When I went into labor in November, I asked my husband to bring me my computer because I needed some music. I needed songs whose lyrics could encourage me and connect with my heart. This playlist was in my itunes and it seemed to fit the bill. These are the songs that were on repeat for those several hours before and right after Norah was born. It turned out to be the perfect mix of songs of surrender, strength, and purpose. Thank you to you whose music is on here, your songs gave me courage!

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This year has been a tiring one, full of many changes here at the end. I am grateful for, as I've said in previous posts, this full time dependence on a strength outside of myself. It is good to be here. It's also good to know that God is okay with my moving slowly. My taking it one day, one hour at a time. I can find several scriptures that tell me this, but my favorite is this one....

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This is an exceptional Christmas season for me. I gave birth to my daughter the day before December began and have spent the last couple weeks recovering and getting to know these new hands and this new face. Norah and I are figuring things out as best as we can. Achieving small milestones one day at a time. Getting out of bed in the morning (and in the middle of the night because she has yet to know the difference), remembering to eat meals and feed my family, changing diapers and cleaning spit up, getting rid of jaundice... small victories make up my days.

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I have a new record available today! I have joined forces with Andrew Simple who has produced several Rockabye Baby! Albums, (although you might be more familiar with his songs you've probably heard in Best Buy, Travelers Insurance, and Pillsbury commercials) and we are releasing a kids record of all original songs under the name Alli and Andrew!

We also have 2 videos on youtube and one more that should be up by the end of the week! And yes it's true...in addition to the video of the song H-E-L-P featured on the album, we also have a Justin Bieber parody video we did for your comical enjoyment...

(click here to watch the youtube videos)
(click here to see alliandandrew.com)
(click here to buy the CD on itunes)

If you have kids, have friends or family with kids, or are going to be in the car with kids driving to grandma's house this Christmas then this is the perfect record for you!

I am so grateful for your continued support of my music and hope you enjoy this new side of me in this season. I also hope the little ones in your life enjoy listening and dancing to Alli and Andrew as much as we enjoyed creating it!

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I have a daughter. This makes me cry just saying it in these first days. A sweet, squirmy, yawning, crying in a high pitched sound that her brother has never in his life made, little girl. Norah Lynn was born in the early hours of November 30th, last wednesday. We had a home birth this time around and that deserves a blog all it's own for the gift it was to us. We put James to bed tuesday night and when he awoke in the morning, there was a new sister to meet. What a miracle!

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I am at the end. Of pregnancy that is.

I am in my final few weeks of carrying this child and the song on my lips is "I need thee every hour...." as it was in the beginning of pregnancy, it is now and will continue to be, well, every hour.

I wrote the song Springtime last winter about this and it is on my new EP.

When I was early pregnant with James...

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It has been a long time coming but I'm excited to say that my new EP, Why We Sing is now available!  After 10 years of making music, it feels right to release this collection of songs that are a reminder to me, and hopefully to you who listen, why it is we keep singing.
 
Last fall, with several family members, I witnessed my grandfather transition from this earth into the forever kingdom of God.  He passed away in a hospital bed as we sang the words to the final verse of the modern hymn "In Christ Alone".  10 minutes after his passing our family sang the doxology around his bed.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow... praise Him all creatures here below...praise Him above ye heavenly hosts...

I learned a great lesson in Praise on that day. In those moments of loss there is nothing to lean on but the power and promise of a loving God.

It has been experiences like these in the last couple years that have led me to record "Why  We Sing", an EP of hymns and worship songs. 

I hope that as you listen, no matter where you are on your journey, you will be inspired to sing.  Because the journey itself, with all of it's uncertainty's, is one of the reasons why we sing.  And my heart needed to sing these songs. 

I hope you enjoy the new EP!

Check it out in the store section of this site

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There are two records available today that I am very honored to be a small part of. The first is Geoff Moore's new record, Saying Grace. It was so fun for me to write with Geoff, someone whose songs have influenced my life over the years, as well as the church as a whole. He is the sweetest man and I look up to him greatly, so to share stories and write music together was a great joy for me! Thank you Geoff!

Geoff, Don Chaffer and I wrote "Saying Grace" and "The Long Way" together, and Geoff and I wrote "Find me in the Fields". The last one is a title Geoff had brought up and I'm so glad he did because I loved it immediately.

to read the rest click here

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I am expecting my second child this thanksgiving. So far this pregnancy has been yet another reminder of my lack of control, my surrender to the workings of God and this child growing. I remember James this way, I remember his pregnancy as a turning point in my life and I feel I am a better person ever since the presence of him became known. I can't describe the layers of pride that are stripped back by such a light in my life. And so... this next one. How do I welcome this again? How can I handle such a violent change in identity yet again?

read the rest here...

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My dad is an Iowa House Representative and last month I got the chance to spend a day with him at the capitol in Des Moines. I played my song "Iowa" on the house floor at the beginning of the day. I also had the honor of playing at the Iowa prayer breakfast the next day. I am very proud of my dad and my time with him there was a great experience. He has made several videos during this years term and I made an appearance in this one so I thought I'd share it with you. At the end you even get to see me scared of heights at the top of the capitol dome!

To see the video click here

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