IOWA: A Special Gift

My time at home has been really sweet. I love my family. 

We get pretty silly...most of the time.

It is snowy and cold.

The kids are just adorable and I can't get enough of them. 

My mom gave me a sweet gift. She gave me a box that had scraps of papers from my dad's artwork. She said I could write on the backs of them whatever I wanted to. Scripture verses...memories...or whatever. I started looking through each picture and the smell overwhelmed me. It smelled like him and my eyes filled up with tears. The smell. Maybe I was the only one that could smell it and even so, it was for me. God brought back a sweet memory. 

I love gifts like these, cause it helps me remember him. I was 16 when he died. Old enough to remember a lot about him, but 13 years later I feel like I start to forget. These precious gifts are so special to me. Here are some of the papers:

Sounds Like I'm Famous Folks

My sister posted this on my facebook wall this morning:

Will:"Someone famous is coming to Iowa tonight"
My sister: "Who's that?"
Will: Emily! everybody knows she's in a band.
My Sister: who's everybody?
Will: everybody at school.
My Sister: How do they all know that?
Will: mom....people use the internet.

Oh my heart. I need them now.

I Can.Not.Wait.

I texted my sister Jill yesterday and told her that I needed her to take pics of the kids and send them to me. I just needed them and I couldn't wait.
I will be there tomorrow.
But I couldn't wait.
So this was the series of pics I received.

Will: 

 Sam:

 Max:

um...he didn't want to do it. 

But I couldn't wait. I need them now.

Then I got to skype with my other sister Laura and the kids. 

Cause I couldn't wait. 

The best part was talking with Lily Margaret, here was the best conversation: 

Me: So Lily, we should make a list of fun things to do when I get there.

Lily: Yeah! 

Me: So...what should we do when I get there?

Lily: (She gets real close to the camera): "Snuggle". 

OH my heart. done. 

Then she goes and posts these pics on facebook.

Jack:

Noah:

Lily:

I can.not.wait. Between Max's dimples and Lily's lovliness my heart will be full!!

Side note: when I skyped with them yesterday I was wondering where my stocking was. 

I just got this text. 

"Ok...we are ready for you to come now."

Amazingly ghetto and I love it.

The Cutest Little Man

In two days I will be singing songs with this little man. He is one of my nephews and his name is Max. I can't even handle this video. I've probably watched it 243 times.

I cannot wait to spoil my nephews and my niece when I go to visit them in Iowa!! IN 2 DAYS!!! My sisters will hate me. But I'm pretty sure that is the job of an aunt who lives a million miles away and only sees them once or twice a year.

Music Love: Sons & Daughters

You are gonna need to check out one of Integrity Music's new artists Sons & Daughters.  They have given me some GREAT new music. I love the rawness in their voices, their passion for Jesus really comes out in their songs.
This is one of their newest songs, "Come To Save Us":

One of my other favorite songs of theirs is called "All the Poor and Powerless":

Set Lists: 12/12/2010

Here are the set lists from Sunday December 12, 2010 at the Austin Stone Community Church:

Campus: Austin High School  Worship Leader: Aaron Ivey

Angels We Have Heard On High - traditional
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - traditional
All To Us - Chris Tomlin
O, Holy Night - traditional

Sermon: "Hallelujah What a Savior: The Promise Fulfilled" - Matt Carter

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - traditional
Hallelujah What a Savior - Aaron Ivey
With Everything - Hillsong United

Campus: St. John  Worship Leader: Andy Melvin

Joy To the World - traditional
O, Come All Ye Faithful - traditional
Everything Has Changed - Andy Melvin
Hallelujah What a Savior - Aaron Ivey

Sermon: "Hallelujah What a Savior: The Promise Fulfilled" - Matt Carter

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - traditional
Hosanna - Hillsong United

This Thing Called Family

Can I just say how proud I am of my mom and my two sisters?!?!

Here's the deal...

Connie, Jill and Laura have partnered with a nation-wide company called DEMDACO (best known for their Willow Tree Line) to produce a line of wall art and other decorative home decor that will be introduced in January of 2011!!!! The name of our line is called, "This Thing Called Family" - and it focuses on the theme of Family Values. So be looking for us in specialty and gift shops early next year!
 
Retailers interested in carrying our line can visit the DEMDACO showroom in Chicago, Atlanta, or Dallas or contact their local DEMDACO rep for details.

CRAZY!!! I'm so excited for them...you can see what to expect at the Things With Wings blog.
Here are just a few of my favorites: (they are more pics on the blog)

SO exciting!! Isn't it?!

Breakaway // LIVE

I have been truly blessed to be part of an amazing ministry in College Station, TX at the campus of A&M University called Breakaway.
Aaron, the guys & I are on a rotation to lead worship for this event on Tuesday nights. It is such an honor to be part of this team of people who love Jesus and desire HIS name to be made GREAT! The weeks we are not there the Jeff Johnson band & Jourdan lead or Jeremy McCasland and Donna Stuart lead. All of these bands are AMAZING!
We had the privilege to release a LIVE album to capture the worship that we get to experience on Tuesday nights. For students to be able to take home with them something that they can worship with outside of Tuesday nights.
This last Tuesday night we had our release party and worship night! It was GREAT!
All the bands were there and we each did a set and then all sang together at the end.
SO fun!!
Here is a video of behind the scenes:



We actually made it to the #2 slot of the Christian/Gospel section on iTunes!!!
If you want to get the CD:

Amazon
iTunes
Breakaway Ministries

Here are the songs:
1. The Name -- Aaron Ivey Band
2. Beauty of the Cross -- Jeff Johnson Band
3. Ruin Me -- Jeff Johnson Band
4. Be Thou My Vision -- Donna Stuart, Emily Ward
5. How Great Thou Art -- Aaron Ivey Band
6. Hallelujah What A Savior -- Aaron Ivey Band
7. Jesus Savior // Doxology -- Jeremy McCasland, Jeff Johnson
8. Radiate -- Donna Stuart, Jourdan Johnson
9. Solid Rock -- Jeff & Jourdan Johnson
10. Found -- Aaron Ivey Band

GO GET IT!!

Set Lists

I'm going to start posting the setlists from church. Many people have asked what songs we do and where they can get them. So I will be posting the songs with links of where you can download them so that you can listen to them and worship at home!!

Austin Stone Community Church Sunday December 5, 2010

Campus: Austin High School  Worship Leader: Aaron Ivey

Joy To the World - traditional
O, Come All Ye Faithful - traditional
How Marvelous - traditional
You Are Worthy [of Your Glory] - Jon Shirley

Sermon: "Hallelujah What a Savior" - Matt Carter

Hallelujah What a Savior (Christmas Version) - Aaron Ivey
O, Holy Night - traditional
7:00 service only: (cause it got a little silly)
My Soul Sings - Delirious
How Great Thou Art - traditional

Campus: St. John  Worship Leader: Jimmy McNeal

O, Come All Ye Faithful - traditional
Glory In The Highest - Chris Tomlin
Your Great Name - Natalie Grant (written by Michael Neale & Krissy Nordhoff)
Hallelujah What a Savior (Christmas Version) - Aaron Ivey

Sermon: "Hallelujah What a Savior" - Matt Carter

You Are Worthy [of Your Glory] - Jon Shirley
How Marvelous - traditional