyes. You remember labor and delivery, but somehow when it comes around again you remember in a very vivid way (oh, hello again contractions). You remember being tired, but when you're sitting on the floor in the middle of the night with tears pouring down your face because you are justsofreakingexhausted, you suddenly remember just how tired you were the first time. You remember feeling unsure and confused about this whole parenting thing, but you don't remember questioning everything you've ever known until it happens again.

Can we do this? Are we going to damage them irreparably? What should I teach them? Do I remember anything I learned at that age? How did I even pass kindergarten? Am I really going to start doing concerts again in a few weeks? Do I even remember any of my own songs? Will I ever sleep again? When was the last time I showered? Why is my two year old so suspiciously quiet? Why is there so much pooping and crying happening in this house? For the love of all that is good where are all the pacifiers!?

The list goes on. The lack of sleep continues. Your two year old gets 4 spankings before you even get out of her bedroom some mornings and your infant wants nothing more than to be held at every second that day. Life‑even a beautiful, comfortable, healthful life‑can be hard. It can be so hard! And here I am trying just as hard to fix it. Here I am wanting, willing myself to be a better mom and a better wife. Not to mention that I have a stack of thank-you notes to finish and missed wishing a best friend "Happy Birthday" until two days after the fact. It's so, so easy to think we should work for it. That we should earn it. That if we could "white-knuckle it" (thanks for that visual, Pastor Jacob) it will all work out in the end and we'll get God's attention, that we'll earn His love.

Please, please hear this: You have God's attention. You do. You already have it. If you have said "yes" to Jesus and His sacrifice for you, you are His. So when He looks at you, the selfish mom who is feeling like a failure at 3am (or whoever you happen to be), He doesn't see the selfish doubter. He sees Jesus! He loves you as He loves his very son. The messy track record you've left behind is replaced with that of our perfect, spotless Jesus. God regards you as He regards Jesus Christ, that is, perfect. (I'll be honest, I sort of picture God handing out perfect records with Oprah-style enthusiasm here. YOU get a perfect record! YOU get a perfect record!)

As I was so lovingly reminded yesterday, that is no license to sin, and it doesn't mean God cares not for who we are in this life. Yet, if we truly understand the goodness of the gospel, that is all the motivation we need to ask God for the strength to do it better the next time. And the next. And, the next...

So whoever you are, whatever plagues you with doubt, fear, and the nagging feeling you're not doing enough, you're right. You're not, you can't and you won't, and you don't have to. Jesus already has, and you already have God's attention.

waiting well...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:42:00 +0000

It's a very odd feeling to know that something completely life-altering is just around the corner, but to have no control over how or when it happens. With my first pregnancy, I was so naive as to what labor would be like and how having a baby would change me. This time around, I am so, so anxious for this little boy to arrive because I know, at least in part, what's coming. At the same time, every day that passes leaves me frustrated because I'm so very ready to experience this labor, and there is so much I can't control that I'm just looking forward to getting through that part and beginning the journey of being a mama to two precious babes.

I have a friend with whom I frequently discuss the idea of "suffering well" and how that plays into our lives as gospel believing Christ followers. While I wouldn't exactly consider this a time of suffering, I have been so convicted by our conversations as I wait for this baby boy. Waiting is hard. It's not fun, and it's not satisfying. I have been trying so hard to make every day the best "last day" just in case I happen to go into labor, and have found myself frequently frustrated or criticizing myself when things aren't going as planned.

I feel like if this baby comes while Lorelei is under the weather or Jordan and I are bickering over the endless nesting projects on my list that I have somehow failed. I want Lorelei's last moments as an only child to be joyful, perfect, and full of love. I want to go into the delivery room feeling like Jordan and I are a perfectly happy, competent, prepared baby-having team. What I really want is to make my home here the most important thing, rather than my eternal home. I want my life to be idyllic and sweet and look good to anyone who might get a glimpse of it.

