Christmas is Coming

We have another day home before we head out on Christmas tour once again. I can't believe it is December already. Andy and I realized tonight that November is usually a quieter month for us and when December finally rolls around we have been ready and waiting for it. This year November was full of trips and activity and when I had to turn the page on the calendar today (yes, I still have a paper calendar) it was a bit of a shock.

We just got home from Laity Lodge outside of Kerrville, Texas after leading the music for a retreat where Eugene Peterson was the speaker. Laity Lodge is one of my favorite places on earth and I would go if a hot dog was the speaker, but to go and hear Eugene Peterson was an experience I will never forget. First of all, the retreats there are kept small and the meeting are intimate and set in front of a large stone fireplace. The people I met were some of the most interesting, kind and generous people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. They were all ages and from all kinds of backgrounds yet it felt like a community almost immediately. Eugene set the tone for that as he spent most of the sessions having conversations versus speaking at us. It was honest and refreshing and I loved every second of being there. I took a fantastic hike with Andy, Andrew and Jamie Peterson and my new friends Buddy Greene and Jeff Taylor. I took a bird-watching class that one of my pastors offered at the retreat. I got a chance to visit with Chris Seay and several other pastors to hear about how things are going in their communities back home. I started writing a new song which seems to always happen to me when I am at Laity. Something about the beauty of the place and the safe space it creates for everyone there brings out creativity. Thanks to Stephen and Amy and Tim and everyone there for making us feel so welcome. If you ever have a chance to attend a retreat at Laity Lodge by all means go, you will not be sorry.

Andy and I also had the chance to have a bit of role reversal and be the promoters of a show for our friend Danny Ellis when he came through Nashville. I have mentioned Danny before in this blog and his record, 800 Voices, is one of my favorite records in my collection. Danny grew up in an Irish orphanage and the way he writes about his experiences is both heartbreaking and inspiring. He is painfully honest yet the record leaves you feeling full of hope. It is truly a gift to be able to do that and Andy and I wanted to have as many friends as we could come and support Danny and hear his songs. The way he weaves the narrative in between the songs to paint a clearer picture of his story is powerful and I can't wait for the opportunity to hear him again. For more information on Danny's music you can go to his website, www.dannyellismusic.com.

I hope to see many of you on tour this December. Being on the road with these friends is one of the highlights of my year. Also, please head to the store on the site and pick up a copy of Andy's new CD, The Law of Gravity. While you're at it, pick up another one for a Christmas present if you feel so inclined. As independent artists we are incredibly thankful for your support as it allows us to continue doing what we do. I will never take that for granted so thank you, thank you, thank you!

A very merry December to each and every one of you as we wait expectantly for Christmas day.

Jill