Vow of silence

So last week my voice decided that after a trip to Brazil right into radio week where I talked about 8 hours a day right into 2 shows...it would just say, Enough. So I came home and got to have almost 2 weeks home with nick. Amazing. But I had no voice. Score for my husband, right? Haha. We had cowrites set up every day, so I had to "attempt" to talk as little as possible while writing songs with people.

We met some really great people who we wrote with this week...and wrote some beautiful songs we're excited about. Its my first time I've really written worship, so its the new, weird thing for me but I've really loved it!

So doing the whole voice rest thing...well, I've had to rest my voice before and each time I feel like I end up learning something from the whole shutting up thing. This time around this is what clicked for me. Obviously my job depends on me having a voice. 4 other people depend on me having a voice, and a lot of people who buy tickets and a promoter who's spent money are affected by whether or not I can sing. Sometimes that pressure might be a bit much for me. And the truth is,I've had shows where I can barely talk by the end of it, but God manages to get me through and our fans are so sweet and forgiving of my manly vocals. Haha. So when my voice is hoarse and I'm trying to rest it, I'm sort of choosing my words wisely, you could say. Normally, I'm a talker. Communication is definitely a love language of mine...talking is how I connect and love people. So not to talk feels so weird for me. But when you know you should talk less, it makes you edit all the unimportant things you might think to say normally.

Moral of my story..I could talk less in general. The truth is,most of us could. There is wisdom in being a good listener. In sometimes sitting back and watching the world around you, noticing things you might not if you were too busy talking. Thats my lesson from voice rest this week. If i always thought,what could i not say? Whats not that important? I might be better off. Or maybe i'd just lose my voice less. :-)

Here's to shutting up more often, friends! I'm off to bed and then another week home, with cowrites every day and then shows this weekend. Excited to get this worship album out to any of you interested...next spring! Night night..

Radio week..

This week we got back from a show in brazil..we unpacked, did laundry and repacked for a week of radio visits. Nick and I got to hang out for the day and have a sushi date for our kind of anniversary that was Tuesday and we knew we wouldnt be together. It was our 2 year anniversary, and so far we haven't been together for either. Definitely a tough day for me to not get to be with him. I guess those days when I'm trying to find a positive, I always think that I am so lucky to have married my best friend who I want to be with every day and can't wait to get home to.

So Monday night, Melissa, Matt, Dave and I left with Chris Hauser and Matt Ingle(our amazing radio guys) and set out on what would be over 2,000 miles of driving across the states and visiting radio stations. Tuesday we started in Indianapolis and visited Klove and Air1 then we parted ways and the boys took off with Matt and we set out with Chris. It was quite the week of meeting new people, answering questions about who I am, who we are as a band, what we believe and why we're a band. These weeks are so exhausting but at the same time, for me they are inspiring. To answer those questions reminds me of those things that really matter to me and to us as a ministry, and it stirs things up in me.

This week we got to hang out with radio rations who play us and believe in us and then there are stations that are AC and finding one of our songs that fits is harder to do even if they'd like to. The one thing that stands out to me from everyone we met is that they're all people who are doing something because they believe in what they do and they want to make a difference. It takes a lot of parts to make up a whole, and a station wouldnt work without music, bands would have a hard time selling albums and tickets for shows without radio..we all need each other and if we take the time to get to know each other and respect differences, we'll work like a fine oiled machine(I have no idea where I heard that phrase)..:-)

It turned out to be a great week! There're are DJs and radio teams out there working long and early hours who don't get paid much or at all and they are pretty much pastors in their cities, encouraging people who tune in, praying for them and walking through life with them. It was a good reminder that we're only a part of this industry..and I'm glad to be a part of it.


My hubby is in Holland with Stellar Kart right now..said they had an amazing show headlining mainstage last night. It's his first time there, and I'm excited to hear all about it!

We came to a town called Siren, WI for a show tonight, and then fly to Ohio tomorrow...then HOME! Can't wait.

Fall tour is starting soon! Hope you'll all try to find a show close enough to come out. See you soon!

Coming soon to a blog near you..