What I am so thankful for is a gracious Savior who has already done the work and written this story. I need not strive to be enough as a wife and mother, because my value has already been determined as a ransomed child of Jesus Christ. I am a great wife, a loving mother. I am enough. Not because I do it all or do it well (spoiler: I don't), but because I have been gifted the "perfect, spotless righteousness" of Jesus. Waiting is terrible. Waiting leaves me feeling empty and hopeless and frustrated. Jesus, on the other hand, is soul-satisfyingly complete and offers up a fountain ever-flowing. The sheer joy I feel when I live there is such a jarring contrast to the best I can create for myself that it's embarrassing!

Last night Jordan and I spent over an hour in the kitchen together cleaning up a rather unfortunate (and borderline toxic) spill in our refrigerator. I mentioned that I needed to clean it up and when we realized how bad it was he jumped right in to help me. What I thought would take five minutes ended up being a laughter-filled few hours with my husband over something as unattractive as a leaky bag of chicken. We spent the time chatting and laughing and bonding over how gross the inside of our fridge was, cleaning the heck out of it, and putting it all back together.

Friends, cleaning a refrigerator that has not been cleaned in way too long and has recently been overtaken by raw chicken juice is not sexy. Especially when you are 9 months pregnant. But having a few hours with the person I love and cherish to talk and to laugh and to remember how very blessed I am? That is such a gift. God so refreshed my heart by reminding me that even if my very last pre-labor experience is cleaning out the fridge, I am lacking nothing. What Jordan needs is a wife who loves Jesus and finds value in His finished work on the cross. What Lorelei (and baby boy) need is a mama who loves them out of response to who Jesus is‑not to who they are, or who I am.

So, I am doing my best to wait well. To patiently and joyfully sieze each moment God has granted me and to not waste time scribbling on scrap paper when God has already created the greatest work of art in the gospel of Jesus. And just maybe, this will be the day I finally meet my son. Or, maybe not. :)

newness

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:24:00 +0000

I've been struggling a bit with the motivation to blog lately because my mind is literally consumed at all moments with one thing: a new baby! As we count down the days (2 1/2 weeks until his due date!) I'm finding more and more that every free moment I have, and many distracted moments in between, I am totally consumed with all things newborn, nursery, nesting, etc... When I think about blogging, I find myself hesitating to share for fear of alienating those who don't care much about babies at the moment, but I realized today after perusing a few of my own favorite blogs that this space is as much for me as it is for any of you. It's not always possible to put out content that every reader will relate to, and I need to be okay with that.

That said, I want to be able to look back at each post and know that it accurately captures my life and that of my little, but growing, family. So, this space will continue to change and grow as we do! :) As for what's actually been going on over here at casa Anderson, we are loving having a few weeks/months at home. Last year we were on the road almost 250 days, and that's a lot of days to be in someone else's space! We've been using the last few weeks to organize and get rid of clutter‑it's so crazy how much stuff we had crammed into our closets! Adding another person into the mix has taken a whole lot of strategy, but we're mostly there. I am a crazy nester when I'm pregnant, so there are about 5,000 projects I had in mind, but we've accomplished the most important ones (painting a living room at 9 months pregnant is no small feat) and I'm using the remaining few days to get the details in order.

I'm also reminding myself every day that this is the last time we'll just be 3. Sometimes it's easy to focus on how ready I am to meet this baby, and how excited I am for Lorelei to be a big sister. I can't wait to see my sweet husband with a little boy, and I am so ready to be done with pregnancy. For a week or two I felt so grouchy and I realized how little fun I was having. Since then I've tried my best to celebrate the way we exist now, as a little trio, and to soak up each moment of love with my favorite little girl. She is such a special and amazing little person, and while I know our hearts will grow to include space for two kiddos, it's just a few more weeks (days, fingers crossed) that all my kid-focused love and attention is just for her.

On that subject, if any of you have tips on how you made your older child/children feel loved and nurtured while welcoming a new baby, please share! She's so great, and very excited about having a brother. We picked out a present from her for baby brother together, and we have one to give her when she comes to meet him as well. Although I know she'll be getting extra love, attention, and a few presents from family and friends when the baby comes, the mama in me is so afraid she'll feel left out, even for a moment. Thankfully our life is somewhat crazy all the time, so she does extremely well with change.

Hopefully very, very soon we'll be able to share the good news of this baby making his appearance. If you think of us, please pray for a safe, healthy, quick delivery! We're planning to go natural as we did with Lorelei, and however he gets here it will no doubt be intense and momentous!

2013!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 13:24:00 +0000

Image: Emily McDowell found via Camille Styles (a favorite blog of mine!)

This morning I woke up nice and early at 5:30, which is ironic because it's the first morning LJ has not woken up at 5:30 post-vacation. Most early mornings (especially these days) I find I'm so exhausted I fall right back asleep until I'm forced to drag myself out of bed and get miss Lorelei up, but today I tossed and turned for about 30 minutes with a million thoughts racing through my head. Something about the first day of a new year seems like it needs urgent attention!

merry & bright

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Merry Christmas! I've said this before, but 2012 went by extremely quickly. It's hard to believe we'll be ringing in 2013 in just a few days, and I can't wait to see what the new year holds. I feel beyond blessed to have stayed so busy touring in 2012 with my wonderful, talented husband and our sweet Lorelei. Although I am so feeling ready to welcome our little boy into the world and into our family, I am savoring each moment we have to focus all our love and attention on our precious girl. She is a joy and a light every day!

This year we have had much to celebrate, and it's such a blessing to be able to spend the holidays with family and those we love. This year, we are in Puerto Rico with my parents and brother for a few more days, and then we are headed to the icy midwest to celebrate with Jordan's family. Trading the beach for snow drifts actually has me a little bit excited as we haven't seen much snow this year! (Someone may need to remind me I said that in a week when I'm complaining about being frozen.)

I hope that this Christmas is a blessed one for each of you, and that the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ will permeate your heart and mind as we reflect on the goodness of God to send his only Son as a helpless babe for our salvation. The power of that message continues to amaze me, and I am humbled to have such a reason to celebrate. To be free from sin and shame due to the tremendous work of Jesus on the cross is a seemingly impossible gift that my soul rejoices to receive!

This year, I have found this lyric from "O Come All Ye Faithful" to be a particularly beautiful description of the arrival of Jesus. I hope the entrance of Jesus into our world will strike you now as never before, and draw us near to the throne of grace as we enter 2013.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing
O Come let us adore Him
O Come let us adore Him
O Come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

God and grief

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:22:00 +0000

I had a hard time sleeping last night in the wake of the events at Sandy Hook Elementary yesterday. Lying in my bed, with my sweet little girl sleeping soundly in her room and an acrobatic little boy causing a ruckus in my ever-growing belly, I couldn't help but feel a small amount of the grief that the parents, family, and friends of the victims must be feeling. While I truly can't fathom what they are going through, I know that in this life, my greatest treasure is the ones I love.

I tend to battle anxiety and a lack of peace, so as I prayed for the families and thanked God for my own sweet little ones, I also had to ask God for a reminder of His heavenly perspective. It's very easy for me to give in to feelings of anxiety and fear, and yet, I know that dwelling there is opposed to the abundant life God promises us in Jesus Christ in John 10:10. I believe that His heart is also broken for these events. For the gaping hole in those families their precious babies used to fill. For the many, many loved ones who lost child and adult yesterday. For the loss people around the world are feeling every day as they endure crisis and tragedy.

We are not overlooked in our need. We are not abandoned to the evil that surrounds us. We are, however, temporarily inhabiting a world in desperate need of the Jesus of the gospel. In my own heart, I felt God gently reminding me that just as He loves and cares for me, He loves and cares for others. My job is not to protect my children from every evil and harm (although I would die doing my very best) or to control every aspect of their life and formation. My job is to love and serve a perfect, all-knowing, gracious God to the very best of my ability each and every day. I am here for the glory of God and to spread the name of Jesus Christ, not to build myself a tidy kingdom here on earth.

As the goodness of the gospel of Jesus' salvation continues to permeate my heart, I am asking that God would continue to give me perspective that outweighs my own limited sight. Too often I judge and condemn others without viewing them as beloved children God has already called, or desires to call His own. This world will bring trouble, but it is not our home. I don't have answers, and I do not wish to trivialize in any way the suffering endured here and now. I can only look to Jesus to fill the void I feel when I am overcome by the weight of such evil. Now, the words of 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 are comforting to me; I hope that you also find comfort in the message of the gospel of Jesus.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

skateboards for all

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Possibly the last thing I thought I'd find time to post about here is skateboards, but something amazing is going down in Nashville, y'all, and skateboards are at the heart of it. Check out this video for an introduction to Salemtown Board Co. and see what the fuss is all about!

I may not know much about skateboarding itself, but it doesn't take a discriminating eye to see the beauty in these hand-crafted boards. From the mission to the product itself, great things are happening through Salemtown Board Co. I'd highly encourage you to take a moment to check out this company, founded by some top-quality men I'm proud to live and serve alongside here in Nashville. You can find them elsewhere on the web below:

facebook.com/salemtownboardco

twitter.com/salemtownboard

halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:36:00 +0000

It's hard to believe we're already in November! It seems like we start seeing Halloween decorations in August, but it came and went so quickly this year! I grew up carving pumpkins, planning costumes, and trick-or-treating my heart out (followed by a strict dump-and-sort by mom, and probably a little bit of sort-and-snatch by dad). My dear husband grew up celebrating Halloween by picking something out at the toy store, I think. And while I have a strong affinity for pumpkins and all things Fall, I have never been enamored by the celebration of all that is bloody, evil, undead, etc...

Our compromise has been to find ways to celebrate cultural traditions, without feeling like we're dedicating too much time and energy into the things we don't find gospel value in. This year we chose to spend Halloween with some close friends eating a fried turkey and collecting candy at a local trunk-or-treat. To be honest, I was a little skeptical of the trunk thing, hoping it wouldn't be lame in comparison to the usual neighborhood trek. We were surprised on our arrival to realize that we'd conveniently chosen a trunk-or-treat that was only one part of a huge fall festival, hosted by a local church, and it was a blast! We got the kids in and out in a reasonable amount of time (it was way too cold here in Nashville!) and people got really creative with the decor. Just when Lorelei was losing steam, we came upon a woman dressed as a sheep, and Lorelei excitedly yelled, "Sheep! Baa!" right in her face, haha! Reenergized, we happily made our way through the remaining cars. Every so often she would ask us, "Where my bag?" ensuring the candy was safely in our custody.

Here are some photos of our little "shooting star" in her costume.

a very special announcement...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:00:00 +0000

As I mentioned in my last post, I've had to take a small step back from blogging in recent weeks. A busy schedule is something I've gotten very used to, but on top of our constant travel and busy life, there's a little something else that's caused me to be a bit quieter around here. Those of you who have seen me in person lately know I've been keeping a not-so-small secret for the past few months...

We are so thrilled to be welcoming baby # 2, due in early March! It's been such a sweet time for us as a family to dream about our future with another precious little one, and I have loved being able to slowly tell friends and family the news as we've seen them in person. At 17 weeks, I just couldn't keep it to myself any longer—not that this growing belly will let me (and yes, there's just one in there)! In a few weeks we'll have an appointment to find out if miss Lorelei will be getting a brother or sister, and we're all beyond excited about what's to come.

As is normal, my first trimester was a very nauseous, very tired one, but I am praising God for good health so far for me and baby. I'm still feeling quite tired, but God has been providing for every need as we continue to travel and perform. Of course, we would appreciate your prayers for health and safety as we continue to travel throughout the pregnancy. Thank you to those of you who have already shared in our excitement, I'm looking forward to sharing the blessed moments ahead with all of you!

new music | new video

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:04:00 +0000

Hello dear friends!

I've been lamenting my lack of blog posts lately, alas, life has been a little nuts over the past few weeks and unfortunately, I've had to take a step back. I'm working on some new posts and content for the upcoming months, but until then, I am beyond excited to reveal the result of our "not-so-secret" video shoots with Oceanwide Studios. Andy and Brad not only did the video, they shot both of my sister-in-law's weddings in 2011, so they are practically family at this point! I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to work with them and to have such a beautiful video we're all proud to share. You can watch the video here, and I hope you won't be too shy to share it with all of your friends! :)

Tweet about it, share it on Facebook, send a friend the YouTube link, and enjoy the video below!

music monday: shadowfeet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:57:00 +0000

I hope you had a great weekend! We were able to lead music at our church on Sunday, and being with our church family is always such a blessing. Jordan and I are increasingly thankful to have found a church family whose one goal and focus at every gathering is to simply lift high the name of Jesus and make Him famous. This gospel-living oriented focus has deeply impacted our lives on every level, and I'm so encouraged to go into my week with the confidence that Christ truly gives us the power to abide in Him! You're probably familiar with the lovely and talented Brooke Fraser in some facet, be it her work with Hillsong or her stunning solo projects, and I'm sharing a favorite video after the jump!

this weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:00:00 +0000

This week feels like it's flown by! We've had lots going on between Labor Day, my birthday, our weekly COM Group and a few other activities, plus trying to get caught up on errands and housework! I hope you all had a lovely week, and that many of you were able to enjoy having an extra day off on Monday. This weekend we'll be at home, and we're looking forward to spending time with our church family. I have a feeling we'll be keeping an extra close eye on Lorelei as well, as she's been in full two-year-old force this week! Lots of errant scribbles, spills, and stubborn attitudes have been keeping us on watch (and trying to keep from laughing at her cuteness and thus encouraging her naughty behavior!). A few fun links after the jump...

good things

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:40:00 +0000

This week's good things post is a birthday edition, since I turned 27 yesterday! Life has been so busy lately that it kind of snuck up on me this year, and it's starting to sink in that I'm much closer to 30 than I am to 20 these days. Yesterday was so lovely, and it was a great reminder of how much I have to be thankful for! A celebratory good things list after the jump...

this weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:00:00 +0000

"A Kind of Magic" print by Fine Art Nature Photography

Happy Friday! I hope your week was a lovely one. We played an outdoor concert at Cedarville University last night (where I attended for a time) and it was such a lovely night to be outside. Some of the students are friends we've made on the road over the last few years and it was so great to see them. Lorelei had a blast touring the campus and playing with them while we set up and performed! This weekend we're headed back home to Nashville, and it will be our first weekend off since May I think. We're looking forward to a little stretch at home and to be with our church family. Especially because they are just finishing a major renovation project at the building, which will give the church much more room to grow! What are your weekend plans? A few fun links after the jump...

good things

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:58:00 +0000

I can't believe it's already Wednesday! We got in Monday night, and I still have a suitcase full of stuff to unpack/wash/repack for a quick overnight trip tomorrow. At least packing for one night is a lot less time consuming than packing for several weeks! In the mean time, here are this week's good things...

tour diary

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We've spent the last two weeks on the road, and it's been super busy and fun. Thankfully we were near family some of the time and had a place to camp out between concerts (and some eager babysitters!). On the road, the familiar things keep life feeling normal, so getting to catch up with family and friends is always refreshing and encouraging. A few highlights after the jump...

music monday: citizens

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:00:00 +0000

As part of the Christian music industry, I am always encouraged to discover artists who are putting out Christ-centric music that is both full of theological truth and encouragement, and also has a musical style that draws my attention and inspires me to think creatively. One of our pastors alerted my husband Jordan to the band Citizens out of Mars Hill Seattle, and we've been hooked on their four song EP "Already / Not Yet". I'm a huge fan of their indie-rock style and original songs, as well as their take on some old favorites.

this weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Photo taken by Char Beck (www.charbeck.net)

Hello again friends! The last few weeks have been crazy and I was a bit under the weather, so my poor little blog has been a bit neglected. Even though it's already Friday, I thought I'd try to get back in the swing of things! Jordan and I had a lovely anniversary last week and we're looking forward to a busy upcoming weekend/week full of concerts, driving, appointments, and more concerts! Here's hoping this recent stretch of beautiful weather continues to carry us into Fall. I cannot wait for Fall, but I'm trying to be patient and enjoy the last of the summer spirit! Here are a few fun links from around the web...

seven

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Our 3 year anniversary in Chicago, 2008

Today marks seven (!) years of marriage with Jordan, and it's seriously hard to believe that much time has already gone by. This time in 2005 we were in Michigan getting photos at the church with our family and bridal party, and I still remember how giddy and excited we were to be getting married. We've had many different ways of celebrating our anniversary over the last 6 years, including the above photo taken in the "bean" sculpture in Chicago back in 2008. Not only did we have very different hairstyles, but my first album had just released and we were just weeks into our new lifestyle as full-time musicians. It's amazing to look back and think about all God has done in our life since the day we said, "I do", and it makes me so very excited for all the anniversaries to come.

Today we're in Des Moines, resting up after a very busy weekend. We opened for Matthew West at Summerwood in Rockford, IL on Sunday and it was quite possibly the most fun I've had on tour yet. The whole event was so well done and Matthew and his crew really blew it out of the water! So our anniversary is starting off with naps for all of us, and tonight we'll hit the town here in Des Moines for a little anniversary date. Oh the joys of being in town where family can babysit. :)

If there's anything I've learned in 7 years, it's that God is abundantly and graciously faithful. Life is messy and rarely what you expect, but when you're on the same team and fighting for the same thing, marriage can yield the most beautiful and transformative rewards. Being Jordan's wife has made me a far better person, and I feel so very blessed to call him mine. Every single day he makes me laugh, and I feel so grateful to spend my life with him and Lorelei doing what we love. Happy Anniversary to the love of my life and my very best friend!

this weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Photo taken by Char Beck (www.charbeck.net)

What does everyone have planned for the weekend? Other than watching the last of the Olympics, of course! It's been so fun to stay up a little late and cheer for the USA. My favorite is gymnastics, and Jordan gets so into the swimming! I'm always shocked by how young some of the athletes are. It's so amazing that they are so talented, and so disciplined to make it so far! This weekend we're headed back on the road for a few weeks, and we'll see both of our families while we're out, which is always fun! Here are some fun links to take you into the weekend...

a time out

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Photo taken by Char Beck (www.charbeck.net)

Sometimes life gets so crammed full of errands and events and celebrations that it's hard to truly incorporate Sabbath into it. Rest is so good for our minds, bodies, and souls and I do my best to take moments of rest whenever they are available. Yesterday I snuck in a little nap, and spent time just playing with Lorelei and enjoying her. Our new mattress was delivered last night and we were beyond thrilled to use it for the first of many well-rested nights! Today I'm planning on taking it easy and getting a head start on packing for a few weeks on the road. Here's hoping you have a chance to take some time out today for a little R&R!

good things

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:57:00 +0000

I'm a little late with the good things today so I'll get right down to it! We've had many blessings lately celebrating Lorelei turning two and God's goodness in our lives, so I'm feeling celebratory!

prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Last night I had the chance to attend our churches' 7Fourteen Prayer Gathering, and I am so thankful I took the time to go. I didn't get a lot of sleep the night before, and we spent most of the day traveling and settling back in at home, so I'll admit I was planning to stay home with Lorelei and offer to let Jordan go. He offered first, and I knew despite being tired, I wouldn't regret spending an hour in prayer. While prayer is a daily, ongoing part of my life as a follower of Christ, it can also feel hurried or restricted when set between the busyness of each day's activities. The prayer gathering was a unique time to freely and openly speak and listen to God that encouraged and strengthened my heart.